Fatal Bonds

Bloody drool drips from the beasts' fangs. My sword stays poised at my side, with Omen hitting his hooves furiously. I stare him dead in the eyes - his matching that of the wolves, an ethereal golden that beckons both awe and fear. His stained lips pull back into a fierce growl.

"I'm not here to fight," I announce, even though my stance says otherwise. "Tell your wolves to stand down, Víddar."

His nostrils flare in response, the bulging muscles in his chest rising and falling with rapid, raging breaths. His eyes stare daggers into mine, and then he turns his head to the wolves and lets out another guttural growl.

The wolves scurry around each other, whining and yelping in helpless anger. Their golden eyes flit between Víddar and I, before they saunter off with a few parting snarls.

Víddar's head cranes back to face me. His talons curl into his fists at his sides.

In spite of the danger, I can't help but contemplate the magic of this all - how merely days ago, I didn't believe such beasts exist. Now I'm standing before another godly beast with a sword in hand. Not fearless, but not hesitant, either.

"I come on behalf of Erebus," I say, finally. "I must speak with you. Perhaps you ought to change into a more sentient form, unless a wild animal is your only form."

His eyes narrow into slits. Cloudy green tendrils appear around him, pulling his beastly form into the ground almost. A giant man takes his place. Like the others, his physique is of pure muscle, his dark skin taut and gleaming from a light I cannot source.

He shrugs on an emerald green blouse, embedded with royal gold designs, his chest muscles solid and bare. Long, braided dreads trail down to his chiseled stomach. "I see you're no mortal yourself," he remarks, his voice foreign yet clear.

I gently touch the side of Omen's neck, who flicks his head as he calms down. "So whom do you fear more, the wrath of Avel or the wrath of Erebus and his son?" I twirl my sword in my hand, before slipping it back into my scabbard.

Víddar's black eyes crease with curiosity. "I never would've guessed Erebus would be the first to have a son with a mortal," he says, tilting his head slightly. "Who is the mother?"

My jaw tightens, even though I didn't know her, I only hold her fondly because of how Cassian does - how much he's missed her over all these years. "It doesn't matter," I deflect, keeping my voice level. "She's long dead."

His long, angular face seems to ponder this, although he doesn't question it further. "Well, what makes you think you are a worthy match for Avel?" he asks, pacing around me slowly.

My gaze follows him, unalarmed. "It is not just my father and I," I correct, the word "father" feeling unfamiliar and bitter on my tongue. "It is also Nader, and the other Gods who chose to join us."

Víddar lets a slight smile bring forth. "Choose?" he repeats, raising a brow. "What is the option if I do not join your side?"

"Then you fall, along with Avel and all the others that conspire against us," I warn him, although it is more of a promise. A deadly one. Because my brother's life depends on it, and that is worth more than anything to me. "And our victory is imminent, thus will be your death depending on your decision."

A flicker of caution crosses his otherwise amused face. "You're quite brave," he admits. "For a half-God, of course."

I suck in a slight tsk through my gritted teeth. "And yet, if I desired, I would be quite capable of killing you now," I threaten, annoyance rising in my words. "But Avel is even more capable of killing you, as well as the others, regardless of whether you are on his side or not. Tell me, what do you know of his plans? Nothing, I presume - you know his insatiable thirst for power, yet you do not know how he means to acquire it. Let alone when."

Víddar stops pacing and faces me now, all the amusement gone from his expression. "And you do, Azael?"

I don't let the confusion of how he knows my name show - it must be some sort of mystical awareness. Or perhaps my name is taking its place in the world of the Gods.

"Yes," I lie, seamlessly. "So, which is it, God of the Forest? Do you pledge allegiance to death, or do you simply let Avel decide whether you live or not?"

Víddar takes himself closer to me, until he is merely an arm's reach away. The dark pupils of his eyes bore into mine, unreadable. "My answer, my dear Azael, is no."