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Think, Mona! she urged herself. You’ve read about the gods of Elysium. Who could she be?
Mona’s eyes flicked over the goddess’s form once more with a new perspective. She imagined the tomes of books she would pore over that outlined the histories of deities most revered by their witch coven. The woman’s muscular stature indicated she was a warrior. Red hair and identical eyes that looked like holy flames…
Mona blinked, staggering back a step. “You’re Hestia. The goddess of fire.”
Hestia’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m impressed. Not many would recognize me so quickly. But that still doesn’t explain what a stranger like you is doing in Elysium.”
Mona swallowed hard, thinking quickly. Now that she’d activated the clever and bookish side of her mind, the fear was starting to bleed away, making room for more logical thoughts. Hestia hadn’t threatened her… yet. Which meant she could be an ally. In addition, as far as Mona knew, fire witches revered Hestia.
Unfortunately, fire witches were hunted all over the Realm of Gaia. So Mona had little to no experience with them. But from the books she’d read, earth witches were viewed as kin to fire witches in some covens. Perhaps that could work in her favor.
Clearing her throat, Mona said hesitantly, “I’m an earth witch. I do possess god blood, but I’ve never been here before. I’m looking for someone who arrived by accident. I would like to bring him home before anyone finds him.”
All truthful words, even if she left out key details. She didn’t think mentioning Gaia as her mother would earn her any favors. Gaia had been cast out of Elysium and cursed, so she likely didn’t have many allies here. And to mention that Evander was part demon and was slowly dying? That would certainly not benefit her situation.
Hestia inhaled deeply, her eyes closing for a moment. Then she smiled. “Ah, there it is. Faint, but it’s certainly potent now that I can identify it. You do have god blood, though it is… masked by something else.” She frowned, leaning closer, and Mona backed up another step.
Fear must have shone in her eyes, because Hestia withdrew, clasping her hands in front of her. “Apologies. It isn’t often I have a delightful mystery to solve.”
Mona licked her lips, trying not to fidget. “I—Will you let me pass, my lady?”
Hestia laughed and waved her hand. “There is no need for titles here, little witch. I am not your enemy.”
Mona still hesitated. The last time she had trusted a goddess, Trivia had extracted a bargain from her after letting her believe they were friends.
But no friend of hers would abduct Evander and bring him to Elysium to die.
“What is your friend’s name?” Hestia prompted. “Perhaps I can tell you where he is.”
Mona’s tongue felt glued to her throat. She couldn’t speak Evander’s name… could she? There was no way for Hestia to know he was a death god. Evander had told her he’d never met any gods or goddesses of Elysium.
“Romanos,” Mona said hesitantly. If Romanos were here, he would be in far less danger than Evander. At least, she hoped.
And if Hestia didn’t recognize Romanos’s name, then she wouldn’t know Evander’s, either.
It was a test to see if she could truly trust the goddess.
Hestia’s eyes widened, and her smile grew. “Ah, the death god? He is not here, my child. He is in the mortal realm, alongside one of my chosen vessels. Fret not, for she doesn’t yet realize she is the key to undoing his curse. They will help each other. You have nothing to worry about.”
Mona’s mouth dropped open. Romanos was in the mortal realm? How did that happen? Heart racing, she tried to process this information, while Hestia looked at her expectantly.
Think, Mona, think! Hestia hadn’t seemed upset about the idea of a death god possibly wandering around Elysium. If anything, she seemed to speak of Romanos with fondness.
Perhaps that meant Mona could trust her with more information.
She took another breath and tried again. “I’m… actually looking for someone else, too. Romanos’s brother.”
Hestia’s face turned stony. “You speak of Osiris?” Her tone was icy.
“No, no! I’m looking for Evander.”
Hestia’s brows knitted together. “I know no one by that name.”
Thank the Goddess. Relief filled Mona’s chest, boosting her confidence. “His essence is tethered to the magic of the Underworld. He can’t be here for long before it tears him apart.”
Hestia’s face turned solemn. “Then, we have no time to waste. Tell me, which portal did you come from?”
“The one on the beach.”
