"In Greek mythology," I continued, drawing on memories from a past life, "Hercules had twelve Labors. Odysseus had a ten-year voyage filled with monsters and temptations. They were heroes, sure—legends that survived millennia. But they were also victims of the gods' whims. They suffered and bled and lost everything they loved, all to entertain Olympus. All to give the divine audience something to watch while sipping ambrosia."
I leaned forward, ignoring the fire that blazed through my ribs at the movement. "What is the endgame, Nel? What's waiting at the end of all these trials? Am I here to conquer this world, to build an empire of power and pleasure? Or am I being fattened up for a sacrifice? A hero's journey that ends with the hero's head on a divine chopping block?"
