A wet cloth brushed Persephone's forehead. The sudden coolness surprised her, but she didn't open her eyes and controlled her flinching. It couldn't be known she was conscious. Instinct told her she'd have bigger problems if her guard figured out what was going on.

For days now, Persephone had remained still, pretending to sleep as her unknown guard fed and bathed her. Gentle hands tended to her, and a sweet, ancient female voice sang lullabies. Multiple times a goat bleated, and the female guard would chastise the goat for being rude.

With the noise her guard and the goat made, Persephone had figured out she was in the cave. Not by the mouth, though. She heard neither the wind blowing nor any sound that didn't echo. If Persephone focused, she could sense a nearby Underworld tunnel, and it offered some comfort.

As time passed, Persephone had been trying to get her bearings as best she could without aid of her eyes. She'd figured out her guard was not the one who'd taken her. Persephone clearly remembered Rycen and Zeus sneaking up on her. Over and over, she replayed the punch Zeus landed to her head that had knocked her unconscious.

Who was with her, though? That question Persephone had yet to answer. She didn't recognize the voice, and mortals were the only beings Persephone knew who kept goats. Maybe it was one of Zeus' most devoted worshipers.

Persephone couldn't be sure if the blow to her skull had left her unresponsive for so long or if her guard had been feeding her a potion to make her sleep. She thought it the first possibility because the guard had fed her nothing but ambrosia and nectar that tasted fine, but she could have altered it without leaving a trace.

Either way, many days had passed, that Persephone was sure.

Most of her time was consumed with thinking of her mother and how worried she must be. Hopefully, Demeter had kept calm, and no mortals had suffered.

That was a slim possibility, though.

Several times, Demeter had thrown a fit that had resulted in barren crops. Many mortals had died of famine, but her mother hadn't cared. To her, mortals were disposal, even the few she favored.

As much as Demeter filled Persephone's mind, so did Hades. Did he think she'd abandoned the Underworld; him? Was he furious; unwilling to see her again?

Did he pine for her, dream of her, crave her?

When Hades came up, Persephone's visions and dreams followed.

At first, she pushed them aside, in no mood to think about them. But that didn't last long. She needed to sort out this mystery, and deep down, she sensed unlocking the discovery would help her get out of her current situation.

So, Persephone replayed every vision and dream, looking for clues. She had a connection to the Underworld, that much had been obvious since the start.

But why?

Neither of her parents had anything to do with that realm.

Unless...

Had Demeter lied about who her real father was?

No, answered the voice, its first appearance since Persephone had woken up.

Can you give me more than cryptic answers? Persephone demanded.

No reply.

Of all this, Persephone hated the strange voice the most. It was more annoying than the last conversation she'd had with Hecate.

The voice knew, but it refused to reveal the truth.

Why? What joy did it get watching her struggle?

Where had the voice come from?

Was it just a result of Persephone's breaking sanity or did it belong to a separate entity? Had it possessed Persephone?

Was it the source of Persephone's visions and dreams?

It was possible, but it didn't feel right. Persephone had experienced everything as if it'd happened to her.

Wouldn't she feel like a spectator if all that was forced upon her by the entity, or she was undergoing the entity's memories?

That meant it all belonged to her, but how?

Persephone had done none of that. She could remember her entire life from when she was a small godling until now. There were no gaps.

How could she have participated in all that her dreams and visions showed and her life with Demeter but not recall the Underworld part until the Fates made her?

Yet that couldn't be the solution. The visions and dreams from the Underworld had happened when she was older, so it could only be recent, but many left the impression that they'd occurred hundreds of years prior. Persephone was misreading them, or she wasn't on the right track.

Her head throbbed, but she didn't give up. Even if her skull broke open, she'd get the answer. She couldn't keep going on like this, confused and frustrated.

Don't overrule what may seem ridiculous, the voice chimed in.

Just tell me!

Silence again.

Persephone bit back a groan.

She hoped when she figured this all out, the voice disappeared.

Okay. She'd run with its suggestion.

What would be a ridiculous answer to this mystery?

