The Reaping of the Gods

Chapter 5

Back in our reaping house bedroom, all the girls are getting ready for bed and giggling about the night.

“Ladies” Anaya says getting our attention. “That was a wonderful success”. She holds up a stack of envelopes. “These are invitations for second meetings. If a god would like to see you again he will send you an invite just like these. If you hear your name come here.”

I start to look through my clothes I got today for some pajamas. None of those are for me so no need to listen. I find some clothes and go into the bathroom to change. When I come back out josie is sitting on her bed with an envelope in her hand.

“You going to open that?” I ask her.

“What if it's not the man I'm hoping for?” She looks up at me and I can see fear in her eyes. Wow that bond must be strong. I sit down beside her.

“I'm sure it will be. Why wouldn't it be?” I wrap my arm around her shoulder. “You'll never know til you open it.”

She nods and opens the envelope. After some reading she screeches in excitement. “It's him.” She hugs the envelope to her chest and falls to the bed.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and see Anaya standing beside me.

“Didn't you hear me call your name?” She asks shoving an envelope into my hand before turning and walking away.

“Oh my gods, Who is it from? Open it Open it.” Josie starts shaking my shoulders clearly way more excited about this than I was.

I open the envelope and there is an invite to lunch with Set. Josie stares over my shoulder and gasps.

“Larissa got an invite from one of the Big 9.” She shouts for all the girls to hear.

Next thing I know, I'm surrounded by all the girls being asked a million questions which I have no answers for.

At least I got an invitation, now I don't feel as pathetic. But why don't I feel happy?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I'm awaken by the feeling of someone shaking me. I open my eyes and see Josie shaking me awake.

"What?" I whine still tired.

"You got a gift!" she exclaims shoving a small box into my face.

I get up and grab the box from her. "What's this for?" i ask.

"Ugh, right you don't know. Suitors can send you gifts. Most don't come for a few days but you already got one." Josie says shaking with excitement. "Open it"

I roll my eyes and undo the ribbon on top of the small square white box. I take off the top and inside is a necklace full of diamonds and jewels. Almost too many and definitely not my style. To be honest, it was ugly. Underneath is a note.

Wear this to lunch.

-S

I look up at Josie who is currently staring at the necklace I'm holding with a confused look on her face.

"It sure is......expensive." She says with a slight giggle in her voice.

"What'd you get?" I hear Hanna coming up to us from out of the bathroom then notices the necklace. "Oh ummmm....it's a necklace?" She asks.

"Okay, we're all thinking the same thing right?" Josie asks.

"That thing is ugly." Hanna blurts out causing us all to break into laughter.

"He wants me to wear it to lunch." I say behind a smirk.

"No. What do you match with that?" Josie says clearly going through outfit options.

"A trash bag?" Hanna laughs.

"You guys, he at least sent her something. You just have to wear it to lunch. Then you can 'lose' it." One of the girls say and we all break out into laughter.

"I think that simple blue dress we bought yesterday will be fine. It won't clash with the necklace." Josie perks up and walks around to start rummaging through my clothes in the dresser beside my bed.

"When's your date?" I ask as I start gathering my stuff to take to the bathroom to shower.

"Tomorrow night. I'm so excited. I'm sure by the end of it I'll know if he felt the bond too." Josie gleams, laying my dress out on the bed and looking for shoes.

"I'm going to go shower." I head into the bathroom.

I don't know why but I can't help to feel disappointed about my lunch date with Set. He's handsome. Our conversation was nice. In any normal scenario back on earth I would've jumped at the chance to date someone like him. But here it feels different. It seems like the connections these girls are experiencing are strong, powerful things that are undeniable. And I did not feel that with Set.

As the water runs over me in the shower I can't help but imagine the man with red hair and green eyes. His face is burned in my mind. He had an aura around him that maybe I could've mistaken for a connection but the quickness that he disappeared can only mean that he didn't feel anything. The thought makes me sad and angry at the same time. I turn off the shower and proceed to dry myself off and get ready for my date. The date I was asked on by someone actually interested in me. I need to stop dwelling on the man whose name I never got.

I dry my hair and put on my bra and underwear and head out of the bathroom. Josie has laid out my outfit on the bed. Dress, shoes, and necklace. I begrudgingly put it on. Hanna does my make up, and before you know it, I'm ready to go.

" You look hot, even with that necklace." Hanna fiddles with my hair a little bit more when Josie comes running in the room.

"He's here, he's here. Hurry up." Josie giggles in excitement.

"I'm coming. Calm down." I start to walk out the room and down the stairs to the front entry.

"Good Morning Larissa. You have a visitor." Anaya says with a weird look on her face. I can't tell, almost a look of confusion. I walk down a few more steps before I see where he was standing. I stop when I realize that this isn't Set. This man has red hair. He turns around and I see him again. The man in the burgundy suit. This time he is wearing a black dress shirt and burgundy pants. Still gorgeous.