And just as Jennie’s halmeoni gwisin did, Sookhee’s soul animal disappears in a burst of warm light. Emmett wipes his eyes. And for the first time since I met him, he looks completely at peace. His perpetual pout has been erased, and it’s as if the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders. “Good-bye, Mom,” he whispers.

Eomma, Appa, and I run to Hattie once more, to cradle her lifeless body in our arms. And, with an aching heart, I face the truth. Hattie—the real Hattie—is gone.

“Hattie,” I breathe into her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I failed you.” The words seem meaningless as I gaze at her still face. A deep pain erupts in my chest, and I clutch at it. My rib cage feels empty. There’s a Hattie-shaped hole inside, and I’m never going to be able to fill it.

The goddess returns from her sightseeing trip to the Gi sanctuary and puts her hands on her (slimmer?) hips. “All right, subjects, that’s enough with the sob stories. I believe I’ve been more than generous with my patience, not to mention allowing that poor excuse for a soul to spout off such nonsense.” She turns to me with sparkling eyes. “Time to talk shop. Be a good dearie and hand over the Godrealm’s last fallen star, won’t you?”

Bubbles of frustration rise to the surface of my skin. How can she be so nonchalant when she’s brought pain to so many lives? How can she claim to be the patron goddess of service and sacrifice when all she does is create more suffering? She’s nothing but a con artist!

“This is all your fault!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “You didn’t even bring my sister back. Why should I give you the last fallen star?”

Her eyebrows arch as she digests my outburst. Then she purses her lips. “I wouldn’t push my luck, dearie. You may have been a model employee so far, but my tolerance is not a bottomless cup.”

As I look down at my poor parents, my grief explodes into a ball of fury. The goddess was supposed to be benevolent and good—an example of what mortals should aspire to become. But instead, she is the definition of selfish. She acted with complete disregard for mortal life just so she could erase her crime.

I dig my feet into the ground and stare into the goddess’s eyes. “Will you ever stop?!” I cry, my hands clenching into fists. “Will access to the three realms be enough? When will you stop treating us mortals like we’re disposable? Can’t you see our lives are worth something?”