Page 74 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“Dharma,” the door called out before opening its mouth.
“I guess I’ll find out myself.” Dharma stepped through.
The crow cocked its head, studying us, and Remi reached up to pet it.
“Well?” Priti arched a brow at Remi. “What happened?”
We surrounded Remi, eager to know what lay in store for us.
Her brow furrowed slightly. “Honestly, it’s all kinda fuzzy now.”
“It will be,” Umbra said. “The Shakti cannot be remembered and cannot be truly seen. Their presence is unfathomable to a mortal mind.”
Remi looked up at Percy. “Yes, I’ll introduce everyone.”
“Are you talking to your bird?” Eve asked.
“His name is Percy,” Remi snapped. “And yes, I was talking to him. He wants to know who everyone is.”
“I thought these anchors were made from us, so surely he should know,” Joe pointed out.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Umbra said. “Although the anchors are made from a piece of your soul, they are also beings in their own rights.”
“Wait, wait,” Priti said. “You can hear it talking in your head?”
“Yes,” Remi said. “I can hearPercyspeaking in my mind.”
“Sorry.” Priti winced.
“I don’t know if I like that idea,” Eve said.
“This process is mandatory,” Umbra replied.
Wasn’t everything here mandatory?
The door activated, mouth opening wide, and Dharma joined us, followed by a hunting hound.
She scratched between its ears, and it rubbed its head against her hip. “This is Ida,” Dharma said. The hound studied us with a shrewd intelligence that made my scalp prickle.
The door continued to call names. Joe came back with a blue cat. Sylvie brought back a large colorful butterfly. Poppy was accompanied by a yellow and blue bird that chirped a beautiful melody, while Regina came out carrying a small pug-like dog. There was just me, Eve, and Priti left, and I was getting antsy.
Eve went next and was out in three minutes with a ferret draped over her shoulders. It hissed at us, and she laughed. “Easy, Drake. They won’t bite, but you might.” She arched a wicked brow our way.
“A ferret,” Dharma said. “Figures.”
Eve lifted her chin. “Ferrets are super smart.”
Priti was called next, and we waited a little longer this time. When she returned, she was alone. No anchor.
“What happened?” Dharma asked.
Priti shook her head. “I’m not sure. I can’t remember.”
Umbra paled. “It’s fine. I did explain not everyone would be gifted anchors.”
But why not? I was about to ask when the door called my name.
My pulse spiked. It was my turn.
