A/N: Thanks for your reviews! I'm sorry I missed an update last week. I got caught up in another writing project. The muse grabbed me by the back on the neck and demanded I write, NOW! I ended up churning out 24k words in three days, but the story is complete. It's another fanfic, I'll probably end up posting it here after a round of edits. So thanks for your concern, and I'll be back on my regular posting schedule for this story.
Chapter 19: Blood is Spilt
Persephone felt like she'd found a rhythm in the Underworld. After breakfast was housework and witchcraft with Lady Hecate. Then was judging and lunch with Lord Hades. Afternoon was inspections and self-defense with Lord Thanatos. Next was stories with Charon. Dinner was after that, and following dinner was spending time with Lord Hades in his study. It was exhausting, hard work, but she loved it. Self-defense with Lord Thanatos was her least favorite part of the day. She seemed to gather a collection of bruises with nothing to show for it. Her favorite time was any moment she could spend with Lord Hades.
Since giving her Sunny, they usually took a short ride after lunch. Lord Hades gave her instructions in the arena, or they took a slow ride through town. Sunny was forgiving of her mistakes as a novice rider. Lord Hades was a very different teacher than Lady Hecate or Lord Thanatos. He was far gentler in his corrections, and made allowances for her errors. He never chastised her for getting things wrong, only showed her how to do it better. When he praised her, she flushed in pleasure because she knew he meant it. She could relax during his lessons like she never could with Lord Thanatos and Lady Hecate.
She had to admit, Lord Hades was the one piece of her life here that she had a hard time figuring out. Just when she thought she knew where she stood with him, he did something to change her mind. He acted differently toward her based on whether they were alone or in public. On his days off, he spent every available moment with her. They went riding and had picnics. He was always touching her, holding her hand, and letting her lean against him. He was physically affectionate toward her on those days like he wasn't during the rest of the week. But they didn't kiss, and nor did he touch her anywhere inappropriate. He was in all ways a gentleman. Still, she enjoyed it when he was freer with his touch, and savored it when she could.
During the week, he treated her quite differently. It wasn't that he treated her badly when they were in public. He was always faultlessly polite. But there was an impenetrable reserve about him when he was in front of others. She learned to wait until they were alone if she wanted to talk with the real Lord Hades. Otherwise he presented a certain façade that she couldn't see through. At least, she hoped it was a façade. Her heart would break if his real mask was the one he wore on his days off.
When they were alone, she felt this incredible hope for the future. When they were before others, she barely felt like an acquaintance to him. It confused her deeply. It made her feel there was something wrong with her. Was he ashamed to be seen with her? He didn't want anyone to know of their maybe-relationship, and so he pretended it didn't exist? Of course, for all she knew, it didn't, and it was all in her head. His mixed signals left her bewildered.
There could be another explanation for his behavior. Maybe he was bashful. Everything she learned of him through her work with Lady Hecate, Lord Thanatos, and Charon's stories pointed to a strong man who sacrificed for others. Nowhere could she find any kind of selfishness. He worked alone, and he took the difficult road no one else would travel. Perhaps he was unused to showing his feelings when he was always required to be the strong one. He was unused to having someone that would support him.
She could live with that. It was an endearing quality. It would be her honor to show him that he could trust her with his heart. There were ways to work around his bashfulness, if only she was secure in his affections. As it was now, she didn't know if the pull toward each other was mutual, or if she had made it all up. If he wasn't shy, if he was ashamed of her, then she'd been deeply deceived by his character. Her chest felt hollow at the mere thought of it. Nothing made sense!
One of the things she missed about the mortal world was having confidants. There had always been someone to talk to, whether it was the nymphs, Athena, Artemis, or Demeter. In this case she thought the advice from nymphs would have been rather suspect. She didn't know what it would be like discussing her relationship issues with two virgin goddesses. She certainly would not have dared to mention Lord Hades' name. But her mother… Demeter would have listened to her troubles. It still would have been too frightening to say who exactly she was having these feelings for.
She missed her mother. She didn't lack for company in the Underworld, but none of them could make up for Demeter's presence. If Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos didn't exactly invite her to sit down and chat with them, Lord Hades did. Still, she could hardly discuss her emotions with the very man who had caused them!
