I stand in front of her window, gazing at the gardens below. In the light of day, I can see a mini hedge maze with flowers all around. Someone has taken the time to love and nurture the plants, and I wonder if Essos is the one tending them or if he has a gardener. Would it be too much to askto work there and get my hands dirty?
Cat emerges from the shower and then dresses for the day in a white blouse, black slacks, and a beautiful emerald statement necklace that drapes around her throat.
I fake a big gasp and clutch my chest. “My god, look at you!” She gives a little spin in the beautiful pumps she’s wearing. “It’s good I already know we’re dead, otherwise I’d think we died and went to heaven.”
“Is that where you think we are? Heaven?” she asks, her playfulness rushing out.
“I don’t know what to think.” I stand up from the bench at the foot of her bed. “I do know that I’m hungry, and I think we should get moving to find out exactly what’s going on.”
I’m not sure why, but I decide to keep my morning encounter with Essos to myself. I trust Cat with my life, but for however long this process lasts, we’re all going to be competing to be with Essos, and I would like to hold on to this one piece for myself. Something about our conversation felt private. I don’t think he often lets people see him with his hair down.
As Cat and I descend the wide spiral stairs, other girls are also leaving their rooms. All of the rooms are located in the same long hallway, like a hotel. Some girls are still in their pajamas, discomfort written on their faces as they probably wonder if they should turn back and change. Tiffany is among them, dressed in a beautiful light blue top and shorts set that stands out against her dark skin. The set is similar to my lavender one and Cat’s burgundy set. I wonder if we all have unique colors to help differentiate us.
A few of the others are dressed similar to Cat and me, in skirts or slacks or jeans and a simple blouse. Then there are those dressed like Zara, emerging from their rooms as if they’re about to walk the red carpet instead of going to breakfast. Zara is adorned in a pale pink long-sleeved dress that stops just above the knee. When she catches Cat and me looking, she does a small spin in her black and white pumps to show us that the dress is backless. Cat gives her a whistle as she struts by. Anna comes down in her swimsuit and cover-up, ready for another day at the pool.Leslie, a petite redhead Anna is close to, is also ready to hit the pool.
We settle into the same seats we had yesterday. Essos remains at the head of the table with Sybil behind him against the wall, hands clasped behind their back. I take this moment to watch how they study each of us. Their brown eyes are critical while the rest of their face remains impassive. Essos might have told us to dress as we please, but someone is passing judgment.
“Good morning, ladies,” Essos starts, standing before us all.
“Good morning, Charlie,” I whisper to Cat, who laughs behind her orange juice at theCharlie’s Angelsreference. Essos must have heard me too, because he has to hide his laugh behind a cough. His blue eyes flick directly to me with a private smile, and god, if my heart doesn’t stumble at the sight of it.
“I hope you were all able to get a good night’s sleep. I know yesterday was traumatic, and I dropped a few bombs on you that cannot have been easy to accept.” He says this with a practiced cadence, as if he’s given this talk hundreds of times.I wonder if he has, and how many girls have lived here throughout the centuries, hoping to be chosen.
While he speaks, our breakfast is served. Normally, I’m not big on breakfast, waiting until the last possible minute to roll out of bed and run to class. Now, I’m presented with what I regularly order at brunch. My plate is full of avocado toast, bacon, and breakfast fruits, including strawberries, blueberries, and pomegranate seeds. We are each served a personalized meal. Tiffany, a vegetarian, gets toast and fruit parfait, while Cat has her own perfect brunch meal—eggs benedict on crab cakes. Across the table, Zara lets out a sigh of pleasure as she bites into a Belgian waffle smothered in fruit.
“Before I begin, I want to give anyone who does not want to stay the chance to go. There is no shame in electing not to continue.” He pauses as he glances around the room, stopping on me for a moment longer than anyone else. I think he might be holding his breath as he waits to see if I’ll speak up—if I’ll walk about the door. When I don’t, I watch him release that breath, and I give him a tentative smile. We all look around, wondering which of us will be the first to leave, but it appears that moment will not be now.
“Right then.” His voice is somehow stronger, more confident. “Welcome to the Calling, ladies. For lack of a better term, this ‘competition’ is so much more than that. This is meant to help each of you grow into a potential queen for my realm. Gradually, you will learn about the other gods and goddesses of my world, but to start you will have history and art lessons. It may feel pointless, and you might question why I need you to know the difference between impressionism and baroque, or how the Romans built the viaducts, but you could be questioned on any of this should you make it to the final ball.
