Lucilla sits at the wooden kitchen table with her robot beside her the following morning. She kicks her feet happily while munching a bowl of cereal. Her grandmother eyes the robot with a smidge of amusement as she nurses the coffee in her hands.

"You're sure your toy won't get you in trouble?" Grandma asks for the fifth time.

Lucilla shakes her head. "No, I will only bring it out during recess. Those are the rules."

Grandma nods and shifts her attention to the window. Edges of the rose bush shift slightly in the wind as the morning sun shines through. The cream walls and white window sill compliment the view like a perfectly framed photo. Demeter must have blessed their garden. Perhaps, even her granddaughter.

She can feel the shift in her granddaughter's spirit. That doesn't bother her. The lightness and joy are things she has missed. Finding the right words to form her questions is bothering her. Considering how long it'll last without making Lucilla aware of her concern makes her feel like she never retired as a psychiatrist. Back when she wasn't simply grandma or mom. She was merely Dr. Zoe Pappas, who cared for her patients and left her clinical brain in the office. Now, Dr. Zoe Pappas can't seem to turn it off.

Zoe sighs, closing her eyes. It's okay to want to protect her. It's what grandmothers do.

Lucilla slides out of her wooden chair before grabbing her empty bowl off the table. She goes about the routine of placing dirty dishes in the sink before returning to the table. Lucilla tips onto her toes to clutch her robot's hand tightly. "I'll brush my teeth, and then we'll be ready to leave."

Zoe nods to the empty chair. Her nails tap the porcelain in thought. Who knew opening the door to find her granddaughter cleaning her room would make such an impact. Then, she wouldn't let that robot leave her side... and how she held onto it. My gods and goddesses, it wasn't even one of the toys Lucilla's mother bought her.

Her son enters the room in a button-down light blue top and navy pants. "Luci already went to brush her teeth?"

"Yeah, she's ready to go."

"So, maybe we don't need to call the psychiatrist?" Her son asks with a hint of hope as he pulls down a coffee mug.

"Nico," Zoe sighs, watching him pour his coffee. "One good day doesn't negate the rest. You asked me here for a reason."

Nico nods while opening the silver fridge door. He knows his daughter has been sad. Hades knows Nico has been as well. He didn't want to think about how it would be if his mother didn't decide to come to stay with them.

"I—"

"I'll call someone myself, Mom. I don't want to talk to one of your old work buddies."

The older woman holds a hand in mock surrender before rising. "The hazards of being the son of a retired psychologist."

Nico shakes his head with a small smile. "Just go lecture at Luz University already. You'll become stir-crazy if you stay around this house much longer."

Zoe waves a hand in dismissal. Ignoring her own hypocrisies with that simple motion. "Maybe in the fall."

Nico snorts, finishing his cup of coffee before dropping his mug in the sink. "Have a good day, Mom."

His mother offers her cheek for his goodbye kiss. Her brown eyes watch him send her one last smile as he grabs his keys off the hook and disappears out the navy blue back door.

The cream walls of the kitchen seem bland for a few moments. Maybe Zoe should become a lecturer? Or, perhaps, go find a therapist for herself?

Psyche hovers in the corner of the room. She glides forward and touches the older woman's shoulder. Zoe gasps, feeling her mind and heart lighten.

"What the—"

"Ready!" Lucilla sings, running into the kitchen with the robot tucked protectively under her arm.

Zoe smiles widely, "Wonderful! Let's put your robot in your backpack and head out."

Psyche watches the brown-haired girl brushes her braid to the side as she puts on her backpack. Behind her, the water runs as Zoe rinses her coffee cup. Lucilla bends down to put on her pink and blue tennis shoes. With one last snap of the Velcro, she's ready, and her brown eyes turn to her grandma.

Zoe puts on a pair of sensible brown slides before grabbing her brown purse. She brushes her salt and peppered hair behind an ear, takes her keys from the hook, and then motions the girl towards the door.

Morning sun cascades over the two as they emerge from the open door. Psyche floats out the door behind them as the constant silent observer. Afraid to be too far from her new little priestess. Fearful of returning to the darkness.

Lucilla and Grandma walk along the sidewalk holding hands as they weave through the morning rush. Psyche feels the anxious calls of persons as they scurry to work. This one is afraid about a meeting. Another is afraid of being late. A younger person vexing over a test they barely studied for. This is the current life.

"Look at that squirrel, Grandma!" Lucilla gushes while pointing at a squirrel eating beside a tree. "It's so fat!"

Psyche's eyes move from Lucilla to everything around them. The cars were too fast. There were too many people. What if someone accidentally bumped her into the road? There were too many ways her priestess could become hurt! She moves closer to the duo, willing people to keep more distance from Zoe and Lucilla.

Zoe chuckles lightly and pulls her granddaughter along toward their destination. After the third or fourth turn, they approached a two-story building surrounded by a six-foot iron fence with a lush green lawn. Several cars are parked along the road as parents scurry to the building to drop off their children and back outside.

Psyche protectively floats behind Lucilla and Zoe as they walk through the open gate and inside the building. Zoe quickly kisses the young girl on the cheek before ushering her through the doors.

