Persephone's Point of View
♕︎ ♕︎ ♕︎
Four hours had passed since I'd settled in, unpacking my things and getting my new space in order. It wasn't much, but it was mine—small, quiet, and personal. The day had been hectic, and though I had already managed to work through a quarter of Onyx Storm, the third book of The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, I still felt on edge. The book was a welcome distraction, offering me a temporary escape from the world around me, but it didn't last long. I needed to focus on something else, something physical, and I had plans to work out on the roof afterward. It was one of my favorite things to do, especially when I had a moment of peace. The rooftop had always provided the perfect view, a serene spot that allowed me to breathe and think without distractions.
But just as I was about to head up to begin my routine, my iPad rang. I glanced at the screen, my finger hovering over the notification. It was from my siblings in our private chat.
Apollo: Sis, I just settled on Elysium.
Apollo: I'll be in your rooftop in ten minutes.
Apollo: We need to talk.
Atlas: I just settled too.
Atlas: I'll be there in ten.
Atlas: Let's see who gets there first.
Me: Did I let you come?
Apollo: We are coming to you!
Atlas: So, go to the roof, smartarse.
Atlas: Let's have a good talk.
Me: I'm tired.
Apollo: To hell you are.
Apollo: You are the most energetic out of us.
Atlas: Going.
Apollo: Open the barrier for us.
I rolled my eyes at the constant teasing. It was typical Apollo and Atlas—always messing with me, never taking anything seriously. I sighed, glancing at the time. Well, it looked like I wouldn't be getting that workout in after all. It was their fault.
I slipped into my black gym suit, the one that covered me from head to toe, and tied my hair in a tight high ponytail. I could feel the tension in my body building, but I wasn't about to take it out on them. Not yet. I finished off my look with a pair of black Yves Saint Laurent shoes with 10cm platforms—perfect for when I was already planning to work off some frustration.
Grabbing my 1L water bottle, I filled it with bourbon—yes, bourbon, not water. It was just one of those days. I queued up Too Sweet by Hozier, setting the tone for whatever conversation was about to unfold. I wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone, but that never stopped my brothers. They would come, they would talk, and they would never leave until they had answers. Sighing again, I started climbing the stairs to the roof, making my ascent as slow as possible. I wasn't in any rush.
As I reached the rooftop, I could see them. Both my brothers were hovering above, their dragon wings partially shifted. They had always looked powerful, even when they were younger, but now? Now, they looked like gods against the dimming sky.
"The barrier, Persephone," Apollo's voice was laced with impatience.
"Come on, don't be mean," Atlas pouted, his voice teasing as he floated beside Apollo, clearly unbothered.
I rolled my eyes, already exhausted by their antics. With a flick of my wrist, I opened the barrier just wide enough for them to pass through, allowing them access to the roof. They landed with ease, their powerful forms lightly touching the ground. I made my way over to the side of the rooftop where I had left my phone. The music was still playing, a low hum in the air as I perched myself on the side of the roof, preparing to mock them in my usual way.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "We spent two months together at home. What do you want now? Isn't it too soon for you to miss me?"
I climbed onto the leg press, adjusting myself as I stared at my brothers. "Speak."
Atlas grinned at me and took off his shirt, heading over to the bars. Apollo followed suit, his shirt discarded with the same obnoxious confidence. They knew what they were doing—showing off their muscles just to get under my skin.
"So, why are you hiding so many things from us, Persephone?" Apollo asked, his voice suddenly serious, though he was still trying to sound nonchalant.
I grinned, pretending to be unaffected. "Am I?"
"If we ask you some questions, will you be sincere with us?" Atlas's voice held that teasing edge, but I could sense his curiosity too. They were both clearly desperate for answers.
"Perhaps," I purred, leaning back a little to adjust my position, still giving off the vibe of someone who was far too comfortable in their own skin. "Depends on the question."
"What's your eye color?" Apollo asked suddenly, his tone laced with suspicion, his eyes narrowing as if he had already suspected something.
I paused. They really forgot? I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose. They were so young when all of this began, and over time, they must have blocked it out. But hearing Apollo ask made my stomach twist.
"What's with the sudden curiosity?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to deflect, but Apollo wasn't having it.
"Don't avoid the question with another question," he growled, clearly getting frustrated. "Just answer it."
"Red," I answered flatly, finally looking up at them, the word hanging in the air like a confession.
"What?" Atlas gasped, his eyes widening in shock.
I tilted my head slightly, trying to look unaffected, but it still stung. "My eyes are crimson red."
"That easy?" Apollo blinked, clearly stunned, still trying to process the information. "What the hell?"
"I wasn't hiding it from you," I said, rolling my shoulders casually as I tried to act unaffected, though it was harder than I let on. "I'm hiding it from everyone else."
"And your hair?" Atlas asked, clearly not letting go of the subject.
"My hair is ebony black." The words were simple, but as I spoke them, they felt heavier, as if revealing too much. But they already knew the truth. They had to.
"You're a black dragon," they said together, their voices filled with shock as the realization finally hit.
"I am, yes," I said coolly, allowing the truth to sink in.
"Why do you never shift near us?" Apollo asked, his voice suddenly quieter, more serious. There was a note of concern in it now—concern I didn't want.
"Just because," I responded curtly, though I couldn't completely hide the bitterness in my tone. It wasn't about them. It was about me. I didn't want them to see the difference between us. Their dragons were pure—noble. Mine? Mine was different. Darker. Chaotic. And I hated it.
"But we shift near you," Atlas growled, his voice tinged with hurt, as if he didn't understand why I wouldn't do the same.
I looked at them, feeling frustration boil inside me. "I never asked you to, did I?" I snapped, my words biting. "So, don't make it a thing."
"Is your dragon different than ours?" Apollo asked again, quieter this time, almost afraid of the answer.
"Yes," I said sharply, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. "My dragon's a lot bigger. Its body is more serpentine. It's not as… conventional as yours." I clenched my jaw, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth. "Mother said I inherited it from our great-grandfather. My wings are still there, but my body is more slender than yours."
When I didn't hear anything else, I turned my head to look at them. Their jaws were practically on the floor. Atlas looked like he had been struck by lightning.
"Like an eastern dragon?" he gasped, his voice filled with awe.
"Kind of. It's a mix of both. My dragon's more bloodthirsty than all of yours," I added, my voice thick with a bitterness I couldn't quite shake. "It's more violent. Far more violent. And maybe that's because I'm part vampire." I didn't know if that was the reason, but it felt like it might be. "It's always been like this."
"How didn't we know that?" Apollo murmured, still in shock, trying to piece everything together.
I let out a breath, trying to hold it together. "You did," I said, my tone hardening as I stood up from the leg press. "You knew. You were there when I first shifted. You both saw it. But you were so little back then. Your memories… your memories must have gotten messed up."
"We're the same age, Dora," Atlas muttered, the shock in his voice impossible to ignore.
"Yeah," I smirked, trying to defuse the tension. "And still, I'm stronger, smarter, and more experienced than both of you put together, huh?" I teased, though my words couldn't entirely hide the unease I was feeling.
The truth was, the fact that they didn't know the whole story was a problem. A massive complication. And I wasn't ready to tell them. Not yet. Not ever.
"What happened in Draki Mountain, Dora?"
Atlas's words hit me like a ton of bricks. I froze, the air around me suddenly feeling too thin, too cold. My stomach dropped, and my heart raced, the familiar nausea swirling in my gut like a storm. I hadn't eaten anything yet, so at least I wasn't going to throw up—at least, not yet. But the sickness was still there, crawling beneath my skin. The mention of Draki Mountain always did that to me. Always.
And this time, it was worse.