Page 83 of The Gods Veiling
It’s fitting.
I don’t fear this voided place. This type of darkness is nothing compared to the depths of hell I have to go to. I’d choose to walk this forest every day over one more trip down to Hellveilious.
The crumbling structure I’m in search of finally comes into view. It’s nearly swallowed up by wild ivy at this point. The only reason that greenery has any life left is because of the stars and moonlight.
The gateway to the Valories.
So there’s still hope that one day, this structure may receive prayers and worship once again.
The lively vines wrap around my arm as I rip them from the stone door. I scrape them off me and as soon as they touch the forest floor, they become one with the rest of the dead plants.
Stone sliding against stone echoes into the dead of night and the vermin who had somehow found a way into the abandoned temple scamper out with loud yelps.
Another jerk in my chest has my nose scrunching and my footsteps falling faster across the dusty floor. This new sensation is going to have me ready to snatch my own soul out of my body.
The moon window shines down a perfect ring at the altar in the middle of the room. The crumbled remains of the statue of the god this place belongs to sit in a heap of rocks and pebbles in the light.
No time for offerings.
Not that I’d give them to him, anyway.
I stand within that circle, tilt my head back, and shout at the stars.
“Derivius.”
Nothing but still quietness greets me. The only motion in the temple is my chest falling up and down. The longer I wait, the more my resentment at his careless decision grows.
“If you care about that goddess you cursed, you’d better come speak with me. I’d hate for something to happen to the fragile little thing I’m taking care of.”
The wind howls outside along with the fretful creatures. The air rushes through the room and the torches on the walls blaze to life one by one. I hang my head as his power surrounds me.
It’s a shame he gave away the fact he has a soft spot for her so easily. That’s not going to go over well for her in the slightest bit if the other gods hear about it.
“Careful, Creed. That sounded like you were threatening my little troublling.”
“Your little troublling? It’s not like you to give out cute pet names to your puppets.”
“None of you are puppets, but I call you all something cute behind your backs. Is this why you called me here after your years of silence? To discuss Thayla? You know, the normal thing to do would be to, I don’t know, have a conversation with her. Ugh, look at this place. It’s filthy.” He scoffs, running his finger along the wall, then glaring at the dust covering the digit as though it personally offended him.
His nonchalance has me seeing black. My fists clench at my sides and my jaw locks. “Reverse the Pairing. We can’t have nor wanted a completed Valtrue, and you know exactly why.”
“I never wanted to be disowned, but here I am. Standing in my last remaining temple, that by the looks of it, is on its last leg. All while being summoned by one of my most favorite but ungrateful gods.”
“I’m as grateful as I need to be. Sometimes you take the chaos too far. She’s too far. Take her back.”
“There’s no taking her back, Creed. She isn’t an object you purchase and can return. Mind you, all I’ve heard is you demand I take the tie away but not the power that pairing with her has brought you.”
My nostrils flare. I hate to admit that he did release more of our power than any other Veiling has. It’s been crawling through my blood, settling inside ever since the new mark on my wrist took shape.
It’ll take some time for us to feel it in full force.
Fuck, I want to rip it out of me as well.
“Why, after all these years, did you enter the Gods Veil for her, release this power, and risk the wrath of the other Beginning Gods?”
“Aww, you sound like you actually care, my dear boy. Here I was thinking you only cared about your brothers’ and your powers.”
“You know that’s not true. Not for me anyways. And regardless, that power is rightfully ours. It should be given to us without a tie to a Binder we don’t want.Youobviously care abouther. Why put her in such a deadly position?”
