Page 92 of Immortal Sun

“You can try, but deep down you know you like our little war, killing me would kill your only sad pathetic purpose, Ra."

The ground shakes.

“Enough.” Tyrell holds up his hands. His fingertips have formed into claws. One swipe and you wouldn’t even feel your own death, just see the sky as you fall into the underworld. “Everyone must do their duty of worship. And the others?—.”

We all quiet as the trees start to sway.

The earth trembles beneath us.

And slowly, one by one, townspeople start to walk with lanterns down the stone pathway.

Minor gods.

Ninety-nine total are left in Deer Harbor.

They’re covered in black hooded robes as they walk toward us singing the ancient song of worship and sacrifice.

I squeeze my eyes shut as they try not to look into the water, some have deliberately done it to get sucked in, to see a father, a friend, a mother, thinking that all they have to do is swim back to the top to escape. The water offers them Heaven after an immortal Hell. Once you see the souls of loved ones it goes from giving life to only bringing eternal death.

It’s why immortals wear the hoods; the temptation to see beyond, to see what they used to, is too deep.

I wait for their song to reach our ears and lean back against my stone chair; my hand goes to my spear and grips it before twisting into the dirt with a loud click.

I can practically smell the blood on my blade, fresh, metallic, alive.

The words haunt me as the voices of our people rise. There were never lyrics attached to this music and yet, we all know they exist.

It’s Hurrian Hymn number six, the oldest recorded song in human history. I wince as the words fall from their lips as they fall to their knees onto the dirt, blood dripping slowly from their palms as they worship us and give their sacrifice of strength. It’s what they do, when a god is finishing his test, we mourn, and then we celebrate and wait for the next.

I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I was sent down for my trial.

Hundreds of years.

And finally, I can go home where I belong.

“Let them fight. Let us die. In the end the gods will rise. Save us from ourselves, protect us as we protect you, honor our sacrifice. See your promises through!” They cry out in unison. “We are here, we are your people, hear our cry, let them fight, let us die, in the end, the gods will rise. They must rise, Olympus hear our cries.”

“We must honor them as is our ritual. The final sacrifice will be given a gift and with that gift from the gods we will gift the immortals trapped here and create mates for them so they will no longer be lonely. We cannot allow them to mate with humans, but we can give them more of us,” I rasp, when the song is finished. “Each of you will take at least one, including Apep.”

“And the remaining three?” Apep asks.

“I’ll do it.” Daggon steps forward. “It’s my duty and purpose to help create within the rules of the gods.” He shoots a glare toward Apep, who was the only deity to go off on his own and mate with humans. At least now the gods mate with their own kind to create more lesser gods for the ones suffering here for eternity. We honor them by giving them family from the strongest gods left, and they honor us with their songs and worship. And when I ascend to Mount Olympus, I’ll watch over them shining from the sky.

I nod my head as the chants lower into soft cries.

I look toward the mountains.

A storm brews over Olympus. A reminder of what’s to come if I fail.

I swear in that moment, temptation sweeps forward, and I can hear the bell on Cleo’s foot as she paces back and forth. But then, finally, blessed silence.

Why does my heart lurch with each movement of the bell?

I look across to Enki. “You owe me.”

“I won’t do it.” He knows me too well.

“A favor then.” I step in front of him. “Remove it, before I call Anubis forward.”

---