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“Do you see now?” Apollo’s voice was quiet. I could clearly see his sadness with what was happening. Because he—in fact, all the gods—were connected to humanity’s future. If all the humans died, they would die as well.
“So why send the Lamni to my world?”
We fell out of my dream world, stepping away from the tragedy that had been unfolding there.
I opened my eyes to stare at him across the short expanse of blanket between us, meeting his. Dropping my hands to my knees, I noticed he mirrored my movements.
“Because they can take control. They can change things and stop others and perhaps save some humans. Most Lamni don't hurt humans. They live with their host, giving them advice. Some of them can help heal your people, both physically and mentally.”
I shook my head. “But some of them don’t think the same way. They try to power-grab and become rulers over all humans. They want to treat us like slaves for them and their children. My family fought one hive who wanted to rule over my country not too long ago.”
Apollo rose to his feet with minimal effort, as if someone had just pulled him up with strings. He glanced down at me. “There are always those who will take advantage of a situation. Should we stop doing what is right for the many because of one evil being?”
He turned and left the maze, his exit remaining open for me.
I sat, staring into the bushes, thinking.
There was the one piece of vision I hoped I had hid from him. That one twist that no one would have expected. A race existed which might save us all, except someone had hunted them almost to extinction. According to what I saw today, some of that line were living on Earth. Associated with my pack, in fact. But I wasn't sure how.
I needed to get back and find out. Explore this latest piece of the prophecy with others. Get this issue with Mother Earth resolved.
Figure out how to use that one unexpected hint.
Someone cleared their voice.
I hung my head.
Well, I had things to do, but it wouldn’t be today.
I cracked open the water bottle that was sitting my lap and drank it down, reaching over to place the empty container in the basket Apollo had left. Inside it was a small slice of chocolate cake and a gigantic sandwich, along with another bottle of water.
My stomach growled. I had missed lunch.
Pulling out the sandwich, I got comfortable before glancing over at Samuel standing by an exit to the maze, which was still open to the house. I wondered what would cause the bushes to react, closing off that path. It seemed that the god's henchman was able to manipulate the plants at will, at least to open paths through it.
“I didn’t eat lunch. Is it okay for me to do so now?” I took a big bite of the sandwich, defiantly looking him in the face. I wondered if he would snatch it out of my hands or let me continue.
He sighed and stepped into the clearing, the exit also disappearing. “No, go ahead. I have nothing better to do today than to watch you eat.” The sarcastic words fell short.
I grinned at him, still chewing, not answering him. This sandwich was better than any I had before in this place.
I concentrated on chewing, recognizing how the flavor exploded on my tongue, even more than the food they served me every day. I stared at the sandwich in my hand.
Samuel watched me, curious. “What is wrong?” Was he so used to this that he didn't see the difference between this and regular food?
I put the sandwich down and swallowed, following it with a gulp of water.
“What’s going on, Samuel? Why is Apollo trying to drug me?”
The man, still standing over me, crossed his arms. “How is this about him? All he did was bring the refreshments and leave them in the basket. You had the choice to eat or not eat. You chose to eat. Well, start eating.”
He stated the words logically, all emotion stripped from the words. Which made me worried.
“Is this like in Hell? That if I eat the food here, I have to stay here?” My mind flashed to the meals I had in my room, wondering if those counted as well.
He exhaled, the sound startling me as he dropped his arms to his side. Suddenly, the man looked tired. “No, it’s nothing like those lower worlds, Lily. This sandwich came from Apollo’s personal kitchen, which is separate from the one that feeds the rest of us. This is the food of gods. We rarely get to experience it. It is something beyond anything you have had before. It has to be to feed a god. Nothing more to it.”
I cocked my head. "How can I eat this if it is food for a god? Will it make me one?"