Well, her being someone else but in a new body.

Persephone's stomach rolled and her heart stopped.

Was that—Could it be—? But how?

That couldn't be natural.

It wasn't. The Fates had done it. That's why they could trigger her memories from her past life.

The idea was laughable, but Persephone had little trouble accepting it. She'd had another existence, one of someone who'd been an under-dweller.

It all made sense, and clarity flooded Persephone. Her frustration ceased.

Except...

Who had she been, or who was she (it'd take time before she settled on which way was the easiest to consider)?

She'd once been a warrior, that much was obvious from the memories. Had that been all?

No, when she'd walked through the Underworld city, she'd known she'd created it for her people. Even if she'd been a general, Persephone wouldn't have had enough individuals under her command to build them a city.

Then she must have been a ruler. Who though?

Who had been the leader of the Underworld before Hades?

Zeus had called her filth before he'd attacked her. That wasn't the first time, either. What would make him call her that?

Just because she was from the Underworld?

No, it had to do with her... first father. He was —

Tartarus.

Her (first) mother was Melione.

Kore. Kore. I was once the Daemon Queen.

Delight flooded Persephone.

That was it! That's who she had been and was and would be until her ultimate end.

Yet not entirely. For quite some time she'd been Persephone; still considered herself that. She hadn't lived in this new body as long as her last, and not much from her past life had transferred over. She was connected to the Underworld but could never command it like before. She was more the Goddess of Spring.

Was she fine with that?

Even if she weren't, she'd have to be. But Persephone could move forward knowing that her time as Daemon Queen had ended.

Besides, she sensed she wouldn't be away from the Underworld for long.

That wouldn't be, though, if she didn't get out of this cave. She'd been lucky so far, but Zeus would return. When he did, he'd see that she'd embraced her previous life, and he'd fear that made her more powerful. Or that she'd want revenge.

A part of her did. Yes, she'd sacrificed herself for Hades, but Zeus should have never tried to kill his brother. It was because of Hades that the Olympians had defeated the Titans. Hades should be a celebrated hero, not treated like an unwanted blemish in marble.

But Persephone wouldn't take vengeance. Zeus knowing he'd brought her into existence was revenge enough.

Now that Persephone was no longer running from the truth, her connection to the Underworld was stronger. The tunnel she'd sensed called out to her, not too far to the west of the cave where Persephone had been trapped. It would deposit her far from the Underworld city, but that was fine. A daemon settlement should still be around there. They'd have transportation she could use.

First, she needed to escape.

Persephone took a deep breath and tapped into her previous training. While she might not have done more than wrestle in this life, in her past she'd been a warrior. She wouldn't be as good as she once was, but she'd do well enough, especially against her elderly guard.

Her eyes flicked open, and she gave them a moment to adjust to her dim surroundings. She could make out a lot thanks to the fire burning just on the edge of her vision. It made no noise, which put Persephone on alert.

Was she dealing with a witch?

Hecate was the master of magic, but there were a few witches that came close in aptitude. Had Zeus used one to watch her?

If so, Persephone didn't know what she'd do. There was little vegetation in the cave, and what grew outside wouldn't be able to come to her aid before the witch attacked.

If she concentrated, though, she could make anything a weapon. She'd just have to stab faster than the witch could speak or wave her hands. Persephone would have to make her only chance count.

She listened.

The goat was on the other side of the fire, grunting like it did when it fed. Her guard shuffled back and forth just beyond that. The lids of jars were opened and closed and singing filled the cave.

Excellent. Her guard was getting Persephone food. All she had to do was wait until her guard approached. Persephone had nothing more than her hands to act as weapons, but that would have to be enough.

The singing softened as the shuffling grew.

Persephone shut her eyes but just enough so her guard wouldn't grow suspicious. Then she slowed her breathing.

If her guard wasn't paying much attention, Persephone could get the upper hand.

Closer... closer...

A slight stumble and a quiet curse.

Then a body hovered over Persephone.

Persephone sprang into a sitting position. Her unused limbs didn't react as well as she'd hoped, but she didn't let that stop her from wrapping her hands around her guard's throat.

