I hate her guts.
“My darlings, my heart istruethis time. We are here to learn and to see new paths, are we not? I havechanged. I have learned theerrorof my ways.” She emphasizes each word as if they’re vows she’s making, and each time Liar-Kalos looks over at the ethereally beautiful goddess, I want to scream a protest.She’sliterallythe embodiment of lies. The fact that she’s snowed him yet again tells me how very good she is at it. I’m terrified she’s going to convince my Kalos of her point of view, too. That she’s going to somehow turn him around and he’s going to want to be at her side for all eternity…
…an eternity I don’t get to share with him, I’m suddenly remembering, and I’m sick to my stomach.
I clench my jaw, fighting back tears. This is stupid. This is so stupid. I need to think about the next ten minutes, not the future. Nothing has been promised to anyone. Even if Kalos wanted me at his side, he could change his mind. It might not be allowed.
It doesn’t matter. None of it matters if we don’t defeat Liar-Kalos. That’s what I need to focus on.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
Someone sneezes.
I go still. My eyes flick open, and I study the crowd. To a one, the entire Kalos-Belara entourage start sneezing. I know what they’re doing—those fucking bastards are trying to hide who it is. I study each face to see whose eyes are watering, who looks like they have a runny nose. Who is it? I can’t tell.
But if someone sneezed once, maybe they’ll sneeze again.
“You think I’m an idiot, don’t you?” my Kalos asks. “You’re speaking in lies. When you’re not, you’re avoiding a straightforward answer. You reply to my questions with questions of your own. I’ve done this before, you know. I know how the game is played.”
“Wouldn’t it be interesting to learn that our interests are converging this time around?” Belara says sweetly. “That we have a common goal?”
Someone sneezes again.
The goddess shoots a glance at Liar-Kalos, who keeps a bland expression on his beautiful face.
“What are you doing?” my Kalos asks slowly, sitting upright. His voice rises over the crowd, most likely for my benefit. “I can tell you’re using your powers. Who is it that you’re infecting, brother?”
The crowd shivers, and there’s an unhappy undercurrent. Everyone starts to look at their neighbors with uncertainty. My head throbs, the start of a migraine. My nose tickles and I bite down on my tongue so hard that my eyes water. I dig my nails into my palms until I feel blood…but I don’t sneeze.
If I sneeze and they notice, I’m dead.
Liar-Kalos pulls away from Belara’s clinging hands. His long white hair flutters in the breeze. He steps forward and I can’t see his face. I’m tempted to follow along, to move forward until I get a good look at him, but it feels safer to stay hidden where I am. He speaks, and the plaza crowded with people hushes.
“Isn’t it obvious you don’t trust me?” he asks, voice ringing out. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if I sprinkled a little plague amidst the crowd here and see who you rush to save?”
A baby cries. A woman sobs. Other than that, it’s utterly silent.
My gaze goes to my Kalos. My heart is breaking, because I can feel the fear building around us. Everyone’s terrified. If it truly is the plague, we’re infected already. There’s no running from it. He’s willing to kill hundreds just to flush me out. I should step out and make myself known. Save everyone here.
But I can’t make myself step forward. I remain where I am, nails tearing furrows into my now-wet palms.
“Rush to save a mortal?” My Kalos leans forward on his throne, a mocking expression on his face. “That’s cute. I like how you’re willing to kill everyone here to prove a point. I could do the same, you know.”
My nose tickles again.
Fuck fuck fuck. I bite down harder on my tongue, my eyes watering and trails of tears sweeping down my cheeks as if I’m weeping for everyone here. Truth is, I’d love nothing more than a big nasty sneeze, but I can’t. I don’t dare. I keep my watery gaze peeled and stare hard into the faces of the cluster of people in Kalos tabards, looking for one that looks as if he’s fighting a sneeze as hard as I am.
Belara raises both of her hands in an elegant sweep of sleeves. Her long sheaf of red hair trails out behind her like a banner. “Let us not bicker! This foolish arguing between us solves nothing and simply makes us weaker, don’t you think? Didn’t we come here to discuss bigger problems than who is hiding their Anchor?” She turns her head, her lovely face indignant. “Do you truly think we came here to defeat you, Apathy?”
My Kalos’s eyes narrow as she approaches the base of his hay-bale throne. He looks at her with suspicion. “Claims the Aspect of Lies.”
Annoyance flashes over her face. “As you are aware, Lies I may be, but it is not all I am. We don’t have bigger problems to be solved! We aren’t weaker fighting amongst ourselves, gentlemen.”
Belara must be losing her concentration, because none of that was a question. It means they were lies, instead.
“Like what?” My Kalos asks. “Bigger problems like what?”
Liar-Kalos must say something, because Belara shoots him a frustrated look. She reaches out to touch him like a lover, but he steps out of her grasp, and the annoyance moves over her face again. She concentrates on my Kalos instead. “The three of us need to work together because that fool in the east is building an army, isn’t he? Shouldn’t we do something about him? The usurper iswelcomeamongst us.”
