Page 36 of The Duplicity of Thieves

“People are only emulating something they wish they had. Self-fulfilling prophecies are really just them imitating what they want to possess. Manifesting something that doesn’t belong to them, even though they wish it did. You and I are different.”

“Why? Because we’re ‘important’? That doesn’t seem right,” I scoff.

“No, because we are swayed by Destiny. We have an important role to play in the Universe. If you like the girl, then have fun. I don’t see the problem. There are benefits to having a dutiful woman by your side.”

“Dutiful?”

How did this turn into a conversation about the day I become king? I don’t want some girl who stands by to look pretty. I don’t want someone who will lay a gentle hand on my arm in an attempt to calm me. I want violence, specifically the violence of Josie, a girl I don’t even know.

“You’re my prodigy. I can’t do all this much longer. You know I never wanted it in the first place. You’re young and have the Universe at your fingertips. Before Persephone, I made decisions based on impulsive anger, with someone at your side you’ll be able to reason.”

“I don’t need some audience to watch me make decisions and hang on my arm,” I growl.

“I didn’t say marry her. I said you need someone dutiful at your side.”

I laugh. “She’s far from that.”

Her quick tongue and aggressive nature would never allow her to be quiet and stand next to me with nothing to say. She doesn’t even know who I really am. To her, I’m probably some guy who just lusts after her, and is charming enough to pique her interest for a few minutes at a time.

“Why do you think that?”

I’ve said too much. “She just. She’s frustrating and difficult, but I....”

“Like it? I thought the same about your mother.”

“Imelda said something odd. She said that I know the girl’s soul.”

“I see,” he murmurs to himself.

“See what?”

He looks into the fire, haggard and weary. “Fate is a dreadful mistress.”

“What does that mean?”

He pulls himself from his thoughts. “Just another ridiculous thing Imelda said once.” He returns to business. Personal conversations don’t ever last long with him. “Anyways, there’s an exhibit about Tartarus at the museum. I’ve heard rumors that the box is there.”

The wretched fucking box. It has no purpose. It can’t be opened, but Hades is obsessed with it. Years ago, someone stole it, and he has griped about it being taken from his possession ever since. I don’t think he can stand the fact that he doesn’t really know who did it.

“I’ll check it out.”

“Sooner rather than later, Aedonaeus. I want to know who put it on display.”

“Fine.”

“I should get to bed,” he abruptly dismisses me. “Get some sleep.”

He shoves me out of the office and shuts the door in my face. I wander aimlessly through the palace for a while, still not ready to go home. One thing he said that I’ve been dreading, is that I’m his prodigy.

I’ve known for a long time that he doesn’t want to rule forever, but the Underworld can’t be left with no king. As Hades puts it, the realm needs a protector. He always insinuated that he’s protecting it from his brothers, the Olympians, but they’ve never ventured to step foot here. They would have put up more of a fight, wouldn’t they?

The rain has cleared, and a mist has settled throughout the palace grounds. My mind has been racing and it’s exhausting. The only thing that will offer me a reprieve from the madness will be going to sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be less daunting.

I can forget her, I lie to myself.

The sun is turning the sky from deep indigo to pink and orange. As my building rises in front of me, the doorman, Samuel, is already standing there waiting. He wears an emerald outfit with a cap of the same color. Brass buttons line both sides of the lapel of his jacket, and the seams have been sewn with gold thread. He’s a small rotund man with round rosy cheeks.

“Good morning, sir,” he says cheerfully. I don’t respond, and he doesn’t take it personally. I’m in one of my moods and it’s best if no one interferes. I ride the ornately decorated elevator to my penthouse.

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