I take very little of the food, since nerves are keeping my hunger at bay, but it all smells delicious. I keep watching to see if Essos is taking food and eating it, and I’m glad to see that he is. Sybil is standing at the back of the room, just watching. I want to think that it’s creepy, but their manner feels almost protective. Their behavior makes me doubt what I heard even more—I don’t sense any intent to harm anyone. They seem concerned for our safety.
Once everyone has been served, Essos stands, setting his napkin to the side of his plate. “This conversation is always a difficult one to have, I find.” He’s not looking at any of us. Instead, he glances at Sybil, who seems to encourage him with a sympathetic nod. Cat and I exchange glances, glad that we didn’t eat any of our food. I slide my knife off the table and keep it in my hand on my lap. Cat does the same thing, and Zara spots the movement and gives her a confused glance. Essos locks eyes with me, an odd look on his face—a mixture of excitement and dread. I wonder if he knows I know—if he saw me slip the knife away.
“This is something that many of you will have a hard time hearing, but I believe for some of you, it won’t come as a shock. Earlier this morning, your bus got a flat tire. However, your bus driver was never able to control the vehicle afterward, and the bus plunged over the guardrail and into the Pacific Ocean.” Essos pauses to let this sink in. He glances from face to face.
I feel cold all over. A flash of flying through the cab of the bus comes to mind before I remember hitting the water. I remember how cold the water was, and trying to wake Cat so we could get out of the bus. I remember kicking at the window, but it didn’t budge, my body weak from the anxiety crashing through it. Where was that superhuman strength of women who lifted cars off their children? I remember choking, trying to breathe in, only to find water instead of air. I remember the water flooding into my lungs before everything went black. Farther up the table, a sob escapes, someone probably having their own memories of the accident.
“I know this is very, very difficult to hear, and I am so very sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but each of you perished in that accident. You’re in a different plane of existence.”
There is silence in the room as we all let the news sink in. The stages of grief surround me; I can see denial, depression, and anger on everyone’s faces. I glance at Cat and see sorrow, her dreams gone in a blink. I snap out of my trance as someone—Madison—stands abruptly, knocking her chair to the ground.
“This is bullshit, and totally fake. I’m getting the hell out of here,” Madison shouts.
One of the servants sets the chair straight as she stalks toward the door. Essos raises a hand, and the doors all slam shut. I look at Cat, who is wringing her hands under the table. This is so much worse than we could have imagined. I was wrong not to tell the other girls, but even if I had, I’m not sure what difference it would have made.
“I sincerely do not mean this as a threat, but please, take your seat again so I can finish explaining.” Essos waits, as if he has all the time in the world for Madison to decide what to do. His voice is as soothing, as if he is practiced in needing this patience. I wonder how many times he has delivered this speech. Realizing that there’s nowhere for her to go, and no other options, Madison retakes her seat.
“Thank you,” Essos says with a slight nod of his head. He looks pained as he goes on. “I am in a position of power within my realm. You’re currently existing in the Realm of the Gods, in my home. You all have fallen under my rule. I am King of the Underworld, God of the Dead. My position requires that I not perform my duties alone, the details of which will be covered at a later time. It is that same position that makes it difficult to find someone willing to share the burden. The accident today happened under a specific set of circumstances. When a tragedy like the one that befell you today happens, an archaic process known as the Calling begins, in which I hope to choose a wife. It’s horrifically anti-feminist, however, the rules for the Calling were created by another group. It’s been named such because becoming my queen truly is a calling.” He pauses as he studies our responses. I am fighting every urge in my body to react, biting down so hard on my cheek that I taste blood.
“If you do not wish to take part in the Calling, you have the option to leave. If you elect to leave, it will not be to return to the life you had. You will be crossing over into your afterlife. Should you choose to stay here and proceed, you will have the chance to become so much more. Being my bride means becoming the Queen of the Underworld and accepting powers fit for the role. It is not a job for just anyone. I wish I could give you more time to consider your choice, but the Calling will begin tomorrow. You can opt out at any time.” It might be my imagination, but it feels like he’s speaking only to me.
I catch Cat’s eye, but there is too much for us to communicate with just one look. I look away from her and meet Essos’s gaze. There is a glassy sheen to his eyes, and my heart stumbles, wanting to reach out and comfort him. Essos braces his hands on the table, still holding my gaze while a storm brews in them. He looks like he would rather be anywhere but in this room full of tears.
“What about the driver?” I ask, thinking about the kind man who helped us with our bags. Essos stares into my eyes, and that feeling of familiarity fills me. That warmth from earlier that I chalked up to some super fancy heating system floods my body again. Looking at Essos now, I’m not even close to cold, and I don’t think it’s because of his powers, either.
