Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to take it off, Eros.”
“Why? That makes no sense.”
“I like it. It’s pretty.”
“It’s a symbol of slavery.”
“It’s worth a fortune. You must be very rich in this life.”
“I’m a god, regardless of what door I travel through. Turn around. I’m taking it off. It’s drawing attention to you because even though I placated the owner with the promise of money, he’s right. It’s been fashioned in the form of a dress. I don’t know what this other version of me was thinking when he put this on you, but it was a stupid move. Beasts are forbidden to wear clothes. They will kill you, Callistina. Do you understand that? They will kill you over these chains.”
I know he’s right. Hell, back in Vinca we had Fireday every week. And all the chimera, regardless of rank, had to walk around naked to show respect to the ruling class so the humans didn’t dwell on the fact that the chimera could take Vinca for their own in a blink of an eye.
So these rules are not strange to me. I haven’t been on the receiving end of them since I was a teenager, of course. Once the king died I took over as queen and my Firedays were over. I presided over the whole thing.
“But I like the chains.” I look up at Eros, meeting his gaze. “I really like them.”
“I understand that. You can have them. They’re yours. I don’t care. But you cannot wear them. Not here.”
“They’re going to get left behind when we leave.”
He sighs. And I am getting the impression that Eros is on his last strand of patience. He’s not comfortable here.
But I am. I feel an affinity with this city. Like it’s… my roots.
“Are you not hungry? Do you not want to go get something to eat?”
“I am hungry. But… why don’t you just go? I’ll stay here. Then I can leave the chains on.”
He hesitates. “I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” I’m truly confused by all his hesitation and doubt. It’s not a side to the god of love that I’ve ever seen.
“Someone could come up here. Break in and hurt you. Steal you. Anything could happen.”
I make a face at him. “You’re paranoid. And anyway, I’m not helpless.” I hold up my hand and claws come shooting out of my fingertips. “I have these. Not to mention these.” I snarl at him, showing him my long canines. “I’ll be fine.”
“If you claw someone, or gods forbid, fucking bite someone, Callistina—”
I laugh, stopping him short. “I’m not going to claw or bite someone, Eros! No one is coming up here!” Then I calm down and shoot him lazy eyes. “But this whole concern thing you’re doing… it’s… kinda… sexy.”
“Sexy?” He sneers at me. “It’s not sexy, Callistina. Ordered list! Is that ringing any bells in this thick skull of yours?” He flicks his fingers against my head, pinging me. “If we have to travel through the doors together to make the magic work, then I can’t get home without you.”
This is true, and I’m sure it’s part of it. But really, I think he’s truly concerned for my safety. So I place a hand on his chest, flat against his heart. It beats under my touch. Then I look him in the eyes. “I’ll be fine here. I won’t answer the door if anyone knocks. I won’t leave, I promise. It’s better than me going with you. It’s better that you go get the food and bring it here.”
He wants to object, but I’ve made a good point. If I go out, people will notice me. Even if I’m not wearing the chains and we don’t take the pegásius. Gryphon chimeras—especially one like me, House of Fire and all that—are not common. I’m not sure they even exist here. I might as well have a target painted on me.
Finally, Eros lets out a breath. “Fine. I’ll get food.” He points at me. “And you will not leave here. Or answer the door. Or call out to anyone down on the street. Or talk to anyone at all, no matter what.”
“Agreed.”
“And when I get back, I’m taking those chains off. So get used to the idea.” He starts to leave, but then turns back to me. “And instead of standing around romanticizing this hellhole, why don’t you spend this time thinking about how we find the doors to get the fuck out of here.”
And with that he storms over to the door and walks out.
I’m just about to turn back to the terrace, and now truly setting sun, when the door pops back open and he points at me again. “And what the fuck? Lock the damn door when I leave!”
The he slams the door and doesn’t come back.
But I do go lock the door. I understand that my safety here is precarious. I just don’t see the point in being overly stressed out about being a chimera in a place I don’t live. I mean, technically speaking, I’m not even born. Won’t be born for thousands of years.