Page 73 of His in the Dark

I watch Silvie adjust the gown in the mirror, pulling the ties in the back, each drape becoming more exquisite under her hands.

But then she lifts the crown over my head and settles it down.

One blink, and I am transformed. There is a grounding that settles the anxious parts of me. Almost as if I was waiting to wear it. Like my soul once had it before.

The crown has not changed anything about me. It has not done magic.

And yet, it possesses me, more than I possess it.

“Beautiful, my Queen,” Silvie murmurs. “You are fit for the court.”

“Am I?” I catch her eyes in the mirror. Enchanted bells and fires in the grate—those are small things. How could they be anything else in comparison to passing judgment in the court of the Underworld?

“Youare,” Silvie says more firmly. “Is there anything else I can do for you, my Queen?”

“What should I expect?”

“Sit beside him on your throne. Watch and wait. It will not be hard, I assure you. Hades will guide you, my Queen. He will not lead you astray. Likely he will ask you your opinion. You are quite capable of giving such things,” she adds with a smirk.

With a huff of humor, I agree.

Silvie escorts me to the door. As promised, Hades is waiting on the other side—along with a cloaked guard. The only one of his men I recognize is Minox. The others do not offer me their names and they change frequently.

Hades’s eyes are hot and dark when Silvie opens the door for me. He offers me his arm. “My Lady.”

I put my hand on his arm, “My Lord.” I nearly ask him to allow me to simply observe today, but I bite my tongue, mindful of the audience. I know not what comes but intrigue has captured me.

“There is no need for nerves. It is your rightful title,” he states as if reading my mind.

Hades escorts me down the hall, all the while I stand tall and keep my head still so as not to compromise my crown. He leads me to a wall that opens with a wave of his hand. As if it was locked with a magic that disguised it. There are three more guards waiting outside the court. All three dressed the same, with the black cloak tied at their throat and hoods up nearly covering their faces with the shadows they offer. I can though make out slight differences in their faces although they don’t offer enough to recognize them.

In awe, I enter the massive room beside him.

“My Lord,” one guard in front greets us with a bow of his head. “My Lady.”

“Call her Queen,” Hades says abruptly. “I prefer the sound of it.”

“Yes, my Lord. My Queen.” The guard bows more deeply this time.

Hades leads us past, and the guards fall into step behind us. They stay close enough to offer protection, but far enough that we still have a bit of privacy. All the while the nerves run through me. My hands are nearly numb. The stone floors are slightly worn from centuries of passage. The ceilings so high but lit from candles that draw the eye up. And in the room that echoes the click of our footsteps sit what must be a hundred pews in four equal rows and at the head of the room, the raised thrones and several seats.

The thrones themselves are decadent. With velvet lining in a deep red set within the carved wood. The backs are at least ten feet high and the edges of the wood carved and touched with fire to give a burned flamed look to them. Both of equal height, but flames varying between the two so that it appears the fire starts from the left throne and carries to the right. It is quite obvious the throne at the left is newly made. Its wood fresh and the red velvet plush.

My throne, I nearly whisper.

It feels incredibly real, this procession. It feels like I am meant to be at Hades’s side, with guards trailing after us.

Or am I only tricking myself so I can cling to bravery?

I do not know.

“You will speak as you please, you will show the audience that you are here to rule, understood?” he murmurs as he leads me up the steps to the thrones.

“I will,” I answer him quickly and not thinking.

“You almost sound like you believe that, Persephone. Be careful,” he warns. “Our thoughts are powerful, and yours even more so.”

This, said so casually, renders me speechless once again.

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