Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Atty, who had fumbled when telling me her name the first time.
Atty, who looked eerily like an old statue I’d seen once.
I wasn’t conscious of telling my mouth to form the name, to call it out, but my voice rang out loud and clear in the empty hallway.
“Atë?”
I swear she moved in slow motion, turning with a huge smile on her lips. “Very good. I was wondering when you would figure it out. It took you longer than I thought it would. Of course,” she said, starting toward me, “you have been pretty distracted by that attractive demon, haven’t you?”
It felt good to hear someone else say that word, to call him what I knew he was.
Even if, objectively, it was even more insane that the person to do so was an actual freaking goddess.
Atë, the goddess of mischief and ruin.
“I know,” she said, eyes twinkling. “Why have I just been making you knock over things instead of creating actual chaos?” she asked. “Think about it, Professor,” she invited me, hugging a stack of paper to her chest.
“Because you’re known for ruining the lives of men,” I said.
“There you go,” she said, nodding.
“Then why are you here? Working as an assistant?”
“But am I?” she asked. “Am I really working as an assistant? Have you been around Professor Stan recently?” she asked. I hadn’t. I’d been too busy with Bael. “He seems to sort of be losing his mind, wouldn’t you say?” she asked, and her smile was pure, wicked delight.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why not?” she asked. “Men,” she added, rolling her eyes. “They have it coming. He had it coming. Three female students paid off by the university.”
“What? No!” I objected, stomach turning over at the idea of anyone having to feel that man’s hands on them, especially vulnerable young students.
“Does it really surprise you? Your human men, they’re as bad as the gods.”
I mean, she wasn’t exactly wrong.
“So, it’s true then,” I said, feeling a certain sort of sinking in my stomach.
“What is true?”
“The gods, you’re… back. You’ve… woken up.”
“Is that what they are saying?” she asked, smirking. “I figured it would take them another couple of years before they started to accept it.”
“No. It hasn’t been the, ah, humans.”
“Oh, your demon,” she said, nodding. “I should have suspected. I guess that makes sense. What with Hades going to reclaim the underworld. Must be shaking up all those crime-and-punishment sorts.”
That was why he’d focused so hard on the idea of Hades versus Lucifer.
Because he was a demon.
Because he wanted to know what would come of his kind.
“Let me give you a word of advice, Professor,” Atë said, “Just because you’ve been a good sport,” she added.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“You need to disappear,” she said. “Your knowledge is going to be your liability. I might toy with you for fun, but there are others who will do more, do worse. You should not give them the opportunity.”
With that, she was gone.
And watching her, I was suddenly struck with how… unnaturally she moved. Almost floated. How had I missed that before? Had my brain been trying to protect me from a truth it knew I wasn’t capable of accepting yet?
Taking a slow, deep breath, I moved back into my office, grabbing my purse and the books I was currently reading, then making my way to my car.
I didn’t know a lot about actually interacting with a god or goddess, but I was pretty sure that when one of them issued a warning meant to protect you, that you were supposed to heed it.
So I did drive home.
And I packed up books, clothes, essentials, and electronics, bedding, anything and everything I thought would fit in my car and serve me, then climbed into my car, and started driving.
I had no destination in mind for the first two days as I ignored calls from the university, as I actively fought back the urge to head back to my old life, come what may.
It wasn’t until the third day that I felt it.
A sort of… tugging sensation in my chest.
I mistook it for anxiety or indigestion for a few hours. But as it got stronger and stronger as I drove, I couldn’t fight it.
Turning my car, I followed the tug, feeling it draw me closer and closer for hours and hours.
It wasn’t until I found myself pulling up to a massive mansion surrounded by woods that I finally felt the tugging stop, just staying there like tension.
Climbing out of my car, I stared at the house, wondering what the hell was going on with me.
“Can I help you?” a female voice called, making me turn to find a gorgeous blonde woman walking from the side of the house in an all-black get-up.
Was that a… sword at her side?
It certainly looked like a sword.
“I… I don’t know why I’m here,” I admitted.