The Goddess

Chapter Thirtyeight

Vee looked hesitant, unsure if what she was doing for her right mind could help Avira and me; even though we had just met, I could tell she was willing to help. But something in the glimpse in her eyes said to me that something was holding her back. Avira, my newfound companion, also needed Vee's assistance.

"I..."

"Vee...please," Avira pleaded desperate. Her urgent and clear need for Vee's support was clear. She reached out, and her actions were a testament to how much she needed Vee's help.

Vee looked from Avira to me, and I looked at her with an expression I wasn't sure what she saw when I gave her a neutral expression in her eyes. But that looked changed when she returned her gaze to Avira, and Avira's three fingers were placed together in a pleading gesture as if she were praying.

"Don't do it for me; do it for him," Avira gestured—the pleading and dread in her foreign eyes.

"Look, I know you have those parchment scrolls showing the underground hex tunnels beneath the ground of Hexterria," Avira said.

Vee was about to protest, but she fell silent. I was confused about what they were discussing, and I was about to speak. Still, I caught myself in the act and stopped, knowing that whatever they were talking about was not of my concern—well, not yet anyway—and I did not want to ruin the moment—their moment.

"Fine."

I perked up from that word and looked to see Vee had her eyes closed, sighed, and said the word, "Fine." I looked at Avira; her eyes beamed with a mix of excitement, relief, and gratitude, while Vee's expression was a blend of resignation and determination.

Vee rubbed the bridge between her eyes, a gesture of her internal struggle. She was trying to shake off the weight of her decision, the enormity of the sacrifice she was about to make. Yet, she was willing to risk her life to help Avira and me, a testament to her bravery.

"Well, if we are going to do this, follow me." Vee gestured for the two of us to follow her.

Without either of us waiting, we made our way to follow her out of the room we were both in, and we ascended the spiral, wooden, carved stairwell from which Scilene came down.

Unsure of what the upper level looked like, I was behind them and watched my step, hoping I wouldn't trip while walking up the steps slightly higher than my advantage. They were about at the height where my knees met, so I had to take a minute to help myself.

Still, before I could strategize about the problem, I felt a pair of hands grab me around my toes, lifting me like a toy doll. I looked to be greeted by Avira's gaze. We were already on the second floor of the house we were in.

But I also noticed that silence was nowhere to be found and that we were in some living room area. The room was adorned with intricate hexagonal glass windows on the south side, casting a warm, vibrant glow inside. To the north, a staircase led to the upper levels of the house.

We were listening and looking at each other, but I was cut off when I broke our gaze by speaking. "I was trying to walk up the steps, but they were slightly taller."

Avira smiled reassuringly and slightly giggled, "I noticed you were struggling."

We both smiled for a moment until we heard Vee clear her throat.

"Ahem, are you two lovebirds done?"

I froze from Vee acknowledging that or saying something like that.

After turning back my head to face Avira, I looked to see that she was... wait, what? Was she blushing?

"We're not-"Avira and I said simultaneously.