“Skye, wait. I didn't want to have to tell you like this.”
Tears prick from behind my lashes threatening to spill over onto my cheeks. My chest burns. Salem wouldn’t lie to me, so it has to be true. “How long have you known?”
“I just found out. When we came through the veil I ran into my father. It's been the craziest few weeks here.”
“Weeks? You’ve only been gone a day.”
“Time works differently here.”
Groaning comes from the corner of the cave. I swivel my head and find the three demons starting to wake up.
“Fuck. We don't have time for this.” Walker says grabbing at Salem’s wrist. “We can fill them in on the way.”
“Where are we going?”
“To hell.”
CHAPTER32
Chapter Thirty-Two
PERSPHONE
SONG: QUEEN BY LOREN GRAY
Hades still hasn’t come out of his meeting, so I’m stuck entertaining myself until he summons me. He always summons me after meeting with the demon lords. I can still feel the ghost of Chaos’s length between my legs, leaving me with a delicious ache that fuels my need for revenge. The blow to my dragon is a setback I didn’t see coming. One I didn’t plan for. And at the hands of my daughter? Unthinkable. I have to tread lightly now that she’s found her way down to us. She has a soft spot for the harlot’s daughter and those seven boys. They make her weak.
Hades and I weren’t always unhappy. There was a time where he held every corner of my heart. I would have done anything for that man, and I did many times. I even killed for him. I gaze at the enormous painting of us on our wedding day that hangs in our room, looming over our bed like a threat. I sigh, looking at the blissful smile spread across my face. If I only knew what awaited me, I wouldn’t have looked so happy. I take a swig of my drink, letting the alcohol coat my tongue, burning my throat as it goes down. It dulls my senses. A fucking mercy at least.
I glide over to the ornate mirror that sits above my dresser. The buzz from the alcohol runs through my veins. Some people shed their skin and become a new version of themselves when they drink, but I just become more myself. Bolder. Sharper. And more ruthless. I take in my reflection. My blonde hair tumbling in long intricate waves. My eyes the same blue as my daughter’s but with a permanent sadness etched around the rims. I see myself for who I truly am. A prisoner.
I need to think of how to fix this mess and fast. Getting in contact with Chaos this soon after our rendezvous was out of the question. Who knows where his little band of sins has gotten to. What was the name of that human up top we use? Ah, right. Leighton the pompous prick.
I touch the mirror, searching for where he could be.
Odd. Something must have happened. I finally find where he’s hiding after another moment of searching. The reflection shimmers and clears, showing me Leighton sprawled out in a hospital bed.
“Oh, for fucks sake.”
I wave my wrist and he springs to attention. A red mark in the shape of my hand blooms across his pale cheek.
“What the fuck?” He blinks around the room, before he finally finds me. “Oh shit.”
“What the hell happened, Ledger? We had a deal.”
“I was a little busy getting attacked by one of your hellhounds.”
I rack my gaze over his body and see the source of his wounds. Pursing my lips, I send a wave of power to heal the jagged lacerations that line his arm.
“Better?” I take another sip of my drink and roll my neck, stretching out the kinks that have gathered in the base of my skull.
“Much.” He moves his arm, wiggling his fingers in wonder.
“Now. Tell me what happened and why both your sons are here wandering around my Underworld.”
He grabs the tray next to him, rolling it close enough that he’s able to grab the Styrofoam cup. Putting his lips around the straw, he slurps against the plastic loudly, testing my patience.
“I’ve held up my end of the bargain, mortal. Your soul for your wealth, just like the males in your family tree before you.”
