Page 16 of The Signature Dish of the Underworld

Nika smirked at her again. “Oh, just you wait and see.”

With that, Nika sauntered off leaving Rae sitting by herself.

Usually, she would bring a book with her, sit and read in silence – at least the creatures in books didn’t seem to mind her company. But, she’d forgotten her book in the post-cook-off haze; had to now settle for people watching without seeming intrusive. Having a cursed ones gaze on you, after all, could be … unnerving. It was the pale blue iris’ that did it.

No wonder Nika could turn tables so fast.

Luckily, Savvas came over at that moment with a large glass of golden wine and set it down on the table in front of Rae.

“Hello, Sunshine.”

“Savvas,” Rae smiled as she picked up the wine and saluted him. For some reason, the water nymph, with his neatly trimmed white and grey beard, didn’t annoy her by using a monika she hadn’t chosen. Instead, there was something melodic about the name on his lips – like the ebbing and flow of an ocean wave – that made Rae relax into her chair.

Well, that and the first sip of golden wine.

It was thick in flavour, though it held the consistency of any other wine. Hints of butter, honey, walnuts and apples crept through, until Rae finished savouring her sip and placed the glass back down on the table with a sigh.

“You like my homemade blend then.” Savaas, his arms folded, held a delighted smile on his long face that made his eyes twinkle.

“This is homemade?” Rae stared at the glass, then at Savvas in turn, shocked. “This could rival Dionysus’ acolytes.”

That had Savvas breaking out in a full-on grin before he bent down to conspiratorially whisper in Rae’s ear. “Perhaps, one day, I’ll tell you of my time in Dionysus' vineyards.”

Before Rae could so much as utter a word of protest at having to wait to hear such a story, Savvas straightened, winked at her, and then made his way back to the galley bar.

Rae sat there, sipping her wine, watching the other patrons from her corner in The Nook. There was only one other couple with her in this section of the restaurant – they looked like two lovers that had been reunited after death had torn them apart. There were crystalised tears falling down the old woman’s cheeks, as her lover cupped her wrinkled cheeks and wiped them away.

The age you left the mortal realm was the age you remained down here. It used to be that death would rejuvenate a Soul’s form into youthfulness, but – surprisingly – it had been Queen Persephone that had insisted that rule be changed, according to the ν?α reports. She said that there was beauty to be found in the age of all things, that those who resided in the Underworld should not forget it.

Watching the old lovers, Rae had to agree. There was something beautiful about it.

The young waiter, Tomas, interrupted Rae’s thoughts by presenting her with the Styx seafood chowder. He wavered slightly, as if his arms were not strong enough to hold up the plate the dish was balanced on, and for a moment Rae was convinced she was going to end up wearing the chowder as it began to wobble and slosh precariously. After what felt like forever, he managed to place it down – his arms shaking as he held two other dishes to deliver to another table – with only a splash on the outside rim.

Rae wasn’t going to complain about that. Instead she said, “Still enjoying working here?”

“Oh, uh, yes. It’s just- it’s a lot to learn. I don’t think Nika is very happy with me.” Tomas winced as he said her name.

“I don’t think she’s ever very happy with anyone.”

Tomas let out a nervous chuckle. “No, I suppose you’re right.”

“Though don’t let her catch you agreeing with me,” Rae replied, deadpan.

Tomas gave her another nervous chuckle at that, out of politeness more than anything Rae suspected, and then left her with some mumbled reasoning that he needed to get the other dishes to their guests.

Rae nodded and turned to the chowder in front of her.

The dish was as delicious as she remembered.

When her chowder was finished, Rae turned her attention to other guests in the establishment, not wanting to intrude further on the lovers in their corner. From her table, she could also see the galley bar clearly, and watched Savvas talk to a middle-aged male Soul who was perched on a bar stool across from him. They appeared to be friends, Savvas laughing good-naturedly at a joke the male Soul had said.

Wherever he had hailed from in the mortal lands must have been hot, because even as a shade of his lookalike human form, he was still darker than most other patrons in the bar. Though race was less-so a factor when you were dead in these parts. Much more prejudice was put on whattypeof deity you were.

Nika chose that moment to interrupt Rae’s dark thoughts with the goat curry.

“You know, I can’t think why Garth calls you sunshine with a scowl like that.”

“Well,” Rae said, picking up the spoon ready to dive in, “how often do you get told to smile for the morons houndingyou?!”

---