Chapter 27 ~Nethrys
Nethrys had gone downstairs immediately after he set his things down, uneasy about how... serene everything was. Tourists all around him were walking around with dreamy expressions, barely talking to each other and just going on with their fun and games. He went down to the main lobby, where the plastic-surgeried receptionist was holding a tour. He tagged along, looking around with apprehension, trying to talk to the strangers without making it seem like he was. Blend in. Try to act like a zombie-tourist. His skepticism increased when he saw someone was looked as if he was from the 80's. Bell-bottoms and all. Vaguely, he recalled something about a hotel in Las Vegas like that, but he couldn't remember what happened.
There was also woman in her mid-forties, wearing something that looked like it belonged in the Han dynasty. He tried to ask her why she was dressed like that, but she drifted away, not looking at him. There were more people dressed up like that; a man dressed in a soldier's outfit, a young girl in a pilgrim's attire, and even a guy who faintly resembled Shakespeare.
Why do they all look so historical? Like from a different timeline. His stomach jolted as his mind worked fast, realizing what was going on. Nethrys knew he had to find the others - fast. He broke away from the tour, his eyes searching for his friends. He went up to the rooms, but none of them were there. He went to the observation deck, hopelessly looking for clues.
He was about to leave when he spotted something in the corner of his eye. He leaned over and picked up a black stylus with a tiny, purple crystal on the end- Vytoni!
He broke into a run, frantically looking for Vytoni, and everyone else. Finally, he came to the lounge and found Vytoni sitting next to a boy maybe a little older than him with sandy hair and dressed up in a button up shirt and dark jeans, laughing at something he had just said. Nethrys found himself feeling a surge of jealousy, followed by anger. She's laughing? What's going on? Who in the name of Gods is he?
Trying his best not to punch the dude in the face, he strode up to them, coming to a stop in front of Vytoni.
"Vytoni," He shook her shoulders, and when she didn't responded, he shook her shoulders a little more tightly, and said her name a little louder, "Vyt!" She noticed him finally, and smiled brightly at him - a little too bright.
"What? Come on, Nethrys! Join in on the fun," Vytoni pulled him down onto the seat next to her. Nethrys saw the guy narrow his eyes at him, and sat closer to Vyt, who was not paying attention to him.
"Who's this?" Nethrys grimaced at the green-eyed boy.
"He's the manager's nephew! He offered to show me around! Isn't that nice?"
"Fantastic."
"So who are you?" The boy asked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"None of your business, bellboy," Nethrys replied coldly.
"Don't be mean!" Vytoni frowned at him, and Nethrys rolled his eyes. Ignoring his heart that was trying to escape his ribcage, he grabbed Vyt's hand. Amazingly, she didn't resist. But when he tried to coax her away, she shook her head and tried to tug her hand out of his grip.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"Listen, Vytoni, we have to go! Now!"
"No!"
"I'll get Enyo to give you a truck load weapons, just please can we go now?" He pulled her out of her seat, making the boy next her stand up too.
"Without him," Nethrys warned her, then to the un-welcomed boy, "This is none of your business."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"And why not?"
"Because, she's my, uh," Vytoni will kill me for doing this, "She's my girlfriend."
"I am?" Vytoni looked surprised.
"You are!" He cringed, "Now let's go!" He dragged her across the lounge and back to the lobby. Vytoni had stopped struggling and was looking at him confusedly, as if she was trying to remember how on earth she accepted to be his girlfriend.
Nethrys led her up to his room, "Okay I lied, you're not my girlfriend and we need to escape now."
"I'm not?" Vytoni said, surprised. "But you just said that we are. You really shouldn't lie, you know."
"Trust me, I know- Here," Nethrys tossed Vytoni her stylus. She first looked surprised she caught it, then she stared at it, comprehension slowly dawning her features.
"Oh my Gods," Vytoni muttered, her eyes once filled with laughter now glaring at Nethrys, "I will kill you."
"I know- but, hey, I got you out of there!" He said, a ghost-like smile appearing on her face, "Which reminds me - We're even, right?"
"No."
"No way! Why?" He whined, but didn't push it. I did call her my girlfriend.
"So we find the others and get them out of here," She muttered, pushing hair of her face, "Great."
They walked through the maze of corridors to everyone's rooms, packing everything and lugging it with them. When they got to Vyt's room, they stayed there for a while and planned what to do.
