Page 30 of In Death's Hands
“Turan,” Nathan snaps, and everything fades away as quickly as it started.
Okay… I guess I would believe myself a god if I could do that too. “So, you can… glow?”
A barked laugh from Nathan makes me jump, and his shoulders are still shaking when Turan narrows her eyes at me. I suddenly remember all the stories about Zeus’ wrath and think maybe I should be careful with how I interact with them.
Coming to her feet, looking straight into my eyes and making me feel very small even though I tower over her tiny frame, Turan explains, “I am the goddess of love, human. You can rest assured that I do not simplyglow.”
My jaw unhinges itself. “You… You’re—” I cough, trying to get air back in my lungs. “You’rewhat?”
“And you berate me for being an arrogant prick, Turan. Well done…” grumbles Nathan.
She grins widely, sending her brother a look that is anything but apologetic. Wait. Herbrother? So, Death’s assistant is the goddess of love’sbrother? I need to lie down.
“What she meant to—”
“So you truly are brother and sister?”
He seems taken aback by my line of questioning. Admittedly there are hundreds of better questions to be asked. I just can’t think of any right now.
“As she tried to explain, we don’t remember anything prior to our waking up. We could be blood relatives or not.”
I see Turan make a face next to him and feel some kind of mirth emerge from the chaos of my mind. “Some of us like to mingle, but he and I… well, we’ve been through a lot together and feel more like brother and sister.”
I wonder what she means by that but let it go as the tension rises in the room, and I’m not sure I want to know. Yet. “So you’re like Aphrodite?”
“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “I do not care for her silly depiction among mortals. Freyja is already a much more flattering rendering of my person, if only the Norse hadn’t made her into a pathetic fool who cries tears of gold while searching for her absent husband.” Looking at her, I can see how some people might dismiss her. She looks like a California Barbieprincess, but her fierce intelligence shines through if one takes only a minute to talk to her.
Smiling slightly at the indignation on her face, I turn to Nathan, who’s observing me carefully. I haven’t brought it up yet, but the vision of him encased in darkness is not one I’ll ever forget. As Death’s assistant, I can assume he has powers to deal with whatever duties weigh so heavily on him.
“And you? What is your role in all of this?”
His eyes shutter. “Whatever is required of me.”
“So he truly exists?” My voice is quieter than I would like it to be. As if talking about Death will summon him.
Clenching his jaw, he throws a look at Turan, who stays pointedly quiet. “He is, but don’t worry, you won’t have to deal with him.”
I frown. “Why would I worry?”
Cocking his head to the side in a way that makes a piece of his hair fall into his eye, he asks, “Aren’t you worried about meeting him?”
“Should I be? I’ve met him before.” And he didn’t feel threatening. In reality, he was the most calming presence I’ve ever felt. A light amidst the chaos of that horrible night.
A confused expression settles on his features. Like he cannot fathom why I’m not afraid of his boss.
And then a thought startles me, spreading dread in its path. “Do you think he’ll try to kill me?”
Nathan jolts as if I’d slapped him. “What? Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
“You seem worried. And everything happening to me seems to come from him saving me.”
“Not only that,” intervenes Turan, “the Novensiles have been growing restless of late.”
“Who are they exactly?” I interrupt. It hasn’t escaped my notice that they have yet to explain that part.
Turan swallows and I see the doubt in her eyes. I don’t think she’ll answer, but then she says, “They’re a brotherhood claiming to work for the Order. Except they actively workagainstus.” She purses her lips. “If they’re after you, it could be connected.”
“Connected to what?”
