The Gods' Games Volume 1 & 2: Graphic Edition (The Gods' Games Series)

by Quil Carter

  Sure enough, during their dark walk into the forest, Malagant snapped. He announced it with a scream of rage that echoed throughout the forest, before he started violently hitting a nearby tree with his fists.

  Automatically, Ben and Teal took several steps back, not daring to say a thing or even make a move to calm their friend. They both knew that in Malagant’s rage he would most likely turn on the elf foolish enough to lay a supportive hand on his shoulder, so they both kept quiet and far away from the explosion.

  They both knew Malagant would be fine, even his bones would be fine with the Kova’s Seeve, but Teal’s hand still slipped into Ben’s and the smallest of whimpers broke his lips. Ben squeezed Teal’s hand supportively and at that gesture he leaned his head on Ben’s shoulder.

  Another step back was taken when Malagant’s rage hit its peak. They watched as he took out the long dagger he’d gotten back from the Serpents and viciously, and unmercifully, started slashing and stabbing at the bark.

  Then Teal’s horse, the one Malagant was now riding, gave a nervous whinny and started to rear on her back legs.

  “Oh, shut up, you stupid beast!” Malagant shouted at it. The horse shook her head back and forth and tried to pull away, before Malagant snapped her reins up and gave them a hard pull.

  Malagant brandished the dagger at the horse, his face insane with anger. “I’ll turn you into dog food, you stupid fucking–”

  “Malagant!” Ben shouted. He liked Teal’s horse. She was a kind, sweet horse with a gentle nature. “It’s not her fault, you’re scaring her!”

  “Shut up,” Malagant whirled around and snarled. The anger on his face unsuited to his features which made him all the more intimidating. “Don’t say a word to me. I don’t want to hear it! You wouldn’t understand, you fucking human!” Malagant spun around and slashed at the tree again, bark flying everywhere, leaving long pale gashes as the tree’s flesh shone through.

  Malagant gave it a few more half-hearted cuts, before dropping to his knees.

  Ben didn’t reply, though the words stung him. Malagant didn’t know how much that label was starting to bother him.

  The forest was silent, even the roar of the fire could no longer be heard. Just a cold hush, not a cricket, or a night bird or a small mammal climbing up a tree – just heartbreaking silence.

  There was a sniff beside Ben; he looked over to see Teal’s reflective eyes heavy with unshed tears.

  Ben put his arm around Teal as he let out a muffled sob. He drew his friend into his arms and held him, Teal’s back still hot from the inferno they had left behind.

  They watched as Malagant got up, broken pieces of bark stuck to his knuckles. He rose and they heard him let out a small breath – before he grabbed Teal’s horse and carried on through the trees.

  33

  Ben was jostled awake by the horse stumbling over one of the trappers’ trails many river crossings. He yawned and returned his head to Teal’s swords. The two scabbards crossed over his back had a perfect place in the middle for Ben to rest his head. They had been taking turns sleeping since they left the terrible sight behind them.

  Ben rested his forehead back between the scabbards and closed his eyes again.

  “You’re lucky,” Teal said. He moved his head back so it lightly conked against Ben’s.

  Ben huffed at this and raised his head. “Am I?” He rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the saddle they were sharing.

  “When I killed my first elf, I had nightmares. I couldn’t believe I had to do it,” Teal said. He got up and turned himself around so he was facing Ben. “You though, you’re used to stuff like that from back home. Your first kill didn’t seem to faze you and this one didn’t either, did it?”

  Ben shook his head. The only thing that remotely bothered him was the sound the sword made coming out of the knight’s spine. It was pretty teeth grinding. Besides that he felt fine. The two elves he had killed were Serpents and it had been rather understood that if he didn’t kill them, they’d kill him.

  “Who was your first kill?” Ben had to ask.

  Teal’s mouth twitched. “You kind of already heard of it… are you sure you want it in more detail?”

  Ben thought for a second before remembering when Teal had told him about an elf that he had stayed with when he was younger. From what Ben remembered that elf had tried to take advantage of him. “I do remember, I think. Which makes me want to hear about his death in great detail.”

