Chapter Nineteen: Personal Discovery

We stayed on the road for a couple of days before pulling into this strange builder spread out in sections. At first glance, I would have thought it was an Asian museum; it seemed to be an announcement for the place closing in ten minutes, all of us finding parking spots shortly after.

Lugh had made his way over to me, all of us making our way inside this enormous place filled with different things, one being a gigantic alligator mouth which reminded me of my mother's bar.

I walked around for a moment more, watching as other occupants left, reaching my hand out to feel Lugh's hand grasping tightly at mine. There we met up with Anansi and Bilquis, who gave me a respectful nod.

We were all standing in front of a machine that seemed to have an electronic but old Tarot reader. The man I had seen a few days back was here holding gold-painted coins for the device ahead. Lugh stood as close as he could get, his eyes darting around at everyone.

I just rolled my eyes, sighing as it was my turn to place a coin in the machine. It came to life as it did for the others, and a tarot card came out in the slot in front of me. I reached down and flipped it over to give it a read and stopped dead.

A daughter's coronation, both land, and sky.

Savior to most, danger to one.

Pretentious snake with a silver tongue,

The banshees scream for only one.

Only then a union of old and new can begin.

I stared at it and looked at Lugh, grabbing his hand smiling; I pointedly looked to him and them to the device, shoving his towering form forward. He grumbled, glaring back at me, his face twisted up in irritation. "Keep yer pretty hands to yaself." For encouragement, I slapped him in the ass, watching him bow away from me, swearing. "Shiet, woman!" He placed his coin in the machine and out came to his fortune; he stared at it for a moment before Mr. Nancy chuckled obnoxiously, shaking his head. "It's just a fucking Dummy, dummy; move along, please." He began waving his hand in a dismissive flitter, my eyes darting over to him in an instant.

Nancy's eyes flickered to mine, his entire smile faltering, looking away.

Lugh pulled me off to the side and looked down at my fortune before holding his to me to read.

sun and moon, back in union.

bound in chains, broken free.

fight of three to behead one

silver tongue snake meets his end

protect her as she protects you.

My eyes darted to his, and his eyes brightened moment somewhat before he leaned down, kissing my forehead. "Let's get this show on the road." I growled out suddenly, turning my irritated gaze on Silver tongue, noticing a giddy smile on his face. "To the carousel," he announced, the rest of us allowing behind in silence.

We wandered around for a while until I saw a gigantic carousel spinning around at a slow speed, almost as if it was waiting for us to arrive. One by one, they all climbed aboard, smiling and laughing like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Lugh and I stayed back for a moment to watch everyone seat themselves, Shadow standing on my other side. "Well, we're here now. Might as well keep going." I tugged Lugh along with me, climbing over the gate and onto the spinning platform. I found a griffin to sit on, watching Lugh climb onto it first, holding his hand out to me. I snorted, climbing up, straddling his lap with his arms locking security around my waist.

"Look like the idiot got on; he's gonna wish he hadn't," Sweeney mumbled in my ear, reaching up to brush my hair from my face. I looked to see him, sitting on a wolf right across from us, a small smile on his face. I chuckled, unable to help myself, turning my attention back to Lugh.

"If you're gonna fuck back there, make sure you clean up the mess afterward," Wednesday called out, his hair blowing wildly around his head as the ride picked up speed. Hissing, I looked up at Lugh, watching his eyes sparkle in their crazy glent. "After this... I'm taking ya somewhere. It'll be best if we lay low until we can execute the plan." He mouthed, the wind taking his voice away. My face hardened, eyes narrowing to slits.

"You're damn right."

---

I woke up to the rhythmic swaying air of arms holding me tightly to their chest. The warmth that enveloped me was none other than Lugh, my eyes fluttering open. "Yer awake lass?" I looked up to see his gold-blazing gaze on my face, nodding a bit. "Put me down; I wanna walk with you." I lightly smacked his bare but war-painted chest, his lips pulling up into a smile.

