Page 3 of Gods' Battleground

“Huh.”

“Huh?” I asked him.

“Oh, I’m just surprised is all.”

“Surprised that I agreed to do Faris’s dirty work?”

Jace frowned. “I wouldn’t have put it so crudely.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Jace had been raised to be a proper angel, and so he was. Lieutenant Colonel Jace Angelblood was dignified, disciplined…so basically everything I wasn’t.

“But yes,” he added, “giving in to Lord Faris’s demands without a fight does feel very out of character for you, Leda.”

“Trust me,” I replied. “I have my own reasons for wanting to find Vertigo.”

He didn’t ask me what those reasons were. Jace had way more self-control than I did. Plus, he probably knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut for long. If he wanted answers, all he had to do was wait.

“Faris said Vertigo had a vision of Bella.” I swallowed hard. “A future vision of Bella being killed. Of course I’m not going to let that happen. I’m going to find Vertigo and have her tell me what she saw. If I can just figure out how this all plays out, I can stop it. Iwillsave my sister, no matter what it takes.”

“Now that sounds more like you,” said Jace, slowing to a stop.

We’d made it to the town’s temple. Which, strictly speaking, wasn’t actually a temple. It was just a small house on the main road, just another entry in a long row of hastily-built houses, all exactly the same.

Except the temple wasn’t the same as the others. It was painted gold, a bright shiny gold that was absolutely blinding in the bright winter sun, especially with how the light bounced back and forth between the house’s glittery gold and the snow’s sparkling white.

Inside the temple, we met a Pilgrim named Merit. Pilgrims generally adopted names like that. It was their way of wearing their faith on their sleeve.

But Merit didn’t look like your average Pilgrim. He was certainly more finely dressed than the Pilgrims who’d wandered the streets of my hometown when I was growing up. Instead of robes, he wore a fancy designer suit. The town of Magic Grove had really flourished under the witches’ care. Even the Pilgrims here were posh.

“We need to ask you a few questions, Merit,” Jace said, his voice ringing with authority.

“Of course.” Despite his fancy clothes and polished speech, the Pilgrim was truly humble. “I am honored to be questioned by Jace Angelblood, the Angel of the South Territory.” He bowed his head to Jace. “And Leda Pandora, the Goddess of Telepathy.” When he bowed to me, his nose nearly scraped the floor. “How may I serve the will of the gods today?”

Does he have to genuflect so…eagerly?I projected into Jace’s mind.

Merit kept bowing to us. And kneeling. It looked exhausting.

Jace watched him.That’s just what Pilgrims do, Leda.His shrug was implied in his tone.

Even so, it’s making me uncomfortable,I replied.Do you think we should ask him to stop?

Better not,Jace advised me.Merit seems to be genuinely enjoying himself. If you tell him to stop, you’ll only make him feel bad. He’ll think he’s offended you. And then he would likely proceed to flagellate himself in front of us as punishment.

I fear you’re right.My sigh was internal, but no less potent.I really wish there were a way to make people realize that I’m just a person too. They’re all treating me differently now that I’m a goddess. The soldiers at the Legion are doing it too, even the angels. It all feels so fake. I feel like a total imposter.

You make things way too complicated, Leda,Jace told me.

Yeah, I know.I hid my hands behind my back so the Pilgrim wouldn’t see me wringing them.I’m going to tell him to get off his knees.

It would really be best if you don’t talk to him at all.

What’s that supposed to mean?I demanded.

It means gods don’t come down to Earth to speak to mortals. You’re too superior.

Jace—

I know what you’re going to say, Leda, but this is just how things are. It’s how they’ve been ever since the gods came toour world. It’s all anyone—whether Pilgrim or normal human being—understands. Step outside the system, and you might just shatter their entire world view.

---