by Cheree Alsop
He lifted a knife. The blade flashed in the dim light.
“N-no!” the man protested.
He struggled, but the Godking put a hand on his shoulder. The Smiren easily held him in place. A whisper of warning ran through me. Did he have a skull beetle?
His knife lowered toward the man’s throat.
“Wait!”
Everyone paused at my shout.
“Who said that?” the Godking demanded.
“I did,” I replied.
The Godking’s eyes landed on me and widened with recognition.
“The gladiator,” he said in an undertone. He raised his voice and commanded, “Bring him to me!”
The effortless way he tossed the man back to the soldiers confirmed the use of a skull beetle.
But why use one in such a casual manner?
Perhaps he has an unlimited cache of them.
The thought was bone-chilling. No wonder everyone treated him like he was a god.
“I come of my own accord,” I said.
My words made the soldiers pause.
The Godking looked from my handcuffs to my friends. “It appears otherwise.”
I gave him a humorless smile. “Appearances can be deceiving.” I wasn’t sure if he recognized me. I kept my tone conversational and asked, “How many lives have you sacrificed here?”
The Godking glanced down at the massive pile of bodies on the ground far below. Other forms littered the pyramid where they had stopped on the descent. Everywhere I looked, blood streaked the translucent golden stones. The thought that so many lives had been lost at the hands of my father made me sick.
“Thousands,” he replied lightly. “But I’ve yet to find the strength to activate the stones.” He shook his head. “I’ve been working to expand the pyramid. Much more Andenite is being harvested as we speak.” He motioned upward. “According to the prophecy, the pyramid should reach the clouds. As you can see, we are still working to attain such a height.”
His reasoning didn’t make sense. I pulled at the handcuff chains, testing them casually, and asked, “If that’s the case, why start the sacrifices until it is finished?”
I caught the Godking’s furtive glance toward his soldiers. They didn’t appear to notice. He raised himself to his full height, towering a good three feet over me and making me feel like a young, helpless boy again. “Because I am the Godking and it is as I command.”
He flexed and the veins on either side of his throat bulged. I had the distinct impression that he wanted to tear my arms off.
I cleared my throat. “Maybe you’re doing it wrong.”
My dad’s eyes practically bulged out of his head at my words.
“What did you say?” he asked in a low growl.
“What are you doing?” Farlon whispered from behind me.
I gestured toward the spilled blood and the bodies that littered the pyramid. “Obviously, the way you’re killing them isn’t effective. Perhaps the blade is tainting the process.”
The Godking took a step forward as if to prove to me just how effective the blade was, but then a voice spoke up behind me.
“I-I think he may be correct, your most fearless Godking.”
My father’s gaze flickered over my shoulder. I heard Lord Briofe take a step back under the Godking’s scrutiny.
“And why do you say that?” the hulking man finally asked.
“I was showing my cousin Lady Nova the prophecy,” Briofe explained. “And I can confirm that nowhere in it does it mention the use of weapons in the spilling of the blood.”
My father’s eyes narrowed as if he would react. Then, to my surprise, he opened his hand. The knife clattered to the brick beneath his feet.
“Very well. I am open to other interpretations on this matter. The greatest minds in the ‘Verse have gotten us this far. What’s a little change of perspective?” he asked.
In a burst of speed that could only have been fueled by a skull beetle, the Godking grabbed the chain between my handcuffs and threw me to the ground onto my back so hard the air was knocked from my lungs. He locked an arm around my neck and squeezed. Spots danced in front of my eyes.
“You want to challenge me in front of my people?” he leaned down and demanded in a whisper only I could hear. “Good luck, Smiren weakling! The Blavarians obey only my commands. They do not question. If I want to spill blood, I spill blood. If I say the word, they will open their guts upon this pyramid here and now.” His arm tightened. “But I have a distinct feeling I’ve found what I’m looking for. Aren’t you the gladiator who bested all others in the arena? I know your story.”
I jabbed my finger into his eye as hard as I could. When he released me with a pained grunt, I rolled to my feet and backed away sucking in deep breaths.
“You don’t know everything,” I said through my bruised throat.
He rubbed his red eye as he rose with a grin. “Are you sure about that?” He turned his gaze to Lord Briofe. “Do you really believe I promoted an Accords System spy to the head of my security by accident?”
Lord Briofe chuckled.
My heart tightened as I wondered just how much he knew about Anaya.
“I knew they would send someone to free her.” His gaze narrowed. “It wasn’t a far reach to pad a few pockets, including a few in your esteemed Parliament. That Lord Talius was sure grateful for a few extra marks to his name, and the Finthack Lady Saa was easy enough to persuade with her family locked in my cells.” He grinned. “It was the only way to ensure that our spy’s brother would be the one sent.”
Icy shards wormed through my body. “You knew I was her brother?” My words came out in a strangled rasp.
His eyes glittered when he replied, “You would be surprised the things one can learn from an empath exceptionally gifted at torture.”
Enraged at the thought of Anaya in his merciless grasp again, I dove at the Godking. He caught me by the throat with his longer reach and slammed me to the ground so hard I felt the brick crack beneath me. My father pinned me down with a knee on my chest. I tried to suck in a breath through ribs that felt shattered. I coughed and tasted blood.
