Page 87 of Hades

As far as Persephone had gathered, Marinda was Cassandra’s ward and the two had been close Marinda’s entire life. Cassandra had also known that Marinda was one of the three Erinyes, a powerful trio of goddesses devoted to dispensing justice. The young Frenchwoman had apparently had quite a shock to discover she was a goddess, but rather than shying away from her role in this world, she had bravely stepped into it.

And proven herself an invaluable ally.

“I get to fight then?” Cassandra said, her Russian accent making the words sound hard and more of a demand than a question.

Daimon let out a harsh scoff and pulled a face. “No. You’re not lifting a finger until that baby has come.”

Persephone couldn’t agree more with him.

Cassandra didn’t. As Daimon took hold of her and the cat and teleported them both, she launched into a tirade in her native tongue.

Esher was first to appear. Frantic stormy blue eyes sought Persephone and once they found her, they calmed and lightened. He ran a shaky hand through his black hair, pushing the longer lengths that hung over one side of his face back to reveal it and scrubbing at the shorn sides.

Her beautiful boy.

A war erupted in his eyes, revealing the tempest of his emotions to her, and he fidgeted with his grey shirt that hung open to reveal a faded black T-shirt, picking at the hem. Just as she was about to step forwards and round the table to him, he glanced at his father, straightened his spine and cleared his throat.

“Tokyo is quiet. No action.” His report was a relief to many in the room, but not her. Her heart broke for him as he stood before her, clearly unsure how to behave, his awkwardness tearing at her.

Persephone hurried to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

He was still for a heartbeat, and then his breath shuddered from him and he wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close as he bent towards her.

If Esher had inherited anything from his father, it was his difficulty in handling the softer side of his feelings, and his terrible belief that he needed to always be strong and in command, hiding that softer side from view.

Persephone knew just how to shatter that hold they both had on their feelings and draw them to the surface though. She held him and in a matter of seconds, he was squeezing her so tightly she could barely breathe as he murmured into her ear.

“I’m so fucking glad you’re okay.”

She closed her eyes and relished his tight embrace as she stroked his back. “I am glad you are well too.”

When she had been taken, she had feared Esher would lose himself to his other side—a violent and terrible side that was more like another personality than mere darkness like Hades and Keras bore.

She supposed she had someone to thank for keeping her son grounded.

Persephone opened her eyes and smiled at the petite raven-haired female Esher had brought with him, pleased to see her but surprised she had come with him to the Underworld, a place she feared. It didn’t take Persephone long to realise the reason she had come. Aiko wanted to support Esher and take care of him, and her presence grounded him in much the same way that Persephone grounded Hades. The young Japanese woman was facing her fear of the Underworld for his sake.

As always, Aiko’s manner of dress intrigued her. Purple and black striped stockings covered her legs beneath a short black ruffled skirt, and she wore a dark grey T-shirt with a glittering gold skull on it. Her hair was up in bunches, parted down the centre, and around her neck was a thick black band of velvet.

Aiko’s dark almond-shaped eyes widened and then she quickly bowed, pressing her hands to her knees. “Hades-san, Persephone-san.”

Aiko lifted her head and looked as uncertain as Esher had, her worried gaze darting to Persephone. When Persephone gave her a look that was part-hopeful, part-admonishing, Aiko bowed her head again.

A blush touched the young Japanese woman’s cheeks as she said, “Okaasan.”

It had taken Persephone a long time to convince Aiko that she could drop the honorifics she preferred to use for her and Hades and call her something less formal instead. Esher had suggested the word ‘okaasan’ which apparently meant mother.

Persephone had immediately found she wanted Aiko to call her that. It was still an honorific, but it was one Persephone preferred over Aiko’s usual choice. She wanted Aiko to know she could view her as a mother, and wanted to be as a mother to her.

Of course, when Persephone had asked what the equivalent was for a father, Aiko had waved her hands in front of her face and shaken her head so vigorously Persephone had worried she would give herself a headache.

With their history though, she could understand why Aiko felt extremely awkward about calling Hades something less formal.

Esher moved back to stand by Aiko.

Calistos muttered, “About time someone else got a look in.”

Persephone’s youngest son was quick to tackle her in a hug, but she barely got her arms around him before he was breaking away from her. When she frowned at him, his light blue eyes gained an apologetic edge.

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