My chest burned as the liquid rolled down my throat. Narida stood, hands out; a soft purple glow pulsed from her palms, “This vessel for one is now for two. Protect the human, whatever you must do.” There were some more words, not in English, and then with a pop light shot from her palms and slammed into Cronus’ gut. He grunted, falling forward.
My spine felt like it was ripped from my back. A mass of black insects, almost like flies, started to crawl out of the necklace, my hair, and my mouth. I screamed, horrified by this manifesting of the sins. Narida held out one hand, pouring blood onto it, and grasped my necklace. With a click, it disengaged.
No!
It felt wrong … giving this burden to someone else. But it was too late, she was already attaching the necklace to Cronus’ throat, the latch clasping around his neck. The bees crawled into the open locket, and as they settled inside the necklace changed, growing larger and looking more masculine, with a thick black rope cord.
#WTF
Had Narida done that or did the necklace have gender preferences?
I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me, but … not fully. It was hard to explain but I still felt … off … like the sins were still with me. Pulling my hair forward, I looked down with relief to see it was all white again. The tips of my fingers, however, were still black.
Narida looked confused.
Cronus rose from the ground where he’d landed, darkness in his eyes. “Why are her fingers still black?”
Narida sighed. “I used the blood of every Titan and god to ever come into existence. That’s the most powerful spell I’ve ever done!”
“But?” Cronus pushed.
Narida chewed a fingernail. “But she’s the fucking original vessel, not you. So I think I took a couple from her and a few stayed behind.”
#Oops #SpellFail #WasntMeThisTime
Cronus growled. “But I’ll be able to take the rest?”
Narida nodded. “Yes because you are now a vessel too. You wear the conduit.”
Cronus looked like he wasn’t sure how to take this new revelation, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it now. “How do you feel?” he asked me.
I stood, my legs strong for the first time since I started absorbing sins. “I feel good. Like just Sickness and Strife are with me. Maybe Turmoil too, but not Jealousy or War. Those were … intense.”
Cronus nodded, rolling out his neck. “Yes. They are. You’re strong to be able to handle them at all. Don’t ever think differently.”
I seriously needed to be kissing him right now.
“So this will work, right?” Narida interrupted. “We’re all good? No need to take my head and threaten my first born?”
He gave her a long look. “Your debt has been paid. Don’t align with Zeus again or I’ll kill you.”
She gulped. “Understood.”
In a blink and puff of green smoke, she was gone. Her spell was very similar to how the gods zapped themselves about the universe. I mean, it made sense. She had figured out a way to live forever … instant travel was probably easier than that.
What I really wanted to know, though, was how the fuck she got all those Instagram followers. I hadn’t checked mine in days, and no doubt I was back to freaking ten thousand. Those disloyal bastards.
Cronus distracted me when he wrapped his strong arms around me, hauling me into his chest. When the necklace bumped against my skin, I shivered at a buzzing sensation across my body.
“Don’t ever fucking do that to me again, Maisey,” he rumbled, head buried in my neck. His energy felt different now … stronger, and that was saying something since standing near him always felt like I was pressed to a power plant with a live current running through the walls.
“Please don’t die,” I whispered back. “I know you’re hiding something from me about bringing you back, but I’m telling you now, if you end up in the underworld and I can’t get to you, the sins are going to be the least of the world’s worries.”
He chuckled, but it sounded strained, and I prayed that I was fucking wrong. He couldn’t be hiding something so important from me.
“There’s always a way, my love,” Cronus finally said, and I decided to trust he was right.
If there was a way, I would find it.
#IWillFindYou #TotallySaidInACreepyVoice
Chapter 11
“We should buy a place here,” Cronus said, his hand wrapped tightly around mine as we walked along the beach, the sun setting in the distance. Bali had really brought out the beautiful weather. We kept coming back here, unable to stay away from the moments of peace it provided us.
“How much dick gold do you think that place is?” I asked, pointing out a huge mansion right on the water. It was gorgeous, with giant palm trees and the pool out in front. “I mean, the size of your … bars, we’ll probably only need one.”
Cronus snorted out some laughter, his shoulders shaking.
I laughed as well, because for this one tiny moment in time we were happy. I’d almost died mere hours ago, but I was still here, taking in these moments like they might be my last.
Life held new joy for me. I had a new appreciation for every breath I took.
“I’ve never met anyone like you, Maisey Parker.” Cronus stroked my thumb as our fingers intertwined.
I grinned. “Guess what?”
He looked at me like I was the only woman in the world. If I could bottle that look, we’d be able to buy ranch shares with our couch change.
“What?”
My grin grew broader with my need to share my new revelations. “It’s been thirty-six hours and I didn’t die! Clotho’s little death prophecy or whatever is over.”
Cronus smirked. “Told you those old bitches don’t know what they’re talking about.”
I looked around, paranoid, as if they could be listening. “He’s kidding, oh wise and magnificent beings. Don’t kill us,” I told the empty beach.
Again he laughed, and I felt like we
