“No!” he cried.
I didn’t even feel Nasya’s hand on mine until everything around us shimmered and changed.
The other me paced around the conference room in the shelter in northern Greenland, while Ceris and Levi sat around the table.
“Two days,” Micah said. “Two fucking days since Omi took Nadine. Do you have any idea what they could be doing to her? Oh, by the Everlast. I don’t care. I’m going.”
The other me marched to the door, but Levi stood and spoke. “Calm down, Mitrus. They probably want information, and to get it out of her, she must be alive.”
Micah glared at him. “You mean they must be torturing her.”
Levi averted his eyes.
Ceris stood then. “You can’t march in there, Mitrus. That would be suicide.”
“Do I look like I care?”
The same frustration and powerlessness I felt that day rushed through me, and I leaned against the wall, hating to relive these days.
Nasya glanced at me.
“I care,” Levi said. “We can’t lose you. The creed can’t afford to lose you. We’ll find a way.”
“I have an idea,” Ceris said.
Nasya extended her hand to me, and I took it. The picture shifted. We stood in the shelter’s gym, watching as Nadine and other me made out on the floor.
Lust rippled through my body along with an urge to punch the guy that was touching her right now, even though I knew this was a memory and I was the guy. Oh fuck, I had touched her, I had felt her, I had kissed her, and she had kissed me back; she had touched me back.
Micah thrust into her, and she moaned. By the Everlast, I would lose it right here.
Then when she reached down to his waistband, he pulled away.
“What was that?” Nasya asked. “I thought you loved her.”
“I was trying to stay away from her,” I confessed. “She deserves much better than me.”
She really did. I was a messed up man with a bad past, and I would never be able to make up for everything. She deserved to be with a man who was as perfect as she was.
With a smile, Nasya touched my arm. The gym disappeared, giving away to the cottage on the Croatian island.
The other Micah burst through the door, carrying Nadine in his arms. This was right after the battle in the volcano. Morgan had stabbed Nadine, and she was still bleeding.
Levi gestured to her bedroom. “Lay her on the bed.” Micah did as instructed. “Now, give me space.”
He scooted back but didn’t leave the room. “No, I want to help. I want to—”
“Mitrus.” Levi put his hands over Micah’s shoulders. “You need to calm down, and I need space to work on her.”
Keisha appeared at the door. “Come on, my Lord,” she said, grabbing his arm.
“Levi …”
“I know,” he said. “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine.”
Nasya stepped closer to me and clasped my hand.
“Last stop,” she said as the image changed. We were in the living room of the Croatian island cottage, and Nadine was on the porch, buried under a blanket and hugging Pinky.
The other me spied her through the window, thinking about her birthday gift. She had been so happy about it, and I had been happy to be able to do something nice for her.
“Lord Mitrus, you surprise me with each memory,” Nasya said, smiling.
“What do you mean?”
“While I’m in your head, I’m not only seeing your memories. I can see what you’re thinking too. In the present. While we went through all those memories, I saw them and felt them. I felt whatever you were feeling at that moment, and I was feeling what you were feeling now, while watching it again.”
“Wait. What? Then why were you asking me questions?”
With a knowing smile, she extended her hand to me. “Come on.”
Hesitantly, I took her hand.
8
My head spun and the darkness along the edges of my vision slowly retreated.
“Lord Mitrus,” Nasya called.
The spinning was gone, and my sight sharpened. I straightened my back, sure I would have an eternal back problem after sitting in this chair.
Nasya stood in front of me, her hands clasped together.
“So?”
“During the first part of the test, I wasn’t sure if I believed your words. That’s why I asked the second part.”
I already knew that. “Okay.”
