Page 109 of Immortal Sun

“And you did, right?” I ask suddenly curious. “Learn to control it?”

His smile is sad, he looks away, down at his black and red clad legs. I can see now that in the moonlight it looked more like armor than leather but sitting next to me it’s almost like hard leather strapped tightly around him.

His hands shake as he presses them together. “I learned that gifts are a curse, and curses are gifts.”

He stands and turns. “Face your fears, Cleo. I’m going to go grunt by the wall now just to annoy you.”

“Wait!” I reach for his hand and grip.

My palms buzz the instant we touch.

Weird.

Maybe it’s his power?

“If Enki is some Sumerian god, then you’re who?”

I’m afraid of his answer is so many ways.

“Kratos, Greek mythology, I keep the world alive and running. My purpose.” His eyes are kind. “Is humanity. I help keep the balance in my own way. I failed my trials, I asked for too much, sought too much, and now I stay here and keep the immortals here in Deer Harbor as sane as I can and oh yeah, I’m a contractor, super good with nails.” He winks.

I scramble out of bed and suddenly realize I’m naked from the waist down and grab a sheet, wrapping it around me and follow his surly figure as he stomps out of the cave.

I’m hit with an invisible wall the minute he passes through.

“Wait!” I say again. “I just want to know what I’m dealing with here. Who are the remaining gods?”

He looks over his shoulder. His daggers are back in hand, his helmet is back on his head, and he looks so menacing I take a step back.

“Write the names, you’re running out of time.” He lowers his head. “We all are.”

“For my sacrifice?” Maybe if I keep asking questions, he’ll get so annoyed he’ll answer.

“No.” He leans against the wall. “For Ra. If you don’t, he’ll be trapped here and where would you be without the sun?”

My mind spins. “Is it soon?”

“You’ll be dead, why do you care?” He shrugs. “And your precious brother won’t live to see the day, but yes, it is coming, it’s always coming. Nighttime, always comes.”

I’m given his back seconds later. But he does flick the sky and then twist his fingers like he’s pulling it toward him.

It’s like the sky is his iPad as he swipes across it like it’s nothing, and then rubs the clouds away.

He gives me nothing but shining stars.

“Thank you.”

“I was bored.” His response. “And don’t for one second think we’re friends. I help keep the balance between immortals and humans now, remember?”

I want to ask more questions.

He’s quiet, though, and he stops answering.

I’m so confused.

I change into the silky black pajamas that Kratos left for me and reach for the book with shaking hands.

The quill is in my right hand, the book in my left.

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