“No. Leave while you’re still able.”
He waved his hand, and I knew when I turned around that she would already be gone.
“Are you ready to taste your new favorite food?” I asked, standing.
I escaped to the table where the pizza box waited. A small stack of napkins sat on top of the box. I moved those to the side and flipped the lid back. The smell hit me, and I inhaled the cheese and pepperoni goodness in appreciation.
“Can I have plates?” I asked, glancing at Hades, who still sat on his throne.
Plates immediately appeared, but he didn’t move. He just watched me plate a piece for Zotera and myself. Unable to resist, I plucked off a piece of pepperoni and popped it into my mouth. Zotera studied me and then mimicked what I’d done. The face she made as she chewed was comical.
“It is so salty.”
“It is. But that’s because you ate it by itself. Try a whole bite.”
I picked up a napkin and opened it to wipe my fingers. Inside, someone had written a note.
He’s causing earthquakes. Banshees sang worldwide. We need your help. Find out what will appease him so he goes back to sleep.
It felt like the ground fell out from under my feet. I stared at the note, understanding what it said and what it didn’t say.
“Mother?” Zotera asked. “You look unwell.”
Hades stood abruptly and started my way. I folded the napkin and passed it to Zotera.
“Turn this into a blanket for yourself,” I said.
Her eyes widened at the firmness in my voice, but she immediately took the napkin from me. The shape and size of it were already starting to change as I turned to face Hades.
With a mix of suspicion and worry, his dark gaze swept my face as he approached.
“Will you try some too?” I asked, hoping to distract him.
The King of Hell wasn’t easily distracted from his obsession—me—, though.
“You’re pale.” He took my hand between both of his. “Is it the food?”
“No. It’s the realization that I probably won’t see my home as soon as I want to.”
He studied me for a long moment.
“We must all bear our disappointments and practice patience to realize our desires,” he said.
His desire was me. Mine was getting home. But, according to the message, I couldn’t leave. My stomach churned with despair as he guided me to my stool.
“Sit. Eat,” he said in a gentle, coaxing voice.
He joined us, and I watched him take his first bite, no longer anticipating his reaction as I had been.
“This pleases you?” he asked, his expression similar to Zotera’s.
“It’s something I sometimes crave. But not always,” I said, forcing myself to pick up my own piece.
Eating meant I didn’t need to talk and freed me to think.
Hades’ temper wasn’t only shaking the underworld but the human world as well. I’d known that I’d woken him when I’d stumbled into that room, but I hadn’t realized I’d put the entire world in danger. And if the banshees sang worldwide, the world was very much in danger.
According to the fury, appeasing Hades would put him back to sleep. But if I gave Hades what I knew would appease him, I would never be free of Hell. I would be stuck here forever, unprotected by Hades, while the world lived on.
