Chapter 49

“What isthis?” She tried to run around it, but it was too wide of an expanse. She swallowed down a scream, and it choked her. “Who’s there?”

“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” It was a woman’s voice. It cut into her like blades. “Though I’ve been watching you with great interest for some time now.”

Driada whirled around to face a tall, slender woman. She was so slender, in fact, that she had an air of sickliness about her, like a flower that had been denied light for too long. Her long, flowing hair fell past her waist. Her skin was as pale as the moon. Her eyes were white, missing their irises. Her lips were blood red, like the fruit of the pomegranate.

“Penelopia,” Driada breathed. Without meaning to, she fell to her knees.

Though the goddesses’ eyes were expressionless, her face showed enough contempt to make her emotions clear. “Do you know why I’m here? Think carefully. Why would the goddess of the Underworld be angry with an Iosian captain? A woman, nonetheless?”