40. Creed
Creed
“Welcome to Hell, Golden bitch!”
Riven’s damn giggle echoes around the chamber as he raises his leg and fucking kicks Mellcom straight through the black abyss that actually leads to Hell.
Thayla, Kyzen, Amick, Mara, Sevryn, Gladian, and I stare at him as he claps like a fucking child who’s had too many cookies this morning.
“What?” he asks, placing his hands on his hips. “It’s like a two-foot drop. He’ll be fine.”
“I’m honestly surprised he’s survived up until now,” Thayla grumbles, rolling her eyes as she jumps off the side.
Fuck. I thought I loved her sass before…
It does unspeakable things to me now that she actually owns my soul.
“I can’t fathom why she’s giving me attitude. I upheld the stupid promise you made. He’s still alive, isn’t he? And if I recall, I wasn’t the only one who paid him a visit when he was locked up in the healing villa.”
“So it was you four who beat him to the brink of death. I literally asked you and you grunted, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’,” Sevryn scoffs, looking at me like he’s offended he wasn’t invited to the occasion.
I don’t pay either of them attention as I jump over the side.
But yeah, duh, it was my brothers and me who beat the fuck out of him in the healing villa. Who else would it be? Even Amick participated.
I actually think he enjoyed himself as much as Riven did.
If we want to get technical, Mara beat his ass first.
A week ago, when we stepped out of the Gods Binding and returned to everyone on the battlefield, we found her straddling his waist, her fists going to town on his face. She got him back for her black eyes, plus some.
Thayla watched her with a satisfied smile for a solid two minutes before she stopped her. She’s still holding firm in her Death is too sweet for him stance.
Anyways, Mara beat him to the point where he was unconscious for two whole days. While we all worked tirelessly cleaning bodies from the battlefield, arranging funerals, and planning what to do with the rest of the Abandon, he slept like a baby.
My brothers and I were there waiting for him when he woke up. Meridamus was as well, but Mellcom pitched a fucking fit, screaming at him to get away and never speak to him again.
It bothered the ol’ God of Consequence more than he’ll ever admit.
Iric and Prath, with their damn morals, wouldn’t “knowingly” let us put him in one of the imitation rooms they haven’t fixed yet.
So, we waited until the middle of the night and moved him there ourselves. Needless to say, Prath knew the moment we did it, but he minded his own business.
We freed him last night.
We wanted him in tip-top shape for today.
My boots hit the rubble and I tilt my head, watching Thayla strut her way to the Division like she owns it. Mellcom’s hauling ass away as if he can escape.
“Grab him for me, will you, boys?” she calls out as the guards pop out of the walls.
Mellcom gets one missed swing out before he’s put on his ass with his face shoved into the rubble.
“Ma’am,” they say as she approaches them and squats in front of Mellcom.
I clear my throat as I come up behind her. My fucking guards seriously do a double take before noticing it’s me.
“Sir.”
“Rise and drag his ass up with you.”
“Please,” Thayla adds, side-eyeing me.
“Please,” I grunt.
I ignore the snickers behind me from the others who finally join us.
Faron, Phoelius, and Zareb are standing in the Division as we make our way in, and the sense of…relief that washes over their faces surprises me.
“It’s over?” Phoelius asks.
“It is,” I say, dipping my head.
“And I’ve brought you all your first new resident of Hell. He needs to be taken real good care of. Can’t have him dying,” Thayla says with a sweet smile that completely contradicts the words that just left her.
“Hell hath no fury like the Goddess of Death,” Phoelius says, chuckling.
“Thay, please. Don’t do—”
“No more begging, Golden bitch. It was funny at first. Now it’s getting tiresome,” Riven says as his Chaos slaps something that looks sticky and wet on Mellcom’s lips.
“Delun?” Zareb asks, and I shake my head.
“We’ll find him, and when we do, he’ll be coming back home to join those he once reigned over,” I say. “I’m going to the Crypt, then we’ll escort him down to the lower level. After that, I’ll visit the Soul Chamber and take care of everything there.”
The three of them bow to us and I lead everyone to the door that would lead us to the platform that overlooks the upper level.
“You three go. The rest of us will stay here,” Thayla says, giving my hand a squeeze.
My lips lay against her forehead before she steps away, and I press my palm against the door to give it my permission.
The familiar chill of the Crypt settles over us as Gladian, Sevryn, and I step between rows of stones and essence. Gladian handles seeing this place for the first time way better than Sevryn did.
We walk in silence toward the back, and my footsteps gradually slow to a stop as we reach Vihaan’s sarcophagus.
He’s already waiting, staring down at the place he rests like…he knows this is goodbye. His eyes meet mine for a fleeting second, then they jump right to the man beside me.