I found myself looking around the strange but beautiful landscape. The ocean was clean but grey, mountains were farther off from the beach, and a path leads to what looked like a temple in the mountain.

"Ya look ravishing." He leaned down to growl the complacent in my ear, a shudder passing through my body. I glanced up at him, really raking in his form, noticing a golden spear in his hand, war paint across his face and over his shoulders in a shade of blue. He wore a kilt, and his hair was long in a braid that swayed loosely behind his back. I then looked down at myself and saw the same sheer green dress, an extra pair of arms with the hieroglyphics; I wouldn't have been surprised if the crown I wore was adorning my head.

My hair was just as long as his, and it moved loosely around my shoulders, and just like him, I too walked with a spear in hand.

We walked until we made it inside the mountain cavern; all of the other gods, including those I've never seen until now, we're gathered around a bonfire. Almost as soon as I made it in, all eyes turned to me. Within the quiet gathering, the gasps of others sounded like firecrackers, Lugh squeezing my hand firmly in his.

"So she's the one that's got everyone nervous... I can see why..." an Indian woman who had six arms from the look of it, one every appendage holding something different, one of them being a very gnarly looking sword, she stared at me before her eyes landed on the symbol on my chest, her eyes widened. She looked to Wednesday, walking closer to me.

She looked up at Sweeney, also surprised he was standing as close as he was to me, his expression grim. " What is your name?" She glanced back up at Sweeney, looking between both of us in silence as she waited. I gave a small sigh, glaring over at silver tongue, noticing only one of his eyes glowed. "Anunde... Though I've gone by many," I stared in her eyes for a moment, feeling Lugh squeeze my hand again, almost painfully this time."You're of two gods, but which two?"

I looked at Wednesday, a smug smile on my lips, watching him swallow uncomfortably. "Should I tell them, or would you like to?" I stepped away from Mama-Ji, letting my other hands grasp ahold of my spear, my other arms falling to my side. I watched as he grew visibly uncomfortable, which caused the others to look at him in confusion.

*He's not one to show that he is afraid in front of anyone; they're wondering why he won't speak in front of me....? About time he knew better.*

I smiled and gave a mocking bow, turning my attention to the others. "My mother is Gaia," I announced, watching the others shift forward, peering at me in confusion. " my father is Khonsu." Not even moments before my father's name left my lips; a vocal uproar started everyone looming over from me to Wednesday.

"Impossible!" One growled out.

"A union that was never meant to happen!" Another enraged scream rose into the air.

I frowned when I heard another, my eyes flaring. " Abomination, not only is she both the moon and the earth, she's the lover of the sun!"

"The moon and sun aren't supposed to touch!"

It got so out of hand that I couldn't make out what was said, so instead, I hoisted my spear up and slammed it down onto the ground thrice, the metallic ring causing everyone in proximity to shut up. "Oh my God, all of you shut the fuck up!" My voice thundered my hands' claws at my sides.

"I didn't come here to watch old people have temper tantrums." I snarled, glaring out at every single one of them.

"How dare---"

I pointed the head of my spear at the goddess closest to me, watching her lips clamp shut when I pushed the blade against her throat, staring at me.

"She's right. More important things to discuss."

It was the older woman I had met only a couple of days ago, Zorya, though this time she had three heads, all of them whispering. She had spoken out, looking over at me.

I hadn't even noticed that Bilquis made it over to me, her hand tightly clenching mine; Anansi was not too far away, looking at me, giving me a barely noticeable shake of his head. With a sigh, I lowered my spear.

"I was invited here, but I only came to tell you this, Silver Tongue." I sauntered over to him, watching his entire for stiffening as he watched me stalk in his direction. "The last image you will see when you die is my face. I always keep my promises." With that, I made my way over to Lugh, who seemed to blaze brightly against the dark corner, his spear clutched tightly in his hand.

"Whatever your issues, I wish you all luck, but I want no part of it. Have a wonderful evening." Without a goodbye, I grabbed Lugh's hand, and we both disappeared from the realm of backstage.