Page 101 of A Haven of Brimstone and Darkness

When a familiar face pops into view and a rope descends around the side of the railing before that face is racing down its length, sandy-colored dreads tied back away from his face, I release a breath of relief. I was wondering how we were to get off this island, but I should have known that Regis would come through for me.

I take a step forward, but the second his boots hit the dock’s planks, he’s running ahead and barreling into me. Strong arms close around me and his scent of a clean breeze and slight sweat is more nirvana to me than anything that has come before. I allow myself to be dragged against his chest and I hug him back.

Tears burn in my eyes, and for what feels like forever, I hold them off until I can’t anymore. They cascade down my cheeks, scorching their paths anew without a care for how it makes me look. Weak. Exhausted. Relieved to see him.

“Kiera.” Regis cups the back of my head and holds me to him, rocking the two of us back and forth. He doesn’t stop, not even when the distinct sound of a man clearing his throat pointedly sounds behind us or when Kalix’s low, deep growl of annoyance starts up. I know it’s because I haven’t let him go yet. I should. I don't want to cause any bad blood between my best friend—because yes, in spite of the past and betrayals, Regis is one of my best friends and someone I would die for—and my…

My thoughts drift and I straighten away from Regis. When he sees my face, his softens. “Oh, Kiera.” He reaches up and wipes away my tears. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I shake my head. Okay? That feels like such a plain word for what I feel. It almost feels surreal, everything that happened mere hours ago, as if it’s all one of Ruen’s elaborately woven illusions of grandeur. But it’s not.

I can feel the absence of the Gods, of their so-called Divinity and all of its insidious shadows, in my heart, in my very bones.

“There’s—” Regis’ words are cut off suddenly as a second rope is thrown over the side of the ship and a new figure appears over it, descending to the boards beneath our feet.

Ophelia’s boots land with a loud thumping sound. She takes a moment to right herself as Regis turns to the side and then, she’s striding towards us. “What happened?” Her words are commanding, an order for information.

My spine straightens, and as if they sense my need, the three Darkhavens stride up to meet us. “The Gods are gone,” Ruen announces, directing the words to the leader of the Underworld. Her dark hair, striped with gray at the roots is pulled back into a tight braid that sways at the back of her head. She stands a goodseveral inches taller than me, but even her height is no match for the men surrounding us.

“How?” she persists as if she doesn't notice the winds of change that surround us all.

Theos gestures to me in answer. “She made them leave.”

Ophelia’s eyes land on me, widening with surprise. “Madethem leave?” She repeats the word, somehow making them sound awed and like a question all at once.

I nod. “They contaminated this world,” I say. “They wrecked the people who originally lived here and it was time for them to go. They needed to return what was not theirs to take.”

Stunned silence follows in the wake of my words, both Regis and Ophelia's jaws dropping in a synchronized motion of shock. It's almost enough to make me laugh, but I suppose it's more than enough for Theos because he releases a snort that breaks the quiet.

"I know," he says, planting his hands on his hips and dipping his head low. "I wouldn't believe it either if I didn't see what she did with my own eyes."

Regis stares at me. "Whatdidyou do?" he asks as if he can't quite believe what we're telling them.

I shrug, palms up and out. "I opened a way for them to return to their original world."

"That's not part of your abilities," Ophelia states.

"She has more than one ability," Ruen answers the unspoken question.

Ophelia glances between me and him before resettling on my face. "Your father?" she guesses.

I nod. "I know that not all Mortal Gods retained the abilities of their parents, but I guess I do. My father's ability was calledsunderaccording to Caedmon and my..." I have to look down as I finish, eyes boring invisible holes into the wood at our feet as I do. "My mother."

A beat of silence passes and then, Ophelia clears her throat. "I see."

I lift my head, but she's not looking at me. Instead, she's looking past our little group to the students gathered yards away, watching us with both curious and fearful gazes. They have no idea what happens for them now. They're used to understanding one path—the path to follow the Gods' will and live under their control forevermore. Now, the whole wide world is open to them and it's a daunting realization for most.

When you've never had the chance to make a decision for yourself and you're suddenly asked to do everything on your own, too much choice can become a terrifying nightmare.

I pity them and I know, despite what I've always desired about having my own freedom, that I cannot leave them. They need someone to ease them into the world, to teach them how to survive.

"What happens now?"

For a moment, I'm sure my thoughts have somehow manifested themselves into the open air surrounding us, but that question wasn't spoken by me, rather by Regis. Suddenly, all eyes are on me—even Ophelia's. Everyone is staring at me like I hold the secrets of the world at my fingertips and only I can interpret them. I consider my words before I speak, and though they may sound uneven and blasé, they are anything but.

"I don't know." There are so many lives that hang in the balance with the absence of the Gods, so much reworking of society to do and I can't do it all. I am nothing if not honest in this moment. I have no fucking clue what we're going to do now, but I do know one thing. "We need to take it a step at a time."

Ruen's head tilts back and then down. "I agree," he states, eyeing both Regis and Ophelia. "I say we get everyone aboard your ships and head for the mainland first. We need to get back to Riviere."

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