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GEMINI

I might not sense my dear god of trickery as intimately as Mercy senses her god of death, but in a crowd as considerable as this, I believe we feel all our gods’ powers pulsing through the mob of Pravitians.

Today, we celebrate our two co-rulers, Mercy and Wolfgang—the first double inauguration in our city’s written history. I watch them now, cloaked in glimmering gold as they stand front and center before our febrile citizens. The rest of us sit behind the powerful duo in thrones made of carved wood, our parents at our sides.

Even at a time like this—while the moon eclipses the sun in its totality for the first time in nineteen years, the day gradually turning into night—I can’t help the faint hum of boredom buzzing under my skin, like the constant static of an off-tune radio.

My attention wanders. I lazily sweep my gaze over the crowd as the moon begins to cast its shadow over Pravitia. My dormant adrenaline spikes when I serendipitously find my petty thief among the countless faces. Her attention is fixed on her two rulers spilling their blood in small ceremonial vials. I jump to my feet without much thought and sneak offstage, ignoring my mother’s low hiss of disapproval behind me.

According to the Oracle, the eclipse is an important and reverent moment, imbued with auspicious power.

So why not utilize it for myself?

I can’t think of a better time to divert Veil’s fate, to snatch it from thin air and claim her all to myself.

At first, I’m quick enough to slither through bodies, unnoticed, but my gold three-piece suit practically glows, even with the dying sun above us. Soon enough, citizens recognize me and give me a wide berth, the crowd parting as if a force field were propelling them backward.

Distracted, it takes Veil a few crucial seconds to notice the disturbance in the status quo, and by the time her curious gaze lands on me, I’m heading straight for her.

I would laugh at how her brown eyes widen in alarm if I wasn’t already salivating like a rabid dog. Her body freezes, then jolts into action as she turns her back to me and runs .

My smile turns wicked, and my heart pumps wildly in anticipation as I chase her through the mass of bodies. My eyes track her effortlessly, as if programmed to always find her, wherever she may go.

I watch with gleeful amusement as Veil shoves people out of her way while the sun slowly reappears from its trip behind the moon. The sunlight illuminates her terror-streaked face each time she glances back while I gracefully make my advance. I haven’t even broken a sweat—I could never tire of chasing my obsession.

I wouldn’t have been willing to let her go in the maze if I’d been blessed with such an entertaining chase. There was too much hiding then, but today? I witness every little reaction she makes. She’s delicious, and I long to lick the glistening sweat on her forehead and taste the fear there.

Because that fear is me .

I already exist inside of her, her pores familiar to the flavors of Gemini Foley.

Reaching the end of the crowd, she ducks out onto a deserted street off the side of the city square. I follow her, exhilaration stoking the flames of adrenaline in my veins, knowing I’m close to catching her.

She’s fast. Swift in her escape, as if she’s done this countless times before. But Pravitia is my city; I know every street, every dip in the sidewalks and every alleyway.

Which gives me an idea.

I chuckle, delighted, as I anticipate her next move and turn into an alley. Just when she thinks she’s finally escaped me, she will be led directly to me.

Silly rabbit.

I will always catch you.

I jog through the alley until I reach the other side, the street deserted as I take a quick peek. Her strained breaths reveal her location before she even turns the corner, and I press myself into the wall, waiting for the perfect moment to step out from my hiding spot.

Three …

Two …

One …

Her distressed scream is fabulously intoxicating as she tries to sidestep me, but realizes she has nowhere left to run, her eyes widening in terror, her breathing turning panicked. I give her a playful frown just to further antagonize her.

She makes one last attempt to escape, but I’m faster, grabbing her wrist and twisting her around. Wrapping my arms around her torso, I pin her hands to her sides as I push her back to my chest. I get a lungful of her shampoo as she struggles against me. Luckily, she doesn’t smell like the fish market, but of sweet, ripe mangoes.

She shrieks, and I laugh.

Her legs thrash up in the air like a savage alley cat, which causes my laughter to swell. I attempt to press her to the wall to temper her violent objections, but she plants her feet flat against the bricks and pushes off with all the force she has in her thighs.

“Let me go!” she shrieks again as I stumble backward while trying to keep her tight to my chest, her legs still flailing this way and that.

When my back hits the brick wall behind me, I keep us pinned there, shushing into her ear as she continues to scream.

I can feel that strange absence, even now.

Her words stripped naked, so similar to?—

A thunderous boom wrenches me out of my thoughts; it startles me enough that I almost let Veil slip out of my grip. I hear distant screams, some fast approaching, like a mob is running toward us. I cock my ear, trying to pick up more clues. Was that an explosion? The disturbance sounded like it came from the city square. My mind flashes to my friends and family onstage. Shocked by the noise, Veil bellows with renewed vengeance, still fighting me.

“ Please ,” she says, her tone turning mournful, then chokes on a sob. “I don’t want to die.”

She continues to struggle, but she’s losing momentum, her feet finally making contact with the ground.

Unmoved by her small show of weakness, I still take a few moments to deliberate.

I could let her go, assuage my worry, and find out if my loved ones are safe.

Or …

Making up my mind, I tighten my grip around her chest. “Die?” I rasp into the shell of her ear. “Why would I ever kill my new favorite pet?”