Page 11 of Taking Orders in the Underworld

“How is it body-shaming when you’re tiny?”

“It works both ways, pea brain.”

“If you were just going to come back and insult us, why bother coming back at all, Nikita?”

The use of her nickname had Nika grinding her teeth. She hadn’t realised when she was younger that Nikita and Nika did not mean the same thing. She’d been perfectly happy being called Nikita, until her mother had pointed out that the former meant ‘unconquered’ and her actual birth name meant ‘victory’.

Which, in her family’s world, meant her brother had just called her a would-be loser.

But, if she were to rise to the jib, she would only encourage them further.

“Yes, why are you back here,Nika?” her mother asked, taking small, dainty bites from her food.

Meanwhile, her brothers were shovelling it in like they were starving. It was hard to imagine such a tiny goddess giving birth to two of largest presences down here inTartarus.

Nika shoved a large forkful of rice in her mouth to buy herself time from answering. She didn’t want to tell her family that the place she forsook them for was in trouble. She didn’t want to look like a failure who had come home with her tail between her legs. In particular, she didn’t want her failure to suggest that she wished for a job back here because shedidn’t, and she most certainly did not want to have that conversation with her mother. It’s why she’d run away in the first place.

Coward, the little voice in her head whispered at her.

Shut.Up.

“I’m looking for someone,” she eventually said.

“Who?” her mother demanded.

“Just someone, it doesn’t matter who.”

“Well, if you tell us, perhaps we can help you find them,” her mother pointed out.

“Go on – tell us,” her brother, Hypnos, added. “Perhaps I could whisper something in their ear for you as I send them off to sleep tonight and get them to come to you. It would save you having to run around this place trying to find them.”

That uncomfortable feeling was coiling itself around Nika’s throat again. Even if she logically knew that accepting help didn’t make her weak, she was wholly adverse to the idea of letting her family help her. Because she knew that help now meant something called in as a favour later. There were no actions without consequences, just like there was no day without night.

But she could see no way of getting around the question without causing an argument. Given that her family appeared to be making an effort to cultivate a tentative peace now that she was home, it would be impudent if Nika did not try to do the same.

“Fine, if you must know, Orpheus.”

A hush fluttered between those at the table.

“And why,” Nyx muttered, “are you looking for the famous Orpheus?”

“We want him to play at our restaurant.” Nika kept her eyes on her plate, now pushing around a piece of fish, in case her mother saw the lie in her eyes. In case she realised there was no ‘we’ to speak of.

“And why are you seeking out a recluse musician for your place of work? I thought you were a waitress,” her mother asked.

“I am. I’m the maître d', in fact.” Nika swallowed the lump in her throat, not allowing herself to think about how Garth had told her to leave, not allowing herself to think about if that meant she’d been officially fired or not.

“Then why are you given this task?” Nyx pressed on.

“Because it was my idea, and Garth – the owner – respects my ideas. He lets me take the lead where I wish. Seeing as I had ties to Tartarus, we thought it best that I come and do the visit.”

Nyx let out a little sound of approval.

But, surprisingly, her father wasn’t buying it. “Is everything alright where you work, Nika?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, you could have any number of talented musicians. To seek out one who gave up his gift a long time ago seems like a punt … and to punt, to gamble like this, usually means someone, or something, is in trouble.”

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