Demeter

Hades’s disappearance gave me just enough time to leave the temple while everyone else was still confused. Nobody noticed me. By the time they notice I’m gone, it will be too late.

They may know my usual apartment, but they don’t know my secret one.

I gave the secret knocks and she quickly opened the door with a frown. She closed the door with a loud slam.

I sat on the couch while she busies herself with whatever she was busy doing earlier.

“Took you a long time,” she remarked, I let go of the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding inside.

“A lot of things have been coming up lately.” I haven’t had the time to tell her about the ‘we’re gods’ issue yet, but this was only a half-lie. A lot of stuff really has been going on. Just not the type of stuff you could ever imagine.

Persephone scoffed. “You’re always busy, and I’m always bored. You barely let me out of this dingy and depressing apartment.” She walks over with two coffee mugs.

“My darling, we’ve talked about this. Most people think that we’re dead. We can’t just ‘go out’.”

“Mom, I’m an adult. I should be able to leave the apartment. I’d be careful.” Persephone pulled at one of her dark curls.

I sigh and pull her closer to me. She grumbles but doesn’t resist. “If you want, I’ll watch some of your awful movies with you,” I say. She leaps up from the couch eagerly.

“I’ll get the snacks,” she squeals. She runs to the kitchen and returns with sodas and every possible candy she could carry.

And so, together, we watched her sappy movie that she fell asleep halfway through. I covered her with a blanket and quietly left the apartment. Dionysus is probably losing his mind about me right now.

***

Dionysus was pacing around the living room. When he first saw me, he looked immediately relieved. His relief quickly shifted to anger.

“You left! I thought you were dead! My God, Dem.” He cupped my face and studied me anxiously. Classic Dionysus. Always worrying about me.

“I’m fine,” I say. He nods, but he obviously doesn’t believe me. “I promise.” This time, his smile seems genuine.

“Where were you, though?” I came here quickly, but you weren’t her.”

“With a friend,” I blurted out. He looked at me skeptically. “I have other friends than you, you know? And I told her that I was going to sleep over with her tonight.”

Thankfully, he doesn’t decide to press me further, though he looks doubtful of my story. He gave me a quick hug and a salute as I walked out the front door. Hopefully, Persephone hasn’t woken up yet.

***

Persephone was dead asleep, muttering incoherently to herself. When I passed her, she turned under the blanket, making the couch squeak.

I lay in my bed and stared at the ceiling. Ever since I saw the newborn baby show up at the foster home, I’ve had nightmares of her.

She'd call out to me on the other side of the flames, but I was never able to save her. The smoke invaded her lungs and sent my daughter gasping for air. And all I could do was watch. Watch and listen to her pleas and shouting. She may hate living here, but she’s safe. She’s safe.