A/N: The "v2" is because I've written another version of this. It makes no sense, and I had a lot of better ideas, so I decided to rewrite it. This is the result. It's not that much better, but eh.

Deci's POV

Even with preparation, I was not ready to meet Zeus.

The air around him crackled with energy, and the smell of ozone permeated the clearing. It reminded me of my own chained magic— untamed, uncontrollable, and definitively divine.

I wondered if he recognized the parallel.

The wild card standing next to me didn't help with my nerves. Angelica grinned up at Zeus, showing off her fangs. She'd chosen a different disguise than usual tonight: a young woman with just enough wrong with her to be eerie. The phrase "uncanny valley" came to mind. She normally kept her magic under wraps, but now she was deliberately showing it off.

I wasn't the one she was trying to intimidate, but I felt intimidated anyways.

Everyone was silent for a while. I didn't know where to start, Zeus was waiting for me to explain myself, and Angie was just enjoying both of our discomfort.

I guess she got bored, though, because finally, she chirped, "I'm Angelica, but you can call me Angie. I've heard a lot about you!" Her voice was still that of a 7-year-old, which was... unsettling.

Zeus's eyes shifted to her. "Have you?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly not sure if he should be flattered or offended.

She nodded. "Mhm. They say you're very powerful."

There was a malicious undertone that I wasn't sure Zeus caught. He just nodded. "You are correct," he told her, then looked over at me. "Is there a point to this, boy, or are you just introducing me to your... friend?" He said the word with distaste, like it was an overcooked meal.

"Oh, no, Deci actually shouldn't be here for this next part," Angie replied for me.

This was what we had agreed on. It was a win-win— Angie had less distractions, and I didn't have to watch her mess with Zeus's head. The way she worded it still startled me for a moment. "Wh- Oh. Yeah, she's right."

"Then..." I assume Zeus was going to ask why I was there in the first place, but he shifted gears. "Move along."

I backed away, trying not to look too relieved. I hated Zeus, and I didn't want to be near Angie for any longer than I had to.

Angelica's POV

I grinned up at the god in front of me. Zeus had no clue who he was dealing with.

All the better for me. "I think I forgot to tell you the rest of my titles," I said sweetly. "You Olympians like those, yes?"

His eyes sparked with anger, which I quickly forced down. "...I suppose. Say your piece."

"I don't have that many," I giggled. "Just two. My enemies call me the Mimic, and my allies call me Godeater."

Zeus flinched— barely, but that was enough weakness for me to exploit. "I see. What is so special about you? There's more to you than meets the eye."

Hmm. I could throw him off the trail or guide him to the right conclusion. I decided the second one would be easier to build off of. "Well, I just told you!" My grin widened, becoming almost unnatural. "Godeater. Mimic. Doesn't it ring a bell?"

It shouldn't have, given that I was from a completely different world, but it was enough to make him paranoid. He stiffened. "Deci brought you here. To fight his battles, is that it?"

Again, I pushed away his anger. "No. He may have opened the path, but I came here for my own reasons."

I made a show of glancing up at the moon, then back down at him. "I'd love to talk for longer, but I've got better things to do. I'll just wrap this up now." Before he could speak, I continued, "There's a reason they call me Godeater, Zeus. Higher beings than you are scared of me. Do you know why?"

Hesitantly, he shook his head. (I may have helped him come to that conclusion, but really, who's keeping track?)

"Of course not," I said, giggling. "And why would I tell you?"

With that, I stepped into a puddle and disappeared. I didn't really care about Zeus's reaction or what he did after that.

All I cared about was getting what I had been promised. Fortunately, Deci knew better than to break a deal with me.