24
In a few hours, all the research, the planning, the secrets, the hopes, dreams, everything I worked for to give my brothers and myself a slice of freedom will have been for nothing.
This was the main reason I kept it to myself for as long as I did.
I knew dangling it in front of them would give them a sense of hope we haven’t felt since we pressed our backs against the building beside Seductions twenty years ago.
Just like then, it’s being ripped right from underneath us.
I failed them. I failed Thayla.
I failed…myself.
My eyes drift shut as I sift through any shred of information in my mind that may give me an idea to get us out of here.
It’s not like I haven’t spent the last forty-four hours doing the same thing, but I refuse to just give up.
There’s absolutely nothing helpful in that ghastly room Calista made for me.
That last-minute thought of a creation proves without a shadow of a doubt, the Goddess of Creation has never and will never care to truly know her children.
Even though there are rows of books, only one single shelf has actual text. The rest are completely blank. Decorations to fill the space.
I thought when I slid the first tome out of its spot, my mind was playing tricks on me. I flipped through the pages, only to be met with no words or ink.
After the fourth book, it became clear she couldn’t, or at least didn’t care to, create the stories inside. The single shelf that did hold information was text I was reading by the age of four.
That didn’t shock me.
That was around the time she was actually in our lives.
“Amick.”
I blink my eyes open and cast them to Kyzen briefly.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
“Of course he’s fine. He’s been standing in his little corner for two days, emotionless.”
I don’t feed into Riven.
He’s gone through every emotion imaginable. Now he’s circled back around to anger.
“Don’t start your shit again,” Creed grunts.
“I’m not starting anything. It’s the truth. He’s sat right there, in that spot, not doing a damn thing.”
“What would you have me do, Riven?” I ask.
“Uh, I don’t know.” He shrugs, shifting his pace from in front of the couch to in front of me. “Maybe figure out a way to get us out of the shit you got us into.”
“I didn’t get us into anything.”
“Yes, the fuck you did, and I’m tired of everyone acting like you didn’t. You stabbed Harriseen. You had to face a trial in front of the Beginning Gods. You announced we were getting out of the agreement using the Law of Double Dick Whatever. You agreed to us coming to the Goddess of Crazy’s house. All that was you.”
