Page 18

Darkness Encroaches

Grace

Death stares down at me with curious eyes as I lie on the floor. His predatory steps bring him closer as he stalks me slowly, crouching before me. The curious God cocks his head as he analyzes me, assessing me. I want so badly to touch him. He’s so close, I can smell him: earth and smoke. I gaze up, getting a close look at the marble face. Gods, he’s beautiful. Thick dark eyebrows frame serious eyes, while his nose is sharp and jaw strong; there’s a slight dark stubble that I didn’t notice before. Long hair falls in the Death God’s face while he stares at me with cold two-colored eyes. I reach my hand up slowly, dying to run my hand along his stubble. But when his frozen gaze cuts to my hand abruptly, I freeze.

He takes the moment to inspect my hand. His divine face comes close, sniffing and inspecting it silently. Sharp eyes cut to me again. “You do not seem afraid of me.”

“I am.” I don’t know why I lie. Perhaps, I am afraid, but not for the reasons he’s thinking. I’m afraid I won’t get the chance to touch him or savor his taste. I’m afraid I won’t be able to admire his beauty forever. I am afraid he will deny me.

“No, you are not. But you should be.” His deep voice rumbles and causes backflips in my stomach. “What are you?”

“I’m Grace,” I whisper, suddenly out of breath.

His brows furrow. “That is not what I asked,” he scolds.

A strong hand grabs my wrist suddenly and brings it close to his nose. The God of Death inhales deeply while his eyes flutter shut. His touch ignites fire in my gut and radiates tingles down my arm. My heart goes wild in a series of irregular beats like a herd of wild horses racing free. I am hooked. I crave more. I want him to touch me again and again. My tongue wants to taste him and feel the warmth of his mouth. My breathing quickens, and I clasp my legs together, desperate to relieve the throbbing between my legs.

A deep, guttural groan escapes his lips, inhaling deeply. “What are you feeling right now? I have never smelled this emotion before,” he grumbles against my wrist, his soft lips brushing my pale skin.

My breath catches, and I stop breathing, entranced. His groan is so sexy, I could listen to that sound forever. I am overwhelmed with the urge to cause more. I need more from him.

He rattles my wrist in a small shake. “Answer me, girl, what is this?” Death demands urgently, his voice pained.

“What was the question?” I whisper, not hearing a word he has said as I stare at his lips. The cold God looks at me with such disdain in his eyes. I’m making him angry, good . I smile at him sweetly.

He narrows his eyes at me with impending menace. “What is the scent you are making?” Death enunciates each word slowly, dripping with unbridled anger; his grip on my wrist tightens.

I shrug my shoulders in a small quick motion. “I don’t know.” I do know, all too well.

His upper lip curls in fury, and a growl vibrates deep in his chest. He leans into me, “Little creature, the only reason you are still alive right now is because you have piqued my curiosity. I suggest you answer my questions.” He seethes.

I’m infuriating a God of Death. To anyone else, this would be a very bad idea, but I just can’t seem to help myself. I’m getting attention from him, and he gets so close to me when he’s angry. He leans into me further, I can feel his warm breath kissing my skin. Gods, I could just reach up and taste his lips; I could pull his muscular body onto mine. My toes curl at the idea of him on top of me. Would he be gentle or rough? I think with how furious I make him, he would definitely punish me for it.

He brings his angry face right up to mine and inhales deeply; his eyes roll back, and he groans, deep and guttural. “You are infuriating,” he breathes into me and swallows deeply. I savor the way his hot breath warms my cheeks and his pink tongue dips from his mouth, wetting his lips.

I’m practically squirming under him now. I take the chance and close the final gap, pressing my lips against his. He jerks away immediately and stands abruptly, scrambling several steps back. The God of Death looks utterly bewildered, bringing two fingers to his lips and assessing them like he’s going to find some answer there.

“Grace!” Tai slams through the door, panting heavily with fear all over his face. He sees his brother standing near me and stops suddenly, straightening his posture. He looks between us, trying to read what’s going on. “Brother,” he greets Death with a nervous nod. He starts trying to inch his way toward me, giving me small nervous glances.

Death takes a large step in front of Tai, guarding me. “She is mine. She owes me answers,” he warns, his anger still fresh in his voice.

