Page 50 of Flowers Near Me

Hades turned towards her, placing his hand on the side of her arm. “Are you sure? Zeus isn’t one to treat uninvited guests well.”

“My mom will be there. It’ll be fine.” She’d visited the capitol decades before as a student. The domed center, stretching pillars, and marble sculptures were a staple of class field trips. One time, her class got to go inside Zeus’ office.

The pity on Hades’ face caused her heart to drop. He didn’t trust Demeter to defend her.

“Ready?” Hades asked.

Persephone nodded. Hades touched her arm and an electrical shock bolted through her system. Body tensing and jerking, Persephone flailed as her feet scrambled for solid ground. After a painful moment, a warm touch blossomed on her back, and she opened her eyes to a blinding light. As she found her footing, a dark figure moved into her vision. Whoever it was smelled like Hades.

Persephone blinked until Hades’ face sharpened before her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Um, yes. I’m fine,” she whispered and brushed her hands down the front of her sweatshirt and joggers. In the hurry to appease Zeus’ summons, she’d forgotten to change her clothes. “It’s been a while since I’ve portaled like that. Normally I vomit, so I’d say it was one of the better trips.”

“Sorry, love. Next time, I’ll go slower,” said Hades.

“Persephone?” Demeter’s voice cut through Persephone like a knife, and she whipped round to see her mom standing next to a white marble desk, gaping at her. Zeus was beside her. His white hair was brighter than the white of his jacket and shirt. He was statuesque like Hades but with rounder features and a weathered face.

Up close, they didn’t look like brothers. Hades appeared much younger with strong vulpine features—cunning and lethal.

Her mom’s heliotrope colored silk blouse and cream linen pants looked pressed, as if she were headed into a board meeting. A meeting with Zeus warranted fine clothes, even from a goddess. Yet Persephone stood frozen on the spot, caught in her mom’s stare and Zeus’ frown, wearing athleisure wear.

Zeus shook the floors, saying, “Brother, why have you stolen Persephone?”

Persephone turned to look at Hades and realized that his hand was still on her upper back. He shot her a wink and playful smile then whispered, “Don’t worry, Sephy. Your future husband’s got this.”

Hades strode towards Zeus and Demeter. “I believe you meant to ask why did IabductPersephone. You don’t steal a goddess. You abduct them.” Hades snapped his fingers and a stack of paper fell with a loud thud onto Zeus’ desk. “Even so, this accusation is off base. Persephone is my contracted employee.”

Hermes surprised Persephone at her side as he sidled up to her and bumped her shoulder. He spoke softly out of the side of his mouth, “Has he hurt you?”

“No. He’s just a shameless flirt, but that’s how they all are.” Persephone pointed her chin at the trio of her mom, Hades, and Zeus, who all stood cross-armed and brooding around Zeus’ massive desk.

Hermes gave a quiet laugh. “That they are.”

Now that her eyes adjusted to the room’s light, she took in the wall of windows behind Zeus’ desk that looked out onto fluffy cloud tops. Gilded columns and golden streaks in the marble tile floor reflected a warm light. The large, circular room dimmed slightly as her eyes adjusted. More white marble covered walls and floors.

Zeus spoke with his thunderous voice again, filling the office with a building storm. High above them, stone gray wisps fattened into bulbous clouds ready to burst. “Demeter,” Zeus said as he flipped through the contract. “Your daughter’s signature is all over this. Only Hades has the power to dissolve a contract like this one anyway.”

Heels clacked on the shiny marble floor as Demeter stepped closer to Hades. She stabbed a finger in Hades’ direction but kept her focus on Zeus. “You don’t understand. Persephone purchased the app first and then Hades took it. He’s claiming his contracts are retroactive because he bought the patent.”

Still and smirking, Hades shrugged at Demeter. “It’s true.”

“Persephone.” Zeus’ voice had her spine ramrod straight.

She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “Yes?”

“Have you been mistreated in any way by my brother?”

Her gaze darted from Hades to her mother. The two of them glared at each other, their expressions locked in a battle of wills, both poised to strike. Someone was about to be very unhappy.

Directing her reply to Zeus, she said, “He’s gone to great efforts to ensure my comfort. While I don’t like how things started, working for him has been… surprisingly positive. I do miss my DB colleagues, though.”

Hades hid the flex of his brow before Zeus looked at him. Her mom, on the other hand, stared blankly back at her. Fates, how she wished her mom would’ve communicated with her before this meeting. If she wasn’t angry with Persephone before, then she sure as Tartarus was now.

Zeus dropped into his chair, rubbing his temples. “Demeter, Hades is in the clear. His contracts are ironclad and retroactive. As God of the Underworld, he governs all legalities tied to our laws. My hands are bound.” He turned to Hades. “What are the terms?”

Hades smiled but there was no warmth in it. “Six months, of which Persephone has completed two already. Then she’s free to return to Demeter’s Bounty if she wishes.” His voice softened as he looked at Persephone. There was a tenderness in his eyes that made her stomach flip. “I hope I can convince her to stay indefinitely, but she hasn’t warmed to the idea… yet.”

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