That statement caused Declan’s eyes to go wider than I’d ever seen them.
“I also heard of you from my priest,” Sucellus went on, and the god’s eyes grew dark, anger clouding his face. “He has beendealtwith. My apologies that he assisted in the unfortunate trouble you all experienced. It is an unfortunate thing that I was not more involved in affairs. Had I kept a firmer hand on him, I may have noticed his dealings with thisVirgil Tacitus.” He spat the name, as if each syllable disgusted him.
There was no way I’d ask what he meant bydealt with, but if I had to guess, Sloan was most likely no longer in the land of the living. As angry as Sucellus had been with Virgil for killing Balthazar, he must have been more angry with his priest for being involved.
“What have you called me here for, on this glorious night of the New Year?” Sucellus said, regaining some of his joviality.
“I…uh…I wish to remove the Freedman family from your patronage,” Wendy said.
There was a long pause as Sucellus looked at the girl. With each second that went by, my fear and worry escalated. I still recalled the rage with which Sucellus had done in Virgil and his men,andhow painful it had all looked.
At last, Sucellus gave a single nod of his head. “You have discovered the limitations of my gift, I take it?”
“I don’t want to die young,” Wendy said.
“Ah, but you would leave behind such wonders,” Sucellus said. “Knowledge like no others, fame, perhaps infamy if you’d like? Money, power, and influence? All good things. Many on earth would give up a few years of life for such treasures, would they not?” The god gave her a shrewd look that told me he was trying to negotiate, but if that was what he wanted, he’d chosen the wrong girl.
Wendy shook her head. “No, sir. I want to end this.Please.”
Sucellus stared at her for a few long seconds, then finally nodded, chuckling ruefully.
“As you will,” he said. “Though it pains me dearly. The Freedmans were the most faithful of my followers. None ever brought as much honor to me, not in all my many years. I give you back your life, young lady.” Sucellus raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Aboomthundered through the room, and Wendy gave a grunt, clutching her stomach and hitting her knees.
“She is fine,” Sucellus murmured as I knelt beside her. “It is no easy thing to separate yourself from a god.” A shrewd look came into his eyes as he looked at Declan and me. “Perhaps one of you would like to take her place? Mr. McClintoc? You could have even more knowledge than you have now. Imagine the successes you’d have. And you, Ms. Paolo? Full and complete control of magic, with power you only dreamed of? Tempting, no?”
“I’ve only just come out of retirement,” Declan said, “but my skills are plenty good enough. Plus, I’m already spoken for, if I’m being honest.”
“Ah, yes,” Sucellus said. “The well of knowledge. Yes. What of you, Ms. Paolo? What do you say? Be mine, and I will bestow power unlike any you’ve ever seen.” His eyes turned to me. “What of you, my dear? Would it not be nice to be more than a middling witch? A being of power and skill the likes of which your kind has never known. By my side, you could make all other witches, sorcerers, and warlocks pale in comparison. What do you say?”
I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t tempted. To bypass all the studying, roadblocks, and frustration of learning to harness my powers? Life would be so much easier. Though, most good things came through hard work and dedication. This? It would be cheating. If I’d learned anything the last year, it was that I was good enough the way I was. If I spent my life as a mediocre witch, then so be it, that would be who I was. If I did continue improving and became an expert, then I could be proud that I’d done all that myself.
“No thanks,” I said. “Better to do it on my own. I’m right where I need to be. The blood, sweat, and tears it takes to become better will, in the end, make success all the sweeter. But thank you for the offer.”
“Very well,” he said with a heavy sigh. “You can’t fault me for trying.”
Wendy, having recovered, stood. “Thank you. I was worried you’d be mad.”
Sucellus adjusted his hammer, moving it to the opposite shoulder. “My darling child, only a truly unworthy god would say no to a request like that. After these many years of faithful service, your family has earned its freedom. Though, I can’t say I am not sad to see the Freedmans go their own way. Now, if you don’t mind, I have other business to attend to. A god’s work is never done.”
Sucellus winked at us. With a thunderclap that rattled the room and sent out a pulse of air that billowed my curly hair back, he vanished.
Wendy let out a shuddering sigh and bent over, placing her hands on her knees.
“Holy shit,” she muttered. “That was kinda scary. Kinda cool, but scary.”
“Tends to be sort of terrifying when you deal with beings who can kill you with a snap of their fingers,” Declan said with a sarcastic grin. “Can you believe that guy tried to tempt us?”
“Actually, yes, I can,” I said. “That’s what gods do, right? Tempt people with promises. Redemption of sin, heavenly afterlives, power, influence? It’s who they are deep down.”
“True,” he grunted. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Wendy had asked for her favorite dinner that night as a celebration. Declan, in a move that surprised both me and the girl, offered to make the food.
“Spaghetti and meatballs, right?” he said. “I’ll make some garlic bread to go along with it.”
“Make?” Wendy said, wrinkling her nose. “You meanbuy?”
