She added, “And don’t tell me to ask him.”

Hecate offered a small smile. “It’s what all gods have against each other, I suppose—the knowledge of their history and deeds.”

Hecate pause and faced Persephone.

“Hades isn’t trying to be difficult. He fears for you. Apollo...his vengeance is cruel.”

“I know.”

“You don’t,” Hecate argued, and Persephone was a little surprised by her tone. "In antiquity, he and his sister murdered fourteen children. The children themselves were innocents, it was their mother, Niobe, who had offended them after she claimed to be superior to the gods' own mother, Leto."

Fourteen children? How was the world not appalled by these two gods?

“Needless to say, Apollo is unpredictable, and rather than take a chance, Hades has brought you here to the Underworld—his realm—where any action Apollo takes will be considered making war upon the God of the Dead. Apollo might be rash, but he isn’t stupid. He does not want Hades as an enemy.”

Despite feeling a new kind of terror, Persephone was glad she asked.

They returned to the palace where they had dinner and discussed the finer details of the Summer Solstice Celebration.

“I have commissioned a new crown,” Hecate said just as Persephone was about to take a drink from her wine. She spit it back into the cup.

“I’m sorry. What?”

“Ian is very excited.”

Persephone glared. Of course, she’d bring Ian into this. The soul was a master blacksmith. Before he died, he’d made armor and weapons and was favored by Artemis. It was that favor that got him killed. The soul now used his skill in the Underworld to craft beautiful, intricate things—lampposts and gates and the occasional crown.

“I don’t need another crown, Hecate. The one Ian made for me is very beautiful. I can wear it to the solstice celebration.”

She didn’t say what she was really thinking. A crown was presumptuous. Hades wasn’t speaking to her right now, how could she be sure he still wanted her as his queen?

“You could, but why would you when you’ll have a new one?”

Persephone sighed. “I wish you’d have asked me.”

“I’d really rather not,” she said. “Now, about the dress. I was thinking black…”

Hecate continued explaining her vision for what she called Persephone’s ‘grand ensemble.’ The goddess only half-listened, her mind wandering to the story of Apollo, his sister, and Hades. During her research of the God of Music, she hadn’t considered checking into other stories from his past. The god’s offenses were indeed endless and violent, and she found herself wondering if even Hades could prevent his retaliation.

After dinner, Persephone found herself alone in her suite again. She started to curse Hades for building it. Who puts their wife in a whole other part of their palace? It was so...antiquated!