Read That Fatal Kiss for Free Online Page A

found.”
    Athena hesitated, about to protest further. But then she nodded, the oath sworn by that simple gesture, and rose to her feet. She placed a kiss upon her father’s cheek and he returned it, so that she might take her leave. And though she parted from him in obedience, even the Goddess of Wisdom could not always repress the mischievous impulses within her, for she turned to say to him, “I shall see you soon, when the time comes to remedy this mess.”
    Zeus allowed her the jibe, even grinned at his daughter when he answered, “I know.”
    Athena was nearly gone from the chamber when Zeus recalled her to him. “Oh, Pallas…when you and your sisters were on Etna, before Persephone’s disappearance, did you notice anything…unusual?”
    Her hand on the portal, Athena turned to face her father. “Unusual in what respect?”
    “Oh, in any!” Zeus said cheerfully, pouring himself some nectar.
    “I can’t say that I did. Why do you ask?”
    “Well, it’s Hermes, you see. He says he’s been hearing some…peculiar noise about the mountain, on his travels.”
    “What sort of noise?”
    “He’s not quite certain…just some low rumble, now and again.”
    “Hephaestus’ workshop being at Etna’s peak might account for all manner of odd sounds, surely?”
    “Yes, indeed, you’re quite right.” Zeus raised his cup in a toast, which she acknowledged with a bow. “Probably nothing to worry about at all.”

VI.

    Hades’ Palace, The Underworld
     
    BY PERSEPHONE’S CALCULATIONS the hour must have been just a little after the time of night she and her mother would prepare for sleep, but there seemed to be no such marking of time in the Underworld. Or at least, none that she would know of, for she had been locked up in Hades’ bedchamber for what seemed a very long time. She had been brought what she supposed was her evening meal, nectar and ambrosia, a short while ago. Though Persephone found the meal appealing, something made her refrain from eating it, though she could not exactly reason why. The servant who brought it to her looked alarmed when she returned and found the tray full. But she said nothing and merely took it away, leaving Persephone alone with her troubled thoughts.
    Now the goddess paced the length of the bedchamber impatiently, wondering if Hades would put in an appearance. The threat of violation very much on her mind, she avoided taking her rest on his bed. Persephone walked about the room, countless times, eyeing the bed warily all the while, as if by keeping her distance from it she could also keep Hades from her . She gave the bed a disgruntled grimace and picked up a smooth, golden pillow. She held it close to her face and detected a delicious aroma rising from it. Momentarily distracted, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She smiled with delight at the mixture of oils and spices: cloves, definitely; sandalwood, cinnamon, and just a hint of patchouli. She took another deep breath, savoring the perfume wafting up from the pillow, until she realized the scent she drank in must be one worn by Hades. “Groaning Gaia!” she said, tossing it to the floor.
    “Good evening,” said the Host of Many, who chose that moment to end Persephone’s solitude. He entered the room quietly and shut the door. Hades began untying the knots of his cloak as he regarded the pillow she’d thrown and inquired, “So, you mean to make your bed upon the floor, do you?”
    Persephone looked up at him intently, wishing she could divine the thoughts lurking in the depths of his dark brown eyes. “Did you think to find me cowering in a corner like a beaten pup?”
    “I had, actually.” Hades smoothly pulled off the cloak and tossed it aside, then sat at the foot of the bed and focused on the task of removing his sandals. Done, he raised his eyes, saw that her face had hardened to a glower. “That you confound me by standing there, glaring, when you are totally at my mercy, is a point in your favor,