Page 189 of A Touch of Chaos

“The point isn’t to harm them,” Damianos continued. “It is to catch them off guard. Then you attack.”

Hades didn’t like the idea of more destruction, but he knew it was inevitable. It was the cost of battle among the Divine.

Then Leonidas stood. “You can work out among the gods who will target who, but as far as our involvement, that is what we can offer.”

It was about what Hades expected, but it was enough. Between them, they should be able to empty the temples and get the mortals to safety.

“Fine,” said Hades. “We start now.”

And tomorrow, they would go to battle.

CHAPTER XXXV

PERSEPHONE

Hades departed with Ilias, Hermes, and Artemis to Dionysus’s tunnels while Persephone summoned help to prepare for the arrival of mortals at Nevernight. While Mekonnen guarded the doors, Adrian and Ezio pushed the couches against the wall so Sybil could make pallets on the floor. Leuce set up water and snack stations while Harmonia gathered supplies for babies and games for children. Hecate organized a medical station, and Persephone tried not to think long on why it was necessary, though the goddess was reassuring.

“When mortals are involved, you cannot be too careful,” she said. “They have all kinds of ailments.”

“Can we not just heal them?” Persephone asked.

“If it is a usual ache and pain, we must let it run its course,” Hecate said. “We are not miracle workers. You know our choice to heal can have grave consequences. That does not change, even in times of war.”

Upstairs, Hephaestus and Aphrodite arrived with weapons and armor. They had divided each kindbetween the suites—spears, axes, bows. The last room had swords, and it was the one Persephone decided to enter, though all this felt a little surreal.

She approached the table and picked up one of the blades. The design was simple but still beautiful, as were all Hephaestus’s creations.

The hilt was wrapped in leather, and the pommel and cross guard were smooth steel. She had never wielded a weapon before, so she was surprised by how light it was, though she supposed that made sense as they were usually carried in one hand.

“What do you think?”

Persephone jumped at the sound of Aphrodite’s voice and turned as the goddess strolled into the room.

“I can’t believe he managed to make so many,” said Persephone.

She returned the sword to the pile.

“This is all he ever does,” said Aphrodite. There was a note of disdain in her voice that Persephone decided to ignore. No one wanted Hephaestus to have to forge weapons like this.

“I hate that it was necessary,” she said.

“Me too,” Aphrodite said quietly.

“Are they to your liking?” Hephaestus asked.

Persephone was a little surprised by the sound of the god’s voice. It was not often she heard it, but she found it was quiet and pleasant, like the warm embers of a crackling fire.

She and Aphrodite turned to look at him.

“I feel as though you are asking me a trick question, Hephaestus,” Persephone said. “I am not sure what there is to like about war.”

He gave a polite nod. “Fair, Lady Persephone.”

“Am I right to assume that these are for…mortal soldiers?”

“Yes, Lady Persephone.”

“And are they…poisoned with Hydra venom?”

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