"Mother, please — "

 

"And here it is August, and do you come home like you're supposed to? Do you

ever think about your poor lonely mother?"

 

"DEMETER!" Hades shouted. "That is enough. You are a guest in my house."

 

"Oh, a house is it?" she said. "You call this dump a house? Make my daughter

live in this dark, damp — "

 

"I told you," Hades said, grinding his teeth, "there's a war in the world above.

You and Persephone are better off here with me."

 

"Excuse me," I broke in. "But if you're going to kill me, could you just get on

with it?"

 

All three gods looked at me.

 

"Well, this one has an attitude," Demeter observed.

 

"Indeed," Hades agreed. "I'd love to kill him."

 

"Father!" Nico said. "You promised!"