A wave of pain cut her off before she could finish. She writhed in the Morrigan’s grasp, fighting off flames that were suddenly bigger than she was. This wasn’t the wrath she was used to. This bonfire was fueled by resentment of Ishtar herself,and it was bigger than anything Bex had ever produced. If she couldn’t control it, the resulting firestorm would destroy Ishtar’s children as easily as it consumed everything else. Her own people’s anger would turn them all to ash if she let it, so Bex held on tight, clutching the toxic fire to her chest even as it burned her alive.
“Good,” the Morrigan’s voice said from somewhere above her. “That’s the reaction I was hoping for. I knew you would put your people first, Bex of the Bonfire. Remember that when she comes for you.”
When who comes?Bex wanted to ask, but she couldn’t get the words past the char that blocked her throat. Every bit of her was on fire now, filling her vision with so many flames that she didn’t even see the skeletal hands reaching up to grab her until they snatched her by the throat, dragging Bex out of her burning body and into a world of ash.
CHAPTER 5
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WHEN BEX OPENED HEReyes again, she was on her knees in a dry riverbed. The silt was so soft and powdery that she could barely feel it beneath her fingers. If there’d been any wind, the whole bank would’ve blown away in a single gust, but there wasn’t. There was no wind, no sound, no movement or life of any sort. Just dust and ash and the shadow of a faint, ghostly figure hanging like a pall in front of her.
What do you think you are doing?
Bex flinched. That was Ishtar’s voice. She’d know it anywhere, but it was so faint. The goddess’s words were as weightless as the dust that flew into the air just from the puff of Bex’s breathing. The anger that burned inside them, however, was as hot as the bonfire’s flames.
What do you think you are doing?the ghostly image of Ishtar demanded again.You aremysword,myweapon! You swing atmypleasure!
The shadow turned her head sharply, causing her towering crown of six tall horns to flicker like an old film.
I thought you understood that,she whispered, covering her once-beautiful face with her hands.You were so loyal, so good. Rebexa would never betray me. That’s what I always thought, but what do I see now? My faithful daughter, telling my demons to swear to her.The dead goddess ripped her hands back down to reveal a terrifying visage of rage.You stole my worshipers!
“I didn’t steal them!” Bex cried, putting up her own hands. “It was the Morrigan who riled them up! The children of the Riverlands are loyal. The only reason the Morrigan’s attack got through is because your people are suffering. They’re hurt and terrified, desperate for salvation. If you’d just speak to them—”
Why should I?Ishtar snarled.I don’t care how they feel. I’m the reason they exist! They should be grateful.
“Theyaregrateful,” Bex insisted, looking up at her mother. “But all the demons you originally created are gone. These are their children’s children, who know you only as a story. They want to believe, but no matter how faithfully they pray to you, it never works, because you’re dead.”
You think I wanted to be dead?Ishtar snapped.
“Of course not,” Bex said quickly. “I’m just asking you to look at things from their perspective. Their lives have been terrible under Gilgamesh, and their goddess can’t do anything to help them.”
I gave them you,Ishtar argued.I didn’t have to keep catching you every time you died. I could have let you fall into the void, but you act like your rebirths are all your doing. You seek to steal my place.Her ghostly eyes narrowed.You’re as faithless as War.
Bex’s jaw ticked. “Maybe War wouldn’t have been so faithless if you hadn’t thrown her in a pit.”
You only say that because you’ve forgotten what she used to sound like,Ishtar said dismissively.She was an embarrassment—howling like an animal, cursing my name. She ruined the peace of our divine Paradise. Of course she was punished.
“War only howled because the job you made her do left her in constant pain,” Bex retorted. “You’re her mother. Why didn’t you try to ease her suffering instead of locking her up?”
Because her suffering was not my problem,Ishtar’s ghost snapped.Paradise was a joint project, the gods’ great work. If I let your sister slack off, the sin of War would not be cleansed, and we’d fall behind schedule.
Bex couldn’t believe her ears. “And that was worth your daughter?”
Don’t let her manipulate you,Ishtar warned.You all suffered for humanity’s sins, but while the rest of you bore it gladly, War was weak. She screamed at pain the rest of you endured without complaint, so I put her in that hole to toughen her up. I took no joy in it, but it had to be done. After all, a queen who cannot do her job is worthless.
She said this as if she couldn’t understand why anyone would be upset by it, but Bex was staring at her mother like she’d never seen her before.
“Is that all we were to you?” she whispered at last. “Was Gilgamesh right? Did you only ever see us as your tools?”
Oh, darling, no,Ishtar said, reaching down to stroke her daughter’s hair.It’s true I made you for a purpose, but that’s what makes you divine. You were all part of our great and important work: the perfection of humanity. When we were done, there would be no more war or wrath, no pride, greed, sorrow, lust, hate, fear, or envy. All of humanity’s demons would be vanquished, and the entire species would know nothing but peace, solace, and tranquility. They would worship us forever in deathless bliss. Isn’t that a Paradise worth suffering for?
Her ghostly hand kept petting her daughter’s hair the entire time she spoke, but Bex pulled away.
“What about us?” she asked, looking up at her divine mother. “What about your demons?”
Your work would be finished as well,the goddess assured her.When humanity had no more sins to scrub clean, I wouldreclaim the divine spark of power I placed inside each of you and take you all back into myself. As you came from me, so would you return to become part of my divine happiness forever.
Again, she said this as if it were the only sensible conclusion, but Bex had never been more horrified in her life.
