Daughter of the Earth and Sky (17 page)

“Why is his wife here? Atlanta has better hospitals, and there are probably hospitals that specialize in whatever’s wrong with her.”

“Don’t knock St. Mary’s.” I pushed his shoulder playfully. “I was born there.”

Joel’s expression sobered. His blue eyes turned thoughtfully to the lake. “Do you think she’s happy? Being kept alive like that? I mean it’s been months. She’s got to be on life support or something, right?”

I shrugged uncomfortably. “He’s in love with her. He doesn’t want her to die.”

“What if her soul has already moved on?”

“That soul is half the problem,” I muttered, fiddling with my necklace. At Joel’s confused look I added, “Well, what if that’s all comas are? Or maybe not all the time, but in this case, what if her soul and her body aren’t talking?”

Joel fell silent while he mulled my question over. I liked that about him. Half the stuff I said to him had to sound crazy, but he never laughed at me. He took everything I said seriously, thinking it over from every possible angle.

Like Hades.

“There’s a myth about broken souls,” Joel said finally. “I’m surprised Orpheus hasn’t heard it. As crazy as he is about all that stuff.”

I leaned against Joel, and he draped his arm over my shoulder. “What is it?”

“When the gods created humans, they didn’t look like us. They had four legs, four arms, two faces, and one soul. They were complete and happy. But they were too fulfilled. Too powerful.”

“They were a threat,” I murmured.

“Exactly. Zeus split them in two saying that men would never amount to anything if they spent half of their lives searching for their other half.” He gave me a significant look. “Some people get lucky and find their soul mates, but the rest will always be searching to fill that void in their lives.”

“Do you think the gods have soul mates?” I winced at the wishfulness in my voice.

“Why would they need them?” He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. “Since I was willing to listen to Orpheus, does that mean I get to pick the next movie?”

I grinned at him. “Deal. Now get out of here or you’ll be late to class.”

* * * *

I swung by my house after I left the park. I didn’t spend much time at home anymore, but I had to drop by at some point, otherwise Mom would get mad. I was so exhausted from my night out with Aphrodite that I almost forgot my book bag in the car. I hurried back to my trunk and grabbed it. If she figured out I wasn’t in school anymore, she’d be furious.

“Mom, I’m home!” I dropped my book bag on the floor by the door. I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out at the house. I was due in the Underworld soon.

“Mom?” I rounded the corner into the kitchen, anticipating my after-school snack. Sure, she couldn’t be trusted to tell the truth, and she was scheming and manipulative, but she always made a good snack.

A Reaper was sitting at the table in her place. I came to a surprised stop, aware of two other Reapers slipping behind me. “Where is she?” It took more effort than I cared to admit to keep my voice from trembling.

The Reaper picked up a note from the table and read in a ridiculous falsetto voice. “Persephone, went to Buford with Minthe to shop. Cookies are in the oven. See you in the morning.”

I threw a quick glance at the oven to make sure the house wasn’t going to catch on fire. It was off. She must have left them in there just to keep them warm.

Shit. Buford, Mall of Georgia, the Melting Pot, and outlet malls. Mom would be home late. Again. She’d been out almost every day lately.
It’s all our fighting
, I realized with a sudden clarity. She was avoiding me too, just like everyone else.

“Looks like we have you all to ourselves,” the redheaded Reaper said with a grin.

I shrieked in pain as one of the Reapers grabbed me from behind, fingers digging painfully into my ribs. Something in their touch was different. I actually felt it. Not just a tearing feeling at my soul, but actual hands on my actual flesh.

It hurt like hell.

“Happy Halloween,” one of the Reapers hissed.

I screamed as they dragged me through my house. One of the Reapers bumped into a chair and knocked it down. That never happened. Were they corporeal?

“Let me go!” I lashed out and landed a blow on one of their shoulders. It hurt me, I was still touching him after all, but for a second I thought I saw the Reaper wince.

“Swear fealty to Zeus.”

I shook my head, and he wrapped his hand around my neck, sending shock waves through my body. I couldn’t breathe. I clawed desperately at his hand, and his grip tightened. The world spun around me in a dizzying wave. He released his hand and slammed me into the wall. “Swear fealty to Zeus!”

“No!”

