The Passion of Hades - Eliza Raine Page 0,2

the hairs on my skin rose when I thought about it, and Hera had confirmed it, but I couldn't feel that same surge of energy within me, or grasp anything tangible. Maybe I needed to try to do some magic? Feeling pretty stupid, I held out my hand.

'Light?' I awkwardly asked my own hand. Nothing happened. Why did I think I could create light? Hecate had said I had been able to 'grow plants, amongst other things.' I could feel, instinctively, that my power was connected to the earth. It was that same sureness I felt whenever I saw Hades’ liquid-silver eyes, that same knowledge that everything I was experiencing wasn't a dream.

Hades’ eyes... What in the name of the gods was I going to do? Panic fringed my thoughts as I pictured his face, remembered his passionate embrace, then saw that awful blue light roll off him and form corpses on the ground. I dropped my hand to my lap. I had been desperate to give every inch of my body to the man, less than an hour before he had turned into a freaking death monster, tore a man apart and nearly killed me. Worse, I was competing to marry him. This was no good. Like seriously, no good. I had to stay away from him, and I had to lose the Trials and get back home.

I couldn't ignore the surge of fear that accompanied that assertion, but it wasn't the fear I'd felt up to now. This was different. A brand new fear.

How the hell can you leave? This place is amazing! Maybe not the Underworld, but Zeus' mountain? Flying ships? Kick-ass outfits, magic everywhere, and a friend who could conjure wine for fuck’s sake! Why would I ever go back to New York now I know Olympus exists?

'Because everyone here is fucking mental!' I said out loud, shaking my head and forcing the ludicrous thoughts out of my mind. 'Murderous fucking maniacs. And apparently, so was I!' I screwed my face up as I rubbed it hard with my hands. It was ridiculous to think I would even entertain the idea of staying somewhere so dangerous and unpleasant. Somewhere I may once have existed as a monster.

My brother Sam's face flashed into my mind, smiling and soft. My parents, dad tending to the garden and mum sewing and rolling her eyes constantly, swiftly followed. I called up my more recent memories of Professor Hetz and my awesome garden design and the beautiful botanical gardens. I missed them. All of them.

'Manhattan roof gardens,' I said firmly. 'You're going to make this work, Persephone. You're going to become a world famous garden designer. Not Queen of the Underworld.'

But the last thing I saw, before falling asleep alongside Skop's snoring, furry little body were those desperate pools of silver.

I wasn't the least bit surprised when I found myself dreaming that I was in the Atlas garden. I walked slowly towards the fountain, inhaling deeply and filling myself with the scent of wildflowers. A warm breeze moved strands of my loose hair around my face, and it felt good.

'Thank you,' I said, as I reached the marble edge of the pool. Vivid green lily pads covered in shocking pink water lilies floated gently on the surface. 'You saved my life.'

'You're welcome,' the voice said. 'I am glad you are here. I must tell you something important.'

'Of course I'm here. You bring me here,' I answered, dipping my fingers into the water. It was cool and welcoming.

'I wish that were true, Persephone.'

'Oh. Well who does bring me here then?'

'I don't know.'

I tilted my head to one side, and felt the sun on my cheek.

'Who are you?'

'Your only friend. You must not eat all of the pomegranate seeds in one go. Do you understand me?'

'Yes,' I nodded.

'You deserve your powers back, dear girl, but you must not risk overwhelming yourself.'

'I don't feel overwhelmed. In fact, I don't know how to use my magic at all,' I said, reaching out and drawing a lily pad towards me while perching on the edge of the fountain.

'You will learn. Do not worry about that. But Persephone, you must trust nobody.'

'Except Hecate and Skop,' I said.

'No, nobody.'

'But Hecate and Skop saved me too. They care about me.'

'You are naive, little goddess. Hecate is an agent of Hades, and Skoptolis works for Dionysus. Only I work for you alone.'

'Why? Why are you helping me?'

'You were wronged, by my worst enemy, and you paid the highest price. And