Page 32 of Creatures that Breathe

We stood until we sat, conversing like teenagers with grandiose, rosy ideas of the future, except our dreams and goals were tangible, our desired reality close.

No creature-on-creature violence. An end to the Gorgon genocide. No solitary creature would dominate, we would co-exist and eventually live freely with mortals.

Peace.

Kadmos was the only creature in the world powerful enough to believe it attainable, a half-blood hero and Pandora’s prized student. One of only three in mortal history.

When lightning turned the night sky white, Kadmos lounged backward on a velvet chaise, fingers steepled under his chin. “If you’d like it then,” he said. “I’d welcome you to join my Kingsguard.”

I had no idea that it was an interview, an initiation until Atlas nudged me to sink to one knee. The oath tumbled from my lips unbidden, the pledge of undying loyalty.

A flicker of pleasure lit the king’s amber eyes.

“Hereafter,” Atlas said, ripping the royal patches from my shoulders. “You’re sworn to protect and serve the great King Kadmos until the end of time.”

Kadmos placed his hand on Atlas’s shoulder, a tender father during a proud moment. “I am not a selfish ruler,” he told me, eyes sparkling. “In return for your service. I offer you protection from mortal weaknesses. I will transform your greatest skill into your sharpest weapon.” He cleared his throat and brought a jeweled chalice to my mouth. “Drink.”

I drank.

Choked on the thick cloying taste, like spiked honey.

The fire dwindling in the hearth snuffed, and every candle lost its flame.

“Hmm,” Kadmos mused in the darkness. “A good omen, I think.”

My body was sluggish, my mind collapsing. Atlas held me limp in his arms as Kadmos, Final in the line of Hope, branded my chest with his signet. The eternal flame.

I didn’t ask questions, didn’t hiss at the burn. I summoned the courage to meet the king’s gaze, devotion and trepidation warring within me.

He planned to fix the world, to usher in a new golden era.

He had my allegiance, body and soul, even if it led me to ruin. The die was cast. There was no turning back.

None of us considered failure an option.

No matter that Kadmos was a constant target of the most dreadful kind of creatures, and of the Gods. We saw his vision, lived and breathed and endured to ensure he reached it.

Failure became even more distant of a thought as Atlas built the guard stronger. Tempted Drake to join, collected Rune from a bad prophecy. Lev came looking for a right after too many wrongs. The Kingsguard expanded without weakening, each link indestructible.

We were the shield of Kadmos and we were impenetrable. Polished steel and unbreakable.

Until we weren’t.

I’m slow to wake.

Fog pours down the street, overrunning a symphony of hammering rain and panicked shouts.

Time loses me, or I lose it. I go from respectably upright to pathetically sprawled. The haze transforms into solid, tacky smog and the rain pummeling the ground gets drowned out by boots on pavement and harmonized sirens.

A door slams, a brass bell jingles.

Leni’s shoving me onto a suede settee when I finally open my eyes. Behind her are mismatched chairs overturned on tables. A chalkboard menu. Five euros for Earl fucking Grey?

“What are you made of?” She’s panting. The butts of her palms gouge my shoulders—left of which is definitely dislocated—while the top of her head jams tight to my sternum.

Sweet smelling hair tickles my nose.

“I am not a necrophiliac,” she huffs at me. “I’m not losing you now.” A strained groan as she shoves me back. “I sat in economy for ten hours. Ten. Hours. Middle seat and I didn’t even get the armrests. Man-spreading pigs ...”

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