“Angels can die,” Arisa snapped, tempered eyes set on the queen once again. Valia, however, smiled and adjusted her posture.
In an even tone, Valia’s words were teasing. “That may be true, but why is it that you are here?”
Ashamed, Arisa could feel the blood rise to her cheeks. She needed to mind her actions to show the queen they were not the savages legends made them out to be.
“The door stays bolted every night until we can trust you will not leave.” Valia looked at her Valkyrie. Both women narrowed their eyes before Valia walked past her, allowing the taller woman to guard her back.
When the heavy wooden door pulled shut with a loud thud and the bolt was back in its place, Arisa walked over to her bed and sat. Though the fine linen and down feathers were pleasant, she missed the comforts of home. She tempered her anger and hoped her momentary separation from her home would help forge a way for the two kingdoms to unite.
And in their unification Thaos would be destroyed.
FALLON
Smoke and laughter filled the air. Many were seated inside the usually comfortable quarters of Evert’s home. Maps, scrolls, and books had been set aside to host an evening of drinking and games with Evert’s human, elf, and orc friends. It was a scheduled meeting, Evert had said. He and his friends would meet once or twice a month for a drink at his home. While his brother said it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce him, Fallon was happy Evert allowed him to keep to himself.
While Evert relaxed on only two of his chair’s legs, his long black pipe held between two dirty fingers, Fallon stared at the odd group. Digging his hands deep into the pockets of borrowed trousers, trousers that were his brother’s and therefore too large on him, he listened to the chatter but wasn’t confident enough to join in. Despite the tension in his body, Fallon was thankful to be invisible in the group.
Lotus had been the first to arrive. It was his understanding that neither Evert nor Lotus was bound to one another or anyone else. Yet his brother took her to his bed outside of the festivals that allowed such a thing. When Evert joked about Fallon’s shock, Lotus quietly, yet cheerfully, admitted she was not Evert’s only lover.
That fact was evident tonight when a human named Eliza sat close to Evert. Evert held her as tightly around the waist as her gown did, dark blond hair falling across his chest every time she leaned in for a kiss.
The ale flowed freely amongst all except Fallon who thought it best to observe without a clouded mind. While their ramblings, their music, and their swearing amused him, Fallon still enjoyed being overlooked as he watched the candles’ drippings hit the wooden table. He was patiently waiting to see when they would decide to leave.
That moment would not arrive just yet.
“Fallon!” Gowyn boomed after slamming his mug onto the table. Startled, Fallon looked at the elf with ears longer than any he had seen. “Did Evert tell you how I found him?”
“I’ve only just arrived,” Fallon muttered.
“Leave it be,” Evert said, laughter ringing in his tone. Sitting forward in his chair, he pulled Eliza close. “Fallon doesn’t need to hear that.”
“No, I think he does.” Gowyn smirked, raising one hand in the air. Leaning towards Fallon, he pointed at Evert and with glazed eyes said, “Your brother’s first run-in had been with a noble named Castien. Castien, it is my understanding, took a fancy to his wife. Afterwards, on his own, Evert wandered from job to job, taking shelter where he could until one day he told some rich woman that he had services to offer. Trying to take advantage of the woman’s purse, he named a high fee for what he thought was to be shoveling manure or something.”
“No more!” Evert roared with laughter. “I think my brother looks up to me still. Do we need to ruin this?”
“Of course,” Lotus beamed, moving closer to Fallon on the bench. Without the others’ notice, her hand slipped across Fallon’s leg, causing a thick lump to form in his throat. Still, her distraction was not enough to keep his mind off the story. When her fingers traced the inside of his leg, he stared ahead and gritted his teeth. Listening more intently, he tried to ignore her advances.
“Well,” Gowyn continued after finishing what was left in his mug, “there was this ugly hag fit for Thaos’s Kingdom. She expected our handsome Evert here to fill her bed. Somehow she forced herself on him and ripped the clothing from him. Still a virgin and still intelligent—”
“Hey!” Evert exclaimed.
