They lingered in the waiting room for a little while, talking and laughing. Everything felt strange but hopeful, like the sun was still managing to shine through thick, black clouds. At some point, Persephone decided it was time to sneak away. She needed a shower and a few hours of sleep. She said goodbye to Jaison, Sybil, and Lexa’s family and left.

She made it outside before the hair on the back of her neck stood up and a terrifying hiss drew her attention skyward where three women hovered, black, leathery wings spread wide. Their limbs were pale white, and black snakes twined around their bodies. Their hair was inky and seemed to float around them as if they were underwater. Each wore a crown of thick spires, resembling black blades.

They were Furies—goddesses of vengeance, and they only popped up when someone broke Divine Law.

“Persephone, daughter of Demeter.”

They spoke in unison, their voices echoing in her mind like the hiss of a snake.

“Fuck.”

“You have broken a sacred law of the Underworld and therefore, must be punished.”

A shiver of fear shook her spine. She had not considered that her decision to help Lexa would be punishable by the three goddesses.

Suddenly, serpents slithered around her feet. Persephone jumped.

“Oh, no! Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

She tried to jump from the middle of the pool of snakes, but they were quick to surround her, slithering up her legs, torso, and shoulders. Their scales were slippery and rough and tightened around her like rope. A faint whisper reached her ears—punish, punish, punish. Then one of the serpents sunk its fangs into her shoulder.

Persephone screamed. The pain was sharp, and the venom burned. Suddenly, she was frozen—her scream dried up in her throat and her legs wouldn’t work. She tried to move but fell, striking the cement hard. Her body felt like it was being torn apart, and all of a sudden everything was dark, and she was falling.

She appeared on the floor of Nevernight.

She was surprised when Apollo landed on his face beside her. The god groaned, rolling onto his back. Persephone regained movement in her limbs and started to get to her feet when she saw Hades standing over her like a dark cloud. There was an acute fury in his eyes, and she felt like he was skinning her alive with that stare. She had never experienced fear standing opposite him, even after she had published her story on Apollo, but right now, it settled heavy and cold in her stomach.

Is this what it was like to come before Hades, King of the Underworld—judge and

punisher?

“Fucking Furies,” Apollo said as he got to his feet, brushing himself off. Persephone glanced at the god, who now spotted Hades. “You know you could upgrade to something a little