Chapter 30 #2
“Where are . . .” Aida’s words were cut short when the gods around her dropped to their knees.
The moon turned from white to blue and the stars in the sky became brilliant sparkles of light, like shining glitter in the
heavens. Aida reached for Yumi’s and Luciano’s hands, a touch of solidarity in the midst of uncertainty.
The cosmos began to shift, forming a face that radiated tranquility and authority. Stars gathered to craft her eyes, galaxies
spinning within them. Her skin was the void of space, a canvas of dark beauty, dotted with the light of distant suns. The
nebulae served as her hair, flowing and curling in the celestial winds, framed by the silhouette of the universe.
The being’s gaze met Aida’s, and in that moment, a silent exchange passed between them, a transfer of understanding. This was Nyx, the embodiment of the night, the primordial mother of dreams and shadows—and of all the gods who stood behind her.
She said nothing that Aida could hear, but the gods around her all bowed simultaneously, then stood and lowered their heads
in deference.
Oizys didn’t glance at the mortals before winking out, but Fran turned to face Aida. Without a word, she reached out and brushed
Aida’s hand with her fingertips. The moment their skin touched, a flood of memories surged through Aida—images, sensations,
emotions.
Aida had been right. MODA had used Erin to manipulate her, to break her down, to leave her vulnerable and ripe for recruitment.
Every part of her unraveling life had been a carefully constructed ploy to push her into MODA’s grasp. Aida staggered back,
her breath catching as the cold realization washed over her.
Fran’s lips curled into a leering smile—a knowing, silent acknowledgment of the pain she had caused. With one final disdainful
glance, Fran vanished, leaving Aida reeling from the truth: her heartbreak, her lost engagement, Erin’s death—it had all been
part of MODA’s plan from the beginning.
Discordia parted with a rare smile, a little salute, and a wink. Euphrosyne and Aglaea went to each mortal in turn and bestowed
upon them a soft touch to the forehead, then disappeared before their eyes.
Then Momus was before Aida. He had a smirk on his face. “It was fun while it lasted,” he said. He pressed a brief tender kiss
to Aida’s forehead, then vanished before she could react.
“Thank you, Mother,” Sophrosyne said, addressing the fading image in the sky. She turned to Aida and her friends. “Come now,
hold hands, and let me take you home.”
They linked hands, and the world shifted again. It took Aida a minute to realize they were in Felix’s apartment. It didn’t look quite the same. Where there was once a wall of art, there were now bookshelves. The once bare balcony now held a few potted plants.
“Thank the gods,” Felix said. “I have never been so happy to be home in my life.” He didn’t seem to notice anything different.
Sophie stood near the apartment door. “That worked out rather well, I think.”
“What just happened?” Luciano sat down in a nearby chair. He looked dazed.
“You saved the world. No big deal.” But there was the hint of a smile on Sophie’s lips.
“So now what?” Aida asked.
“Happiness is making its way back into the world. It won’t be the same as before—it can’t be. Some things that disappeared
might come back. People who have died won’t come back to life. But a museum could reopen, or a fountain may flow once more.
But other things cannot revert. For example, a planetarium turned into a nursing home still has usefulness to the world even
if the levels of happiness therein are different. It cannot change back without altering some of the fundamental fabric of
humanity. But I think you’ll find there are new places for hope and happiness.”
“No, what happened in the field . . .” Luciano squinted at her. “What was that?”
“That was Nyx. I called upon her to give you all a boon. One that only she could give.”
“What sort of boon?” Yumi asked.
“She’s our mother and one of the only gods who has the power to command my siblings not to touch the hide nor hair of the
four of you or anyone else in your lives. They cannot seek retribution for what you have done in restoring balance.”
Aida had tried not to overthink what would happen if they were able to free Effie and convince Pandora, but the idea that
their lives might be perpetually in danger had always been in the back of her mind. She closed her eyes in relief. But then
she thought of the memories that had rushed through her.
“Sophie, I think MODA chose me to be a Happiness Collector when I was very young.”
