AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But when I looked at my mother, I feltnothing. It was a relief, in a way. My entire life, whenever I’d been around her I’d been edgy and anxious, trying constantly not to disappoint her and failing every time. There was a sense of peace in knowing now that I was so irredeemably disappointing to her that there was no point worrying about it anymore.
“Faith Bellamy, thank you so much for speaking with me today. I’ll be frank—it’s hard for me to even know where to begin with this, you’re an agathos too? That’s a very surreal thing for me to comprehend, the idea that there are non-human people living among us, let alone all the other statements your daughter made in her video, or the footage from Athens with the scorpions. The claims of a goddess…”
I felt a sliver of sympathy for the journalist, who seemed like she’d be very poised and articulate at any other time, but who was clearly out of her depth on this topic.
Mother nodded somberly, her face the picture of concern. “I am an agathos, a helper of humanity. The presence of my kind was meant to remain unknown; it is not for us to seek glory or recognition for the good deeds we do for humankind to protect you all from the evils of the daimons—” Someone made a dramatic retching sound, possibly Vasileios, “—and I understand it must be difficult for you to feel as though you have been pawns in a secret war all along. Rest assured that the agathos have always been here to shield humanity as best we can from the daimons’ dark sway, and we will continue to do so for as long as we exist. Despite whatever claims my daughter made, agathos and daimons willneverbe united. The agathos stand with humanity. Daimons are a scourge, Anesidora herself wants to see them gone.”
“Well, that’s divisive,” Bullet sighed. “The last thing anyone needs is humans feeling empowered to join the agathos attacks on daimons. It’s not like it’d be good for the humans either—they’re not immune to daimon gifts the way agathos are.”
I nodded silently, my unease at my mother’s words growing. There was absolutely no way that this interview was unsanctioned—whatever placating phrases she was spewing were pre-agreed with the Basilinna and the Elders.
“I can’t lie, remember?” Mother said, leaning forward in her seat and giving the interviewer a conspiratorial smile before the woman could ask another question. “And while Grace can’t either, much of what she claimed was untrue. That’s not to say that she lied, but what she genuinely believes in her heart is untrue. It has been very difficult for me to come to terms with that, even though I’ve had twenty-five years to do so.”
The interviewer frowned. “Are you saying that your daughter has always struggled with comprehending reality?”
Mother gave her a pitying smile. “I’m not entirely comfortable with the term ‘daughter.’ Not anymore. This is not how any child of mine should act.”
“Wow, Grace, your mom is a stone-cold psycho,” Dare murmured. Wild’s hands came to rest on my shoulders, giving them a supportive squeeze.
“But yes, Grace struggles with reality, particularly the reality of herownlife, herownsituation. Agathos have a specific role in society, and we are primarily meant to carry out that role unseen. ‘Live hidden’ is a key tenet we ascribe to. Grace has always drawn too much attention to herself, never fully accepted the role she was meant to have, even when it was more than clear that she was being punished by the goddess for it.”
“She actually believes all this shit,” Riot said in disbelief.
“It’s not that surprising,” I replied quietly. “In her eyes, any attention on me was too much because I wasn’t anormalagathos. It’s not a lie to her, because it’s her reality.”
“What would you say to her now if you could?” the reporter asked.
Mother looked past the camera, the absolute picture of serene sadness and resignation. It was chilling. “I suppose I would tell her I forgive her.” A surprised laugh escaped me before I could stop myself, and I felt Wild shaking with silent amusement behind me. “It’s clear now—for the entire world to see—that she’s being punished by having her soul forever tied to daimons. There could be no worse fate for an agathos.”
Around us, people were translating my mother’s words, and I glanced up in time to see Evanthia’s face go pale.
“I can’t be sure whether Grace is lashing out in response to being cursed with daimon soul bonds, or whether they have influenced her mind with their darkness.” Mother sighed heavily. “I’m inclined to think that it’s the former, since she’s always shown rebellious tendencies. I should have been harder on her as a child. Many reputable members of the agathos community have spoken out, and many more will do so. I urge you all to listen to them, the voices of reason, not the voice of one delusional girl—”
Riot reached over, locking the phone and cutting off the stream. “Enough. The others are listening, they can tell us if your sociopathic egg donor says anything we actually need to know.”
I nodded, a faint buzzing in my ears. I didn’t feel angry or sad, I just didn’t feltnothing.
Well, perhaps a little humiliated, since everyone was staring at me in pity. But that was all.
“I think I’m going to take a shower,” I said robotically, latching onto the first excuse for some alone time to process. “I’ll be back down in a bit.”
The sound of the chair scraping over the stone patio felt deafening as I stood, walking stiffly into the house without making eye contact with anyone.
Who would people believe? I’d been as raw and open as I could in the video I’d made, the total opposite of the calm, perfect restraint Faith had shown. I thought I’d done the right thing, approached it the right way, but now I wasn’t sure.
Who would they believe?
I flopped back on the bed, staring up at the shadowy ceiling. I’d showered and changed, then pulled the curtains shut in the bedroom and laid down, too overwhelmed at the idea of facing everyone right then.
Just five more minutes,I told myself. I wanted to be a leader—sort of—the leader that those who’d followed me here deserved, but I also needed a second to pull myself together. To not beGrace the Prophêtis,whispered in reverent tones, orGrace the Agathos,usually a title delivered with dry cynicism. But worst of all wasGrace Bellamy. Grace Bellamy was a disappointment of a daughter, a mentally unstable individual, a war criminal. It was a million things that weren’tme. The name that I’d carried for twenty-five years no longer felt like my own.
So, who was I? Where did that leave me?
If I ever fulfilled the prophecy, brought forth the new age of heroes, created a world where all mortals were equally valued, where we didn’t have to hide… Who would I be then? Would I still be Public Enemy Number One?
Riot and Bullet were both sending waves of love and reassurance at me through the bonds while fending off questions and concerns downstairs, and it helped a bit. Knowing that my bonded loved me and supported me unconditionally was always comforting, but it also wasn’t quite what I needed at that moment.
I felt raw and a little angry, and I wasn’t ready to let that anger go yet.
