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 feel like the humans must know better than to start shit in my bar, because I don’t see a single one in the room right now. But the monsters, they are taken aback, to say the least.
Now listen. I get it. Love and hate are good and all. They are powerful emotions. But how many ways can you possibly come up with to use these two itty-bitty things to create havoc?
Well, turns out, if you’re an eternal god who has been banished into the fog with very few opportunities to do anything but plot your revenge, you become rather resourceful.
The hate-pull is one of the more gruesome ways I’ve come up with to make a point over the course of my very long life. And it certainly has the desired effect now. Because the fight is over and by the time their friend-foe—whoever the hell the monster was—by the time he’s nothing but a disgusting little puddle on the floor, they’re standing silent in a ring around him with mouths open like a bunch of ancient idiots.
“Now that I have your attention,” I say calmly, but firmly—every monstrous face turns to look at me—“I would like to go over the rules.” I place the crossbow in my lap and look every fuckin’ monster in the eyes as I talk. “One. You are no longer allowed in my bar.”
There is some grumbling, but it doesn’t last long.
When they first got here, I thought it was kinda nice having people in the bar. I liked the hum of conversation and the laughter. But I’m tired of it now. “You’re gonna have to find somewhere else to hang out. Two. If you ever”—I pause here for dramatic effect—“ever destroy something in my town again, I will throw you into the fog and let you aimlessly wander for all eternity. Three. If there is one more fight”—I hold up a single finger to punctuate the point that this ‘one’ is a literal number—“one. More. I will liquify everyone involved. And maybe you think this might be an easy way out. Maybe you think you’re tired of living and what the hell, let’s make Eros kill us.” I point to the puddle on the floor. “But he’s not dead, friends.”
There is a gasp as everyone turns to look at the puddle.
“That’s right. He’s still in there. He’s trapped in his own hate. This is my version of Hell, you see. I have the power to send y’all to Hell. I don’t like to do it,” I tell them. “I don’t. There is no joy in sending monsters to their own personal Hell. But you all are gettin’ on my last fuckin’ nerve. And when a god’s peace is disturbed, he will do anything to restore it.” I pause again to make a flourish with my hands. “So are we clear here?”
They just look at me.
“Are you gonna make me repeat my question?”
They start agreeing real fast, nodding and assuring me that there will be no more trouble.
“Wonderful.” I smile at them, get up off my throne, hold my crossbow up—then make it disappear—and start walking towards the stairs that lead to my apartment.
They are holding their breath and just about to let it out when I reach the little hallway, but I turn in that moment. “And don’t forget to clean up the mess before you leave. That includes the puddle that was once your friend.”
Then I take my leave and retreat back up to my shitty apartment.
Where I exist in my natural state.
Which is singular.
Solitary. Apart. Isolated. Separate.
All words for the only one that counts.
Alone.
CHAPTER EIGHT - CALLISTINA
A woman can only take so much. And I have found my limit.
This day. Right now, this moment, I realize that I have had enough.
While I hate the term ‘victim’ and would never, ever have referred to myself as one back when I was queen, the idea that I have been wronged is growing on me.
Furthermore, the idea that I have been wronged in such a way that the wrong can never be righted has also taken root.
There are not many options when one finds oneself the victim of circumstance, as I have found myself, on more than one occasion. You can rise up. Meet the challenge. Do your best.
And I feel like I had that spirit in me when I was taken to Vinca after Pie was stolen.
Or one can simply accept defeat. Normally I am not one to choose this path. But when a woman gets to the point where she has been stripped of everything she ever was and sees no possible way to make a change that will lead to an acceptable outcome, a reality check might be in order.
I walk down the road towards a little park on the edge of town and take a seat on a stone bench that was erected in the memory of that ‘Big Jim’ man. The bench declares that ‘He was a giant among mortals. May he rest in peace.’ Here, I do some real soul-searching.