Love Lines

37: Stop The Whole World, Pt. 2

"Don't say too much," Chris whispered into her ear but I still managed to hear it. "She understands plenty."

"But, darling," it was her turn to brush his hair, god could they be more disturbing? "If you were going to be a sacrificial lamb, wouldn't you want to know everything?"

"She's an oracle, love. I'm sure she knows more than you think she does."

"Not as much as you'd imagine. Why don't you go keep an eye out for Caelus in case he gets lost again? That vessel he's chosen has no sense of direction."

"He'll find his way. Besides, if he wants this to happen, he'll be here."

"Don't be so crude."

"What? It's true. I'm starting to think he's not as committed to this as you let on."

Then Persephone did something I would never do to Cecil, not even if he'd seriously pissed me off. She slapped Chris hard across the face, that happy-go-lucky expression dying away to the harsh evil that lived underneath. From my visions, I knew Persephone was a deceiver. She was worse than Delilah was with Sampson. Her true colors were starting to manifest and maybe this was the opportunity for Chris to see it.

"Do what I say."

"Yes, ma'am."

Chris left and Persephone stood there for a moment, re-gathering the pleasant look on her features before she looked down at me. How could he not see she was just using him? How could he not understand that he meant nothing more to her than a means to an end?

"Don't mind him. He just needs to be put in his place sometimes. But you know that, don't you, Natalie? You've put him in his place plenty of times before."

"Why him?"

"Well, that's a long story. Are you sure you're up for it?" She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Of course you are. It's not like you're going anywhere anytime soon. You're stuck here until I release you for the ritual and preparations. Everything you do is controlled by me. Nice, isn't it? Ok. So. I first saw him during one of my vacations topside. I was playing debutant during the War of 1812 and I loved him instantly."

That didn't make any sense. The War of 1812 was literally two hundred years ago and from what I could tell, Chris wasn't that old. That was the problem with seeing the future on occasion, you didn't always get the full scope. Cecil was the way to the back-history, I was the way to the future. So in order to keep her talking, even though she seemed more than willing to share, I said something rather callous.

"Like you loved Hades?"

Her eyes turned dark and that ugly look was back on her face. "Now that was below the belt, dearest. But I should've known he'd fill your head with lies. This is his fault, you know. All of this. If he'd just...why do men always want commitment? All I wanted was to be free but no. He wanted everything. Love, marriage, forever...do you know what it feels like to be held down by your mother and then by the man you're married to?" She rolled her eyes. "It's like going from one prison to another. The Underworld is dreadful, no sunlight, no living things. Just an infinite wasteland of rock, death, and nothingness." She looked down at me, her eyes sparkling. "That was until I met Christopher. We fell in love that spring and summer of 1812. And then that stupid war started. He was called up and then he was killed. Senseless war. I was back in the Underworld by then and before my husband could spot his soul, I sent him back to be reborn. It's a very delicate process but when you're the Queen of the Underworld, you can do whatever you want."

She did what?! Bringing someone back to life...it upsets things. Everything relied on balance and bringing someone back to life without replacing them in the Underworld...no wonder everything was so screwed up right now.