The Blessed and the Pure┃🖋

Chapter Β

Hallie was going to die.

Yes, again. And this time not of stage fright. Say what you want, but Thanátos is not repetitive.

Hallie ran unnoticed through the streets, careful not to run into anyone. If they wouldn't look out for her, she would have to do that herself. She was not arriving at her first day of work looking like someone shoved her onto the ground as though she was worth nothing. She was also not going to be pushed to the ground and die of blood loss, hence why she was going to die.

I would recommend getting there a good half to a full hour early. I heard the times the stage director shows up is erratic. And he doesn't like to wait.

Kirphis may be in the most looked-down-upon social class and have a suspiciously nice living space, but he knew things. And thank the gods he did; there was no way she was arriving late on her first day on the job, even if she technically wasn't late.

Once the crowds thinned, the people divided around her, much like how the city itself was divided. Hallie prided herself on her internal political burns. They went their separate ways, deeming anyone and everyone else unimportant.

After too long for comfort, she found the amphitheater Kirphis showed her yesterday.

Hallie stopped, stuffed some bread down her throat to compensate for the excess loss of adipocytes, and walked down the steps.

The steps were made of marble and polished until they shone in the early morning light. Hallie felt self-conscious every time she set her foot on a step, wondering just how dirty the undersides of her sandals were. She would not be the one to ruin the cleanliness of the steps. Nope, not her.

Before she knew it, she reached the bottom. In front of her was a small crowd of people. About a third was thin to the bone, Sómata. The other two-thirds looked like they could eat more, but not to the point where they were going to collapse should a breeze come through, Taktikoí. The ratio of one to two was surprising. Usually, it was Sómata who got jobs involving physical activity.

One of the Taktikoí noticed her. "Hey, you can't be down here if you're not a part of the cast."

Hallie shrank under their stare. Their tone wasn't unkind, just blunt and informative. They must amaze while playing emotional characters.

One of their friends - Hallie assumed the two were friends - swatted their arm. "Doriskos! Be nice! It might be the new girl Charax was talking about."

The friend turned to smile at Hallie. "Sorry about him. He forgets things a lot."

Doriskos glared at his friend. "I do not!"

They stood their ground and fixed him with a steely gaze. "The Frogs."

Doriskos stared at them as his face flushed a deep crimson. "That was once, and you know it, Niobe!"

Niobe cocked their head to the side. "Nothing else smart?"

"Anyway!" Doriskos turned to Hallie, trying and failing to conceal his flushed face.

"Come now, that comical joke?" someone shouted from the other side of the amphitheater.

Doriskos whipped around. "And vow that you've a belly-ache!" he roared.

At that, everyone - excluding Doriskos and Hallie - almost died of laughter.

"O-Okay, we'll s-stop t-teasing you." Niobe got out between fits of laughter.

"Thank you." The excess color left Doriskos's face. "So, new girl, what's your name? Charax didn't specify."

It took a while for Hallie to realize he was talking to her.