“I felt everything the past you and the present you felt, and I must say I’m impressed. That first vision with Imha, the old you let her seduce him fast and you even enjoyed the game, but the present you was disgusted. When arguing with Levi, the old you wanted to create a problem. The present you wanted to slap the old you. When with your human parents, the longing and the happiness you shared with your parents overwhelmed me. After their deaths, you were sad, both in the old you and the present you, and I also felt how terrible you felt for not having helped that girl sooner. When you first saw Nadine, the past you was curious, even about how hot you thought she was, but the present you emanated love. I know how desperate you were to save her from those demons at the top of that mountain. I know how you wanted to protect her from yourself, which honestly, the past you would have never done. I know how you wanted to protect her from anything and everything. And that’s why you’re here.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “You have changed, Lord Mitrus. You have become a good god. A kind and just god. The human had a large hand in it, and for that, I’ll give you the Cup of Life.”
My heart squeezed. “What?”
“You passed my test. The first one in over six centuries. Congratulations, Lord Mitrus.” Nasya bowed, a more exaggerated and elegant move than Keisha usually did.
Relief washed over me. Thank the Everlast energy!
Eagerly, I looked around us. The stone slab, the armchair, and grass. “Where is it?”
She beckoned me to stand. “Come with me.”
Without hesitation, I followed her down another wooden path, deeper into the island until it became a bridge. The water flowing under the bridge glowed an unnatural blue light, and it formed a ring around a small rocky island. There was a stone pedestal at the center of that island and a golden chalice on top of it.
Nasya halted before we reached the bridge and gestured to the island. “The Cup of Life.”
That was it? I just had to walk to it and take it? It seemed too simple.
Wary but still eager, I crossed the bridge. Nasya stayed behind on the path.
I reached the edge and inhaled deeply before taking the first step onto the island. I moved forward but nothing happened. I guess I still expected booby traps or tricks.
My gaze shifted to the golden cup, and I forgot all about that. It was beautiful and big, the size of my forearm, and shiny, with several of the creed’s symbols carved on the rim. It was powerful—very powerful. I reached for it, spying the translucent liquid within it. So this was the elixir of immortality. I closed my hands around it. Energy slipped into me and I welcomed it, rejoicing in the fact that I had gotten the Cup of Life. Nadine would be able to live forever ... if she wanted.
With a winning smile, I turned back to the bridge. I took the last step on the little island and was about to cross the bridge when I slammed into a wall. What the fuck? I clambered back, almost dropping the Cup of Life, and stared ahead. There was nothing there. Nothing visible. The power of another shield hummed around the island.
“How do I get past this ward?” I asked.
“You don’t,” a male voice said.
I turned to my left and gaped, ice flowing in my veins, but I made sure to wipe the surprised expression from my face quickly enough.
Amiel, Jed, Riel, and Keon stood beside Nasya. Smiling the same easy grin that was my trademark, Riel put his hand around Nasya’s throat.
“Do as we say, and she lives,” Jed threatened.
I locked the new Mitrus away and put on my old mask. “An
d why do you think I care?”
“You’re different now,” Keon said. “You associate with humans. You care for them, which means you care about any living creature, immortal or not.”
I scoffed. “As if I care. She’s a traitor.” I glared at Nasya. “You talked about your hate for cheaters and traitors with pride, and yet you’re one. You tricked me so they could sneak up on me.”
“No!” she croaked. “I didn’t. I swear, I didn’t know they we—”
“Quiet!” Riel shouted, tightening his grip around her neck. She whimpered.
“We’ve tricked the both of you,” Amiel explained. “We came here two weeks ago. We couldn’t get to the cup. She couldn’t get to the cup. The only way was passing her tests, which we didn’t. So we kept an eye on the island, waiting for a fool to pass the test and take the cup.”
“Imagine our surprise when you were the fool.” Jed gestured to my hand. “Now we’ll take the cup.”
“Give us the Cup of Life,” Keon commanded. “Give us the cup and we won’t kill her.”
I snorted. “She’s immortal. You can’t kill her.”
“Is that right?” Riel pulled a Black Thorn from his back pocket.
My mouth felt dry. “How ...?”