“Gladian,” He breathes. “You’ve brought him to see me.”
I nod.
“A goodbye gift.”
“Goodbye…” he says, never taking his eyes off his brother. “It’s time.”
“It is.” I focus on Gladian and hold my arm out toward where Vihaan is standing. “He’s right here.”
Gladian bobs his head and stares at the space before him, hands shoved into his pockets as though he can keep them from shaking.
“I’ve replayed this moment more times than I can count. My last words to you.” He laughs under his breath. “Thought I’d have some grand speech prepared.”
Vihaan’s smile softens.
“You never were good at speeches. Barking orders, yes. Speeches, no.”
I can’t help the smallest twitch of amusement on my lips as I relay his words.
Gladian snorts. The sound echoes through the stillness of the Crypt before fading just as quickly. His smile slowly disappears.
“I’m sorry.” His words hang heavily between them for a breath. “Before you say I don’t have anything to be sorry for, I do. I’ve done…so many things that would disappoint you. I used your death as an excuse to become someone I’m not. I should’ve been stronger.”
Vihaan’s expression doesn’t falter.
“I know.”
I speak the two simple words and Gladian closes his eyes.
“You have time to become who you truly are, though. Make up for the mistakes you made, Gladdy.”
I also repeat that and arch a brow as Gladian chuckles.
“He did not use my childhood nickname.”
“He did,” I say.
“Don’t tell your brother.”
Riven would be pissed to find out he didn’t give him that nickname.
The humor slowly fades away once again, and Vihaan steps closer until he stands only an arm’s length away. His gaze casts over to Sevryn.
“Seveous is dead,” he says, somehow already knowing.
“Yes.”
He nods, giving Sevryn a small, relieved, yet sad smile.
“Guide and support our nephew without smothering him. He’ll come around in time.”
I repeat his words to Gladian, and Sevryn rolls his eyes at me, but his small smirk gives him away.
“I’ll do whatever he allows me to,” Gladian says, voice stronger than it was a moment ago.
Vihaan reaches out, and to my shock, a shiver races through Gladian.
“I never blamed you, little brother. I never blamed Barir or Creed. There was nothing any of you could’ve done. I blamed the only one responsible. Promise me from this point on, you’ll do the same.”
I once again relay his message and silence stretches through the Crypt as Gladian draws in one painful breath after the other.
“I promise.”
“Good.” Vihaan faces me. “I’m ready to go now.”
My lips tighten as I dip my head.
“He’s ready to go.”
Sevryn doesn’t say anything, but reluctantly, he rests his hand on Gladian’s shoulder.
“I love you, Vihaan,” Gladian mumbles.
“And I you, little brother.”
Vihaan reaches his hand out to me, and a massive smile stretches across his face. I can’t help but match it.
“Goodbye, God of Death,” I say.
“You’re going to do great things, Creed.”
I summon my power forward and release a deep breath.
The black strands that wove their way through his soul so fiercely before are barely noticeable now. All that’s left are weak gray threads from my father’s Veil. Something we have all intentions on destroying.
This moment, this goodbye for Gladian, and…for myself, was the only reason it isn’t gone already.
My power wraps around his soul, and he glows as he begins to rise.
“Be free,” I say out loud, then turn my whisper mental.
“Valories, welcome him home.”
His eyes drift shut, and a breath later…he’s gone.
Peaceful stillness settles over the Crypt and a weight lifts off my chest. The guilt, regret, and anger that I’d been carrying for so long over his death, then the realization that he was still trapped here, leave with his soul.
The three of us walk back toward the exit in silence, but it isn’t heavy.
It’s relieving and accepting.
“So we freed one brother and we’re about to lock another one up. What a day.”
Gladian and I glare at Sevryn.
“Not fucking funny,” I growl. “Don’t call him my brother.”
“It’s a little funny.”
I’ve got half a mind to leave his ass down here.
We make it out the door, then all three of us fall still as the wailing shriek pierces our ears.
Riven’s damn bent over, losing his mind in laughter as Mellcom spins in place so fast I can barely see him.
Thayla leans against the wall between Amick and Kyzen, with her arms crossed, but she’s wearing a satisfied smirk. So is Mara.
“Oh goodie, you’re all back,” Riven says, snatching his Chaos from around Mellcom.
Within a second of his spin stopping, he throws up all over the floor.
“You’re fucking cleaning that up,” I snap at Riven. “Where’d the damn thing on his mouth go?”
“I took it off so I could hear him scream,” he says, gagging.
“Let’s go,” Thayla says, pushing off the wall. “We got something far more important to take care of today. Are you going to remove the permissions so we can starshoot right there?”