Jaga, previously so tense, slumps in her ropes. Perun grins and points both hands at her belly, palms open. Currents of lightning shoot out, endless and powerful, violently jerking her body. I trap a scream of rage behind my teeth, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
He knows, anyway. He looks at me, his eyes twinkling while he fries my dearest with his magic. I finally understand how it will be, and my heart breaks.
Perun ends the flow of lightning, and Jaga hangs there, shivers wracking her frame. She’s unconscious, and he shoots a short burst of healing magic into her until she awakens with a start, a high-pitched, horrible sound of pure suffering emitting from her throat.
It’s the strangest tableau. Jaga in the center, her tortured body hanging by her lifted arms, with Perun and his gods on her right hand. My allies are gathered on the other side, guarded by the dragons, and I am opposite her, having the best view of her agony.
“Say you belong to me and I’ll never make it hurt like this again,” Perun says pleasantly, coming over to her.
She shakes harder, sobbing, and he puts a finger under her chin, lifting her head. “There, there. It’s easy. Just a few words and you’ll be free.”
He waits, watching her, and Jaga watches back, helpless and destroyed, this woman whom I took for a goddess debased and weak. She looks defeated. She looks like she will give in.
“Weles!” Nyja cries out, pain and fear in her voice. “You must kill her! Only you can do it! Please! Don’t let—”
She breaks off when a dragon, one of the dozen guarding my allies, backhands her mouth. Her head snaps back, and she falls, landing on her hands bound behind her back. Strzybog jerks, his hands clenching into fists, but he stays put.
“Kill her?” Perun asks, turning to me. “My wife said you made this girl immortal. Was she lying?”
I shake my head. Perun turns back to Jaga, watching her closely while she gasps for breath, still shaking from the latest torment. He clicks his tongue with annoyance and presses his hand to her forehead. I want to look away, knowing exactly what will happen, but I can’t. I owe it to her.
To bear witness.
And, more importantly, to take her life before she breaks, allowing her to remain free—and giving a chance to my cause.
If Perun forces her to give him her allegiance, it will be over. And I cannot let that happen.
Chapter forty-eight
Defeat
Perun fries Jaga’s brain with lightning. It’s a particularly nasty form of torture, because the potent overflow of energy keeps her wide awake and conscious. His magic won’t allow any thoughts to form, it won’t let her compartmentalize the pain or focus on something else to lessen its intensity.
As long as the spell lasts, Jaga is a being of pure agony and torment. Perun can keep this up for hours and barely deplete his magic reserves.
Did I ever think Jaga might defeat him? Oh, stupid Weles. After centuries of avoiding my brother, I forgot justhowpowerful he is. I forgot what the support of millions of souls filled with belief can do.
I fight with my restraints fruitlessly as Jaga shakes and sizzles, steam rising from her head, her hair turning black at the roots. This curse can kill the sturdiest of bieses, even those almost immortal, like biedas.
The only being that will not succumb to it is a god. A chasm of helplessness opens in my body, and I want to scream from fear, because what if I made a mistake when remaking Jaga? One tiny, little error will be revealed by his torture. She will die, never to return.
Perun lets go and steps away, massaging his hand with a frown. Jaga hangs limp, swaying lightly. I don’t know whether she’s dead or alive. Her chest doesn’t move.
“And I thought she would be a challenge.”
Perun scoffs, turning to me with anger. “You lied to me, you and Mokosz. Immortal? You can’t even save yourself, not to mention anyone else. Pathetic Weles. Always a loser.”
I don’t listen to him. Blood pounds in my ears, my heart going faster and faster as all-encompassing, soul-rending sorrow fills my chest. I don’t breathe, my eyes wide open, watching Jaga.
Open your eyes. Breathe. Please, poppy girl.
Perun laughs and comes closer, crouching in front of me. His linen trousers are tight over his thighs, and the fabric threatens to burst at the seams. I try to look around him at Jaga, but he grabs my chin and spits in my face.
“Ah, I almost regretted not playing with her some more, but the look on your face is priceless. Let me guess. She told you how powerful and strong you are when she sucked your dick? She made you feel like a god again? It couldn’t have taken much for my poor, gullible brother to fall for the bitch. You were a man with her by your side, eh? And now she’s gone. Fuck, I can’t believe it. He’s going to cry!”
Perun stands up, booming with laughter. His dragons laugh as if on cue, while Strzybog manages only a pale smile. Jutrzenka stomps her foot.
“He’s never loved her!” she seethes. “Don’t say that, Daddy. He doesn’t care!”
