Thayla
The sweat coating Amick’s forehead concerns me, but he doesn’t seem fazed by it at all.
He’s never been as smiley as he is at this moment.
With an assist from Kyzen, it took him ten minutes to copy that book word for word, and you’d think it was the best ten minutes of his life.
I’m not taking offense to it.
Luckily, between his and Lambrit’s extreme attention to detail and Doren’s sense of knowing where something goes, it only took us an additional ten to make sure the restricted room was back in its original order.
As our footsteps echo down the hall, though, I can’t help the tinge of worry that crawls up my spine.
Like…will someone notice the God of Boundaries’ barrier was tampered with?
I mean, Yemi and I are pretty much sitting in our lonesome when it comes to beings who wield his power.
It wouldn’t be that hard to put two and two together.
“Do you want me to starshoot that to the house for you?” Kyzen asks Amick quietly.
“No, I’m fine. A little tired but not drained. This power boost has done wonders for my reserves.”
I blush at the heated look he gives me.
Fuck, it’s heady knowing he’s giving me credit for that.
It’s written all over his gorgeous face.
“My power is literally pumping through my blood,” Riven says as we enter the Athenaeum. “I haven’t had a chaotic night that I didn’t cause on my own in so long. Really, I thank you all for making such stupid decisions tonight.”
“They aren’t stupid, Riv,” Lambrit scolds. “A little impulsive, reckless, maybe, but not stupid. We’re benefiting greatly from this.”
“Aww, I’m not saying it was a bad thing. This is glorious. I’m having the most amazing time on this scavenger hunt.”
“He is,” Iric mutters. “He’s glowing so bright, it’s hurting my eyes.”
I chuckle as I look over my shoulder at him. He really is squinting as he looks Riven up and down. He probably finds him to be the biggest contradiction he’s ever seen in his life.
“You all are quite excited. My power is begging me to calm you all down,” Rose adds, and I frown over at her.
“Are you okay? Is it bothering you?” I ask.
“I’m fine. It’s actually sweet and funny. Kind of makes you forget we’re doing things that could get us in really big trouble.”
Well…that dampens the mood a bit.
“Okay, everyone,” Kyzen says as he pauses with his hands gripping the handles of the Athenaeum doors. “As soon as we step out, my power’s going to wrap around you. Speeding up can make you feel a little off balance, so be mindful. Shit hurts when you fall going fast.”
Everyone grimaces and straightens their shoulders.
I’m quite used to his power now, but I still suck down a breath and center myself.
He gives us all a nod, then pulls the doors open wide.
The greenery of the Assembly blurs by as we race across the space to the Sanctum. I don’t bother sparing the Beginning Gods statues a glance.
Our shadows flicker across the floor from the dimly lit lights and the unsettling quietness has me holding my breath.
Really, though, it’s always quiet here. Even during the day, the gods who have a role here walk around in silence, like having a conversation will disturb the statue heads or some shit.
Kyzen’s power gradually fades from our skin as we approach the hall with all the locked doors, and we stroll at a normal pace the last ten or so feet to the corner.
I release my breath as we all align ourselves together, staring down the hauntingly ominous hall. Four doors are on one side, four on the other, then one all the way at the back.
Small light fixtures are mounted on the walls, separating, yet highlighting each door as if they all have a special significance.
The sense of power floating in the air around us doesn’t seem as strong as it did the first time Kyzen showed Yemi and me this hall.
That’s more than likely because I have more power now than I did then.
Plus, I’ve been in the presence of the Beginning Gods, but still… the atmosphere itself feels different.
Maybe because our tour was in the middle of the day, and bright light glistened off the marble floors. There wasn’t a whole group of us thrumming with anticipation and excitement.
“Let’s check them out,” Kyzen whispers.
Amick, Lambrit, and Riven practically race to the single door, while the rest of us maneuver to a random one each.
I choose the one closest to me on the right. They all match, so it doesn’t really matter.
My hand hovers over the wood, getting a sense of the power pulsing in the grain.
It’s definitely the essence of the Beginning Gods. Not one, but all.
My thumb grazes the small, dainty gold plate that’s flush behind the door handle. A small smirk crosses my lips as I recall being afraid to jiggle one of them in case one of the gods decided to strike me dead.
I trace the decorative grooves engraved in the finishing and tilt my head at the familiarity of the design. I can’t place where I’ve seen it before. Maybe Ellian’s office or Kyzen’s old one?
Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve really ever paid much attention to any door handle fixtures.
“Welp, what an adventure. Too bad it was a big ol’ waste of time.
The doors are sealed with power and a key.
