Poisonous Psyche by Rose Stephanie

Author:Rose, Stephanie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stephanie Rose
Published: 2022-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

║19. MESSAGES FROM DEATH║

ATHENA

“Princess.”

Her fingers clasped around its wrist; the culprit. She couldn’t envision its face, but it was there, it was there.

“Princess.”

The voice was so close, so clear, but it didn’t match the blurred features before her; those belonging to the wrist she’d snatched.

“Athena! Goddess of wisdom, please wake up!”

Her eyelids thrust open to view the mauve canopy above. And to encounter a feminine face with pale cheeks and delicate eyes, and hands shaking her awake. “Wh-what? What is it?” Athena shot into a seated position, her forehead warm, the sheets beneath her damp and itchy.

Inclining her head, the youthful girl muttered muted apologies. “It’s urgent, Princess. But you sounded like you were…”

“Solving a crime?” Athena snorted. “Yes, I was… in my dream.” She threw aside the velvet covers and blinked. Her eyes fought to adjust to the semi-permanent darkness. “What is so urgent?”

The girl held a torch in one hand, her other bunching at her side. “He did not say, only sent me to fetch you.”

“He?” Athena stretched her legs, her feet, her toes, and slipped off the mattress.

“The king.” The girl’s features were frantic, panicked. “He summons you, now.”

Nose scrunched at the rude awakening, Athena scrambled to locate her sandals. She ruffled her chestnut mane before scurrying after the serving girl. She was far from presentable and had no clue how long she’d slept, but Hades appeared adamant on seeing her at once.

Halfway down the hall, Athena paused. “Wait,” she said, and the girl spun around, eyes wide and worried. “What about Hermes?”

“His Majesty only asked for you, Highness.” She waved at Athena to hurry. “And he’s not a patient man.”

Athena tucked a few impossible-to-tame strands behind her ears. “Right, but why now, why only me?”

The girl skidded up to Athena so fast, she was like a strike of lightning, and almost as painful as she snagged Athena’s forearm. “I don’t ask questions, and neither should you.” She yanked, and Athena nearly flew after her.

Once downstairs, the girl nudged her towards a rounded wooden door, across from the parlor.

“He waits for you inside,” she said, and after a hurried curtsy, she disappeared back upstairs.

With a sigh, Athena knocked and crept in. The space was almost identical to the parlor, but instead of a sitting area it had a massive fireplace and an ornate desk. The table was covered in paperwork, quills, piles of documents, but Hades stood off to the side, staring into the fumes.

“Uncle?” She closed the door. “You wished to see me?”

He swirled to her and smiled, his raven eyes warm, reflecting the flames. “Welcome to my study, dearest niece.” He motioned at a chair before the desk.

She waddled over to the ruby-red cushions but didn’t sit. “What’s going on? Where’s Hermes?”

“He doesn’t need to be here.” He gestured at her to sit, and as he prepared to do the same, someone knocked. “Yes, come in, come in.” He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck; he was tenser than usual.

When the door creaked open, Athena understood why.

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