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"Then why are they off on the dance floor with those women?" I bite my bottom lip, feeling jealousy wash over me. The Fates are mature, experienced. They are everything I'm not.
"Because no one wants to be on the Fates' bad side. They're vicious."
I don't know the Fates, we've never ever met, but I wonder if my best friend is right. Even if she isn't, I have no right at all to be jealous over what these gods are doing and who they're doing it with. They are little more than strangers; they owe me nothing.
But a deep feeling in my belly betrays my own emotions on the matter.
I have an inkling that I would do just about anything for them. These gods I barely know are still the gods I've pined after for so long. Is it possible that Gaia is right? That they may feel the same way for me as I do them?
No. It's insanity.
But then I feel them, one after the other, looking across the dance floor, focused on me. I feel their penetrating gazes deep in my heart, and a stirring within me tells me I'm not imagining it.
They are as focused on me as I them.
"What are you waiting for?" Gaia asks. "Go cut in."
I shake my head. I would never. Besides, one of the men I am longing for isn't on the dance floor.
I discreetly look toward Hades where he stands all alone, watching me.
"I don't know Sephy. Hades is...dangerous."
I swallow, understanding her sentiments, but I feel something totally opposite when I look at him. It's like he is everything I'm not and that draws me to him.
"I know," I tell her. "But I can't help myself."
Gaia presses her hand to my shoulder. "I love you, Seph. And you are an amazing goddess because you nurture your harvest, you tend to your crops. You never give up on anything or anyone. But--"
"But you're worried if I get attached to Hades, I might get hurt?"
"He doesn't exactly have a good track record."
"Neither do you," I say with a small smile.
"Hey, we all have our weaknesses. Mine is acting recklessly. Yours is--"
"Refusing to believe anything but the best in someone?"
"I don't want you to get a broken heart."
"I know," I say. "That is why you are such a good friend. You would never let anyone hurt me."
"If I step aside and let you go off with Hades, I'm worried I'll lose you forever."
"I'm not going anywhere, Gaia."
She presses her lips together and her eyes grow glassy. "Things don’t always end up the way we want. Even our best intentions can sometimes lead to heartache."
I lower my chin, letting her words sink in. When I look back into her eyes, I see a tenderness in them. I know she has my best interests at heart. "Listen to you, all serious," I say. "You're the one always telling me to lighten up and let go."
Gaia nods, forcing herself to smile. "I know, but you're my best friend, Sephy. I'd hate to lose you."
"You never, ever have to worry about that. We will be thick as thieves until the bitter end."
Gaia pulls me in for a tight embrace. I squeeze her back, hoping her words are true. Unable to imagine anything coming between us.
"What are you waiting for then?" she says, lifting her ambrosia. "The dark side is waiting for you."
I flash her a smile. "He is handsome, though, isn't he?"
She nods. "Very, very handsome."
For a moment I pause. "Do you want to dance with him?"
She shakes her head quickly. "No. I'm Mother Earth. I can't be with Hades even if I wanted to. I'm forbidden from the Styx and the Underworld alike."
"But if you could go there... would you want to?" I ask. The last thing I want is to step on her toes.
"No," she says, almost too quickly. "I want fun and light, and that isn’t Hades. He is serious, and he never, ever plays games. When he commits, he never wavers."
"What are you trying to say?" I ask.
"I'm saying, if you want Hades, you better mean it. Because he won't let you go once he's made up his mind."
I look over at him, his power emanating across the room, reaching for me. I came here to conceive... not to fall in love. But I think my plan went out the window the moment I spoke with these gods. Everything is changing, fast. And surprisingly enough, I'm not nervous. I'm ready.
"I think he's already made up his mind," I whisper.
"And you?" Gaia asks.
I nod. "There is no going back."
Then I leave Gaia behind and walk straight toward my destiny.
Maybe I'm like Hades in ways no one would have guessed.
When I commit to something, I go all in. There is no backing down, no giving up.
And right now, I want to go all in.
