Page 7 of A Haven of Brimstone and Darkness

"Any other demands, Brother?" he asks.

Frowning, I continue to stare at him. Kalix, amongst all of the other Mortal Gods I've known, has always been a bit separate. 'Departed of his moral faculties' as one instructor had once said. Yet, still, over the years we've known one another, I haven't felt remotely fearful of him or concerned with my safety in his presence. This would explain why. He thinks unlike others. People are not people in his mind, but possessions to be had and owned and cared for.

That is what Kiera is to him and, apparently, Theos and I. We are Kalix's and as such, he will slaughter whole armies before he allows harm to befall us. I don't know how Kiera managed to crawl so deep into him so fast, but I'm grateful for it now. In the coming days, we will need a man like Kalix. Someone unafraid to spill blood, someone the enemy may fear, someone ... cruel.

"No," I finally say, stepping to the side to allow him to pass. He nods at me before striding across the room and leaving through the door, not bothering to look at anyone else as he goes.

When next I look up, Regis is behind a partition, his shadow confirming that he's changing and getting ready for his departure. Kiera is sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes still just as hollow as she stares at the floor, and Theos is standing, stone-faced, with his arms crossed over his chest in the center of the space.

"Is he going to be okay?" Theos asks, tipping his head back to the way that Kalix had left.

"Yes." I glance at the door. "I believe so."

The sound of metal-on-metal echoes around the partition as Regis appears at the side, sliding a leather belt through the loops of his new trousers with a frown. "What is in these..." He reaches into the pockets and withdraws a pair of star-like blades and a dagger of pure ebony. Brimstone.

Theos winces. "Sorry about that," he releases his arms and jumps forward, taking the weapons from the mortal. "Kalix tends to forget to remove them."

Blinking, Regis stares at the star blades and dagger for a moment longer before shaking his head and finishing the act of dressing. He gathers up the longer strands of his dreaded locks and ties them quickly at the base of his neck with another string of leather that'd been locked on his wrist.

"I need to try and find Ophelia," he announces.

That brings Kiera's head up. "Do you think she's still alive?" she asks.

Regis snorts. "Ophelia has lived in the Underworld nearly all of her life. Carcel might be her son, but he wasn't one of her top assassins. He's greedy and we've already concluded that he has to be working with a God." The reminder of the new enemy creates a dull throb between my eyes.

The Gods have been at war with us for eons, and we are just now realizing how cornered they have us. We haven't even begun to discuss our biggest asset and our biggest problem. The other Mortal Gods. Scrubbing a hand down my face as if that will somehow erase the headache and the worries that might be pointless if the Gods decide to kill us all, I refocus my attention on the room.

"It will be good to have someone on the outside who can communicate," I state. "Your crow knows Kiera's scent and can find her anywhere, yes?"

Regis nods, but it's Kiera who speaks next. "Do you think they'll allow us to have the same freedoms as you had here at Riviere versus at Ortus?"

"Numbers," I hear myself say as I consider her question. Yes, we are all birds in a cage, but there are more birds than there are handlers. "They'll want to keep the masses of Mortal Gods calm, so yes, I think they'll have to maintain at least a semblance of normalcy at Ortus Academy."

The tightness in her shoulders eases slightly. "We were told that we would be called back to the arena at week's end," Theos says. "But they didn't say anything about packing and luggage. How are they going to get hundreds of students across Anatol? We're at the top of the continent."

"They're Gods," Regis says with a shrug. "They can do anything."

Anything? No, most certainly not. "They are killable," Kiera snaps as if she heard my thoughts. Standing and facing her friend, she scowls. "If you have to keep up the facade in public, fine, but not here. Don't treat them like Gods when they're nothing but murderers. I told you what I saw, Regis—after the others—I told you?—"

"I know." Regis' voice is quiet, his head tilted down. In respect or shame? I'm not sure. Silence stretches between them, and after a moment longer, I step towards Kiera and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand how you feel," I say quietly. "Your friend understands what's happening here, too, but the lessons of a lifetime can't be erased in a week, sweetheart. Give it time. Let's talk about what we're going to do moving forward."

Kiera glances up at me, her storm-cloud eyes darker than normal. "You're right." Her acquiescence is a balm to my battered heart. She faces Regis again and slips out from undermy hand, going to him and wrapping him in a hug. "I'm sorry," she tells him. "I'm just wound tight."

"We all are," he agrees, hugging her back. I dislike the intimacy between the mortal and Kiera, but I keep my jaw tight and my mouth shut as I wait for it to end. When it does, I take the first opportunity to start making plans.

"Since Ortus is an island, the only way we'll be getting information is through those birds of yours," I say. "We don't know what we'll be walking into guard wise. There's very little information on the original Mortal Gods Academy."

"I'll charter something in the city and start traveling," Regis states. "I might even arrive ahead of you since I'm only one person and you'll be traveling with the entire Academy."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Theos resumes his position with his feet shoulder-width apart and arms crossed over his chest. "The Gods made it sound like we'd be in Ortus soon. I think they really do have a way to get us there all at once."

"A spell?" I guess.

His gold eyes meet mine. "It's likely."

"Well, damn." Regis curses. "I was hoping I'd be able to search for Ophelia along the way."

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