"So I'm guessing Lysandra would be in the library; Adrian is most likely in the restaurant with Trudy and possibly Wolfe, but I doubt he would remember under the spell; Katerina might be in the arcade, and Enryx could be there too, I think. Rosamynd and Elektra are probably at the spa, and Scarlett must be looking for you," Vytoni said the last sentence with such contempt that Nethrys looked at her in surprise.
"What's wrong with Scarlett? She's ...nice." He immediately regretted what he said and added, "Besides, she's under the charm, too."
"Whatever," She muttered, getting up and grabbing her bag, "We better hurry. Nine godlings to find, and the deadline is only about a few weeks away."
Nethrys got up and followed her. When they went back outside, he grabbed her hand again, his face flaming. She scowled at him, then seemed to catch on. She reluctantly restrained herself from breaking his hand, much to Nethrys' relief.
They first headed to the library, where sure enough, Lysandra was engrossed in a huge, dusty and impressive-looking book. They went towards her, but she couldn't seem to hear them.
"Do I look like that when I'm reading?" Vytoni asked Nethrys.
"Yeah," He answered, them quickly added, "Not that I look. I mean, I-"
"Do me a favor and shut up."
"Will do," He agreed. He shut up.
"What would snap her out of this?" He muttered, waving his hand in front of her. She didn't even look up.
"Got it!" Vytoni was hauling a bucket of water, "Can you push those books away?"
"Really? At a time like this?" He asked her incredulously.
"Just do it." He stacked them to one side and clapped a hand around Lysandra's mouth. Vyt dumped the whole bucket of freezing water over Lys' head - also soaking his left hand in the process. Lysandra screamed was muffled by his hand, and Nethrys forgot about the fang. He tried his best not to yell, and Vyt put a hand on his mouth, too. Lysandra shook her head, sending water droplets flying everywhere. He removed his hand, which was now bleeding, and Vytoni hastily removed hers.
"What did you do?" Lysandra stared in horror at the book that was in her hand, now drenched.
Nethrys quickly checked to see if she was still a zombie-tourist, and explained to her about the whole 'this hotel makes you never want to leave and this speeds up time I think so we need to act fast' situation.
Lysandra nodded shakily, and took a third of the baggage, "So where next?"
"Well, We've reached a conclusion that Elektra and Rosamynd are probably at the spa. Don't split up," He added sharply, "And keep your head clear."
When they went back outside, Nethrys realized how different this place was in another perspective. The place reeked of floral-scented perfume and berries. There were dozens of barbiefied women dressed in white with their hair tied into a ponytail walking around carrying bowls of strange looking clay-like liquids.
"Accept it, but don't drink it," Nethrys murmured to them. They nodded and smiled at the ladies who offered them one. Nethrys was still aware that he was holding Vytoni's hand.
"Um...I don't think that's supposed to be drunk," Lysandra reported, peering closely at the liquid clay.
"What is it then?"
"I think it's a mask of some sort."
"A what?"
"A facial mask!"
"Then why would they offer them to us?"
"We're at the spa," Vytoni glanced at the all the people walking around looking like they just had a sophisticated mud fight.
"I'm pretty sure Elektra and or Rosamynd would be here," Lysandra observed.
After barging into a bunch of rooms that consisted many angry customers, they finally reached the foot massage room, where the two girls were sitting on reclining chairs with their hair brushed back and tied back in a towel. Their faces were smothered with green cement-like cream and their eyes were covered with cucumbers, though they were also picking small pieces of cucumber off a plate they shared and eating them, while two ladies massaged their dangling feet. A third lady ushered them out of the room and slammed the door in their faces.
"If we're gonna go in, we have to pretend we need to have a facial," Lysandra mused.
"No freaking way!" Nethrys shook his head, and Vyt looked outraged but slightly confused, like she needed to recheck the defenition og facial.
"Fine," She huffed, "You two wait here." She confidently strode through the door, leaving Nethrys and Vytoni anxiously looking through the window on the door.
"Hi there!" The spa lady smiled serenely at Lysandra, who greeted her with an air kiss on the cheek, trying to look like a brain dead tourist.
"I would like a facial, if you please," Lysandra settled down next to Elektra and Rosamynd, who didn't even glance at her direction.
"No problem, sweetheart," The lady grinned, her teeth sparkling white and her lips were a dark almost purple colour. Nethrys blanched, making a face.