“We stole it from Imha,” Amiel said, sounding proud. “During one of her invasions. She was too busy fighting nymphs, and we were able to snatch it. With over a dozen of them, she surely didn’t even notice.”
They had me trapped and they had a Black Thorn. Fuck, this wasn’t looking good.
I scanned the surroundings. There wasn’t much to the island. The bridge, the wooden path, the large grass area, then the rocks and beach. I just had to cast a big bolt with enough energy to stun them, find a way of breaking the shield, run to the dock, and disappear.
Easy enough, if it weren’t for the fact that I didn’t know what or who was holding this shield up.
“Mitrus silent?” Jed teased, making a doubtful face. “That’s new.”
“See? He is different,” Keon said.
I ignored their comments and asked a burning question. “What do you want the Cup of Life for?”
“It’s actually a funny story,” Amiel said, grinning. “We planned on offering it to you, so you could give it to that little human you’re infatuated with and gift her with eternity.”
Really? “And what would you demand of me?”
Riel spun the Black Thorn around his fingers, and Nasya watched him with big, scared eyes. She didn’t dare to move. “Kill Levi,” he said.
What?
“And make sure his soul doesn’t come back,” Jed added.
That would mean the end of balance. Forever. There would be no way of restoring the creed or peace in the world. Imha’s chaos would spread and infect everything, everyone. No, that couldn’t happen.
I still had one advantage here. I was trapped within a shield, but the cup was in my hands. They would have to bury that Black Thorn deep in my chest to pry it from my fingers.
I needed a plan.
I squared my shoulders. “I’ll do it.”
Amiel tilted his head with suspicion. “If it was thirty years ago, I would have dropped the shield at once and let you go, no questions asked. But you’ve changed. You’re not the same Mitrus we knew. How can you guarantee us you’ll do it?”
So he was the one holding the shield up. I kept on my poker face. “I hate the guy. Levi thinks he’s all that just because he’s the center of the creed. He carries himself as if we have to kiss the ground he walks on. Just because he died with me and we were collaborating to recover our powers, doesn’t mean we’re allies now. I endured him because I had to.”
The four of them exchanged wary looks. I didn’t think they were buying it.
“That’s not enough,” Keon said. “We need proof or a physical guarantee.”
I knew what he was asking. To leave the Cup of Life with them until after I had killed Levi. They were backing me into a corner, and I had to break free before it was too late.
My eyes met Nasya’s. She was vulnerable here, and I couldn’t guarantee her safety. I hoped she sensed my intentions and was ready for it. She gave me the slightest nod.
“You cowards,” she said, drawing the Death Lords’ attention to her.
I cast a black bolt and threw it at them. The bolt hit Amiel’s back and Jed’s side, causing them to fall over Riel and Nasya. She yelped, scooting away.
I extended my hand forward, half-expecting it to bump the invisible wall again, but it didn’t. The wall had fallen with Amiel. I clutched the Cup of Life tighter and raced across the bridge, firing bolts at Riel, who chased after Nasya, and Keon, who turned to me with a death stare.
He produced a ball of energy, but I had already thrown mine. It exploded on his shoulder, and he staggered back. I cast a shield between us and kept on running, with one thought on my mind: reach the edge of the shield.
Nasya shot up and ran, but she didn’t get too far as Riel cast chains around her legs. She fell on the grass again.
Something tugged inside me, something similar to sympathy. I slowed down and, using magic, undid the chains around her and tied them around Riel. He broke the chains in no time and turned to me, allowing Nasya to run away into the darkness of the island.
Keon broke the shield. Jed stood up, grunting from my shot, and Riel actually growled, charging me.
Fuck.
The power in me demanded I turn and fight like the real god I was, but that would be foolish. I had to stun them again, throw them off and keep running until I was on the dock. If I tried to fight, I would spill the elixir, or lose the cup to them—options I didn’t want to consider.
I hurried along the path, sensing the three of them coming after me, hearing their groans and heavy footsteps.