“—Evert grabbed her best silk pillow and ran from the manor, as naked as the day he was born, with only the pillow to cover his pride. He ran through the streets in broad daylight, looking for someplace to hide. Lucky for him I found him just as a goat pulled the pillow clean out of his hands, though still not before he grinned to a pack of maidens passing by.”
Laughter erupted around the table once again. Mirth came easily in this group. Still nervous, Fallon only smiled. Feeling Lotus’s hand traveling further up his leg, seemingly tracing its own path, he adjusted in his seat, trying to fend her off without making a scene.
When the laughter died down, a long haired and scarred human by the name of Daniel prodded Fallon further, “How is it that you arrived here, Fallon? Does the desire for females run through your blood?”
Lotus found the area just below his navel, and she pushed firmly. Fallon’s eyes went wide, and he yanked her hand away as he restrained himself from crying out. With burning cheeks, he looked from one person to the next. Everyone wore a look of amusement.
“I say yes,” Abden roared before a loud rumbling of laughter emitted from him. It only made Fallon’s situation worse, and he turned his eyes to his brother, hoping for relief.
“Leave him alone, Lotus,” Evert calmly said, tilting his head towards her and taking a long wind from his pipe. Lotus chuckled, her hands now on the table, toying with her drink. “Tell them how you came here, Fallon. I only know that Castien dropped him off at my door in the middle of the night. He tells me he came in search of me, but I’m not buying that for a minute.”
Mouth agape, Fallon was uncertain of where to begin. With all eyes intent on him, waiting for some amusing story he did not have, he felt like pulling under the table and hiding. The wide smiles were friendly, but they did not help. He did not want to reveal too much, the foolish way he had acted with Nara was embarrassment enough, let alone the way he left his family to follow her.
He said quietly, “I have a friend who wanted to come to Ghela, so I followed her.”
“A girl,” Gowyn chortled, leaning in closer. “A lover of yours then?” Fallon shook his head, but his expression must have said something else. “A would-be lover, hmm? Where is she now?”
Through the brief silence, his brother stated quietly, “Nara, you came with Nara.”
Lotus started, “Isn’t that the girl you—”
“Hush,” Evert chided, his face a tense mix of emotions.
“—who was said to be the lost princess?” She continued with glazed eyes still aware enough to focus on Fallon. The feeling in the room turned serious and nearly suffocating. Everyone’s eyes, once alight from mirth, fell heavy on Fallon and drank him in as though he were an enemy.
“I didn’t know,” Fallon stammered. “I don’t even think she did, and if she did—”
“It’s fine, Fallon,” Evert assured him. Pulling Eliza onto his lap, he took another wind of his pipe, slowly letting the smoke back out through his nostrils. “Nara has been a friend of our family since as long as I can remember. It was a shock to learn of her lineage. I heard about her. I intended on seeing her that night. But I didn’t think you would follow her, you were always keen on staying near Mother and Father.”
Fallon swallowed hard. “She did not tell me until we were on shore, and even then it was not she who told me.” The heaviness in the room did not lift, and Fallon tensed further. He continued, “Nara was promised to me before we left,” Evert’s eyebrows rose, his lips parting, “but it was not something she want
ed. And Castien was a great impression in her life since the day he arrived.”
“Castien is a snake,” Gowyn fumed, leaning back in his chair. The happiness from before had vanished, and a deep, dark stillness rolled over his face. “It is a good thing you are here with us, Fallon. Even Evert knows we touch the castle but are far enough from his sight. We belong to the king’s fleet, not his. Thank the gods.”
“I am here,” Fallon murmured, “but what about Nara?” Evert would not look at him. The others avoided his gaze as well. Even Lotus, who had continued to smile through the mention of Nara, was unable to look at him. The silence spoke loudly. Elder Theola’s words rang true. Nara had found herself in a dangerous situation, and perhaps Vheria was the only thing that had been protecting her.
