Dark Goddess (26 page)

Hartley

Hayden was helping Mrs. Penelope bring a load of books to her car, leaving me to walk the hallway alone after our last class of the day.  We were back at school as if nothing happened, graduation a few weeks away.  It’s been a week since Hayden reclaimed the Underworld and banished Ixion to Tartarus.  Demeter was out there, probably sour and vengeful.  In hindsight I wasn’t sure Zeke did the best thing by demoting her to a demigod.  If she ever got her powers back, she would probably continue her vendetta against us. 

Now that I was goddess of the Underworld and ruled
with
Hayden I was no longer chained to it.  It was a part of me as much as it was Hayden.  The power of fire and darkness was always with me, no reason to yank me back.

The new ring sparkled on my finger, a flash of crimson winking in the impenetrable glossy depths of the mystical onyx stone.  The other hand held Hayden’s silver band adorned with rubies.  A smile curled my lips remembering the night he gave it to me after unexpectedly showing up at my house.  Unbeknownst to me he stole my other ring right off my finger, using it as an excuse to come over.   

He was such a little duplicitous trickster then.  Nothing has changed.  He hid all of my bras this morning at the castle.  Every single one of them.  Too bad he didn’t realize some clothing comes with one.  Ha!

“Hi Hartley.”

I glanced up to see Meredith leaning against her locker, tucking a piece of silky brown hair behind her ear.  “Hi Meredith.”

Vaughn strolled up and bent his lanky body down to kiss her cheek before waving at me.  “Hi Hartley.”

I waved.  “I’ll see you guys later.” 

“Hi Hartley.”

Even though I didn’t recognize her, I smiled and nodded at the tall, rail thin girl with midnight hair and freckles across her button nose.  I
did
recognize the bleach blonde sulking in the corner, orangey bronzer thickly layering her scowling face.  I wiggled my fingers.  “Hi Darby.”

She popped her gum and rolled her eyes dramatically before turning around and opening her locker to avoid me.

“Hartley!”  Leslie jumped, nearly knocking Kathryn over who was grabbing a book out their shared locker.  “I think I left my phone at your house.”

My brow furrowed, certain I hadn’t seen her phone or heard her the Taylor Swift ring tone.  “Have you tried calling it?”

Her blue eyes widened.  “Oh.  Right.”  She elbowed Kathryn.  “Call it for me.”

Kathryn pressed the speed dial button—I knew it was number one—and moments later the familiar tune began somewhere nearby.

Leslie’s mouth dropped in a little ‘O’ as she reached into Kathryn’s fuchsia purse.  “I found it!”

“Oh yeah,” Kathryn said, flicking her black ponytail.  “We should probably have checked there first.” 

They both waved at me, giggling.  “Thanks Hartley,” they chorused.

I laughed and shook my head.  Those girls would probably end up marrying identical twins and living next door to each other.

“Hartley!”  Blake sidled up to me, throwing a thick arm over my shoulder and giving me a big wet one on the cheek.

“Ugh Blake!”  I pretended to be grossed out.

“Ah, come on.  Hayden’s not around.  This is the only time I get to have some sugar from Ms. Hart-breaker Walker.”

I flashed a smile.  “You’re right.  You know he’d knock you out if you tried it in front of him.”

He shook his blonde hair from his face, grinning.  “We’re boys, but his girl is off limits.”

We reached Jake’s locker, his hand reaching out to stop Blake.  “You coming to the poker game tonight?”

Blake gave him daps.  “Hell yeah.  Pete’s coming too.”

“Cool.” Jake’s lopsided grin bunched up his sun kissed cheeks.  “Hartley, will you and your king be coming tonight?”  He was referring to the night Hayden made an ass out of himself drunk at Callie’s house, calling me his queen.  Little did Jake know it was true.

“I suppose us royalty can make time for the little people.”

“Hey, who you calling little.”  Callie kissed my cheek before latching onto Jake’s arm.  “You’re like an inch taller than me.”

I lifted my leg, showing off my tall wedges.  “I’m at least three today.”