“There are traditions and rules associated with the Calling that were created by the Council, and it will be up to you to adhere to them. If you are caught disobeying any of these rules, you will be dismissed. If certain rules are broken, the entire process will end immediately. I beg you to please take this seriously. I am responsible for enforcing the rules, at my own discretion. I will do everything in my power to prevent this experience from ending prematurely. Since you are ignorant of the rules, any prior transgressions will be forgiven at this time, but know that this is a one-time deal.” His gaze lingers on me again before moving along.
Goosebumps break out on my skin.
“If you are dismissed, you will be sent on to the Afterlife. Depending on the offense, you may be dismissed immediately. In fairness, I do try to allow you the closure you deserve. I’m not a monster—I recognize the pain of losing someone without a chance to say goodbye, and if I can avoid that, I will.” Essos looks down at the table, and I sense deep pain behind his words. I wonder if the person he’s thinking of is the same one who named Dave. What must it be like for a god to lose someone he loved?
Composing himself, Essos glances around the room again for understanding, and we all nod.
“Over the next three months, I will get to know each of you. I’ll be looking for more than just chemistry—my selection will be as much about finding someone who can prove to me that they have what it takes to reign over the Underworld with grace and kindness as it is about finding someone I connect with. At the end of those three months, you will be able to put those ballgowns in your closets to use for a ball during which you will be mingling with the very gods and goddesses you will soon be learning about. During this time, I may determine that someone is not a good fit, and they will be asked to pass on to their afterlife. There is nothing to be ashamed of in being asked to leave. Thereisshame in breaking the rules. I need a partner I can trust to understand limits and to know when to push them and when not to.
“This afternoon, I will meet with each of you one on one to see if you are compatible with me and this process. Sybil will guide you as far as appropriate attire, but don’t worry, I just need to get to know each of you a little better. This will be a long afternoon, so please be prepared. For that I am sorry.
“Sybil will be your guide during this process. They know the rules and will advise you on those as well as answer any questions that you have. Please take this seriously—it is serious for me. I will be expected to choose someone to rule beside me at the end of this Calling.”
He turns to leave, then stops. “Sybil will create a calendar for each of you, but there will be no extra time or preferential treatment foranyone. Am I clear on this?” He looks at us expectantly, and we respond with nods and yeses across the room.“Then I shall see each of you later. Sybil, you’re up.”
Essos picks up his coffee mug and walks out. With each step he takes away from us, I see the tension slip from his shoulders as he hangs his head.
Sybil steps forward and clears their throat. They are dressed the same as the day before, in a simple black dress that sweeps the floor as they walk, their brown hair still styled in the same long braid. I wonder if this is some sort of uniform for them.
“As Essos indicated, the most important rule is to keep to your new schedules. You will need to remember that Essos will be developing a relationship with every one of you, and retaliation or retribution against another woman here will not be tolerated. You are also not permitted to wander around the house in the evening after the conclusion of the day. We ask that you remain in your own rooms, although there is no rule forbidding you from spending the night in someone else’s room. Thereisa rule forbidding violence against another person—that is one of the rules that is grounds for dismissal. Essos is conscious of how difficult the coming weeks will be.
“Each of you will meet with him one on one today, and some of you may leave. We will, of course, permit you time to say farewell to your friends. You will all be sorted into smaller groups for convenience. This will be done after your one-on-one time this afternoon. This evening, Essos will tell you who will be moving forward in the Calling.
“Please dress smartly for this meeting. I know it sounds formal, but it truly is meant to be a chance for you to get to know him. This is a two-way process. If you don’t like him, or don’t feel you’re compatible after your meeting, you are free to leave. If at any point you no longer want to proceed, you can opt out. Each night, we will dine together, and it is important that you attend every meal. This will provide you with valuable time to get to know Essos as well. His days will otherwise be spent working and not with you. Please use the time you do have with him to your advantage.
“Again, today, you should dress informally but not casually—certainly not like you’re going to the beach. Perhaps Anna and Leslie shall go last so they can spend their day as they’ve so clearly planned.” We all give a little laugh, the ice broken.
“Meetings begin at one o’clock sharp, so please be in the ballroom by then. If you would like an example of how to dress—Catalina and Daphne, will you please stand?” Awkwardly, Cat and I stand, a few of the girls shooting daggers at us already. I fight the urge to chew on a nail, self-conscious about the attention. If I want to be a queen, I’ll need to get used to scrutiny, so I stand up straight.