Page 12 of Harmless
“Trust in Astarte too, Rori.” Gwen’s voice was firm, like she knew my faith in the winged goddess was shaky at best. “She’s there to guide you.”
“I’ll try,” I answered with a sigh. “I know you probably can’t give me your number so call back in a few days, alright? I’ll update you.”
“Will do. Be safe, Rori.”
“You too, Gwen.”
I ended the call and glanced at the window behind the couch just in time to see the white dove perch on a tree branch. It was hard not to glare at the animal, and not only because her feathers were so damn bright. Supposedly, Astarte was here to guide me, but she’d remained silent the vast majority of the time.
The few times she did deign to speak with me, it was some vague, riddled mumbo-jumbo, like I was supposed to figure it all out like a puzzle.
I didn’t have time to solve puzzles. Not when Torr, Santos, Paige, and everyone else in that hellhole needed me.
“Would be nice if I could get a little morespecificguidance on what the fuck I’m supposed to be doing,” I muttered more to myself than anyone, but of course, that was when Bird Almighty chose to respond.
You’re still not understanding, Aurora,came the goddess’ voice raking over my brain like a chastising mother.I cannot interfere with your free will. I cannot change the course of actions already taken.
“Then why are you even here?” I wanted to throw my phone at the window. “What good is your so-called guidance?”
When you are conflicted, I can show you a path. When darkness is all you see, I can be a beacon to show you the way out. But you must choose to take those actions, which will lead to events, which leads to more actions to be taken.
“But you are hoping for a certain outcome, right? You’re trying to prevent something bad from happening. That’s your ultimate goal, and I’m your tool to do so. So why not just tell me the best way to make that happen? Why sacrifice Torr and Santos for this?”
For you, the journey is just as important as the outcome, Aurora. Every decision you make lays the foundation of the woman you will become. I am here for when you are truly lost, but for the most part, you know the answers.The dove shook out her feathers, resembling a puffy ball before smoothing them all down again.And I never said your men will be sacrificed, but they are important keys of your journey.
“Will this plan work?” I pleaded quietly. “Will we really be able to pull this rescue off? So many lives are riding on my decisions, and Ineedto know. It’s killing me.”
You’ll know soon enough, Aurora Wilder.
5
DEVIN
The Saint was a fairly new gladiator who had quickly made a name for himself. He earned his fighting name in a twist of irony, from the upside-down crosses tattooed next to his eyes.
Other fighters began rallying around the Saint after the Animal had been killed, kissing his ass in an effort to make him their new cult leader. It was interesting to watch from the sidelines. Some people were completely aimless without anyone to follow. And others turned out to be natural-born leaders.
The Saint wasn’t a loud, brash guy like the Animal had been. Like Santos and I, he had mostly kept to himself, and at first seemed like an unusual choice for the other fighters to rally around. He’d been tested, of course. Not everyone liked or respected him, so a pecking order had to be established. I’d heard of three fighters, all on separate occasions, sneaking into the Saint’s room at night to kill him in his sleep. He’d slaughtered every single one and brought trophies as proof to the breakfast table the next morning.
Just like that, he’d not only proven he wasn’t one to fuck with, but that he could also bring a group of bloodthirsty men to heel. Which was exactly what we needed if we were going through with this whole organized escape plan.
I volunteered to speak with him during training hours, to which the Hunter seemed relieved.
The Saint was sharpening a spear as I approached him head-on. Coming up from behind would likely end in death, or at least a bloody neck, as the Hunter had figured out when he approached me. It was an important lesson to be learned in the gladiator pit—if you’re not a threat, it’s smarter to let the other party see you coming.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I was ten feet away and the Saint didn’t even lift his head when he asked the question.
I scanned the colosseum. We were near the center of the fighting pit in plain view, but no one was close enough to eavesdrop.
“How would you like to get the fuck out of here?”
He paused in his sharpening, the tattoos at the corners of his eyes compressing slightly as he squinted up at me. “That can mean any manner of things. Are you propositioning me? I’m flattered, Ghost, but men aren’t my delicacy of choice.”
I didn’t know what threw me first, his overly-formal speech or that he immediately thought I was offering to fuck.
“That’s…not what I was asking,” I said, lowering my voice and walking closer. “I mean out ofhere. Escape.”
He smiled as if amused, then lowered his head, returning his attention to his spear. “Just when I’ve been chosen as the shot-caller? Interesting approach to knock me off my throne, I’ll give you that.”