As she did, she threw her entire weight into the lunge and tackled her guard to the ground.

Persephone squeezed her fingers, intending to render her guard unconscious. Though she'd done a terrible thing by keeping Persephone in this cave for so long, she hadn't caused her any harm.

If Persephone should maliciously attack anyone, it was Zeus.

Her hold weakened, though, when Persephone got a good look at her guard. The elderly creature wasn't a witch but a crooked wood nymph with hair and skin the color of ash and just as fragile. Her dead-leaf brown eyes bulged from their sockets, and already her lips had taken on a blue tint.

The nymph was on the verge of death, but she didn't struggle. Neither did she wear an expression of fear.

Her goat had bleated nonstop. It tried several times to run to its mistress, but the rope tied around its neck kept it from its goal.

"Young... one... I'd advise you... This isn't wise," the nymph wheezed.

Persephone eased the pressure, just enough so the nymph wouldn't perish right away.

"Can I walk out of here, unharmed?"

"I mean—" The nymph coughed. "You weren't brought here to be hurt."

"Until Zeus decides otherwise."

The nymph didn't respond. Brief guilt flashed across her face.

"I'm going to—"

"Persephone!"

The unexpected, sweet sound of Demeter's voice almost made Persephone lose her grip on the nymph.

How had her mother found her when she didn't even know where she was?

But should that surprise her?

Of anyone who could track her down, her mother was more than capable.

"In here!" Persephone shouted over the still screaming goat, unwilling to let go of the nymph. She might look frail, but many Tartarus creatures were unassuming until they had a clear shot.

Quick footsteps followed, and soon two figures were visible by the fire light. Persephone's eyes widened when she saw the second figure.

He'd come all this way for her?

Demeter darted toward Persephone. Still stunned at the sight of Hades, Persephone put up no struggle as her mother untangled her from the nymph and hugged her close.

After a moment, Persephone returned the fierce embrace.

The nymph scrambled to her feet, but Hades didn't let her get far. He grabbed her wrist. "Amalthea, how could you?"

"Zeus has all the gods' best interest at heart," was what she croaked in response.

Hades laughed; an ominous noise so thick with malice Persephone shuddered despite Demeter's warm arms. "Your unwavering faith in him is as sad as it's endearing."

Amalthea's lips thinned into a non-existent line. "Still as bitter as always. Even as a wee godling no higher than my knee, your mood could darken the brightest room."

Hades patted Amalthea's cheek. "I almost miss you."

Persephone wiggled out of her mother's embrace. "We should go so we have time before Zeus discovers you've rescued me."

Demeter wiped eyes. "Too late."

"We still need to leave," Persephone insisted.

"Will you try to stop us?" Hades asked Amalthea.

"When have I ever denied Rhea's little ones anything?"

This wasn't said with endearment, but a tiredness that bordered on disgust.

Hades kissed the nymph's hand before he dropped it. Then he gestured for Persephone and Demeter. He ensured they were a suitable distance ahead of him before following them.

They ran, but not quick. Persephone had most control of her body back, but it responded slower than she liked. Amalthea must have fed her only enough ambrosia and nectar to stay alive. Demeter had to steady her many times or else she would have fallen.

But with little hassle, they reached the cave's mouth. There stood another individual she hadn't expected to be part of her rescue.

"Hermes!"

Hermes smiled at her with unabashed relief, but it faded quickly when he looked at Hades and Demeter. Worry furrowed his brow.

"What?" Hades demanded.

"We need to return to Mount Olympus."

Demeter stepped closer to Persephone. "Not with Zeus there."

"Hestia just sent a request for both of you." Hermes pointed at Hades and Demeter. "She left no room for refusal."

"I don't care. I'm not taking—"

"Mother," Persephone interrupted. "I'll be all right."

"But Zeus?"

"I'll not cower."

Demeter eyed her for a long moment. "You won't leave my side," she finally said.

In her current state, she didn't plan to. "Okay, Mother."

Demeter nodded at Hermes. "Take us."