Eighteen
Demigods are not actual gods or within the category of primordials, however you would have never known the difference because of how he walks in.
In truth, for all we know he could be a primordial god. No one has heard of the gods of this world since the ending of the War of Gods – aside from their children. It could make one curious then about how the end of the War of Gods really came to end and what happened to the gods after.
No one even knows what really happened to start the war or how exactly it ended.
Not that it matters in this moment. Not with Castiel pausing just within the doorway, unmasked, looking directly at me. His eyes trace down my costume and then zero in at a particular spot.
Not that he can see anything since the layers of my dress cover the rip Varian made.
Still, it causes another rush of heat, the way his eyes deepen to near black but are full of so much emotion. So much want. So much need.
That roil in my stomach tightens and I want to press my thighs together, but I slash my hand in the air between me and the demigod and shake my head.
“No,” I snap. Turning away from both of them and blindly running my eyes over Varian’s bookshelves. “Not right now. I need to think.”
I need to think.
And still he chooses to ignore me because I can feel Castiel’s presence like shifting winds pressing into me. His spicy clove scent with hints of citrus enveloping me like Varian’s life-like scent is.
I squeeze my eyes shut as tight as possible. I need to think.
Why did our bond cement when Varian hasn’t seen my soul?
Why hasn’t fate clicked between me and Darian when he most definitely has seen my soul and I know without a doubt that we are fated?
Why did someone use a vampire to try and turn me even though they had to of known it wasn’t possible?
If they were watching me like I suspect they have been they had to have known I’m not human.
I internally freeze as I keep my eyes shut.
My aura is still climbing the walls though those four doors within me are shut and locked, and I let my aura continue to simply exist as I cinch my control of my heart and blood.
Carefully monitoring my aura with as much practiced precision as Darian has on his to make people believe it’s unpredictable.
“Why did you all think I was a spy?”
I open my eyes and everything is so still within. I never asked it before. I remember telling both of them I didn’t even care, I just wanted to be left alone. But now. . .
“Mavyn. . .”
And something within the tunnels and halls of my mind flicks. I’m no longer staring at shelves of books but at a metallic mask with black slits where eyes should be.
What are you? It whispers. WHAT ARE YOU?
“Burning,” I answer.
Varian comes into my peripheral and I can see it. That black void in my mind, part of it clears. The smoke shifting as an image becomes clear.
I look directly at Varian as he watches me and there is so much hesitation and worry.
His voice is quiet as he asks, “Are you going to disappear again?”
I cock my head. What?
He swallows thickly. “You were staring and then said burning without context. I need to know if you’re about to disappear again and go to the sun death realm.”
Oh.
Oh.
Actually. . . oh fucking no.
My fists clench as a slow burning fire begins burning.
“You need?” I repeat. Quietly and through my teeth. He takes a step back and confusion flashes across his face. “Well, what I need is for you to tell me why you all thought I was a spy.”
A wall goes up behind his eyes. Distinct, and I notice it. I can see it. Feel it.
Castiel’s presence comes up behind me as I dig my nails into my palms now. Not flinching from the red devil’s stare because I can see it.
The metallic mask. The slightly shorter red tinged hair. The black cloak and boots and so much rage.
Fury.
Wrath. . . for killing that blood witch and being able to dominate him. I was able to dominate the Death Devil and it wrecked him.
Another question filters through my mind about those fractured images from my memory I can almost remember.
Why didn’t they die when I wrote their deaths?
I twist that fourth key. “Are you the reason I’m here?”
Was he able to somehow prevent my death blow to whoever that other man is? His father, brother, son? A connection to the rebels and maybe the reason they thought I was a spy. Except they couldn’t think I’m a spy from the Mage Board because Thorne and Callahan’s father’s sit in two of the seats.
A spy from the rebels? But he’s connected to them.
His lips don’t move and I whorl on the demigod whose aura is tightly coiled around himself. Caution and worry warring on his face with his hands open and faced slightly outward. As if he’s ready to grab me if something happens.
I cock my head at him like I did Varian and curl just the left side of my lips up to reveal a hint of my fangs. His body tenses at it.
“Do you think you can stop me if something were to happen, demigod?”