“I see, brother, the girl still has a lot of trauma clouding her head. She is in no condition to answer your questions. You, of all people, should remember how fragile a human soul is,” he talks to him gently, trying to de-escalate the situation. I sit behind Death mimicking Tai’s words, mocking him.

They both glance in my direction, and I watch Tai roll his eyes. “I’ve been trying to get the girl to face her grief, but she has refused. She is a difficult human; you will likely not get anything out of her right now.”

“Yes, I have already encountered this,” Death cuts, peering down at me with cold eyes.

“So, then you agree, we will let the girl heal from her trauma,” Tai says cautiously. “Then, you may ask her all the questions you want and decide what to do with her … Pearl volunteered to bring her out into the mountains with her today. I think she will be an ally in getting Grace to face her trauma.” He looks around Death to give me a pointed look.

I groan and roll my eyes. Great .

Death turns his head to look at me. He looks me up and down plainly and brings his gaze to my eyes. After what seems like forever of being in his scrutiny, he furrows his brows and grunts. He spins away and marches out of the room through Kai’s bedroom door.

Tai lets out a large, relieved sigh. “You’re ridiculous, kid. I left for two minutes.”

I shrug. “I told you not to,” I sing.

He rolls his eyes frustratedly before coming over to help me up. “Why are you so hard to keep alive?”

“Is Pearl really taking me out?” I ask excitedly.

“Yeah, she’s waiting out front. She has some warm clothes for you out there too. It’s pretty chilly outside, but you’ll get an extra icy bite from the wind riding her.” He escorts me out of Kai’s room and down his crazy hallway until we reach the grand staircase.

“Wait, did you say I’m riding her? Is she giving me a piggyback ride? I can walk, you know. I just need some boots.” I’m completely confused. Why can’t I just walk with her? I know she is taller than me, but is that really a problem? What kind of terrain are we walking through out there?

Tai chuckles to himself. “Come on. She’s excited to spend time with you. She doesn’t have a lot of girlfriends here.”

He guides me down the marble stairs and through the Grand Hall. We walk through extravagant halls while servants are bustling everywhere. I wonder how many servants he has. I wonder how many halls he has. And rooms, he must have a lot of rooms. Where do all these doors go to?

“Fucking bless me, kid. Do you ever stop?” Tai groans.

Sorry .

We finally arrive at a set of the largest doors I have ever seen. They’re created from the same black stone used throughout the palace but with silver embossed designs of skulls and mountains. They stand strong and tall, reaching the ceiling of the grand foyer. Tai walks up and pushes one side open, letting a dim light crack into the room. He strides out, motioning for me to follow him. I wander through after him, and a burst of wind from outside hits me hard, like an icy wave toppling a ship. I wrap myself in my arms, and I look out to see we’re on the top of a vast mountain. Large obsidian stone steps lead into a path of colossal, vibrant trees that stretch as far as I can see. The weather is dim and cloudy as fog stirs low on the ground. Rustling in the tree line catches my attention, and I look up to see a massive golden wolf trot out. Fear strikes me at first, making me step backward into the stone doors, but then I watch Tai walk up to it confidently, patting the wolf on its head lovingly.

“You ready?” calls Tai from the tree line, giving me a smirk. He keeps the smirk as he walks back to me, handing me some sweaters, sweats, and a beanie. “Put these on.”

“That’s Pearl?” I stare at her in awe. I put the extra clothes on quickly, keeping my gaze on the golden wolf. Once I’m dressed, Tai wastes no time and shoves me, making me stumble toward the trees. I whip my head and scowl at him. He shows no guilt as he stands there, arms crossed.

“Keep going,” the sergeant orders.

My mind can’t fathom that this is the same striking woman I met in Tai’s bedroom. I inch my way toward her with trepidation. I get closer and closer to her, my feet shuffling in the icy dirt. I approach, getting a more detailed look. Her fur is delicate and fluffy; it looks to be woven with a gold so shiny it looks luminescent. Pearl’s head is magnificent, paler in comparison, but it holds a shiny golden pattern across her face, like an arrow. Yet, it reminds me of a crown. Her body is lethal, you can see the making of muscle under her fur, and the arch of her back holds several sharp spikes protruding from her spine. She is fearsome, but so beautiful. I can see her as the protector she is now in this form.

