Page 13 of As Darkness Fall
“Over there,” I said, pointing to the trays of sustenance. “Let me at it.”
Aaron chuckled and carried me to the trays, where I stuffed my mouth with fruits and pieces of bread, chewing swiftly. I grabbed a hunk of a delicious, sharp-smelling cheese and another half-loaf of bread, holding them against me while I ate.
“You can probably let me down, I said at last, pointing to the cots.
A few minutes later, the rest of Aaron’s team filed into the temple. All of them went straight for the food. Dave and Peter gently set down the travois they had rigged up to haul Johnathan first, and then they dug in as well.
The most enigmatic of them, Fred, nodded his head as he passed. “Thanks,” he said, speaking for the entire team. Then he, too, dug in.
Aaron set me down on one of the cots before joining his men in loading up a plate–I must have missed them in my eagerness for food–and for a few minutes, there was silence as we ate, replenishing our energy reserves.
Vir, meanwhile, had retreated to the back of the room. He was sitting on the edge of the raised area, back straight, dark hair swinging freely and resting on his shoulders in places. His face was blank, but every so often, I saw his eyes move. Something had him lost deep in thought. I suspected I knew what it was, but I wasn’t about to confront him about it. Certainly not in front of everyone.
“How did you do this?” I asked, getting his attention and gesturing around with my chin, reluctant to put my food down. It was just too good.
“My temple,” he said. “My rules.”
“As far as explanations go, that’s both great and terrible, all at once,” I said.
Vir smiled. “It’s good to hear your attempts at jokes again,” he said. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Food helps,” I said with a shrug.
“My powers are diminished on this plane,” Vir said, and I listened intently. “Coming through the barrier means most of my true godly abilities were left behind. But in here, I am far less constrained,” he said, raising his arms to indicate his temple.
“I see,” I said quietly.
Vir nodded. “In here, I am still Vir. Champion of Amunlea. You will not want for food. Or safety. None will enter this place while I am here.”
“Thank you.”
The others muttered their appreciation as well.
I yawned, shaking myself awake.
“You may sleep,” Vir said, coming over to me. “I promise, no harm will come to you, Dani. You can trust me.”
“Thanks,” I said as sincerely as I could. “But I don’t want to wake up with you cuddling me, Vir.”
His jaw bunched, but I was only speaking the truth. It might not be what he wanted to hear, or liked hearing, but I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.
“Look,” I said, taking pity on him, “you know what the Soulbond did to Johnathan and me. You know how it affected me, even though I wanted to resist it because he was evil. That’s not why I’m resisting it now.”
“Then why are you?” he asked.
“Well, for starters, because I didn’t ask for it. I wanted to be free, Vir, as I’ve said probably a hundred times, even though it doesn’t seem to register with you. But on top of that, uh, you’re agod.”
“Yes?”
I sighed. “Vir, you are used to being the one in charge. Nobody makes decisions about you, except for you. I’m twenty-one. I grew up with parents, who made most of my decisions for me until I was in my teens, and even then, they made a lot. I’m used to having something else tell me what to do, and yet Istilldon’t like being forced to do things by this bond.”
“I know that,” Vir said, “but what does that have to do with me being a god?”
“For the first time in a long time, if ever, something else is going to be controlling you. Urging you to do things. To feel things. You’re not used to that. You’re confident of your invincibility. Neither of us has any idea how this is going to affect you. If you can’t at least see and admit that, then you’re just proving my point that you might be dangerous to me.”
Thatgot through to him.
“I wouldnevertake advantage of you,” he snarled silently, clearly angered by the insinuations I was making.
