Page 8 of A Haven of Brimstone and Darkness

"Oh, you'll definitely have time for that," I tell him. "I think it's best if you get into contact with as many trusted members of the Underworld as possible at this point. If you find Ophelia, tell her about," I pause, my mouth going dry around the name, but I force it out anyway, "Caedmon."

Regis' brow creases, but he nods his understanding and agreement.

"I honestly don't remember much of the announcement," Kiera confesses. She presses two fingers to a temple and grimaces as if the phantom sensation of Tryphone attempting to claw his way into her mind remains behind like an old scar that will never heal. The rage I feel towards the man, the imposter,is surprising. I always thought Kalix to be the most unhinged of us, yet I find myself completely and utterly open to the idea of killing the God King myself. "All I can recall is the pain in my head and those images..."

Theos unfolds his arms and moves closer to her. The softness of his features as he pulls Kiera against his side and keeps one arm wrapped around her protectively is another indication that Kalix is not the only one I need to talk with privately.

"They gave us a week," Theos explains, "which is now over. They said they'd call us to the arena."

"Yes, I know that." Kiera rolls her shoulders back. "But why are they taking us to Ortus? What reason did they give the others?"

"The Spring Equinox." The answer is out of my mouth before I realize I've spoken. All eyes fall back on me. Blowing out a long breath, I continue. "The Gods announced that this year is the official third-century anniversary of their arrival in Anatol. They claim that they are hosting a special Spring Equinox ceremony to celebrate bringing the two worlds together by bringing all of their children together in one place. There will be events at Ortus Academy that we're expected to participate in."

"The Academies have never met in one location before," Theos says. "It's unheard of."

"That's what bothers me." Shoving a lock of silver hair off her shoulder, Kiera chews on her bottom lip. "The Gods are threatened by their offspring—they fear us and yet they need to use us to make themselves immortal. Why would they bring us all together in one place? We could overpower them with so many extra Mortal Gods."

"Maybe theyhaveto bring you together?" Regis suggests. When everyone glances his way, he holds up both hands palms out. "What if—and yes, I know this is probably insane, but?—"

"The Gods are insane," I point out mildly. "There's nothing you could suggest that would make them worse."

Theos snorts. "Doubt that,” he mutters. I shoot a dark look at him before Regis continues.

"What if they need to have you all together in order to complete some sort of spell?" Regis rakes a hand up into his hairline, his fingers sliding flatly over the ridges of his dreads. "There are just as many Gods as there are Mortal Gods and if they want to keep up the facade of their immortality for all of them, wouldn't they need all of their children to perform the ceremony?"

"They aren't planning on letting any of us live, are they?" Despite the fact that those words are phrased as a question, it's clear from Theos' horrified tone that they are anything but. They're a realization.

I close my eyes and realize that I was very wrong. It can get worse. So fucking much worse. I shouldn't be surprised anymore by the lengths Azai will go to in order to maintain his status. Somehow, though, I'd always wondered if, deep down, there was ever even a kernel of actual paternal affection or inclination. No. Azai will go after what he wants as will the rest of his brethren. That's just the way they are.

Obsessive. Cruel. Greedy. Monsters.

"Okay, so if we work under the idea that they're gathering all of the Mortal Gods in one place to perform some sort of ceremony then what does that change?" Kiera asks, her eyes moving over the three of us—first Regis, then Theos, and finally me.

"Change?" I tilt my head to the side and feel my brow crease.

"We're still being forced to go and it's far too late to try and escape their notice or the Academy," she comments.

Turning away from me, from the group, she crosses to the window and places her hands on her hips. Her head lowers asshe turns back and repeats the path, pacing out her thoughts as she speaks. I find myself smiling as I picture her doing that in my room, her long hair loose like it is right now and her body flushed from recent sex. Then she talks and dispels the image with the reminder of what I truly should be focusing on.

"Even if they are planning on killing us, we're frogs caught in a cauldron," she says.

"What?" Regis looks at her like she's crazy. "Frogs?"

Kiera stops in front of us once more and lifts her head, delivering an exasperated huff at him as she does so. “My father used to tell me that a frog that jumps into a boiling pot will jump out to save itself, but if you put the frog in the pot and slowly heat the fire under it, the frog will stay in the water—not knowing that it's dying." She gestures between our two bodies and then Theos'. "That's what's happening here."

"We're ... boiling?" Theos asks, dumbfounded.

"Not literally," she practically growls. Her hands turn into anchors on her hips, her fingers clenching so tight on her own body that her knuckles pale further. "The moral of the story is that we tend to accept things when they are introduced to us slowly—even if they're horrible. The Gods have always put us in Academies—well, most of us," she amends. "Mortal Gods are accustomed to being under their command and being given little freedoms. They see how mortals are treated and think they have it good."

"They don't?" Regis' comment earns him a withering glare, not just from Kiera, but from both Theos and me. He raises his hands again. "Alright, alright, you don't. Sorry!"

"I'msaying," Kiera grits out through clenched teeth as if silently tempting the rest of us to interrupt her again at our own peril, "that because the rest of the Mortal Gods are used to being under the Gods' rule and doing whatever they say that they won't recognize that they're marching towards their own deaths evenif the evidence is right in front of them. They will fight the truth because they don't want to disturb the comfort they currently have." She looks to the floor, her hands clenching into fists as she takes a moment before she continues. "And we can't erase the fact that the Gods are our sires. They are our parents, even if they've never acted like it before. If anything, the blood ties we have with them will make it all the more difficult to understand or even believe that they're capable of such a taboo."

"That's ... disturbing," Theos mutters. Ice invades my chest as I recognize the truth in Kiera's words. Yes, it is disturbing, but not untruthful. "Surely," Theos says, looking between the group, "most of them will see the truth if we tell them, though. They can't be that blind."

"They can," I hear myself say, "and they are." Kiera's sharp gaze meets mine. "Manipulation can often feel like love and that's what children want from their parents."Love.

Kiera's lips pinch tight and she nods my way. "He's right," she confirms. "All children want to be loved by their sires, but the Gods want something more from us. Theyneedus and they will use any means at their disposal to get it. They haven't tried to kill us all yet and there has to be a reason for that."

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