No fairies, no hobgoblins, no bogles.
No naiads or dryads, nixies or undines.
No werewolves, no vampires.
No Outcast.
No Lurine, who was silently seething in her seat. The entire eldritch community would be unhomed.
Persephone gave a delicate frown of consternation. “Well, I imagine some of them will become seasonal residents.”
“What if that’s not an option?” Cody said grimly.
Don Reynolds rose. “Look, as the father of a seven-year-old boy who was attacked by an eldritch creature, I have to say, I’m in favor of weeding out some of the elements in our midst.”
“Some of those elements are our family and friends!” It was my mom who called that out, her voice shaking with anger. “You can’t just banish them!”
At the council table, Jason Hallifax cleared his throat. “With all due respect, I think we have to make this decision based on the needs of the ordinary tax-paying citizens who elected us.”
Casimir stood, resplendent in a tall beehive wig. “Who are you calling ordinary, dahling?” he asked in an acidic tone.
The discussion raged for the better part of an hour. I was surprised that Persephone didn’t shut it down, but the longer it went on, the more people spoke in favor of accepting her offer, and the more they did, the more others began clamoring for the council to vote on it immediately.
In the end, they did. It was unanimous.
Forty-seven
Once the vote was read, Persephone gave a cheery little wave in my direction, unsealing my tongue.
I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Everything had happened so fast. I’d come into this town meeting prepared to argue for all I was worth in favor of a decision to appeal, and my world had been turned upside down.
Which had been the very first card in the reading Mom did for me on Thanksgiving; El Mundo, reversed.
It had made me shiver then, and it did now. And La Corona, wealth. Well, that had sure as hell come into play. Which meant La Bandera came next. The flags of war were waving.
The meeting was adjourned. Persephone gathered her entourage, preparing to depart. “I trust that you’ll inform Hel that her demesne will soon belong to me,” she said, gazing at me with sun-spangled eyes. “I’ll return on the first day of spring to take possession of it.”
I said nothing.
“Now you’re silent?” Persephone laughed her enchanting laugh. “As you will, pretty Daisy. I will see you anon.”
She left Daniel Dufreyne behind to discuss the details. No doubt he’d get whatever he asked for, which now seemed like the least of my worries. There was a knot of friends and family waiting for me by the doors, but I approached the council before joining my people.
“You have no idea what you’ve unleashed here tonight,” I said to the mayor and the council members. “No idea.”
“We made the best decision we could for the community,” Jason Hallifax said defensively.
“No,” I said. “You just voted to put Pemkowet in the middle of a war between two elder faith goddesses, and if you think otherwise, you’re delusional. Persephone’s declared war, all right. She’s just using money as her weapon.” I glanced at Dufreyne. “Money and a rigged trial.”
“Nonetheless, it was a fair offer,” one of the other council members said. “And Persephone was right. Hel’s relocated before. Why can’t she just do it again?”
“You might advise her to make sure she has legal title to whatever property she claims this time,” Hallifax added.
I stared at him in disbelief. “You seem to think Hel’s going to act like an ordinary human being. May I remind you that she’s a freaking goddess, not some delinquent tenant being served an eviction notice?”
The mayor looked apprehensive. “Well, you’ll just have to convince her it’s in everyone’s best interest if she, um, relocates.”
“I’m sure Daisy will do just that,” Dufreyne said in a smooth voice, allaying the council’s fears. He smiled at me. “Unless she has another solution in mind?”
I transferred my stare to him. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? That’s been your endgame all along, hasn’t it? Well, go to hell. I’m not breaching the Inviolate Wall just because your crazy-ass mistress wants a summer home.”
He just smiled.
Turning on my heel, I went to join my mom and friends.
“Are you okay, honey?” Mom asked me anxiously. “She didn’t hurt you, did she?”
“Fine,” I said. “Just pissed.” I looked at Lurine. “Are you okay? What did Persephone say to you?”
“Oh, she threatened me with a fate worse than death if I didn’t get out of her way,” Lurine said in a flat voice that didn’t belie the fury simmering beneath it. “I’ll spare you the unpleasant details. Unfortunately, she could deliver on it; or at least Hades could, and I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t. Damned Olympians.” She shrugged. “That’s what comes of losing a war. I told you the children of the Titans got screwed. I’m sorry, cupcake. I truly am.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”
“Hey, Daisy?” Lee interjected. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I think that, um, there’s a frost giant outside waiting for you.”
Of course there was.
“Thanks.” I took a deep breath. “It looks like I’ve got to report to Hel.”