Chapter 20 #3
I glance up at Collin, who I’m pretty certain can’t hear us but I’m happy to see seems to be fighting even harder than before.
“I’m no expert, but he sure seems to be doing pretty darn good up there.
I’ve spent a lot of quality time with him, and the truth is, he’s as much of a hero as I am.
He’ll die before he gives in, and I think the great god Ah Puch knows it.
So, tell me, what does your master think of me just bailing? ”
Valiente averts his gaze from the ancient power who holds his leash and hisses at me under his breath. “Sentimental little prick, aren’t you? You know we’ll just find more children with magical talent, right?”
Now it’s my turn to sneer at him. “Good luck with that after I’ve warned the world about you. Maybe I am a big softie, but this is a deal-breaker. You guys in or out?”
If the eye looked pissed before, it’s positively livid now. But it blinks once at Valiente.
“Fine,” he seethes. “We’ll release the kids before daybreak. Alive. They’ll be able to return to their homes no more hurt than they are already. That’s as good as it’s going to get.”
I try to hide my exhale. I don’t want to appear too happy—but that was the last piece.
“It’ll just have to be good enough, I guess.”
“So, now will you agree to our terms? You’ve done well for yourself, boy, but I have warned you that a god’s patience is not unlimited. There aren’t going to be any more amendments.”
I turn my back on Valiente and his all-powerful god of death, frowning like I’m taking a moment to consider, but really, I just don’t want to show how frightened I actually am.
I let the incantation paper drop from my fingers and pick up the open watch from the ground.
Like I thought, soon as I touch it, Collin immediately looks down at me.
We can’t talk, but for this last moment, at least we’ll be together.
And if I’m going to do this, I need that.
I do my best to smile up at him. He stops struggling and gazes down at me, confused. But then he smiles back, gentle and trusting. Despite all my faults, he really does love me.
And that’s everything.
Eyes locked on Collin’s sweet face, I call out, “Ah Puch, ?avadeva, god of corpses, if you give me what you promised and the things I asked for, then yes, I agree. I will consent to being the bridge for this ritual. Now, free the Avatar!”
Collin must be able to read lips, because his eyes widen with horror before I feel the force of the magical covenant slam down. It lands on my back like a mountain of cold stone and drives me into a crouch, white-knuckling the back of the watch.
This time, there’s no hope of resisting—Prince Eirian has nothing on the power of a god.
My head and heart pound in unison as an alien torrent fills my body with poisonous rot, every cell bending to his will.
I don’t even hear the words being chanted around me change, but a swarm of glowing runes fly from the edges of the cavern and rip their way through the watch’s smoky mercury tether, immediately shredding it.
The glowing tentacles snap away from Collin’s torso, and he is pulled backwards through the golden door in a rush, arms desperately reaching out in my direction.
His lips mouth “No, no, no!” He doesn’t want to go, but he has no choice. In a moment, he’s gone.
I wish I could have done this differently. He looked so scared for me. But he’ll be safe now.
?avadeva kept the first part of our bargain, which means it’s my turn.
The lavender tentacles that were draining Collin whip down to plunge into my ribs.
They burrow deep inside my guts like hungry worms. The violation feels wrong and painful, and my monster screams at me to break free—but that irresistible undertow of decay overwhelms any thought of resistance.
I can’t do anything but watch myself let it happen.
A willing participant in my own debasement.
The summoning ritual directly connects to my magic, leaving me helpless as the serene, endless well of power I had awakened streams out of me.
I sense something trying to stop the draining, something from far away, something much, much bigger than me.
But it, too, can’t resist the god’s power.
Not when he’s so close. The glowing siphons drink deep, and the ritual flares back to life.
Now that I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, the numbing rot inside eases back some.
I won’t be able to revoke my consent. Somehow, I know I could run a thousand miles away, and the tentacles would still draw from me.
But I can move again, so I force myself back to my feet.
I see the rip between our world and Hell push outwards, layer after layer rapidly peeling back.
In a single breath, it’s three times as large as it was before. And it’s still growing.
?avadeva was right, I am just what he needed.
His whole cadaverous face pushes through, draped in tatters of rotten flesh, and over twice as big as my whole body.
It’s pale, decomposed, nightmarish, and so very pleased.
Valiente also grins with malice from his perch, a god’s power within his grasp.
Instead of questionable hours, it’ll be a matter of seconds now, and he knows it.
Facing this for real, I actually don’t feel brave, not like I hoped I would. I don’t want to do this. But there’s no time, and I have only one play left.
I shove the watch into the side pocket of my pants, simultaneously flip Valiente and his god a full bird each just for the style points—and then use every remaining ounce of super-strength within me to leap into the deadly barrier between us.