Chapter 1
Calythe POV
Everywhere was quiet—too quiet. I know we're in the Underworld, but the silence doesn't feel like it belongs at this moment.
What's wrong?
“persephone!!!” a voice yelled, echoing through the room. We turned our heads towards the source.
Hermes.
“Hermes,” Mum said, her tone flat, her eyes tired and her arms crossed.
“You sound disappointed,” he said.
“I am,” she replied with a grim expression.
“Why?” he asked. “Hades is bad in bed?”
Silence—pure silence.
Why? Just why? Why does Hermes feel the need to take my innocence away?
“What are you doing here, Hermes?” Mum asked. “Don't you have messages to deliver?”
“Nope,” he said. “I ran away from Zeus.”
“Typical,” Dad said, annoyed.
He surely wants Hermes gone? Was Hermes right? Is Dad bad at this? What?! What am I thinking? He's my father. Oh no, I'm thinking like Zeus.
“Hades, don't be like that,” he said. “You know I came to keep you company. Well, mainly Persephone, but you count.”
Dad glared at him.
“Shouldn't you get going, Hermes?” Mum asked.
I noticed a girl behind Hermes. She had tan skin, waist-length golden-yellow hair, and amber eyes. We made eye contact for a second, and she hid behind him.
“Who is she?” I asked, curious.
“Who?” Mum asked.
I pointed to Hermes. “The girl behind him.”
“Oh!” Hermes said.
He moved out of her way. I finally saw her. She looked my age and almost my height—or shorter. I mean, I have to be taller than someone. Don't judge me.
“This is Apollo's daughter,” he said. “Dalphina.”
Mum looked at her, a hand to her chin, deep in thought.
“I heard Apollo had a daughter, but I never saw her,” she said.
“That's because she's always in her room,” he replied.
She looked scared and lost. She looked at me, then looked away.
Is she scared?
“What is she doing here?” Dad asked.
Hermes shrugged. “I'm bored, she's bored, we're bored, so we came here.”
Apollo has a daughter my age?
I've never gone out of the Underworld. Maybe she can tell me about Olympus and the outside world.
“Hey, let's go,” I said, running towards her, grabbing her hand and pulling her with me.
We ran out of there. I didn't want to hear any more of Hermes' comments.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Somewhere,” I said. “Let's walk.”
We stopped running and stood there, trying to catch our breath. We walked in silence. It felt awkward.
I've never been with a goddess my age. My siblings are all older than me. Even that bastard is older than me.
I wonder if she likes dogs? Or the thought of death? What should I ask her?
“Um... so, death treats you well?” I said awkwardly.
“What?” she asked, looking confused.
“Nothing. Forget it,” I replied, waving her off.
Another silence.
Why is this so hard?
“You looked scared,” I said, looking ahead.
“What?” she asked, confused.
“At the throne room. You looked scared, like we'd eat you,” I stated, remembering how she hid behind Hermes.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Who wouldn't be?”
I looked at her. She had her arms wrapped around herself, looking at her feet.
“My dad scares you?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Oh, don't be scared of him,” I said, waving her off. “He's just an old, lonely guy with a sad job.”
She smiled.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
We got to the garden—Mum's garden. Neon purple and blue spider lilies brightened the whole place. You could see the tree in the middle of the garden.
I took off running. Dalphina followed closely behind me.
“They've bloomed,” I said, smiling.
“What are these?” she asked.
“Spider lilies,” I said, picking one. “Aren't they pretty?”
“Very,” she said, looking at them.
We sat under the tree, making flower crowns. Well, I did have to teach her how to do it, but we had fun.
We talked about silly things, and I found out she likes dancing. I guess I should have expected that. She is the daughter of Apollo.
“What are you doing, princess?”
We looked up to see a boy. He had brown hair, fair skin, blue eyes, and a mischievous look on his face. He looked just like Hermes, and he had that stupid smile on his face.
Evren.
