Free The Blood of Athens by Amy Leigh Strickland Page A

see ghosts all the time. When I was born, I killed
my mother.”
    Penny looked
away.
    “ I have to
blackmail my dad to keep his hands off me because he knows. He knows
it's my fault.”
    “ People die,
Peter. It's not your fault. Your father doesn't have the right to
hurt you because he doesn't know how to handle his own sadness.”
    Peter nodded.
“Dr. Livingstone wants me to get emancipation and live at a
shelter.”
    “ Maybe you
could live with my mom.”
    Peter laughed.
“Your mom hates me.”
    “ She doesn't
hate you.”
    “ She
certainly doesn't want us under the same roof.”
    Penny didn't
dispute that. “Are you going to do it?”
    “ I might.
Doc says the blackmail isn't a long-term solution.”
    Penny threw
her arms around his shoulders. He looked like he needed a hug. Peter
buried his nose in her hair and closed his eyes, just breathing and
enjoying the warmth of her embrace. Peter wasn't a particularly huggy
person, but physical contact from Penny was always welcome.
    As Penny
pulled away, Peter felt the moment. It was that moment, when watching
a romantic comedy, that every member in the audience could anticipate
the big, climactic kiss. It was the right moment. He had to go for
it. Peter turned his head, his lips passed by her cheek and then he
was kissing her. The stars had aligned.
    Penny pressed
her hand to his chest and pushed him away. She stood up and turned
around.
    Peter's heart
tightened in his chest. He opened his mouth, starting to apologize,
but he didn't want to
apologize.
    “ Why did you
do that?” Penny asked.
    “ You know
why,” he said.
    “ Peter,”
she warned.
    “ I love you,
and it's not just because it's been engrained in my soul for a couple
thousand years. I love you, Penny, not Persephone.”
    “ I thought
we covered this in August,” she said. “You're my friend.”
    “ Why am I
just your friend? Because I'm not rich like Teddy? Because I'm not as
charming as Zach? Not as tall as Frank? Not as handsome as Nick?”
    “ How about
because you raped me.”
    Peter fell
silent for a moment. He stood up. “That wasn't me. That was Hades.”
    “ Which is
part of you.” Penny sighed. “I know it doesn't seem fair, to be
blamed for things that we did when--”
    “ No, it's
not fair. I'm a different person. I was born Peter Hadley, grew up in
a shitty house with my shitty dad, and I would never do that to you.”
    “ I know.”
    They looked at
each other for a long time. Penny had to admit that Peter had become
quite tall and handsome over the last year and a half. He was her
best friend, but it wasn't enough. “Peter. When you remember me, do
you see me, Penny Davis?”
    Peter furrowed
his brow. “You mean when I remember Persephone?”
    “ Right.”
    “ No. But I
know it's you.”
    “ Exactly.
Like a dream. You don't look like you, but I know it's you. And when
I finally remembered that, when that memory came back to me or was
unlocked or whatever the hell happened, I remembered it as you. So
you, Peter Hadley, never did that to me, and never would-- I hope--
but I remember it as you, because it kind of was you, before. I know
this doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to.”
    Penny began to
cry. “When you try to kiss me, Peter, I remember being dragged
through the earth and taken against my will. Nothing will ever fix
that. You could look like Darren Criss and have all the money in the
world, and I would still have that in my mind. I can't be with you,
Peter. Ever. And I know it isn't fair, which is why you're still my
best friend, but some part of you long ago is guilty, and I can't
forget it, even if I've forgiven it. I can't be with someone that I
fear, even a little. I can't ever forget that.”
    Peter sat down
on the bed. He took Penny's hand. She tensed, but she didn't pull
away. It had taken two years for Peter to understand. He got it now.
All of this time he had worried that Penny didn’t like him as a
person. He was angry for being saddled with the