A cold knot forms in my stomach. “Causing trouble inMohasha?” The thought of my siblings facing Khaysus alone makes my heart constrict.
“Something like that.” Her smile turns cruel.
Atlas steps forward, deliberately positioning himself between Kya and me. The movement is calculated, a simple statement of allegiance.
“Atlas,” I say, my voice low with warning. “Step aside. Whatever they’ve promised you –”
“Is more than you ever offered,” he cuts in. His eyes, once warm with kindness, now burn with something dark. “Did you think I would simply accept your rejection? That I would watch you choose him–” he jerks his head toward Thesix, “–over me?”
I feel water gathering in my palm, “This isn’t about rejection. This is about your pride.”
“Tsk … tsk … wrong, myGoddess.” He counters. “This is about power. More than you will ever have.”
“What have you done?” I whisper, watching as a flicker of orange dances between his fingers.
Atlas smiles, extending his hand. A small flame erupts from his palm, dancing and swirling unnaturally. It’s not the pure, primal fire of Khaysus, nor even the flames Kya owns … but a corrupted imitation.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Pride covers his voice. “Turns out you’re not the only god who will soon walk Ashonera.”
“That is not your magic to yield.” I counter.
“It is now,” Atlas says, his eyes never leaving mine. “I gave my heart to someone who actually gave me something in return.”
“You do not know what you’ve done,” I say, water swirling around my hand. “The damage Khaysus will cause –”
“The damage?” Atlas laughs, bitter and cold. “Oh, how cute you think I care. I agree with him. You’ve been too weak with your constituents. Wanting to betheir mother, their friend, their goddess … but that’s not what will make people obey Drahenå! Fear, as I’m learning, is how one should rule.”
Kya watches our exchange with obvious delight, her amber eyes gleaming.
“Kya, you know exactly what Khaysus will do to this place.”
“Rule it.” She says simply, “With this one by his side.”
“See Drahenå, he’s promised to let me rulewithhim.” Atlas says.
“I let you rule beside me!” I say, my voice carrying a tone of hatred I’ve not heard in so long.
“No, you let me pretend to rule. As long as I was kind, loving … etcetera.” He says, flames now rising higher in his palm as he turns his hand towards the ground.
“You’ll be nothing but a puppet!” I say again, but already know that nothing I say will convince him. Not now, not with this man who stands in front of me. He looks the same, but everything is different. I don't even see the beat of his heart along the vein in his neck as he seethes at me.
“Last chance, Atlas,” I warn, the water forming a sphere above my palm. “Step away from her. Come back to Antalis. We can fix this.”
Atlas blasts a line of fire from where he stands along the ground to just inches from my feet, where water pooled quickly extinguishing the flames there. “No Drahenå. This is just the beginning.”
nine
Pitongi Moon of The Lunar Year 3303
Istand on a high balcony of my palace, watching my newly formed army train in the courtyard below. The clash of metal against metal rings through the air, a discordant symphony so foreign to my peaceful Antalis. My fingers curl around the stone railing, the cool surface grounds me as the heaviness of it settles in my chest.
“Again!” shouts Commander Selene, her voice carrying across the yard. “Your enemy won’t give you time to recover your balance!”
A year ago, these people had been bakers, merchants, and fishermen. Now they wield swords and shields, their faces set with determination, but even that can’t mask their fear. I had created this world for harmony, as a utopia … not for war. Yet here I am, teaching my people to fight, to kill if necessary.
Since the first breach of souls have come from this world to go towards Mohasha, more have left and now I’ve noticed the subtle effects of the change. The aging of those who never once shown it. The feeling that soon I’ll have to find a way to call them home when their bodies can no longer support them.
“You’re troubled.”
