the domed ceiling. Beneath my feet, the mosaic was a gorgeous design of glittering stones laid out in a starburst pattern.
There was something oddly familiar about this place.
A sense of power sparked on the air behind me, and I whirled around, spotting a woman as she appeared at the edge of the tunnel.
I frowned, shock racing through me. “Nana?”
Nana smiled, her wrinkled face so beloved and familiar, despite the fact that I hadn’t seen her since her death years before.
“Seraphia.” She held out her arms, which were draped in gorgeous white fabric, shot through with gold thread and studded with blue gems.
I ran to her, just barely managing to not throw myself into her arms. She was so slight that I didn’t want to crush her. She hugged me hard, her arms far stronger than I remembered them being.
I pulled back and looked at her, taking in her bright blue eyes and halo of gleaming white hair. “What are you doing here?”
“The question is, what are you?”
I scowled at her. “Don’t talk in riddles. You and I both know you are supposed to be dead, and yet you’re here, looking like a high fashion version of a Greek goddess.”
“An oracle, dear.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re the Oracle of Kamarina?” She shrugged one shoulder, and I just stared at her. “No way.”
“Way.”
I laughed, overjoyed despite my confusion. If I were an idiot, I’d be annoyed that she hadn’t told me. Instead, my beloved grandmother was back with me. I didn’t care what secrets she’d kept. “What’s going on? You’ve always been an oracle?”
“I have.” She nodded. “I was never supposed to tell you, though, or fate would not have worked the way it was meant to.”
My head reeled. “So I’m supposed to be trapped in the underworld?”
“Trapped is quite a relative term, if you want to be somewhere.”
“Of course I don’t want to be in the underworld.”
“Don’t you?” Her gaze flicked to the door. “Your Hades is quite attractive.”
“And evil.” I raised my brows at her. “Don’t be shallow.”
She laughed. “There’s much you do not know yet, but you will. In time.”
“What can you tell me?”
“You are truly Persephone, so get any doubt out of your head right now.”
“I’ve accepted that. What of my parents?”
“That is something you must learn on your own. But I can tell you that you have never lived before. There was no version of Persephone before you, just the myths that were based in little more than human fantasy.”
I nodded. “Okay, that’s a relief, actually. Hades said the same, but I’m glad you’re confirming it.”
Nana squeezed my arms, her gaze turning intense. “But it’s important that you go with Hades to the place that he seeks. Only there can you prove yourself and calm the darkness within you.”
Shock ricocheted through me. “What?”
“You are fighting to learn to control your power, are you not? To master it so that you don’t fall prey to the darkness that wants to compel you?”
“Yes, exactly. So that I can avoid going with Hades to bring about the apocalypse.”
“That is the difficult part, my dear. To defeat what you fear most, you must face it. If you do not, the darkness will overwhelm you. You must prove yourself against it, or you will fall to it.”
“So I have to go with him to the location and not destroy the earth?”
She nodded. “It is fated. What happens there must come to pass. It is the only way to save your own soul. And to save his.”
Hope flared within me. “Can he be saved?”
She nodded. “It will not be easy, and it will not take the path you expect. But yes, if you are brave enough and strong enough, it can be done.”
Brave enough and strong enough.
That felt like a tall order.
From outside, something loud crashed. It was followed by a bellow, and my gaze flicked to Nana’s. “What’s that?”
“A fight.” She frowned. “Poseidon has found you. It is time to go.”
“No!” I gripped her arms. “When will I see you again?”
“You may return when you wish.”
There was another crash, and I flinched. But I couldn't go yet, not until I knew she wouldn’t disappear for good. “You’ll be here? You promise?”
She smiled. “I promise.” She hugged me tightly, the most divine thing in the world, and then she pushed me back. “Now go. The gods are immortal, but not against each other.”
Fear sliced through me, and I nodded. I gave her one last look, memorizing her beloved face, then sprinted from the temple.