“The scarab is a sacred symbol to us,” Bianca explained. “Just as the scarab rolls the sun across the sky, your actions can determine the fate of gods and mortals alike. You have been touched by the divine and are an agent of influence, pushing against the boundaries of your mortal existence to affect the divine realm.”
I felt the weight of my own legend settling upon my shoulders. Tonight, I wasn’t just Miranda. I was the mortal who held the Blade of Bane, the woman who had unlocked the gods' prison and who now walked willingly into their midst.
My hands itched for the familiar hilt of my blade but Bob was concealed, hidden beneath the folds of my skirt and strapped to my outer thigh.
In the mirror, I saw them standing behind me—my friends, my allies. And in their eyes, I saw what they had wrought—a warrior queen, fierce and unyielding. I would enter the Immortal Ball with my head held high, not just for myself, but also for Xander who couldn’t bring himself to be there.
After a strange tripon a gondola down the canal of the Florence Hotel, our party ended up at an underground secret entrance. Vivien and Grim went in first, followed by Timothy, and then me.
As I entered, the hum of conversation and the soft melody of a live orchestra enveloped me. Everywhere I looked, there were wonders beyond imagining—jeweled goblets that filled themselves with ambrosia, mirrors that showed glimpses of alternate realities, and water canals that spanned the length of the football field sized ballroom. The ceiling itself was amesmerizing display of shifting constellations, twinkling and dancing in harmony with the live orchestra's music.
The sheer opulence of the ballroom was like something out of a fever dream. Floating chandeliers? Check. Live egrets? Double check.
The smell of sugar and something lightly floral filled my senses. I scanned the room, taking in the glittering assembly of gods and other immortals.
One god wore a cloak made of shimmering starlight, its edges trailing along the ground like a comet's tail. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly power as he regarded me.
I had to admit there was something about a god in starlight couture that made my heart do a little flip. Not that I'd ever tell him. The last thing his ego needed was a mortal's approval. But seriously, if you're going to wear the cosmos, at least coordinate with your deity date. Clashing constellations are a fashion faux pas.
A goddess adorned in a crown of intertwining vines and precious jewels floated effortlessly across the marble dance floor with her stunning partner. Each step she took left behind a trail of blooming flowers, their petals swirling in an elegant dance with the music.
I felt out of place amidst this grandeur, the weight of the Blade of Bane at my hip a constant reminder of my mission. A mission that had turned me into a pariah in their eyes.
As I navigated the outskirts of the crowd I could feel their gazes upon me—eyes filled with a blend of curiosity and disdain. It wasn't long before a group closed in, their intentions thinly veiled behind polite, vicious smiles. They’d as soon slit my throat as smile upon me.
Bob chose that moment to interject. “If they lay a finger on you, I'll... Well, I suppose I'll give them a very stern talking to. With lots of sharp, pointy words.”
A goddess draped in gossamer fabrics with eyes like twin sapphires stepped forward. "Miranda West, isn't it? The mortal who dared to unleash Aten. How... brave of you," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
I squared my shoulders, meeting her gaze. “It was a mistake. One I intend to fix.”
A chuckle came from my right where a god with skin the color of the night sky and eyes like molten gold stood. “A mistake? You've endangered us all, human. Aten's return could be the end of us,” he said, his tone laced with barely contained fury.
“I'm aware of the consequences,” I replied, doing my best not to reach for Bob. If I did so they might see it as a move to attack them. “And I'm here to face them.”
Timothy caught my eye from across the room for a moment. His expression was tight with concern and I knew he wanted to intervene.
When we’d been getting ready, Timothy and Vivien had vowed to be by my side all night to make sure this exact thing wouldn’t happen, but I ordered them in no uncertain terms not to interfere. If I were to be put on the chopping block I would handle it myself. I didn’t need these immortals to like me, but I needed them to respect me, and hiding under the power of someone else would only make me look weak.
Despite Timothy and Vivien’s protests, Grim agreed with me.
Their circle tightened around me, a suffocating ring of divine judgment.
“You don’t belong here mortal.”
“You should be scrubbed from the earth for what you’ve done. Damned to Amit’s belly.”
An icy drip of fear started in my belly. Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe they would try to kill me right here, out in the open.No one besides my few allies would do anything to stop it from happening either.
“I’d stop them,” Bob said encouragingly, followed by, “Well, I'd at least make a very cutting remark. But don't worry, I’ve got your back. Metaphorically speaking.”
A hush rolled over the room. The atmosphere shifted. The gods paused their verbal smackdown to see what was the cause.
Xander strode in.
He was near the grand staircase, his presence unmistakable and overwhelming. The unkempt, wild man I knew was replaced by a figure of poise and power. His hair, usually a wild mane, was now neatly swept back, framing a face that radiated an unearthly aura. Dressed in a blue suit that seemed woven from a stormy ocean of silk, he was every bit the deity of deep waters.
“Is that who I think it is?” a goddess whispered from nearby.
