Lily slowly came to a stop as she saw a shadow descending in front of them, then a stumbling Finntello appeared in front of her. Santa Fe. That checked out, but why a golf course? Maybe Veles had just spit them out at random, not caring how close they were to where they were sent in from. She gave a few small nods as she listened to him, turning her head to look across the field, now that she looked a little closer. There were darker areas of heavier turf in the distance and small pockets of sand scattered here and there.
“I don’t need to get anything, other than maybe a shower and some new clothes.” Lily glanced down at herself, in the late afternoon sun the dirt streaks and wrinkles were more prominent. Thankfully only the smallest dot of blood had seeped onto her tank top from her jumper which had been left abandoned in a hotel room. As Lily looked back towards Finn, she made a small sound and lifted two fingers to her lips momentarily.

“Ah.” She started, creasing her eyebrows together. “I don’t think six foot something winged men are all that common in Santa Fe.” Lily slowly pointed out, tilting her head to one side. “Even old timey, pink-eyed cultists are probably more common.” She gestured dismissively over her shoulder to where Callisto was standing with slumped shoulders behind her.

She kept her head tilted to one side as she tried to think of something. Cosplay? Of what, she had no idea. Renaissance faire? Okay, this was going to be a little harder than she initially thought. Well, unless they waited for night where Finn could flit around in the sky with a little more coverage whilst Callisto and her walked.

“I don’t know how to explain these.” A small exasperated laugh came from her, a hand lifting to brush along the edges of one of his wings curiously. “Although..that did look fun.” Lily peeked up at Finn, doing her damn best to ignore the revelations that Callisto had brought upon her. She wanted to be happy to be home. A small smile slipped onto her lips as she gestured skywards to where her companion had been circling a minute or so before.

Callisto lingered a little further back, looking not at them but out across this golf course? Whatever that was. His eyes squinted in the bright light and he felt the life running through him like fire, it was exciting. But it was cast over by the dark shadow that was the lack of Xevon. Only when Lily piped up again did he return his focus to them.

“Surely there would be security?” With that she turned to scan across the area, after moment she locked eyes on a small golf buggy that was trundling along in the distance. Lily took another second to decide if it was heading towards them and she tensed up her shoulders as she realised that it was indeed heading for them. Good lord, why couldn’t Finn hide those wings.

She turned back towards him and looked him up and down, the wings and the mangled clothing splattered with blood was certainly not normal. No way a normal person wouldn’t call the cops.

“We just need to get out of the open.” She rushed out, looking back towards Callisto. “Keep up, turn into a cat or whatever if you need to.” With that, Lily surged forwards and grabbed Finn’s forearm to drag him along with her. Once he fell into the quick pace she had set, she let go of him. Even if they could just linger under some trees in the rough, it would be better than out here. That was exactly where she was headed, towards a cluster of rough with what appeared to be enough large trees to hide in. Given Finntello’s wings and her own claws, surely they could stow themselves away up there. Callisto too.

“We can make a plan, but I think we should hide in those.” Lily lifted her hand the gesture up to the large trees. “At least we won’t be seen.” She huffed out, taking the tiniest look over her shoulder to make sure Callisto was following.

He was, a little slower than the other two, but he was trailing after them. Gazing around as if he were in a daze.

“Any of them, I suppose.” She huffed out, only glancing towards Finn as she caught his voice again. That was a good question. She had to think on it for a moment before deciding on her reply, now boarding the shade of the trees. “I think we would have to sound a lot more..” Lily shuffled herself under the shade of the trees and peered up, trying to figure out which branch would be strong enough to support her body weight. Callisto could be a whole lot smaller than herself, he could figure it out himself. “Well, devoted to Veles in order for them to buy it.” She looked back down to Finn.

“Me especially. Convince them that I do in fact want to marry that creature.” Lily grimaced at the thought before she shook her head to brush away the gross feeling that had begun to climb over her skin.

