The night is deep and purple, speckled with stars, at Phaedra’s back, but in the distance, dawn is rising. She lifts her sword and brandishes it at Cheth’s pair of avatars. Pharos sinks into the waves and the woman prods him with her foot to make sure he is properly submerged, joining the horde of waiting costumes.
Phaedra: No! I won! I beat you! Cheline will intervene… she won’t let you cheat!
Cheth: Oh hush. If I had cheated my sister would be here by now… But she’s nowhere to be found. As usual.
Phaedra is crying, tears streaming down her face. Her sword shakes but stays trained on Cheth’s chest.
Phaedra: Then she’ll send Shoshana! Lady Shoshana is coming back someday, and she’ll save us… she’ll save everyone! She’ll ruin you for what you did to the world!
Cheth is nonplussed. In unison, their ghosts raise their eyebrows at the princess, then look to each other in casual conversation.
Cheth: Did you hear that, Cheth? Yes I did, Cheth. The girl thinks Shoshana will come and save her.
They raise a hand to their cheeks and sigh in mocking pity and disappointment.
Cheth: Isn’t that the saddest thing?
The waves roil and laughter rises up from the ocean in great clouds. Cheth’s twins throw their heads back and guffaw while the crowd of ghosts, lined with red and tattoos, join in.
