Page 30 of As Above, So Below

Netharis directs his gaze back to me, his eyes sweeping over me with a blend of disdain and disappointment. The kind of glare I’m no stranger to when it comes to dealing with my father.

“You will sit,” he sighs tiredly and snaps his fingers.

I blink and find myself seated in the chair, unable to move.Clenching my teeth hard, my grip on the arms tighten, and my knuckles turn white.

The god of death leans back in his obsidian carved throne. “Let me begin this by saying your recent behavior has given me cause for concern.”

Kassil’s face turns from me to my father, as do a few of the other Lords.

“Yet for centuries, Vaelyn has convinced me you’re fine,” he continues.

My eyes dart to Vaelyn’s, but he stares through me as if I don’t exist.

“I am fine,” I counter with the biggest lie of my existence.

“You are not,” he laughs with a shake of his head and a sharp exhale. “You’re anything but fine, Vestaris.”

“We’re concerned about your mental acuity,” Arzak, the Lord of Violence speaks, drawing my attention to him.

My sanity?

They’re going to argue on the premise of my sanity?

Afterlocking me away in an obsidian box for fifty years?

I blink in astonishment. A few times.

“Netharis has advised us you’ve attempted to leave the hells,” Vargellen, the Lord of Greed says, his tone condescending.

“I waspulledfrom the veil. I did not leave of my own volition. I’ve not broken the order,” I argue, straining against the compulsion which keeps me firmly planted in the chair.

“Your withdrawal from the courts and now your resignation as Death Bringer argues otherwise,” he counters and my jaw drops.

Withdrawal?

Resignation?

Lies.

Netharis has fed them lies.

And of course they’re going to openly support the god of death. It doesn’t matter how much they want to take the hells for themselves. Unless they’re unified, not a single one of them stands a chance. Dread sinks into my bones as the cold knot in my stomach grows.

It’s my word against a god’s.

Netharis’ lies will stand unchallenged, unchecked.

I’mfucked.

My innate rolls within me, but it too feels chained and muzzled. I almost begin to laugh. Netharis anticipated me fighting back or losing control.

“Youroutburstthe other night…” Netharis emphasizes the word with a lifted brow, “has proven you need more care and attention than I can provide. What I’ve chosen is for your own safety.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Netharis continues.

“As per expectation and precedent, I’m giving you the opportunity to make the choice for yourself.”

Nothing with Netharis is ever a choice.