Daughter of the Earth and Sky (28 page)

Damn it, I’d hoped it would never come to this. She was my sister and my friend, and I’d stabbed her in the back by pretending “Joel” was anyone but Zeus. I’d helped to keep her oblivious, but only because I had to. I never wanted Zeus to win. But now he had Persephone, and with her, access to the Underworld and the living realm. We were all doomed.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt her.” I’d meant to sound defiant, angry, but it came out petulant and scared.

“I said I didn’t have to. There’s a difference.”

I closed my eyes. Of course there was. “You’re leaving me here, aren’t you?”

Zeus grinned. “I’m sure you’ll make yourself useful.”

I was surprised it still hurt. I’d known from the beginning that I was no more than a pawn to Zeus. He’d created me from the remains of Uranus to give me unprecedented levels of charm and then abandoned me in the world without the knowledge to control it.

Charisma, or charm, is kind of like mind control if you know how to use it. I can smile at pretty much any human and make them do what I want, but uncontrolled it’s dangerous. Used without direction, it steers humans toward their baser instincts. They’d be obsessed with me, jealous, enamored, whatever, to the extreme. Anything could have happened to me, but either way, it served Zeus’ purpose. He had back-up plans for his back-up plans.

Now he was leaving me with two very pissed-off deities that would move heaven and earth to find Persephone. No telling what they’d do to me.

I wondered if she knew how lucky she was. I’d sell my soul to have just one of the following she seemed to collect anywhere she went.

“Tell Hades and Demeter I’ll take their realms in exchange for the girl.” Zeus shifted and grabbed the necklace Persephone always wore and gave it a yank. The silver chain broke and he tossed it toward me. “Give him that, will you?” He vanished before I could answer.

I plucked the necklace out of the puddle it had fallen into. A small plant was anchored in a wire basket. I shook the water off it and dried the pomegranate charm on my shirt. Oh yeah, Hades was definitely going to kill me when he came to.

I’d run, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. Zeus had created me with an extra-special tweak. I was loyal to family. Loyal to the point of obedience if they outranked me enough. That was why I was almost glad I was still “useful” to him. I had a feeling the minute he didn’t need me anymore, he’d ask me to swear fealty and give him all my power. Suicide by devotion. And I’d have no choice but to oblige.

I sat beside Hades and pulled my knees to my chest. I felt hollow inside. Hopeless. The rain dripped down my face, mimicking the tears that I didn’t dare cry.

* * * *

Hades groaned and shifted positions. I shook his shoulder.

“Hades?”

His eyes snapped open. He bolted up and glanced around the park, gaze falling on a nearby patch of scorched earth. Myriad emotions flickered over his face, too fast for me to identify. Then his gaze hardened in rage and he looked at me. “Where is she?”

My voice was shaking as I held out the necklace. “Zeus will take the Underworld in exchange for—”

I found myself on the ground, Hades’ hands wrapped around my throat. Agony spread from his fingertips. The ground beneath me crackled and shriveled. The leaves turned dark with decay.

I screamed, or tried to, but all that came out was a strangled yelp.

“Let’s try that again. Where. Is. She?” His voice was dark and dangerous, and there was murder in his eyes.