Find Me by Jesse Griffin (old books to read txt) 📕

me always right? I sighed and decided to see how Amanda and Miranda were coping so I trudged home making sure I didn’t run into anyone.

***

“No, I told you I’m okay.” Miranda reassured me again that she wasn’t going to burst into tears when I told her something important. “Before you do, we have got to talk.”She stood and walked to the only room that was locked. She pulled a key out of her pocket and unlocked it. “On your eighteenth you come of age for what I’m about to show you. But first I need to tell you about when Jason and I found you in the woods. There was a note in your blanket, a warning.”

“A warning about what?”

“You, about the consequences of taking you in. Your birth parents, they didn’t want to risk their live for you.”

“What did the not say?”

“’Anyone who chooses to take in the incarnate of Persephone is risking very much. One may die the other live. Hades will come to you if you decide to keep her and reappear again on the 18th day of birth.’”
I was silent for a while. I finally looked at her.

“What are their names?”

“Ray and Lynn Josiah. They live an hour away.”

"What does he look like?”

“Your father?”

“Hades.” I whispered. “What does Hades look like?”

“They’re waiting. You may want not want to keep them that way.”She left the hall with me staring at her back.

“They who?”

“Who do you think?” A wispy wind carried voice asked.
I glared at Jason, took a deep breath and entered the room not knowing exactly what I was going to meet behind its door.

It was who I guessed. Aleczander, Amducias, and Hades were all seated at a table. “Persephone, glad you could make it.”

“That is not my name.”

“Of course it isn’t. At last not anymore.” I glared at him and shifted my attention to Aleczander. His jaw was tight and fist clenched, as if trying to control his temper.

“What do you want?”

“I would have figured that be obvious. Persephone. You.”

“I. Am. Not. Persephone.”

“If you say so.” Hades chuckled and I watched at the muscles under Aleczander’s black shirt tightened.
“Come now. Our castle in the Underworld awaits.”

“No. I’m not leaving.”

“Might I ask why?”

“This is my home. I’m not leaving.” Abyss trotted ton and froze before hissing and leaping into my arms.

“And Abyss doesn’t trust you.”

“That’s just a cat.”

“A cat that can make some pretty smart decisions. I trust her more than I do you.”

“Sire, I don’t think we’re getting anywhere today. Might we try again tomorrow?” Amducias suggested.

“Very well. We will return tomorrow to discuss this further Persephone.”He stood and left with Amducias following close after.

That left Aleczander and myself. “Are you okay?” I questioned seeing as his muscles hadn’t relaxed yet.

“Perfectly fine. Never better.”

“There’s something wrong. I may be human but I’m not an idiot. You haven’t relaxed since I entered the room.”

He sighed, closed his eyes and visibly willed his muscles to relax.

“Now, tell me what’s bothering you.”

“You are.”

“Why me? What did I do?”

“You saved me from ending the rest of my life in the
Underworld.”

“How?”

“Part of my deal with Hades was that if I found where you were and made sure it was you, I could stay on Earth the remainder of my existence. I have no way to repay you either.”

“You don’t have to repay me anything.”

“I won’t be at ease until I do.”

“When you find a way to get me out of this, you can repay me.”

“Please don’t leave.”

“Why?”

“I feel alive when you around.”

“How?”

“I don’t know.” He gave me a cocky grin. “You just do. Why do you expect me to know everything?”

“I don’t. I expect you to come up with an answer at some time or another.”

“Those are high expectations.”

“How did she die?”

“Who?”

“Persephone, how did she die?”

“Aphrodite was jealous that Hades wanted Persephone more than her and cursed her.”

“Oh…”

“What did you expect? Gods are immortal unless they are cursed. Then they are reincarnated.”

“What about you?”

“I was immortal. After I paid my debt to Hades, I was released.”

“What debt?”

“I was indebted into his service until I helped find you.”

“Why did you agree?”

“Like all others I was captivated by Persephone. I thought I loved her. When Hades found that little bit out he thought I was the reason she was cursed.”

“Of course, I mean everyone wanted her so that would have made Aphrodite jealous…”

“I think I might know away to get you out of the whole Hades situation.”

“How?”

“Zeus and Demeter.”

“Persephone’s parents!”

“Exactly, they meet you and everything else should fall into place.”

“Wait, what about Mount Olympus?”

“What about it?”

“How are we going to get all the way to Greece?”

“What are you talking about Greece for?”

“I thought that was where Mount Olympus was?”

“Mount Olympus moves. How would you like to stay in one place for all of eternity?”

“No, I don’t suppose I would like that. Then where are they?”

“Atlanta.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No.”

“So they’re actually that close?”

“We’re only in Hogansville.”

“Yeah but I didn’t figure they’d be that close.” There was an awkward pause. “Okay… Well this has been fun but I think I’m going to try and take a nap right about now and when I wake up, hope this was all a dream.” I whirled around and walked into Miranda.

“Can we talk?” She didn’t look too hopeful but I said yes which seemed to make her happier. We sat on the edge of my bed. He hands were folded in her lap neatly. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Yes it is. We just couldn’t leave you there by yourself. Jason and I just couldn’t bring ourselves to do it.”

“It is not your fault. It’s theirs. They gave me up. Your were just doing a good deed. I’m happy you did. I’ve never had anyone else take care of me as you did. Thank you.”

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Publication Date: 05-09-2011

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