So, this is school.

Lucilla nods as she waves to a blonde-haired teacher before turning down a hallway covered with kids' drawings and posters about how cool it is to read. She ventures a few doors down and turns a right into a room with a "Ms. Anya's Class" banner over the doorway and along the back wall. A woman, no older than twenty-eight with dark hair in a high bun, has her back to the class, drawing on the chalkboard. She glances over her shoulder for a moment and sighs.

"I don't want to see that robot at your desk, Luci!" She calls out.

"Yes, Ms. Anya," Lucilla calls back.

Five circular tables with four chairs at each are set up in the middle of the room. Plain white paper with a bucket of crayons and colored pencils sits in the center of each table. Small play stations fill the sides of the room with dolls, cars, a play kitchen, and a reading section.

Psyche watches Lucilla place her backpack on a hook underneath her name before venturing to a young girl with blonde hair in a braid sitting on a pillow in the reading section.

"Kit!" Lucilla gushes, throwing her arms around the girl. "I have a secret." She adds in a hushed tone.

"You do?" Kit asks with glee, placing her book down. Her hands rise up to cover her mouth in a giggle. "Are we going to tell Chloe?"

Lucilla tilts her head as they both turn to look at a girl walking in. Her curly brunette hair falls just above her shoulders, and her green eyes appear mischievous as she scans the room.

"Maybe she should have to guess after I tell you," Lucilla whispers.

Kit nods. "She hates secrets."

"It isn't bullying if we tell her after we tell her that we won't tell her unless she guesses," Lucilla adds.

"We can all still be best friends," Kit agrees.

The two girls giggle as Chloe approaches them and crosses her arms.

"What did I miss?" She asks.

"It's a secret," Lucilla sings, making the curly-haired girl groan.

Psyche feels the happiness and love moving between the girls and smiles lightly. These girls should be easy enough to protect if they become her followers. Plus, they get along with her priestess.

"That's so mean!" Chloe groans. "You know I hate secrets!"

Lucilla shakes her head, making Kit laugh.

"I don't even know yet," Kit adds to Chloe. "So, you shouldn't feel so bad. Maybe we can get her to tell us and not the boys!"

Chloe claps her hands, "Yes! Just tell us, not the boys!"

"I don't know," Lucilla sighs.

Just tell them about me. I like them.

Chloe looks ready to snap. Whatever she wishes to say is stopped by Lucilla's groan.

"Fine," Lucilla agrees. "Just don't make a big deal about this, okay?"

Chloe and Kid enthusiastically nod while leaning in toward Lucilla.

"I'm a priestess for a goddess named Psyche, who followed me home from the temple yesterday," Lucilla says quickly, causing some words to run together.

"My goddesses!" Chloe squeals. "Do we get to be priestesses too?"

Lucilla presses her lips together in an excited smile. "Yeah," she gushes. "Psyche just told me she likes you."

"How," Kit asks. "I didn't hear anything."

"In my head," Lucilla whispers, pointing to her head. "Maybe, when you both are—What's the word Psyche? Followers. You both can become followers at recess, and she will protect us all!"

Chloe and Kit eagerly nod as Ms. Anya claps her hands to gain everyone's attention.

"Eat turd muffins, boys," Chloe smirks. "We will take over the playground."

Kit and Lucilla giggle while providing superior looks to the boys walking past them.

Ms. Anya claps her hands again.

"Class, find your seats!" She calls out while walking to her desk to sit down. As the bell sounds, the children run around the room to sit in their assigned seats. "Now listen to the announcements so I can drink my coffee peacefully."

The children giggle at the woman's sarcastic smile. She waggles her finger in tune with the morning bell before picking up her coffee mug.

Psyche settles against the back wall, watching the class. She keeps her gaze on Kit with a slight frown. Something seems wrong that she can't place just yet. A foreboding darkness in the girl's mind—no, her brain.

Psyche floats closer to the girl and touches her shoulder before pulling back. She brings a closed fist to her heart and releases a long breath.

There are fates even a goddess cannot change. Pains that come. She won't be able to protect her.

"But I can bring some happiness," Psyche whispers before placing her feet on the ground.

***

Persephone sits in the darkness with a glass of wine. "I'd like to say," she sighs, pushing a strand of brown hair behind her hair. "It is tough being beautiful."

A dog barks in the background. Persephone scolds as she turns her head. Another bark echoes.

"Do you want to go to bed?!?" Persephone screams. "If your three heads don't shut it, I will send you to your room!"

The barking turns into a soft whimper. Persephone sighs, moving her shoulders to release an unseen tension as she resettles into her chair.

"Like I was saying, being one of the most beautiful things in existence sucks!" Persephone sips her wine, holding up two fingers. "But! But! I didn't do anything to Psyche! I'm way too lonely to make enemies." Her face winces slightly. "Sure, I might have caused her to go to sleep due to a bit of a doomsday death cloud. But I didn't make her go to the abyss." Persephone motions around herself. "I've been living in this. I wouldn't want her in an equivalent."

Persephone bites her lip as she turns behind her and then down. "I just want someone here to help me deal with this." She finishes her drink. "No one should have to deal with this."