His fingers dug into my jaw, and he lifted my chin until I was staring into his eyes. “You think this hurts? We’re just getting started.”

His lips found mine in a cruel, bruising kiss, tearing at my soul. There was no desire in his kiss, no attraction at all. It was just supposed to hurt. I struggled against the pain, trying to kick my way free, but the other Reapers shifted, one grabbing me roughly by the arms, the other taking hold of my legs so I couldn’t lash out. I couldn’t even throw up a shield since they were already touching me.

Light sparked in the redhead’s fingertips. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it couldn’t be good. Suddenly his fingers passed through my flesh. My screams ricocheted off the walls, and one of the Reapers clapped his hand over my mouth. With strength I didn’t know I possessed, I wrenched free. I was out the door in a flash and halfway to the driveway, car keys in hand, when I smacked into a solid wall of flesh. I shrieked and fell backward, scrambling away.

“No! Please! Don’t!” I lashed out, blind with panic.

“Persephone! Stop, it’s me!” Hades pulled me to my feet, and I threw myself into his arms.

Hades
! Hades was here. The Reapers wouldn’t touch me if I was with him. I wouldn’t have to feel that horrible pain again.

“What happened?” Hades held me at arm’s length and looked me up and down. “You’re as white as a sheet! Are you okay? Persephone, talk to me!”

I tried to answer, but couldn’t stop gasping for breath. Horizontal lines zigzagged in my vision. A high-pitched whine sounded in my ears, and my knees gave way. Hades caught me before I hit the ground. He glanced toward the house then back at me and swore.

“Okay, I’m here now.” He kept his voice soothing, but I could hear the panic beneath his words. He pushed my hair off my neck, fingers fumbling for a pulse. “What the—” Hades jerked me toward him and traced something on my neck, shifting my necklace to the side.

“Is she okay?” The redheaded Reaper emerged from the house, trying and failing to sound concerned.

My grip tightened on Hades, and I glanced around for the other two Reapers.

“Is the house clear?” Hades demanded. When the Reaper nodded, Hades hoisted me into his arms and walked toward the house.

“No!” I tried to get free, but a wave of dizziness pushed me back into Hades’ arms.

“It’s okay.” He flung open the door and looked around before laying me down on the couch. The Reaper followed on his heels, eyebrows pinched together in fake concern.

“Put your feet up,” Hades demanded, grabbing the sofa pillows and stacking them under my feet. He pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over me.

“What’s wrong with her?” the Reaper asked.

“She’s in shock. Where’s Demeter?”

The Reaper indicated the note on the kitchen table. Hades snatched the note and made a disgusted noise. “‘What happened?”

The Reaper shrugged. “She was sleeping and freaked out. Must have been a nightmare or something.”

I glared at the Reaper, cursing their ability to lie.

Hades turned to me. “Is that what happened? Did you forget to shield your dreams again?”

“No.” I barely managed the one word answer, my voice was so hoarse.

“So you’re trying to tell me this was just a run of the mill nightmare?” Hades asked the Reaper, his voice dripping with skepticism. When the Reaper shrugged, Hades asked, “Where are the others?”

“They went to get you. I stayed behind to protect her.”

“No one else was here? You’re absolutely certain.”

“Not that I saw.”

“Persephone, was anyone else here beside the Reapers?”

I shook my head.

Hades knelt and pried the car keys from my grip. “So when she wakes up hysterical, grabs her keys, runs out of the house, your plan was to let her get behind the wheel of a
car
?”

The Reaper narrowed his eyes. “What did you expect me to do, restrain her? In case you’ve forgotten—” He waved his hand in my direction. I flinched. “I can’t touch her.”

Hades’ hand shot out, snapping the Reaper’s wrist. “Do
not
lie to me.” He tightened his grip. “What really happened?”

The Reaper gasped, face paling. “I told you, she woke up and went nuts—”

Hades twisted the Reaper’s arm, using it to steer him into the wall. “Then why are there bruises around her
neck
?”

The Reaper’s eyes went wide. “I…I don’t know. Someone must have…” He trailed off, noticing Hades had gone very still, gaze riveted to the Reaper’s arm.

A single strand of my hair clung to the Reaper’s sleeve, shining like a golden beacon against the dark material. Hades yanked the Reaper’s sleeve back, exposing the scratches decorating the Reaper’s wrist.

