Suddenly, she couldn’t breath and her heart felt like it was beating in her head, irregular and quick. She looked around, vision blurred, and the only thing she could think was that she was dying.

She rushed from the store.

She heard her name being called as she left.

“Lady Persephone!”

She ran down the sidewalk and stopped in an alleyway. She pressed herself against the brick and leaned over, taking deep breaths.

“Lady Persephone? Are you okay?”

Leuce had followed her as she’d fled. It took Persephone a moment, but she finally straightened. Her chest rising and falling. “Is it okay if we don’t shop?”

Leuce’s eyes were large—strangely innocent, and she nodded. “Of course. Whatever you want.”

“Coffee,” Persephone said.

“Sure.”

They went to The Coffee House. It was the one place Persephone felt she could still go and not be bothered. She ordered two vanilla lattes—one for her and one for Leuce, who had never had coffee before.

They sat across from each other. Persephone kept her hands cupped around her drink, watching as the foam leaf atop melted into nothing.

“How do they make this picture?” Leuce asked, inspecting the foam like a rare specimen.

“Very carefully,” Persephone responded.

The nymph took a tentative sip.

“Hmm,” she hummed, and took a bigger gulp. Persephone recalled the first time she’d had coffee. She hadn’t actually liked it all that much, but Lexa had claimed that was because she’d had black coffee.

She’d been right—add a little cream, and it was her favorite drink.

“Just wait until you try hot chocolate,” Persephone commented.

Leuce’s eyes went wide.

Silence stretched between them. Persephone kept her gaze on her drink. She wasn’t sure what to say to Leuce, and her body felt off. Her earlier panic making her insides feel shaky.

“Do you want to talk about earlier?” Leuce asked.

Persephone met the woman’s gaze and shook her head. “I’d rather not.”

The nymph nodded.

“I’m sorry your friend is sick.”

“She’s not sick,” Persephone didn’t mean to snap, but the words just spilled out of her mouth. Plus, she was still a little freaked out about earlier. “She’s hurt. She was hurt.”

“I’m sorry,” Leuce’s voice was a whisper.

Persephone’s shoulders fell. “Thank you. I’m sorry. It’s...hard.”

Leuce nodded. “I know.”

Persephone met her gaze and the nymph explained.

“I woke up a few days ago and everything I knew had changed. Most of my friends are dead,” the nymph paused. “I was angry at first. I think I still am.”

Persephone wasn’t sure what to say, but she was sincere. Now that she had distance from the situation, now that her anger toward Hades’ had lessened, she could think from Leuce’s point of view.

“I’m sorry, Leuce.”

She shrugged. “At least I am free.”