I hated the answer because we still didn’t have one. My birthday was drawing nearer, and we were no closer to figuring this mess out. I told Adrian not to worry about it for now and to focus on his sister’s recuperation. He seemed sleep deprived and I didn’t want to add more to his plate. He promised me he would try to get some sleep and I rushed back to my suite to get ready for Laphria. Kris, Domenico, and Vlad already had a head start on me, and none of them had a bird’s nest on their heads to tame.

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying on practically every single item of clothing my mom had packed for me. I finally settled on an outfit—a short dress, some extra-thick tights, and a long, heavy coat to keep me warm during the outdoor event. I didn’t know exactly what happened at a sacrificial festival, so I hoped my choice was appropriate.

By the time I had finished making myself look presentable, I needed to head down to the garden to meet Kris, Domenico, and Vlad. The garden was even more crowded than the Hyped lobby had been the other day; it seemed like I was the last Hellenicus to arrive. I caught sight of Kris, Domenico, and Vlad and headed toward them. As we stood waiting for the event to begin, I took in the setup. There was a circular altar sitting in front of the Oak of Dodona. Large logs had been placed carefully on top of the altar and steps had been constructed for a smooth ascent to the pyre. None of this had been here the other day.

Within minutes, the festival was kicked off with a splendid procession honoring Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, the moon, and chastity. Trumpets played as Hellenicus danced in front of the procession, leading golden chariots filled with fruit and flowers toward the altar. Some of the Hellenicus men carried large sacks over their shoulders. A group of maidens rode last upon a cart pulled by deer. Among them was Queen Rhea Christoulakis, although she took a back seat to the event while one of the other maidens officiated as priestess.

Since I had never been to a sacrificial event before, watching the people in the procession make their way up the steps was intriguing. Any excitement I had was quickly stifled when they opened the sacks and started throwing dead birds and other small animals on the altar.

“I think I might be sick.” I covered my mouth with my palm, trying to suppress the urge to vomit.