Page 88 of Dead End

“Purely by luck,” I said. “Seems like a dangerous strategy.”

My father caught my eye. “You don’t remember?”

“Remember what? I’ve regained a lot of my memories, but not all of them.”

“You had a bit of a rebellious streak when you were younger,” my father began. “You knew Tartarus was forbidden, which obviously made it more attractive to you. One day you snuck inside.”

My mother pressed her palms to her cheeks, remembering. “We searched everywhere for you. It was Cerberus who led us to Tartarus. It never occurred to us that you would actually enter on your own.”

“We found you in the same cave where you found us,” my father continued. “You’d been chased by one of the tormented souls and managed to find safety there.”

My chest constricted. All these years, they’d been waiting for me to rescue them, and I had no idea. “I believed you were dead. Everyone did. Pops. Grandma.” My throat grew thick to continue.

“We couldn’t risk telling anyone our plan, not even Cerberus,” my mother said. “When The Corporation made it clear they were coming to obliterate us, we decided to return to Tartarus and hide.”

“You had to know that your mortal sides wouldn’t last.”

“They knew,” my mother said gently. “They were willing to do whatever was necessary to keep you safe and, for that, we are eternally grateful.”

They. Dana and James. My human parents.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” my father added.

I hated to ask my next question, but I had to know. “Did they suffer?”

My mother’s eyes softened. “No, sweetheart. We made it easy for them.”

“We hoped once you were old enough, your memories as Melinoe would guide you here,” my father continued.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m a goddess reborn, but I’ve had some brain blocks when it comes to those memories.”

My father squinted at me. “How old are you now? In human years?”

“Thirty-six.”

A small gasp escaped my mother. “That’s older than I was … than Dana was when you were born.”

I wrung my hands in my lap. “I don’t understand why you got tangled up with The Corporation in the first place. If you only needed a break from the underworld, how did you end up as avatars?”

Another look passed between my parents. “Hestia didn’t tell you?” my father asked.

I tried not to let my exasperation show. My parents were frail and probably not able to think clearly. “Tell me what?”

“The reason we left.”

“She mentioned that you wanted a break from the underworld and left of your own accord, which is why nobody knew what happened between you and The Corporation.”

“A break,” my father murmured. “Indeed.”

Their reactions confused me. “Why did you leave?”

Both parents were silent. “You know what?” my fatherfinally said. “Best not to dwell on a past that can’t be changed. The reasons don’t matter. What matters now is that we’re together again in the present.” He reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, which was all he could manage.

I dropped that particular question. My parents had endured enough trauma. Whatever had upset them in the past, I agreed it was best to leave it there.

My mother’s fingers stroked my cheek. “I worried I’d never see you again.”

“Can I tell you what I know about your involvement with The Corporation, or what I think I know, and you can confirm or deny?”

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