I tapped my foot impatiently on the marble floor of The Temple’s floor as I waited. There was a newfound air of urgency that I felt around me, with my new knowledge in tow. I had called for a few carvations to gather at The Temple to help us make sense of it all, with The Temple’s help and approval that is. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t hear or see someone approach.

“You’ve looked better,” smiled Adam as he landed in front of me and held out his hand. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks, I feel it too,” I yawned, accepting the handshake.

Adam was the mayor of New Village down in The Living. He was a normal human who had been pulled apart and put back together with carvation wings and a tail; he was their leader down there. New Village was a town made up of man-made carvations that had been made in a lab. Interesting feat for humans, but… they, and Adam were made by her. I don’t know how, but I just knew it. 

“Get your 40 winks after this then.” He looked around, seeing nobody else had shown up yet. “What’ve you called us for anyway?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” I said, gesturing for him to wait beside me.

“Can’t ever give me a heads up, can you?” he asked.

“I’d rather keep you waiting,” I joked with a grin.

He rolled his eyes and just waited beside me, chatting before someone else arrived. They came slowly, one-by-one. Next was Moon, as a representative for Iris, who was friendly in their greeting. Then a cheery-eyed Dr. Mantis in her casual attire arrived. Soon enough, Sona and her small group of armed carvations. They looked like they could use a few sessions with Dr. Mantis themselves.

“Ok Gryft, you’d better not be wasting our time,” Sona growled.

“I’m on the clock, so I’d also prefer that,” added Moon, tapping her watch. “Gotta get back to Iris before she tries to down another milkshake behind my back.”

“Then come on,” I said, walking into The Temple. “You should all know about this.”

*   *   *   *   *

I had explained to them the whole story, or at least as much of it as I knew. About how Mina had been collecting carvations and experimenting on them. How she was clearly researching for something, but I didn’t know what. Why create carvations? Why create Adam? Nothing really aligned all together that answered all the questions. Why do horrible experiments in a circus too? And use the Olympics to kidnap people? All these questions were thrown out at one point or another. When I finished, everyone fell silent.

“Gryft, this is all… big,” Adam said. “And I mean, this is huge stuff, but why are we all here now, besides just not wanting to tell us all individually?”

“Well, I need all of your help,” I admitted. The amassed group looked less sure about being there now. “And The Temple approves,” I added, waiting for confirmation from above. Surprise, surprise, nothing. Damn marble slab was probably taking a nap somehow.

“Gryft, I’m your therapist,” Mantis said, concerned. “What can I do to help here outside of helping you inside?”

“I don’t think you thought this out,” Sona grumbled. Moon looked worried at her watch. I could tell I was on the verge of losing them all.

“This could impact us all!” I blurted out. “Whatever she’s doing, she could be planning to do something to us. Or at least, she’s kidnapping our neighbors and we need to put her down.”

“Isn’t that your job?” Sona asked, pointing to me.

“I can’t do it alone,” I admitted again. “I mean, she made an entire race of new carvations on her own!”

“In that case, does that make the entirety of New Village… her children?” Adam asked, furrowing his brow in mild confusion.

“I… guess so,” I said, the comment taking me by surprise.

“So Gryft is an uncle to like, a few dozen?” Moon asked.

“We’re not getting off topic now,” I insisted.

“So what do you want?” asked Sona. Finally I could take my chance here to get down to business. I pointed to Moon.

“I need you to search through the records of Heaven, Hell, and the Afterlife on the date of Mina’s death to search for her.”

“Um… but you saw her die,” said Moon. “In your arms.”

“But she’s down in The Living anyway,” I pointed out. Can you search for me anyway?” I begged. I guess I’d have to force out that word. “Please? That’s all I need you to do, then back to Iris.”

“Fine,” she said. “But you owe me for how much I’m about to look through. You owe me a lot.” Moon disappeared in a flash of light to start her search.

“As for you,” I said, pointing to Adam. “Go back to New Village and tell them what I told you. They deserve to know as much as you do.”

“Was already planning on it,” he nodded.

“Good. I’ll come by later and we can talk some more.”

“Why is it always ‘I’ll explain later’ with you?” he said with a small laugh, clapping me on the shoulder. “Take care, brother.” With that, Adam spread his wings and took to the skies, flying back to New Village.

“And you,” I said to Dr. Mantis. “Can you clear your schedule for the next week?”

“Gryft, I’m not doing that,” she said with a concerned tone. “I hope you know I do have people other than you who need my help.”

“Can you clear just one day then?”

“Maybe…” she said, sipping her drink. “I’ll see what I can do, but people do like to leave me fully booked. But you are calling me later and telling me exactly what you need me for. That’s non-negotiable.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said before she teleported away. I should’ve mentioned that I couldn’t really call her later because I didn’t have a phone, but I’m sure she’ll figure it out.

“Alright Gryft,” said Sona, crossing her arms. “What now?” I leaned to the side and looked at her seven merry men back there.

“Go out to lunch? It is almost noon.”

