Riven
I can’t believe my angel preferred girl time over searching for dead people with me.
Rude.
It’s going to be a disgusting blast.
My hands clap together, gaining Creed’s, Sevryn’s, and Doren’s attention. Ah, and fucking Gladdy Daddy’s.
Why is he still standing here?
Gigantic weirdo.
“Are we ready? We’re wasting time standing here. The dead are getting deader as we speak.”
They all scrunch their noses at me. I mimic the look.
“You’re disturbingly excited about this adventure,” Doren says.
Poor thing doesn’t look excited at all.
“Well, hell yeah, I’m excited. Anything to drive the knife deeper into Harriseen’s reputation brings me great pleasure.”
“The fact that it helps Amick’s case isn’t your biggest motivator?” Creed asks.
“Close second most definitely.”
“I’m going to join you four.”
This time, my sneer is sincere as it lands on Gladian.
“The fuck you are. I won’t have you stomping around all pissy, ruining my day.”
Creed adds a firm, “No.”
“The two of us need to discuss our new rotation with the Court and I want to see this for myself.”
“I’ll bring the bodies right to you so you can see and we can discuss the rotation then,” Creed says, walking away.
Where is he going? Fuck if I know.
We’re starshooting outside of Hellveilious.
Definitely not walking.
“I don’t need any of your permission. I was attempting to go about this cordially. I’m joining you.”
A small laugh slips through my lips as Creed stops in his tracks and pivots back around to face Gladian. Sevryn scoffs as he too stomps ahead to stand at Creed’s side.
I flop my arm over Doren’s shoulder and give him a wink.
“Which one do you think is going to throw the first punch?” I ask him with a whisper.
“Hopefully neither. Fighting doesn’t need to be the answer in this situation.”
I huff. “No fun, Discovery. No fun at all.”
“Do what you want, Gladian, but stay the fuck out of our way. If you do a thing to interfere with us or tamper with the bodies, I’ll throw your big ass through the barrier to Hellveilious before you can fucking blink.”
My excitement gets the best of me, and my fingers grip Doren’s shoulder as I shake him.
Valories, I hope we get to lock the God of Strength away today.
“You truly think I’d do something like that?” Gladian asks.
“Wouldn’t be the first time you fucked someone over. Can we go? I’m fucking over this already,” Sevryn grunts, having a stare-off with Gladian.
Damn, I keep forgetting about the falling-out between Sevryn’s daddy and Gladdy.
They should just fight it out themselves.
Get it out in the open.
That’d make me so happy.
Creed grunts. “Starshoot to the entrance of Hellveilious.”
He’s gone in a flash, and I follow right behind him. My giggle comes with me from the empty Assembly and travels to the forest surrounding Hellveilious.
I honestly don’t understand what the point of me coming with Creed was in Amick’s mind.
Other than being the best possible backup, and by the looks of it, the most enjoyable company.
My eyes stay trained on my brother as he stares at the entrance like he’s contemplating going in there. His fingers flex at his sides, and I swear, I’ll jerk his ass back if he chooses today of all days to go handle business.
First, our Binder would whoop our asses if we decided to go on a little side quest in there without her. Second, since she’s not here to save his soul, that stupid tie he has to this place would solidify a touch more.
So I think the fuck not. He better just come on.
“Amick said Harriseen dragged the bodies off to the right. I can’t imagine he bothered going very far. We’ll start in that direction,” Creed grumbles, then proceeds to march through the trees with Sevryn and Gladian on his tail.
There we go. That’s what I thought.
“Come on, Discovery. This is your thing. Discovering shit,” I say as I pat him on the back.
“Yes, but discovering dead bodies most certainly isn’t something I enjoy.”
His bright green eyes glow as his head swivels from side to side. His throat bobs as he gulps and points ahead.
“They’re that way. Much farther back than Creed assumes.”
He shakes himself out and takes an unsteady step.
My Harmony pushes forward, and I sigh.
“Way to ruin my fun,” I mumble as I rest my hand on his shoulder. He immediately slumps and gives me a grateful smile.
“You didn’t have to settle my unease, but I truly appreciate that, Riven.”
“Yeah, yeah. I did have to. My Harmony would’ve bugged the fuck out of me until I did. I can’t believe you’re letting this bother you so bad.”
He gives me a sheepish grin. “I don’t have a pleasant history with bodies.
The more deadly, non-intellectual creatures of the Lost Sea don’t attack and kill beings for sustenance.
They do so for sport or territorial aggression.
I’ve had the unfortunate honor of burying many who washed up on my shore.
