Page 2 of Monster Song
Barbatos cocked an eyebrow at me.
“You have a little more in common with your monsters than you know. My demonic form is just a man. You should have one too, and it could be anything since I’m fire born.”
“Explain.”
“Most demons are born, but sometimes, demons are spat from the fires of Hell. They call us fire born, and we are always Hell royalty. Fire born all have a demonic form. You should have one too.”
Pavlina bat her eyelashes at me.
“Show us your monster, beautiful.”
“I’d like to see that too, baby bird.”
“Out with it, my pet.”
Even Demos, who had seemed so afraid of my fire, looked intrigued.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing that myself.”
“What are the possibilities, and how do I access it?”
My father just grinned at me.
“The possibilities are endless. I’ll have to work with you to access it. My legions are just waiting to come to help free the Underworld of Demeter’s influence. My general is trying to get the kings to permit more dukes to get involved. Amduscias wants to come. Now that I’m here, I’ve got your back, River.”
That was oddly comforting.
Chapter 2
Kimon
S
o, my baby bird might have a little monster form like the rest of us. I think that just made me like her more. I didn’t enjoy sitting this far away from her at the dinner table, but we had taken our usual seats when we dined with Hades and Persephone. Sometimes, we ate with them, and sometimes, we stood just outside the door guarding them.
It was always lovely to be invited, and I had a feeling River wouldn’t have taken no for an answer if Hades tried to leave us out. Her father seemed nice. He wasn’t some snob that demanded we leave the table. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he had. He would have been meeting his daughter for the first time. I think if I found out I had a secret daughter, I wouldn’t have wanted to have our first meeting with an audience.
Then again, I didn’t go around sleeping with women and stealing their pets. I understood why he took the Hellhound after seeing Lis in action, but if Barbatos and River could both talk to her and give her the promise of bringing her home, I had a feeling she’d be turning on Demeter in a hot minute.
I didn’t understand much about being fire born or Hell politics. I tried to pay attention because it was a part of her. We’d moved on to something I both did and didn’t want to talk about. Barbatos promised his legions and the promise of help from Hell. Once we had that, we could get Demeter in the pits of Tartarus, and River had no reason to stay here. If she was some kind of royalty in Hell, why would she stay in the Underworld with us?
I had this idea in my head of wooing her until she was mine. I wouldn’t keep her in the Underworld if she didn’t want to stay. I thought maybe Hades would grant me the ability to go back home with her. I loved my minotaur, and I thought she did too, but I could keep him at bay if it meant being with her.
That was probably all out the window now. River was a powerful woman, and she wasn’t afraid to go up against Hades and Demeter. She didn’t strike me as a materialistic woman. Still, the pull of family and being with those like you were strong.
My father was the first minotaur. He took a human wife who died in childbirth with me. Like all monsters, demigods trying to prove themselves hunted my father. He taught me everything I know, but they killed him when I was only fifteen years old.
I was the only minotaur alive after that, and I was captured and thrown into the labyrinth before I could ever fall in love. I met my death there before I could ever have a child or experience love. It never really happened in the Underworld either. I devoted myself to protecting Persephone from her mother.
It was hitting me now. River was someone I could love. She didn’t shy away from me when she saw my monster. In fact, she seemed rather attracted to him. She didn’t judge any of us. I knew I had competition, but I thought we were all going to have to get used to her leaving with her father when this was over. Maybe Hell could use a minotaur.
I finally snapped back to attention and started paying attention to the conversation. First and foremost, I had a job, and that was to save my queen. River’s father was here to meet her and give her answers, but he also promised his help.
“Solron is dying for Bael to let her out and play. She’s a shadow demon, and she will probably end up being a queen of Hell. You say he has your wife in a temple? Is it well lit? I know nothing about your temples. We find that sort of thing odd in Hell.”
“I’ve seen the temple,” Demos said. “It’s old school, like the Greeks used to build, aside from the stained glass window in the back. That was just pure vanity. There’s no electricity. Just natural light, candled, an enormous statue of Demeter, and a whole lot of pink gauze. I thought we could break through the stained glass window.”
“And your queen could get killed. It’s not needed,” Barbatos said. “All you need is a shadow demon, and we have one that likes to go out and play. Now, her methods might be a little twisted for the Underworld, but—”
