The Devil's Smile

Chapter 9

“It is because of them that I worked so hard studied and made it my goal to be recruited.”

“And somehow your clumsy as friend got herself invited along the journey. Very little work and at least one almost world ending disaster per day are only claim to fame.”

“I don't think deliberately altering your records is somehow things charm.” Even as she said it she was hugging me hard. “At eight years I didn't love you like I do now her voice was muffled against my shirt. Nope at eight I was determined to go no matter what. They knew happened and I knew that one day I would have to leave you. It broke my heart. Every morning when I woke up I questioned whether it was worth it I would start off one thing to turn down and then why wouldn't be sure. No doubt I never stopped trying my hardest to be chosen. It was like I had to prove I could be the best and then if I turn down I know that it was my choice,” she pulled back to face me. “You getting chosen with me was the best thing that could have ever happened for once your clumsy curse was a true gift.”

A gift

Those weren't words which had been used to describe someone with a curse like this. Nobody would have dared to say even to make someone feel better. At least a girl. Only the Demi gods had gifts and my curse was enough of slap in the face of the people as it was.

“Did you ever consider it turning down charm?” The question from red was a little hesitant but like she had been thinking about it but was afraid to ask. “I mean I know things have happened so fast but did you ever consider turning it down?”

I hadn't. Not even once actually. Which was odd because I was pretty certain that I would die there. Although the certainty of death was something I lived with every day. So it was understandable that it didn't have me in much of a panic.

“Never even crossed my mind,” I finally said to her. This was meant to be our friendship our journey was created by the gods. I blew her a kiss and when she was distracted by my sappy face I reached out and snatched up the container of purple berry she had picked in the fourth ring. There were only half a dozen left and she was being so stingy with her sharing.

She glared as I popped the first tart goodness into my mouth. Berries didn’t grow in the seventh ring, as far I could say from the level of her excitement when she found them in the bushes and collected them. Red leaned forward but before things could escalate into a girl fight the cart slowed down distracting us.

Sarath pulled the bullocks to complete halt and got off the cart. He crossed to the closest demigod a female who stood a foot taller than me had better hair than me and was altogether much more beautiful and intimating than me not that I was comparing. Words were exchanged. Words that we couldn't hear and then Sarath handed over some papers.

Why are these demigods eyeballing us? I asked red trying not to move my mouth too much.

Standard security checks before entering Godville. She spoke normally so my still the whispers were cleaning not required.

This continued the next few minutes examining our card checking the back sleeping area and zapping me with sparks of energy which seems to emit from their body as they crossed closed by. Eventually we were clear to enter and I found myself sneakily popping the berries in one by one as the gates opened.

I had to do something to stem the rising tide of nerves which were threatening to erupt from me. Red had given up trying to get her snacks back, instead placing one hand on my knee to stop bouncing it right out of the cart.

The gates took at least 85 years to open. By the time the date. I was over the nerves. Dragging things out helped no one. Bad power play demigods bad power play.

The Bullock seemed hesitant to cross the final threshold or sold and into Godville. Sarath had to be extra convincing his belts flying through the air as he encouraged them along. The Demi gods continue to watch us as we will past. None of them smile said anything but I could feel their judgement.

You shouldn't be here.

You do not belong here. Explain you are not one of us.

The gate closed behind us. And suddenly the nerves were back. I twisted my hands in my lap as I tried to take everything on this side of the barrier. We were still at the very top of the hill we had climbed and now it seemed it was time to start descending. To the right of our path was a long waterfall which trickled down into the valley we were heading for at full speed.

yes you heard that right water just trickling out in the open for all to see. And everything was green. The land was covered in vibrant green carpet of grass which was almost too bright to stay ahead directly. The card picked up speed and with a rapid warning from Sarath, red and I had to hold on to the rails beside us.

After a brief day the land levelled out and despite my need to appear unfazed their met might have been allowed gasp slippage. Either that or the air was thin here and I was having a harder time to breathe.

I knew that Godville was the very centre of the 9 rings and there were multiple villages in each ring. Those are the things that I knew. What I hadn't known was that a Godville was pretty much an island. An island? The very concept was like a myth wrapped in a fable shot through some sparkling magic. Persons the great rivers and lakes had dried up since the outer rings of Vandelay had turned into a land of dastan despair which had no true islands. But Godville was very doing best to come close.

We will need to cross on the barge just now Sarath said halting his cart next to and other bunch of carts.

there were other carts! I had been so caught up in the visage of the centering a mass of land which went further than the I could see and which seems to be surrounded by a body of water that was connected to a series of waterfalls like the one we had passed moments before I had failed to notice the other carts just like hours all lined up in rows beside us. It looked as although the recruits from the 9 rings were converging here. They we're all waiting for the barge thing to take us across the water.

“What is a barge?” I asked red.

We were both of now. Trying to balance on our half dead legs. We were being punished for too many days of 2 little used

I have no idea she answered as Sarath handed us both our bags full red found at down at mine and I knew she was still trying to figure out how I got the pants and rock salt in there changes are clothing for the week if she was so worried about it she should have packed for me it was her own fault.

Wait for a moment you have no idea what the barge is? I asked astounded. You know everything. I don't even bother trying to learn stuff myself I just ask you and you give me the answer

Yeah that's probably going to have to change share advice the laugh riding her words. But I have never read about barges and nobody has mentioned them ever to me.

Wow. Guess you are not all that smart after all. Guess you are kind of silly. You feel a little silly right now don't you? You feel a little embarrassed because you don't know what about them?

No she is marked grabbing my arm and pulling me after Sarath.

she had gotten into the habit of dragging me everywhere since they announced our names at the selection ceremony. She probably thought I would have a panic attack still a Bullock and high tail it as far as possible from Godville at any moment. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. But I didn't tell her that. It was too funny to watch her watching me out of the corner of her eye every time.