“The gladiator has some fire,” he said.
“Leave him alone!” Nova shouted.
The soldiers around us lifted their weapons. Redden and Farlon stepped in front of Nova, shielding her with their bodies.
“Keep them under control,” my father growled. He turned his attention back to me. “I need some time with this one.”
His skull beetled-fueled strength along with his hulking size made for a terrifying adversary. Foreboding pressed against me.
I’m looking my death in the face.
He’s not very pretty. Time has not been good to him.
I would tell him that if I could breathe.
Breathing is for wimps. Get out of there!
As soon as the Godking lifted his knee, I tried to push away. He slammed a fist into my head with such strength my skull rebounded off the bricks, stunning me. I blinked, willing my eyes to focus, but all I saw was a blur.
My father grabbed me with a grip of steel. When he lifted me into the air, I was powerless to do more than wait for the ensuing crack of my spine across his knee. It’s what I would have done. Nullify the enemy. Take away his defenses. Weaken him in the greatest way possible.
I was hurtled through the air instead. When I hit the bricks with a sickening, bone-crunching stop, I realized one thing. My father had never fought in the arena. He didn’t know the rules. I may have been broken, but he was ignorant in the ways of combat. If I could find a weakness, there might be a way to stop him.
I rose shakily to my feet and kept my inward realization from showing on my face. Both my knee and elbow had hit the edge of the brick so hard damage had occurred, but there wasn’t time for an assessment.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Kovak Sunder,” the Godking said as he stalked down the pyramid to reach me. “My immorality is fueled by strength, and you have pro
ven to be the strongest warrior in the Accord Systems and beyond.” A feral grin spread across his face. “I’m proud of you, my son. It’s time you fulfill the measure of your creation.”
Electricity ran across my skin at his words.
“So, you do know who I am,” I said. I blinked in his direction and my blurred gaze focused. “Isn’t it a little ironic that you’re prepared to sacrifice your own children yet again?”
The Godking gave a humorless laugh and gestured toward the ground far below the translucent pyramid. “I give you the drained bodies of the Strygors of the Velaney System, the Myrths of the Alonias, and even a Borus from the black star of the Trimeth Belt.” He shook his head. “None of their blood, or what passes in their races for such matter, was enough to activate my pyramid.” He tipped his chin. “But something tells me I have finally found the right blood to spill upon these sacred stones.”
I looked at where he indicated and my breath caught. The massive pyramid brick I stood upon glowed in a bright golden hue. The light flowed in vivid waves from the drops of blood on the mineral. With each drop, the stone glowed brighter. I glanced down at my elbow that had split open when the Godking threw me. More drops fell.
The Godking gave a deep laugh. “I knew it!” he said. “Finally! The right blood was my own son’s! The sacrifice makes sense now!”
He reached into a pouch in his waist and pulled a skull beetle out. Every cell in my body screamed at the sight of it. It had been far too long; I wanted that skull beetle.
I took a painful step forward. The chain between my handcuffs rattled.
My father grinned knowingly.
“It’s a pity we can’t linger here, Kove.” He twirled the skull beetle between his fingers and said, “But my immortality is far more pressing than a reunion with my son.” He put the skull beetle in his mouth and chewed it.
I felt the crunching as one felt the tingle of electricity in the air before a Dark Matter reactor performed a jump.
The Godking gave a sigh of delight.
I knew the exact feeling as the stomach warmed, strength surged, and potential became limitless. Unfortunately, it was about to be used against me.
“I apologize about the trap and the use of your sister,” he said, advancing on me. “It felt like a low ruse to get you here, but I didn’t think you would come willingly.”
I gave a nonchalant shrug as I limped a wide berth around him. “I’m usually against sacrificing myself for someone I can’t stand.”
“Understandable,” he replied amiably. “I’d like to imagine that we would be family again under different circumstances.”
I climbed a step and then another. The stones beneath me lit at the touch of my blood. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“Come now, Kovak. You’ve grown into a reasonable man from what I’ve seen. Selling you to Lord Calladar had been the right thing to do. You value strength.” He indicated the others above us. “You’ve gathered a team of some of the strongest, and that’s commendable.”
I fought back the urge to roll my eyes and said, “I’m glad you approve.”
He nodded as he easily followed my awkward climb back up the pyramid. “I do. Of the female, especially.” He climbed another step and said, “I’ve a mind to add her to my trove of companions. It would be a tribute to you, though you wouldn’t be alive to appreciate it.”
I heard Nova’s snort of distaste and a smile spread across my face. “She isn’t flattered by your offer.”
My father’s irises burned when he glared up at her. “You should be honored by such interest from the Godking!”
“You think too highly of yourself,” Nova replied scathingly. “You sold Kove and Anaya as if they were possessions instead of lives. You should be ashamed of yourself!”
