fresh wave of pain tore through me. I doubled over, gasping in agony. “Mom, it hurts.”
She shushed me, voice soothing. “You’re going to be okay.”
“How can you say that?” I asked as another wave of pain washed over me.
“Because I know it’s true. I am so sorry. I never wanted you to have this life. To make these decisions.” She studied me, tears brimming in her eyes. “You were so small. Just this warm little bundle cuddled in my arms and now…” She swept her arm up and down over me. “You’re all grown up.” She wrapped her arms around me in a hug, and I leaned against her, taking some small measure of comfort despite the searing pain.
“Mom, I can’t win.”
“You have enough power to win, if you use it all.”
“Hades is filtering—”
“Ask him to stop.”
“I’ll die.” I moved away from her. I wanted to move her away from the tree. Something about it bothered me.
“Not because of that. You’re about to come into your powers.”
“How?”
She smiled. “I know a way, that’s all. Come here.” She reached out for me, but I jerked away.
“You’re not telling me something.”
“You’re going to be fine.”
“No. Mom, no more secrets. You owe me.”
To my surprise, tears filled her eyes. “Will you trust me? Just this one last time. I promise, after this there will be no more secrets.”
“Mom…”
She shook her head and brushed the tears out of her eyes. “I’m just being over emotional. Now, we’d best hurry. If Zeus figures out what I’m doing, he’ll go underground, and you’ll spend your whole life wondering when he’s going to come at you again.”
I nodded, though I still felt uncertain. But I couldn’t focus because I was still trying to figure out what was bothering me about that damn willow tree. It’s hard to pay attention in dreams, but it’s foolish to overlook a symbol. Everything has meaning.
She knelt before me. “I swear fealty—”
“Mom,” I flushed and forgot the tree in my embarrassment. “You don’t have to do that. I can’t take your power—”
She hushed me and wrapped a hand around my wrist. “I’m giving you your best chance.” She narrowed her eyes at me and gave me her “don’t argue” look. Then softer, she said, “Your very best chance. I love you darling.”
Her power slammed into me like a boulder crashing down from the sky. I stumbled back, but her grip tightened on me like an iron vise.
Why can’t we plant a weeping willow? I’d asked.
“Mom! What are you doing? It’s too much!” But she wouldn’t let me go. Then all at once it was gone. Not her power, but that feeling of being bombarded, overwhelmed. Pain I hadn’t even realized I was feeling was gone. It was like something snapped into place within me. I felt full, complete. Alive.
Never plant a willow tree, she’d replied.
She smiled at me, looking frail and vulnerable. Smaller somehow. As I stared at her, she changed. Her hair and eyes brightened, all the little details that made up her appearance suddenly became more obvious, hyper-realistic.
Because as soon as the trunk grows wide enough—
“No,” I whimpered. “Mom, no.”
It becomes your coffin.
I was looking at her soul.
“I love you so much,” she whispered. Then she was gone.
I fell to the ground as her dreamscape faded around me. “No,” I whispered, broken. Tears chased each other down my cheeks, but I wasn’t given more than a second to mourn before I felt the power of all the other gods slam into me, unfiltered from Hades. I felt them tethered to me, alive. It wasn’t fair.
Your very best chance. Her voice whispered through my memory.
Chapter XLV
Hades
Persephone sat at the base of the weeping willow, sobbing.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She sprang to her feet at the sound of my voice, whirling on me. “Bring her back!”
“I’m so sorry.” My voice was hoarse with grief. “I can’t.”
“I gave you Thanatos’ power! Use it!”
I shook my head. She was asking the impossible and she knew it.
Rage flashed in her eyes, and I felt her pull upon the power of the other gods. Maybe she even tried to use it on me, but her oath to never hurt me held.
“I wasn’t asking. Bring her back!”
“I can’t, Persephone.” I moved forward, arms encircling her, and she broke, folding into me. “I can’t,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, I can’t.”
She drew back. “You knew she was going to do that?”
She knew. I didn’t need to answer but did anyway. “It was the only way to trigger you coming