I blink up at Cerberus, his smoky scent filling my nose as my heart begins to race.
Neither of us says a word, and slowly the flames that cover him begin to retreat, leaving streaks of black soot across his skin in their wake. Cerberus bows his head as he reaches out to tilt my chin up, his fingertips nearly scorching me with lingering heat.
He pauses, his lips a hair’s breadth from mine. So close I can nearly taste him, but then he pulls back. His brow furrowing for a moment as he straightens, the hunger that was in his eyes a moment before now replaced with something I can’t quite figure out.
A soft smile, almost at odds with the devilish one from before, overtakes his face.
“Thank you,” he says in a husky voice.
Surprised at this, I can’t help but ask, “Thank you? For what?”
But, of course, he doesn’t answer.
Instead, he takes a step back, looking me over with a disconcerting thoroughness before turning to exit the room without a word. I stare after him in shock. As the door closes behind him, the sound of the lock turning fills the room, finally startling me from my stupor.
What wasthat?
Tentatively, I move toward the door and press my ear to it, but there is nothing to hear. Cerberus is gone, and I am none the wiser as to why he was here in the first place, let alone who may have sent him.
If he hadn’t mentioned Death and Eros, I would have certainly thought this was another one of Hades’ games … but now, I’m not so certain.
I turn from the door with a deep sigh. I could spend hours trying to piece together what just happened, and still be no closer to an answer.
Not that it matters anyway.
I am still no closer to escaping this place or saving my father than I was this morning.
But at least now, I have hope.
A weighty silence falls over the room as I lie in bed, unable to find sleep. I can’t help but stare into the shadows, wishing that Death’s form would take shape and step from them.
It must be close to midnight by the time I finally hear footsteps outside my door again. Sitting up, I am not surprised when the two guards from the night before step into my room.
Their faces are impassive as if they are here on a routine visit, but I know better. I can sense the underlying tension, the unspoken threat that hangs in the air between us.
One of the guards nods to me, indicating that I should get up and follow them. Again, not a word is spoken as I'm led through the palace back to the strange jungle room.
The other women are already gathered within the room by the time I arrive, but the mood is much more somber. It’s hard to ignore as we wait to see what will be taught and expected of us tonight.
“Welcome back,” Persephone says, her tone far from pleasant, as she once again appears in the pool of light that gathers in the center of the room.
Her eyes are hard, her smile too forced as she glances about the room. I’m still unsettled by this version of her as she begins to move about the room. Persephone stops in front of me and I can sense her eyes scouring my body. I try to meet her gaze but find myself looking away, intimidated by her unspoken power.
“You are all here again tonight for a very important lesson,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “One that may determine your fate in this realm. Tonight, you will learn about the power of submission.”
I flinch as those around me lean in, eager to soak in every word she says.
“Hazel, come here,” Persephone orders, once again singling me out.
I do my best to keep my emotions in check, though my heart thunders in my chest as I approach her. I can feel the other women’s gazes boring into my back, watching my every move.
Persephone’s hand snakes out, catching me by the chin and tilting my head up. Her eyes search mine, and I can feel a sense of triumph emanating from her.
“Submission is not weakness,” she says, her voice low and silky. “It is power. The power to control and be controlled. The power to give yourself over completely to another and allow them to find pleasure in their perceived control.”
Her hand falls away as she turns to face the other women.
“Your king, my husband, desires a queen who understands the value of submission. One who can willingly give herself over to him without him realizing power was exchanged. A woman to please him and satisfy his every desire. And tonight, I will teach you how to become that queen.”
