Page 15 of Taking Orders in the Underworld

The door to the broom closet swung open of its own volition, her parents both standing there, their arms folded and their heads cocked.

“Nika, what in seven hells is going on?” they asked in unison.

“Tomas was just leaving.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” her father said, taking a step forward. “I think it’s time you told us everything, young lady, including why this dryad has turned up looking for you. I think having him stay will help us determine if you’re telling the truth or not. He stays. Come.”

Nika sighed and stepped out of the broom closet, Tomas following close behind as her parents escorted them to the small office Erebus had claimed as his own. Deep leather chairs sat either side of a gothic fireplace that was lit. Both her parents sunk into the chairs while she and Tomas stood before them.

“Explain from the beginning.”

Knowing that her parents would be able to break Tomas if she was caught out in so much as a hairsbreadth of a lie, Nika sighed, and began telling them the whole sorry story from the beginning; the festival, the prize tokens, the libations tax, everything. Eventually, she came to the present moment and revealed what Orpheus’ demands were.

“So, in order to make this plan of yours work, you need his lyre.” Her mother looked down her sharp nose with those never-ending dark eyes of hers at Nika. Nika felt like she was being chastised.

“Yes.”

“You need my help.”

“Well, I can—”

“You need my help.”

“I never said—”

“The lyre was placed in the constellations by the Muses, yes? So the one who can collect it for us is Asteria, being that she is the Goddess of Falling Stars. The last time I checked, you did not have a working relationship with the Titaness as I do.”

Nika was sure her mother hadn’t meant to make that statement of fact sound condescending, but somehow Nyx’s statement always came with an air of condescension. Nika didn’t think it was intentional … simply a byproduct of the age of her mother.

She opened her mouth to respond, but Nyx waved her delicate hand in the air, effectively shushing her, before continuing.

“Besides, how exactly were you planning on making sure Orpheus and Eurydice were allowed to roam freely thereafter? Did you think Hades would listen toyou?”

That had definitely been intentionally condescending.

“How areyougoing to get him to agree to it?” Nika retorted.

Nyx sniffed. “If Hades wants to go ahead and call himself the king, god, underlord of the realm, he is welcome to. But he will not stop those that wish to be together from being so. To be torn apart from someone you love is … not something I would wish on anyone.” Nyx’s features darkened before she shook her head and whatever thought had flittered across her face was wiped away.

“So, you’re going to help me get this lyre and find a way for Orpheus and Eurydice to roam freely? Why would you help me do that when this isn’t exactly a career you had in mind for me? What’s the catch?” Nika narrowed her eyes at her parents, in particular at her mother.

Nyx’s eyes bored into her, but it was Erebus who answered. “Your mother and I just want to be part of your lives again, Nika. We want to help.”

There was that uncomfortable sensation wrapping around Nika’s throat again, making her eyes water. Then, thankfully, Tomas interrupted.

“I was there, that day. The day Eurydice died.”

Nika turned to silently thank him with a look of gratitude on her face when she saw a forlorn expression across his.

“What happened that day, boy?” Erebus asked.

“There were plenty of us nymphs there to celebrate their wedding festivities, Orpheus’ and Eurydice’s. It went on for days and days. People from all over came to see the happy couple. They were so in love, it was obvious to see. The way he would smile at her, and she would dance and dance anddanceto his music until she had worn through the grass. No one believed Hymenaeus when he said their marriage would not last. Of course, we should have. He was the God of Marriage, after all. If we had, perhaps we’d have looked out for her in the gardens when…”

“Was it truly a snake that bit her? I always thought that shepherd Aristaeus murdered her when she refused his advances, personally,” Nika butted in.

Tomas threw her a scornful look. “Other people’s misery should not be your gossip.”

Erebus chuckled. “Unfortunate trait of the family, I’m afraid.”

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