Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Anubis continues. “They choose to fall, and they would if they could for you, but it would upset the balance between humans and immortals. Chaos created you out of his own selfish need to hide the very power that was bestowed upon him. He wasn’t always bad, he just wanted more, and now you have that within you.”
She touches the mirror with her finger and jerks back when a flame hits her fingertip. “I’m destined to die? How do I purge the chaos?”
“You misunderstand my words.” Anubis taps the mirror, tiny sparks fly from the glass while we continue our journey down the river. “You are the last daughter of Chaos. You’ll be rewarded for doing the one thing Chaos never did.”
“What’s that?”
“Give up the thing he holds most dear. His power. His life.”
“Sacrifice.” She repeats. “And if I say ‘no’? If I walk away, if I decide to fall into the river Styx? What then?”
“His power will continue to grow and Ra will continue to be stuck here fighting him until he can bring reprieve to humanity.”
She swallows and looks away. “Anubis, will you please bring me back now?”
“Of course.” He pulls her in for a hug. “You know, just because he’s Ra doesn’t mean he’s the only light,” He smiles and wipes her tears. “When you feel lost in the dark all you need to do is look to the stars the way they look to you.”
My heart feels like it’s cracking at the way hope fills her eyes and then we’re back in the cave. Anubis gone.
Rage at the way he spoke to her, the way he got through to her fills my veins until I can’t stand it any longer.
“ON YOUR KNEES!” I yell.
“No!” She jumps to her feet. “Just kill me now!”
“That’s not how this works, human.”
“I hate the sun and I hate you! Stupid, ridiculous immortal!” She spits on the ground.
I’m so stunned I almost laugh. “Do you want to know how stupid this immortal can actually be?” I grab her by the hair and shove her against the wall, then press my mouth against hers in an angry kiss.
My other hand moves to her neck, holding her captive. “The very fucking air you breathe was given to you by the immortals, so you will get on your knees and serve me, then you will write more names in the book so you understand our sacrifice. And you’ll smile while doing it!”
I shove away from her so pissed off I want to burn the world to the ground. I walk in a small circle and then jab a finger at her. “I’ll be back in an hour. I want another hundred names, and for your attitude, you’ll serve me tonight.”
She stumbles forward. “What do you mean?”
I lift my chin and grip my cock. “You’ll serve me…on your knees. And you’ll say ‘thank you’ while I hold your mouth captive. Mock me with your mouth, and I’ll force you to worship me with it.”
I leave. Pissed the hell off.
Kratos is gone, Daggon is in his place.
He opens his mouth.
Without touching him, I slam him against the cliff. Part of it falls to the ground on top of his head, and he still has the audacity to yell after me. “Is this a bad time?”
“Fuck!” I keep walking.
And walking.
And decide I’m going to make her pay. She should be on her knees thanking me, and tonight, she will be.
CHAPTER 28
CLEO
“No one is a total fool if he knows when to hold his tongue.” – Grettir’s Saga, ch.88
I’m shaking so hard I can’t breathe. I feel dirty, gross, I mean there’s a bathroom in the cave, it’s beautiful actually, with a hot spring and all the things that anyone with a spa fetish would want.
But it’s not home.
And I really, really, just want to go home.
I just saw a fallen angel and the God of the Underworld. On top of that I basically saw my future self going on a killing spree. Not my favorite day, not by a long shot.
A god was just choking me and forcing me to my knees, before restating his intent to kill me.
And I’m pretty sure I’m having a nervous breakdown as I shakily write more names down in the book. My mom’s is already there.
My mom.
His explanation sucks.
He sucks.
Why the hell is Kratos working with him? Enki? Anubis? At least they seem more human!
And then what? Another god is sent down for a stupid trial, more humans sacrificed? And now even heaven is like oh, nice, another sacrifice?
Everything I’ve ever learned makes no sense. My world isn’t my world anymore. No, I’m in Cyrus’s—Ra’s. And I hate what it represents.
I hate everything about it.
My teeth chatter from fear as I continue to write out the names. There are so many of them and with each scratch of the quill, the name is imprinted onto my soul, another person who was in this cave.