"Just sit down and get relaxed." Lysandra let the attendant smear the green goo on her face, but almost two seconds later, she jumped up from her recliner and started screaming her head off.
"What's happening?" Lys wailed, clawing her face and trying to get the cream off. Nethrys made to go and help her, but Vytoni held him back, putting a warning hand in front of him. He stayed and watched.
"Ugh! Who puts poison ivy in their facial masks?" When Lysandra complained, Elektra and Rosamynd both sat up from their chairs lightning fast, also wiping the masks off their faces. They're back. Lysandra shot them a warning glance, mouthing 'follow my lead'. The other two girls nodded, and threw a fit, storming out to where He and Vytoni were waiting.
"Quite the actress," Nethrys complemented Lysandra, who gave him a mock bow.
"Quick!" Vytoni urged them, "We have to find the others and leave! We'll explain on the way." She grabbed Nethrys' hand again and they headed back out, discussing their next option while Lysandra explained the situation to a very bewildered Elektra and Rosamynd.
"Enryx and Katerina seemed like the fun-and-games type, so we're checking the arcade and casino," Nethrys reasoned. Vytoni nodded and they all headed for the casino, which was next to the arcade, their second place to search.
The casino had only one word for it - overrated. How Enryx and or Katerina got in there, Nethrys had no idea. There were slot machines everywhere, the atmosphere loud with shout of joy and fury. I swear to the Gods, if they were gambling-
"Hey there, kids!" A burly man dressed like a cowboy walked up to them, waving a quarter-filled bucket, "Kid's corner is over there." Nethrys narrowed his eyes, about to retort, but Elektra quickly cut in, saying, "Thank you, sir."
But they ignored the cowboy's instructions and they went to the back corner of the room where sure enough, Enryx and Katerina were sitting at two slot machines, playing what looks to be a fruit game that gives you money when you get three in a row.
"Katerina," Lysandra frowned disapprovingly at her sister, whose eyes were glued to the screen, "Get off the machine. Now."
Nethrys looked bemusedly at her, "You didn't really think it would work, did you?"
Katerina kept pulling down the lever, her eyes widening with excitement every time but frowning when she didn't get the three in a row. Lysandra looked over at Enryx, who was doing exactly the same thing.
"Honestly," Rosamynd tutted, "I really thought they would be better than this." Elektra shrugged and nodded, poking an unresponsive Enryx's cheek.
"How do we get them out of this mess?" Lysandra looked at them helplessly, occasionally waving a hand in their faces.
"Oh my Gods!" They were interrupted by Katerina's squeal of happiness, "I've scored it! Three in a row!" Silver coins started spilling out into the bucket in her hand, filling it to the brim. Enryx didn't look up.
Suddenly, Nethrys had an idea. A brilliant, terrible idea that would have not only have Vytoni -who was still holding his hand. Not that he was keeping track- at his throat, but Katerina, too. Steeling himself, he reaching over to Kat and knocked the bucket over, making the coins burst all over the place, where the zombie-tourists started to scramble everywhere, taking as much money as they can get their hands on.
"What do you think you're doing?" Katerina turned to Nethrys, her anger practically coming off in waves. Looking calmer than he felt, Nethrys reached over and hit the empty bucket on her head as gently as possible. She clutched her head as if someone rung a bell inside her brain, yelling in pain. Elektra immediately rushed to her side, placing a cool cloth on Kat's forehead
Eventually, Katerina stopped shouting in pain and sat on the fancy, carpet floor, and started to curse in Ancient Greek, words spilling out of her mouth before she could stop them, "Why did you freaking do that?"
"It worked, didn't it?" Nethrys held his hands up defensively, shaking his head.
"What are you talking about?" Katerina asked, confused, "And why are you two holding hands?"
The others also turned and stared at them in surprise, as if they noticed it for the first time, "We're undercover as a couple," He muttered.
"I don't think Scarlett would like to see that," Katerina replied cheerfully, earning strange looks from the others, "Where is that blonde haired bimbo anyway?"
Enryx was sat at his slot machine, pulling at the levers, still waiting for the colourful fruits to land three in a row.
"I don't think he'll be as lucky as Katerina," Lysandra noted nervously as Enryx groaned, annoyed, as he lost again.
"Stupid Slot Machines,'' He whined in annoyance.
"How do we snap him out of it?" Rosamynd asked, using a thorn she summoned from her hand and poking it on his cheek. It cut through his skin and was soon bleeding, and he didn't even react.