Light flickers within his dark eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you, Mavyn, but I need you to calm down so we can speak civilly and figure out what is happening.”
I slowly release a breath and look down to the ground, taking my eyes off of them.
Calm down.
I need to calm down, he says. Does he not know?
“This is calm,” I whisper, before release that carefully controlled restraint on everything. “This is not.”
More aura explodes as what is already released fractures along the walls and ceiling. Those four keys within turn and their doors are thrown open. Blue belladon suffocates. The berry-sweet scent with a cut of florals and hint of cream smothers the space until all you can do is choke on it.
My heart beats and the ground rumbles with the tempo. My blood rushes and we begin to hear rain and thunder as it flows with my pace.
Calm down.
Control.
They have no idea.
Just like that bone witch had no idea about what pain was.
I remember.
“I remember,” I whisper. “His voice. It sounds exactly like yours.”
And when I look up at my red devil I’m struck with how they all could believe I don’t know what control is.
Then I turn it all off. Just like flipping a switch.
Snap.
Poof.
It all disappears within a blink and I’m left standing here feeling exactly like a vampire with my muted scent and pink eyes.
It makes them both choke.
I bet it felt like I just died. I bet it was worse because the bond between me and Varian is cemented.
“And here I thought we were going to be late to the party.” I glance at Darian as he, Thorne, and Callahan enter through the door still open.
The angel quirks a brow at me. “I’m sure I had told Varian he needed to tell you to breathe and remember to keep a lock on that magic, Trouble.
Wanna tell us why a red electrical storm started up out of nowhere – especially when lightning and water mages were tasked with keeping a clear sky tonight? ”
“And why,” Thorne drawls, evenly and lazily but a tremble goes through his body, “there was an earthquake with the same force as one that happened earlier this week?”
Fuck.
Ignoring Thorne, I turn and face Varian again. “I’ll answer you when he tells me who Kolasi is to him and why you all thought I was a spy.”
Varian’s eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. Fine. I roll my own eyes and spin on my heel to go grab my mask. It’s still by the door where I had dropped it. Picking it up, I step towards the open door to leave when a hand bites into the frame. An arm dressed in red blocks my path.
Darian’s exhale ruffles a few strands of my hair I had temporarily dyed for the occasion. “It’s not midnight yet, Trouble, and I told you the rules of this game.”
I cluck my tongue at him. “I quit.”
“Then say your safe word.” And those five words spoken on a breath send a zip of fire along my spine. I press my tongue to the roof of my mouth and keep my lips sealed. He chuckles. “That’s what I thought.”
Then he makes to grab me, but I duck and spin out of his grasp.
A growl stuck in the back of my throat as I glare at him.
“We’re done with the game. You all wanted to hate me for my secrets and forcing me to tell them when you have all of yours.
And unlike you I know I don’t have a right to know them, but I’m not going to be a mouse on a string for you to play with. ”
His eyes don’t lighten from the depth of his lust but I expected that.
That’s why I had let myself that moments reprieve, showing my control of my magic to Varian and Castiel as my aura and scent flooded the entirety of Syngenia’s grounds.
It should linger for well over an hour, meaning all I have to do is get out of this room and wait until I can step onto the dance floor.
Composing myself, I neutralize my expression and lift my chin. “You will regret this.”
For some reason Thorne flinches, but I don’t care enough to stay and figure out why as that second door within whips open and shut. Just enough time for red sparks of lightning to consume me.
Time or space glitches and then I’m no longer standing in Varian’s office but before white wood and a purple rune.
I take the moment I have to myself in the empty yard and blow out a long breath.
I’ve never tried portaling through my lightning like that without it already existing and being connected to a storm.
The first time it happened was by accident when I was in Varian’s classroom and explaining to them my past and why I will never be good enough for them.
I didn’t know if I would be able to do it again though.
I scan the courtyard once just in case there is a chance I couldn’t pick up any bodies full of blood through my magic. However, I am, in fact, alone. Once again before the Willow of Lore and warm tempered flames flicker along my soul.
In an act of recklessness, I place my bare palm over the rune.
I wait for the burning. For the damning. For another curse or for spirits to come out and suck my soul dry.
Nothing happens.
Dead.