“Fine. Whatever,” Megan said. “We’re getting off-topic. You’ve spent time with Hades. What do we need to do to get him to go back to sleep? What will appease him?”
“Persephone, loving him and at his side. Forever,” I said.
“Yeah, well, that ship has sailed,” Megan said. “Anything else?”
“Thanatos’ head on a pike?” Zotera suggested.
“That would make me happy, too,” Megan said. “We still haven’t been able to find him, and Adira’s been hard to pin down too. She knows I’m looking for her.”
“I think Thanatos’ head on a pike is going to be harder than you think,” I said with a quick glance at Zotera. “He’s not just an immortal. He’s the God of Death.”
Megan’s oh-shit face worried me more than Eliana’s soft whimper from the phone.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Zotera is.”
“So there are two gods awake?” Fenris asked.
“Yes. One who wants to love Persephone and one who wants to kill her. Lucky me for being her identical twin.”
“And we have no idea why Thanatos wants to kill her?” Megan asked, looking at Zotera.
Zotera gave a quick head shake.
“As the God of Death, could he be the reason behind the banshees singing?” I asked, recalling what Megan had told me in Hell.
“Since the earthquakes have all been Hades—”
“Those are because Thanatos keeps trying to kill what he loves,” I said, interrupting Megan. “Or…you know what I mean.”
“I do. But he wasn’t trying to kill you when you went to that room, was he? According to our estimates, that was the first earthquake. When you woke Hades.”
I looked down at the table, struggling with my guilt. Megan noticed.
“Regardless of who triggered the singing,” she said, “we still need to know if Adira is actually working with Thanatos. And that’s what I want to ask her. Getting people to confess their sins is my specialty. So if she is, I’ll find out as soon as I can talk to her face to face.”
“Do I need to be worried about her?” I asked. Adira was one of the exceptions to the ward in my house. Whether she was invited or not, she could enter. The same went with Uttira’s new liaison.
“If Adira shows up, call me,” Megan said. “I can be there in seconds.”
“Two problems with that,” I said. “One, I don’t have a phone anymore. I lost it in Hell.”
“I can help with that,” Oanen said. “I’ll get you a new phone tomorrow.”
Another minute tremor teased my feet as I said, “Thanks. I’ll feel safer when I have a fury on speed dial.” The shaking quieted. “Is this common now? Constant mini earthquakes?”
“There are good days, and there are bad days,” Megan said. “Now that you’re here, I’m guessing there will be more bad than good. But seriously, I’m glad you’re back. I’d rather have you here and deal with tremors than have you still stuck in Hell.”
I forced myself to nod even though I didn’t agree.
“What’s the second problem if Adira shows up?” Megan asked.
“Adira can portal faster than I can dial. I’m guessing Thanatos will be able to as well.”
Megan made a frustrated sound.
“Don’t worry, Megan,” Zotera said. “I won’t let anyone take Ashlyn. I promise.”
