Page 160 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

The Ruse

The air of the cave was filled

with the scent of herbs and meat.

Kronos carefully ladled some

of the stew into a wooden bowl.

As he handed it to me,

he fretted, ‘I once had bowls

made of the finest silver taken

from the heart of the earth.

Gifts from my mother.’

Of course, his mother, Gaia.

He sighed as he sat with

his own bowl. ‘I think,

out of all of us, it is she

who has suffered the most.’

I pictured the kind-faced Gaia,

roots and ivy for hair,

moss-skinned, doe-eyed

watching her children

fight her grandchildren.

My stomach twisted in sympathy.

I looked at Kronos.

‘You are not as the stories said.’

He said nothing to this,

just smiled sadly and ate his own food.

I also ate the stew he had prepared,

the meat was tender and flavourful.

‘Thank you,’ I said when I finished,

‘for your hospitality.’ I stood up then,

rifling through my bag for nectar.

I imagined I would need all my strength

to walk through the caves of darkness

into the Halls of the Night.

‘I must leave,’ I said,

not looking up at him,

‘I must go to the Halls of Night

before it is discovered I am gone.’

As I found my flask,

I looked up and saw his face.

It was changed, cold, angry.

And it was then I realized

that his kindness had a price.