38. Thayla #2
Something shifted in the foundation of the realm enough that it doesn’t rely on Kirabaddon and Sabelline to stay alive.
Now we execute it. As fast as we can.
The battlefield isn’t a battlefield anymore.
It’s a puzzle.
A thousand tiny moments balancing against one another. Every choice creating another. Every heartbeat threatening to become the wrong one.
I understand my power now better than I ever have. I understand I can’t use the ability sitting at my fingertips however I please, or however it benefits me.
I have to protect the right future.
An Oblirian roars as he swings his sword toward my head.
I catch the shaft with one hand, and age splinters through the wood. It rots in my palm, collapsing into dust.
His eyes widen. I drive my sword through his heart.
One life.
To preserve hundreds.
I hate that it still comes to this.
But if this is the future the realm needs…
Then I’ll keep at it.
No matter the cost.
Creed
Death follows me.
Not as a threat. As a promise.
It crawls from my fingertips, winding through the battlefield like smoke, searching for anything foolish enough to stand between me and my destination.
A Dark God charges, but I don’t stop marching. My hand brushes his armor. He’s gone before his body hits the ground.
Another swings. Another falls.
I don’t feel anger or satisfaction. Only purpose.
My endling came back from death’s door and gave us all the permission we’ve so desperately wanted. An order we had finally accepted would never be a possibility. But now it is. Somehow, someway.
And I intend to see it finished.
The battlefield parts around me. Some who are smart flee. Some who aren’t fight. It doesn’t matter. They all end the same.
I keep my attention firmly on my father and my brothers. Well, the two I can see. Riven’s Chaos tears through the enemy. Amick moves like every strike was planned before the battle began.
Kyzen…I can’t see, but I feel his Time touch the edges of everything.
Small changes. Tiny moments.
Saving souls no one will ever know were almost lost.
I know, though. I see every soul battling for its life. From those that are black as night, to those who are pure. Even those that are in the middle of that.
Some won’t live to see another second.
Some are going to make it to the end.
My march continues to carry me forward and Death leaves dark spots on the ground as I go. Every step I take closer to my father, my power stirs, preparing to do what it has to do.
What it will do.
He’s not leaving this battlefield alive today.
He isn’t attempting to move, escape, or even fight. His fingers are laced behind his back as he scans the war raging on, searching for us. He knows we’re coming, yet the smugness on his lips shows zero concern.
His ego will be his downfall today. My brothers and I have never been as powerful as we are at this moment.
He may not know that yet, but he’s about to find out.
A flicker of movement catches my attention. Then…Pain slithers down my spine. It races across my senses and for one brief second, memories try to drag me backward. The trainings. The pressure building inside of me. My knees hitting the ground as every nerve in my body screamed.
I remember what it felt like for Pain to try to prepare Death. I remember what it felt like for all those Callings to rip away from my soul.
A deep breath escapes me as I crack my neck and keep walking.
The pain doesn’t disappear, but it’s nothing more than a dull ache now. It’s an annoyance building against my skin. Not a crippling force that can still bring me to my knees. It doesn’t fucking give up, though.
My lips curl as I jerk my glare from the side of my father’s face a few yards away and spin around.
“Show yourself, Seveous,” I roar.
The power around me thickens, then he steps forward, smiling. I sneer at how black his gums have become.
“Well, well, well. Looks like the God of Death has finally stepped into his own. The bodies you’re leaving behind are impressive. Your father will be pleased.”
“My father is a fool. He should’ve taken the chance when he had it and obliterated us all. Now him, you…you all will meet Death.”
His eyes narrow as he points his sword at me.
“Watch yourself, Creed.”
“No, God of Pain, you should’ve worried about yourself rather than pestering me.”
He attacks with an almost animalistic growl, and I don’t move. I don’t even ready myself as he charges. His power crashes into me, and I allow it. I allow the dull thud to fuel the fever taking its course through my blood.
Our swords collide, and I don’t bother bringing my second one around to end him right here. Right now.
He shoves away from me, then attacks again.
Still, I don’t feed into him. My strikes block and deflect. Nothing more and nothing less. He continues to exhaust himself for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It doesn’t take him long to finally realize that. His features shift. First comes confusion, then fear when I smile at him.
Before he can fall back or starshoot away from me, my power snakes around his body, coiling tighter in black vines. It doesn’t crush or kill him. It holds him where I want him.
I drive him down to his knees.
“Such a pity,” I say as I squat before him.
