I stared at the spot of light at the end of the hallway and remembered the dining hall. It had been filled with creatures. Or monsters. Or whatever they were. We couldn’t go in there. They’d chased me.
I glanced at Hades, not really seeing him. How many times had he kept me safe from them? More than a handful of times. They’d seemed afraid of him. Sort of. But what if this time—
Hades gently gripped my chin, tipping it up so he could look at me better. It snapped me out of my growing panic.
“There is no just cause for their treatment. This time will be different. Do you understand?”
Not giving me a chance to answer, he released me like I’d burned him and strode forward while I was still trying to figure out what he’d meant.
Did he honestly think there’d been no reason for them to chase me? I was a human in Hell. That was probably reason enough for them.
Then I realized where the confusion lay. Hades didn’t believe I was a human. He thought I was her. Persephone. So, of course, he wouldn’t understand why they’d chased me. But what was going to happen to me when they tried again, and he finally realized I was actually the human I claimed? Would he show mercy and send me home like he’d said or would he kill me on the spot for being where I didn’t belong? Or worse, for looking like someone I wasn’t?
I hurried to catch up to him and caught him by the arm. He immediately stopped and looked down at me.
“I want to make another deal,” I said, slightly breathless. “Another kiss for your promise that I will not be hurt in any way when you learn I’m telling the truth about being human.”
Anger flashed across his face, but I was too worried about getting his agreement to shy away from it. Thankfully the emotion left as quickly as it had appeared. He breathed deeply, studying me.
“This is a test,” he said. “I will not fail.”
He brushed his thumb over my lips then dropped his hand away.
“Come, Goddess. We will continue your games after I’ve found your soul sacrifice.”
I frowned at his wording. Sacrifice? Did he know something about my uncle that I didn’t?
Hades started forward again without giving me another chance to bargain. We were too close to the opening. The moment the monsters heard him in the hallway, a hush fell over the hall.
Trembling, I followed in Hades’ wake and tried to suppress my fear. The beat of my heart drummed in my ears even as the scent of roasted foods teased my nose.
Then we cleared the opening to the vast space, and true terror set in. Tables and tables of monsters lined the crowded hall. So many of them. Some with one eye and giant bodies that I thought I recognized. But the others, with snake tails and the head of a boar, were beyond anything I’d ever seen.
Those closest to us stood abruptly, the wood benches beneath them scraping against the stone floor. Without thinking, I bolted to Hades and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. He stopped walking. I could feel him twist to look at me but didn’t lift my head from his bare back.
He gently pried up one of my forearms and turned so I hugged his front. He rumbled in satisfaction, and how much he liked the new position urgently pressed into my stomach. I couldn’t bring myself to fear it, though. More benches were scraping against the floor.
“You help?” one of the creatures asked.
“Hmm?” Hades said absently while stroking a hand over my hair.
“You help now?” another voice asked.
“Yes,” Hades said, still not sounding very focused on them. “I will help you.”
The roaring that broke out in the hall made me jump and cling tighter to him. Hades pressed a hand against my back and arched into me at the same time he spoke in my ear.
“Soon, Goddess. Soon.”
I shivered and wondered what new version of hell I’d just created for myself. Still, I couldn’t let go.
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.
“I like this game.”
The roaring quieted enough that I could hear some of the monsters moving around us.
“We will join you as soon as I’ve completed a task for my goddess. Eat. Prepare. She will soon be herself again.”
