ACT ONE: EUROPA

Scene 8: Masquer

The day of the masquerade was upon them. Devon and Emily waited patiently for the clock to tick down to their execution. Today they would surely die. Devon, getting bored of sitting down doing nothing decided he would make himself something to eat. He wandered through to the kitchen with no particular recipe on his mind but suddenly remembered the sandwich Sofía had made. With his mouth watering and with permission from Marie, Devon set off towards her home. He arrived there about fifteen minutes later and knocked on the stained wooden door. A minute later the door opened and Sofía stood behind it.

"Ah Devon", she said "What's the matter?"

"Tell me how you made that sandwich!" He shouted, attracting unwanted attention from passersby.

"Oh. Is that it? It's just bread, bacon and butter?"

"What brand? What kind? How long do I need to watch the bacon sizzle?"

"Depends on how crispy you like it".

"I like it as crispy as you do" he said with a wide grin and wide eyes.

"That's creepy. I'm sorry. I can't right now. I need to speak to Justice about something".

"I'll come with!" Devon suggested and off they went. After Sofía collected her things they set off through Paris. Down an alley and then across a busy street and past an old church that looked like it was way past its due date.

It took them a while but eventually they made it. Versailles. Which Devon had just learned was a place in its own right and not just a palace. They arrived to see an army of guards surrounding the palace. Workers in run down clothes decorated the golden hallways. A guard approached them. Sofía handed over her invitation "I need to speak with Madame Justice. Would that be alright?"

The guard looked at them, clearly seeing they weren't a threat he let them past "She's in the east wing. Go through that door". He pointed at a small side entrance.

"Who was that woman you were with? At the ballet" Devon asked swinging the door open.

"She's an old friend".

"Oh okay. She's from Spain too then?"

"Yes".

They came to the room from before. Justice sat on the couch braiding the child's chocolate coloured hair. The god looked up and smiled. She finished the braid and came over to Sofía and Devon.

"Can I help you?" Justice smiled. The young girl clung to her trouser leg and looked up at Devon with pale eyes. He felt some sort of static connection to the girl. Like they were the same. It was also the same connection he felt to Mademoiselle Marie Mer.

Devon looked down at the girl and gave her a big smile. "I'd have expected you to be busier. Y'know, having a party at your house and being a god of justice" He looked back up at Justice.

"Oh. Well. I'm not in charge of any of that. No. My version of Justice and the king's is very different and it's his party, his palace too, he only lets me live here".

Devon listened to the god. She, the god of Justice, wanted to fight as much as Sofía. They wanted to kill the king. Justice had no control. No home. No job. If she didn't already feel useless she must have felt so now. The room was silent. Light flooded the room, reflecting a ray of light onto the opposite wall. The young girl looked away from Devon and edged closer to her mum.

"Come in" Justice moved aside. She held the door open and dropped her head as they passed. She let the door close on its own and came to sit in a chair. She pulled the child onto her lap. "She didn't have a name. I mean, when we met, she couldn't tell me her name. So I gave her one. She said she liked it. Sofía, Devon, this is Elliot. She's a bit shy I hope you don't mind".