A Touch of Ruin

Leuce visits Persephone at work. She apologizes and asks Persephone to intercede with Hades to get Leuce a home and a job. Leuce remarks, “[I]n ancient times, the gods were feared and revered. Their worshippers were serious about honoring their gods. It wasn’t this…false obsession” (117). At her apartment, Persephone enjoys a girls’ night, drinking wine with Sybil and Lexa as they rail against Apollo. Emboldened by wine, Persephone rationalizes away her promise to Hades, reminding herself that he kept secrets from her. She writes an article denouncing Apollo and sends it to Demetri for publication.

The crowd waiting for Persephone outside her office building now includes people who are angry with her for accusing Apollo. She is frustrated that people defend him. On her lunch break, she teleports to the rooftop and admires the city of New Athens, which held so much hope for her when she moved there: “She’d fallen in love with everything it promised—endless possibilities, adventure, and freedom” (129). Pirithous is there and tells her how he lost his relationship by gambling. Later, Hades appears in her bedroom and accuses Persephone of wanting to hurt him by ignoring his request. He insists on taking her to the Underworld to protect her, and when Persephone’s anger manifests in black thorns, he turns them into ash.

Persephone is ashamed that she broke her word. She talks with Hecate, who wonders if Demeter turned Leuce back into a nymph. Hecate helps Persephone practice controlling her magic. Persephone creates several ripe, red pomegranates, but then they explode, creating what looks like a bloodbath. Hecate suggests that there is darkness inside Persephone. When Persephone takes a walk, flowers bloom in her path, leaving a trail, and when she is angry, roses sprout from her arm. She meditates by the sea and then, exhausted, falls asleep. Hades comes to bring her to bed.

Persephone wakes up to find Hermes in Hades’ bedroom, keeping an eye on her. She rushes to join the meeting between Hades and Apollo. The two gods are a contrast of shadow and light. Hades says they have struck a deal—a favor to be collected at a future time. Apollo agrees to return Sybil’s powers, but when Hades threatens to burn all Apollo loves if he hurts Persephone, Apollo answers, “Nothing I love exists anymore” (158). Persephone goes outside to meditate, and Hades appears. He coaches her on how to use her magic, suggesting that it is “passionate, expressive. It reacts to emotions, no matter your level of expertise” (161). He teaches her how to create flowers and then asks her forgiveness. They reconcile and make love.

Persephone asks Hades to provide Leuce with a home and a job. She understands how it feels to have one’s whole world suddenly change. Hades is touched that Persephone wants to help the nymph. Persephone approaches Hecate and asks her for help in summoning Demeter. She brings her mother to her bedroom, and they have a stiff conversation. Persephone sees that her mother still disapproves of her, especially of her being with Hades. Demeter says that Persephone’s name means “destroyer”—“a destroyer of dreams, of happiness, of lives” (174).

Persephone returns to the Upperworld, and when she goes to work in the morning, someone in the crowd throws a bottle at her. Lexa’s boyfriend, Jaison, calls to say that Lexa is in the hospital, seriously hurt.