“I don’t want to talk about this,” Treycore said. “I can’t fly, so just leave it alone.”
Why are you so fucking mad at me?Kid thought.I’m not the one who dated the psycho who put us out here!
Kid was pissed. Treycore was being so dismissive, as if just because he was mortal, he didn’t matter. He’d already been made to feel that way by too many people, and he was tired of it.
“Must be pretty useless if it can’t even get us out of here,” Kid muttered.
Treycore stopped again. He turned around. His wincing eyes narrowed even further. He was giving a look that made Kid think that he was about to leap on top of him and pound into his face.
“Kid,” he said, “you should just stop talking, because in a second, I’m gonna make you.”
Kid rushed him and stood tall, pushing his chest out.
“Come on.” He knew that Treycore’s impressive physique, combined with his immortal strength, could easily overpower him, but he wasn’t going to let Treycore get what he wanted with threats and a pissy attitude.
Treycore stepped toward him. Kid didn’t budge.
“We don’t have time for this,” Treycore said. “We need to get back to Kinzer, so just follow me and keep the fuck out of the way.” He turned back around and started back through the foliage.
“You don’t have a power or something like that disappearing girl?”
“No,” Treycore snarled.
“So, what I’m hearing is that you’re like the most useless angel…or higherling…or whatever-the-fuck…in the world.”
Treycore threw his stick into nearby shrubbery. He charged Kid. Grabbing him by the arm, Treycore twisted Kid around and shoved him against a tree.
“Mortal,” he hissed into Kid’s ear. “I’m not in the mood.”
“And I'm not your slave.” Kid didn't show anger. He was matter-of-fact. Treycore could condescend all he wanted, but Kid didn’t have to sit back and take it. Not anymore. He wasn’t going to feign shame and humility just because that was how Treycore preferred it.
Treycore flipped Kid around and pressed his shoulder blades against the tree. His grip was severe. Kid wondered if he was intending to cause him that much pain or if, in his frustration, he had forgotten his own strength.
“Who do you think you are?” Treycore asked, staring into Kid's eyes.
Kid felt as if he was trying to tear his soul out with his rage.
“You’re nothing! I carry divine authority. You’re lower than the lowest fallen. I’m older than the earth. The trees in this jungle are older than you. I can live forever. You have to die. Have you seen me? Have you seen my body’s perfection? That’s my birthright. Compare that to your disgusting figure, covered in the imperfections of mortality. The scars of your pathetic, disgusting life.”
Kid imagined how he looked in the mirror. The welts, the dents in his flesh, many of which were a product of his time at Jerry’s.
“Oh, and you smell!” Treycore continued. He grimaced, as if just being this close to Kid was unbearable. “I wish you knew how fucking bad you smelled. Any immortal can smell you coming from miles away. It’d be like if you had to wander the jungle with a pile of shit. And I think that’d still smell better than you do to me.”
A tear formed in Kid’s eye, but he wasn’t going to show weakness.
“You’re not even very attractive. I can’t imagine how it feels to be lowly, even for a mortal.”
“Feels pretty good.” Kid struggled to keep his voice from cracking. He held eye contact with Treycore. If he avoided his gaze, Treycore would know that he'd won. But the more he looked into Treycore's eyes, the more he imagined his immortal senses could detect his vulnerability, his hurt. Was Treycore fueling his inner terror so he could stand there and take pleasure in his misery? The longer Treycore stared into his eyes, the more Kid hated him. He didn't just hate him, he despised him. How could some supposedly angelic being be so cruel, so brutal, so uncaring?
Treycore’s anger—intense, severe, and filled with fury—came at Kid.
Kid's fists popped up. He pressed his back against the tree and pushed off, projecting himself toward Treycore. He knew he couldn't win in a fight against an immortal, especially one filled with such unquestionable contempt for him, but he wasn't going to lie limp and take it. He'd already had too much of that.
He launched a fist at Treycore's cheek.
Treycore snatched it. Kid threw his other fist, but Treycore snatched that one too. He shoved Kid back against the tree, lifted his arms into the air, and pinned them against the bark.
Kid struggled, but Treycore was too strong. Sweat rushed down Kid’s forehead.
