Skyler's POV:
"There you are!"
In front of me stands Karen. The red haired woman who shares with Hera.
"You were looking for me?" I ask confused.
"Well yeah, you missed both lunch and dinner." She exclaims.
Wait a minute..
"Athena how long were we gone?" I ask.
"Hard to tell, there isn't really such a thing as time in between worlds." She replies.
Karen gives us a surprised look.
"You went in between worlds with her?"
I see Karen's eyes light up as she says it.
Neither Athena or I say anything.
"What's so important that you needed to speak with her face to face?" Karen continued.
"Nothing of any matter to you." Athena replies.
Karen huffs and let's it go for now. I think Hera knows Athena well enough to know that she'll only keep avoiding her questions.
"Anyway, we saved you a plate, but I wanted to make sure everything was okay." Karen says in her own voice.
I nod at her.
"Thank you Karen. I appreciate that." I thank her.
She smiles at me.
"Actually, do you mind going to the dining hall with me and accompany me while I eat?" I ask.
"With her?!" Both Athena and Hera exclaim at the same time.
"Yes, I would like to get to know Karen and Hera if you don't mind." I tell Athena, crossing my arms.
I know fully well she can see me.
She mumbles something about evil stepmothers but reluctantly agrees.
"Fine. But if you regret it, this is on you." Athena replies.
"Rude." The mixed voice of Hera and Karen says.
I sigh.
"Ignore her for a moment please. I'd love to get to know you." I say.
"Gladly." Hera answers.
"Hera, shut it." Karen snaps.
Athena's chuckle leaves my mouth. I give a stern look at the air in front of me.
"Cut it out you two. We're trying to be nice here." I grumble.
Finally both goddesses seem to settle down and both me and Karen walk to the dining hall.
When we arrive I take a seat as Karen leaves to get me my plate.
She sits down in front of me. I take a look at the plate. Some vegetables with a steak and some potatoes.
"Thank you." I say.
I attack the plate as Karen smiles. I hadn't noticed how hungry I was until now.
"So, Skyler right?"
I nod as I chew down a piece of steak.
"Why don't you tell me something about yourself?" Karen asks.
"What do you want to know?" I respond.
"How old are you?"
"I'm 22 years old."
"Job?"
I nod as I swallow another bite.
"Architect."
"I bet Athena likes that." Hera points out.
I stay quiet. Wanting Athena to respond.
"Yes, I do." Athena says.
I can't help but smile. Does she really like it?
'For your information Mss. Sawyer, I really do.' Athena's voice sounds in my head.
Right. She hears me. I get a little flustered and put another bite of food in my mouth.
"How long have you been sharing a body with Athena?" Hera asks.
"A month and a little over two weeks." Athena replies.
She makes me eye Karen. As if to say 'Why do you care?'.
"Where did you live?" Karen continues.
Did?
"I live in San Francisco.. But not in the inner city. In like a small town on the edge. " I say.
"Must've been pretty." Karen said.
"It is." I reply, a little creeped out.
I would see it again.. Right?
"You?"
"What me?"
"All the questions you asked. What are your answers?" I ask.
"Well, I'm 48. I used to work in a boutique that sold wedding dresses. And I used to live in a small town in Virginia." Karen replies.
"And for Athena's information, I've been sharing a body with Hera for a decade, five years and 5 months." She continued.
I can feel Athena is quite pleased with this information. I think it's comforting for her to know the information she shared about herself from another person as well. If you get what I'm saying.
"Wow, Virginia. That's all the way on the other side of the country." I say.
Karen nods.
"Yeah, but with Hera and all the stuff going on between the gods I started living here. It's just a lot easier when all the gods are together. Our needs as humans come second to our needs as hosts."
What she said took me by surprise. She was right. I practically threw everything I had away for Athena, without second guessing her authority.
"Let me guess. You let go of everything you love, for Athena? Without even thinking about what comes next. Because somehow it just feels right?"
Karen gives me a look of understanding.
"I did the same for Hera. Everyone here gave up what they had for their gods and in return they gave us a family. People like us. People that understand us. And I think that is the most wonderful gift anyone can get. Trust me.. It could've been way worse." She says.
I just nod, not really sure what Karen is getting at.
"Thank you for joining me. It was nice getting to know you Karen." I say.
"You're welcome. I hope you find your way around Skyler. And if you don't all of us, god and mortal alike, will be here to guide you."
She smiles and gets up. Without another word she leaves the dining hall.
For a moment I sit in silence and finish my plate. When I'm done I walk around a bit until I found a place to put it.
Now to find the way back to my room. As I'm searching I decide some small talk with Athena isn't a bad idea.
"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" I ask.
"I suppose it was alright." Athena replied.
I chuckle at that.
"What?" Athena asks.
"Nothing."
"Right and I'm Julius Caesar." Is the sarcastic response I get.
"You shouldn't judge people so fast Athena. You think you know people. You're always calculating the next move, I can feel it. Even at this very moment. But sometimes you have to look past that and just get to know someone. I think you of all should know that people and gods are rarely what they seem to be."
"I think my wisdom is rubbing off on you Skyler." Athena joked.
"But I suppose you're right. Maybe I should've been a bit nicer to Hera.. Even though she has done nothing but snap at me and breath down my neck in the past."
"Then maybe you should be the first one to try and make things a little better."
"Maybe." Athena says.
I get find my room and check the time.
8:23pm
It was too early to go to bed already. I take out my sketchbook, knowing it will relax me.
I take a seat at the desk and start sketching until my eyes get tired.