Paranoid assholes, if you ask me,” Riven says with a small chuckle.
I tilt my head and frown at him. “Aww, don’t look so offended, little burden.
It was still a successful night for the geniuses of our odd group. ”
“No. What did…” My attention flicks back to the handle for a moment, then back to him. The others crowd around him, and my eyes catch on Doren. “Oh my gods.”
“What?” they all ask.
Doren’s forehead wrinkles as I continue to stare at him.
“I wish I could trace the location of the Binding for you, Thayla, I do, but even with all my power now, it’d seem that’s still an impossible task for me.”
My head jerks.
“The key,” I whisper. Then focus on Amick. “Where did you put the key that Doren gave me in the Lost Sea?”
His eyes flare.
“Hidden on my bookshelf in my room.”
“I need that.”
“Valories,” Doren mutters as everyone stares at him. “He said you’d know what it’d unlock when you were supposed to.”
“Who is he?” I ask and grit my teeth when he shakes his head.
“Doren,” Yemi warns.
He sighs, closing his eyes.
“The God of Consequence.”
Asshole.
Not Doren. Well, not completely.
“I’m a touch upset with you, Discovery,” Riven says as he crosses his arms. “Is this one of those little secrets you know but won’t share?”
“No, I swear.” Doren shakes his head frantically. “The same day he activated the Goddess of Seduction’s Binding again, he gave me the key and told me to tell Thayla exactly that. That’s it.”
“We need that key, Amick,” I say, and he nods.
With just a snap of his fingers, the key appears and I hold my hand out for it. I don’t put it in the keyhole just yet, but I do place it up against the decorative plate.
Yep. That’s where the familiarity came from.
The designs match.
Holy shit.
“Well, what are you waiting for, angel? Open the door,” Riven cheers as he bounces on his toes in excitement.
My mouth opens and closes multiple times as I gaze at everyone.
“I mean, should we wait? Plan this out a little better? What are we supposed to do if it actually opens?”
“We walk in, little goddess,” Kyzen says. “When one door opens…”
His comforting smile pulls a deep breath from my chest.
Everyone’s sure nods help but don’t completely erase all the nerves inside of me.
This feels big.
Right.
That’s petrifying.
It’s so seldom that something goes our way like this. It should be comforting and reassuring, but it isn’t.
“Come on, Thay,” Lambrit says. “The worst that’ll happen is it doesn’t open.”
Or I somehow alert a Beginning God that I’m breaking into their old bedroom, but okay.
I shake my shoulders out and take a deep breath.
Fuck it.
I line the key up at the hole and force my hand to stay steady. It’s nearly impossible with the way my body’s starting to vibrate.
I can’t tell if the door is trying to pull me closer or my powers are pushing me onward.
Before the metal can slide in, I freeze.
Fuck. I’m so nervous I could puke.
What the hell?
“V.”
The call of his name is shaky in my mind.
“Well, hello. Where are all of you? I’ve been home for ages and haven’t heard from a single one of you.”
“I…”
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I breathe, flexing my other hand at my side.
“I’m about to open a door with a key, V. I just need to know if I’m doing the right thing.”
My mind falls silent. There’s no hoot, purr, immediate reassurance. Nothing. Just as soon as I start to pull the key back, he speaks.
“You are.”
“I have to use my power too, don’t I?”
“You do.”
“Why am I so nervous, V?”
“Your body is just aware.”
“Of what?” I ask.
Again, he falls silent and I close my eyes, willing him to answer me.
“You have come so far, my Vedae. Keep going.”
He doesn’t say anything else, and my hand trembles as I push the teeth of the key into the hole.
Just keep going, Thayla.
You’ve got this.
Whatever this is.
Once it’s completely settled inside, I exhale.
With my breath, my powers flow through me, and I turn my wrist.
A wave of power blows through the hall, and I stumble back as the door begins to…disappear.
“Did not see that coming,” Riven mutters.
My breathing kicks up as my hands slam against the wall, chasing the wood as it literally fades into vapor.
“No. Shit. That shouldn’t have happened. Right?” I ask, but no one responds. I fall to my knees, trying pointlessly to grip what’s remaining of the door.
Multiple gasps echo behind me as the vapor soars through the air, crashing straight through the door at the very end of the hall.
We all gawk as it subtly glows for a moment, then dulls once again.
“I believe that’s exactly what’s supposed to happen, Mysenta,” Amick says as he holds his hand out toward me without taking his eyes off that door.
“Go try another one, Thayla,” Creed commands and my gaze bounces between him and the flat, doorless wall in front of me.
“What if the disappearing doors is a bad thing?”