His tone is soft when he answers me. “He has passed into his afterlife. If it makes you feel better, he was greeted warmly by loved ones whom he missed dearly. I personally saw him off. Know that you will all have such a fate, should you decide not to take part in the Calling or not be chosen.”
Tiffany cries silently in her chair, her future with Steve gone in a flash. Essos walks over and places a hand on her shoulder. She sniffles a few more times before her tears stop, and then her whole body seems to relax, all the tension draining from it.
Cat jumps up as if ready to spring across the table at him. I follow suit, prepared to back her up without hesitation.
“What are you doing to her?” she shouts at him. Girls around us hiccup and gasp as they try to remain composed.
“I’m giving her peace. She’s grieving for a love that’s been lost.” He withdraws his hand from Tiffany’s shoulder and holds both palms up in the universal symbol of not intending harm. My muscles relax, and I tug Cat back down to our chairs. “I know that this won’t be easy for any of you, and it will take a few days to come to terms with your new situation. It will take time, and I understand a decision will not easily be made.” He walks back to the head of the table. “I will leave you all to eat and discuss the situation amongst yourselves. While I wish I could afford you the time you need, you will have 24 hours to decide whether you want to proceed. Sybil will be taking care of you for the duration of your time here and will answer any questions that you may have to help guide you through your decision. If you should opt to leave, do so of your own free will, and know that there is no pressure from anyone here for you to stay or go. Should you decide to stay, you will each have your own room and will be appropriately provided for in the months to come.
“With that, I bid you goodnight.” Essos gives a small bow to us before exiting the room with Sybil close on his heels. The warmth that infused my body minutes earlier dissipates, as if Essos has taken it with him. I clear my throat, trying to find something to say, to put something into words, but I can’t.
Once they have left the room, I place the knife I was holding on the table. We sit in stunned silence before erupting all at once.
“Be careful what you wish for, Zara,” Cat yells at her from across the table.
“This is so fucked up. Like, I’m out of here,” Olivia says, standing to pace the room. This is her senior year, and I know she was going to Dartmouth in the fall to get a graduate degree in engineering.
“What is this guy smoking, and where can I get some?” Anna laughs, tossing her vibrant pink, purple and blue hair over her shoulder. I have to hand it to her for leaning into the denial phase. Not that I can really blame her; she’s only a freshman.
“Are we seriously locked in here with a crazy person?”says Penny, a short girl with russet hair who is looking at her food like it’s been poisoned.
My brain is trying to sort through the information Essos gave us, but instead of processing it, my thoughts are stuck on drowning. The memory is overwhelming my ability to handle anything else. I look at Cat and, instead of seeing her face, I see her unconscious as I try to keep her head above the rapidly rising water. I looked to see if there was any way out, trying the emergency door in the back and before I started kicking the windows. I remember thinking that I was glad Cat was not awake for this as I watched her body try to breathe in the water only to choke. I remember wishing that I was unconscious, and that I didn’t have to watch my best friend die. I shudder, suppressing the urge to throw up the water my body expects to still be in my lungs.
A few girls start crying harder as they settle into their own traumatic memories. I take a bite of food, since I now know Essos is not trying to kill us, but it tastes like ash in my mouth.
Cat calls my name, and I look at her again. “What are we going to do, Daphne?” She sits back down, looking so lost. For once, I have no idea what to even say to her. Tears are welling in her big blue eyes. “I’m never going to be President.”
I reach out and squeeze her hand.Around the room, I can see everyone’s hopes and dreams dying right in front of me.“Never say never.” I stand up and lead her to one of the servants posted against the wall. Beside him is a doorway that I don’t remember seeing earlier, but now that we’re dealing with fucking magic, mapping the exits feels futile. He seems to be the youngest and therefore the most approachable. He’s all long limbs and boyish good looks, with his dark black hair slicked away from his face. He stares forward as I approach him, and I sense he’s trying not to look at me.“Can you please have someone show us to our rooms?” I ask softly, still holding Cat’s hand.
“Straight away, ma’am.” He nods but doesn’t move. I wonder if in a past life he was a member of the Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace. I wonder if all the people who work here were once people, or if they’re some other sort of creature.
Cat and I are sharing a look, unsure what to do next, when Sybil walks in and glides over to the two of us.“If you will follow me, I will show you to your rooms.” They walk away, skirting the other girls in the room as they lead us out. We walk in the opposite direction of the rooms where we all got ready for dinner, to the grand stairwell. The two of us follow Sybil up the curved stairs, and I notice they never touch the banister. I, on the other hand, am holding on to it and to Cat’s hand for dear life.