“Knock much?” she asks, avoiding the question. And then, “This is nothing. You should see the other guy.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing. Whatever mess you’ve created, I’ll be required to clean it up. It’s best if you tell me now.”
She turns to face me, giving me a clear view of the gash on her right cheek that’s outlined in a dark, angry bruise.
I grab her chin, lifting it to take a closer look, and she doesn’t tear herself away. She just stares hard down her nose. It looks as if her face met a rock. I release her, and she begins to dab at the wound with a wet cloth.
“Who did this?” Hot anger rises to the surface. Anger that I have no control over. Anger that I should have no right to feel.
“It’s not important. They’re only trying to finish what you started by bringing me here.” The jab stings, but it also brings me comfort to hear her spirit remains unbroken.
I follow her out of the washroom, still waiting for an answer.
She deflects, “What are you doing here?”Just getting in one last look at my little snake before I go.I can’t ignore the call of her heart to mine, and being able to see her whenever I want has spoiled me.
“I came to say goodbye. But now it seems that will have to wait until we’ve sorted out whatever this is.” I wave my hand in her general direction. “Now. Tell me who’s done this to you. I assure you, you will not like my method should I have to find out on my own.”
“I will tell you in exchange for an answer to my question.” She wants to barter, maybe this will be good.
“Fine. What’s your question?”
She’s been spending a lot of time with Breesha, and I had entrusted her there because I knew she might share some of her wisdom with the healer. I have been expecting questions, and I’m ready to answer this one.
“Who is Invidia?”
I bite my cheek, trying not to grin at her brashness.
“She is a demon-goddess. She is a parasitic leech. They say she feeds off the emotion of envy. Have you not been told much of the gods?” I ask, though I know the answer.
She tilts her head at me, and I swear I can see the gears in her head turning. She knows very little of the gods, and even less of other deities.
“What does she have to do with anything?”
I shake my finger once in the air. “That wasn’t our deal, little snake.”
She huffs such a heavy breath that her shoulders rise and slump. “You knew I would want to know more than just that. Tell me, or you shall never know who is responsible. I can promise you that.”
I allow myself a small smile at her insolence. She is made of something so much more resilient than she even comprehends.
It’s hard to know how much to share, but I give her enough to chew on for now, “Invidia is from the underworld. The Smog is her magic made into a living thing. She has other … skills. They say she can turn people to stone.”
As expected, Arina blinks at me, likely wondering if I harbor even a shred of sanity.
“Okay, say I believe you,” she starts. “If you know she’s the reason for the curse, why hasn’t anyone done anything?”
I shrug. She’s either going to believe me, or she’s not. “She is currently feeding off Queen Daphne, and we have not found a way to lure her out so the queen is unharmed.”
“That’s … why are you telling me all this?” she asks, skepticism still clinging to her words.
“It’s widely known amongst the Rhiza, and you were bound to find out at some point. Now. Tell me who fucking hurt you.” I barely get the words out because my jaw is clenched so tight.
She sighs and sits in a chair. “Shreya. Considering I murdered her partner, I’d say I deserved much worse.”
“Did you provoke her?” I take the seat across from her and lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees.
“Not unless delivering her supply basket is offensive in some way.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
