Hermes put down the ambrosia and looked across the table at his host. “You wouldn’t believe who I saw.”
Hades took the fig that his wife offered him, letting her place it in his mouth. “Who.”
“One of your tenants.”
Hades gazed at Hermes. Persephone hugged her husband’s arm, laying her pale face against his shoulder.
“Do you remember the idiot mage I talked into making your invisibility helmet a few years ago?”
“Yes…”
“Didn’t he die?”
“Yes…”
Persephone hugged her husband’s arm tighter.
“And wasn’t he supposed to come here?”
“Why are you bringing this up?”
“I saw him in the world. In one of the new cities. He’s a still a mage, but this time he’s teaching people.”
“Is he destroying the world?”
“No.”
“Is he causing great harm?”
“It doesn’t seem that way–”
“What is he doing?”
“He’s…trying to start a group of teenagers to be heroes.”
Persephone smiled, and nuzzled into her husband’s arm to try and hide it.
“I think you are mistaken, Hermes.”
“I know that man anywhere.”
Hades gazed strongly at Hermes. “Hermes. You are mistaken.”
Hermes bowed his head. “Of course, my lord. All necromantic summoners look alike to me.”
Hades put a hand on Persephone’s arm. “Hermes, hear this: if it is the man you are thinking he is, as far as I am concerned, he has discharged his service to me if he succeeds in becoming a hero.”
Soon after, Hermes left, and Persephone received her latest offering from Scott, a Bath and Body Works pomegranate body wash. She washed in the warm mineral spring with it – it was biodegradable – and came to Hades’ bed soon after.
“My lord,” she said, “I thank you for what you have done for the Gray Cat.”
Hades smiled and took his wife in his arms. “I do it for you, my love, and for one of your only friends.” He inhaled her scent. “I will send Zagreus to him, though.”
“Why?” she perked her head up.
“As a warning.” He kissed Persephone. “Now, my wife…although we are both barren at this season, that does not mean we cannot practice.”