Chapter 45

I sat there, my mind reeling from Callie’s revelation. All this time, I’d thought our friendship was just that—friendship. But now, to find out that she was part of a Greek goddess? It was a lot to take in. The fact that she’d played a role in bringing Haides and me together felt like a betrayal, no matter how good her intentions were.

“So, our friendship… was it all just part of some grand design?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Callie looked at me, her sage green eyes filled with sincerity. “Cora, I swear, our friendship was never faked. Calliope, she didn’t merge with me until after we’d become friends. I’m still me, just… more. I have this drive now, this focus on certain tasks. But everything we’ve been through, every laugh, every tear—that was all real. It was us.”

I wanted to believe her, I really did. But doubt gnawed at me. “But Haides… you showed him to me, made me see him in a different light.”

“Yes, that’s true. But that was just me showing you what was already there. You were the one who saw the good in him, who fell for him. That was all you, Cora. Your influence, your actions, your free will.”

I shook my head, trying to reconcile the pieces of this puzzle. “And our names? Haides and Cora—they’re not just coincidences. They’re too similar to Hades and Persephone.”

Callie gave me a small smile. “Fate has a weird sense of humor, doesn’t it? But it’s just that—a coincidence. If you don’t believe me, call your mom. Ask her where she got your name from.”

I picked up my phone, my fingers hovering over the screen. With a deep breath, I dialed my mom’s number. The call connected, and I put it on speaker.

“Mom, quick question—where did you get my name from?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

Mom’s voice came through, warm and familiar. “Oh, sweetie, I named you after Cora Smith Eaton, the suffragist. She was such an inspiration, a woman who fought for what she believed in. I wanted you to have that strength, that determination.”

The room spun around me. Cora Smith Eaton. Not Persephone, not a character in a myth. A real person, a symbol of empowerment and resilience. I met Callie’s gaze, and she gave me a knowing look.

“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot,” I said softly, ending the call.

Callie reached out, her hand covering mine. “See? It’s all just one crazy coincidence. But our story, it’s ours. No one else’s.”

I nodded, finally starting to understand. Our lives were a tapestry woven from threads of choice and chance, fate and free will. And somehow, amidst all the chaos, Haides and I had found each other. Our connection was real, forged in the fires of our own making.

“Okay,” I said, a small smile forming on my lips. “I believe you, Callie. And I’m glad you’re still you, just with a little extra divine spark.”

Callie’s hiccup caught us all off guard, and I couldn’t help but snort-laugh at the absurdity of the sound in the midst of our heavy conversation. It was such a human, un-goddess-like thing to do, and it broke the tension like a well-timed punchline. The laughter bubbled up from deep within me, shaking my shoulders and bringing tears to my eyes. Haides’ hand stilled on my palm, his fingers pausing in their tracing of whatever symbol he’d etched into my skin a dozen times over.

As our laughter subsided, I wiped the tears from my eyes, still chuckling. “So do you have any tasks from the people upstairs right now?” I asked Callie, my voice light, teasing even. It was a strange reality we were living in, where the Gods were apparently just a Zoom call away.

Callie just smiled and shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “Nope, I’m free to do what I want for now until the Gods need further amusement,” she said, her tone laced with a hint of irony.

I felt a twinge of sadness for her, this divine aspect now a part of her life. It was a lot for anyone to handle, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like for her, being a pawn in some cosmic game of chess. But I pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that Callie was strong, resilient, and above all, my best friend.

I sent her a gentle smile, hoping to convey my unwavering support. “Well, until they call on you again, you’re stuck with us mortals. And we’re pretty excellent company, if I do say so myself,” I said.

Haides’ hand resumed its movement on my palm, the touch now familiar, comforting. He didn’t say anything, but his presence was a solid, reassuring force beside me. I glanced over at him, taking in the sharp lines of his profile, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead. There was a softness in his eyes as he looked at me, a vulnerability that he’d only ever shown to me.

Callie grinned at our exchange, her eyes dancing with amusement. “You know, I think I can handle being ‘stuck’ with you two. After all, it’s not every day you get to witness a love story that could rival the Gods themselves,” she teased, her earlier revelation now just another thread in the tapestry of our lives.

I laughed, the sound mingling with Callie’s as Haides rolled his eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was a strange, wonderful moment, a perfect snapshot of our unlikely trio—a dark romance author, a goddess in disguise, and a man who’d seen the depths of human depravity and come out the other side.

As our laughter faded, we lapsed into a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The weight of our shared secrets, our tangled fates, hung in the air, but for now, it was enough to simply be together, to revel in the absurdity and beauty of our intertwined lives.

Haides’ hand finally stilled on my palm, and he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the center. It was a simple gesture, but one that sent a shiver of warmth coursing through me. At this moment, there was nowhere else I’d rather be, no one else I’d rather be with. Our story was far from over, but as long as we had each other, I knew we could face whatever came our way.