The Pariah

Chapter 66

The next morning, I walk to the town hall to meet the Ambassador and Maybelle. We've got some serious planning that needs to be done. When I walk in, the Ambassador and Maybelle have already been seated and are waiting for me. I shut the door softly behind me before walking to the table and having a seat.

"Good morning," the Ambassador greets with a nod in my direction. I tip my chin forward as well and pull the chair in so I can sit. "I'm very eager to know why this goddess is here."

I look back at Maybelle. "You haven't told her?"

"I was waiting for you," she responds.

I sigh as I turn back to the Ambassador. "Forgive me. The goddess Maybelle has requested that she gives us aid."

Her eyebrow rose into her hairline disbelievingly. "Really? For what cost?"

"My fiance back," she says, without missing a beat. She stares at the Ambassador dead in the eyes. "That's the cost."

The woman sitting across from the goddess nods her head, without asking who it was or anything related to it. "Whatever your reasoning is, I'm more than happy to allow you to aid us. Shall we speak about the arrangements then?" 

"Yes, let's." 

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"Good morning," Myrina leans down where I'm sitting and places her lips over my cheek. Her cool mouth brings back memories of last night and my cheeks flush. She smirks at me as she takes a seat beside me. "Just so you know, I'm going to want you again. I want you right now." She presses her lips into my neck and I feel her hand on my thigh. I shiver when her tongue sneaks out. 

I lightly push her away. "Hey, hey. Trying to work here." 

She rolls her blue eyes, but let's me work anyway. 

I look down at the documents I was given by the Ambassador and I sigh. I flip the pen in my hand. So many projects to work on, so little time. I flex my artificial hand that was lying on the desk. 

"Problem?" Myrina asks me. 

I sigh and look up into her blue eyes. "There's just a lot to do. I mean, how in the world am I supposed to organize a barracks?" 

"You call upon the construction workers, dear," Myrina says as she leans over my desk to look down at the papers littered there. "They'll organize something." 

"I'll see what I can do," I fold the paper off to the side and begin to rummage through the stacks of papers. As I was searching, I felt an unfamiliar pain. It stung a bit and made me freeze, jaw clenched. 

Myrina's cold hand lays over mine. "You okay?"

I nod my head. "Yeah..." 

"It's the power, isn't it?" Myrina's pale fingers curl around my palm. "It's getting stronger." 

I wanted to deny it, to tell her that I was fine and it was going to be fine. But no amount of lies could cover up the truth. I'm already dead. I was born dead, because of Cerberus. The power within me was the only thing keeping me on my feet and once it escapes me, I'll die.

This pain, I've never felt before, but I feel it stirring. It's in that moment that I also feel... weak. My arms grow heavier and my head feels too big for my body. The air gets caught in my chest briefly, before I finally wave away Myrina's concern. 

"I'm fine." I say, when it passes. "I'll make it through this." 

Myrina places her hands on either side of my face and as I look up into her eyes, I fight back the urge to say, "It'd be easier if you and I weren't together". I don't want to say that, because I don't want to believe it.