“Do you remember when we first met?” I asked.
“In front of my parents’ home.”
“No, when we actually met.” I frowned when recognition flickered in his eyes.
“Della…”
“You know what I am talking about. When we met 500 years ago in Akecia, that was not the first time I saw you. And it was not an accident that you saw me.” Haden stared at me confused. “I committed treason against the heavens before we met that day. I was there the day you were forced to Hell. That was the first time I ever saw you. You couldn’t see me because I was wearing a cloak with my hood on. I’ve known you for longer than you knew I existed.”
“You knew I was in Hell then?” Haden looked betrayed, but this was not even the worst of it.
“Yes.”
Haden took a hesitant step toward me. There was confusion in his voice. “You came to Hell?”
“Yes.” I frowned.
“Fuck, Mateo wasn’t lying when he told me that I shouldn’t have magic—you gave it to me.”
I sighed heavily as he looked so confused. It was a lot to process.
“There is a reason why you suddenly started getting visions of me. I planted those images in your mind.”
His mouth fell open, but I kept going.
“One day, you woke up and decided to go see Avesh, the God of Knowledge—even though you didn’t know he existed.” I pointed to my chest. “I made sure you knew where to look to break your curse. I led you there. I left you hints and clues in that godsforsaken castle. I was determined for you to break out. You deserved a life out of the depths of Hell, unlike your siblings.”
They all stared at me, their mouths falling open.
“I planted those images in your mind. I made sure you would go see Avesh. I made sure you would be the first and only one to get out of Hell. I made sure you ran into me in Akecia. Me. I manipulated you to do everything you’ve ever done. You thought you were the one using me, but I was using you this whole time.”
“You’re lying,” Haden said.
“Your room was on the third floor. It overlooked a pond and forest, and even though the pond had black water and the forest was dead, it was the prettiest view there. You spent most of your time in your room, not engaging with your sibling because you knew you were not exactly like the rest of them.
“The moment I saw you on your way to Hell, I knew you were mine. Heavens be damned, I was going to free you even though it was not allowed. It was simple. I went to the castle at night while you slept, and I jumped into that perfect mind of yours and planted images of me in it.”
Haden stared at me, and I waited for him to say something, anything.
“Tell him the rest of it,” Malamay demanded.
I sighed heavily.
“Great, there is more.” Haden laughed humorlessly.
“The heavens found out what I was doing.” I didn’t want Haden to be angry with me, but at this point he had every right to be. I was the villain in his story. “They thought I manipulated you into a bond, but there was a real bond to begin with anyways. They tried to kill it, but they couldn't stop it.”
“You manipulated Abram, the God of Fates.” Malamay glared. “And then you helped hide him from us. He must be punished for his treasons.”
“I did not manipulate Abram. He was glad to help me.” I smiled smugly at Malamay. They would never find him either.
“So, you have manipulated me.” Haden’s voice cracked. “I don’t understand.”
“Yes.” I felt his betrayal pumping through our bond. “Your parents disrupted the balance of the realm by creating you and your siblings. You should have been born naturally, Haden, but they created you to be monsters. They wanted you to be evil. The old gods found out immediately what was happening. What theydidn’t realize was that your piece of shit father was also just as tainted as your mother.
“He tricked the old gods to take pity on him. They agreed to give him the position of leading the star counsel—something the old gods had been in charge of forever. The old gods took turns staying in the stars to look after the gods who died. Back then the gods had the choice to be reborn as a god, be reborn not as a god, or ascend to the heavens.
“Your father has been collecting the dead gods up in the stars, hoarding them like his own personal collection of power. I started having visions of it, and I told the old gods what he was doing. But I also told them that I saw you and your siblings break free from Hell. I saw what the seven of you would do, Haden. I had to tell them—it was my duty. But I also wanted you.”
