Page 19 of Taking Orders in the Underworld

“Repeat that for me.”

“Orpheus, the recluse legend, the one and only, is coming to play here tomorrow night. That should draw us in quite a crowd, don’t you think?”

Garth blew out a breath. “You’re serious?”

“And you thought I was leaving for good.”

“Well, fuck. How in Hades did you manage to do that?!”

“I’ll tell you all about that later. Right now, we’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do if we’re going to make this place ready in time. Are you game?”

Garth grinned at her. “Let’s show them all what we can do.”

***

The team, more than happy and willing to be put back to work, had pulled out all the stops.

Rae, genius baker that she was – though Nika was still loath to admit it – had created canapes that practically leapt off the trays, they were so moreish. Juicy prawns wrapped in bacon and dipped in honey, pistachio scoops of sorbet on mini sterling silver teaspoons, and curry bombs that exploded in your mouth when they made contact with a tongue, had all the creatures of the Underworld moaning in delight as they gathered in the pub.

The rest of the kitchen staff were busy preparing the food for those who had chosen to dine with them tonight; their usual three-course menu, perfectly cooked, impeccably presented, all with complimentary bottles of Savvas’ homebrewed wine.

When Savvas and Tomas had gone to spread the word earlier that Orpheus was performing, the voice in Nika’s head had said no one would believe them. But, the two dryads, oak and water alike, had charmed the pants off of anyone who would listen to them, it seemed, for all the tables were full. Even those who didn’t choose to dine milled around the bar – a line now six people deep – craning their necks, hoping to get a view of the maestro that they’d heard of but never heard play.

Thankfully, Rae’s canapes were keeping them quiet while they all waited.

“You’re sure he’s coming?” Garth muttered out of the corner of his mouth as he slithered up to Nika at the hosting station.

Together, they looked towards the wealth corner, where a small platform had been set up as a stage in place of the tables. Those had been moved into the bar now crammed with Souls. The lights that illuminated the small platform caused the rows of wine bottles on the back wall to glow and sent flirting flickers to the audience that waited. The other side of the wall, where the carvings of all who had come to dine with them, appeared to be watching the empty stage too.

“They’ll be here,” Nika said.

“They?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? My mother’s escorting them. It was only under the cover and protection of night they could travel out of Tartarus without Hades throwing a hissy fit. My mother’s words.”

“Your mo—? Well,” Garth said, cutting himself off, “We’re in for quite a time.”

As if she had heard them, Nyx appeared in her corporal form and whispered in Nika’s ear. “We are here. Where would you like me to escort Orpheus and his wife?”

Nika cleared her throat and muttered under her breath, “On the stage. Over there.”

Without confirmation, the wisp of power that was her mother skirted past her. Nika couldn’t help it; she shivered. To be close to something that was so powerful yet unseen caused a biological reaction even a daughter could not control.

Then, as if by magic, Orpheus and Eurydice appeared in a plume of black smoke on the stage, the golden lyre in hand. A hush rippled through the crowd, as if they couldn’t quite believe their eyes, before a roar of cheers and applause rippled back.

“Well…” Orpheus chuckled, squinting out into the audience, “I wasn’t quite expecting to be so popular after all these years.”

A chorus of laughter and cheers rung out amongst the crowd again.

“I see some of you are eating,” Orpheus continued, “and I don’t want to disturb your meal, so let’s start with a soft melody I played to call my Eurydice, here, back to me when we were finally together again, shall we?”

The crowd cheered again, even those with their mouths half full, as Orpheus pulled a couple of the barstools on stage up to the microphone, only to offer it to his wife, before he took the other one and sat beside her.

His fingers began to pluck over the strings so quickly it didn’t even look like he was touching them as a sharp, sweet melody began to play out. Orpheus’ mouth opened, and he began to sing, looking at no one but Eurydice.

Nika couldn’t hear the words. All she could hear, all she could feel, was the sharp sting of bitterness at being torn away from one she loved, a trickle of hope that tickled that back of her eyes and throat, and the long, mournful longing of the low notes that carried the song – like waves – through the atmosphere. Looking around, she saw that same melancholy she felt on the faces of those around her. A few were crying. A few were smiling. All the lovers were holding each other, as if scared the song was a prophecy they, too, would have to endure.

Her gaze settled on Tomas, who was standing behind the bar with Savvas, the glass in his hand almost forgotten as he absentmindedly polished it.

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