“Pearl? Is that you?” I whisper in awe. She trots close to me and lowers her head, giving me a slight nudge with her wet nose. I pet her face gently, and her fur is as soft as silk, softer yet than any rabbit pelt I’ve ever felt.

“This is the wolf in your painting, Tai,” I state as I piece it all together. They are so obviously together. I just didn’t realize how serious they were. He must love her so much to openly have her portrait in his room. Tai doesn’t really display any affection.

“Pearl has my heart, but she also has an important job to do. I won’t take that from her. We spend time together when we can. Let me help you up,” he says gently. Tai grips my waist and lifts me onto Pearl’s back, settling me in between her shoulders. “Grip her fur tight to hold on, it won’t hurt her. Sometimes she even likes it.” I hear what sounds like a snicker come from Pearl, and Tai has a smirk on his face. I giggle, Tai’s telling dirty jokes. Pearl brings such a different side out of him.

“Alright, you guys get out of here. Pearl, bring her back before dark,” he says sternly and marches back toward the stairs. I stare at the great facade of the mountain as the War God strides through the black stone doors. Carvings on carvings of beautiful things are woven into the mountain face, while never-ending spires reach to the sky.

Pearl starts to move, and I have to lower my body and clench my legs to stop from falling off. She starts slowly at first, bringing us through the trees. I’m entranced by her movement and the way she steps over rocks and logs with grace. Her fur rustles in the wind, caressed gently by the breeze. I look around and see the trees; they reach into the sky with vibrant needles for leaves; they must be thousands of years old. The rough trunks could hold an entire house inside them. Their roots race across the dirt, several feet high. The forest floor is full of greens and browns; leafy plants with dainty white flowers and bushels of moss reach across rocks, twigs, and tree trunks. It’s silent as we walk through the forest, just the sound of the biting wind flowing through the evergreens, dropping the needles on us as we walk.

It all reminds me of home, in a way. This forest is so magical. I can see it in the variations of things that look familiar but aren’t quite the same. The age of the old growth here must be from a beginning of time I have never fathomed. I see the ferns like Wyassa has, but the leaves here are longer than a horse. They reach into the sky, painting the air with an emerald so vibrant, the color rivaling the beauty of the actual jewel. Why does it make me sad to look at it?

The redwoods are colossal, growing in massive clusters. The red of their bark darker than a sly fox and glowing deeper than a bouquet of roses. Wildflowers litter the forest floor of which all are unique. Their petals create patterns of stars I’ve never seen, and the forest is their universe. I inhale the damp scent of woods that fills me with love, but also longing. These are not my woods.

Although everything is beautiful, I still feel my homeland was better. My homeland had seals that barked at you from the grey rocks while the seagulls cried against the crashing of waves. We had kids playing chase in the village and women gossiping about their husbands. We had the Elder Tree that I broke my arm on and a house my dad built from his own two hands. My homeland had a best friend who teased me lovingly, a brother who protected me with his life, and a mother who loved me.

And now, what do I have?

I’m quiet as all their voices ring through my head. Their cries of anguish, their pain, their sorrow. I see her hatred, her coldness, her disgust. Could I have done something differently to avoid all this destruction of life? I cannot stop myself as I whirl from misery to anger. My jaw clicks as my body tenses. I feel nausea overcome me, and tears well in my eyes, blurring my surroundings. Grief is eating me alive, but how does one face this? How do I move past the death of my loved ones and the betrayal of another? I do not think I ever will.

That is why I so desperately need revenge.

Pearl picks up speed, bringing us to a quiet run. The icy wind licks my face, trying desperately to flow through my clothes. I clutch her closer, trying to stay warm. She dodges rocks and fallen logs with such ease, her paws staying silent with every landing. My surroundings move in a blur; I’ve never gone so fast. I shove my feelings deep inside, locked in my chest as I shout my excitement into the air. The sound swallowed into the wind. My heart beats fast, a thrill going through my body. This is amazing . She slows, bringing us to a rocky opening in the trees and lowers her body so I could slide down. I walk over to the rocks carefully and look at the view from the mountain. My nose sniffles from the bite of the wind.