Gently kissing Eliza’s neck, Evert sliced through the silence with ease, turning his voice back to charm. “I think we should call the night. It was a pleasure having you all here, meeting my brother.” Chairs creaked across the floorboards when they stood. Fallon also stood, allowing enough room for Lotus to slip by him. She did not waste the moment as she pressed her body firmly against his. Her aroma was sweeter than anything he had ever tasted or smelled but specks of red dotted the hazel of her irises.
When she spoke, the scent floated from her breath and pulled at his senses even more, near intoxicating him. “You do not have to be alone tonight.”
“Leave him alone, Lotus,” Evert repeated, rolling his eyes and waving her away. “We will see you another night.” With a pout, Lotus followed the others from the home. Evert turned to Fallon, patting him on the cheek. “She is addicted to the anubal berries. In intimate settings it affects not only her but also those she sleeps with.” Without allowing Fallon to say anything else, Evert turned from him with a yawn, walking up the stairs alone. “Get some rest, we will speak more about that and Nara later. There are things you will need to know if you are going to survive.”
Survive.
What more could possibly be a danger to him?
KARASIM
The stench of death was thick. It had been nearly a day since the attack from Thena had happened, and while Thanis retrieved their own wounded and dead, Thaos sent out men in the dead of night to pull the bodies back to the pass. After seeing a few tents established at the pass, Karasim waited for all to settle into the comfort of the night before racing after those Thaos had sent.
The gates to the city were still barred, and travelers that planned to enter Thanis had camped outside the city’s walls and on the riverbank. While some rested, others looked uneasily at the demons plaguing the field of death, sweeping up bodies and rushing off with them towards the pass. Karasim understood their uncertainty but did not care. He had come for Arisa and was desperately searching for any sign of her. Even if she had somehow died, an unlikely scenario, at least he would know.
Crouching and ignoring everything around him, Karasim placed his hand against the ground. The power pulling through him to open a temporary portal was intoxicating. It was always a fight within him to not use more power and push his way through the ranks in Choráis. The dark energy that he pulled to him to reach past the Mortal and Spirit Realm was strong, alluring, and addicting. He always set his mind apart from himself in an attempt to keep his sanity.
His breathing turned heavy as he ripped his consciousness through to the other realm, sending his thoughts out to the spirits he had some control over. It never mattered to Karasim where they came from or how they came into being, it only mattered that he was able to use them. And though he treated them as pets, somewhat cherishing the gift his father had given him, he detested the means he had to go through to summon them into the Mortal Realm. He detested watching the summoners who followed and what they used the imps for.
A flash of white emitted around him. Creatures that stood to his knees burst through the momentary portal. Short, shriveled faces lined by large, slicked-back ears and wide, bloodshot eyes shrieked up at him. Each looked different in both height and appearance, but they were all the same. They were thankful to be brought into the Mortal Realm, and, as long as he fed them, they were willing to do whatever Karasim wanted them to do.
Standing, he raised his hand before him with fingers spread wide. He emitted to them the information they needed to find Arisa. Without a moment’s hesitation, they bounded off, long tails flowing behind them like large cats. Watching them look through body after body, Karasim made more desperate attempts to communicate with his lover. The connection was not there. He couldn’t form a line between him and her. He was only able to seize those few prayers that flew through the breeze to him, prayers that were easily discounted at the moment.
His heart thundered when someone grabbed his short hair, forcing him to look up at the moon shining down on him. Hathus hissed in his ear, “Send them back, Karasim, or so help me—”
“What?” Karasim sneered, making no attempt to pull away from the sadistic demon. “What will you do, Hathus? Father said he would send out a search for Arisa; I am only helping.”
Hathus laughed, pushing him away. Turning in his stumble, Karasim faced his brother. For a brief moment it appeared as though Ghedril would not allow the light of her moon to touch the incubi until he leaned forward, features illuminated, sharp teeth bared in a grin.
“Do what you want, then,” Hathus said before stepping on one of Elona’s fallen sorcerers who had a blood crystal shard still faintly glowing in their hand. “If she is to be found here, there will be no problem. Will there?”
