He led her to a nearby cart house, which stored an array of chariots and wagons both large and small, plus tack. The loft of the cart house seemed to serve as his living quarters, containing a bed roll and a small shelf for personal belongings.

She dithered over chariots. Hades’ gold one was nowhere to be seen; she must have taken it for the day. Some of the wagons did not look spacious enough to hide her. What would she do if she could not stow away in the morning? What if Ismaros was caught and their plan ruined? Would she get another chance?

“Mistress?”

She was overthinking this. No need to make it more complicated than necessary. “I’ve changed my mind. I’d prefer to go for a ride.” She glanced at the storage area for the tack and other cleaning supplies. “And I need some oil.”

Eustachys blushed and stammered.

“What?” Persephone snapped, more harshly than she’d intended.

“O—of course.”

A few moments later and she was trotting out of the stables on the dappled gray mare that Eustachys had called Nereia. She soon urged Nereia into a canter, then a gallop. They crossed the wide plains of the Elysian Fields together, only slowing when they reached the river Lethe.

The path descended, ending at the foot of the river. The air blew cool and wet, rising as mist from the ground. Persephone dismounted and walked down to the river, slipping off her sandals to feel the damp grass beneath her feet.

Nearby grew clumps of poppies, crimson and swaying in the breeze. She picked one and placed it in her hair, then gathered more in her arms. Nereia snorted but stayed still and patient as Persephone braided flowers into her mane.

She ought to be careful. She remembered what had happened at the junction of the Styx and Acheron. But here she could see no ghostly faces in the river and heard only the gentle babble of the water as it polished its pebbly shallows.

She sat on the grass and dipped in her toes. The mud was cool and soft beneath her heels. Tiny fish darted around her and nibbled at her feet.

She had never thought the underworld to be beautiful, but this corner of it seemed like it might well be. Her reflection stared back at her. She looked calm. She looked almost... happy.

Could she be happy here?

She glanced behind her. Nereia contentedly munched at a patch of herbs. Persephone smiled to see it, and then she yawned, stretching her body like a cat. Her eyes seemed too heavy; she struggled to keep them open.