Chapter Twenty-Two:

Hades:

He strolled onto the beach, checking the lists once more as salty ocean air whipped its way through his hair. Same thing every day-same routine-except this time, she noticed him.

Good first step he thought, smiling a little to himself as he walked towards the lines of souls.

Hermes detached himself from Horace and Jasper, taking in Hades' joyful expression, and scowled. "You were in Portland, weren't you?"

When Hades remained silent, he cursed, low under his breath, handing Hades a tablet. "You can't keep doing this, brother! She might still be your soulmate, but she doesn't remember who you are, and won't anytime soon, thanks to the Fates. Leave her be."

"I accept your counsel on things dealing with the souls, brother, but stay out of my personal life, if you know what's good for you," Hades replied, calling the first soul forward.

"Emma deserves a life free from this chaotic, danger-filled place."

"You don't need to tell me what she deserves; I've tried to make her happy since the moment I first met her," Hades said, swiping another name off the screen.

"And you think you're doing that by continually visiting her? She's going to notice you stalking her, Hades, and start asking questions that you can't answer."

"I've been careful so far. Sticking to the shadows, surveying her apartment from across the street -"

"And today's coffee shop date? What of that?"

Damn. I knew that wouldn't go unnoticed.

"Her grandmother decided to pay her a little visit. I was simply making sure Maxine didn't tell Emma anything she's not supposed to."

Hermes gazed back at him for a long moment before shaking his head. "You can't even lie convincingly to yourself, let alone me. She's not Persephone-there's no curse to break this time-so the best thing you can do for her is to stay out of her life."

"It's not that easy."

"Try. Because I swear to the gods, Hades, if you haunt her every waking moment to satisfy your own selfish need to be near her, I'll make your life a living Hell."

"It sounds like you care a lot about her." It wasn't an accusation, and he wasn't jealous of it, not really.

"She's like a little sister to me, Hades. Of course I care. Stay away from her." He thrust his tablet Hades' direction, stomping down the beach, and Hades smiled at his retreating back.

"If you had bothered to ask my opinion-which you didn't-I could've told you that making her immortal yourself was the best way to go," Hera said primly, brushing sand off her dress. "But, as usual, you always have to be the one in control, even if someone else's advice benefits you in the long run. Look where that got you."

He handed his things to Jasper, who called the next soul forward. "I don't remember asking for a family intervention."

"This was entirely avoidable, Hades. All you had to do was ask the Fate's permission to make your soulmate immortal-something they would've granted you because, hello, she's basically a feminine version of you-and then she wouldn't've felt the need to take things into her own hands."

He rolled his eyes skyward as he entered the dining room, sitting at the head of the table and snapping his fingers for the staff, who rushed into view with platters of food for two.

"Hera, where I enjoy your presence, I'd rather be alone right now."

"That's exactly why you need me here," she said, sitting next to him. "Your pitiful broodiness is dangerous to all man and godkind alike."

"I can't stop visiting her-can't stop caring about her enough to want to know how she's doing."

"You shouldn't have to," she said, shrugging as she speared a piece of watermelon on the end of her fork.

He smiled. "I think Hermes would disagree with you there."

"Screw that little git. I mean, obviously don't approach her, but if it helps your sanity level to pop back to Portland now and then, do it. Never seeing her ever again seems mean. Just don't approach her."

"I heard you the first time, Hera."

"Well, you're a little thick-headed when you want to be."

"Insults aren't necessary-"

"And never, under any circumstance, use your freaky telepathic abilities to tap into her mind."

"You really think that I'm some sort of monster, don't you?"

Her eyes pinned him in place as she loaded her plate with food. "I saw what you did with Persephone, so don't you dare tell me that it's out of the realm of possibility for you."

"That was a different time and a different situation to now."

"How?"

"She can still see the spirits, but she doesn't understand how or why. I can help her."

"No, you can't, brother, because if you even tried, you'd be-"

"Upsetting the balance of nature. I know, and that's an extremely stupid excuse."

She shook her head side to side as she chewed slowly...thoughtfully. "You can't repeat the steps you took with her before, because they'll lead you straight down the same path."

"So, what do you propose I do?"

"Watch from afar and let her have this second chance at happiness."

He eyed the empty place to his left, remembering Emma's infectious spirit and optimistic attitude, despite everything happening around her.

I need her light to counteract my crushing darkness. Persephone was the embodiment of life-something similar, but not interchangeable.

He should take Hermes' and Hera's advice, and stay as far away from her as he could, but that was easier said than done, especially when her soul called out to his, even separated like they were now.

I'm the only one who can help her deal with the spirits in Portland. I'll be careful-maintain my distance-but without my guidance and subtle nudges, the spirits will overwhelm her, like they have before, and I won't let that happen twice.

"By the way, completely forgot to tell you that she has a boyfriend now," Hera said, picking absentmindedly at her fingernails, and Hades sat up straighter in his chair, a soft growl building in his throat.

"What do you mean she has a boyfriend?"

"Woah, don't incinerate me on the spot, alright? I'm honestly surprised that you didn't know. She met him last week-Declan, I think his name is. Pleasant enough guy-works at the bar down the street from her apartment."

I'm going to kill him.

"Hey," she said, reaching out to touch his arm. "From what I can tell, he makes her happy. Whatever green-eyed monster of jealousy thoughts you're harboring right now needs to end because there are other ways of dealing with this news."