Callisto hadn’t really waited for them, she realised, as she saw the small lithe white shape pouncing its way up one of the tree trunks. Slipping along a branch and setting in a fork and crouching to peer down at them in wait. She gave a short huff and looked towards the tree opposite. There was a decently sized lower branch, the thickest of them actually. If that one didn’t carry her weight initially, then she was screwed. Then again, maybe she could climb up there without changing shape, which would be preferable.

Lily walked up to the base of the tree and strained to reach up towards the lower knobs of wood, digging her nails into the bark. At least she was a little stronger, so that she could not haul her body weight from the ground. Planting her feet onto the trunk and scrambling her way awkwardly up to the lowest branch. A short grunt came from her as Lily lifted herself up onto it, taking a good minute to sort herself out into a comfortable position. Half leaning on the trunk where the branch first diverged from the main tree. Well, at least she didn’t have to break her bones to get up there.

“I wish I had wings right now.” She mused, peering over towards Finntello with a shaky smile. Trying to make normal conversation felt right, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t overwhelmed.

Callisto kept to himself, he knew if he said too much, reminded them of his presence then the woman would probably whirl around and hiss at him again. He was never really popular with the women, even back when he was alive the first time. It was Veles that had seduced his children’s mother, not him. Callisto was merely a spectator.

Lily waited until Finn had managed to find himself a spot as well before she tucked her legs up so they couldn’t be seen dangling beneath her. Finding that it was an awful lot easier to maintain her balance than she used to, this gift kept giving more and more perks she realised.

“I think waiting for dark might be better, even if we don’t really have a plan. At least you can rest and then maybe you’ll be harder to spot?” She tried, but even she wasn’t sure. Lily leaned her head to rest against the hardwood and stared down at the grass below, in the near distance she heard the golf buggy trundle on by and let out a small sigh of relief. Good god she felt tired. In the hotel she didn’t exactly feel tired or hungry, even thirsty but now she was out it was beginning to rear its head again. “I might rest as well.” She mumbled quietly, feeling quite secure in her tucked up position.

–

Hours had passed by, Veles had left Xevon to himself for a good while now. Occupying himself with surveying the damage that the last day or so had caused to his hotel. Not too much, minor really in comparison to some other sacrifices. These ones were a little smarter about their escape, calculated. Which Veles did not account solely to them, now Callisto had helped them and Xevon clearly had too, until he had apparently grown tired of it.

He made his way back down the hallway to his cavernous room, the dull click of his shoes on the floorboards arriving before he did. Once he stepped into the space, he took a look around the room, spotting Xevon and locking eyes for a brief moment. Then he turned away and began to walk towards a door on the other side of the room.

He vanished into it and remained there for at least an hour before the creak of the door announced his return. Veles had always enjoyed playing human, the sensation of warm water on his skin from the shower a lovely feeling. They were such sensitive creatures. His hair was wet and beads of water still rolled down his torso until they met the towel around his waist and seeped into it. The full detail of his ram’s skull tattoo on display, skin steaming from the warmth.

Veles didn’t say a word as he walked towards the large bed pushed to one side of the room, staring down at it before he perched on the edge of it and rested his elbows on his knees. Feeling a gaze on him, Veles looked up and caught the other man and smirked.

Veles kept his gaze steady as he watched Xevon’s hand flick up to touch the chain at his neck, the act pulling his smirk into more of a smug smile. He cocked his head to one side.

“I will admit, it is a pity that this-” He paused to lift a hand from his leg and gesture towards Xevon’s form. “Is an illusion. Shouldn’t have put up such a fight.” Veles tutted slowly, he took another moment to stare across the room before his hand lifted and he clicked his fingers.

The towel now gone, replaced with his previous all black suited attire, he rose to his feet and flexed his shoulders. “Ah, but without your temper, you would be you.” He mused, letting his eyes fall back upon Xevon before walking up to him.

Veles peered down at him for a long time before a sigh pushed out from his lips. “You aren’t going to simply sit here for centuries are you? Otherwise, that will be terribly boring.” For the time being, he kept his hands to himself.