Sona looked back at her soldiers.

*   *   *   *   *

Sona knocked me on the back of my head.

“You took the last of the Phrygian,” she hissed. “You know that’s my favorite.”

“I don’t know why I thought eating out would make this better,” I mumbled as I sat at the table with Sona and her men. At least in public I had less of a chance of her punching me.

“So Gryft, why lunch?” she asked.

“Because I’m hungry,” I said, not looking her in the eyes. “But also, you know, I wanna learn about your boyfriend back there.”

“Very funny,” Sona groaned. “You already know Lon and Keisey.”

“Hey guys,” I said.

“Hey Gryft,” said a female wasp variant.

“Hi, man,” waved a male axolotl variant.

“Nice reunion guys,” I said. “What about everyone else?”

“Ask away.”

“Alright, who the hell is the goblin?” I asked, pointing to the short carvation with little devil horns. He bared his teeth at me.

“That’s Balthazar,” she said. “You two got something in common, actually. He’s also been cursed by The Temple.”

“Really?” I asked. The carvation nodded.

“Temple’s mark of faded black, branded it is upon my back,” he said.

“Oh… nice rhyming…” I said, confused. You met such… colorful characters around here. “Consider getting a poetry degree?” He didn’t seem to like that.

“Cross the line, you’ll make it not far, you’ll fall before Balthazar…” he hissed.

“He only rhymes,” explained Sona.

“Really?” I asked, trying to not laugh. “That’s his curse by The Temple? He has to rhyme every fucking sentence?” Ok, I laughed full blown.

“Laugh now while you still draw breath,” he growled, putting his hand on his hip where his weapon was. “It’s the last chuckle before your death.”

“Cool it, Zar,” Sona said, putting her hand on his shoulder while I was dying of laughter in the background. I couldn’t help it; he rhymed so seriously.

“Beware our fight that comes some day, while you stand and gloat, for your shoulders my blade shall lay, and split apart your throat.”

And with that, he stormed off in the other direction, muttering rhymes about hating his life and probably me. I couldn’t help it. That shit was funny.

“Aren’t you just loved,” Sona grumbled. “Everyone else, introduce yourselves while I go get Zar back.”

She left to chase the carvation, and I got introduced to everyone else in her small group of soldiers. There was Hannah, who was apparently an squid variant with the uncomfortable feature of having suckers on her forearms and palms; apparently her long swept hair could turn into a bunch of tentacles too- I didn’t shake her hand. Next was Gene, the armadillo variant; I didn’t think there were any to be honest. His body was naturally covered in armor that he could apparently retract in some places. I took note to use him as a shield if push comes to shove.

Then there was Nour, who looked to be an ant variant. He definitely tried his best to look intimidating, but still looked too friendly to be threatening. Even I admit he was probably the ray of sunshine of the group. Finally, there was Reem, the ladybug variant who had the most beautiful red bug wings. She looked nice and sweet, but apparently she was fast as hell too, and could even fight Sona. Why can I only make friends with women who can break my spine?

“Hey, Gryft,” Sona shouted, walking back towards me with the other carvation behind her. “That’s as friendly as you get to be with my crew!”

“Don’t be like that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “What happened to Sona, my friend, anyway? Where can I find her?”

“You left her a few years back, I think,” she said harshly. “When you got yourself banished and left my crew.”

“You can’t possibly still be mad about that.” I said. She gave me a stare. Wow, this was one vindictive bug. “Come on!”

“It’s your fault,” she spat. “Deal with the consequences.” I knew that cooperating with her was basically not going to happen if she kept up like this.

“How do I make it up to you then?” I asked. My mistake was sounding desperate.

Sona smiled, and three minutes later we were on the edge of The Village looking down at The Living. She had tied my wings together and wore a smile that looked like she’d been waiting ages to do this.

“For the record, you’re the worst,” I said.

“For the record, I know what you’re thinking and yes, I have been waiting ages to do this,” she said as she kicked me off the clouds.

Was I having a panic attack as I fell? Definitely. Were very unpleasant memories flashing before my eyes? Unquestionably. Was I going to take it like a man just so I didn’t have to deal with her being uncooperative? Well, someone between us had to be the adult.

I knew that the fall wouldn’t actually kill me. Even Sona wouldn’t have gone as far as to kill me just to get back at me… well, probably not. When I stopped falling, the world started spinning. I was also in a garbage dumpster. Now I had a killer headache and there were at least three of everything. Including three Sonas flying down to me.

“Were you aiming for me to land in the dumpster?” I slurred, crawling out of it.

“I was actually aiming for the truck,” Sona clarified. “The vehicle just moved.”

“We good now?” I asked painfully.

“Yeah, we’re good,” she said, helping me up. That was already an improvement. She probably would’ve just watched me struggle before. Small steps at a time. “So what’s this really about anyway?”

“I need you guys to find someone for me,” I said dazily. “I can give you an area to search around, but don’t engage her.”

“Yeah, I know who,” Sona nodded seriously. “Just tell us where to look.”