I fall into the depths of never-ending white eyes. They’re blurred from the streams pouring out of mine, but I latch onto them for dear life.
“Creed,” I croak.
“What happened?”
“I…V, the day they attacked the Abandon, that was the night my parents decided to leave me, wasn’t it?”
“What?” Creed flinches, pulling me into his lap so he can turn to face my Vedarya.
“Yes. After their father’s attack in Edistoia, they decided you could no longer travel with them.”
Creed’s body once again jumps. “He attacked Edistoia?”
“Yes. Five Beginning Gods met to discuss what to do with the four of you. The vote was three to two that you stay in the Godsdawn, and the arrangement was drawn up. Your father, of course, was not happy with that. He went on a rampage and attacked Edistoia and Abernie, stealing a great number of people to replenish his numbers.”
“Why the fuck has no one told us that, and how the fuck did he get away with that?”
“What good would it have done to tell you four that after what you just went through. The gods allowed Derivius a say in what would happen to you all because he swore responsibility over you, but once the God of Obliteration attacked the regions, the other Beginning Gods told him his say did not matter in that case. They felt it was best to let him get his anger out, rather than have him turn it around on the Godsdawn.”
“What Beginning Gods?”
The grit and lethal vibration coming from his chest shake my very soul. They snatch me toward him and his arms grow tighter around me.
“The Goddesses. All of them.”
“We know the God of Boundaries was already missing by this point in time, but where was the God of Consequence in all this?” I ask.
“He decreed he had to stay out of it, that there were grand consequences to come from any decision made.”
Creed’s body trembles beneath me and I don’t have the slightest idea what to do to comfort him. My mind is so mangled and out of sorts I don’t even know where to go from here.
“What were you discussing prior to me coming in?” he asks quietly as though he senses my confusion.
I mean…I guess he can feel that through my soul.
I ask V to fill him in while I try my hardest to gather myself and my thoughts.
“When did her parents throw the Binding into the sea and why didn’t they return to her after that?”
I’ll leave the hard thinking to him.
“Right after they left her and they weren’t allowed to return to her. When your father, Thayla, told you they had to leave to prepare for the consequences of their actions, yes, he was referring to hiding the Binding from the gods, but more so, they were never meant to get rid of the Binding, nor were they supposed to delay your arrival to Godsden.
“Those two instances were the only times they went against the Valories. They wanted to buy you more time. Those decisions changed the trajectory of many paths. Your original path was to enter the Veiling yourself on your eighteenth birthday when it was allowed.”
Eighteen? Gods, I never would’ve survived this.
At that age, I was nowhere near the type of person I am now.
“That is all I can and needed to tell you for now, Thayla. I’m sorry for dropping this on you, but you needed to be told. Plus, despite it all, I thought you knowing your parents had the Binding in their possession for many, many years, it might help you grow more comfortable with it.”
I release a deep breath and nod.
“I don’t know if it helps or not yet, but I’m glad you told me regardless. Thank you, V.”
“Is my silent supporter still here as well?”
“Of course I am.”