"Oh my Gods!" Lysandra rushed over to him and frantically dabbed at his cheek with a cloth dipped in nectar. He ignored her, staring straight at the screen.
"What should we do?" Elektra was looking worriedly at her brother, who was looking close to banging his head against the wall.
"I learned this trick from Kyle the day before we left: If you give sea salt to someone to smell, they will be revived from unconsciousness," Rosamynd explained.
"We could try that!" Lysandra agreed with Rosamynd.
"Two problems," Vytoni spoke up, "One. He's not technically unconscious, and two. Where can you find seawater here - much less sea salt?"
"Hold on," Nethrys went to the beach display not far from them and scooped some water out of the pool. After sniffing it, he knew it was seawater. Taking a drink from one of the passing waitresses, he emptied it on the floor and scooped seawater into the glass.
"There!" He smiled innocently at Vytoni, who rolled her eyes and took the cup from his hands.
"Here," She gave the seawater to Lysandra, whose sensitive nose was twitching from the salty tang, "Just get him to drink it."
Lysandra went up in front of Enryx and placed the cup in front of his nose. She brought the saltwater to his lips and tipped it down his throat. Almost immediately, Enryx started choking and sputtering, the sea water dribbling down his chin.
"Enryx?" Lysandra gently rubbed his back as he continued to gasp and retch.
"What? What's going on?" Enryx downed a bottle of water Elektra had thoughtfully snagged from the spa.
"Hey, you alright?" Nethrys asked concernedly.
"Yeah, I guess so," Enryx rubbed his throat. Lysandra told him what happened as Nethrys and Vytoni decided who to look for next.
"Well, Adrian is probably at the restaurant," Vytoni mused, "And Trudy's probably with him. Don't know about William or Scarlett, though."
They checked the restaurant, which was devoid of the lovesick couple. Retracting their steps, Nethrys suddenly remembered the Hotel map. Vytoni is going to flip.
"Yeah, uh..." He cleared his throat nervously, "I think they're at the kissing stalls, I saw them on the way to the restaurant."
Vytoni stared at him in shock and disbelief, "You have got to be kidding me."
As soon as they figured out where the kissing stalls were, they pulled back the velvet curtain to find a whole room of stalls lined up one after the other. The walls were a brink pink colour and the floor was covered with magenta carpeting. Nethrys peered into one of the vacant stall, which looked like bigger version of bathroom stalls with fuchsia coloured velvet loveseats with throw pillows and cushions. They even had a lock on the door from the inside with a hanging door sign that read 'Don't Disturb, We're in love," written in fancy cursive writing with hearts that dotted the I's.
"Wow, uh... this is very pink," Nethrys muttered, gaping at the girly colours. I think I'm getting a headache. Who knew colors could blind me?
"They could be anywhere!" Rosamynd exclaimed.
"I think they would pick some place farther and more private," Katerina said knowingly.
"How much more private could you get?" Enryx gestured to the stalls.
Katerina shrugged and led them to the back corner where there was a slight slurping sound coming from inside one of the booths. The door was locked and the sign was slung onto the door knob.
"Trudy? Adrian?" Elektra knocked on the stall door. But there was no reply but some slurping and puckering sounds coming from inside the tiny room.
"Trudy! Adrian!" Lysandra said louder this time.
"This stall is taken!" Came the short reply from Adrian and the kissing noises resumed. Enryx rolled his eyes and pretended to gag and choke just as he did when they were trying to snap him back to reality.
"Adrian, Trudy we need to get out of here, pronto!" Katerina called out, pounding at the stall door.
"Go away!" This time the reply came from Trudy, and because of her charm-speak, Katerina looked obliged to spin around and stride away. Lysandra grabbed her by the arm before she could, and yanked her back to them.
"Guys! Come on," Enryx yelled through the door.
"We need to go!" Rosamynd pouted, shaking the door handle. "How do we snap them out of it? Break down the door?"
There were squirming and groaning sounds and from the stall next to the one Trudy and Adrian were sucking at each others mouths in, the door was unlocked but the sign was there. Nethrys opened the door cautiously and burst out laughing.
Wolfe was tied up, his blindfold used as a gag around his mouth. He was leaning against the stall wall, sitting down with his hands tied behind his back and looking very irritated. Enryx stepped forward and ripped the mouth gag off Wolfe and threw it to one side.