“I am the Godking,” he replied as simply as if he was stating a fact. “I must think highly of myself because there is no other way to think. I am the Godking the Blavarians have been searching for throughout history.” His eyes glittered with pride. “When I learned of that righteous cause, I challenged the last Malivok to a duel.” He flexed his tattooed chest and said, “When I tore off his head, I took his name to honor him and to uphold the quest of the Blavarians.” He smiled at Nova and a chill ran down my spine when he said, “When I reach my immortality, you will beg to be at my side, and I will cherish your groveling as my due for sparing you the way that I will not spare your beloved.”
I reached the step where we had started and limped backwards.
My father followed me, but his attention was still on Nova. “You will plead for my attention; you will ask to bear my offspring. You will grovel to be my plaything. Because I am Malivok the Eternal, the gracious Godking, Bringer of Order, the Unstoppable, and now is the time I have been waiting for.”
The Godking reached me in a surge of beetle-fueled speed. I fell to my knees as though afraid.
“That’s it, my son. You have finally accepted your fate.” My father nodded. “It is right that you know your place in the Universe. Your death will bring about my immortality. I will—”
I picked up the knife he had dropped and slashed it backhanded across his chest, and then down to his waist. Red blood spilled out of the gashes.
“I will fight to my last breath,” I said, rising to my feet with the pouch I had cut free clutched in one hand.
Malivok gave a wild-eyed laugh that tinged on madness. “That can be arranged!”
He lunged forward.
I threw myself backward to avoid his grasp and rolled heavily down several of the huge steps. Rising to my knees, I shoved a skull beetle in my mouth and bit down. A rush of heady warmth filled me when I swallowed it.
My father scrambled after me, all pretense of control gone. I slashed at him with the blade again, but with the beetle already in his veins, he was faster. He grabbed my arm and ripped the knife from my grasp. I stumbled backwards off the next step. Before I could move, the Godking drove the knife through my shoulder and into the stone beneath, pinning me. A yell of pain tore from my lips.
“Enough games!” he shouted. “I am done with this!”
Warmth rushed through me as the bricks began to glow.
The Godking’s eyes widened. “Yes!” he said. His voice twisted higher at the end of the word. “This is it!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my blood running down the steps. Each one that it touched glowed golden. The ground shook in a low rumble of warning; its tremors ran through the pyramid where I lay.
The Godking slammed a hand down by my face.
“I told you,” he said, his face inches from mine. “I told them all!”
A gasp escaped him.
I turned my head to the right just far enough to follow his gaze.
Several drops of blood had fallen from the gash across his chest to the brick I was pinned to. Where the blood had dripped, the stone glowed deep blue instead of gold.
“The prophecy,” he said in a whisper.
“It’s just like the prophecy!” Lord Briofe crowed from above us. “The bricks glowed blue, not gold! You are the key, your graciousness!”
My father’s eyes widened. “As are you,” he said to me.
Before I realized what he meant, the Godking reached down and yanked the knife from my shoulder.
I rolled to my knees with a growl of pain.
“Fortun!” I shouted.
The heat of the skull beetle burned in my stomach and then through the fire tattoos on my arms. They scorched with red hot strength. I snapped the chain between my handcuffs and glared at my father.
“Yes,” the Godking said, “use your strength and spill my blood!”
He held out the knife. In a fit of rage and pain, I grabbed it from his hand and added another slash across his chest.
More blood splashed onto the brick at our feet. It glowed blindingly blue in response.
“That’s it!” Malivok said with a maniacal laugh. “My immortality awaits! Kill me here and see
my ascension!”
I was more than willing to comply. With the burning of strength through my limbs and his threat to Nova still echoing in my ears, I raised the knife to bring the blade across his throat.
“Kovak, don’t do it!”
I paused with the knife above my head and sought out Nova. She stood behind Redden and Farlon. Everyone stared at us. My father’s soldiers seemed to have forgotten the trio in their excitement to see their Godking complete his journey.
“Do it,” my father said, his tone giddy. “End my life as you so desire, my son. Spill my blood across the pyramid.”
Nova held my gaze. “Don’t do it,” she pleaded. “If he’s right, you’ll doom us all!”
“He can’t be right,” Farlon said. “Nobody can be immortal.”
“Do you really want to risk that right now?” Nova demanded.
“I know I don’t,” Redden replied. “What if it ignites the pyramid?”
The ground shook harder this time. I shifted my feet to keep my balance.
“Come on, Kovak, my boy!” Malivok said. “Finish what you started!”
As much as I didn’t believe in prophecies, I couldn’t deny Nova’s reasoning. I shoved the knife into the waist of my pants and punched the Godking with the beetle-fueled strength that roared through my limbs.
My father flew down several steps and slid to a stop with an expression of dismay.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I followed him down. “Stopping you.”
He reached for the pouch at his waist, but his hand closed around nothing but air.
I lifted the pouch I held. “Looking for this?”
His eyes widened. “Shoot him!” he commanded to his soldiers.
“Batun!” I shouted.
The guntler skull tattoos on my upper arms glowed red as I shoved the pouch into my waistband. Nova let out a cry. Bullets rained down on me from the soldiers above, but the skull beetle I had eaten had been fresh and filled with strength. The bullets couldn’t penetrate my skin. I stood without flinching and faced the rain of death that failed to leave an impact.
The soldiers finally stopped and stared down at me. Taking advantage of their distraction, Redden and Farlon attacked.