Callie grimaced before reluctantly nodding in agreement.  “Yeah.  I suppose.  You’re lucky I’m only in flats.”  She popped her tiny hand on her hip.  “But I won’t be making that mistake again.”

Will sauntered up, squeezing me in a bear hug like old times.  “Hart.  You’re looking good as usual.”

I fake punched him in the bicep.  “You’re not so bad yourself Michaels.”

He grinned and shifted to the side.  “What are we talking about?”

“Just that the king and queen might be joining us for our poker game tonight,” Blake said, pinching Callie’s cheek and dodging Jake’s shove.

“Oh really?” Will asked, a knowing glint shining in his baby blues.  “I thought it was god and goddess.”

I nearly choked on my gum while Callie’s head tilted back, wild giggles pealing out.

Jake’s brow furrowed, confusion flashing across his face.  “Wait.  I thought we were calling them the king and queen.  Now they’re gods too?”

“Who are gods?”  Laurie slinked up and kissed Will on his cheek, giving him a nibble afterwards.

Will’s cheeks flamed, a bashful grin curling his lips.  “Hartley and Hayden.”

Her green eyes widened.  “Well duh.  Of course they are.”  Laurie blew me a kiss.  “They’re too hot not to be.”

I laughed.  “You guys are ridiculous sometimes.”  I wiggled my fingers.  “I gotta go.  I’ll see you guys later.”

“Hi Hartley.”

“Hi Hartley.”

“Hi Hartley.”

As I walked down the hall the chorus continued and it seemed as though my hand was forever in the air, waving hello.  But for the first time in a long, long time I didn’t mind. 

I leaned against my car in the parking lot, waiting on Hayden.  An approaching presence tickled my senses and I glanced over my shoulder to see Persephone slowly gliding toward me, caution glimmering in her blue eyes.  Her blonde waves danced in the wind around her stunning face and a petal pink dress highlighted her golden skin. 

My brow arched in a combination of curiosity and annoyance.  The last time we’d seen each other—excluding Demeter’s demise—we fought in the palace after I caught her trying to collect her things.  I crossed my arms, suspicion burning in my chest.  “Persephone, what do you want?”

“Well, hello to you too Queen Hartley.”  Her voice was sweet—and forced.  “I just thought I’d stop by and offer my congratulations on your new role in the Underworld.  I’m so very happy for you and Hayden.”  That last part was
so very
dry.

I shot her an incredulous expression.  “Seriously?”

Persephone opened her mouth, but stopped short and sighed instead.  “Oh whatever.  We hate each other.  There’s no amount of faking that can cover that.”  She leaned next to me, smoothing out her dress while averting her gaze down.

“So what
are
you doing here? If this is about your mother…”

She waved a dismissive hand in the air, cutting me off.  “No, no.  I wouldn’t dare interfere with Zeus and his punishment on my mother.”  She laid her palm on her chest.  “I don’t want my powers stripped too.  I like being a full god thank you very much.”

Ah, always the selfish bitch.

Persephone flicked her flaxen mane.  “Anywho… I was here because I did want to apologize for my part in the soul theft.”  She winced.  “I’m not mad I’m free, but I do feel bad about the dark souls tormenting people and stuff…”  She bit her bottom lip and slid her eyes toward me to gauge my reaction.

A humorless laugh tumbled out my mouth.  “You call that an apology?”

“I’m just being honest Hartley.  I could have just lied and shed some tears.”

I scoffed.  “Please.  I’m not Hayden.  I would have seen through your crap.”

Her mouth curled in a smirk.  “You didn’t at first.”

My eyes narrowed.  “Well I would now.”

“Okay.”  She tossed her hands in the air, surrendering.  “Look, I simply want to know if you and Hayden are going to come after Hercules and me.  Are we cool or not?”

My brow lifted in surprise.  “What makes you think we would ever
be cool
?”

“You know what I mean,” she hissed.