I was already on the sand when one of their bolts hit my leg and I tripped. My blood turned to ice as I focused on the cup, holding it up while I fell on my knees. A drop swished over the edge.
“Damn it,” I cursed, scurrying to my feet. I tossed a bolt back, not really aiming, just hoping it hit one of them. Or all of them if I was lucky enough.
It wasn’t my day. They dodged the bolt, slowing down a bit, and Jed lost his balance for a second. Then they were at it again.
Fuck.
I stepped onto the dock, and the swoosh of a bolt flying past my head made me stiffen. They were close, too close. I hurried my steps.
Something hot burned on my back. A bolt. I staggered forward, focusing on the cup. Another bolt exploded on my shoulder. I fell forward, and the cup flew from my hand. I saw the golden cup clambering on the wooden boards, and the liquid splashing all over the deck, into the ocean. Panic gripped me. But the cup didn’t hit the ground. It literally flew. I dragged myself to a half-sitting position. Riel used his powers to control the cup.
“No,” I muttered. I cast the same spell and fought for the cup.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Keon producing a bolt to hit me, so I put up a shield. His bolt exploded on the shield, breaking it and shaking the dock. Another ball of energy came through the broken pieces and hit my shoulder—son of a bitch, it burned!—pushing it back. I lost my hold on the cup, and Riel grasped it.
My heart stopped. No.
“It’s ours now,” he said, rather proudly.
Grunting, I stood. “Hand it to me. That’s an order.”
They laughed as Amiel appeared from the end of the path, limping.
“See, Amiel,” Keon said. “Mitrus ordered us to hand the Cup of Life to him.”
Without a word, Amiel conjured an energy ball and flung it at me. With my hands free, I conjured my scepter and used it to put up a wall, but it was gone the moment the ball touched it. Then Riel cast a bolt, Jed fired another, and Keon threw a fourth one. I cast shield after shield, waiting for an opening to toss one of my bolts, but four against one wasn’t fair, even if I was more powerful than they were.
With the scepter, the shields were str
onger and held a little longer, for three or four bolts, allowing me to fire some of my own. However, I had four opponents and they didn’t stop moving, making it hard for me to aim and hit.
I moved too, but forward because the only way to recover the Cup of Life would be getting to them.
The four of them cast one big ball of energy and sent it at me. I conjured a wall, but the bolt broke and it still kept coming, exploding on me. Air squeezed out of me and I flew back, hitting my back on the hard wood several feet away.
I groaned as pain spread through my back and my chest. I blinked, willing the dizziness away, but instead of the dark sky, their four faces hung over me.
Keon, Riel, and Jed held my arms and shoulders, and Amiel kicked my scepter away.
Amiel crouched over my legs, taking the Black Thorn from Riel, and turned his dark expression to me. “Not so tough now, huh? If you hadn’t been so worried about leaving, you probably could have taken the four of us out before you lost the cup. You are powerful enough. But leaving was more important, right? So you could go to your human. Guess what? We’ve got the Cup of Life now.” He whirled the Black Thorn in his hand. “And you’re gonna do what we ask, or your human will never hear about the elixir of immortality.” He lowered his hand, placing the tip of the Black Thorn over my heart. “And we’ll tell Levi you’ve been plotting with Imha against him again.”
I jerked, trying to get rid of Riel, Jed, and Keon, but Amiel pierced the tip of the Black Thorn into my skin.
A scorching pain spread from my chest, to my heart, my lungs, and my throat. I gasped as the burn took over me, burning like liquid fire. My vision blackened and my senses faded.
No! Desperation clutched at my heart.
“Kill Levi,” Amiel said somewhere out of the darkness surrounding me. “Once you do, meet us in Machu Picchu at the underworld entrance hidden there. Come alone. We’ll give you the Cup of Life, and then you’ll be able to be with your human forever.”
The pressure in my chest diminished, but the power of the Black Thorn was already in effect. My insides screamed, and my mind burned. I couldn’t move, couldn’t see, and couldn’t hear.
Cup of Life Page 5