It seemed like a river of crimson poured out of Darcraxis, streaming down his hand and onto the soil. For a moment, it pooled there, then, as all of us watched, the Zone drank Darc's blood like a man dying of thirst. Now that it had a taste, the earth consumed the blood as it fell, not even a stain remained as evidence of the amount spilled. And that wasn't the only rapid reaction. Darc's immortality quickly healed his wound, and he had to keep slicing himself to keep the blood flowing.
He and I shared a heavy look.
“It appears to be working,” Declan said hesitantly.
Almost as if it had heard Declan, the Zone started to tremble. At first, it was a light shiver but it quickly magnified into a full-blown earthquake. Screams and shouting erupted from the city whose residents had been through something similar recently. No doubt, they were afraid that another God was rising. In a way, he was, except this wasn't the effects of his arrival but his suppression.
“Get the men out into the Zone to calm everyone,” Slate shouted into his radio. “The quake is the result of...”
“Of what?” Jago demanded. “What the fuck is going on?”
“A new security measure is being installed.” Slate grimaced. “Tell them that we're digging beneath the Zone to set it up and they have nothing to fear. It will be done soon.”
“Security measure?” Jago growled. “You think that's going to fly?”
“Just fucking calm them down!” Slate shouted. “We can't have a riot in a locked zone!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Darcraxis swayed and it wasn't from the quakes, but he still brought his hand down sharply to reopen the wound. Every cut hurt me as well; every slice brought another shot of fear. I couldn't watch it anymore; not while I did nothing. As Darc lifted the blade again, I went straight into the chorus of “New Blood” by Zayde Wolf.
It was a battle song; a song about conquering. But I knew I could twist its chorus to suit my needs. Darc needed more blood, and that's exactly what the song and I were going to get him. The dramatic pound of the music rose around us, each thump mimicking a heartbeat until it felt as if it was my heartbeat. I felt the power rise and shoot out to my husband like an arrow.
Darc gasped and straightened, his stare going to mine. He held my gaze as he brought the blade down again. I winced but kept singing, kept giving him what he needed to help us. The singing turned into chanting, and I swayed with its strength. The words held a challenge but also a promise; I'd be as tenacious as any conqueror. Darc was mine, and I wouldn't let him go. I gave him all I could and felt the blood fill his veins; pumping through his God heart.
“Enough,” Darc declared. “I don't need your magic. Trust in me, my fire. I am strong enough for this.”
The words shivered in my mouth. I stuttered to a stop as Kyanite cut the music. At first, I was a bit offended. We supported each other; that's what we did. Hadn't he just said so to Slate? But then I realized that this was a test for Darc. Proof his divinity. He knew I could save him if he needed saving, but he was hoping he didn't. He wanted to see just how far his immortality had progressed. How close to his old self he'd become.
Darcraxis cut again. And again. His blood poured into the Zone, sucked down as if the soil had needed this nourishment alone. The quakes increased in magnitude but the Beneathers had stopped panicking. I wished I could say the same. I looked away from Darc for a moment, over at the calm city. When I turned back to my husband, he was leaning forward on his palms; one pressed over the dagger's hilt while blood pooled around the other.
“Darc!” I rushed forward.
Torin steadied Darcraxis while I took his uninjured arm.
“That's enough.” I took the dagger from him.
“I can give a little—” Darc's eyelids fluttered.
“No!” I practically shouted. “Gage, can you help Torin get Darc into the Jeep?”
“Of course.” Gage took my place at Darc's side, and Darc braced himself on the shorter men.
Using them as crutches, Darcraxis stumbled to the Jeep and collapsed in the back seat just as the quakes quieted.
We froze, all of us staring around the area as if Gargo might suddenly manifest, laughing like a maniac and telling us how pathetic our attempt had been. But nothing appeared and the Zone went as still as we had.
“Is that it?” Banning asked.
“I don't know,” I whispered. I had followed Darc to the Jeep and stood near where his head was propped. “Darc?”
“I'm well,” Darc said in a steady voice as he sat up. “No need for more of your music, although I would enjoy it nonetheless.”
I smiled in relief. “It's good to be a God.”
“Indeed.” He held his hand out to me, and I took it. “Does the Zone require more blood? I believe I have already recouped the loss.”
I looked at Slate; he was frowning at the Zone in general.
“I think we should see how it went first,” I suggested. “Slate?”
“It feels calm,” Slate murmured as if he didn't trust it.
Then Slate blinked and turned to face us more confidently. He was still standing at the site of Darc's bloodletting, his brothers beside him. He started for us and his brothers followed.
“Jago,” Slate spoke into the radio as he walked.
“We're all good,” Jago reported.
“I need you to send a couple of Jeeps to the place where Gargo was buried.”
“That's where you are?” Jago asked incredulously.
“That's where we had to go to save the Zone,” Slate growled. “I've got Elaria's men with us and we—”
“That's not necessary,” Darc cut Slate off as he climbed out of
