The twist in Marina’s gut told her something was off. Or perhaps she’d only evolved in her foolish ways, holding steadfast to her self-destructive faith in him.
Though, some part of her refused to believethiswas his move—sending the Daemon to absolve her sins by devouring Hollow City whole.
Acacius was volatile, but in their short time together, she’d learned too much about his character to accept this creature. He was respectable in his own way, and he fought fair. It was why he’d punished Torin on his own time. The middle god had fought with poor etiquette, bathing in the carnage when she didn’t even strike back.
Marina analyzed the Daemon one last time before it could strike again—the way its muscles and tendons flickered under its frail skin, the slash in the center of its skull parting wide in its low growl. She memorized every small feature of its appearance, down to the spired engravings on the base of its horns.
The night churned around her like an obsidian maelstrom, sucking her below and sending her to her next destination: the realm of Ruin.
23
THE ROSE PENDANT
Acacius
Firelight reflectedoff the freshly forged metal as Acacius held up the necklace for inspection.
The metal rose twirled on its chain, layers of curled petals spread open in bloom. It had taken a few days to get the size right, another set of days to delicately shape each petal, and another to piece it all together.
The sides of the reflective flower were too smooth and flat. He needed to add more details, a slight split at the top of the petal and creases along the body, to make it seem more realistic.
It’s fucking abysmal.
He could do better.
Letting out a grumble, he stuffed the pendant away in his pocket.
Sweat dripped from his hairline, down his nape, and over his spine. Less than a few minutes under Moros at his workstation, and his shirt was already damp.
Acacius left through the underground tunnel, a maze of caves carved by the mountain itself. The set of pathways led into both the prison above in the Land of the Dead, and Tavora.
He crossed the threshold, greeted by the saffron sky of his realm, its surface cracking and bleeding cascades of black. Moss clung to the red clay terrain as he exited the mountain.
He stopped a few paces from the tree line of the densely packed forest, its crevices hazy with damp fog, and looked over his shoulder. A collective of Heraldic Olethros congregated along the cavern entrance, their wreaths of birch and pallid faces staring back at him—like a mortal’s without eyes or nose, only hollow holes, and the maimed fissures of their mouths, lacerations from their cheeks to their chins. These were the true faces of the Heralds. Acacius was the only one who knew what lay under the dense drapery of their veils.
Acacius gave them a nod of acknowledgement before teleporting away.
On any other day, he would’ve engaged in conversation with them. They never spoke back, just low grumbles, but he liked to believe that they enjoyed his company.
However, today, he didn’t feellike talking.
He stepped out of the midnight-blue cloud and onto the polished stone pathway of his garden, surrounded by the ivy tresses that covered the weathered exterior of his fortress. Red velvety roses climbed every slab of rock like voracious lichens, their fragrance filling his nose.
He strolled toward the arched entrance.
An empty space amongst the floral and greenery caught his eye.
He stopped and looked down at the bare soil, where the bleeding heart blossoms had been.
They were gone. Since when?
Acacius rubbed at his chest. Perhaps after gaining closure at Ruelle’s statue?
Since then, the leaden weight trapped inside of him had vanished. The only thing that haunted him now was an insufferable gnaw that came from missing Marina.
It had been nearly a week since he’d seen her, since he’d pulled his Heralds from Hollow City. Did she notice they were gone? When she did, would she come find him? He wanted her to seek him out on her own, but at what cost? Waiting another week for her to appear seemed unendurable.
Since his epiphany at Ruelle’s statue, he’d slowly resumed his daily duties amongst his realm, paying regular visits within Moros to leave behind torturous ruin. He’d even responded to Iliana’s message sent by herboyden, agreeing to attend the next Council meeting and officially ending his bereavement leave.