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“I was filled with happiness when Pandora let it out into the world. And two memories stand out for me—one when my parents
were pushing me on the swings. I was laughing. And my father told me I must be the happiest child in the world. And there
was another when I won a VFW writing award. My parents were in the audience, clapping, so proud.”
“What does that have to do with my brother and sisters?”
“In the first memory, Fran sat on a bench watching us. In the second memory, Disa was sitting in the auditorium next to my
mother. And then Erin.” She told Sophie about Fran’s revelation in the clearing. She began to cry, unable to wrap her mind
around the idea; the gods had warped her life to convince her to become a Happiness Collector.
Luciano put his arms around her. “You’re not alone, Aida. I have similar memories.”
Sophie nodded. “I wish your words surprised me. But we gods have long toyed with the lives of humans. Most of the time, you
are blissfully unaware. You will become so again.”
Aida felt Luciano tense. She thought he might scream at the goddess, his anger overcoming him, as her tears had done to her.
But instead, he asked a calm, practical question.
“What happens to us? We no longer have jobs or even a place to live. And there are hundreds of us in the same position.”
Sophie put her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave. “While you may no longer have official roles, rest assured that more
benevolent forces have generously secured your wealth. Your homes remain yours, but now, the power has shifted—you’ll be the
ones in control, employing the staff who once served MODA’s interests. But all MODA employees will begin to forget how you
ended up in such a situation. New stories will form. Nyx has proclaimed it.”
“What about our assistants? They’re all automatons, aren’t they? And what happens to Pandora?” Aida asked.
“They are. Nyx has collected them all to her, and will keep them safe until Zeus returns.”
Luciano put an arm around Aida. “And us? Will we forget each other?”
Sophie shook her head. “No. But you won’t remember me.”
She opened the door and was gone.
“I thought you were going to order lunch,” Yumi admonished Felix. “I’m starving. It’s like I ran a marathon.”
“Me too,” Felix said. He pulled out his phone and began thumbing through the food app. “Say, Aida, let’s do dinner at your
place tonight. Ilario makes the best freaking carbonara.”
Aida tried to understand what was happening in front of her. Yumi’s and Felix’s words felt strange, like there was something
else they should be saying instead. “I need some air.”
“I’ll go with you,” Luciano said, following Aida to the balcony. He shut the door behind them.
“Do you remember coming over here tonight?” he asked her. His brow was knitted with concern.
Aida shook her head. “No, I don’t. And the apartment seems strange to me. Like things are out of place. And Yumi looks different.”
She peered into the living room, where Felix was making Yumi a drink from his bar cart. “She doesn’t have bangs . . . I thought
she always had bangs.”
“You’re different too,” Luciano observed, taking her hand and turning over her wrist. “You have a tattoo.” He ran his fingers
across the skin.
Aida gave him a little sock on the arm. “I’ve had that tattoo for a while. We got them all together, silly. A tiny black star.
Protection from the goddess Nyx, remember?” She paused, the idea of it seeming strange. “Nyx, Nyx, from, from . . .” She trailed
off, trying to recall.
“Right, that role-playing game . . . the day I met you three,” Luciano said, turning his right wrist to show her his little
black star. But he looked at it like he was seeing it for the first time.
Aida leaned on the railing, looking out over the grass courtyard below. A group of children were playing some game with a ball, which involved them tackling each other to get control. Their laughter bubbled up and echoed off the building.
“They seem so happy,” she said.
Luciano looked over the rail, then turned his body toward hers. “So, Aida, I was thinking . . .”
“Of?”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “I was thinking of what it would be like to always be with you.”
Aida’s stomach fluttered. “What are you suggesting?”
“This may sound strange, but I feel like I almost lost you. I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”
Aida understood exactly what he meant, but she didn’t know why. “You didn’t answer my question,” she said, teasing.
“Want to grow old with me, Aida?”
She beamed. “Oh, Luciano, yes! That would make me deliriously happy.”