“Time is different for immortals. Everything isn’t so urgent. I forget how mortals feel the need to get things immediately.” He puts his fork down and wipes his face with a napkin, shoulders tight and a frown affixed to his brow.
“Sorry for being what you made me.” I quip, my irritation and anger flowing freely.
“What I made you, was safe. Being in my position, you’d be used against me. I left for your own good and watched over you every day.”
“A lot of good that did. Do you even know what you left me to? How I was treated?”
He at least looks somewhat pained. “I’m not going to apologize for what I had to do. I made a choice and can’t go back to change it, and I wouldn’t if I could. Your mother was a complicated woman, but you weren’t in a position to protect yourself like you are now. Your powers hadn’t matured yet like they have now. My enemies are many. I had to keep you hidden. Had I stayed any longer I risked losing you. I kept that from happening. You were allowed to grow up, free of the constant threat looming over your fragile life. You might not know me, but I know you.”
I let his words settle, searching his face. He seems sincere enough. He picks his fork back up and eats his plate full of eggs. I pick up a chocolate croissant and pull at the flakey crust, not feeling hungry. I put it down and wipe the buttery mess on a napkin, placing my hands in my lap.
“How could you say that you know me? We haven’t spoken in years.”
He leans back and looks me over. “So full of fire. You can hate me all you want, Salem.”
“So, what do you want from me? You throw me a ball, but I have no idea what your expectations are from me. I won’t be your princess.”
“Ah, but a princess you are. You’re finally where you belong. You’ll get used to it in time. I expect you’ll be very happy here once you learn our customs.”
“And what of my friends? They have families, they can’t just stay down here forever. I definitely don’t want to either.”
He chuckles as if dealing with a temperamental toddler he’s indulging. “It’s not about what you want. You’re stuck in a game between gods little girl. You either fall in line or pay the consequences.”
I would rather die rather than let someone else determine my fate. He goes back to eating as if nothing of consequence just happened. It’s clear he intends to use me for his own interests and doesn’t care what I want for myself. I need to find a way out of here, gods and their games be damned.
“I talked to your friend Emmet last night. He had some interesting things to say about how him and your other friends all became possessed with the sins.”
The sudden shift in topic, throws me. “And what did you make of it?”
He leans back in his chair, setting the cup down and staring directly at me. His gaze on me makes me want to squirm.
“I think that it sounds just like the version Pierce gave me.”
“Speaking of Pierce, can you tell me why he’s being held and tortured in the dungeon? It’s barbaric what’s being done to him, he hasn’t done anything deserving of that.”
“He set your room on fire.” His eyes blaze, looking otherworldly and reminding me that I’m not dealing with a mortal man. “I had to send the ghost of your aunt to get you girls out in time. You could have been seriously injured.”
“You sent her to me? Is she… is she down here?” I ask, mouth open trying to process just how he knew Skye and I were in danger. That moment lives rent free in my memory, the terror of running from the flames has embedded itself in my soul. I haven’t let Pierce off the hook for it, but I don’t want him flayed for it.
“Despite what you may think, I love you, very much. And I show it in my own way. He’s being punished for putting your lives in danger, which is worth far more torture than he’s been given. I’ve gone easy on him since I know you care for him. As for your aunt, I sent her back to Elysia, where she belongs.”
“Well, what if I ask for him to be released? I can’t have him down there. Seeing him like that, it makes me sick. I can’t help that I love him, and if I forgave him for what he did, can’t you?” I worry my bottom lip hoping beyond all reason that he’ll agree to let him go. Let us all go and get back to our lives. I don’t wish to be used as a pawn in whatever games he’s intent on playing.
“You make a compelling argument, but I’m afraid I’ve already sentenced him to several lifetimes of torture.” Hope crumbles in my stomach as anger flickers across my skin, taking root in my core.
“But he’s not dead, you can’t just decree something like that without them being dead, can you?”
“Actually, I can do anything I want. He came through the veil into my domain. He’s fair game.”
“As your daughter, isn’t it my domain as well?”
He sits up, leaning closer. “No. It ismine.My burden. My domain and I make the rules.”
“Then you can unmake them too.” I push, not ready to give up this angle before I’m forced to do something drastic.
“Don’t you have enough… playthings to keep you entertained? Why this one?”
I reel back. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you.” I spit out. The audacity. He literally fathered me while married to Persephone and fathered my sister sometime right before. “Myplaythingsare none of your business. I can love whoever I want to.”
