The words crowded her like the people outside the Acropolis. She kept her arms close to her body, and her head down so they couldn’t get pictures of her face. Did they think less space would force answers out of her? Maybe they thought fear would do the trick.

“Stop following me!” she finally yelled, feeling claustrophobic and a little terrified.

Persephone broke into a run, trying to escape the crowd that had formed around her. They yelled her name and questions and horrible things. She cut across the street and slipped down an alleyway. Just as she exited, she was caught by the shoulder and hauled around. She twisted and punched her assailant in the face.

Her knuckles met the hard-as-stone face of Hermes.

“Fuck!” She cursed. Shacking her fingers out. “Hermes!”

His brows rose to meet his hairline. “I have to say, women are more agreeably engaged with me when those two words come out of their mouth.”

“She went this way!” someone yelled.

Persephone met Hermes’ gaze and snapped, “Get me out of here!”

He grinned. “As you wish, Goddess of Profanity.”

Hermes teleported, and once they arrived safely on the rooftop garden of the hospital, she gave a frustrated cry.

“I can’t go anywhere! How are you a god, Hermes?”

The god shrugged, a smirk on his face. “It isn’t so bad. We are revered and worshipped.”

“And hated,” Persephone finished.

“Speak for yourself,” Hermes replied.

Persephone glared at him, and then sighed, running her fingers through her hair. She had to admit, she was a little shaken by what had happened on the street.

“Sephy, if you don’t mind me saying...at some point, you’re going to have to accept that your life has changed.”

She looked at the god, confused. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you probably can’t just walk down the street like you want. I’m saying you’re going to have to start acting like a goddess...or at least a god’s lover.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, Hermes!” She didn’t mean to sound so frustrated, but this was not the time to have this discussion.

“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands. “Just trying to be helpful.”

“Well, you’re not.”

He offered her a dull look, not seeming at all frustrated by how much of a brat she was being. “Was that really necessary?”

She sighed. “No...I’m sorry, Hermes. Things are just really...awful right now.”

“It’s okay, Sephy. Let me know if you need a lift.”

He winked and left her alone on the roof.

Before she went into the hospital, Persephone called into work. With each ring, anxiety pooled in her stomach. She’d gone from enjoying Demetri’s company to dreading the sight of him.

“Persephone,” Demetri answered. “How is your friend.”

“She’s…not good,” Persephone said. “I won’t be in today.”