“What did you
do
?”

“I can explain.”

“Did you touch my wife?” Hades’ voice was low and dangerous.

“Yes, but—”

Hades’ fist slammed into the Reaper’s face. A shield dropped. I blinked, staring at the place where Hades and the Reaper had been. My vision was swimming. I felt lightheaded, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed me, and my eyes rolled shut.

“No you don’t.” Hades was beside me in a flash. I bolted upright, looking behind Hades for the Reaper. He was at the table; a shield had formed around him, gluing him in place. His face was puffy, like Hades had used it for a punching bag.

“It’s okay.” Hades’ voice was soothing. “It’s going to be okay.” He gently kissed my forehead, searching for echoes of pain and panic. His fingers traced a sensitive spot on my neck. I flinched, feeling the network of bruises laced around my throat from the Reaper’s grip. He pushed my sleeves to the side following the red impressions left by the Reaper’s fingers. His jaw clenched when he found the handprints on my side.

Healing warmth spread through his palms, erasing the pain wherever they touched. His fingers brushed the bruises on my leg. His gaze went dark. I could feel the rage coursing through him. He was like a powder keg, ready to explode. When his fingers traced my bruised lips, he took a deep breath, struggling to maintain his temper. He clasped a hand to my cheek, probing further. For a second I could feel my soul as solid and certain as any other part of me.

“Gods,” Hades swore as he assessed the condition of my torn and battered soul. I felt a flash of power, and it fell back into place, whole and unharmed.

Behind him, the Reaper gasped for breath. He looked different. The light wasn’t bending around him the same way it usually did. “What’s happening to me?”

Hades stiffened and pulled away. He studied me for a moment, and I knew he wanted to make sure I was okay before he dealt with the Reaper. I nodded and Hades stood and pivoted toward the Reaper.

“I’ve brought you back to life.” Hades’ voice was cold.

“What?”

“Don’t get too excited. The condition is temporary.” Hades gave the Reaper a dark grin. “You seem like the type of guy that likes to experiment. You got real creative tearing my wife’s soul to bits. Surely at some point you must have wondered what it felt like.”

“N…no.” The Reaper looked like he wanted to say more, but couldn’t. Thanatos must have found some way to bind him. He looked to me, eyes wide in desperation.

Sucks, doesn’t it
? I sat up on the couch, flashing the Reaper a savage grin.

He read my thoughts on my face and gulped. “You don’t understand. It wasn’t just—I didn’t— There’s more—” His voice gave to an anguished cry when Hades reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Please! Stop!” he screamed, writhing in agony.

“How many times did she say that?” Hades demanded. “How many times did you make her beg?” His hand turned white, and it plunged through the Reaper’s neck.

The Reaper let out a guttural cry.

“How long could a normal human soul survive this? Did you ever wonder that?” Hades shook the Reaper; he moved limply, like a rag doll. “Let’s find out.”

There was a bright flash of light, and the Reaper was gone.

Hades dusted off his hands and turned to me. “You okay?”

I nodded numbly. “Why…What are you doing here?”

Hades glanced at me, surprised. “Why do you think? I haven’t seen you in over a week! I was worried sick. When I felt your pain and panic, I thought your powers—” He waved his hand at me and sat wearily at the kitchen table. “Anyway, there’s a new entrance to the Underworld in your backyard. Hope you don’t mind.”

“A week?” I stared at him, incredulous. I tried to remember the last time I saw Hades and drew a blank.

He nodded. “I know you’re still…embarrassed, or whatever, over that whole charming thing—”

I blinked. What was he talking about?

“But it really is okay. I know you’d never do that on purpose. I trust you. We just have to work on your control. Okay?”

I nodded, even though I was still confused.

He looked at me for a minute, then took my hand and channeled away my excess power. Images from my mind flowed to his, but they weren’t anything I remembered. Drinking with Aphrodite, dancing with random guys, dark corners, a really intense make-out session with Joel. The images flew like barbs, attacking Hades. He drew back, staring at me in surprise.

“What the hell, Persephone!”

“Hades, wait.” I tried to say something, tried to explain, but I didn’t know how to explain. I didn’t remember
doing
any of that stuff.

He shook his head and stood abruptly. “It’s not my business.”