Page 77 of Dead End

CHAPTER TWELVE

I missed Hestia at breakfast.The morning attendant, Phoebe, informed me that my aunt’s presence had been requested at an early meeting. When I pressed her for details, she said that was all she knew.

“Is that typical to have meetings before breakfast?” I asked. I was grouchy without food.

“No, Your Ladyship.”

“Do you know who requested the meeting?”

“No, only that Her Majesty seemed displeased.”

I stared at a bowl of yogurt and nuts.

“Is something wrong, Your Ladyship?” Phoebe asked.

“Nothing. I just… Not to sound entitled, but we wouldn’t happen to have any blueberries, would we?”

“No blueberries, but I could bring you a small bowl of cherries to add to your breakfast, if that would please you.”

“No, thanks. This is delicious just as it is.” I liked cherries well enough, but blueberries reminded me of Fairhaven, and I longed for a taste of home.

The attendant left the room with a curtsy. I ate in uncomfortable silence. No Nana Pratt rambling about recipes or thegarden. No sounds of Ray’s carpentry in the next room. No Claude tapping his gnarly fingers on the table.

No Kane.

I was no stranger to a lonely, quiet meal. I’d spent most of my adult life sitting alone at a table in silence, but Fairhaven changed that. I enjoyed the ghostly hustle and bustle. The steady stream of interruptions by West and others.

I finished breakfast and vacated the table. There were no signs of any attendants in the hallway, so I headed toward the throne room in search of Hestia. Maybe I’d find Cerberus there. The hellhound had vacated his spot outside my chambers before I left.

I didn’t get very far before I encountered the angry aunties, otherwise known as the Erinyes. The trio of deadly furies fanned out in front of me, effectively blocking my path. The Hounds of Hades were among the fiercest supernaturals I knew, and that was saying something.

“Hello again, aunties.”

“We heard you were here,” Alecto said. “Thought it was only a rumor until now.”

It was unlikely they’d attended the early meeting with Hestia if that was their belief.

“We didn’t expect you to come willingly,” Megaera said.

Tisiphone’s teeth gleamed. “And I, for one, was hoping you wouldn’t, if only for the chance to drag you here by the hair.”

“Gosh, I’ve missed your gentle nature.” No small wonder that, as a child, I’d preferred the company of a three-headed hellbeast to the aunties. “Listen, there’s been a change in management. I hope you don’t mind if I set up a time to review your more recent progress reports.”

They exchanged glances. “Hestia still resides here,” Alecto said.

“We’re in a transition period, but with me taking overregular duties here…” I flashed a smile. “Well, I guess that makes me your new boss. On that note, I’d like to talk about Tartarus when you get a chance.”

Meg’s eyebrows lifted. “Why?”

“I have questions that you three are likely equipped to answer.”

“We don’t talk about Tartarus,” Tisiphone said.

“Why not?”

She folded her arms. “Just because we have to go there to inflict punishment on occasion doesn’t mean we enjoy it.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” Their discomfort spurred me on. “You know what? Let’s talk about it this afternoon. I’m sure you have a few minutes to spare for the incoming queen of the underworld.”

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