“I'm not talking about his bargains with mortals. I'm talking about his bargain with you.”
She spoke louder, and though Persephone knew what she was doing, the tactic worked. Persephone wanted to shut her up.
“Now, if you will so kindly give me the time I have requested,” Minthe said.
“Right this way,” Persephone said through gritted teeth.
She led the nymph into an interview room, shutting the door louder than necessary. She turned to Minthe and waited, crossing her arms over her chest. Neither sat down, an indication this wouldn’t last long.
“You seem to think you have Hades all figured out,” Minthe said, her eyes narrow.
Persephone stiffened. “And you disagree?”
She smiled. “Well, I have known him for centuries.”
“I don't think I need to know him for centuries to understand he has no grasp of the human condition. Nor does he understand how to help the world.”
Although what he'd done for that mother was more than generous. She was starting to understand there were rules at work that prevented even Hades, a powerful and long-existing god, from doing what he wanted.
“Hades will not kneel to your every whim,” she said.
“I don’t expect him to kneel,” Persephone said. “Though it would be a nice touch.”
Minthe took a step forward, angry.
“Arrogant girl!” Minthe spat.
Persephone stiffened and lowered her arms. “I am not a girl.”
“Do you know what? I don’t know what such a powerful god sees in you. You are entitled and magicless and yet he continues to let you into our realm—”
“Trust me, nymph. It’s not a choice.”
“Isn’t it? Isn’t it a choice every time you let him put his hands on you? Every time he kisses you? I know Lord Hades, and if you asked him to stop, he would—but you don’t. You never do.”
Persephone’s blush was fierce, but she managed, “I do not wish to discuss this with you.”
“No? Then I will get to the point. You are making a mistake. Hades isn’t interested in love, and he is not relationship material. Keep walking this path and you will get hurt.”
“Are you threatening me?
“No, it's the promise of falling for a god.”
“I'm not falling for Hades,” Persephone argued.
The nymph offered a cruel smile. “Denial,” she said. “It's the first stage of reluctant love. Don't make this mistake, Persephone.”
She hated her name on the nymph’s tongue and couldn’t repress a shudder. Swallowing, Persephone felt her glamour ripple.
“Is this why you came to my work?” she asked. “To warn me against Hades?”
“Yes,” she said. “And now I have an offer to extend.”
“I want nothing from you,” Persephone’s voice shook.
“If you truly wish to be free of your contract, you will take my offer.”
Persephone glared, still mistrusting, but she couldn’t deny she wanted to hear what the nymph had to say. Minthe chuckled.
“Hades has asked you to create life in the Underworld. There is a spring in the mountains where you will find the Well of Reincarnation. It will give life to anything—even your desolate garden.”
Persephone had never heard of such a place in any of her readings of the Underworld, though that wasn’t saying much. Those books also described the Underworld as dead and desolate.
“And why should I trust you?”
“It has nothing to do with trust. You want to be free from your contract with Hades, and I want Hades to be free from you.”
She stared at Minthe for a moment. She wasn’t sure what compelled her to ask the question, but she found the words rolling off her tongue. “Do you love him?”
“You think this has to do with love?” Minthe asked. “How sweet. I’m protecting him. Hades loves nothing but a good bargain, and you, my young goddess, are the worst wager he’s ever made.”
Then Minthe was gone.
CHAPTER XVI – A TOUCH OF DARKNESS
You are the worst wager he’s ever made.
Minthe’s words rolled around in her head. Now and then they hit a cord so sensitive she felt a fresh flush of rage as she made her way to Nevernight.
Despite realizing that her garden might not succeed in fulfilling the contract between she and Hades, she felt like it would be giving up to ignore it completely so she returned, watered her garden, and then sought out her new friends in Asphodel.
Persephone made a point to stop by Asphodel every time she visited the Underworld. There, in the green valley, she found the dead lived—they planted gardens and harvested fruit. They made jams, butter, and bread. They sewed and knitted and weaved, making clothing and scarves and rugs. It was the reason they had an extensive market that twisted throughout the alleyways between the strange, volcanic-glass homes.