Iona’s breath caught.

Leviticus didn’t know it, but the words he said casually completely destroyed the system Iona used to value herself.  

She gave no sign that the towers she’d built inside herself were falling.  She was a professional woman so when her pride came tumbling down, there was no sign on her face.  Her pride had many towers.  Her beauty?  Others were beautiful too.  She was calm?  Maybe that was because she was numb inside.  Her power over men?  What power did she have?  If they couldn’t have her, they just bought someone else?  Dante bought three girls to have at his beck and call.  Sherman had more.  How could any of their models feel special if they were being used like they were objects?  Anyone would do.

And she was one of them.

Leviticus and Gage could see it easier because there was less about them that was unique.  

Iona slid downwards and placed her bottom on the yellow sand of Io.  The air was chilly and the sky was dark as they were so far away from the sun, but the ground was warm.  Io had a beating heart and lava blood that pumped for Jupiter.  Much of the moon’s heat and light was due to Jupiter’s awesome power in the sky.  He had dominion over little Io and no matter how much she loved him, she could never get any closer to him.

Did anyone get what they wanted?

Iona put her face in the sand.  It stank.