He grabbed me by my hand, his fingers fitting awkwardly against mine, as we set out down the road with the sun quickly setting behind us.
My legs were burningfrom climbing up all the stairs to the highest point in all of Paris. It was said that before the gods took over our world, us mere mortals created false gods to whom these buildings once belonged to. All evidence of them had been long wiped clean and the buildings were rebuilt with respect to the real gods that now ruled over us. The legend was that the gods had come down from the heavens after witnessing our strife amongst each other, in order to bring peace to our lands. They’d managed to set up a perimeter around our city, closing the gates off to any outsiders. To get into our borders, their approval must be given, and it wasn’t given easily.
Personally, I didn’t like the idea of being cut off from the rest of the world. But the gods had most people believing that it was for our own good. Many who lived in my city had become fearful of the outsiders because of their beliefs. We were constantly being told news of another war, another attack, another close call that the gods had saved us from. Our newspapers were littered with such headlines. Though, the more I paid attention to the gods actions, the more I wondered about the validity oftheir statements. Especially once I found a few books that told a completely different story.
I’d once discovered an atlas hidden in the school’s library where it showed images of what the world used to look like. My city was practically untouched from the photos it showed, but seeing the places outside of here was like peeking into the forbidden. There was so much beauty and wonder that had existed in far off lands. I wondered if it was still true. If there really was such a thing as a Grand Canyon, or Cliffs of Moher, the Taj Mahal. I’d never told anyone what I had found and tucked the book back right where I’d found it. When I came back to look again a week later, it was gone. Then there were the journals of a monk that had jotted down what he called an invasion that had been printed and plastered all over our school’s walls. I’d only read a few paragraphs before they were ripped down and Jenson Hellips was escorted off the premises, never to be seen or heard from again.
We knew that to question anything, would result in our same fate. So, I kept my reservations mostly to myself. Theo, however, had picked up on my lack of enthusiasm when it came to discussing the gods. He said he pitied my lack of faith, but was willing to commit to me anyways, certain that with time and prayer that I would change. We had an obligation to our parent’s wishes after all.
The Sacré-Cœur, or the gods’ temple, looked over all of Paris. It was a steadfast reminder of the gods’ control, and the way that it leered over the city made us feel how insignificant we were in comparison. But I had to admit that climbing the steps to the temple granted us a breathtaking view of the city below.
Theo barely glanced over at me as we walked together, which was fine by me. His attitude over the summonings had pissed me off. It’s not like I chose to be summoned. It was out of my control, and if I did have a choice, obviously, I wouldn’t be going.
The temple was cold and nearly empty by the time we arrived— I assumed due to preparation of tomorrow’s celebrations. It was an imposing structure with a large dome cutting into the quickly darkening sky above, and two smaller domes cast on each side. Inside was lined with lifelike carvings of all the gods, all made to be twice the height of a mortal. Dia, The Goddess of Spring, Axis, The God of War, Symph, The Goddess of Music, and so on were all placed in succession along the walls, looking down at their doting subjects. All exquisitely made with care and exceptional detail. The statues were depicted with a golden mask that represented their power. The same kind of masks we’d be forced to choose between come tomorrow. My stomach twisted anxiously as I contemplated which I would be saddled with as I passed them all. Would it be the power to grow flowers, or the power of strength? The power of invisibility, or even necromancy to move the millions of bones buried in the catacombs? I took a long breath in to calm my quickly spiraling thoughts.
As I walked by silently, I noticed there were some statues that had been left offerings at their base. Flowers, jewelry, meaningless trinkets to beg for their favor. The largest of all the statues was of course Reaper, The God of Death, who was said to be the most powerful of all the gods. His statue was featured prominently in the middle of a dais with a ray of light illuminating the stone. It looked as if he had been frozen in time for how lifelike the carving was. Like any moment he might blink and break free. The chiseled abs were on full display with nothing but a scrap of fabric covering his lower front.
There was one notable difference with his statue. Where the other deities were left tokens and offerings, some with so many that they were spilling onto the floor, his base where offerings should be, was bare.
I don’t know what made me do it other than it felt wrong to see his left out in such a way, but I found myself kneeling at the bottom of his statue, head bowed and uttering the words of respect.
“Oh God of Death, the mighty, powerful, and revered, please grant me the desires of my heart.” I slipped off the bracelet on my left hand that I’d always worn. It was made with small round beads of moonstone that were held together by a black string. The stones clinked loudly in the empty church as they dropped onto the statue’s empty offering bowl.
“It’s bad luck to invoke the God of Death, Dessa. Gods, you should know that,” Theo chided me, gripping me hard by my elbow.
“For someone so concerned about the gods, you sure don’t seem too concerned to be cursing in their temple,” I spat back, my irritation at an all-time high. “I didn’t even want to come here in the first place, and now you’re mad at how I chose to show my devotion?”
“Let’s just go,” Theo said, glancing around worried about the scene I was causing. His fingers dug into my skin, and I glared up at him, yanking my arm out his grasp.