I did.  Hayden and I have had enough drama these past few months to last us a lifetime.  What they did was horrible and would never be forgiven or forgotten, but right now the Grecian Bonnie and Clyde were just a blip on our radar.  Chasing revenge on them was not our priority and honestly it probably never would be.

Of course Persephone didn’t need to know that.

A wicked smirk lifted the edges of my mouth as distant crimson fires ignited in my irises.  “Oh Persephone.  Hayden and I have put you two on the back burner for now.”  A flame appeared in my palm, illuminating her face with crimson light.  “But we haven’t forgotten what you did.”

Color washed from her usually rosy cheeks while her eyes showed white and her body tensed.  I could practically smell the fear seeping off her.  She took a shaky step back.  “What are you saying?”  Trepidation laced her tone.

I stepped forward.  “I’m saying stay on your toes.”  I winked one of my flaming eyes.

Persephone’s gaze darted between my fire eyes and the flame dancing precariously in my palm.  “S-Seriously?”

I loved hearing the stutter out of her.

Someone cleared their throat.  “What’s going on?”  Hayden’s deep, silken voice was like a soothing balm to my system.  “What are you doing here Persephone?”

“Don’t worry Hayden.”  I dowsed the flame before he saw it.  “We were just having a little girl talk.  Right Persephone?”

She nodded.  “Yep.”  She tilted her head in thought, probably wondering if I had been serious in my threat. 

Hayden halted beside me so close I could feel the heat from his body.  His stormy eyes fixed her with a glare.  “Are you here about Demeter?”

She scoffed in irritation.  “Why does everyone think that?”

“Sorry.  I forgot how selfish you were,” Hayden said dryly.  “Why are you here then?”

“No reason.”  She traced a tiny chip on my otherwise pristine car with a light pink fingernail and pouted.  The attempt glazed right over him. No one could pout better than me.

I turned toward him, giving him said pout.  “Just girl talk baby.  Don’t worry about it.”

His brows dipped in skepticism, but he didn’t press the subject further.  “Whatever.  Let’s get out of here.”  Desire darkened those silver eyes as his thumb slid gently across my bottom lip.

I smiled up at him.  “Gladly.”

He pulled me into his arms.  “You’re eyes are flaming,” he teased.

“So are yours.”

“Ugh, you guys are sickening.”

“Goodbye Persephone,” he said without looking away.

“Remember what I said.”  I waved behind my shoulder and felt her presence drift away.

Curiosity glimmered in Hayden’s gaze while his mouth curled up.  “You gonna tell me what that was about?”

“Nope.  I’d rather do something else with my lips.”

“Touché.”

Hayden

Souls waved hello to both of us as we entered the Underworld, my mind still doing a mental double take.  It was so strange not having them cower in fear.  Well most of them anyways.

“Hades, Hartley.”  Charon nodded, his skeletal formed hidden in the shadows of his cloak. 

Hartley smiled.  “Charon!  How’s your catch today.”

He jingled his bag of coins.  “Not too bad.”

I winked at Hartley behind his back, knowing full well she’d passed out a few coins this morning to the souls waiting on the shore.

“That little demonic angel tried sneaking a few past me, but I caught him.”

I laughed.  “Where is Hermes?”

Charon shrugged, letting his bag drop back into the folds of his cloak with a resonating jingle.  “As long as he isn’t pestering me I don’t care.”

Hartley scoffed.  “Oh, don’t lie.  You know you like Hermes.  He’s your friend.”

A gravelly grunt was his only denial—it was pretty weak as denials went.

“Come on.”  I gripped Hartley’s hand and tugged her across the Acheron River.  It’s not that I needed to hold her hand any more.  She could simply walk across the water like me.  I just preferred touching her.  “I have surprise for you.”

Excitement glinted in Hartley’s hazel eyes the moment she realized where we were headed.  Now we stood facing the gilded mirror surrounded by vines and treacherous thorns. 

“Are we really going in Elysium?” she asked, her voice giddy.

“I think it’s about time you saw
everything
you rule.”  I lifted her hand and motioned with my chin toward the mirror.  “Press your onyx ring to the surface and call on your power.”