Page 22 of Outcast

The hardest part of it all was that I could no longer see my father. He was gone, and I would likely never see him again.

It was a pure and selfless act he performed, and my chest tightened with a foreign feeling. Appreciation and something more I couldn’t quite place.

“Thank you, Dad,” I whispered.

I’d prepared ahead and had money and a place to stay. Now that I was human, I could explore this town and be who I wanted.

I wasn’t sure if the gods could find me here or if they’d punish me when they did. A god punishing a human didn’t happen anymore.

But I decided to not think about the consequences of everything I’d done. If I let those thoughts win, then I’d ruin the happiness I was ready to embrace.

The boat ride back to the main island felt shorter than ever and when I got off into the city that bustled with people, I actually felt like I belonged. Me. A former goddess and queen of isolation belonged.

The revealing bikini I’d selected when no one could see me was garnering more than a few glances and I adored the attention. Apparently a bright red bikini was a good choice. At least I wasn’t the only tourist wearing one.

Lifting my heavy bag onto my shoulder, I walked to a nearby cart offering the gentleman money for a cold drink. Paying for something I wanted was another first for me and it was oddly satisfying.

True independence was intoxicating.

Nothing had tasted as good as the tropical drink. The sweet and tart fruit, the cool ice, and the hot day only made it better.

My drink was drained in seconds and he happily sold me a second. This time, I savored it as I wandered through town to my destination.

I never realized how much I was missing being a goddess. We’d always looked down on the humans, thinking their lives were short but now that I was experiencing it firsthand, I knew they were the ones that held the power. They had the unrivaled ability to live life fully without restrictions and bureaucracy that came with powers.

Something stung my eyes and I blinked, shocked as a tear dropped down. I’d never experienced such a mix of emotions, and I knew they weren’t tears of sadness but relief and happiness. I no longer had to fear or hide, my life was mine and mine alone. At least for now.

My father might have thought I’d regret my choices, but I knew different.

ChapterTen

Harlow

The silence felt like it stretched on for hours. In reality, it was likely only a few minutes as Drake processed.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Drake finally got out. His tight eyes were telling.

“It was my choice to engage with her,” Elkan said, not allowing the blame to fall away. “Tell me she’s safe?”

Not a single one of us could promise him that.

“It’s impossible to know yet. But I will be figuring things out as soon as I can,” I promised him. “There are several people there I need to know are safe.”

Layne and Crew were left behind. My only solace was knowing they didn’t have to witness our deaths, but it would be naive to assume they didn’t guess what had happened.

“Can you feel the portal at all?” Hiro questioned.

“Not that I know of. But honestly, outside of feeling my connection to you guys, and the realm as a whole, I don’t have any other overwhelming sensations going on,” I admitted. “Was Hel able to feel that kind of thing?”

“No,” Elkan promised. “But she did learn how to send demons through and to peek in on the other side. That’s something we’ll have to figure out.”

I appreciated that he said we so I wasn’t doing this blind. A huge conflict warred within me knowing Dark Haven was falling and I was here taking my time. Sure, I wasn’t sitting idle, doing nothing, but I needed to get a hold on this new life and get back as soon as possible.

Odin’s warning whirred in my mind. Time passed strangely here so I wasn’t sure how much I had left. But I had hope that would all resolve once I made it back through.

“My queen,” another unfamiliar voice rang out and I turned to watch a giant of a gargoyle drop to his knees. The castle floor rumbled in protest but Kol broke the silence that followed, striding forward and helping him back to his feet.

“Achar!”

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