He shook her off, folding his hands on the table. "And what do you suggest, sister? Find a rebound while my soulmate is in the arms of another man, again?"

"The Fates, it seems, have another plan in mind."

He swiveled in his chair, blinking in surprise as Persephone entered the room, dropping her bags on the floor.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Portland with Prometheus?"

"Gladly, but Nicholas tracked me down like a rabid dog and forced me back here. So, Emma's your soulmate, huh? Could've told me before, but I suppose it makes sense. Sorry for your loss."

"Sarcasm was never your strong suit, Cora. She wanted to tell you, but there never seemed to be an appropriate time to do it."

He pursed his lips together, realizing what he just said, even as her eyes narrowed to tiny slits, hands propped on her hip.

"So, you both knew, is that what you're saying? That I was the only one left in the dark? How long have you known and kept it from me?"

"Cora..."

"How long, Hades?"

"Since her first night in the Underworld."

She reeled back like she'd been slapped, hands opening and closing spasmodically at her sides. "So, the whole time I was cursed, and she was here, with you..."

He knew what she was trying to say, and nodded, watching as her face went ash white to beet red.

"And you still tried to get me back?"

"You're my wife. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I was with my soulmate, and happy to boot, despite the lies!" She paced back and forth across the length of the dining room. "I could've agreed to marry Prometheus, and broken the curse, and dealt with the aftermath then, but you separated us because you claimed you loved me."

"I still do."

"Did you know about Prometheus, too?"

"No. You have to believe me," he said as she grabbed a fork off the table. "Had I known who he was to you, I would've dissolved our marriage, to make you happy."

"Right. Because you had someone else here. You're unbelievable."

"I didn't want to hurt you." His voice sounded small...tiny...in his ears. Hera rolled her eyes, fake-gagging into her cup of coffee.

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" Persephone said, clutching the utensil like a weapon and he sighed, dragging a hand across his face.

"Put that down before you hurt someone."

"I'm pretty sure that was the point," Hera said, standing. "You two clearly have some stuff you need to work through, which I want no part of. Don't go near Emma, Hades, or you'll make things worse. Distant monitoring only! I'm out." She disappeared, and Hades watched as Persephone sat in her vacated spot, smoothing her hands over the polished wood.

"Does Prometheus know that he and I are soulmates?" She asked softly, refusing to meet his gaze.

"As far as I'm aware, no, he doesn't."

"Good. It'll have to remain that way, for now."

"Is it worth it to ask-again-why you're here in the first place?"

"When the Fates sent Emma to Portland, they were worried about accidental interactions between us, but I promised to be good and stay on my side of the city. Until Nicholas told me I had a day to get the shop in order and pack my things."

"You've been there for ten months, Persephone. Why are they worried about that now?"

"Because something's changed...shifted. Emma experienced a powerful déjà vu moment yesterday, which shouldn't have happened unless one of us was-" She glanced up at him, mouth open. "You didn't. Please tell me you didn't."

"It's my job to keep track of the souls," he said defensively, pouring himself another cup of coffee. "If her grandmother stayed put when I told her to, it could've been avoided. But, what if she slipped and told Emma something she wasn't supposed to? I couldn't risk it."

Persephone snorted delicately, unwrapping a muffin. "Poor girl. She has no idea what it's like to be truly loved and stalked by you, all because you can't let go of your attachments to people you think belong to you."

"It's not smart to taunt me right now, sweetheart."

"It's ironic, actually. You spent all that time getting me to break the curse and return to the Underworld, and now you're less than enthusiastic that I'm here, and the only thing that changed is that we've both found who we're really meant to be with. Too bad it didn't happen a couple of centuries earlier."

"Yes, you made your choice perfectly clear when you abandoned Emma and I in favor of the man who cursed you into loving him, and then used you as a bargaining chip so Emma didn't end up back in Kronos' hands."

"So it's okay for you to choose Emma over me when you learned she was your soulmate, but I'm not allowed the same courtesy? You're such a hypocrite."

"I didn't choose anyone. The connection between Emma and I happened naturally, as it's meant to when you find your soulmate."

"Were you with her once the curse was broken?"

"Persephone, I-"

"Tell me the truth, Hades. I deserve that much."

"Yes."

"Oh my goddess." She collapsed against the back of her chair, mouth forming incoherent words and Hades watched her, warily, knowing full well what her anger could do to him. "When she asked me what I would do if your soulmate waltzed in here, she wasn't talking about a hypothetical 'if', but when..."

He reached out for her, either in comfort or concern, he wasn't sure, but she flinched away, standing.

"I agreed to come back here to protect Emma, but don't expect anything from me in the meantime, got it? I'll be in my room."

"Persephone," he said, rising as well, hands spread out on the table in front of him. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

She sized him up-discerning the truth behind his words before nodding once, taking her stuff with her as she left the room again and he watched her go, knowing there was still so much left unsaid between them, but there would be time for those obstacles later.

Right now, he had to get back to Portland, and nothing-not the Fates, his siblings or his reluctant consort-was going to change that.

He smiled, just a little bit, at the thought of seeing Emma again, but he'd be careful this time as he tried to integrate himself into her life. You didn't mess with the Fates, they messed with you, and he knew the consequences if she remembered. But, if he could help her somehow, not as Hades, Lord of the Underworld, but as a regular guy who wanted to protect her from the souls' draining influence, that would be a good start.

He turned heel and walked out, slamming the heavy oak doors behind him and in the distance, the thunderous pursuit of three massive bloodhounds.

THE END.