I’d already succumbed to my fate here.The fate that a normal life above, a reunion with normal parents, was impossible, and had been for awhile.
“Are you really my father?” she whispered.
“Not in flesh or blood, or godly gifts. I would never sire a mortal. I couldn’t, even if I fucked every child-bearing female above. Not that I would. Only Persephone holds my lust these centuries. In terms of giving you life...I suppose I am responsible for your existence, but I would never claim you as a child.”
“Why?” she rasped.
“You’re no heir.”
“I mean…why did you bring me back to life?” Cyane couldn’t even remember her childhood to well, let alone an entireprevious existenceas Hades seemed to be insinuating. “Why bring me back to life and leave me alone? Why sign your name on a note as father and do such a terrible thing? Why go to all this effort if I’m beneath importance?”
“Ah, so many questions. More than most would ever dare to ask me in a given year. It’s refreshing. If not willful and annoying.” Hades took a long drink from his cup. “I suppose.” Even his swallows weren’t masked by the music and lovers.
“I came all this way. I deserve to know.”
“Deserve? How you entertain me.” He tittered. “I left you because a mortal doesn’t belong here, and to raise one amongst the dead, well, it would’ve ruined my plans. You had to be left above, and as such, alone.”
Cyane breathed. “And what if I ignored your note, or lost it, what if I never came?”
“It was enchanted to remain with you, never to wrinkle, never to deteriorate, designed to haunt you. And if you never came, I would’ve had to repeat myself and steal you from above. Which would not have been ideal. Predictability is a bad trait for a Lord to have. Predictability is weak.”
All these years she’d obsessed over that note, wondering and searching, letting it rule her life, letting it rule every decision she had the ability to make—had she ever really been her own person? Was she really even a person at all?
Hades was acting so nonchalant to her torment.
Where was Cerberus? She needed him now more than ever. Would give anything to have him there beside her. Even if the protection she needed was protection from herself. But he wasn’t there, and even death couldn’t save her.
Cyane grew numb.
If I died, I’d end up right back where I am.
Cerberus’s hounds stalked the sides of the room, but there was still no sight of Cerberus.Had he known?
No, he couldn’t have. He nearly killed me, made me swear to Styx before he even considered trusting me…
He had knownsomething, according to Hades. Something that Cerberus hadn’t told her. She shoved the thought from her head, needing to deny it.
Hades hadn’t answered the most important question of them all. The one that her life now depended on—
Dionysus appeared before them, a bevy of women behind him, some hanging from his limbs. He bowed to Hades and offered him the cup of wine he held, then bowed to Cyane with a smile that made her want to drink her thoughts away and dance until she passed out.
She reached forward and stole a drink from one of his naked followers and gulped it down.
“Well, well, well, my Lord Hades, your guest of honor is not only beautiful and deliciously weak, but a joy as well!” Dionysus laughed.
“She is all those things and more,” Hades agreed.
“I am not weak,” she whispered, but both gods ignored her.
I need another drink.
Dionysus bowed once more, this time with less flourish. “I hope the party is to your liking?” he asked of Hades.
Could Dionysus see her torment? Could everyone else?
“You’ve outdone yourself again. It’s a marvel what you and Hecate can accomplish when you work together.”
“I humbly thank you to the bottom of my casks.” Dionysus grinned. “Which have no bottom that I have yet found!”
