Free Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo Page B

things they can start with? Or ask Callie or Reynaldo if they need help with anything.”
    Demi reached down and patted the top of the wolf’s head. “Oh, most definitely.”
    Jeremy turned and left, and the three of us stood there staring at each other. One of the dogs growled.
    â€œSo,” Shar began, breaking the silence. I didn’t like the way Demi was checking us out. “Um, you, uh, do a lot of … different things around here.”
    â€œReally, Sharisse, you’re more dense than a petrified tree. Take those ridiculous things off. Lasik surgery indee d.”
    Wait— how did she know about our little lie?
    â€œAnd you, Margaret,” she said, turning to me. “Please, don’t bother to mince words. You won’t turn into a carrion bird talking to me.”
    Shar took off her glasses. “Do you know Hades?” she whispered.
    Demi glared at her. “Do not speak his name in my presence.”
    â€œWho are you?” I asked.
    â€œI’m someone who doesn’t like being robbed of what is most precious to me.”
    â€œYou’re from the same circles as Had—I mean, our mutual acquaintance?” I asked.
    She nodded.
    â€œWho are you?” Shar repeated, at a loss. I was stumped too. Demi knew about us, and she knew about Hades. Apparently she didn’t like him—that was something we had in common—but still, that told me nothing. Last night’s flip through The Encyclopedia of Myth revealed that he had a long list of enemies.
    Demi took a long, slow deep breath, like she was at the end of her patience.
    â€œI don’t mean to be rude,” Shar stammered. “But since you seem know about our situation, we’re … a little nervous. With all these myths and ancient histories popping to life in front of us, and everything.”
    â€œWell said,” I muttered, and nodded my head.
    â€œI’m Demeter.” She sighed. “Think you can figure it out now?”
    Demeter … I thought hard. Demeter was Hades’ mother-in-law, and the goddess akin to Mother Nature. In her grief about having her daughter, Persephone, spend half the year in Tartarus, she made the earth hibernate each winter.
    But what was she doing here, at the House of Romanov? Whatever the reason, it couldn’t be good—for us.
    â€œI’ll make it a bit clearer for you,” Demi continued. “That repugnant pig you’re working for stole my baby. I’ve never been able to get her back. She deserves far better than him. Oh, my poor darling Persephone, spending half the year in that horrible place … down there!”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Shar said. “But we have nothing to do with—”
    Demeter waved at hand at us. “How could I ever expect you to understand? You’re mortals. Simple, stupid, inferior mortals.”
    Pardon me?
    â€œBut maybe even you two can comprehend this: I loathe him. If I can throw his schemes askew, it gives a small bit of satisfaction.”
    â€œBut if we don’t get Arkady, then—” Shar began.
    I elbowed her in the arm to stop her. “Nondisclosure?” I mouthed, wide-eyed. We probably already said more than we should have.
    Demeter stared menacingly at us, and the halogen lights over our heads flickered and buzzed. “I really don’t care about your little arrangement with him. I want my Persephone back. That is my only concern.” She crossed her arms and turned away from us, but I could feel the anger rippling off her. The dogs whimpered.
    â€œSoooo, you know about …” Shar started cautiously, then pointed at herself and me. “You know. Our arrangement.”
    Demi’s chin inched up. “I’m a goddess. There’s not much I’m unaware of.”
    â€œIf you’re a goddess, then you have to know a way to get Persephone back,” Shar argued.
    Demeter seemed to grow even bigger, if that was