Persephone didn't like to say it in case Lord Hades thought she didn't like it in his realm, but she wished she could see Demeter. It would have been a relief to know that her mother was alright. She longed to talk with her mother, to know her thoughts on Persephone's confusing situation. Would Demeter encourage her budding romance, or would she have cautioned her daughter from committing herself to the dark god?
She didn't have the courage to talk to Lord Hades about what she felt for him. If he happened to feel the same as her, it would be an awesome relief. If not, if he didn't consider her romantically at all… At best she would be deeply embarrassed. Things between her and Lord Hades would become awkward and strained. At worst, she would open herself to shame and scorn. He was too honorable to cast her aside without protection, but she dreaded facing what Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos might do to her. For some reason she felt that Charon was the least likely to turn against her for daring to presume a relationship with their lord. The situation might become so intolerable, she would have no choice but to leave the Underworld.
Right now, Lord Hades was a very good friend, even if he wasn't a suitor like she hoped for. It wasn't worth risking their friendship to lay her questions to rest. It was strange to remember that she had only been here a handful of days. Either things would work out in time, or they wouldn't. She would get farther by being patient.
During her second week in the Underworld, she gained a new confidant in the unexpected form of Charon. It was really because of Lord Thanatos. During their self-defense lessons—which were more like getting-thrown-to-the-ground lessons—she attempted to evade Lord Thanatos, only to trip and fall anyway. She didn't have time to brace herself. Her chin struck the ground hard, with a bright flash of impact. Her neck whipped back, and she felt something crack at the base of her skull. She was dazed for several seconds. Lights swirled in her vision; her body felt oddly distant.
She heard Lord Thanatos walking toward her, and in panic forced herself to her feet. Drops of dark fluid splattered on the ground and her dress. She swayed dangerously, still not collected from her fall. She faced Lord Thanatos, trying to assume a defensive position, but he recoiled from her.
"Are you alright?" he asked sharply.
His words were nonsensical. Her eyes didn't want to focus properly. The back of her skull ached, even though she'd landed on her chin. She shook her head to clear it, and warm liquid splashed around her. She raised her hand to the trickle on her chin. Her fingers came away damp and red. Blood. Her blood. She was bleeding. She took a few seconds to decide if she was going to freak out or not. Perhaps the old Persephone might have done so, before she became the guest of the lord of the Underworld and fell in love with him. In this field, however, her entire focus was on Lord Thanatos. Every exchange with him was a life and death struggle. Her bleeding chin was gruesome, but not life threatening: it was relevant. She flicked the blood from her hands, then raised them in a guard position.
"I'm ready, let's go," she said, balancing lightly on her feet.
Lord Thanatos hesitated. "Are you sure you don't want a moment to stop the bleeding?"
She shrugged. "No, I'm good. Keep going."
And so the lesson continued. At first he was reluctant to close with her, and more gentle when he did. It didn't take him long to get over it. Soon she was being hurled to the ground with just as much force as before. By the end of the lesson, they were both liberally splattered with her blood. When she was knocked off her feet for the last time, he brought her to the palace so she could change out of her gory clothes. She had a bit of a headache, and the base of her skull was still very tender. Once again, she pushed those things to the back of her mind as unimportant. Now that the worst of the day was over, she only had Charon's stories, dinner, and time with Lord Hades to worry about. Nothing short of major dismemberment would keep her from that.
She took the time to press a cold, damp cloth to her chin. The coolness felt good, and it helped to stanch the bleeding. It was still seeping slightly, so she brought a handkerchief with her to staunch the flow. She deliberately avoided looking at herself in the mirror. Her looks were not spectacular to begin with, and she was sure the gash in her chin did not improve them at all. She met with Lord Thanatos one last time, and he brought her to Charon's river.
When the ferryman saw her, he jumped from his boat.
"What the Tartarus did you do to her?" he shouted at Lord Thanatos, while trying to get a look at her chin. She covered it self-consciously. Her cheeks were flaming red. Charon's vehemence startled her.
Lord Thanatos crossed his arms and affected a bored tone. "Nothing untoward occurred," he said. "It's all in the name of training."
Charon rounded on him. "Is that all? And what do you imagine Hades will say to that? Is it also in the name of training to break a few bones? Maybe lose a couple fingers?"
Lord Thanatos actually blanched slightly. "Of course not," he snapped, but his expression was worried. She had never seen Charon so worked up, and she was beginning to feel sorry for Lord Thanatos. She stepped between them, trying to direct the attention back to herself.
