“Have you come to fight for me, Death?” Nobus takes the seat across from me, crossing an ankle over his knee with a flippant ease as my sister leaves to join the battle.
“I will never give an offering to War. I am simply here to feast on the souls of dead gods.”
Nobus chuckles. “You know they’re not dying. Come now, tell me why you’re really here, Dark God. Or should I finally see my father’s request through and end your pathetic immortal existence?”
Gods, I love when my assumptions are correct.
Contrary to what the mortals believe, there are fates worse than death. And, just like I thought, Nobus plans to make the rebel gods suffer. Why end them when he can cut off the rejuvenating source of their power, end their offerings, and force them to live in pain with no hope of the sweet relief my power offers?
“I am here to make a bargain with you.” It’s a risky gamble to taunt the God King even in the most peaceful of times. But Nobus is a cocky god and I plan to offer him something he can’t resist.
“A bargain?” Surprise flares in his eyes before he chuckles again. “If it's souls you want, I’m afraid you’ll be hungry. They will not be entering the Under Realm any time soon.”
“Exile.” The single word piques the God King’s interest as I bait the hook. “Am I right?” I know I am, but the single nod of his head confirms it. “Exile them to 717.”
“What?” Nobus asks, not hiding the spark of shock that shimmers in his golden eyes.
“That’s my bargain. You agree to exile the rebels to Realm 717 and, in exchange, I will tell you what the Goddess of Truth withheld from you. The real truth about the future of your realm.”
Nobus straightens in his seat, every muscle in his jawtightening in restraint. His breathing changes slightly, and I know he’s taken the bait. Now it’s time to set the hook.
“717 restricts their power,” I explain. “The strongest will be able to wield an element, maybe two, but the rest will be without magic. And what is a worse fate for a god than to be forgotten and powerless?”
“Powerless.” The word rolls languidly in his mouth as he considers my offer.
This particular mortal realm will end their suffering and kill them sooner than the others, but Nobus doesn’t need to know that. The image of Gaius the Green’s funeral pyre replays in my mind, the great god burning after only a handful of years of his chosen life on 717. Of course the God King doesn’t remember that. He would never concern himself with remembering facts about anyone other than himself.
“Why do you care, Death?” Nobus asks, his words laced with suspicion. “What’s in it for you?”
“Convenience,” I lie. “It’s easier to keep tabs on them if they’re all confined to the same realm. No scouring the ether to clean up their messes and reap the mortal souls they’ll take. And, lucky for you, you only have to seal one doorway to make sure they don’t return, not thousands.”
Nobus stares inquisitively, weighing my words and inspecting them for any hint of a trick. Seconds pass and I grow more impatient with every tick of the clock. He’s taking entirely too fucking long.
“Think about it. If you send them all to a magicless realm, the influx of magic will give the mortals proof of your existence,” I say, preparing to stroke his ego. “They’ll have no choice but to worship at the feet of the all powerful God King. Think about how your power will grow with their offerings.”
I swallow down the bile that arises at the revolting words. Giving Nobus any modicum of praise makes me want to bephysically ill. But, right on cue, his eyebrows lift and the muscles in his jaw ticks—and I know I have him now.
“Bulk exile to Realm 717 in exchange for the truth,” Nobus repeats the offer.
I nod once in agreement, willing my expression to remain blank. If he has the slightest inkling how this truly benefits me, he’ll never agree to it.
Life in this particular mortal realm, the one that meant everything to her father, is the only peace I can offer Selene. That and the promise that her suffering will not last forever.
“Done,” Nobus declares, extending his arm towards me. My gaze flicks to his tan hand to his golden eyes.
“The heir will reunite the pantheon.” The paraphrased prophecy echoes in the room with the ferocity of a wrecking ball in a silent hall.
Those weren’t Taura’s words exactly, but they have the intended effect all the same.
The god retracts his still outstretched hand. “When? How?” he demands. “That’s not possible.”
“See that’s the thing about the truth, Nobus. No one can escape it, even you.”
“I cannot die!” he roars. “I made a deal with Creation. I am the exception.”
I lick my lips, tasting his fear in the air around us as I provoke him further. “No one said anything about you dying, but feel free to keep speculating. It tastes delicious.”
“I should kill you.”
