Page 85 of The Gods Veiling
After years of asking him for space, the one time I put it to the side to get some answers, I’m left with nothing but anger and confusion.
A slew of claps echo around me and I spin on my heel with my power ready, desperate to be unleashed on anyone foolish enough to sneak up on me.
“That was beautiful. Truly. I really loved how you redecorated the place. For a moment there, I thought you’d somehow got a little of Gladian’s strength with the way you were throwing those rocks around.”
“What the fuck are you doing, Riven?”
I sneer at him as he leans against the building, petting some sort of creature against its will. The damned thing is trying its hardest to get away from him. He keeps it held close to his chest and acts as though he doesn’t feel the thing’s claws tearing his arm up.
“Snugglybug and I were waiting for you to come out. I figured you wanted a moment alone to destroy everything. Run along, sweet pea.” He coos as he puts the creature down and watches it lovingly as it runs for its life. “I wish you all would let me get a pet.”
“That thing isn’t a pet and gods don’t have pets. Nonmagical mortals do. Why did you follow me?”
“Oh, that. I could smell the building chaos coming from under your door. I knew it wouldn’t take you long to come to demand answers. Answers I’m assuming Big DD didn’t give you.”
I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. “You’re telling me you didn’t eavesdrop on our entire conversation?”
“Unfortunately, those types of creatures don’t fear me like they do you, oh lord of death. It makes no sense. Anywhos, I had to create a distraction, then Snugglybug wanted some scratches. I missed the excitement and arrived when you started throwing shit around.”
I just stare at him, then turn on my heels to trudge my way back to the trees. His mischievous chuckle grows closer to me, and I’m tempted to starshoot to the house to avoid him.
“So all three of my brothers took on some deadly risk today, and all failed miserably, it’d seem. Someone should’ve put me in charge of something other than babysitting books and we would’ve got some shit accomplished.”
“You’ll be babysitting something more than books soon enough,” I grumble under my breath as we step into the darkness of the forest.
Three paces in, my feet fall still. My gaze watches as the wild beasts run rampant, chasing down four different Amicks that are squealing like injured swine.
Riven’s hand slaps down on my shoulder as he dies of laughter and points at each one like I can’t see for myself.
“Oh gods, I wish his stuffy ass were here to see this.” He gasps, wiping fake tears from his eyes. “Back to the babysitting. I’m not doing that.”
“You are.”
“I’m not. Why aren’t you on my side about this? You literally just bitched that she’s a god and can take care of herself.”
“Shit changes quickly if today hasn’t proven that enough already. It’s no longer a matter of sides. It’s a matter of if we want to keep our power, we keep her alive.”
He groans like a child and kicks over one of the Amicks who runs by us. The creatures pounce like ravaged beasts and that brings the delighted, deranged smile back to his face.
“This power boost is going to be delicious. I look forward to the benefits, but I’m not taking care of her.”
The atmosphere shifts with his power, and he withdraws all the chaos in the air. Each of the beasts running around skids to a stop, then turns their snarling jaws to him. One look and a warning noise from me has them scampering away.
My voice comes out stale as I continue stomping my way through them. “Yes, of course. It’s perfectly acceptable you evade your new responsibility.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you finally see it the same way I do.”
My sigh is full of defeat, and he mimics the sound with one full of relief. I don’t say anything else or warn him as I call my power forward, wrap it around me, and starshoot to the house. He’ll know what and where I’m going by the white light.
My body rematerializes outside our door and the small closet now perched beside our house makes me sneer in disgust.
An Attendant…she better have a good excuse for accepting that.
The living room is silent, and I force my steps to match as I make my way to Amick’s door. Two quiet knocks are all it takes and the sound of his chair by his desk skidding across the floor filters through.
“Family meeting?” Riven whispers in my ear and on instinct, I throw my elbow into his gut just as the door opens.
Amick blinks at Riven’s coughing and I barge past him when I see Kyzen already sitting in one of the chairs by his desk.
