13. Standing at the Edge of the World #3
Phillip sighed in utter relief when I ceased my attacks.
“He kept asking about the rulers of Gehenna, about their lives and ambitions. Who was weaker, more fragile, hungrier for things you wouldn’t give them.
He wanted me to inform him of when we hired new rulers, and when I told him, he was so fixed on Isadora that it was...
concerning. I don’t understand what he wants with this information, but he has been begging me to get him in contact with her for weeks. ”
“I see.” I set the knife down and sat on the edge of the sofa. “What about the Original Gods? Surely he didn’t ask just about their whereabouts?”
“If you’d let me up, I’ll tell you, so long as you keep that fucking knife put away,” he snarled at the end with a gesture to the knife.
I was hesitant to allow this, but snapped my fingers, making the chains dissipate.
Phillip pulled himself upright and laid a hand on his aching, burned skin, flinching.
I rolled my eyes and crossed the room so I could heal his wounds, much to his relief.
“Don’t leave out any details. I still have more liquid. ”
“Yeah, yeah…” he grumbled, exhaling through his nose.
“He must have asked me about Pandora a thousand times. He absolutely wanted, no, needed to know where she was being kept, but I didn’t know, nor did I trust telling him.
He was being…odd. No contact, no attempts to be civil for centuries, and suddenly he wants me to spill all this information to him?
It was too fishy. I cut him off, telling him that he had to find Pandora on his own.
He figured out quickly that Nicodemus knew something about her and left without another thought. ”
“I feared you’d say that…” I sighed as I sat back down. “Has he ever had a fascination with them before?”
“Not that I know of. I don’t understand it myself.”
I rolled my lips loudly and set my chin into my palm.
“I’m trying to connect some pieces here.
He also has a sick fascination with my ability to become one of the Four Horsemen, and he’s trying to find all of the Original Gods.
What ties the two together, I’m not sure of.
What promise could Pandora have made him? ”
“You should continue to sniff him out. You got him right where you want him, I'm sure.” He hesitated to continue but did so anyway despite the consequences. “If you’re willing to go as far as sleeping with him again, against your wife’s back, then I'm sure you can worm your way into his graces enough.”
“My wife is aware of my actions, just as she was when we first slept together. I would never do anything behind Ashlynn’s back,” I barked ferociously.
“Hey, I’m just saying. Don’t take everything I say so offensively.”
“That’s rich coming from you.” I stood and slid Ashlynn's knife back under my cloak.
“By the way, if you wanted more freedom, you should have come to me directly instead of sneaking around behind my back.
I'd be much more willing to comply if I knew where your loyalties were. Now, I trust you as much as I did before.”
Phillip’s shoulders sank. “I know. I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I should have reported Ambermourn’s actions to you, but I was so desperate for freedom that I... I just, couldn’t say no to the prospect.”
I threw a silver key down on the coffee table that he picked up curiously.
“That key allows you access to a small apartment in Connecticut. It's on the beach, and down the strip from an assortment of stores and restaurants. You only have a twenty-five-mile radius, but you can take advantage of it as much as your heart desires. If you try to go beyond your allocated space, I will be informed immediately, and you will never see the sun again. If you pull any of the shit you did when you were alive, with Humans or any other kind of creature, I’ll revoke your position and send your ass back to that cell to rot until I get bored of you.”
He clutched the key tightly, tears collecting in his eyes. “Thank you, so incredibly much. I swear I'll behave, I swear!”
“If you ever go behind my back again, the same rules apply. Whether you like it or not, I am the God of this Realm, and your loyalty lies with me, not some scum from Chandler.” I was doing my best to keep my tone strict, but he saw through me and realized how scared I was.
“I will tell you immediately should something happen.”
“If only you’d done so the first time I wouldn’t have had to fuck him to get what I wanted,” I sniffed crudely.
“As if you didn’t enjoy letting your hair down,” he teased lightly.
I spun on my heel immediately, and my glare made him wince. “I do not enjoy betraying my wife. Unlike you, I am faithful to the woman I married. I do not indulge in sexual acts outside of our marriage without her consent and her involvement. This whole thing makes me stomach sick.”
“You’re a very valiant partner,” he complimented as he stretched his aching body.
“Doesn't feel like it these days...” I sighed as I made my exit.