Chapter 30 #2
As he rested against the cold, damp wall of his cell, Machus’ face inches from his own, he slowly came to the realisation, for the first time, that there was some bigger machination at work, that Machus wasn’t through with him.
Maybe he shouldn’t have remained silent in the divine court when he was tried. He had no idea why he had kept secret Machus’ initial involvement. He regretted it greatly.
The God of Lies knew his domain well, and the knot of lies was woven to such a degree, in this case, that it would be impossible to simply pull loose the threads with a few words or retracted statements.
Machus had played the game well.
“Yes,” said the god in question. “You see it now, don’t you, Leander?”
A shriek filled the air: “I chose this!” Leo was disturbed to realise that the shriek was coming from himself. He shrank back against the wall, desperately, vainly, trying to put more space between himself and his adversary.
“ You belong to me, Leo ,” Machus’ voice reverberated through every empty space in Leander’s mind—a disorienting cacophony of echoes that he could not escape. “ Your mind is mine. Your every thought, your every idea, your every concern. All mine. They resonate with the rhythm of my control. ”
Machus continued, though Leander realised that his mouth wasn’t moving. Instead, he was inserting the thoughts directly into his mind.
Leander’s face fell slack, revealing an expression of barely concealed pain as Machus’ voice invaded his mind. He had nowhere to go to escape this absolute and catastrophic violation of his mind.
And in his mind, Leander felt the threatened consequences for any thoughts of disobedience or resistance.
It instilled fear into his very being, guaranteeing his compliance with whatever Machus wanted.
If he wanted, Machus could manipulate his very perception of life, Leander knew this, further securing his control over him .
“ Your thoughts are but whispers in the darkness, easily drowned out by my will. Your very memories are mine to manipulate. I can shape your dreams into nightmares, haunting you with visions of your own futility. I can twist them to make you doubt yourself at every turn ,” came the sound in his mind once more, overwhelming and destructive in pure power.
“ Every time you entertain thoughts of rebellion, I will remind you of your failures. You are not strong enough to resist me, Leander. ”
Still connected through a divine bond, Leander felt Machus’ enjoyment of watching him unravel before him, both physically and mentally.
Leander was surprised to find himself, seconds later, now crumpled in a liquid mess on the ground. He glanced up at the other god—Machus’ face displayed utter indifference whilst his eyes sparkled with the distinct glimmer of excitement.
Within his mind, Leander saw flashes of past lies and betrayals, and he couldn’t distinguish if they were real or not. The very fabric of his reality was broken in favour of these vivid mental images.
Was this cell all it was supposed to be? Or was this another repercussion of disobedience? Was this unbearable pain and isolation truly what he was experiencing or was he locked in darkness due to Machus’ power rather than Caisa’s cruelty?
“ Your mind is a prison of my creation, a labyrinth of my own design. There is no respite from my control, no exit save the one I allow you to perceive. ”
Leander dragged shaking hands down his face, uncut and filthy fingernails leaving behind red marks on his cheeks as he tried to claw himself free of his own body, anything to get away from the onslaught of pain and suffering he was experiencing.
This realisation of the absolute ownership Machus had over him was going to destroy his very psyche.
“Pawns, Leander,” Machus murmured without a hint of inflection in his voice as he crouched down before the demigod. “They are just that: pawns. But think of what they could become. Unlimited potential… if they just do what they’re told and don’t get caught.”
Breathing in a haggard breath, Leander realised that his cheeks were wet with tears. He remained silent as Machus’ heavy words settled around him.
Within this cell, Machus was amplifying feelings of guilt and shame within Leander. He truly believed that any attempt to defy him would result in further anguish and regret.
He continued to look at the God of War as his expression morphed into a sinister glower, his eyes smouldering with something best described as a palpable lethality.
For a long time, the God of War’s analytical gaze was fixed on Leander, but he said nothing. Just a silent, discomforting observation of the boy crumpled on the floor in front of him.
Finally, he spoke a warning. “If you ever do anything like the little stunt you pulled the other day, you will pay for it dearly. Do I make myself clear?” Machus seethed, his cold breath dancing across the demigod’s face.
“Resistance is futile. Surrender to me and I will grant you a semblance of peace. ”
Leander nodded once as he wiped his cheeks and wet eyes with the filth-covered back of his hand.
He now understood that Machus viewed him as a threat of sorts.
But there was no tangible way in which Leander could create some convoluted plan to undo what he had done.
Not now that he was not only powerless, but he had also lost all his influence as a noble.
Nine above, he had lost his rights as a free citizen of Saeren.
Leander felt Machus’ fingers trace his jaw line before coming to rest under his chin. The finger applied pressure, forcing his head upwards to meet the god’s penetrating gaze.
“Good.” Machus smiled. “You’re useless to me as you are, so find a way out of this, Leo. I meant what I said all those months ago: I want you at my side.”
Had Leander the full use of his faculties, he might have realised just how void of warmth the gaze was. Machus’ expression was no longer hostile, though he was hardly one to offer comfort to the wretched prisoner.
“A child born to live and breathe deception… so full of fire, aren’t you?” Machus murmured. A small smile flickered in the corners of his mouth. “It’s going to be glorious, watching that kindling burn up.”