“There’s no one here to impress right now, Theo.” He looked as if I’d just slapped him, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Not when he was acting so awful, and I was over his temper tantrum. Too exhausted by the day’s emotions to have to cater to him as well. “You’re right let’s just go. I promised Marley she could help me pack.”
I turned on my heel and stormed off not caring if he followed me or not. His cries to stop, fell deaf on my ears. How could he be so selfish? Exiting the temple, I was greeted with the sight of the sun setting over the entire city. It felt as if the whole of Paris was holding its breath, waiting for tomorrow and what was to come. I came to a stop at the edge where a wire fence had beenerected in a crisscross fashion, my anger rolling around tight in my chest. Lovers from all walks of life hung metal locks engraved with their initials on the fence, promising their love would be as eternal as the locket they’d fastened to the structure. There were so many that the fence curved from all the weight. My fingers clutched a random blue one and my thumb worked its way over the thin initials. E+M, it read. I wondered who they were and if their love withstood the test of time. Theo and I had never brought our own locket, and I’d never wanted to. Now, as I stood here with the tangible weight in my hand, the thought of wanting more bubbled violently to the surface. For the first time in my twenty-two years, I wanted something for myself.
I’d always slunk in the shadows of my family, being the diligent, quiet one. With Marley constantly getting into trouble and Jean being the athletic star, I was content to watch them shine. I did my duty of what was expected of me, going to school and being with a respectable partner. Never asking or wanting for anything that would cause waves. But now, I was singled out. Forced to examine the quiet life I’d become so accustomed to. Maybe Marley had a point, I just wish I didn’t feel so utterly frightened by the prospect of participating in Nocturne. Only one could win the games, but could that be me? The odds were stacked against me, having never done anything remotely dangerous in my life. And now I would be venturing to one of the deadliest places someone could go— straight into the God of Death’s dominion. The catacombs.
On the horizon, near the gates they’d erected far before I was born, movement caught my attention. A procession of black clad carriages being led into the city by what looks like a host of military members walked slowly past the large portcullis. I could tell they were military because of the distinct banners they carried with the gods’ sigil— a stark white rib cage against a black background. I wondered at who was being escorted in withsuch protection. Someone important most likely. Maybe even the God of Death himself coming in from the battlefields to revel in the games he created. Knowing that all the gods would be invested in our progress set my already fragile nerves on fire.
“Dessa, please. I’m sorry,” Theo said breaking my thought process and sounding out of breath. “I’m only thinking of you. You mean everything to me, you know that. Please forgive me. Let’s forget I ever said anything.”
I turned to take him in and caught his earnest expression. He grabbed my left hand running a finger over the engagement ring and brought my hand up to his lips. “I can’t imagine a future without you in it.”
My stomach clenched at his words. Picturing any future without him seemed unimaginable. We’d known each other forever. I’d always known that we’d end up together. It was what was expected. Only now my carefully planned out future was completely blown up by one singular paper. Perhaps it was the gods’ way of reminding me that no matter how much I wanted my life to be my own, they were still in control.
“Fine. Let’s get back before it’s dark,” I said as I reluctantly gave in to his pleas. Theo smiled, his cheeks dimpling with a level of charm that could melt away a glacier, and he led us down the steps. As we walked, I glanced back at the temple, watching the dimming light hit the tip of the spire feeling a chill in the air hit my skin and sent up one last hope that I would make it through Nocturne’s deadly game. But even as I said my prayer, I couldn’t shake the feeling that even if I were to make it through the games alive, nothing would ever be the same again.
Marley was waitingfor me in the doorway when I got back. I gave Theo a swift peck on the cheek, more so out of habit than anything. I was still so angry at him for the way he’d acted, but I was leaving tomorrow and didn’t want to go on bad terms.
“Theo,” Marley acknowledged with a chill to her voice.
“Marley.” Theo replied with the same tone.
Those two had never really gotten along, and it made things awkward for me every time we were in the same vicinity.
“I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be waiting for you by the entrance to the catacombs,” he said before disappearing down the street. As soon as he was out of sight, I felt like I could finally breathe again.
“It’s about time, come on. I’ve already gone through your whole closet and mine to pick out your Nocturne outfits. I was thinking we’d go with something simple for the parade, and then you can borrow my new black dress for the masquerade,” she said, pulling me into the house.
Our home was a modest one, situated amongst a row of buildings that led up to the artist’s district. It was rumored that long ago famous painters dwelled amongst these very buildings, but their works had been long lost to time. Their names scrubbed from the collective memory along with many other truths about our past. We were conditioned from a young age not to question what we were told, and those that didn’t fall in line were punished for all to see. Their bodies strapped naked in front of the Notre Dame, their hands and legs tied wide as the sun burned every bit of them. Passersby would throw theirgarbage at them, or worse. Some would urinate on them or spit as they were made to endure the humiliation. The mayor held the public spectacles once a month to set an example of such prisoners. I always avoided the area during those times, not wanting to see the horror the prisoners were forced to endure.