“And if she is behind the walls?” Karasim demanded, eliciting only a wider grin from Hathus. His brother crushed the corpse under him; the cracking of bones sounded but garments hid the damage from Karasim’s view. The disregard for those who belonged to their mother was apparent.
Hearing footsteps against the ground, the two gods turned their heads to see Eamon Thrason storming forward. Dressed in leather and cloth, he eyed the two of them, his gloved hand held tightly around the grip of his sword. Karasim was thankful for his presence and hoped he would have an ally in this. Or at the very least, he would be able to show Eamon he was not the enemy.
“Where is my sister?” Eamon snapped. Karasim shook his head. He wanted nothing more than to be in his bed beside Arisa.
“Where is my sister?” Eamon barked at Hathus, chest rising and falling.
Hathus laughed, mocking and arrogant. “What makes you think I would want anything to do with her, dog? She did away with me a long time ago.” Hathus stepped off the corpse. Tilting his head to one side, he pressed closer to Eamon, mania showing in his voice. “Have you confused me for the one sleeping with her? Do you think my siblings and I share everything?” He took another step towards the immortal who, despite his disadvantage, continued to stand his ground.
“I was not being specific,” Eamon replied through gritted teeth. “But with that brought to light, what have you been doing with Arisa?” His burning eyes turned towards Karasim.
Narrowing his eyes, Karasim shook his head. “I don’t think your sister would want me talking about our personal life.”
“Whore,” Hathus quipped, long tongue moistening his lips.
Ignoring Hathus, Eamon berated Karasim, “I didn’t know my sister could be so easily tricked by the God of Imps or that anyone could be tricked by you for that matter. What’ve you done with her?” Eamon advanced, eyes burning with hatred, his voice rising through the air. “Where is Arisa? One of you—”
“Not I,” Hathus interjected, his tone teasing. “Perhaps if you asked Craith? He is my other brother. The one who soiled Maida? Have you two met? Your questioning would be better off starting there.”
Disgusted, Karasim hissed, “Craith would never.”
Hathus shrugged. “You never know. Wasn’t he so in love with Maida yet allowed her to be taken by Father?” Smirking, he leaned towards them. “If you ask me, Craith is more twisted than us. Even Eamon here knows. Little Eamon, Drudan’s little dog, tell us how you
got that scar. Mother blames Father, but who is really to blame?”
“Hathus.” The voice brought a still to the air, and Hathus visibly swallowed. Haughtiness replaced with neutrality, Hathus turned with the others to see Craith striding towards them, his heavy boots falling thick into the ground. Advancing more quickly than Hathus seemed to anticipate, Craith drove his fist across the younger god’s face and caused him to stumble backwards. Face burning red, Craith growled, “Continue to test people and see where it puts you. You think you can go around spreading discord and not have it come back to you?”
“Four thousand years,” Hathus shrieked, bearing his sharp incisors. “I have garnered more strength than you!” A slap across his other cheek met his words. Before he could speak again, Craith grabbed him around the neck and yanked him closer.
“Four thousand years and you’ve not learned to use all that you have.” Craith shook him once before raising him off the ground. “Four thousand years and you’ve yet to learn how to contain yourself. You have allowed yourself to fold into the wild, something even Kothes would never do. You are nothing but an animal, unfit for the rite of godhood.” Tossing Hathus to the ground, Craith spat near his head. “Run to Father and let him know what you’ve done.”
Shocked by Craith’s actions, Karasim stepped towards Eamon as Hathus scrambled to his feet and folded into the night in a fury. Craith stood silent for a long moment. There was a slight tremble in his brother’s hand as Craith closed his eyes. Glancing at Eamon, he saw the immortal man stood just as still as the gods. Craith had never reprimanded Hathus with such force before. Karasim wondered if Maida’s presence was beginning to affect him.
Craith opened his eyes and turned to Karasim.
“Where is Arisa?” Craith asked, wiping a bit of spittle from his mouth.
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