Page 51 of The Death God
Staring, Thanatos waited for him to continue, and Gregory must’ve seen his desire to know what happened next because he grinned and squeezed his hand.
“She fed. She didn’t hurt me, but she drank a lot, and I was too woozy to stand once she was done. I was sure she’d leave me to die, but nope. She beheaded the fucker with her bare hands.”
Thanatos winced. He had been too out of it when he’d almost died two months ago, but Minerva had told him Gregory had beheaded his father with nothing but his hands.
“It was messy. But then she pulled me to my feet and walked me to her place where I rested for several days while she looked after me. I then begged her to turn me, and she did. I never left her side. Not until Iris had her killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
He gave one short nod. “Loss is one thing you can’t run from, no matter what species you are or have been turned into. She gave me a prolonged life, and I’m forever grateful. I want to live forever, Thano.”
“No one lives forever.”
“Perhaps not.” He was quiet for several long seconds. “But will I at least live for a long time to come?”
“I don’t know. I can tell Prophecy will because he’s ageing. I can’t tell with you.”
“And you don’t have a feeling?”
Thanatos narrowed his eyes. “Do you want to know what I know?”
* * * *
Gregory wanted to say yes, but he was terrified. “I do and I don’t.”
Thanatos nodded. “I can’t see who is doing it, so I can’t tell you who to look out for, but I have the feeling your death isn’t set in stone. Some feel more definite than others. Prophecy’s feels solid, but Jaki’s changed. For years, all I could see was him dying in the house of horrors, then he met Rufus, and it changed.”
“Right, so you can tell me what you see now, but it might change.”
“Yes.”
Gregory took a deep breath. “Okay, tell me.”
“There isn’t much to it. It’s dark. You’re in what I believe is a coffin, or when I told Jaki, he said coffin, and it makes sense—”
“You told Jaki?” He wasn’t sure he liked that.
“Yes, it was the night when Iris and the others were to attack. It hasn’t changed, I still see the same thing when I check.”
“Okay, so I’m in a coffin?”
“Yes, you’re unable to move, someone slides the lid off. I first believed you were lying on the ground, and someone opened a trapdoor, but a lid fits. Then they behead you in one swift movement with a blade. Right as they’re about to lean over you close enough to come into view, you’re gone, so I can’t tell you who.”
“But there is time? I’ve spent time in the coffin?”
“I can’t answer that. You’re in the coffin, but for how long you’ve been there, I don’t know.”
If he made sure to always have someone come search for him, he might prevent it. “Will I go before or after Rufus?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fuck.” Rufus would come for him, he was sure of it, but if Rufus was already gone…
Thanatos sipped his drink again, and Gregory noted there wasn’t much left. It was best not to refill it.
“Are you angry?” The mumbled question made Gregory look at him. He was scared again. The interest that had shone in his eyes while he’d told him about how he met Orla was replaced with trepidation.
“Why would I be angry?”
