A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone #2) - Scarlett St. Clair Page 0,29
finger pointed at the creature’s chest. That was one of Mekonnen’s biggest pet peeves and a good way to get banned from the club forever.
Persephone sighed and reached over the console of the truck to hug Lexa. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for the ride.”
She climbed out of the moving van. As soon as her feet touched the sidewalk, a chorus of voices called her name and a couple of people broke from the line, ducking under red velvet ropes to approach her. Two ogres appeared from the shadowy entrance of Nevernight, flanking Persephone and creating a barrier between her and the crowd, and she smiled at them.
“Hi Adrian, Ezio.”
Their expressions were serious as they peered down at her and said, “Good evening, my lady.”
She realized she should have thought this through better, or at least called ahead to notify Hades’ staff that she would be arriving soon. She could just see tomorrow’s headline: Hades’ Lover Arrives at Nevernight in Rental Truck Dressed in Sweats!
As she approached the entrance of the club, she overheard the woman.
“I demand to see him this instance!”
Persephone remembered saying something very similar to another ogre when she’d first come to Nevernight. It did not go well—for the ogre, mostly. He’d put his hands on Persephone, an offense Hades could not overlook, and she never saw him again.
“My lady,” Mekonnen said, moving forward to block the woman arguing with him, but she pushed her way around him.
“My lady?” She demanded with her hands on her hips.
It was then Persephone noticed that the woman was a nymph. She had pale, milky skin, long white hair, and bright blue eyes that made her look ethereal. Even her lashes were white.
A Naiad, Persephone thought, which was a nymph associated with water. She was beautiful, but she also looked severe, angry, and exhausted.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
Persephone was surprised, but mostly because there were few people who didn’t know who she was.
“You dare speak to Lady Persephone in such a manner?” Mekonnen’s hands tightened into fists.
“It’s alright, Mekonnen,” Persephone held up her hand to calm the ogre, who looked like he might just grind this woman’s bones into paste at any moment.
“I am Persephone,” she said. “Am I correct in understanding that you wish to speak to Lord Hades?”
“I demand it!”
Persephone’s brow rose a little.
“What are your grievances?”
“My grievances? You want to hear my grievances? Where do I start? First, the apartment he put me in is a shithole.”
Now she was confused.
“Second, I won’t work another minute at that hellhole of a fucking nightclub—”
Persephone held up her hand to stop the nymph from talking. “I’m sorry. Who are you again?”
The woman lifted her chin, her chest rose as she spoke with misplaced pride. “I am Leuce, Hades’ lover.”
Persephone felt the color drain from her face and shock settled deep in her belly.
“Excuse me?”
The nymph chuckled like she had said something funny. Persephone’s fingers curled into fists.
“Sorry, ex-lover but it’s all the same.”
“Ex...lover?” She said through her teeth, tilting her head to the side.
“You have nothing to worry about,” Leuce said. “It was so long ago.”
“So long ago that you forgot and introduced yourself as Hades’ lover?” Persephone asked.
“Honest mistake.”
“You’ll forgive me if I believe there was nothing honest about it.”
She twisted toward Mekonnen. “Please show Leuce to Hades’ office. I’ll see that he’s along shortly.”
“Yes, my lady,” Mekonnen bowed, and added. “He’s in the lounge.”
“Thank you,” she replied warmly, though her whole body felt like ice.
Persephone made her way into Nevernight. She went right up the stairs to the lounge where Hades made wagers with mortals seeking more from life—love, money, health. It was these bargains that had both appalled and intrigued her. It led her to writing about the God of the Dead, and eventually landed her in a contract with him.
Euryale, a gorgon and gatekeeper to the lounge, waited outside. Persephone’s first interaction with the blind woman had been hostile, as the creature had correctly identified her as a goddess based on smell.
“Is Lord Hades in trouble?” Euryale asked. There was amusement in her voice, but also a hint of excitement as the goddess approached.
“More than you could ever know,” Persephone answered.
Euryale smiled, showing a set of blackened teeth. She opened the door without pause and bowed to Persephone as she passed.
“He is in the sapphire suite, my lady.”
Persephone stalked around the crowded card tables. The room was dark despite a large chandelier overhead and several intricate sconces lining the walls. Persephone’s first visit to the suite sealed