The lights were dim, and Persephone closed the door after pushing out the unwelcome visitors. The goddess wore a simple white dress that hung to the floor, the only adornment a golden belt that gathered the fabric at her tiny waist. She crossed the dark floor, almost as an apparition.

“Are you starting to remember?” she asked. “Is the Lethe starting to recede?”

Hope eyed Persephone warily, trying to put together pieces that made no sense. Hope had moved to Goldendale after her mother passed away. She remembered that. The boy who had been sitting on her bed, Athan, looked familiar. Something about him even felt familiar, and it was clear from his outburst that they knew each other.

She remembered going to the grocery store in the small town, and there was a butcher she was friends with, but his name escaped her at the moment.

Krista. Hope closed her eyes to hide the fact that she was rolling them. Mean girl number one. She concentrated on the town of Goldendale. Priska had gone to find out who had killed Leto.

Hope scratched her head. It was like knowing the information was there, but she couldn’t access it. There was nothing else. And for some reason, she’d come to the Underworld alive. It made no sense.

And why was that other guy there? She remembered him, he’d chased after Hope and her mom when Hope was a child. Leto had believed he would kill them, which meant he was a demigod. So then why was he here to help rescue her?

She shook her head, not so much to clear it, but in an attempt to dislodge the information she wanted. “What happened?”

Persephone sat on the edge of the bed. “There was an accident.”

Hope shook her head again. That didn’t ring true. At all. “No. I fell. Or did I hit my head?”

“You don’t remember?”

Persephone’s gaze was intense, and Hope glanced down at her hands fidgeting with the duvet cover. “No.”

The goddess stood. “We’re looking into it.” She tapped the edge of the bed. “I will have Imogen bring you a tray.”

As if anticipating Hope’s protest, Persephone held up a hand. “It will be sealed and from above ground.”

Hope scooted down in the bed. It was nicer than any bed she’d ever been in, and all she wanted to do was snuggle down and go to sleep. “Is it okay for me to sleep?”

Persephone paused at the door. “Yes, but you’re going to want to eat and drink, too. I have a feeling you’ll be needing your strength.”

Hope again struggled against the mental barrier that kept her memories from her, but something she’d learned in school nagged at her. “I thought you hated Hades. That you hated coming to the Underworld. He kidnapped you.”

The goddess pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. After a deep breath, her gaze bored into Hope. “You can’t trust what the myths say. Of all people, you should know better.”

Hope cringed. Persephone was right. Hope should know better. “I’m sorry. Thank you for your hospitality.”

The goddess inclined her head and ducked out of the room, closing the door behind her.