"It was just an accident," she said earnestly. "I'm alright, really."
Charon glanced at her, then glared at Lord Thanatos. "If she comes to me injured again, I will tell Hades," he warned, and then shepherded Persephone to his boat. She sat down as he shoved off with more force than necessary. They reached the middle of the river, nothing but fog around them, when Charon abruptly shipped the bargepole in the boat. They drifted aimlessly on the current.
He knelt in front of her, his eyes gentle. "Persephone," he asked softly, "Are you alright?"
She nodded uncomfortably. Charon had always been a friend, but with the way he reacted to Lord Thanatos just now, and the way he was looking at her, she feared he too might have developed feelings for her. It was uncomfortable enough when Lord Thanatos had done it—though she was beginning to doubt he had ever been serious in his attentions, as he had been sharply correct since that time—but Charon was someone she didn't want to hurt.
"Are you sure?" he insisted. He reached out and covered her hands with his. "You don't have to be strong for me. I know what Hecate and Thanatos are doing to you. They're testing your limits, trying to see if you'll quit when it gets hard down here. But they're trying so hard, they might actually break you before they get through. They're so busy making sure that you're fit for Hades that they don't realize you need encouragement too. I want you to know that I'm not like that. I'm on your side. I know you're strong, and that you're not here seeking your own gain. I don't want you to leave. I think you're good for this kingdom, and good for Hades too. You're a good friend, like a sister to me. Someday I hope I might even call you my queen."
His steady words broke her down more surely than pain and sharp tongues could have. He spoke nothing but the truth, and it pierced her heart. Though it had been alluded to, this was the first time someone actually stated that she could be with Lord Hades. Hearing that Charon thought of her as a sister was a great relief as well. She began to cry softly. She hadn't realized how much pressure had been placed on her until he pointed it out. Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos did push her to the breaking point, repeatedly. More than once she had wondered if it was even worth it. Getting to spend time with Lord Hades was the only reason she kept at it as long as she had. It had seemed to her that no one else wanted her here, with as much as they pushed at her. In a way, she felt it was her own fault: hadn't she asked to learn about the Underworld? She had no one to blame but herself that she was worked to exhaustion every day.
Charon sat next to her and put his arms around her. Unlike with Lord Hades, it felt like a purely platonic gesture. She curled into him and wept her heartbreak.
"I know you feel like you have to prove yourself," he said, "but you don't. You are a goddess, and the guest of our lord. Hades has already chosen you, even if he doesn't realize it. That makes you far more worthy than you could ever prove by your actions. You should stand up for yourself more. I promise Thanatos and Hecate can only respect you for it. They will see that you're not giving up, and maybe they won't put so much on you."
Would they respect her? Or would they see it as a sign of weakness, that she was caving at last? She made no reply.
Charon sighed and hugged her. "I'm on your side," he reminded her. "If you need anything or you just want to talk, I'm here for you. I won't hesitate to go to Hades if things get too bad for you."
"Please, don't," she begged him. "I don't want to be a trouble to anyone."
"You're not!" he said fiercely. "You don't deserve to be treated like that. You need someone who will be your friend here. That's me, and believe me, if what I suspect is true, Hades will be your best defender yet. I don't doubt you'll see it at dinner tonight."
No more was said at the time. Charon held her until she stopped crying, and then got up and resumed poling them across the river. His words struck her deeply, and she had much to think about.
By the time she went to dinner that night, her chin had finally stopped bleeding. She steeled herself, and looked into the mirror. Her chin was swollen and discolored around the cut. It was very sore to the touch. She found herself wishing she could wear a mask or something to hide her face. It was mortifying to go out looking like this. She didn't normally think of herself as a vain creature, but tonight she felt self-conscious. Her only consolation what that it looked worse than it felt. She wondered what Lord Hades would think of her now. He wasn't the kind of man to be turned away by appearances, but at the same time she wanted to look nice for him. Well, there was nothing for it but to go to dinner as she was.
Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos were already in attendance in the parlor. She tried to imagine herself standing up to them, and shuddered. It wasn't in her to be defiant like that. There was a bit of a stir when she walked in. Lord Thanatos had already seen her chin, of course, but Lady Hecate did a double-take.
"What happened?" the older goddess asked.
"Training accident," Lord Thanatos said before Persephone could explain.
"I tripped and fell," she corrected nervously.
Lady Hecate gave him an incredulous look. "You let that happen?"