"Thanks, dude," Wolfe opened and closed his mouth, looking like a goldfish.
Nethrys was still laughing, "Holy Hephaestus! What did you do to deserve that?"
"It's not funny!" Wolfe glared at him, then saw him and Vytoni's intertwined hands, "Woah, hey. Congrats, dude."
Nethrys made a face and Vyt rolled her eyes, saying, "We're undercover as a couple because he's a stupid idiot."
Nethrys opened his mouth to protest but Katerina interrupted.
"How did you get like that?" Kat cut in, her face filled with some concern.
"Adrian shoved me into the stall after gagging me with the blindfold, why? You were worried about me?"
"Not the slightest bit," She reassured him.
"Anyways, we need a way to snap them out of this charm - hold on, why aren't you under the spell?" Elektra asked him suspiciously.
"I think hearing hours of kissing would do the trick, wouldn't you?"
"Good point," Lysandra said sympathetically.
"How do we get those two love birds out of the love hell hole?" Nethrys asked.
"Bribe them? Lure them?" Katerina suggested.
"I'm all for dragging them out," Vytoni shrugged, "Much less work."
"But we can't get through the door," Rosamynd reminded them.
"I think the luring thing is a good idea, Katerina," Wolfe gave her a playful wink, which Katerina ignored.
"Great," Nethrys said, "How?"
"We'll lure them with something one of them loves!" Elektra burst out laughing.
"Food!" Lysandra instantly yelled, "Then there's art which is not such a good idea, since Trudy isn't really as into art as Adrian is into food."
"Good, we'll lure them with food!" Enryx stood up and paced outside the door where Trudy and Adrian were doing Gods-know-what.
"I'll quickly go grab something from the buffet next door!" Katerina said as she sprinted out of the kissing stalls room and bolted towards the restaurant.
"We still need to get them out," Vytoni pondered thoughtfully, "So what do they absolutely hate?"
"Well, we can also get them out by telling them Vytoni and Nethrys are a couple," Wolfe suggested. Nethrys and Vytoni stiffened, turning to glare at him with such venom that he seemed to shrink back towards the stall wall.
"Just a thought," He said weakly.
"Actually, that is a good idea," Elektra said slowly and cautiously.
"Really? I was joking!" Wolfe said proudly.
"No!" Nethrys stared, horrified at them, "We're not comfortable with it!"
"Since when did you make my decisions?" Vytoni frowned at him, then added, "But yeah, he's right."
Katerina came back with a burger layered with tomatoes, fresh lettuce, cold cheese and a chunky beef smacked into the middle, along with an abundance of fries.
"Then how are we gonna get them out of there?"
"Break down the door maybe?" Rosamynd repeated, attempting to kick down the door.
"Hold on just follow my lead," Wolfe said, stepping up to the door. "I have amazing news for you two that are making out in there, so uh, I'm proud to announce that Vytoni," He paused and turned around, "What's your last name?"
"Skia, Vytoni Skia and Nethrys Blackthorn," Vytoni replied quickly, her eyes hardening with increasingly angry.
"Vytoni Skia and Nethrys Blackthorn are officially a happy couple." Wolfe smiled to himself and bowed to nobody.
A gasp came from inside the stall and a fumble for the lock sounded. Trudy flung open the door and ran towards Vytoni and hugged her tight. Adrian followed, frowning. "Babe, can we go back inside please and continue what we were doing before?"
"No, don't you see, they're a couple!" Trudy squealed excitedly, standing in front of Vytoni and Nethrys who were faking smiles. Well - Vytoni's was more of a grimace.
"I knew it!" Trudy continued happily, "You two make a great couple! And now we can do all that double date couple stuff! Like we can have those weird water fights where the girls stand on the guy's shoulders and..."
Nethrys snuck a glance at Vytoni, who was trying her best not to throw up. He tightened his grip. Katerina ran up to Adrian and shoved the burger into his gaping mouth. His eyes widened and his hand shot up to the burger as he continued to chew.
"Good boy," Katerina grinned cheekily and patted his head, which was hard considering he was pretty tall. Adrian smiled, his mouth full of vegetables. Then he blanched and spat the vegetables out, his face clearing. Katerina quietly began to explain what had happened.
"What's all this?" A pretty lady, whose face was caked with makeup went up to them, a huge smile plastered on her face.
"They're a couple now!" Trudy smiled joyfully, pointing at Nethrys and Vytoni.
