5. Alira #3
I start in the C area and find an abundance of books on curses.
It takes me a handful of minutes until I find one that I think might have what I’m looking for.
A few of the smaller books primarily focus on lighthearted curses or temporary harmless ones like your hair turning blue.
But the time-loop curse was a strong one, one that only a god could perform.
My distrust in Kalel has sparked my need to find out who placed the curse on me and why.
I finally come to a volume with a black leather cover and gilded edges that feels like it may have what I’m looking for. There is no title on the front or leading pages, but I flip through it enough to find pictures of gods inside, so it feels promising.
My breaths are wild, and I have to take a steadying one to recenter myself. I didn’t realize how fast my heart was beating, the anxiety running through my bloodstream like liquid madness.
All right, now just the sacred oath. I think it will be in the demigod section, so I spend the better part of an hour searching that side of the shelves. I snag a few that might have what I’m looking for, then head to the tables set up in the center of the restricted area.
One of the books I grabbed is about gods and Pluto’s descent from the heavens in ancient times.
My fingers trace the gilded letters of the old cover.
The pages are worn and aged, a yellowish-brown from centuries of existence.
It’s a miracle that the binding has still held together.
It’s odd, but I find myself eager to read such ancient lore, to learn about a time before King Borlin and before the war between demigods and demons.
Nikolai plops down in the seat across from me and gives me an intrigued look.
“You’ve never read about the clash of the gods?
” My blank expression must be enough of an answer for him because he starts chuckling with his hand drawn to cover his mouth.
“You’re serious. Oh, Alira, you are so behind on worldly things. ”
I ignore his comment. “Clash of the gods?” I pry, leaning forward on my elbows across the table.
He nods and taps the top of the book. “It’s the story of Pluto and Jupiter and how they tricked the other gods into agreeing to entertain by creating powerful curses.
Once they were unanimous, they unknowingly started a plague of their own design.
One that spread far and wide. Curses. They made it so all that is needed to place a curse is intent, prayer, and sacrifice. ”
My eyes widen. “Sacrifice?” Nikolai nods at me like I’m a child listening to a bedtime story, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like one too.
He snaps his fingers with his right hand, and a wisp of red smoke curls around his thumb. It looks like blood running up his hand instead of down. “Blood. Death. Sometimes, depending on the god, they would take other forms of sacrifice.”
“But why would they agree to something like that?” I ask, eyes falling back down to the book with dismay. There’s an image of Jupiter smiling and holding a snake behind his back as he speaks with one of the other gods, tricking them, as Nikolai put it.
“Ah, you see, Pluto and Jupiter told their deity counterparts that they were agreeing to blessings. They claimed that the gods would soon wither and die without them. It was easy to convince the others, for they had no reason to doubt them—nothing like this had been done before. But it didn’t take long before the ‘blessings’ were revealed to be what they truly were.
Curses. The intent of one wishing suffering upon another so greatly that a god replies.
Venus and Mercury were furious; the rest were appalled at the deceit too, but not quite as much as they were.
Jupiter blamed Pluto. It was believable; he was the god of death, after all.
Who would seek such chaos other than him? ”
My brows knit. If not for my own experience judging others too quickly, simply for the roles they’ve been assigned in life, perhaps I wouldn’t feel this way, but I’m sorry for Pluto. I thought the worst of the demons before I truly took the time to understand them.
“So they banished Pluto to Mortem, and that’s where he stays.” Nikolai grins at the disbelief on my face.
“That’s not fair… What about Jupiter? I mean, I know Pluto played a part in it, but he was punished.”
Nikolai shrugs. “He got away with it, I guess.”
“For over a thousand years?”
“I guess so.” He nonchalantly flips pages in a book he grabbed while helping me search. “Why are you so upset about it? It happened a millennium ago.” He laughs, flicking his attention briefly to me before he closes the book.
I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I take a deep breath. “I don’t like when stories end like that…with someone getting away with something horrible.” Nikolai just grunts and shakes his head at me, amused. I think about it more and then finally ask, “Have you ever met one?”
That gets his attention.
He looks at me with shock. “A god?”
“Yeah.”
His eyes widen before he quickly looks around us to make sure no one is near and leans in closer to me.
“Have you met a god, Alira?” Nikolai’s voice is serious, and his eyes are just as steady. I stiffen at his unexpected reaction but try to relax my muscles.
“No, I was only curious if the demons were closer to them than the demigods are.” I play it cool and offer a disarming smile. “Is it not common?” I ask harmlessly, and it seems to work. He studies me a moment longer before sitting back in his chair and exhaling.
“No, it’s not common. And I wouldn’t ask anyone else. If King Achill thinks you are speaking with the gods, he’ll have your head cut off.”
“Oh.” My hand goes to my throat. Kalel took my head clean off in at least eight of the time loops. I never want to experience that again, especially since I wouldn’t be coming back this time around.
We read in silence for the remainder of the afternoon, then head back to the palace before dinner is served. Nikolai didn’t notice me sliding a few of the books I picked up into the hidden pockets of my dress. The librarians didn’t realize it either. Thank the gods.
I make a beeline for my chambers and once the door is locked and the blinds are shut, I pull out the curses and god books from my heavy dress pockets and place them beneath my mattress, ready to spend the evening learning.
I can’t believe that worked.