Cardamom stood next to Lula, and the hunters were behind him.
They were alive!But they wouldn’t be if they stayed here.Not while gods decided if they were going to end reality.
“These souls are under my protection,” Cupid said.“Each and all.Go on your way, lost one.Go on your way.”
The lost god drifted slowly toward us, disengaged from the Earth, from gravity itself.
Lula’s hand reached out for mine.I took it.
We stood, needing to stand when facing a creature of such immense power.
“You chose a flower,” Ryt said, the odd voice different now, more curious than before.“Of all the things in the universes, a flower.Why?”
I supposed I could lie but didn’t see why I should.
“Love,” I said.“I created flowers because I wanted to make Lula smile.”
“My power is burned into you now,” Ryt said.“Into both of you.My magic.That spell.”
“We don’t want it,” Lula said.
Ryk made a clicking sound.“Shall I remove it, then?Tear it from you?You will explode.”
“No.”Cupid’s voice boomed.“You do not touch them.You do nothing in this realm.It is not for you.”
Ryk drifted to a stop in front of Cupid.“I know you, old one.I remember you.”
It was a chant, a call demanding a response.
“I know you, old one.I remember you,” Cupid replied.
“Are they so valuable?These small creatures.Their pitifully short lives?”
“Yes.”The word, the conviction, was heavy as lead, worthy as gold.“Return to your rest, your curiosities, the reality in which you dwell.You are not forgotten.”
Cupid didn’t waver, his presence solid as the world, the tick of time.
“I do not favor this existence…this old folly…” Ryt grew faint, all of the shifting limbs, body, and mask going transparent, “…but now I will remember it…”
It was a threat.It was a promise.
Then the god was gone.
The sky rumbled, thunder in the distance.A flash of lighting brightened the clouds, then rain, cool cleansing rain, fell.
I shivered, even though I couldn’t feel the cold.
“Mithra?”Lu asked.“Apep?”
“Gone,” Cupid said.“For now.”He was still in golden armor, but was shedding his god power, becoming more human.“I’ll make sure they stay that way.Go back with the hunters.Rest.I’ll call on you soon.”
He took a step and was gone.
“Show off.”Raven was just Raven again, wearing a burnt sienna hoodie, jeans, and boots.The only thing different about him was the amulet around his neck that glowed gold like a small sun.
“Let’s get out of the weather,” he suggested.“Where’s that bolt hole of yours?”
“Not sure I want to welcome a god onto my property,” Elmer said.“Especially a trickster god, Raven.”