“It’s beautiful,” I say in awe. Up here, in the vast black mountains, you can just barely see across the land. There are lush forests along the western coast with trees sneaking into the land. A giant river snakes from the forest to the eastern coastland. In the east lies another row of far-off mountains, but they’re strange. They almost look as if they’re floating, but that cannot be possible.

Pearl walks over in her human form and sits next to me. I wonder how she shifts between bodies. I swivel my head to her. “You’re really in charge of protecting this entire mountain range?”

“Yes,” she replies simply.

“How can you do this all by yourself? This place is massive.” I concentrate on the way her brow furrows and her fists clench slightly.

“I didn’t used to be by myself … there were two others,” she says quietly.

My heart dips. “What happened to them?”

“They died. They were protecting a precious piece of the mountain during the War of the Gods. They fought valiantly, long enough for backup to arrive, but that was their final battle. It is our duty above all else to protect the souls residing here from those that would wish great harm upon them.” She squares her shoulders, looking out to the mountains before her, but her face twists into something I recognize all too well, guilt .

I carefully test the waters of our conversation. “A Cerberus isn’t immortal?”

“Not in the same sense as a God. We can be felled by the same causes as mortals, although we can’t be poisoned, and we do not age.”

I let silence hang in the air, mustering the courage for my next question. “Were you the backup?”

She shuts her eyes painfully. “They were attacking at all sides. I couldn’t get to them in time. Tai and I, we got there as quickly as we could.”

I nod in understanding. Whispers of those fallen breathe through the silent air, my family and hers. Ringing memories float through my head as I watch Pearl. Her delicate face of a Goddess revealing the horrors of war she has witnessed, endured, as she drudges up her own horrific memories. Her sky-blue eyes are distant as she looks to my feet perched on the cold stone beneath me. I look away, feeling as though I’m intruding on something intimate. I let the silence take us to places we wish we could relive and to those we wish we could change.

I rest my weary head on my knees as I cradle my legs. I lost my best friend, my brother, and my mother. Within the span of a day, I lost my entire life. I miss them, dearly. Is it right to miss someone who hurt you so badly? As much as I try to only hate my mother for what she has caused, I still find myself missing her. I wonder, what is it like for Pearl? To have had to go to war against people she may have thought friends or family? Or to lose her own family in return because of those friends?

The golden sunshine casts its rays low, dipping below the gloomy bank of clouds above. The warm light is reflected into the clouds, creating dark contrasting shadows. Its rays shine on the rippling waters below, casting silhouettes in the trees. In the far-off distance, something gold gleams against the sunbeams.

“What’s shining out there?” I ask, intrigued as I point south.

“That’s the City of the Gods. I’m surprised you can see it with your mortal eyes. It’s pretty far away. Many of the buildings are made of pure gold, along with other precious stones and metals. It used to be a very popular hub for Gods and Goddesses and many wealthy humans and Fae. Servants would always run errands out there to find the best silks and jewelry for their masters. But now, few still actually live out there.”

“Like other Gods? Do they have dead servants like Death does?” I look to her, awaiting her answer eagerly .

“Megala, the Goddess of Wealth, lives out there. She always has. Dom, the God of Desire, lives there with her. Acteem, the God of Transformation, is often there with them, but he actually lives further south. To have an undead servant, Death would have to give you one, so no. They do not have any there.” She tries to hide her disdain, but I hear it laced in her voice.

“What other Gods live here?” I ask her, looking to the gleaming city.

“Well, most have gone to sleep after the war, but Cael, the God of the Sea, lives on his ship in the ocean up north. He is friendly and was on our side during the war. But it’ll be rare if you see him. Cael lost his pet to the other side of the Veil and can’t get his calls through to it. He stays near the Veil, in hopes it’ll cross back over to him. Aesha is of the sky, she lives in the eastern mountain range near the desert. And, Talon, he is of Nature. He lives right in that forest there, with his sister Meadow, also of Nature, and the Goddess of the Hunt, Velaya.” She sneers at the mention of the Hunt Goddess’ name. “Talon and Aesha are both allies, but stay away from Meadow and Velaya.” She pauses. “Stay away from the Gods in the city as well. Most of the Gods were against us in the war, and they won’t be very happy to find out you’re here.”