Godly and ungodly. Not to mention, I also saw the body that was created to imitate me.
That was unsettling and still haunts me. ”
Damn. Way to dampen the mood.
That’s pretty fucking sad, actually.
I don’t like to see my happy buddy frown.
We walk toward the others, who are wasting their time scouting the ground for “clues” and the silence between us makes me feel like an asshole. I suppose not everyone can find humor in their traumatic pasts.
“So, anyways, what did you just do with your power? I thought you had to know or be aware of the individual you were looking for? At least that’s what you told me when I asked for a certain someone’s location.”
“Well, I did have the unfortunate pleasure of knowing that someone, so it was easy to locate him. In this case, I don’t know the individuals, but life itself is always easy to find.
With my power and through my eyes, this forest appears to me in a wide path of green, like my irises.
As I scan, commanding my power to discover the living around us, the color will change.
There are multiple shades thrumming with the life of nature, aside from a concentrated dark spot in the direction we’re heading.
It’s easy to conclude, if it isn’t life, it’s the absence of it. ”
An impressed smirk spreads across my lips.
“That is a nifty little trick for discovering people.”
“I can discover much more than just people. Objects, places, things.”
I cock my head at the way he air quotes things.
“I could even discover secrets, if need be, but at a great cost to my power.”
“So it’d drain you to drag up someone’s dark little secrets, huh?”
“Oh yes, and unlike all of you, I don’t have a means to refuel faster. I’d be left vulnerable as my power recharged on its own. I suppose that was a protective measure put in place around my creation. It’s very dangerous discovering things you have no business discovering.”
“I’d argue that it’s just as dangerous not knowing, though. The more you know, the more you can protect yourself. At least that’s what Amick keeps chirping.”
“Sure, in some scenarios, I could agree with that. Others…” He shakes his head and gives me a tense smile.
“Knowing things you can’t share with the people you care about does nothing but sit in your chest like lead.
When something should be discovered, it’s best that it happens right when it’s supposed to. ”
“Cryptic and secretive as fuck there, Discovery. I like it. I’ve always enjoyed butting my nose where it doesn’t belong. So, tell me, are you keeping important things from us and bestie?”
He laughs lightly, although his eyes grow all tender and shit at the mention of his Binder.
“I am, but it’s things you should and will find out on your own. I know just because I’m older and given my power it seems I know a lot, but I truly don’t. I was merely twenty when I learned how useful I was and how that was a threat to my life. So when my head wasn’t forced up, I kept it down.
“I know many of the old ways, before the Beginning Gods lost their minds completely. I also know more about your Valtrue and the prophecy that I haven’t shared and won’t.
But I swear to you, my knowledge isn’t something that would help right this second.
It’s things you all deserve to discover on your own. ”
“First, give me the names of the gods who wronged you. I’ll add them to my ‘to be killed’ list. Second, I’d rather you just tell me what you know now.”
“You’re a good friend, Riven.”
He smirks and pats my shoulder.
I don’t like that.
But he is a very nice and useful…friend, so I won’t threaten his life.
“Come on, fuckers, they’re this way. Discovery already located them.”
Creed, Sevryn, and Gladian whip their heads at the two of us. Why do they look so shocked? I don’t know.
Obviously, Amick knew this is exactly what would happen, hence why he voluntold Doren to join on this rendezvous.
“What the fuck was the point of me coming again?” Sevryn asks.
“Quit your bitching. Did you have better plans?”
He scoffs at Creed. “I could’ve made some.”
“What? Like running off to the Abandon on your own to kill your father?”
My mouth pops open as my gaze bounces between them.
“What the hell has Thayla told you?”
“Thayla hasn’t said anything. V’s eavesdropping on their conversation and said Yemi is truly worried that’s what you’re planning. You need to fucking fess up if that’s your intention,” Creed grunts, and I nod.
How dare he plan his father’s murder without us?
“Who’s V? How many more gods are you all hiding?” Gladian cuts in, and we ignore him.
Well, I give him my middle finger like Thayla likes to do. His nostrils flare and I chuckle.
“Yemi has nothing to worry about. I don’t have a plan. It’s a desire. I want to kill my father, and I’m going to. One day.”
“Yeah, well, when that one day comes, make sure you fucking talk to us about it first. I’m not running over to the Abandon to save your stubborn ass if you pull some shit like that by yourself.”
“Thanks for the fucking backup, asshole.”
“You’ll have plenty of backup if you tell us first.” Creed glares at him. He’s full of shit, though.