He rolled his eyes. "Save the lecture. I already got it from Charon."
Persephone found the conversation between them fascinating. It was like what Charon had said to Lord Thanatos. Everyone expected Lord Hades to react to her injury. What was it about her that was stirring the waters?
"It's not Charon you have to worry about," Lady Hecate muttered pointedly. She turned back to Persephone. Her voice turned surprisingly gentle. "Lady Persephone, maybe you should let me make you a —"
Lord Hades chose that moment to walk in. He glanced up at her and froze. In the next instant he'd bounded across the room and stood an inch from her.
"Who hurt you?" he demanded. Instead of shouting, his voice had gotten very quiet. It seemed more dangerous that way. His shadow had grown into something huge with more spikes and talons than she could count. After listening to Charon's stories—distilled as they were—she suspected it was something from the titan war.
"N-no one," she stammered, trying not to recoil from him. She didn't dare look at Lord Thanatos, for any glance in his direction might set Lord Hades off on him. "It was an accident, I tripped and fell. That's all."
"Is it?" he asked sharply, leaning down to her. His expression was livid. "No one touched you, no one caused you to be hurt?"
She gulped, her heart racing. "No," she said firmly. It wasn't really a lie; Lord Thanatos hadn't meant for her to fall during their lesson. Lord Hades watched her with bright silver eyes, silently demanding the truth. She became nervous under his scrutiny.
"I'm fine, is dinner ready?" she asked, her voice squeaking. She turned to escape. Lord Hades' arm suddenly shot out and blocked her way. She hadn't realized she'd backed up to the wall until she found herself pinned there. He wasn't touching her, but he loomed over her, effectively holding her in place. His arms were braced against the wall on either side of her. His shadow had risen to form a solid black wall between them and the rest of the room. All sight and sound from outside was blocked. They were wrapped in a cocoon of his shadow, but somehow it wasn't dark.
Her entire attention was riveted on Lord Hades. His eyes were wild, his breathing ragged. He trembled, barely hanging onto his control. It was because of her, she realized with awe. Seeing her hurt had driven him to this extreme. This was what Charon had tried to warn her of. She couldn't move away from Lord Hades. Any attempt to flee would set him off. So she did the only thing she could. She stepped into him.
She put her arms loosely around his waist. His arms fell around her in a surprisingly gentle hold. His strength was manifest in the firm way he tucked her against him. He could have easily crushed her, and yet his embrace was soothing. He made a sound deep in his throat, then pressed his face to her hair and inhaled deeply. She could feel him shudder. She squeezed him as hard as she could, and only then did he begin to relax.
"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously. "Did someone hurt you?"
"Truly, I'm fine," she insisted, humbled by his deep concern for her. "No one did this, it was only an accident." No wonder Lord Thanatos had blanched when Charon threatened to tell Lord Hades. This was only a minor cut on her chin; who knew what he would have done if it had been more serious. She was glad she'd been hiding the bruises from him. At first it had been out of a sense of shame that she couldn't defend herself. Now she knew that Lord Hades might very well tear Lord Thanatos apart if he saw them!
Lord Hades wasn't usually this demonstrative when they were in public. Then again, wrapped in his shadow as they were, they might as well have been someplace private. She took advantage of this unlooked-for solitude and placed her hand on his cheek. It wasn't enough for her. She ran her fingers through his hair as she rarely allowed herself, enjoying the silkiness of his blue curls. He sighed and leaned on her. The vibrating tension had left him, and now they were simply two people enjoying each other. She was surrounded by his age-and-shadow scent; to her, it meant comfort and protection.
"I don't like to see you hurt," he whispered brokenly. Warmth spread from her chest. Had anyone beside her mother cared so much for her before?
"I wouldn't want to see you hurt either," she confessed. He hugged her tighter. She rubbed her cheek on his shirt, careful not to bump her chin. She had all the proof she needed that he didn't care what she looked like.
They stayed together for several minutes, simply savoring their closeness. Lord Hades lifted his head slightly.
"Hecate," he called out sternly. His voice rumbled, telling Persephone that he hadn't completely lost that hard edge. She pressed against him in an attempt to sooth him.
"Yes, my lord," Lady Hecate responded promptly.
