Page 42 of Corvus and the Broken God

So, I wasn’t too obnoxious then? Good to know. He was more human than he liked to pretend. And now I was annoyed again to be so relieved. He wanted me around. For now.

“Answer my question, Corvus. Why do you want to go?”

“Look, you may have been alive when the dinosaurs walked the earth,” he snorted and sat down across the table from me, “but I know how things work in the current age. I can bring you in exactly where you want to be in Mexico, but in a disguise your buddies won’t recognize. If we go as young tourists and do the whole vacation thing, you know, pretend to enjoy ourselves like everyone else, no one will ever suspect who you are. I bet you were just planning on flying down there and demanding to know what they want. This way, they’ll never see you coming. You can catch them unaware.”

He leaned over the table, pulled the bread close, and sawed off a slice, eating it without jam or cheese.

“You make a valid point. They would not realize who I was if I pretended to be someone I would normally loathe, yet you still avoid the question.”

I stared at him, trying to read him, but he kept his attention on his ascetic breakfast. Why wouldn’t he just read my mind? Why did he insist on hearing me say it? I could’ve been stubborn about exposing my feelings, not like he didn’t already know them, except I really wanted to go with him. “I don’t want to sit here for weeks wondering if you’ll come back. I want to be there and make sure you do come back. I realize it’s a risk. I’m not sure since you haven’t told me anything, but if I can turn into a crow and fly away, then how risky is it?”

His eyes met mine, boring their way into my soul. “It will be dangerous for both of us. Being able to shift form does not mean my enemies cannot kill us. They can, and they will try to kill me, and you too, if you are with me. If you turn into a crow, they will turn into an eagle, and then they will systematically take you apart until you are no longer sane enough to heal yourself. Once they take your head, then you will be truly dead.”

“Oh.” That sucked. “Can they do that to you, too?”

“Yes, of course. I am not unkillable.” His burnt caramel eyes bored into me.

I looked away, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. My fingers rubbed the smooth surface of the old wooden table, whirling around the oval of a large knot.

“Why are they so determined to kill you? At least tell me that much, and then I’ll know better what I’m getting into.”

“The creatures who will be convening are all active in the world’s affairs in their human forms. You will not recognize any of them by name or face, as none of them are in the spotlight anymore. But most of them counsel important people, such as presidents, dictators, and billionaires. If they are not manipulating politics, then they are running the banks. Futures. Black markets. Guns. All kinds of illegal trade. Our kind controls it all. I used to be one of them. I even ruled a few countries in my day when being worshipped as a god lost its appeal.” He chuckled, but it sounded self-deprecating instead of boastful.

Jesus, what was I doing with this creature, this demigod?

“So, they want you involved?”

“No, I am certain they want me dead.”

“And?”

“What are you asking, Corvus?”

“Well, you keep dancing around the point. I’ve deduced your enemies want you dead; otherwise, why all the prep work? What I want to know is why.”

“Oh, the same reasons that have fueled enemies since the beginning of time: riches, power, revenge, love.”

“Love?” Whoops. I didn’t mean to say it out loud.

He chuckled. “Corvus, I’m heading down to pick up our I.Ds. I need you to stay behind and take care of the house today instead of going to the cabin.”

He didn’t quite phrase it as a question, but it wasn’t the usual demand. Corvus, see who is at the door. Corvus, take the stew off the stove. But why did the house need a caretaker? Especially if we were both planning to leave for god knows how long when we went to Mexico. Hadn’t he lived for years without one before I showed up?

“I’ll stay behind. But I’m just telling you now you can’t insist I stay behind when you leave for your summit.”

The lingering smirk disappeared. He stood from the table and, with a few quick strides, walked over to me. Powerful hands grabbed me up and out of my seat and into the air as if I weighed nothing. His voice dropped lower than usual, grating down the back of my spine. “I am still considering allowing you to accompany me. But don’t think for a second if I wanted you to stay here, I couldn’t lock you up somewhere and make sure all you could do was hope I made it back in time to free you.”

I forced myself to look up, up, up into his coal-ringed eyes. Giant neck muscles bulged under the weight of massive horns. I dangled a few feet off the floor, half terrified and half thrilled—and not the least bit in control of any part of my situation. Let’s get real here. Did I honestly think we were anything alike? I was so far outclassed.

A smile snuck up the left side of his mouth, revealing his impressive incisor. “Say it, Corvus.” But before I could respond or figure out what he wanted me to say, a shadow passed over his face. He set me down, talons still pressing into my delicate skin, his attention far away.

“You are in control of everything, oh almighty Camazotz. Let me offer a sacrifice in your honor. Too bad we’re all out of virgins at the moment,” I mocked.

He let go of my arms and walked past me, stoic as always, but I would’ve bet good money he was laughing on the inside. “Just stay here today, okay?”

“Yes, sir.” I bowed, trying to keep my smile from showing.

But my good mood evaporated soon after he left. It was infuriating to be left in the dark. Why did he want me to stay behind when I was supposed to be helping him? Why had he struck the bargain with me in the first place? How much was he hiding from me? I tried to read up on my homework, still completely clueless about why they were convening in this particular deserted corner of the Yucatán, but the sun shone too brightly outside my window, and I couldn’t concentrate. I had too many questions. What did he mean about love? Did he still love the woman who stamped her personality all over my room? My fingers found the pendant I had taken to wearing whenever I was home. He’d better not be planning on bringing her back. But that couldn’t be the reason. He told me if I stayed after Mexico, he would buy me a fridge. And maybe a washing machine. He was clearly worried we wouldn’t come back. The more I learned, the less I knew, and it was driving me crazy.