Chapter 18 Kyzen #3
Amick, Riven, and I grunt as a tug snatches painfully against our chests, but we don’t relent our grips. If anything, they tighten when the floor vibrates beneath us.
I suck in a harsh breath as a flash of white light swarms Creed.
The bright ball of power slices and swirls through the air in rapid, erratic patterns. Its speed increases, blowing wind across our skin as it molds to the shape of my brother.
The four of us tumble into one another when that light explodes. Ripples race across the water, and Creed sails over the edge toward us.
He slams onto his back not even a foot away, panting desperately, and Thayla throws herself to her knees beside him.
“Are you okay? Valories, what the fuck was that? Are you hurt? Let me see you.”
Her hands roam manically all over his body and he slowly gets his breathing under control.
She stops her cussing and fast-moving fingers as a small chuckle falls from his lips. My brothers and I share a look with one another when that sound morphs into a full-blown laugh.
“You stubborn-ass woman.”
“It’s not fucking funny, asshole. What was that?”
His laughter fades as he reaches his shaking hand up until he’s cupping the side of her neck. The three of us finally snap out of our shock and kneel behind her. The smile on his face is so confusing.
“To make a long story short, every time I come here and either devour or release the souls, a piece of me becomes more attached.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Thayla asks as Amick clears his throat.
“I’d prefer you not shorten this explanation.”
“It means, every time I come here, my soul becomes more tied to Hellveilious. Over the years, that thread of connection has grown stronger, and eventually, it’ll solidify. Binding me here.”
“What do you mean binding you? Like you won’t ever be able to leave? Or like your soul will be stuck here? What are you talking about?”
Thayla’s gaze grows crazed as her hand grips his wrist and her other rubs his chest as though she can keep his soul nestled there safely.
“Are you cryptically trying to explain that the reason Vihaan never left Hellveilious was because he was completely bound here and couldn’t leave? And that’s why you’ve neglected coming here lately because you’re trying to defy that fate?”
“Yes, Amick. That’s exactly what I’m trying to admit.
I’ve disregarded my duties because I don’t want to live out my life in Hellveilious.
Just now, another thread was sealing itself to my soul as I was releasing those in the pool.
Thayla, not following directions, snatched her soul to her, which in turn snatched mine. Severing the new thread.”
My eyes widen, and my breathing becomes uneven at the thought of him being stuck here for the rest of eternity.
Does he mean in this room?
No, Vihaan used to wander around Hellveilious but…rumor or I guess history says it was centuries ago the last time he was seen in Godsden.
Holy shit.
That can’t become his reality.
“Okay, well, don’t make it sound like I did something wrong. I’ll do it again if I have to, to keep you from becoming…bound to this place. You’re only allowed to be bound to me.”
“Is that right?” he asks with a twitch to his lips.
“Yes. And you all better know it.”
A small shriek slips through her lips when Creed grips the collar of her armor and snatches her down toward him. The sound is silenced as he kisses her like he almost lost her.
I guess in a sense, he almost did.
That thought has me exhaling through my nose as a tremor travels through my fingers.
More reasons continue to come up of why it’d be in everyone’s best interest for me to handle the problem for him.
Then again, what do I truly know?
I had no fucking clue this was happening to him, and he’s never once shared this shred of truth.
What could destroying Hellveilious do to him? Is his soul and or power reliant on this place to an extent?
Fuck.
I rub my temples and will the logical questions in my mind to be louder than the other voice.
“Come on, get your ass up. If you feel fine enough to eat our Binder’s face, you can definitely stand up on your own.”
Riven smacks Creed on the chest, causing his grunt to separate his and Thayla’s mouths. She’s red-faced and panting, but not at all ashamed about it as she links her hand with mine and stands.
Amick positions himself right in front of Creed the moment he finishes cracking his neck and straightening his shoulders.
“I expect a full explanation of the ins and outs of this place as well as your duties. I no longer will be turning a blind eye to what’s required of you here.”
“You don’t get to dictate what—”
“I’m not trying to dictate, control, order, or whatever other word you want to use to describe my request. I’m trying to protect all of you.
In a very, very short amount of time, Riven has technically stolen a Binding we were supposed to return.
Kyzen recklessly ran off on his own and massacred over half of the fighters in the chamber when we were supposed to be in and out.
“And now you are informing us your very being is becoming attached to the second most deadly place in our entire realm. It isn’t just our lives we have to worry about anymore. How are we supposed to protect her if you all keep deciding and doing things on your own that affect us all?”
Amick’s shout flutters through this chamber in a haunting echo. His heavy breathing mixes with the sound, and we all stand frozen as we watch him compose himself.
Wordlessly, he turns on his heel and marches toward the sliding stone door.
“Amick,” Thayla calls as she releases me and runs to catch up with him.
I rub the back of my neck as regret sears across my skin and his pleas in the fighting chamber ring between my ears.
“Kyzen, snap out of it. Please. We have to get to the others. There are too many of them closing in.”
“There aren’t enough of them.”
I shake my head to clear the deep baritone tone I hear in my own voice.
“Shit…he’s about to snap like a twig. Did you guys see how red his neck was? That was a beautiful shade.”
“Don’t, Riven. I’m so serious. Don’t push him. Especially not here.”
“Ugh, fine. Gods, it’s going to be so glorious when that temper finally snaps in half.”
No, no, it will not be.
Hell hath no fury like the God of Knowledge when he’s had enough.