Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Your brother?
“What are you doing here?” I asked Momus.
Because, while he was the child of Nyx, he wasn’t exactly as, I don’t know, wicked.
In fact, he kind of just ridiculed everyone. He thrived on finding fault in humans and gods alike, then mocking them with those faults relentlessly.
He was so despised by the other gods that he was kicked out of Mount Olympus.
Why would he be here? Knowing he wasn’t wanted.
“Catching up with my siblings,” Momus said. “The question is… what are you doing here?”
“Me and my girl, we were just having a little… tryst in the woods,” Daemon said, laying his charm on thick.
“You’re… not human,” Momus said, eyeing Daemon, making my belly twist.
“Neither are you.”
“Fair enough. You, I can’t quite get a feel on,” Momus said, looking at me. “Not human. But not a god either.”
“Why do you want to see your siblings? You don’t like them,” I said, trying to get his attention off of me.
“Oh, what’s not to like?” Momus asked, smirking again. “Ares, who so loves war. Yet spends so much time getting his ass kicked.
“And sweet Eris, that one friend who says ‘no offense’ right before destroying your day.”
“And Oizys?” Daemon asked.
“Oh, Oizys. Whose idea of small talk is asking you if you remember that embarrassing thing you did ten years ago. Then discussing it in detail until you’re rocking in a ball on the floor.
“One doesn’t have to like their siblings if their aim is to enjoy reminding them of all their many shortcomings.”
“If anyone could use a kick in the ass, it’s the gods,” Daemon agreed.
“Indeed. But I can’t seem to find dear Nemesis. The one to punish hubris, yet possesses enough arrogance to believe she has the right to judge. I feel no one has reminded her of that in far too long. Have you seen her?”
“Uh, no,” I said. “I’ve been wanting to speak to her, though. But haven’t been able to locate her.”
“Hmm,” Momus said, chin lifted, lips pursed.
“Hmm what?”
“Seems rather convenient that Nemesis is missing while the gods run amok,” Momus said. “Well, no matter. I’m here to stir up some shit. Unless the two of you would like some mocking.”
“Yeah, we’re good,” Daemon said, making me press my lips together to keep from laughing.
“Very well then. Please get back to your tryst. If he proves unsatisfactory, I could destroy his ego for you,” Momus said before turning and walking away with a flurry of his many-colored robes.
“Thanks,” I called to him, getting a raised brow from Daemon.
“Do you doubt my skills?” he asked, pressing a hand to his chest.
I ignored that, knowing it was dangerous territory. Even just thinking of his ‘skills’ had heat thrumming through my system.
“Do you think we have time to go back to the cave?”
“Shadow girl, I always have time to go to the… cave.”
“Get your head out of the gutter,” I demanded, backhanding him across the chest.
“But, no, the sun is almost coming up. We’re about out of time.”
“Right,” I agreed, sighing hard. “I guess we should put you back.”
If there was regret in my voice, then so be it. True, this was my plan. His suffering felt mildly more preferable than to keep finding dead human bodies in that basement.
Still, I didn’t want to see him suffer; I didn’t like the idea of him screaming in pain while the gods got their kicks by torturing him, body and soul.
But it had to be done.
Until we found Nemesis.
I brought the shadows around us, feeling a strange coldness raking its fingers down my skin, sinking in beneath, chilling me to my core.
It wasn’t long before the exhaustion started to sink in. By the time we got to the bottom step in the cellar, each step forward felt like fighting against gravity, like the world itself was pressing down on me.
“You okay there, sweetness?” Daemon asked, watching me as I reached for one of the chains, the muscles in my arms shaking under its weight, despite them not weighing more than ten pounds.
“Yep,” I lied, keeping my head ducked as I slid the shackle around one wrist. Then the other. And, finally, his feet.
“Get some rest, shadow girl,” Daemon murmured, the concern in his voice making my belly swoop.
That was the plan.
As I walked, though, I knew there was no getting back to the motel. My legs were lead. My muscles were trembling with the effort just to stay upright.
I just had to get to the car.
I could turn it over and sleep inside.
“No,” I whimpered, my legs buckling still deep in the woods, taking me down on my knees in the underbrush.
My entire body was trembling, a chill so deep in my marrow that there seemed no hope of warmth again.
On a whimper, I curled up on my side, pulling my jacket more tightly around my body, then pulling my arms inside the body of it instead of the sleeves, trying to seal in as much heat as possible.