Page 42 of Death God

Mom washed me, fed me, and clothed me.

Mom was a baker, and Dad was a civil litigation attorney who had a sharp tongue and a fierce protective streak.

They homeschooled me, believing I had autism, and they were often surprised at my speed of learning.

During my time in their care, I had constant night terrors. Mom held me while singing me a lullaby until I calmed and fell asleep again.

I’d sung the lullaby when Marlowe found me in the cell, and I hadn’t had any idea why the song flowed out of my mouth.

Mom’s beautiful voice came alive in my head.

“Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing.

Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring…”

I’d escaped to and lived in the human world for nine years. I’d had an amazing childhood before Spartoi and his dark mages figured out a way of dragging my spirit back into my body and then mutilated and violated it again and again. That was right before my seventeenth birthday in human years.

Unbearable pain and terror filled my every fiber every day. I’d thought that I would never escape again as I stared at the ceiling on the blood-soaked operating table, but then Marlowe and the light mages had found me and come for me. A light mage had died helping me escape. Her name was Misty, and she’d live in my heart forever.

My indifferent gaze fell on the humans in front of me. The brunette had been my younger sister, and the young man had once been my much younger brother. When I’d been taken from the human world, Sam had been ten and Dylan had been a toddler.

Marlowe had said that I’d changed. I now knew why. My human family had given me my humanity when their love for me had sunk into my blackened soul. I might have been born a weapon and a destroyer, but I was no longer a threat to this planet because of the pure hearts and kindness of one human family.

When my spirit became flesh, I’d learned necessary things. My mind had matured. I’d watched mortals burn brightly and love freely. I’d seen the better part of humanity through my parents and my siblings. That was how empathy and compassion had grown roots deep within me.

Mom’s songs of love, Dad’s joy when my little brother was born, and my little sister’s adoration all forged a deep bond within me before I’d hidden those memories in the deepest cave to protect them when War had taken me again.

Mom and Dad had taught me to value life, so I could no longer be destruction but salvation. As I myself had experienced horror, all the more I wanted to preserve peace and beauty.

Now, two decades had passed. My sister was a single mom. My kid brother had grown into a young man. But I still looked twenty-one.

There was no joy in remembering and seeing my human family again. I was terrified for them.

How had Spartoi found them? By using my family as leverage, he’d make me behave, knowing they were one of my biggest weaknesses. That motherfucker was ten steps ahead of me.

Now, how was I going to get my family out of this?

“Who the fuck are the humans?” I said, trying to make my voice as blank as possible and my face clear of any expression in front of my foes, even though I was trembling inside, even though I wanted more than anything to run to hug my family and never let them go. Were Mom and Dad okay? “That’s the something you wanted to show me to highlight our first date?” I sneered. “You’re a funny guy.”

“Your face is very pale, little Pip,” Spartoi said in a tone of fake concern with an undercurrent of smugness. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Why shouldn’t I feel okay?” I asked harshly. “Why did you bring these humans to bore me? You should just return them home right now instead of wasting my time.”

“Perky, aren’t you?” He chuckled. “And you look adorable. So, you don’t recognize them? I put a lot of effort into finding them for you because I want to make you happy. I thought you’d appreciate my gift.”

“Pip!” Sam rushed toward me. “It’s you! Oh my god, you haven’t aged. You still look so gorgeous.” Tears flowed down her face. She had lovely brown skin. “We missed you so much! Mom and Dad—” She paused and choked, unable to get the rest of the words out.

My heart froze. What happened to Mom and Dad? But I wouldn’t ask her any questions in front of the horseman.

“I don’t know you, lady,” I said coldly. “You should go home, the sooner the better.”

“I’m Sam,” she said, blinking back tears. “I look much older now since years have passed by, but I’m your little sister. When you disappeared, I was ten years old. Don’t you remember Dylan? You loved to sing to him and bathe him. He was only one year old when we lost you.”

The young man stepped forward, studying me curiously. His girlfriend stared at me. I looked younger than them.

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