Free Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis Page B

jealous?” Melissa interjected. She blinked, seeming surprised at the sound of her own voice, and I knew that question had been the least important one on her mind. She’d just blurted it out without thinking.
    Hades hesitated, but my mother had no problem filling in the gap. “Hades and Hera were a couple long before she married Zeus. Didn’t he tell you, Persephone?”
    I didn’t bother to answer her smug question. No, he hadn’t told me, but I’d already guessed. He’d always been unusually defensive on Hera’s behalf. He’d been open with me about every other relationship he’d ever had. Obviously, that one was a sore subject, and I saw no reason to get upset about a relationship that had ended when dirt was new.
    Aphrodite gave my mother a strange look and stepped closer to Hades in a show of solidarity.
    “So you’re nymphs,” Aphrodite exclaimed, indicating Melissa and her mother with a wave of her hand. At Melissa’s questioning look, she clarified, “It’s easier to turn a nymph into a plant. Humans are easier to turn into animals. It’s not impossible, mind you…”
    “I’m a nymph?” Melissa asked her mom.
    “Half,” Mrs. Minthe replied. “Honey, the difference between a human and a nymph is so inconsequential it’s hardly worth mentioning. We work well with nature. Unlike the human myths, turning into trees or rivers isn’t typical of our race, unless cursed.”
    Melissa’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Oh, so you got turned into a plant? Why?”
    “It made sure even her soul was out of my reach.” Hades’ voice was bitter.
    “Demeter rescued me. In return, I swore to be her priestess for all time.”
    I wondered how many of my mom’s priestesses were refugees from other gods. I was about to ask when Hades interrupted. “Well, it’s good to see you, Minthe. I’m happy that you’re still alive.” He turned to my mother. “I am grateful to you for that.”
    I fiddled with my necklace and studied Mrs. Minthe out of the corner of my eye. Her every feature should have been familiar to me, but too many conflicting images were vying for my attention. I saw the woman who babysat me since before I could walk. The lady who baked cakes for my birthday parties. She was Melissa’s mom, and that image didn’t resonate with the youthful nymph I’d imagined from hearing the stories.
    Words were being exchanged between Hades and Minthe, but I couldn’t hear them. The words didn’t matter anyway. Their eyes spoke louder, telling stories of regret and angst. I shouldn’t be in here right now. Melissa gripped my hand, and I knew she understood.
    “I’ll…uh, I’ll be back. Tomorrow. Can you…” I kept losing my train of thought, the right words slipping past me like water flowing through my fingers. “Aphrodite…”
    “I will be fine.” Aphrodite beamed. “You should have told me she was a nymph,” she added, as if that made all the difference.
    “Okay then, I’m going to show you to your room.” Melissa kept her voice low, steering Aphrodite away. She met my eyes and quirked an eyebrow.
    I nodded. We would talk later.
    I made my way to the porch, gulping the fresh air as if I’d been suffocating. The door closed behind me, and I closed my eyes. “Which is it, Mom? Are you here to gloat or give me a cover story?”
    “I deserved that,” she said in a calm voice.
    “Damn right, you did!” I snapped. She arched an eyebrow at my tone, but I was too angry to care. “You knew I was coming here with Hades, and you let me find out like this! Not to mention Minthe and Melissa. What do you think that did to them?”
    “I spoke with Minthe before you arrived.” Mom smoothed her skirt and sat on the porch swing. “We both agreed that it was best to get this over with. Hades was bound to run into her at some point if Aphrodite is going to be staying here, and you deserved to know about his past before you get any further involved in this relationship.”
    “You think