Chapter 13 #3
The gray-eyed immortal unfurls to his feet. I frown in confusion, for Demi has taken a seat at his table. He is the friend we are to meet for lunch?
Arin casts the goddess a look I cannot hope to dissect as he resettles in his chair. “You didn’t tell me Min would be joining us.”
Demi unfolds her napkin across her lap. The vibrant hues of her outfit grant her the appearance of a flower herself, one of many dotting the courtyard. “I wasn’t sure if she would agree to it.”
As a well-groomed server arrives to pour wine, Demi covers my glass with one bejeweled hand.
“Do you have anything less potent?” At the server’s bewilderment, she elaborates, “We’re dining in the presence of a mortal.
” She smiles, and the immortal—a young fellow with antlers sprouting from his skull—stares at me for so long I grow uncomfortable.
Eventually, he dips his chin in assent. “Let me see what else we have.” He disappears and returns, pouring a clear, sparkling liquid from a copper pitcher. It is the sweetest, most refreshing water I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.
“May I get you something to eat?” the server asks.
“What do you think, Arin?” Demi angles toward her friend, cheek resting in her open palm.
“Spotted elimna? Or how about a bowl of fruit. Min can sample all sorts of flavors! At the very least, she should try the pasta. Or… you know what?” She turns to the antlered attendant.
“We’ll have one of everything on the menu. ”
The server departs. I, however, gape at Demi. “Are you sure that’s not too costly?”
She flaps a hand, leans back in her chair, one leg tossed over the other. Her pink heel hangs, slapping the sole of her foot as her leg bounces. “Cost is irrelevant. You should experience everything our realm has to offer. I can’t imagine Eurus is playing tour guide with you.”
“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen you around the palace much,” Arin states with honed focus.
Yes, because Eastern Blood requires frequent stirrings at this stage. But I shrug, saying, “It’s n-not exactly safe for me to wander alone.”
Arin nods in understanding. “With news of this Prince Balior, I dare say I would not want to wander alone either.”
“Quite right,” Demi quips, turning to me. “Though if you ever want company, love, you can always visit me. Room twenty-two, second floor.”
It is a welcome offer, though I am not without my suspicions. But I settle in, basking in the warm sun, songbirds flitting amongst the bougainvillea. Is this what it feels like to know peace?
The server returns with our order, and soon, the entire table is covered in a variety of foods. Arin and Demi transfer small servings onto their own plates. I hesitate, unsure if I’m allowed to do the same. After a few moments, the goddess sets down her fork.
“If you are hungry,” she says, “you should eat.”
It is spoken meaningfully, which makes me question whether it is food she refers to, or something more, something cowering beneath the surface of my skin that I cannot yet expose.
So I eat. Mostly with utensils, sometimes with my hands, when required.
I eat until my stomach strains, I eat until my taste buds grow numb, I eat for the simple joy of exploration.
It has been a long time since I’ve shared a meal with others.
It heals something in me to realize Demi and Arin enjoy my company. Imagine if Nan could see me now.
As I shove another spoonful of dessert into my mouth, Arin stays my hand. “I’d slow down on the iceberry cream,” he says with a teasing smile. “It’s known to cause gastrointestinal issues when eaten in large quantities.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
My throat closes, and I sputter, spraying food across my plate. Arin’s eyes gutter like extinguished coals.
I swivel in my seat. The East Wind looms over our table, having drawn the attention of those enjoying lunch in the courtyard. His anger is palpable, expelled outward from his hulking frame in waves of ravenous heat.
“Eurus.” The goddess rises, arms spread, her smile cutting enough to rival a freshly sharpened blade. “If I had known you would be joining us, I’d have made the reservation for four.”
“I’m not here to join you,” he clips out.
“Yes. I forgot about your abhorrence of happiness,” she responds sweetly.
The East Wind’s cloak snaps in a rain-scented breeze. “I’m here for my assistant.”
“Maybe so, but you can wait until we’re finished eating.”
“That’s all right,” I blurt out. “I’m d-d-done eating.”
The goddess studies me closely. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I look to Demi, then to Eurus, back to Demi. One cloaked in darkness, the other swathed in color and light. “I sh-should go with him.”
“That’s what you want?” Demi presses, with a pale touch against my arm.
I nod vigorously. Her skepticism is plain, but she doesn’t seek to change my mind. Instead, she reaches into her purse. Six, seven, eight gold coins clatter onto the table. “This should cover lunch.” She glances at Arin, who has yet to remove his gaze from the East Wind. “Shall we?”
As soon as they vanish around the corner, Eurus growls, “Stay away from Demi.”
He provides nothing more. No explanation, no reasonable evidence to support his stance.
He commands and assumes I will fall in line.
A part of me—a very large part—wants to.
If I make no waves, there is no risk of capsizing.
But I enjoyed my time in Demi and Arin’s company.
Am I to trust Eurus’ perspective simply because he hammered it into my will?
“Are y-y-you going to tell m-me why?” I prompt.
“She is divine,” he snaps, guiding me down an unfamiliar street. “No other explanation is needed.”
I lengthen my stride to keep pace. “What is the r-r-real reason?” Why single out Demi? What, exactly, is their history? If they were once lovers, something must have come between them. “Did she b-break your heart?”
Eurus nearly trips over his own feet. He grunts, forces a path through the throng with his winds.
A handful of the divine slam against the shop windows with cries of outrage.
He ignores them. “She did not break my heart. She broke my trust. I believed she wanted what was best for me. But she showed her true colors. Never again.”
If anything, his response manages to paint a more obscure image of his past. But I drop it, for now. “Wh-what about Arin?”
“What about him?”
“He is also divine—and a c-c-competitor.”
We veer toward an area of the city with garlands of dried flowers strung between the rooftops. The East Wind walks so fast I struggle to keep up. He does not trust, this god. How I wish I knew what expression creased his features. So much is spoken with the eyes.
“I’m not concerned with Arin. But Demi—” His shoulders creep upward toward his ears. “I warned you to stay inside the palace grounds,” he growls. “Do you have a death wish?”
The East Wind does not care for me, I remind myself. He only cares for what I can provide him. “It w-w-was just lunch,” I puff.
“You know nothing of Demi, or Arin. They are gods, bird. Everything they do is for their own gain. Who is to say you would not have been in some unfortunate accident that left you dead, the poison unfinished?”
Now my irritation begins to churn. “So you want m-m-me to avoid Demi. Fine. But have y-you considered the benefits of me s-spending time with her?”
Gods and goddesses leap from our path, granting the East Wind a wide berth. He seems to bite his tongue, but eventually, he relents. “I… did not consider that.”
Shocking.
“What do you suggest?” he asks.
The stitch in my side tunnels deeper. If I push my legs any faster, I’m convinced they will collapse.
“Allow m-me the freedom to spend time with Demi, and I can see if she has heard of anything regarding the w-weaknesses of the other competitors. Maybe about the t-t-trials themselves. You would n-not need to remain in the d-dark.” After all, what is one more thread in this web of lies?
Placing his hand at my lower back, the East Wind steers me through the worst of the crowding. The flutter in my stomach is as unexpected as it is unwelcome.
“So long as you continue your work on the poison,” Eurus says gruffly, “I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing for you to spend time with Demi, if you think you can get her to open up.
It could prove useful to know her whereabouts, what she’s up to, her interests.
” He nods to himself. “Just be careful, bird. You are mortal, easily broken. I would not wish you to come to harm.”