Captive in the Underworld by Lianyu Tan

Author:Lianyu Tan [Tan, Lianyu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648994800
Publisher: Shattered Scepter Press

Movement jostled Persephone awake. She opened her eyes to find the day had grown dark. She was seated on Alastor with Hades behind her, her arm wrapped around Persephone to keep her upright. Nereia followed in their wake, her mane devoid of poppies.

Hades held a lantern in her other hand, but Alastor seemed to know the way. Around them, the shadows loomed tall and leering, the weathered branches of trees creeping out like hands along the path.

“Where are we?” Persephone asked.

“Almost home.” Hades’ body pressed against Persephone’s back, their skin separated only by thin layers of fabric. As always, Hades felt warmer than she’d remembered.

“Was I... asleep?” Persephone’s hand drifted up and plucked a poppy from her hair. In the dark, its petals seemed the color of dried blood.

“So deeply I could not wake you. There are safe ways to approach the river Lethe. I suggest you stay away from it until you master them.”

Persephone shifted slightly and then exhaled as she felt the vial press against her skin beneath her strophion. She’d managed to accomplish what Ismaros had asked of her. “Of course,” she said. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

They traveled in silence for a time. It felt... comfortable. Alastor’s gait was gentle, and she relaxed against Hades’ shoulder.

Would she miss Persephone, when she was gone?

She needn’t think so highly of herself. After all, she couldn’t even read. Hades would be better suited by a clever wife, one who could assist her to rule.

“How were your lessons?” Hades asked.

Persephone jolted awake, her head cradled in the crook of Hades’ arm. She pinched herself. It would not do to miss her morning appointment with Ismaros. “He hit me,” she said, picturing Stephanus’s caterpillar-like eyebrows.

“Did you do something to deserve it?”

“No! Well, I don’t think so.”

Hades shifted behind her. “Once you are done learning, you could have him tortured for eternity, if you would like.”

She wasn’t serious. Was she? “He didn’t hit me that hard,” Persephone said. Not like you.

“Jests aside, you will need to extract as much knowledge from him as you can. I have a stack of reading material for you three cubits high.”

“That sounds tedious.”

“It is. But if you are to be my consort in more than name, it will be one of your duties.”

All the more reason for her to escape to the surface as quickly as she could. “Hades,” she began.

“Yes?”

“Is it true that there are more suicides in spring than at harvest time?”

Hades was silent for a moment. “You will have to compare the records in the repository. Why?”

“Something Stephanus said. About my season.”

“Are you certain you do not wish to have him tortured?”

“Hades!” Persephone lightly slapped Hades’ thigh. Hades might be jaded and cold enough to jest about something as cruel as an eternity of torment, but Persephone could never be that cynical. If she left now, she would never have to be.

“We are here,” Hades said, making Persephone jump. Had she fallen asleep again?

They were just outside the stables, and Eustachys awaited them. Hades helped her to dismount.

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