"That's great!"
"Congratulations!"
Couples were appearing from their respective stalls, congratulating them.
"Give us a kiss!"
"Yeah!" Trudy agreed, while Adrian tried to make shushing motions.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The crowd chanted. Nethrys felt Vytoni's hand start to slacken, but he just held on tighter.
"For Gods' sake," He muttered, and started to pulled her away from the stalls and back to entrance, "Let's get out of here."
"Okay, we lied, we're not together," Vytoni told Trudy, who gasped as tears started to well up in her eyes. Then, her face seemed to crumple and she blinked, looking around.
"What happened?" She asked Lysandra, who explained everything to her. Trudy stayed quiet for some time, then spoke again, "Okay, who are we missing?"
"We still need to find Scarlett!" Rosamynd reported.
"Do we have to find her?" Vytoni asked Nethrys, as Katerina nodded in agreement. Nethrys couldn't tell if they were joking.
Suddenly music started to blast out of the the boombox in the corner of the room, the music was the voice of a girl, singing a song by Whitney Houston (AN/ R.I.P).
"Do you recognize that voice?" Elektra held her hand up, listening carefully.
"Oh, my gods," Lysandra exclaimed, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "It's Scarlett!"
"Scarlett sings?" Enryx raised an eyebrow, "Well, someone learns a new fact everyday." He added, shrugging.
"Who's this Scarlett chick?" Wolfe asked.
"She's a this human who can see through the mist," Rosamynd replied matter-of-factly.
"If that's her - we better go get her," Lysandra decided. They all sprinted towards the hotel auditorium where there was a crowd of boys at the foot of the stage eyeballing the girl on it. A blonde girl with colored streaks through her hair.
Scarlett was up on the stage, microphone up to her mouth, one hand on her hip. She seemed to have gotten more highlights, blue ones this time, while the remaining of purple ones were slightly faded.
"And I-I will always love you," Scarlett sang. "Oh woah!" She caught sight of Nethrys who was standing at the back of the auditorium and gave him a small flirty wave.
"Wow, she's good!" Nethrys commented. Vytoni rolled her eyes and ran towards the backstage area, with Nethrys following in her pursuit. She was standing on the stage speakers - how she got up there, he never knew. She cut off the main wire, and the music abruptly stopped. Scarlett stopped singing, but she didn't look... back to normal. The boys eyelids dropped down, their eyes no longer wide in awe. The crowd dispersed, muttering amongst themselves.
"Nethrys!" Scarlett pulled him up the stage, "Isn't this fun?"
"Scarlett," He said sternly, "We are going now." He shook free of her grasp and walked off the stage, with Scarlett following him, whining about how fun this is.
He joined everyone else and they walked out of the entrance. He almost reached for Vytoni's hand, something that had become routine, but she moved away and he let his hand fall to his side, feeling strangely empty. Lysandra had picked up the nearest newspaper that was left behind from someone in the audience on their way out and was staring at them in shock. Nethrys recalled with dead of what happens in the in Lotus eater's lair, "It's December 10th. We only have eleven days to complete the quest."
Luckily, they found a motel a couple blocks away which they quickly settled into. The area seemed pretty nice except that they had a constant reminder of what had happened in the Star Lotus Hotel.
Once they were in their separate rooms, Nethrys immediately went for the bathroom, feeling dizzy after all the excitement. Closing his eyes, he tried to shake the lingering feeling of Vytoni's hand in his. An impossible feat. Vaguely, he remembered what her mother, Hecate had said after Lamia's attack, "Thank you for protecting Vytoni today. You make a good partner for her. He had almost choked, explaining the whole she-hates-me-and-she-a-huntress-so-she-doesn't -fall-in-love but he doubted the Goddess of magic had been convinced.
You two are a great couple! Trudy had said. True, she was under the influence of the spell, but did that make it a lie...? The whole section of that hotel was urging him to kiss her. He had to admit, it was nice, pretending to be Vytoni's boyfriend.
Argh. Nethrys felt like slapping himself.
He looked at his reflection, focusing on his eyes, which were murky brown, like a log. Confusion. Shaking himself, Nethrys forced himself to calm down, trying to get his eyes to go back to their normal gray. In the end, he only got close enough to a dirty, dishwater gray.
Walking out of the bathroom, he went back to his bed, staring at nothing for a very, very long time.
~END OF CHAPTER 27~