Well, that explained Acheron’s innate hatred of Grim. Nothing like family to stoke the flames of hatred. And who could blame him? Grim was the reason all the Malachai had been cursed to be conceived in violence to do violence, and to die violently.
But that left him wondering about Acheron’s innate secrecy over being a god. Everyone Leucious knew would revel in that fact and exploit it. Not hide it. “Why doesn’t Acheron tell people who he is?”
Grim let out an evil laugh. “Acheron was cursed by the gods when he was born. The Atlantean pantheon did their best to kill him.”
That was an interesting tidbit to know. “Obviously, they failed.”
“No, they didn’t. He was killed by a Greek god and brought back against his will.”
Leucious gaped, then quickly caught himself. Rule number five of his father’s lengthy dictates, never let anyone know they surprised him. Always appear calm and decisive.
Brutal, in all things.
“I assume his mother brought him back?” After all, Apollymi would make sense.
Grim shook his head. “She’s a goddess of destruction. Those powers aren’t hers.”
Good to know. “Then who did it?”
“Acheron.”
Now Leucious was completely confused. “Acheron brought himself back?” That was unheard of. “He’s that powerful?”
Mot nodded. “Beware his powers. He’s not just a god. He’s something more.”
“And that is?”
“A god-killer.”
Leucious snorted in denial of something that was impossible. “You can’t be both.”
“You sure? Because he is.”
Again, it was impossible. Forbidden by the oldest and highest powers. God-killers had been created to make sure no god abused his or her power. Whenever they did, a god-killer could end their lives and absorb their powers to ensure the stability of the universe. A god with those powers …
It would be disastrous.
“How can he be both?”
Mot’s grimace turned intense and warning. “That is the question, isn’t it?”
Yes, it was. “And the answer is?”
“No one knows. Not even Acheron. He’s a strange anomaly.” And with that, Mot turned his horse away.
Leucious didn’t bother to call him back. He was too busy digesting those words.
Acheron was a Chthonian god-killer. Those were a small handful of creatures who’d been born randomly from anyone, other than the gods, so that they could destroy gods who abused their powers and preyed on humans.
Or others.
Because of that, no god was allowed to be both. So how could Acheron?
Did it even really matter?
Acheron wasn’t his target. His father had always been clear on the matter … Prey on humans and ignore those with more power lest they decide to prey on them.
Leucious wasn’t the bully his father was. There was no honor defeating those who were weaker. He preferred to fight those who were his equal or better. It was how he stayed honed and ready.