  Teal took a deep breath. “I was starving, injured; I was only ten years old. I had been on my own for a few years, and my luck had run out. I ended up finding a small cabin in the woods, far off, leagues away from any towns or villages.” Teal went on, “The elf there took me in. An Alcovian mix, in his thirties, simple trapper. Fixed me up, fed me, all that.”

  Ben saw Teal’s claws extend and dig into the cloth of his trousers. “I was naive and stupid at that age. I thought he was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. Then…” Teal took another rattling breath. “… one night he took off his clothes and forced me to watch him go at himself.”

  Ben’s mouth dropped open; he felt his ears burn like they’d just gotten lit on fire. “You don’t need – Damn, you don’t need to continue.”

  “No, I have to tell you the redemption – for my own sanity,” Teal said grimly. “The following day he acted like it never happened. As night went on I got more and more uncomfortable and scared and… sure enough, it happened again. Though this time he made me touch it.”

  “T-Teal…” Ben felt the bile rise up in his throat. He wanted to beg his friend to stop but he didn’t know if this was helping Teal. If it was, he just had to deal with the horror he was feeling.

  “It was when he started touching me… trying to force his fingers into me that I, well… something snapped inside of me,” Teal said, and his brow knitted together with a scowl. “It was strange, Ben. I felt like I put on a new mask in that moment. All of a sudden, while he was violating me with those fingers… a rage swept me and I felt like I was… suddenly giving control to someone else. The other mask, he… he leapt on the elf and tore out his throat, Ben. I tore out the elf’s throat and blood sprayed all over my face and body.”

  Ben stared, and to further hammer in the shock he was feeling, the corner of Teal’s mouth rose. “The elf clasped his hand to his throat and the blood shot between his fingers, all over me and…” Teal looked behind him, to where Malagant was riding ahead. “I laughed at him as he died.”

  Teal’s eyes locked back onto Ben’s, as if trying to gauge his reaction. When he saw that Ben was just staring at him in horror, he flushed and let out a nervous laugh. He started to claw at his arms as this anxious laughter spilled awkwardly from his lips.

  “It – it worked out well though,” Teal stammered. “I had a warm place for the winter, lots of stored food, a horse, and furs to make clothing and sell. It turned into a wonderful winter and I ended up staying there on and off until I met you. So – so it was – so it turned out pretty nice.”

  When Ben still didn’t answer back, Teal looked down at the claws digging into his already scarred arms.

  “Please say something,” he said meekly.

  Finally Ben seemed to break out of his horror-induced trance.

  “I… I know it happened a long time ago but… are you okay?” Ben said back. “He… I didn’t know he actually violated you, Teal. Are you… fuck, no wonder you have those nightmares.” He felt like giving Teal a hug at that moment. He’d known Teal had had a horrible and rough life but he didn’t know he’d actually gotten violated by that elf.

  Teal looked at him, his face paled. “You – you know I have nightmares?” he asked.

  Ben nodded, before the corner of his mouth rose in a slight smile. “Malagant and I both know. You whimper and cry out, twist around and thrash sometimes.” Then Ben held out a hand and put it on the side of Teal’s head and lightly stroked it. “If we just do this… you settle down. It seems all your min
d needs is just a reminder that we’re here and right beside you. It’s –” Ben shrugged. “– kinda precious.”

  Teal blushed, but then he looked up at Ben and narrowed his eyes at him. “I’m a throat-eating maniac – I’m not precious, you ass.”

  Ben laughed, then he shifted his hand down and pinched Teal’s cheeks. “Yes, you are, you’re our precious little Tee Tee. Such a little hibrid you are, in my world you’re not even a real adult.”

  At this Teal smirked and shook his head. “Not for long – I’m eighteen in a month.” Then Teal sighed; he unsheathed his dagger and started to absentmindedly clean his claws. “We’ll be in Lazarius in a month. I can’t believe we’ve made it this far. I can’t believe… how far you’ve come.” He looked up at Ben, a look of pride on his face. “You’re such a hibrid now. I was watching you when you were fighting with that Serpent. It was nerve-wracking and I was looking for a chance to jump in but you handled yourself so well.”

