“Sorry?”
“I need to leave. I want to explore lower Elysia.”
“I don’t think that’s the best idea.”
What Dionne thought didn’t bother me. She owed me. I might not have been angry at her for what happened, but it was still a violation and I would use it to get what I needed to survive.
“I’m not asking you to come with me. You need to tell me about the most populated areas.”
Dionne looked unsure, but it was about time I took matters into my own hands. It was time to form alliances of my own.
It would be a lie to say I had two days of bliss.
I was acutely aware of the clock ticking down towards meeting with Hunter, where I would need to prove I had control over my aura. The first few hours in the streets of lower Elysia saw them highlighted ferociously as if Midas were striding through the heavens. The sudden attack of memories brought on emotions that I couldn’t control, but it benefited me.
Minor Gods and Goddesses approached with caution as my hue dimmed to something less terrifying. My brain was filled with names and faces of so many people that nothing clearly matched up. They shook my hand and bolder residents pulled me into crushing hugs. I swallowed my aversion to physical contact with strangers to play the perfect, docile newcomer. Curiosity had them ask after my gift, but I refused to share it, sticking to the lie I’d been taught.
When I was exhausted by the interactions, I followed Dionne home, but there was no escape. I’d opened a can of worms and her house filled with visitors. Voices scrambled over each other, worse than the prayers that infiltrated my mind. Everyone wanted to display their importance, tell me their stories, and get me on side. I was the shiny new attraction that broke through the monotony of immortality.
A common thread weaved itself through every conversation—the elite could not be trusted. Especially Grayson. Every time he was mentioned, their eyes flicked to my throat, and it reminded me they’d seen me dragged away in a collar.
They subjected me to the most vivid tales of the Elysian cull that wiped out demigods, reliving the trauma with those who’d lost their husbands, wives, and children simply because of who they were. None of these gruesome tales had filtered down to the mortals. If they had, I was sure the world would become godless. The more I learned, the more certain I became that I wouldn't survive to see Earth again. It was only the thought of Cass that gave me the strength to push on with my plan.
Others shared stories of Mallory, who left a lasting impact on those she was close to. A big personality with no filter between her mouth and brain—she seemed a world away from my mum. Vanessa Scott was stern, loving, and soft-spoken. She had a quiet determination that I admired. There were slivers of guilt that I couldn’t shake off. I didn’t feel a connection with my biological mother the way I did with Mum.
By the end of the second day, I was exhausted and wanted to shed the weight that had crushed me in moments of silence. Instead of being able to ignore what was going on around me, I threw myself further into the fire.
I’d never gambled in my life. Never felt the temptation to put money on a chance with no kind of guarantee. And I’d certainly never stepped into a casino, but Dionne assured me that The Vermillion Lady was the most popular spot in lower Elysia once the sun disappeared.
We stepped into the building, and I tugged at the hem of my dress. Despite my protests, Dionne insisted I would look out of place if I turned up in jeans. I eventually relented and shoved on the sky blue dress that belonged to her.
“I’m really not sure about doing this,” she muttered.
“You don’t have to be here, Dionne.”
“I’m not going to leave you here alone.”
She followed me like a shadow throughout the days, watching from a distance. There were moments Bexley joined her, but Dionne never left with her girlfriend. Whether it was out of guilt or morbid curiosity at my next move, I wasn’t certain.
“Stay close,” Dionne instructed.
There was no worry about me running off. The space was packed with tables. There were no automated machines or uncomfortable ringing like I’d seen in films. The Gods favoured cards, and the noise was a din of voices, all vying to be heard. For those who needed a break from the tables, a large bar was situated at the far end of the room and various minor Gods and Goddesses dressed in practically nothing, swayed hypnotically and seductively to music.
A few eyes landed on me and I raised a coy hand to Gods that I was vaguely familiar with now. They shot me smiles and asked me to join them for a drink, but I shook my head.
“What is it you’re planning to do here?” Dionne asked as we pushed through the crowds.
“I’m trying to get to know people.”
“There were a million other options. You’ve been meeting them on the streets.”
“You said that most of the Gods would be here at some point.”
Pleasant. Pliable. Performative.
A strong will was useful if it didn’t land my head on the chopping block. Not all the Gods were going to visit the house or come and find me as I walked the streets, and sitting there waiting for them only fed into the narrative that a demigoddess was trouble. That I believed myself to be better than them. I needed to head out and put myself amongst them, regardless of my anxiety.
Dionne shook her head and found a table with space. We slid into seats, watching the end of a poker game. Eyes looked up from the cards in hands and fell on me. My throat grew tight with nerves, but I brought a smile to my face.
