The altar was set on fire and I had to look away as the animals burned. The smell wafting through the crowd was revolting. Right when I was sure I was going to be sick, a trumpeter sounded the signal for the next part of the ceremony: the feast. I wondered how anyone could even think about eating after witnessing that, but I was glad to have an excuse to get away from the sacrificial area.

Behind the oak tree a massive tent with long tables piled high with food and drinks had been set up. The tablecloths were Artemis’s favorite design: white with a thick band of red lining the edge of the cloth. The fabric was stitched together with silver thread. There were moons in every phase drawn on the white surface of the cloth. Bows and arrows had been strung up along the sides of the tent. A statue of Artemis with her hunting dog was placed in the center with floral arrangements at her feet.

Everything from Western foods to Mexican cuisine was on display. I even saw sushi on one of the tables. The Hellenicus came from all over the world for the Gathering, and this feast seemed to honor the diversity among us. Everything looked delicious, but the burning smell still sat inside my nostrils.

We took our seats at the tables, happy to be out of the frigid evening air. Despite the extravagant feast we had had last night, everyone seemed to be in the mood to indulge in food. Everyone except me. After the sacrifice, I found that even taking a sip of water was too hard. I stuck it out for another hour, listening to the conversation between Kris, Domenico, and Vlad, but not participating. Finally, I decided it would be best for me to head back to my suite and crawl into bed.

It wasn’t until around two in the afternoon the next day that I woke up to my stomach growling in protest. I had had terrible nightmares about the sacrifice and didn’t feel rested despite how late I had slept in. I forced myself to sit up in bed and, leaning back against the pillow, scrolled through my messages and chats. My finger paused on the group chat that Adrian had created with Kris, Vlad, and me. He’d sent an invitation to a party that Renata was throwing tomorrow night at a place called Isles of the Blessed. According to Adrian, Renata was bored with official Gathering events. I couldn’t blame her. After what I’d witnessed last night, I was also desperate for something more normal—preferably with no dead animals involved.