“You know, growing up, Seveous, I feared you more than I did my father. That, of course, was before he raised his hand to me, but you…you took pleasure in piercing me with your Pain. It wasn’t because I needed discipline.
Needed to learn how to withstand it. You just enjoyed hurting people. Even a child.”
I release a low laugh as I stand and stare down at the man who used to seem so much deadlier. To many, he still is a force to be reckoned with.
Not to a fully powered son of Obliteration.
Not the fully powered God of Death.
“Well, I’m happy to tell you, I can withstand it now. It’s nothing more than a tickle against my skin. I enjoy that.”
He clenches his jaw, sneering at me.
“Finish it.”
I shake my head.
“No.”
His brows furrow and my gaze casts up to the beings walking up behind him.
“Your soul isn’t mine to take.”
I back away from him, leaving room between us for the two his soul does belong to.
“Father,” Sevryn says.
“Brother,” Gladian grunts.
I turn and walk away.
That’s their justice to serve.
Mine is waiting for my brothers and me.
Riven
“Sing little stars as the Abandon falls,
Dance through the cracks in the shattered walls.
Laugh while the Chaos devours the sky,
The Dark Gods bleed and the Dark Gods die.”
My giggle cuts through the air as I skip around, allowing my Chaos to pour from my pores. The fury bleeding from these beings is delicious.
I feed and feed into those emotions until they’re so blinded by their rage, they don’t know who they’re swinging at.
“Do me a favor, dearies, and kill each other, yes?”
I dance away laughing as their swords collide with one another and continue to clear my path. My way to her.
My most hated blonde god.
My beautiful, beautiful angel came back from the brink of death and gave me a gift I’ll never be able to repay. I’ll find a way to, though.
Maybe I’ll make her a whole jewelry collection sculpted from the bones of our fallen enemies.
I chuckle at that delightful image.
“The mighty stumble, the corrupt fall,
The hands that built us will lose it all.
No cage will remain, no chain will survive,
The wildest angels will stay alive.”
“Your Chaos is stretching for miles, my boy.”
I whirl around at that voice.
“Ah, Big DD. Where have you been? I’m having a blast.”
“I see that, son.” He smiles, arching a brow at me and squeezing my shoulder.
“Not this again,” I groan. “Have you come to join me or try to stop me? I need to know so I know which song to sing next.”
He lets out a small chuckle. That sweet little melody leaves a soft smile on his face.
“I’d like to join you. If you’ll have me.”
My mismatched eyes swirl even faster. His blue eye does the same.
“Literally nothing would make me happier right now.”
“Good. I have a brilliant idea.” He grins and his power brushes over my skin. “Chaos can show her what she wants to see.”
His features warp right before my stunning gaze and my nose scrunches. It’s so very impressive, but so vile.
“If you look like Kira, I better fucking not be Golden bitch.”
He smirks at me, and I grumble under my breath.
Whatever. I can live as that fucking loser for a few moments.
Together, we stroll toward our victory.
The closer we get, the stronger the Seduction oozes through the air. It coats the back of my throat, and I can’t help but gag.
Derivius fucking laughs at me.
Sabelline’s attention jerks toward the two of us, and she does a double take before a sick smile forms across her red-painted lips.
“A goddess smiles with a silver tongue,
A final song remains unsung.
She reaches out with a tempting hand,
She will die in this blood-soaked sand.”
“Finally.” Her husky voice carries through the space separating us, and she struts straight to Derivius. “I was beginning to wonder if you would make me do all the work, lover. Are you ready to end this nonsense?”
I can’t believe Derivius allows her to run her hands up his chest.
Gross.
He grips her wrists and glances at me. Then back at her.
“Yes, I am. More than you can even imagine.”
I giggle.
Then the Chaos falls away.
Sluttline’s smile remains…for exactly one heartbeat. Then her expression shifts as she attempts and fails to jerk free from Derivius’s grip. His Chaos coats her in blue ropes as her knees crash into the ground with a satisfying snap. Her whimper and cry have my glare growing.
“That’s disappointing,” I say. “I really figured you’d fare better for longer than that.”
Derivius tsks as he stalks behind her.
“This is rather disappointing. It’d seem dear Sabe losing her Binding and the connection to some of the Veilatara hit her harder than expected. Still, you’re weaker than normal. Why is that?”
“I blessed my son,” she grits out, thrashing around like a wild little beastie. “The Chosen One. The rightful heir to Obliteration. He will be victorious for me.”
I shake my head at her tantrum.