  Ben scoffed and lowered his head; he pulled up a bunch of hair which he had discovered earlier had been sheared off. “See that? A few inches and that would have been my head! I’m not as grown as you might think.”

  Teal looked and groaned. “That is rather close – Alright, you changed my mind. You’re a foolish human who can only stomp squirrel heads.”

  “Indeed!” Ben laughed. He looked up to see Teal still giving him a heartfelt look.

  “You’ve come a long way, Benj- Benny.”

  Ben stared at Teal. He was about to say Benji – that was something only Tav had called him. “Did the demigod mention that?” Ben asked perplexed.

  Teal stared at him for a second before replying softly, “Yeah, I always thought it was cute.”

  Ben was surprised at how long it had been since he had thought about Tav. The more the months went on the more his previous life became faded and far away. The faces of all his friends, his apartment, his drugs, they were now dull, muddled, and blurry.

  And once again, as Ben thought about him, he found himself struggling to pull up Tav’s face. Though, oddly, this didn’t sadden Ben as much as it did previously.

  It had devastated him in Lelan when he’d read that false information in the prophecy. And he’d been angry at Teal when he’d learned that Teal had used his demigod’s request to falsify the text but now…

  As he thought about it, Ben realized he hadn’t even had time to think about it. He’d gotten attacked by the jare cat right after he’d learned what Teal had done. After that it was in the back of his mind and the more things that happened the more it got pushed back.

  How did he feel about what Teal had done? He still wanted to bring Tav here one day, because he didn’t want to leave Tav alone, but as Ben mulled it over he realized that… the warmth, the loving feelings that were conjured whenever he thought of his friend – might be gone.

  Or maybe not completely gone but it seemed to take longer to find.

  Yes, Ben decided. He did want Tav here, or to at least see if he wanted to come here. If not, Ben would return on his own.

  As the months had gone on, Alcove had become his home. Without even realizing when he’d decided it, Ben knew he never wanted to permanently return to his world.

  Tav though… since the information he’d read in the prophecies was wrong. It meant Tav was still alone. Ben didn’t want him to be alone.

  Teal would understand if he brought Tav here; he’d make him understand.

  Then a familiar mystery crept into Ben’s mind. The thing that Teal was trying to confess to him that night on the river. Ben had told him to not tell him and then he’d gotten attacked.

  And when he woke up he’d told Teal he didn’t want to know… not quite yet.

  It had been quite a while now, but Ben had never forgotten. There were times, deep at night, usually during his watch, where he would remember. He’d sometimes entertain himself with outlandish conspiracy theories but by morning he’d shrugged off the curiosity and would just carry on with the day. He was curious but there had been so much more going on – he didn’t feel ready to get into it and Teal was already a bit mentally fragile as it was. Ben didn’t want to add fuel to his friend’s anxiety so he’d just left well-enough alone.

  But as he thought about it, and as Tav’s face, voice, and presence, faded from his mind – Ben realized he might be ready to hear it. Perhaps, once this was all over, Tav would be so far from his mind he would decide not to even bring him here. That was a possibility with how much this once prominent figure in his head was already shrouded – he couldn’t predict how he’d feel in the future. Maybe he would find someone in Elron he’d want to be with and he’d decide to let his best friend back in his world go.

  Ben’s heart wrenched at the very thought and immediately guilt flooded him. He tried to once again convince himself he had to bring Tav here, if only because he didn’t want Tav to be alone.

  But he had a life in Albania – stop acting like you were all he had.

  Ben sighed. Maybe Teal was lying the entire time and he had killed Tav. Oh, if I had a silvering for every time that conspiracy danced in my head I’d be able to buy my own holdfast.

  I might as well find out what it is. Because if Teal did something to Tav or did something to sabotage my life back in my old world… I should know now. No use torturing myself with dreams and ideas that might not even be realistic.

  “I think I’ll be ready soon.”

