He sniffed but nodded to the guards to prepare the platform.

Persephone stepped upon it, holding her hands by her sides to flatten down her chiton.

The ascent was much slower and gave her time to think. It was not long before she lost sight of the guards and the giant below, and even the glow of their lights faded from view, leaving her in darkness.

She made a promise to herself never to commit any crimes so heinous as to merit punishment in this place. She would never be condemned to live forever in the darkness, tortured eternally, slowly going mad, with only her own thoughts for company.

Xenia almost cried to see her emerge safely at the top of the pit, which made Persephone glance aside, unable to look her in the eye. They found their horses, which had obediently stayed nearby, and set off together toward the palace.

“Did you find what you were seeking?” Xenia asked.

Tartarus held only questions, not answers. “I’m glad I went,” Persephone said. It was not a lie—seeing Kronos and the other prisoners had only strengthened her resolve to escape this place.

When they arrived at the palace, a flock of serving girls descended upon Persephone and prevented her from making her way back to her room. The girls washed her feet and brushed her hair, tying it in a loose braid, and served her food, which she ate alone. When she was done, Xenia guided her not to her own room but to Hades’ chambers, which adjoined hers.

Hades’ rooms were at least twice as large as her own. They had an austere air about them, with the walls carved from black marble, softened with tapestries in abstract geometric patterns. There was a partition for dressing, with clothing stacked in neat shelves, and the most enormous collection of shoes, boots, and sandals that Persephone had ever seen. She supposed something had to break the monotony of Hades’ clothing—most pieces being various shades of black, save for the white chiton she’d worn on their wedding day and a few others in deep, jewel-toned hues.

A bathing chamber adjoined the room, but there was no vessel for a servant to fill with water. Instead, Persephone turned a lever, and water flowed freely from a faucet, disappearing down a grate placed below. There was even a separate tap for heated water, which she used to wash the chill from her hands.

“We gained much when Daedalus joined the ranks of the dead. I had thought to expand the plumbing more extensively, but alas, he finds such projects rather menial.”

Persephone jumped, clutching a hand to her chest as she turned around. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Hades wore black today, the color almost as dark as the center of Tartarus. Perhaps Daedalus had also crafted the dye, for Persephone had seen nothing of its ilk on the surface.

“Turn that off, please.”