"Hello, milady." His voice was a lot milder than usual. Too mild, actually, that I knew right away I was in trouble.Chapter EightA few skeletal subjects approached me on my way back to Sssusssan, and I surprised myself with how easily I took everything in stride and interacted with them like normal. It was nice to know that the Gorgon was right earlier - they didn't hate me, thank God - and even nicer to know that I wasn't afraid of them like I used to be afraid of ghosts (even though I had been a ghost myself).
One skeleton shyly introduced herself as Daisy and asked for a selfie with me, another just wanted to shake my hand (news flash: bones were so amazingly smooth!), while a skeletal couple congratulated me on being the future Mrs. Hades.
It was a happy feeling, and for the very first time I found myself thinking that maybe...just maybe, I wouldn't suck that bad as the new LOTUS.
And as far as my duties as the new Lady went...
Sssusssan had gotten herself a table at one of the canal-facing tavernas while I was away, and I sensed the Gorgon's gaze turning watchful behind her sunglasses as I took my seat.
Is everything alright?
"Hadrian's upset with me." This wasn't a lie. "He thinks it's stupid that I went on this quest. I kinda got the feeling he believes this entire quest is nothing but a joke, and that I'm simply setting myself up for more trouble."
He is correct.
"You're supposed to be on my side," I protested.
I will never be on your ssside. You are too ssstupid for me.
"Please take that back," I said stiffly.
No.
"I mean it, Susan."
Sssee? Only sssomeone ssstupid will get even my name wrong.
"But your name is Susan—-"
It's Sssusssan. Ssstupid.
I let out an indignant gasp. "You know what? That's it. That's the last straw! I'm firing you from this quest—-"
You will die within an hour if you do this alone.
I jumped to my feet. "I mean it, you know."
I, too, meant what I sssaid.
"Whatever." I spun around, heart racing because I could feel the Gorgon's stare following me as I walked away.
Oh man.
I sure hoped Hadrian knew what he was doing, asking me to potentially piss off a Gorgon so I could sneak away and meet him in secret.
As the distance between the Gorgon and me grew, Hadrian's subjects once again found the confidence to come close, and I did my best to accommodate all requests for selfies, handshakes, and even the odd autograph or two.
If Mira ever got wind of this, I'm sure she'd think I was being too approachable. I supposed we simply had to agree to disagree on this matter, especially with how sweet everyone was being. Apparently, all of them had seen today's news, and they wanted me to know they found my reaction completely understandable.
Zeus is not acting himself, a skeleton with an old-woman's-voice said comfortingly. Why would anyone not be scared?
And honestly, I was tempted at first to simply let it go at that, but instead I eventually heard myself say, "Underworld Times had it wrong, though. It wasn't like that at all." Because at that moment, I realized I hadn't anything to lie about, and more importantly, I mustn't lie at all.
"I fainted that day because I have menopause." My voice became rather awkward in the wake of their sudden silence, but I forced myself to go on. "It's a side effect of the deification process, and the god of medicine has advised me to prepare for the worst kind of symptoms."
"But..." A female skeleton shook her skull in confusion. "Aren't you too young to have menopause?"
"I thought so, too," I admitted, "but sometimes life just works that way."
"What other symptoms have you experienced, milady?"
"Anxiety attacks, hot flashes, and I was warned about possible memory problems...but...oh...sorry...who are you again?"
The crowd laughed, and I found myself laughing with them even as a part of me reeled at how surreal things had turned out.
Not so long ago, I was terrified of having people find out I had the Big M, thinking that my condition would only create more barriers between me and Hadrian's subjects. But instead it turned out to be the key to making them see for who I really was: a work-in-progress goddess, and one who would rather be approachable than infallible.
The impromptu meet-and-greet with a side of Q&A went on for fifteen more minutes, but after that I had to make my excuses or risk being late for my rendezvous with a certain Greek god.
As I hurried to our meeting place, I couldn't help humming Destiny's Child's Survivor under my breath. I had always thought I'd one day find myself in the league of Tay-Tay and Bey, and I was right! Wait until Hadrian—-
Aaaaah!
As soon as I stepped inside the canal house, a hand covered my mouth from behind, and my surroundings turned into a blur as I felt myself whisked up the stairs by my unseen assailant.