The God & The Shadow

Chapter 22

VERONICA

Minnie and I entered the headquarters together. She texted me earlier that she wanted to get coffee and invited me to join her. I was reluctant to agree at first, but I thought why the hell not?

I walked her to her work station, the long black marble table next to the elevators. She sat next to Devon, her longtime work crush, who greets me a good morning and plunges back into work.

I part from my friend and walk inside the elevator, pressing the button to the tenth floor. Moments like these— the quiet, the absence of people— are precious and scarce.

The elevator doors started closing, but soon rebounded as a hand stopped it. The doors opened to reveal Nixon.

The angel walked in and stood next to me with a haughty smile. He proceeded to press the close button, but the door was opened once more by another hand.

Hermes stood there, next to the God of Death and Darkness himself. Lore entered first, positioning himself to my right.

Hermes sized up Nixon, then walked to the spot he occupied, giving him the slightest push that made him move backward and settled himself next to me. He nonchalantly pressed the close button and the elevator finally closed its doors.

The elevator was big enough to accommodate the divine to my chagrin, but it still felt suffocating — physically and by the testosterone in the air.

The two gods' arms were pressing on to my shoulders, and I had to push past them to feel comfortable in the small vestibule.

We were now at an odd diamond formation and no one bothered talking. I didn't dare turn around to even see whatever was happening between the men as I stepped out of the elevator to the tenth floor.

I beelined the long hallway to the ninth meeting room and closed the door behind. A short reprieve from them; some sort of wall separating me from their bullshit.

I sat down beside Taylor who raised an eyebrow at me. I tilted my head to the door that now opened to Nixon. The gods walked in after him and settled themselves into their usual seats. Lore at the other head of the table, directly in front of Nixon.

The door opened once more and Warren walked in and his face was suddenly taken aback at the sight of Nixon. His gaze soon transferred on to me, smiling.

He sat next to me which I silently thanked the gods for. Gideon stood up, then pocketed his hands. "Good morning, everyone. Good to see you here."

"Warren," he called out. "We're glad to have you back."

Warren smiled. "Did you miss me, boss?"

"Do not coax me into giving you compliments, Prince." Gideon countered.

Warren rolled his eyes and sunk into his seat. Gideon grinned at the sight of it, then continued. "As you were all told, another museum befell into the hands of our arsonists once more yesterday morning. The suspect," he gestured to the large television screen, "is a student from Imperial College London, and he was caught by security vandalizing the statue of Poseidon. His name is David Gonzalez."

Gideon told the others what we saw yesterday, then shared details about the interrogation. Olivia was soon asked about what she had discovered on David.