“I didn’t realize you were all so split here,” I wonder quietly, hugging my knees to my chest. I glance at Pearl, the wind lightly blows her hair from her face. She looks like she’s lost in thought.

“It wasn’t always like this. The Gods had their quarrels, and they bickered, but it is nothing compared to their relations now. Death has always been King to the others. They listened and followed him, giving him their loyalty. But some of the Gods felt like they could rule better. So, they started to gather every human and Fae they could and enslaved them, assembling them for armies and went to war with one another. Death gave them a chance to return, but they didn’t listen, so he intervened and killed all the mortals. He swept death and rot into their lands so no human or life could be sustained. The Gods had no choice but to return here. Obviously, some of you lived through it.”

Sudden rage overcomes me. Death killed all and ruined land because the others were rising against him? This is the same man I was just ready to surrender myself to? Embarrassment washes over me. I am such a fool. I have just gone from one corrupt crown to another. He killed all those people. I am so tired of dictators killing people for the sake of power. Perhaps the other Gods need to come to Calibria and Thelios and rule again. Maybe they were right; if Death can kill an entire kingdom like it’s nothing, perhaps he shouldn’t be King.

“Are you alright, Grace?” Pearl watches me closely.

“What? Yeah, I’m fine,” I mutter.

“Looks like I struck a chord.” She chuckles. “Talk to me about it.”

“It’s just …” I stare at my feet, and it all comes out in a rush. “People like the Gods, like Death, they’re the same as the rulers back home. They’re the same people who kill without consequences. The people that killed my brother and best friend. And I used to follow them blindly and religiously because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. They made it seem like it was our choice, but then they called anything other than the crowned religion illegal and traitorous.” I pause and take a deep breath. “I didn’t understand it for a while, why they wanted me to heal others so badly. My mother called it a curse, and for a time, I believed her. But I see it now. A little too late I know, but I can see why Fallon and Evie pushed me to do this. To bring my gift to the sick and poor. I can see what they had envisioned for the kingdom. All they wanted was to help people and to bring a choice to the people of Calibria, of something other than the Moon Faith. That’s what they wanted: a choice, something the crowned faith wasn’t offering.

“The crowned faith executed anyone with the slightest semblance of magic, magic that could have improved the lives of so many people. I could’ve saved people, but they took that away. The crown doesn’t care about its people, they just want to control them. How can they say the Gods are cruel when Tai has done nothing but try and save me? The crowned faith are the ones killing people, they’re corrupt.” I look into the distance, anger dissipates, and sorrow flows in. Tears well in my eyes and fall over the crest, spilling down my cheeks. “But I can do nothing about it all now. My family is dead, and I’m stuck on the wrong side of the Veil. How do I bring them justice from over here? How do I take down an entire crowned religion by myself?”

“You are not by yourself anymore, Grace. We are here for you. I cannot do anything about what happened on the other side of the Veil, but neither can you. It is time you grieve them and allow yourself space to heal. And, although we will never breach their side of the wall again, I hope you can find comfort that being here with us would bring your brother happiness.” She takes my hand and gives me a small smile. “Tai will kill me for telling you this, but he has grown quite attached to you. He talks to me about you all the time, sees you as a little sister, I think. ”

I chuckle and wipe my tears on my arm. “He’s just a big softie, isn’t he?”

She laughs. “Don’t let it get out, it’ll ruin his War God reputation.”

We laugh and sit in silence with each other, watching the sun set into the land.

“I would like to teach you how to use a sword. I think it would be a great outlet for you. Plus, there is nothing more empowering than the look in a man’s eyes as you best him, bringing a sword to his throat.” Pearl gets a mad twinkle in her eye as she talks of fighting; it’s a little concerning.

I would like to have that same confidence.

“Or you can go back to being stuck in Tai’s room all day …” She shrugs.

“No, I want to be strong. I was helpless when my brother was killed. I had no chance. I never want to feel that way again. I have a voice, but I’ve been scared to use it for anything. Please, teach me how to use it. Teach me how to fight.”

Pearl gives me a feral smile.