Enlil nodded crisply, but Enki stared pensively at me.
“You intend to make Bahrain the capital of the new world?” Enki asked.
“For now.” I nodded. “When peace has been established, I will likely retire to the God Realm.”
“That sounds fair,” Enki noted.
“Fair?” Enlil gaped at the other god.
“Life has grown stagnant,” Enki said to Enlil. “It's time for a change and this goddess can bring it.”
“She just killed Anu,” Enlil growled. “And what about your son?”
“Your son?” I asked Enki.
“Marduk,” Enki said. “I believe you know him.”
“You're Marduk's father?” I asked in surprise.
“I know”—Enki grinned—“he didn't inherit my winning personality. Still, my son is a good man; overprotective of his pantheon but good. If I join you, will you promise to spare Marduk, even if he fights against you?”
“I will spare him if possible,” I countered. “If it comes down to him or me, I will choose myself.”
“Of course.” Enki bowed to me then turned to Enlil. “Return to the others and tell them what has happened here. Tell them that I'm safe, and I believe that Sin has chosen the best path. It's better to stand beside the Star than be burned by her light.”
Enlil glared at me with his stormy eyes then spun on his heels and strode out of the throne room. A unit of dragon soldiers marched after him to see him out.
“You have my allegiance, Dark Star,” Enki declared and then bowed.
“Welcome to the Star Squad!” Sin slapped Enki's back.
“Star Squad,” I whispered as images of another squad filled my head.
The God Squad should be there with me. They should be a part of this. We had fought in the God War for years and now, I was ending the war. They should be with me to enjoy our victory.
You can bring them here after you've established your control, Star offered. For now, you need to handle this on your own, Vervain.
Another memory hit me; of standing behind Vainamoinen as he stole god magic. I felt that zap again and watched a man die. I had killed Anu in a second, but the process had been nearly identical to what Vainamoinen had done to that god. Was I becoming him?
You have turned something evil into a weapon for good, Star insisted. You are not like Vainamoinen. You offered them a chance. Vainamoinen killed ruthlessly. His people raped and murdered. You are not like them. You tried to show Anu your strength and convince him to join you, but he wouldn't listen. It was Anu who pushed you into killing him.
Maybe.
We knew there would be sacrifices.
Yes, but I didn't expect the power to come to me. I didn't expect to absorb god energy. Not collect it but absorb it. Consume it like Vainamoinen.
That's what happens with sacrifice, Vervain. Sacrifice is absorbed and used by the magic of the god.
Viper's hand slid onto my back, a subtle but reassuring presence.
Yes; of course. I straightened and took a deep breath then slid a soft look at Viper.
Viper nodded encouragingly at me, a proud and confident look on his face. There were no doubts in him. But then, that was how I'd made him.
If you don't stop questioning your Stars, I'll make you some idiot gods to give you some perspective.
I laughed under my breath and stepped forward to properly meet Enki. “I know I've just killed your friend and threatened your pantheon. Horrible things must be done to pave the way for good. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see this through, but to those who stand with me, I will be loyal and generous. You have nothing to fear, and I will keep my promise to you. If at all possible, Marduk will live.”
“So be it.” Enki held his hand out to me, and we shook. “I'm eager to see what you have planned for the world.”
“Then let's get out of this arrogant, dragon room and take our meeting upstairs.” I looked at the Star Gods and Sin. “We need to settle Bahrain and move our forces outward.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Dragon Army of the Dark Star awaited my signal. They stood at attention in the courtyard below. Ten of the dragon warriors had shifted into their full-dragon forms. The Star Gods, General Sin, and Enki sat in special saddles strapped to the backs of those dragons.
We were ready for our first battle.
The Mesopotamian Gods had been gathering on the shore of Saudi Arabia ever since the day I had killed Anu. They had revealed themselves to humans and joined forces with the Saudi Arabian army to oppose me. Humans all over the world were reeling under the revelation that Gods were real. All of them. Look at that; everyone was right. And not only were the Gods real, but they were also fighting each other on Earth. The Mesopotamians had convinced the Saudi Arabian Government that I was the evil one; the one to be stopped. I didn't blame the humans for listening to the lies; Gods have manipulated humans for so long that they've become experts at it. It wasn't the humans' fault, and I hoped to save as many of them as I could.
“I can take care of the humans,” Star offered.
“What do you mean?”
“You're fighting to give the Gods a chance to stand down, right? It has nothing to do with the humans. Otherwise, you could just wish yourself into power.”
“I suppose.”
“So, allow me to imprison the human soldiers before the battle begins,” she suggested. “They will be safe, and you can make an example of the Mesopotamian Gods so that, hopefully, the other pantheons will stand down.”
“I don't want the other pantheons to back down because they're afraid,” I protested. “I want them to see the wisdom of my plan. I want them to see—”
“You want that for the gods who don't hurt humans,” she cut me off. “But the gods who have been manipulating humans should
