Free From Origins (Descendant Prophecies Book 3) by Mary Ting

was released. He managed to settle his stumbling steps and drop to his throne, looking overcome.
    Persephone swayed gracefully to the side, evaluating me. “Yes. It is I. It’s winter in your land. Don’t you know your Greek mythology? Where else would I be?” Her tone was sultry and sweet, yet it was meant to belittle me.
    From what I remembered, Hades had kidnapped Persephone. He tricked her into eating pomegranate seeds, so that he could ensure her stay based on how many seeds she ate. By the time she figured out what was happening, she had eaten six of them. I also recalled her being blonde and blue-eyed when at home with Demeter, her mother, but when with Hades, she was dark eyed and dark haired. Seeing her this way only confirmed what I was told.
    She was as beautiful as her name. With one long braid resting on one side of her shoulder, she wore a long, black gown that formed to her chest and flowed out gracefully.
    “How can you stand to be here? How can you love him after all that he has done?” I was judging her, though I knew it wasn’t right to do so. But I was mad at her for making me think about what I was doing. I could have killed Hades and it would have been over and done with. I could have been back with my friends. Now it would be difficult. I would have to worry about Persephone’s persuasion, as she already had done.
    Persephone started pacing, seemingly gathering her words, and then circled around the pit. I wished she would stop moving. It was making me nervous.
    “Do you even know what love is? Have you ever loved anyone so much that you would do anything for this person?” She questioned finally, stroking her long braid as if it was a pet.
    I had, but I didn’t answer. Mason and my parents came to my mind. I could imagine Mason losing his mind from being worried about me. He was waiting for my return.
    “Hades had faults,” she resumed. “I’d be the first one to admit that, but he has changed his ways. Being stuck here for who knows how long, he wants to make amends with his brothers.”
    “The brothers he has killed?” I snapped.
    “No,” Hades retorted. “They’re still alive. I asked Persephone to keep her eye on all of them. They need to be rescued. They are imprisoned by Hephaestus’s iron casts.”
    “How do you know this?”
    “Hephaestus told me,” Hades confessed. “He told me his plan before—”
    “Before you agreed to seek revenge upon your brothers,” I reminded. “You tried to kill us when we tried to reach you. Why should I believe any of this?”
    “I didn’t try to kill you.”
    “Liar!” I seethed.
    “I don’t have control over what is out of my kingdom. Once you enter the underworld, the evil spirits take over. They are the ones that set the rules now. They control the beasts, not me. I gave it all up.”
    “He’s telling the truth,” Persephone persisted. “It’s the reason I don’t leave and enter through the front, but rather the back. Hades has turned away from his ways. He’s tired. He’s wants a second chance.”
    “I was hoping you would make it.” Hades soothed in his deep, calm voice. “I just want my brothers’ forgiveness. I want us to be family again, but I can’t leave. The ones that can truly set me free are my brothers, or someone like you, but I can’t leave unless I have all three lodestones. I know Hephaestus has imprisoned my brothers. If you get me the other two stones, I’ll help you get rid of Hephaestus and you can help me set my brothers free.”
    I laughed aloud and shook my head. “You think I can be tricked by your false intentions? You want out so you can save yourself and rule my world.”
    “That would have been me before, but that is not how I am today.”
    Persephone settled herself on the throne next to him and tenderly caressed Hades’s dark hair.  “I assure you, what he’s saying is true.”
    “Show me the lodestone,” I asked, looking direct at Hades.
    “He doesn’t have it.”