"Fair enough. I guess I've not really experienced grief like that before. Though Thor has talked about it."
"I imagine that immortality comes with a lot of grief," I mused.
"Probably more than we can imagine, though I think Thor is hinting at me potentially becoming immortal at some point."
"Is that even possible for witches?" I asked curiously. Maybe there was some kind of potion that I didn't know about that could help achieve the position.
"It's possible for anyone if they know a god willing to grant it," she responded.
"And Thor is talking about doing that for you?"
She grimaced. "He's not exactly talking about it, but he's hinted at it potentially being an option."
"And how do you feel about that?"
"I'm not sure. It's a big commitment to make to someone. And it's not like it can be undone. I mean, the relationship part can, but the immortality is kind of a forever situation. Which is definitely something I should have thought about before I started falling for a god."
"The heart wouldn't have listened anyway. And fate knows what it's doing. It'll put you in the path of the person it thinks is right for you, at the right time."
Daisy sighed. "Maybe. But I can give you the advice to be careful if you find yourself with the potential to be in the arms of a goddess. Think about the forever part first."
There was no stopping the laugh that broke free from me. "I'm not in the position to meet a goddess, never mind date one."
"I imagine that there'll be some at the gallery opening," she said.
"Then I suppose I might end up in one's arms if fate has that in mind for me." I stoppered the bottle of sleep potion and held it out to her. "A teaspoon an hour before sleep. No more than that."
"Thanks, Clara. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing." I smiled at her. "Especially not if you're able to get me into contact with a necromancer."
"I'll see what I can do," she promised. "And I'm really grateful for this."
"Any time."
She waved and headed out of the store, leaving me pondering my potion for dreaming about the dead. Usually, it doesn't take me long to figure out a new potion, but this one was proving to be more of a challenge. But I'd get there, especially if I was able to talk to Thor's niece. No doubt a necromancer would know everything I needed to know about the dead and interacting with them.
Chapter 8
CLARA
I tugged on the lapel of my blazer as I made my way into the brightly lit gallery Daisy had sent me the address of. As soon as I stepped inside, I was assaulted by a barrage of pink and hearts, which didn't seem to be my cousin's style, but was definitely there.
"Clara! You came!" Daisy hurried over to me wearing an elegant jumpsuit that was much more her.
"Well, you did promise to introduce me to a necromancer," I responded.
She laughed. "Of course you're only here for Hel."
I blinked a couple of times. "Hel?"
"Yes. Thor's niece. Is that a problem?" She looked at me with a curious expression.
I cleared my throat. "No, not at all." There was no chance the woman I met the other night was the goddess Daisy intended to introduce me to. That wasn't how the world worked.
"I'm sure you're going to love her," Daisy said as she drew me further into the room.
"I'm sure I will. The sculptures look great, by the way," I said as I took them all in. They were scattered around the room with their metal gleaming in the light. Huge flowers that were far bigger than they would be in life, but just as intricate.