  Teal looked up at him, Ben saw his pupils retract.

  “What?”

  “For you to tell me… about what you were keeping from me, regarding Tav. The last thing.”

  The dagger dropped from Teal’s hand and landed out of sight. Ben watched it drop before glancing up at Teal. Teal’s wide eyes were staring at Ben like he’d just transformed into a demenos right in front of him and as the seconds ticked by the colour was noticeably draining from his face.

  Then Teal turned and jumped off of the horse.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Ben turned around surprised; this wasn’t the reaction he was expecting at all.

  “D-dagger. I dropped the – the dagger,” Teal stumbled. He picked up the mud-covered dagger and sheathed it, but, as if his feet had become glued to the ground, he paused and watched the horse walk further and further away. He didn’t move the entire time, it didn’t look like he wanted to. Teal just stayed on the road staring at the horse, seemingly paralysed and frozen in whatever headspace he was in.

  Ben got off of his horse, who thankfully just kept on walking behind Malagant’s. But as he walked towards Teal, Teal started walking backwards.

  “Teal? You’re starting to freak me out…” Ben said, his voice uneasy. He could feel his heart already pumping faster, and each pump was injecting more and more dread into his bloodstream. “I didn’t say you had to tell me now.”

  Teal took another step back; his eyes as wide as an owl’s. He looked past Ben. “Malagant looks drunk. He’s been drinking all day. Let’s… we should…”

  Teal quickly sprinted past him and ran towards Malagant who had been napping in his saddle. Malagant had been hitting the wineskin pretty hard since they’d left the inferno of the inn behind them. Though that wasn’t the point; the point was so far away it might as well of been in Kar’Endia.

  “Mal-Malagant!” Teal hollered, his voice breaking. Ben raised his arms to the air and dropped them in frustration and confusion. He was at a loss as to why Teal was reacting this way but it was continuing to fill him with anxiety.

  Nevertheless, he followed Teal as his friend bounded over to bother Malagant.

  “Wha…?” Malagant opened one eye, the wineskin tied to the pommel of his saddle.

  “Teal, don’t drag him into this. For Shol’s sake, I didn’t say now! You’re overreacting,” Ben said exasperated. “The damn knight isn’t going to save you.”

  “I think you should stop drinking for a while,” Teal said hurriedly to a half-asleep and confused Malagant. He held out his hand for t
he wineskin.

  Malagant picked up his soft leather bag of wine and held it against him like it was his first born son.

  Teal shook his outstretched hand. “Give it to me.”

  “Teal…” Ben sighed.

  Malagant looked at them both, still clutching the wineskin to his chest. “Why are you trying to take away my wine? What did my wine ever do to you?”

  “We’re not trying–” Ben said angrily but Teal cut him off.

  “Yes, we are! What if we see Serpents? We can’t save Elron with Ben being drunk –” Teal said desperately. “– I mean, with Malagant knowing…” he stumbled again over his words. “I… I mean…”

  Teal looked at both of them with a stricken and flustered look, before he darted off into the woods.

  “Hey!” Ben called after him. “Come back here, you little headcase!”

  “I’m going – I’m going for a walk,” Teal’s voice called faintly… and then he was gone.

  “What just happened?” Malagant blinked. He looked down at his wineskin, squinted his eyes, and, with a shake of his head, he put it away; as if copping all of this up to a wine-induced hallucination.

  “I told him I was near ready to hear what else he was keeping from me about Tav, and he completely went… Teal on me.” Ben jumped back onto his horse and shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

  “Oh?” Malagant’s brow furrowed, then his eyes widened. “Ohhh.”

  Ben didn’t even respond, he just stared at Malagant. He watched as Malagant pursed his lips tightly together, looking towards the trees that Teal disappeared into.

  “Well, he’s not coming back. It looks like it’ll be up to us to complete the prophecy. He’ll be halfway to Dashavia by tomorrow morning.”

  Ben let out a loud and rather frustrated grunt before giving Malagant an unimpressed glare. “You would’ve done better being a jester rather than a knight.”