Persephone tensed, realizing that his shadow had retreated and they were exposed. What must Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos think of her, clinging to their lord this way? Would believe she was taking advantage of his concern to latch onto him like this? She had been the one to move toward him first, after all. It had felt like the right thing to do at the time, but now she doubted her actions. She leaned the tiniest bit away from Lord Hades. His arms only pulled her more firmly against him.
"Make a poultice for Lady Persephone," he said sharply.
"Right away, my lord," she agreed with alacrity. "I have a salve ready-made for injuries."
"Bring it," he ordered curtly.
"Yes, my lord." Lady Hecate left.
Persephone noticed that Lady Hecate had been far more formal in her address of him than was usual. For the most part the three of them—four if she counted Charon—spoke to each other like friends. But when Lord Hades was tense and upset, it was clear who the master was. Lady Hecate and the others reverted to formality as if to appease the dark god.
A short time later the goddess of witchcraft returned. She approached them with a caution that would have been amusing if not for Lord Hades' reaction to her. He stiffened and shifted so his back was to her. It placed his bulk directly between her and Lady Hecate, Persephone realized. Was he really defending her against his own people? The older goddess paused, then stepped forward again. Lord Hades hunched his shoulders and gave a quiet growl. His shadow gathered at his feet in preparation to spring.
"Hades!" Persephone hissed in shock. She grabbed his arm and tried to give him a little shake. It was like trying to push against the palace walls. "You asked her to come," she reminded him. "Why are you treating her like that?" Her heart was beating faster than normal. It wasn't fear for herself, but for Lady Hecate. Lord Hades wasn't himself at the moment, too overwrought to be sensible. She prayed he'd listen to her.
He turned hot, brilliant silver eyes on her. She gulped, only now realizing she'd taken liberties with his name. "My lord," she whispered, quickly lowering her gaze. What had she been thinking? This was the king of the Underworld! He was hardly going to take admonishment from her! He raised his hand and brushed his fingers along her check. His touch was far too gentle considering the temper he was barely holding on to. He tilted her head back to meet her eyes again.
"Don't hide from me," he said softly. It was less of a command than a plea. She looked up shyly at him. Despite his reaction to Lady Hecate, she still trusted him implicitly.
"Hecate," he called, still holding Persephone's gaze.
"My lord," she answered.
Lord Hades took a deep breath, and then slowly turned around to face her. He was still holding Persephone, so she came with him. Lady Hecate appeared wary but not surprised by Lord Hades' temper. She gave Persephone a nod of respect, even though Persephone felt she hadn't done anything.
"Help her," Lord Hades spoke harshly. It was incredibly difficult for him to allow her to be exposed, even to his closest advisors. She reached up and squeezed his hand for reassurance. She didn't know if it helped, but he allowed Lady Hecate to approach this time. She turned in his arms to face the other goddess. His grip on her was as snug as if he was trying to become one with her. She was aware of the dark god behind her, this side of his jaw brushing her hair. She had no doubt if anything happened, he could whisk her away in an instant. It was laughable, really. What was going to happen here in the heart of his power?
Lady Hecate was coolly professional as she viewed Persephone's chin. "It doesn't look bad," she said, meeting Persephone's eyes. The young goddess picked up the cue.
"It isn't," she responded with confidence. "It doesn't even hurt."
Lord Hades shifted behind her as if to disagree. She leaned her weight on him.
"It doesn't," she insisted. It was only a little lie. The sensation of being held so tightly by the man she loved took away nearly all the pain. It was far too pleasant being with him to worry about a little bump on her chin.
"I have a salve that will help," Lady Hecate raised a clay jar. The salve looked like rendered animal fat that had been mixed with crushed herbs until it was a light green color. It smelled cleanly astringent. Persephone sniffed and tried to identify the herbs. She was almost she could feel Lady Hecate's magic in the salve as well. The older goddess liberally applied the salve with a gentle touch. It was cold, and at first stung her cut fiercely. Persephone tried to hide her flinch, fearing Lord Hades' reaction. He squeezed her tighter like he knew anyway. She blinked her eyes rapidly against the tears that welled up. She covered his hands with hers, seeking to distract both of them. The salve warmed to her skin after a few seconds. Lady Hecate chanted under her breath, and it began to spread blissful numb coolness into her cut. Persephone sagged in relief.
"That feels good!" she exclaimed. "Thank you, it's a lot better now."
Lord Hades peered down at her suspiciously, but she meant every word. She hoped that part of her witchcraft training would be learning how to make that salve.
