Page 77 of Somnium

“We needed someone else on the inside. I’ve been digging where I can, looking for the right strings to pull to untangle the web he’s created around the sigils, but since I’m not dedicated my access is limited. Fortunately for us, my presence there is effectively neutral.”

A chill crept across her shoulders, and Cadi squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head to clear her jumbled thoughts.

“Wait, okay,” she said, holding up a hand as if it would do anything to stop the onslaught in her mind. “So the gods aren’t gone, they aren’t dead, but they’re weakened.”

Elias nodded.

“And they’re just, what … hanging out? Filing taxes? Taking public transit with the rest of us? And you’re telling me that no one has noticed a god sitting next to them on the red line?”

A soft chuckle drew her attention back to the couch, where Seth watched her with a look of amusement in his dark eyes. Cadi glowered at him, a tension gripping the base of her skull at the way he seemed to be finding immense joy watching her existential crisis unfold in the middle of Elias’s living room. Maybe next time he’d let her in on the joke, and they could both laugh through the shit storm.

His eyes moved to the drink in his hand, swirling it smoothly. “You would be shocked at how much mortals miss when they do not care to see, my dear. And while I cannot speak for others, I much prefer a town car to the bus.”

He lifted his glass to take a sip, tossing her a wink over the delicate crystal.

Cadi’s mouth fell open, a low buzz blooming in her ears as she stared at the man on the couch who simply smiled at her, patiently watching the wheels turn. Her head snapped back to Elias, looking for the punchline, for the big reveal that this was all some sick, elaborate hoax. But in his eyes she only found quiet confirmation, shadowed by regret.

She turned back to Seth, her breaths broken as she stumbled over the words she needed to solidify the truth. “What—then you—who are you?”

Seth leaned forward, carefully placing his glass on the coffee table with a soft clink before resting his elbows against his knees, the picture of a caring father preparing to guide his child through a difficult conversation. “I was introduced as Seth, and that is the name I prefer in this age. However, you may know me better as Anubis.”

Every inch of Cadi’s body went numb until she felt like she was no longer contained inside of it, and instead was watching the scene play out from the sidelines. She didn’t move as Seth leaned back against the cushion and smoothly gestured to the kitchen, where Kai still stood propped against the granite counter. “And the shipping mogul making himself at home in the kitchen is your former governor: Poseidon. Though, if you ask me, it would do well for a god in hiding to select a career that was a bit less obvious.”

Kai scoffed, crossing his legs at his ankles and leaning down onto a single elbow. “You said it yourself, brother. Mortals don’t see what they don’t wish to see. Like three gods sitting in their living room having drinks.”

Elias swore under his breath, the strain in his voice sending Cadi’s heart into her throat as she turned to look at him. No. If the truth about the sigils had nearly taken her out, finding out her boyfriend was a god would be enough to have her involuntarily committed.

His gaze met hers, the slight shake of his head temporarily easing the deafening thump of her pulse until he shifted his attention back to the living room. To the couch where Sera sat frozen, glaring daggers at Kai.

Her friend’s eyes locked with hers, the bite behind them reforming into a look of regret. The truest confirmation. Cadi pulled her hand from Elias’s grip and began to fan herself with the fabric of her shirt. Suddenly Elias’s apartment was sweltering.

This was her friend, the person she got wine drunk with, the person who sent her stupid cat videos. It wasn’t possible.

Sera stood, closing the distance in a few strides to stand in front of her. “Sweetie, look at me. Everything is okay.”

Cadi shook her head. Nothing was okay. Everywhere she looked, there was another crack in her reality. How could she say everything was okay?

“Sera,” she began, the sound of her voice foreign to her own ears. “What did you mean when you said your presence is neutral?”

Sera’s eye flicked to Elias before they settled back on Cadi. “You can’t use a god to drain another god.”

Cadi pulled in a shaky breath, not even realizing she’d forgotten to blow it out until Elias squeezed her shoulder.

“Breathe, Cadi,” he said, his tone steady.

The air rushed from her lungs, making the room around her dip. She swayed, gripping Elias’s arm to keep from ending up on the floor.

“Okay, yeah, I think I actually will sit down.”

Elias guided her down the single step that separated the living room from the entryway, keeping a firm grip on her waist until she flopped down onto the love seat and tipped her head back to stare at the ceiling.

This was not the way she had imagined her evening going.

Something cool brushed against her fingers, pulling her attention to where Sera crouched in front of her, a small glass of water in her hand. Cadi flexed her fingers, pushing against the tremor that seemed unwilling to let go as she took the offering and sipped it slowly.

Sera watched her with steady concern.

“So, who are you?” Cadi asked, her tongue finally obeying her command to speak.