Page 38 of The Queen & the King

This is odd to witness.

Helios smiles. “Let’s go home, hellcat.”

“To our separate homes, yes.” Mellie vanishes a second later from his arms.

Now, this makes more sense.

Helios smirks at his empty hands before disappearing in a flash of light.1

1 The Nightmare & The Daydream Chapter 30

Twenty-Four

Persephone

“REMEMBER HOW I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE WAR? YOU’VE BEEN A PLAYER IN IT SINCE THE BEGINNING.”

I sit at my vanity, applying lipstick that I stole from Margaritte’s purse. It’s not quite my color, but my mother would never allow me to wear something so provocative. Well, she may be convinced if I mentionAdonislikes it. Even thinking his name puts a bad taste in my mouth.

My head is still spinning. Hades’ words echo through my mind, and though they are about war, there is a part of me that takes comfort in them. The part of me that feels like something is missing draws on the power of the words. It pushes at that part of my memory, trying to make me remember whatever it is I have forgotten.

I study my face, really trying to identify something different about me, something that wasn’t there before. Maybe if I stare at myself long enough, it’ll come to me, but no matter how long I look, the only thing I can identify is that my eyes are maybe a little harder than they used to be. My mother always used to commend me on my soft gaze. Now, the blue no longer looks likethe stillness of the sky but a stormy sea, and the sunshine yellow around the pupil has receded a little.

Along with the frustration, my stomach twists with nerves. I’m not sure when Hades will arrive or if he’ll even show, and if he does, how does he plan to get past my mother? I briefly wonder if he has powers similar to Eros. My lips twitch at the memory of my mother’s dazed expression as she floated off to follow Eros’s instruction.

Suddenly, the night sky fills with bright light, and there is a loud crashing sound outside. Was that a lightning strike? It must have happened right outside. Thunder continues to roll, and the forks of lightning illuminate the room. I stand up and take a few steps to close the balcony doors when I notice black smoke and shadows collecting around my vanity. My brows furrow, and I tilt my head. Before I have time to react, they dissipate, and in their wake, a small folded piece of paper remains. I step closer and see my name written in a neat script across the top.

Hades.

I pick up the letter and open it. My heart races when I see more of his elegant writing on the page and then beats even faster when I read the words.

Sneak out.

-H

The thunder continues to rumble outside, and I hear something smash downstairs, then the sounds of various staff running past my bedroom door. I purse my lips, considering my escape. My mother burned the trellises that used to line the walls outside my bedroom years ago. I silently curse her.

I put the note in the desk drawer and run to my wardrobe, grabbing my hooded cloak. It is the one item of dark clothing I own, made of brushed velvet in a deep purple. I pull it on over my purple dress, not caring that I’m covering it. My options for clothing are so limited that I simply picked the shortest sundress I could find for the date. At least this one is a wrap dress and gives me some semblance of shape. My mother bought it for picnic dates with Adonis. It falls just above my knees and can be concealed by the much longer cloak.

I move to my door and press my ear against it, waiting until the footsteps retreat downstairs. More items smash, and I can hear people shouting. I listen harder and catch my mother’s voice amidst the uproar.

I slowly open the door and peek my head out. The mostly dark corridors welcome me as I slip out, blending into the shadows. I make my way down the servant’s stairs, hoping everyone will be where the trouble is happening.

My heart races, and I can barely hear anything over it. An orange glow leaks from beneath the door leading into the kitchen, and I sneak closer, pressing my ear to the wood before slowly pushing it open. I step inside and press my back against the stone wall. The room is empty, and I exhale heavily when my gaze meets the back door. The final hurdle is to get across this kitchen without being seen. I am halfway across the room when the main door for the kitchen opens, and I freeze.

“L-Lady Persephone?” Margaritte’s voice is scared, hushed, and surprised.

I close my eyes, trying to plan my next move. There is another loud crash, this one much closer, and I hear my mother’s furious voice as she yells at her assailant. I am running out of time, and I turn to look at Margaritte.

“Margaritte—”

Margaritte swallows, looking back at the door and then at me. “Go.”

I glance at the door and then back to her. “But, I?—”

“Go, Lady Persephone. I will cover for you,” she says, hurrying to push me toward the door.

I pause at the door, searching her face. “But why?”

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