Page 102 of Seized to Sacrifice
‘This room was once mine,’ she said. ‘It was not happy place when I was young, so I turned it into a sanctuary of sorts. I spend much of my time here when I'm not on the mezzanine. Perhaps it will be of help to you.’
Elle walked inside. The walls were covered in soothing colors and tapestries with never-ending patterns. Candles gave the room a soft glow although there was no window to the outside. A thick carpet lay on the floor with a circle of shining stones in center. The air was warm as well.
‘Do you conjure here?’ she asked but Vie shook her head.
‘Not really,’ she answered, ‘but that’s not really this room’s purpose. It’s merely a place of quiet and solace.’ She gave Elle a smile. ‘Feel free to come here whenever you wish.’
Elle grasped Vie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Thank you. I think it’s just what I need.’
Vie nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind her.
Elle sat in the middle of the circle and lay back, looking at the ceiling. It was painted like stars in a night sky. She lay there for a long time, listening to the silence and thinking of nothing, her mind quiet for the first time in weeks.
Everything else seemed to melt away and there was a familiarity in this solitude. She had been alone for a long time. She was used to it and a part of her must miss the peace there was in it, which was odd because Bastian had inferred that all the other gods of the Mount enjoyed being together.
She frowned as she thought of the gods on the Mount. What was it that Vie had said? God magick was based in carnal pleasure. She sat upright with a gasp. Could it really be that simple? No, surely not. But if it was, there was only one way to know for certain.
She swallowed hard as she stood, her heart beating faster as she wondered what she was going to say to Rye, Nyx, and Thorne.
CHAPTER13
RYE
Rye clutched his head. It seemed like he'd had a megrim ever since that night in the Camp.
In his mind's eye, he saw the Horde coming for him, except that he was in the dungeon, naked and chained, waiting for them to come every day to help him slowly to his death.
He looked at the wine on the table and stood with a sound of anger. He didn't need drink to numb himself, he thought. He’d be no good to Elle if he was unconscious in the bed, sleeping off his weak decisions.
Stalking to the casement, he looked out over the city. He needed to push this down, there wasn’t time for it now.
The door opened and both his Brothers entered. He glanced at them, away and then frowned, and looked quickly back at Thorne’s countenance. He was different somehow, not so tired. It was a small thing, but he lookedoptimisticfor the first time in years.
Thorne’s face fell very slightly as he looked more closely at Rye’s dark eyes and ragged complexion.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’ve been so busy with the Beast that I didn’t realize how it’s been for you.’ He turned to Nyx. ‘And for you, Brother. You both struggle still.’
Rye didn’t want to talk about this, so he was thankful when the door opened again and Elle entered their chamber, seeming agitated, her cheeks flushed.
‘Are you well?’ Rye asked. She was breathing heavy as if she'd run all the way up here.
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘It's just … It was something that Vie said …’
She wouldn’t meet his eyes, biting her lip, making him want to kiss them.
‘What is it?’ Nyx asked, taking her face in his hands.
‘Well …’ Her eyes darted around.
‘What did the witch say?’ Rye asked.
‘It was just a passing comment. I don't know if it would even come to anything, but I started thinking about it. She said that God magick is carnal in nature.’
She finally glanced at Rye, a meaningful look in her eye.
‘So?’
Her cheeks reddened. ‘So what if we …’