"My lady," Lady Hecate inclined her head toward Persephone. For the first time the young goddess realized the elder was giving her the same level of respect as the king of the Underworld. What did that mean?
"My lord," Lady Hecate acknowledged the dark god. She met Persephone's eyes. "Try not to trip again."
Persephone understood it as both a warning and a note of thanks. She had willingly concealed Lord Thanatos' part in her injury, but Lord Hades was unlikely to accept her explanation if she were hurt again. He was perfectly willing to tear apart anything that harmed her. Given Lady Hecate's reaction, she reconsidered Charon's advice to stick up for herself. Maybe it was not as far-fetched as she'd thought.
They went into dinner a short time later. Lord Hades was unusually solicitous of her during the meal. On someone less impressive, it might have been hovering. On him, it felt like she was being watched over by a large, protective hawk. She enjoyed the attention, even as she was slightly embarrassed by it. Her cut was such a minor thing to get such a large response from him.
She felt she had a taste of what it would be like if he was actually courting her, but at the same time, she hadn't done anything to deserve this kind of treatment. She hated the thought that she was taking advantage of Lord Hades, or anyone else. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure if his concern was for a woman he cared about, or for a clumsy child that needed babysitting. She hoped for the former, but feared the latter.
After dinner, he was quick to offer her his arm, before Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos had quit the room. It was as if he no longer cared what anyone else thought of him. It was an awful thought, but it had been worth the comparatively minor injury to gain this attention from him. He led her to his study, where he not only sat down beside her on the couch, but pulled her against him and draped his shadow over her. There was something comforting in having the soft, living weight of his shadow on top of her. It was better than any blanket she could ask for.
Without being asked, he began to read to her. With her ear pressed to his ribs, his voice rumbled pleasantly in her head. She was tired, and her chin hurt a little despite Lady Hecate's salve. That was the only excuse she had for her behavior. She gave in to her feelings for him. She settled contentedly against him. Her eyes watched him, admiring his face, the small imperfection of his scar. If he happened to look down at her, he would see everything she felt in her gaze.
Later she would be grateful that he didn't look. How mortifying it would have been to be caught mooning over the lord of the Underworld! He would have thought her a besotted girl-child for certain. She closed her eyes in bliss and allow his voice to lull her asleep.
After that night, she badly needed someone to confide in. The way Lord Hades had treated her left her confused and longing. It seemed they had crossed a boundary, and yet after that time he treated her as usual. Did he feel something for her or not? It took her a few days to gather her courage to talk to Charon. When they were alone in the boat, she cleared her throat nervously.
"So, you know the other day when I bumped my chin?" she began.
Charon's face darkened. Her cut had healed very well; it was now a small scab that would fall off in a day or two without leaving a mark. Despite that, Charon still glowered at Lord Thanatos.
"Yes," he said shortly.
"You were saying how Lord Hades wouldn't like what happened?" It had been more implied, really, but she understood what he'd meant. Seeing it for herself had been an eye-opening experience. For that matter, Lady Hecate had mentioned something similar right before Lord Hades walked in.
Charon nodded.
"How did you know he would react like that?" she asked in a rush, before she got too scared to speak.
Charon gave her a keen look. "Just how did Hades react?" he asked.
She blushed slightly, but described how Lord Hades had cut her off from the room, and then tried to prevent Lady Hecate from reaching her. She didn't give all the details, like how she'd forgotten to use his title when she admonished him, or the way she discovered the best way to calm him was lean into him. It was too embarrassing to speak out loud, and too private to share freely. Those were memories she would savor on her own.
"Were you frightened?" Charon asked.
"No," she answered honestly. Maybe a stranger would have been afraid, but she knew he wouldn't hurt her. It had been far more dangerous for Lady Hecate and Lord Thanatos.
A ghost of smile touched Charon's face. "Hades takes care of his own," he said in satisfaction. "Those under his care are his responsibility, and he takes it seriously when someone gets hurt."
She felt a twinge of disappointment. "Is that all I am to him? A responsibility?"
His expression turned sly. "What do you think of Hades?" he asked.
She looked down quickly, her face growing warm. Was she that obvious? "I like him," she whispered, though that was like saying the Styx was a little stream compared to how she felt about him.
"I think he cares deeply for you," Charon said. "I've never heard of him reacting so strongly to anyone else."
It was not quite the answer she had expected, but it warmed her heart all the same.