–

Lily didn’t exactly fall asleep, more so drifting in and out of consciousness. Too concerned with making sure both Finn and Callisto were still nearby, sliding her eyes open to check on them every so often. Callisto was sitting on his perch with his pink eyes wide as he stared out between the branches, bewildered.

She supposed he hadn’t seen much of the current world, only what people had brought into the realm with them and the mentions of technology. He seemed to have an understanding of the tech, but to actually see them would probably be a whole different story.

The grass had been tinged orange in the dying light, only when she noted that the very tip of the sun was vanishing beneath the horizon did Lily lift her head away from the main trunk. Twisting her head to look over at Finn, taking a moment to figure out if he was asleep or not. It didn’t take long to see his eyes scanning around. She stole a look to his wings and furrowed her eyebrows, they were going to be a major problem. Then it occurred to her, how was he supposed to live a normal life now? A small worm of worry wriggled into the brain. The only thing she could think of was a circus, but that was sort of demeaning. Then again, he did like theatrics.

“Hey.” Lily called softly, beginning to adjust her position on the branch, her legs dangling back down. A small tingle of pins and needles running along her muscles, they didn’t last too long.

Callisto lifted his head and turned his weird pink eyes towards the two of them, waiting with his claws unsheathing and digging into the bark.

“Any bright ideas come to you?” She had to admit, she didn’t have any. Everything she thought of in between her brief napping were immediately derailed by some problem or complication. She had no clue. Other than bringing Callisto to the cult and presenting him as some sort of blessed offering to the god, but that would require Callisto to portray his domineering facade which she wasn’t so sure he would be capable of. That and Lily would prefer to never hear his voice again.

Veles remained standing in front of the lounge as Xevon pulled himself upright, he took a moment to glance at the wings behind his back as they adjusted themselves. Curious things, he had many relics that had been stolen over the years by plucky sacrificial lambs. However, this locket of his and Callisto’s letter opener were the only two he had yet to reclaim.

His lips drew back into a sharp smile at the tone of the other’s voice. “A relic that would give you back a body?” He stated the obvious before tilting his head back, stretching his neck with a small grunt before looking back down at Xevon. “I have many, but why should I give one to you? That and they aren’t permanent.” He flicked his wrist to point at the chain on his neck. “Just like any of them, the second they’re off your body, they’re useless.” He hummed, however Veles knew that one around his neck was a little more special despite its dull appearance compared to the others in his mirror.

“I barely let you strike that deal with me to stay here and not claw your face off.” Now, he had leaned down so that his face was level with Xevon’s and extremely close. His voice lowered with a rumbling of a growl beneath it. “Don’t push it, darling.” He stayed where he was, unblinking.

–

Lily’s lips flattened into a thin line, well it looked like they were going in guns blazing and hoping for the best. That wasn’t exactly a good plan. A soft sigh drifted from her, looking down at the floor.

“Well, I suppose we should find this dagger of yours. At least we have it, then I guess we go from there and try and get stupid over there to convince them to send us back.” She chuffed, throwing a hand to point at Callisto. Then she paused and looked over at him with narrowed eyes.

“We can get back there with our memories, right?” She questioned, feeling that anger heat up in her again as she looked at him.

Callisto’s ears perked up as he noticed she was talking to him and he sat up from his crouched position. Well, yes there was but whether or not the cult had the tools anymore he had no idea.

“There is, it is how I got there.” His voice felt strange in his throat. “That is why Veles had my memories, he stole them from me directly once he realised I still had them.” He stole a look towards Finn before dropping his gaze down to avoid looking at them both.

“It is the same as how you two were sent there, but you strike yourself with the dagger. They pull the memories out, per say. So if you are the one doing the pulling, then you retain them. Veles never really explained it properly to me.” Callisto finished, to which Lily knitted her eyebrows together.

Stabbing herself wasn't going to be fun, but it was better than losing her memories. As dark as that sounded.