Page 42 of Monster Song
“Please tell me you didn’t use Anatolia. You know she’s insane.”
“The saner oracles are less effective. You know I’m right, my love. When the shit has hit the fan, you go to the craziest oracle for the answer.”
Everyone within range started laughing, even Pavlina, and she had no love for Anatolia.
“I mean, he’s not wrong. The Gods all took the oracles they could tolerate to Olympus and sent the really nutty ones to the Underworld. Anatolia outshines all of them when it comes to sheer dumb fuckery,” Pavlina said.
“I think she was into my baby bird, but we managed to put her off.”
“My mother wouldn’t have left without a fight. How did you trap her in the pits of Tartarus?”
Oh, god. Here it comes. She wasn’t alive being a bitch to everyone in the pits of Tartarus. She was crumbled rock at the entrance of that stupid temple she had built for herself. I didn’t know Persephone, but I’d met enough Olympians so far to know they liked their revenge.
“My love, Hephaestus wasn’t happy she tricked him or what she forced the monsters to do with his creation. You know what the other Olympians have done to him over the years. You know what his own father did to him. He crafted a weapon capable of killing one of us. Demeter isn’t in the pits of Tartarus. She’s dead.”
Persephone gasped.
“I know why it had to be done. My mother hates losing. She didn’t do all this because she loved me and wanted me home. She did it because she considered me a game piece she lost to you. Not even the pits of Tartarus would have stopped her from trying again. But this weapon is dangerous in so many ways.”
“I know this, and I’ve prepared.”
There was something unspoken going on between Hades and Persephone. I could tell they were deeply in love and had one of those relationships where they could convey things with just a glance, but I wanted them to say it out loud. Hephaestus’s absence was becoming more pronounced. He should have been back by now.
“Where is Hephaestus?” I demanded.
“At his forge, working. He will return to you when he’s done.”
“What is he working on if Demeter is dead, Hades? Don’t make me set your trousers on fire in front of your wife.”
Persephone started giggling.
“Oh, I like her. He’ll kill you for that, you know.”
I just raised my chin.
“He didn’t the first time I did it.”
Persephone fell out laughing, and Hades scowled at me.
“The only reason you still live is that I don’t want a war with Hell. Will you just do as you’re told for once and accept that I’m working on something, and Hephaestus will return when he’s done? I don’t have to tell you all my plans.”
“You do if it involves Hephaestus!”
My father put his hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
“This is Olympian business, River. If you want to live here instead of Hell, you will have to accept Hades is in charge. As amusing as it is to watch you boot up against a God, Hades will eventually run out of patience with you. He won’t kill you because of me, but he may kick you out of his domain.”
I bit my lip. He was totally right, but making Hades mad was so much fun. I needed to remember Hades was on my side, and if he had Hephaestus working on something, it was probably destroying all those weapons he made that could kill Hades, Persephone, and Hephaestus.
Persephone was right. They were needed to kill Demeter, but they were dangerous to have around the Underworld. There were still many people here that didn’t bet on the fights that could eventually decide to rise up now that they knew that kind of weapon existed.
“Enough talk. I know how every last one of you likes to celebrate a brawl. Get River out of here and thank her for helping.”
Tryphon’s tentacle snaked around my waist, and he yanked me to him.
“No way. All of you can celebrate with your toys tonight. You’ve all gotten River alone. I want my naked pool swim now.”
Demos just grumbled.
