“First, let’s change. We need clothes that will help us blend in,” I said.
She followed me to my closet and watched as I dug around for stuff that would fit her. She was taller and had more in the chest than me, so it took some creative thinking to come up with an outfit that wouldn’t make her look ridiculous. The yoga pants that had been long on me fit her perfectly, and the oversized sweatshirt designed to expose one shoulder looked much better on her than the hanger it had called home since Adira provided it.
I nodded my approval at Zotera’s bare shoulder while wishing I could have worn cute clothes, too, rather than the hoodie and jeans I favored. In Uttira, I didn’t do provocative. I covered every bit of skin I could and kept my head down to avoid attention. Self-preservation won over fashion every time.
“Those clothes look so pretty on you, Zotera,” I said as she inspected herself in the full-length mirror in my room. “I know they’re not the kind of clothes you prefer, but—”
“No. I love them. I didn’t know clothes like this existed,” she said, running her hands over her hips. “They’re so soft. This is the best gift I’ve been given.”
A new kind of ache grew in my chest. Both Hades and Zotera had been treated so horribly by Persephone and had only just started to heal. While I couldn’t do anything to help Hades anymore, I would do everything possible to help Zotera have a good life on Earth.
“We’ll get some more soft clothes for you,” I promised. “Feel free to look around while I change. We’re safe enough in the house. It’s warded to keep most everyone out.”
I closed myself in the bathroom and stood there for a minute in an attempt to calm myself. Too many emotions warred inside of me to leave the house safely.
It was your choice,I reminded myself.He begged you to stay. You could have ignored the fact that he didn’t want you and only wanted a Persephone lookalike he could love.
A tear fell. Then another. I let myself silently cry and wondered if I’d been an idiot. Then, I pushed the pain and doubt aside and looked at myself in the mirror.
“Hesitation gets people like you killed,” I said softly to myself. “Learn from the past, but stay in the present.”
I nodded and studied my reflection. I looked the same as I remembered, only a bit more dressed up.
Piece by piece, I began removing the jewelry, setting each one carefully on the counter until only the armband remained. Since it was the first one he’d given me, I kept it on and slipped out of the dress.
The three rings Hades had created for the furies were tucked into the binding around my breasts. I hadn’t put them there, which meant he’d sent them with me to give to them. Seeing evidence of his consideration created another bitter ache of longing. Why hadn’t he been able to see me–Ashlyn–and love me?
Swallowing hard, I pushed the thought aside and finished undressing.
I wasn’t sad to see the gown go, to feel the familiar comfort of underwear again. Flushing the toilet and using toilet paper was an absolute luxury. No matter how nice Hades had made that bathroom in Hell, it wasn’t the same as modern plumbing.
After washing my hands, I tugged on my jeans, pulled the hoodie over my head, and pocketed the rings. I was so lost in my own little world that the bright flash of light filling the room confused me until I felt my skin tingle uncomfortably. It reminded me of passing through a ward.
My eyes went wide as it faded.
“Zotera?” I called, rushing from the bathroom. “Where are you?”
“Here!” she said from the front of the house.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Mo—Ashlyn. I was inspecting the wards.”
I followed the sound of her voice and found her in the dark living room, looking at the curtains covering the windows.
She glanced back at me when she heard me enter.
“These switches on the walls in each room turn on the lights,” I said, toggling the switch so she could see how it worked.
Her eyes grew wide, and she hurried over to try it herself. I grinned at her wonder.
“Just wait,” I said. “There’s a lot here I think you’re going to love.” I studied her happy expression. “The ward didn’t hurt you, did it? I saw a flash.”
She smiled at me and shook her head. “No. I’m fine. It won’t hurt me.”
While I was glad it hadn’t, I was worried about what that meant. If the ward was that inconsequential to her, how would it ever keep me safe from the God of Death?
“We better go, Zotera,” I said. “Unless by some miracle my car’s in the garage, we’re going to need to walk.”
