He let out a gruff breath.
The hold this goddess had on him was pathetic.
“Very well,” he said in reply to Avi. “But as the other Council member in the room is aware, if you ask me questions that breach confidentiality, I will be forced to act accordingly.” He cocked his head to look around Avi at Naia. “Therefore, I recommend you tread carefully.”
Naia squared her jaw, instilling courage across her features as if to prove to him that she was not afraid. “I understand, and I will not ask anything out of scope. You have my word.”
“You will have about two minutes until the effects of your little elixir wear off,” he said to Avi.
“It can usually withstand ten.” Avi’s voice shook with strained nerves.
Acacius flashed him a ruthless grin. “It seems you’ve never quarreled with a High God to my pedigree.”
“Once.” Avi averted his gaze, running an awkward hand over his styled copper locks. “On the day of Ash’s birth…”
Cassius.
Acacius’s smirk deepened, a wicked slice to his lips. “And you thought back then a drop of the Himura’s blood would affect him.”
A menacing look overcame Ronin’s face, and he aimed his hatred at Acacius.
The room remained silent for a long second.
Acacius took it as a sign of victory. He wanted them to feel uncertain by his presence. While he wouldn’t send them all to the realm of his Daemon for capturing him and forcing a tonic down his throat, he would, however, have fun mentally tormenting them, keeping them on edge, never knowing when he’d snap.
Avi popped the cork from the vial, stepping closer to Acacius. “Please tilt your head back and take an honest swig.”
The rimmed glass met his lips, and Acacius leaned his head back until the sour liquid touched his tongue.
It was nothing like the creamy tang of a banana, and the witch should have been flayed for his misdirection. It stung like bile down his throat, its effects eroding the will to speak what he wanted. He could feel the mechanics of his mind and mouth losing control.
Resistance constricted in his gut as his glamor faded away.
His brunette hair grew out to his shoulders, lightening to his true ivory blond. The material of his blazer strained around hisshoulders as his chest broadened. The hem of his pants grew up past his ankles as his legs stretched to their normal length. The barbs embedded in his skin tore deeper, and a river of warm crimson gushed down the side of his calf.
He watched in smug delight as the faces in front of him shifted in surprise at the sight of his divinity.
Avi turned to Marina and fed her a full vial as well.
She licked her lips, face scrunching at the taste. “What a fucking awful potion. You must get your fruit from the gutter.” Her bobbed haircut grew out, curling and meeting her waist. Its dark shade bled through the blonde.
“Sorry about that. It can taste different for everyone.” Avi laughed uncomfortably under his breath, backing away.
Acacius inclined his head at Naia as she stepped up.
“Let’s begin.” On her swift exhale, she clasped her hands together and focused on him. “Are you Acacius, the High God of Chaos and Ruin?”
He tested the potion and attempted to lie, only to feel its power sway his tongue. “Yes.”
“Are you one of the first deities in existence?”
Acacius rolled his eyes at her boring questions. “Yes.”
“What are you doing in Hollow City?”
“Accompanying Marina to locate what she thought to be one of my Daemon Olethros.”
Naia’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head, confused. “What shethoughtto be?”
