Page 59 of The Gods Veiling
The black-and-gray stone columned fireplace looks gorgeous against the dark green walls. There’s a variety of amethysts and plants sitting on top of the mantel and right in the center is a gorgeous set of stone-chiseled wings. They’ve been painted in an ombre of white and purple that gives the space enough color to tie it all together.
I don’t have to look behind me to know a beautiful bookshelf sits at my back. There’s a ladder at the far end that I’ve used to sail across the floor from one end of the shelves to the next. In my dreams, I handpicked, read, and placed each of the texts into their proper spots.
The wind blows through the room, fanning the beige curtains that are obscuring the wall of windows. I slowly approach them and run my fingers down the soft material.
The sight before me as I sling them fully open takes my breath away.
The door to the outside porch is already open and I walk through, only stopping once my hands grip the railing.
For miles, it’s a painting of different shades of green. The peaks of mountains in the distance range from small to touching the clouds. The sound of a stream flowing somewhere close by is in harmony with the whispers of the wind.
A creak to my right has my head whipping to the side and my heart jumps in my throat. The fright quickly settles, and I laugh at myself when I realize it’s the swing swaying with the breeze.
I make myself right at home on the carefully crafted wooden seat. One push of my feet has it moving smoothly and I draw my legs up and cross them.
My head leans back on the rest, and I close my eyes while the Gods Binding does whatever the hell it truly does. A small laugh that’s mixed with disbelief and all the other shit I’ve been feeling tumbles out of me.
If only this were my reality. What a life it’d be. Just me, sitting on the porch of my dream home, relaxing in a swing, waiting for my family and friends to come visit me.
This is the cruelest daydream I’ve ever had.
“Yes, be my guest. Make yourself comfortable, little troublling.”
My body locks up at the familiar voice and I choke down my startled gasp. I’ve heard that teasing nickname so many times in my life. Only now has it ever been out loud and not in my head.
A god disowned by the other gods.
Today may be my day of reckoning for my mouth.
His sharp features are what I’d expect of a Beginning God. They were created with unmatched beauty.
He’s tall, tan, and stunning. There’s no denying that. His hair seems to have multiple different shades, from black to brown to blond. There’s no rhyme or reason to the highlights. His eyes are piercing and mischievous.
One blue. One black.
“Derivius. I’m sure the God of Chaos has more important things to attend to than visiting me. Are you even allowed to be here?”
He shakes his head with a smile on his lips before pushing himself from the railing. He takes a seat right beside me and my heart hammers in my chest. I squeeze my fingers tighter into the wood slats, preparing myself for his punishment.
“Meeting you here is the most important task on my agenda today. It took you long enough.”
I grit my teeth painfully. “Not long enough. This never should’ve happened.”
“Oh, come on. I know you have a grand hatred for our kind, but not all gods are bad. I mean, us Beginning Gods are pretty awful. The Domain Gods are hit or miss, but all the becoming gods such as yourself aren’t all that dreadful. You’re my favorite of them all, just so you know.”
I lean my head back against the swing as a frustrated sigh falls from my lips. “Derivius, how many times have I cursed the gods, including you, and told you I’d never step foot in Godsden?”
He snorts and pats my knee. “Too many to count, little troublling.”
“Exactly. You couldn’t have just come to me or talked to me like you always have? Did you really have to resort to this taurnshit to get me here for whatever reason?”
I’m embarrassed about the way my voice cracks. It’s not like I expected some sort of loyalty from him. Chaos, messy situations, and random shit happening followed up by the sound of his laughter in my mind.
Yeah, all of that I expect.
Him manipulating Mellcom to get me here when he knows where I stand about being with the gods…No, I never would’ve thought he’d do this.
My anger that I must get from his domain swells the longer I think about how he as well betrayed me. This whole time, I’ve put my neck and my beliefs on the line to talk with him when I wasn’t supposed to.
