Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“You see?” She says. “Now imagine you’re the paint and the Fates are the ones holding the paintbrush. You think they’re not mentally mixing colors every day, every hour, every minute, trying to get the most favorable outcome possible? Sure, they could have picked someone in this world to work with Kalos, but there’s something about you that’s preferable to them. There’s something about your pairing that seems optimal for them. Because I’ve noticed one thing—each god has four Aspects, which means there are four Anchors. So far, those that have Ascended that have an outworlder have become attached to that and kept the bond. They brought their Anchors home with them.” She pauses, eyeing me for my reaction.
That’s not going to be the case for me, as I’m returning to my world for my afterlife, but I don’t reply.
“Are you listening to me? Whatever is happening isn’t random. Nothing is random. Nothing at all. This is all some master plan they’ve concocted that we’re not in on.”
I shiver at how ominous that sounds.
She turns on her stool and beams at me. “Which is why it’d be smart for us to work together. I need you to convince Kalos that it’s in his best interest.”
I manage a wry smile. I’m supposed to convince Kalos? That’s a joke. “You know he’s Apathy, right? He’s not going to put his neck on the line for anyone, especially not me. He barely even likes me.”
Margo’s brows go up. “You don’t think so? Because I’ve met several Apathy aspects in Seth’s little crusade to build his army, and I can tell you that your Kalos is the least apathetic of all Apathies we’ve met.”
That surprises me. “How many have you met?”
She waves her hand again, dismissing my question. “Not important. I’m just pointing out that there might be a little more going on between the two of you than you’re letting on. He might be Apathy, but I think we’ve found something he’s willing to get out of bed for.”
“What?”
“You. Duh.”
“Me?” I’m shocked. “Why? What has he said?”
But she just gives me a knowing smile, and I realize she’s not going to tell me anything. I want to grab her and shake her by her bejewelled shoulders and demand that she spit out answers. I hate these games. That’s all it is, I figure, given that I’m in a jail cell of some kind, separated from Kalos, who I’m supposed to be serving and helping. If Margo and Seth were on the up and up, they wouldn’t be treating us like this.
“Well, if you want us to work with you, you’re going to have to treat us better,” I tell her, my back stiff as I struggle to control my frustration.
“Like I said, this is just a safety net until we have reassurance that you’re working with the two of us. Seth needs friends, and you need to talk Kalos into it.” She gestures at my surroundings. “Once Seth is assured you want to work with us, this will all be a bad memory. All you need to do is get Kalos to see our side of things.”
I give her a skeptical glance. Exactly how much power does she think I have here? I’ve been thinking of myself as an assistant, but instead of fetching coffees for a celebrity, I’m dragging an Aspect through the countryside. “He’s a god. I can’t talk him into anything.”
“Uh huh.” Her mouth curves into a smile.
“I can’t. Seriously. He’s Apathy, remember? Him getting out of bed is a big win. If you’ve dealt with other Apathy aspects, you know how difficult it is for them to get motivated.”
Her confidence flags. She dabs at her painting, but some of her enthusiasm is gone. “No, I know. Apathy is…tricky. Arrogance is really the easiest to work with because you just flatter them into doing what you want. Apathy needs more motivation. Which is where you come in, Elsie. What’s your goal here?”
“My goal?” I spread my hands. “What goal am I supposed to have? I’m Kalos’s until the end. I’m exchanging my life for…” I pause, because I don’t want to tell Margo about David. I don’t want to tell her the reasons why I’m here, why I so readily agreed to do this. The wound is too raw. “It doesn’t matter. I agreed to be Kalos’s Anchor, and I know how the job works. I’m at his side constantly until I’m killed. If he’s the last Aspect standing, he wins. I’m going to lose either way.”
She waves a hand at me again, dismissing my words. “I know how the endgame works. Seth reminds me all the time. What I’m saying is, what’s the game plan right now? You’re just going to keep running until you die? Spreading disease wherever you go?”