Chapter Eight: From the Village Beyond

Agwe looked over at Arswe and gave her a reassuring smile. She walked between him and Asaka, who kept glancing at Arswe as if to say something. Erzulie and Papa Ge walked in front of them. No one said a word as they were led into a huge room. Arswe looked around quickly and saw that it was a blue marble room. Pillars rose on either side of the room which held the strange ceiling up. The ceiling was blue marble but it was hard to tell because directly underneath it was a swirling mass of smoke, which almost looked like an eye glaring down at Arswe. Before the four Gods and Arswe were three silver thrones with runes written on the back of the chairs. The tapestries, rugs, and curtains in the room were blue and silver as well. Arswe finally drew her attention to the three women sitting in the thrones. They could have been the same person. They all had black hair, dark skin, and black eyes. They each wore a dress of a royal shade of blue. The one in the center appeared to be the eldest, although saying she was old was incredibly incorrect. On her left was the youngest and on the other side was the middle of the two. Asaka gently pushed Arswe down into a bow as the four Gods bowed.

"Don't speak unless you're spoken to," The Goddess whispered.

"Well, it is nice to see all four of you," The eldest began, "But it was only necessary to bring the girl, Papa Ge. We didn't need the other three."

"They're merely here for support," Papa Ge said, getting up. Asaka pulled Arswe back to her feet as she, Agwe, and Erzulie rose.

"From what I understand this entire meeting is unnecessary, dear sister," The youngest spoke.

"Forgive me, Lady Future," Papa Ge spoke, "But it is not."

"Then please explain yourself," The middle spoke up now, "The girl was to be cast out of the House of the Gods once she was healed. From the looks of her now, she is in perfect health."

"That is true, Lady Present."

"Then why has she been kept in the House for so long?" Lady Present asked.

"We, the four of us and Arswe, were hoping that perhaps she could stay," Papa Ge said. Arswe found that she was wringing her hands a little. She gripped her green shawl to force herself to stop.

"She would need to give up her mortality for that, Papa Ge," Lady Future spoke.

"She'll need to become a nymph," Lady Present spoke almost directly after her sister.

"And we don't turn people into nymphs without a good reason," the three of them spoke in unison. Arswe felt a shiver run down her spine.

"I'll need a good reason to make this girl a nymph, Papa Ge," The eldest of the Fates spoke to the Demon of Death, "And I mean a very good reason."

Arswe wasn't certain if becoming a nymph was worth staying with the four Gods. Agwe and Asaka each had one that carried out things that the gods could not do. Erzulie had two for the same purpose. Papa Ge did not have a nymph; he carried out his own work. Arswe wondered if she would have to help him if she became a nymph. But she didn't have a good reason. Her only reason was because she had nowhere else to go. She couldn't go back to the village; they had long pronounced her dead and it wouldn't do any good to show up out of nowhere, having to explain where she had been. She couldn't go back to the Hotel Beauxhomme for her past there was too painful and she refused to face it.

"She has nowhere else to go, Lady Past," Papa Ge addressed the eldest Fate.

"She can go and make a home for herself at the Hotel," The youngest spoke up.

"Her past there is too painful," Erzulie spoke, causing the Fates to snap their heads at her, "Sending her back there would only cause her more pain."

"What past do you speak of?" Lady Past asked, annoyed that the Goddess had spoken without being addressed, "Arswe has never been to the Hotel all of her life."

"But, sister," Lady Present turned to face her sister, "We became aware of Arswe when she was already thirteen."

"She is right, dear sister," The youngest spoke again, "She was found in the jungle by a couple of villagers and when she told them her name, we became aware."

"So tell me, my dear," The eldest leaned over to Arswe, "Who were you before you were discovered? Who were you for the first thirteen years of your life?"

Arswe swallowed. This was just the thing she didn't want to talk about. She knew that she was going to have to tell them about her past. Papa Ge looked at her as if begging her to tell them. She took a deep breath. This was the only way for her to stay in the House of the Gods.

"Isabelle," Arswe said, "Before I came to the village I was Isabelle Beauxhomme."