“Where is Isa and what makes you think that I’ll follow you anywhere?”
“I was warned that you were an untrusting sort. And while I usually don’t answer such impertinent questions, I’ll make the exception, but don’t think it’ll happen again.”
I really didn’t like this guy. And Muffin hadn’t stopped growling. If I wasn’t positive that they would kick me out, I’d let Muffin have a go at him. Who kicks animals? He probably hated kids too.
“My name is one you should be familiar with, but with such a closed heart, I wouldn’t expect you to recognize the truth when you see it.”
Like a glamor being dropped, he flared with the brightness of the sun. The light formed a nimbus around his head. His power was roared over me. It made me dizzy and I rocked back on my feet. He was quite possibly the strongest supernatural creature I’d ever been in the presence of.
“I am The True One.”
Oh this is bad, really bad. Gods were never something you wanted to mess with.
He smirked like he knew what I was thinking. For all I knew, he could read my thoughts.
“Can we leave now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“The dog stays behind. I won’t have a repeat of last night. If you value his life, then make sure he stays put this time.”
I pushed Muffin back and quickly shut the door. He threw himself at the door, shaking it in the doorframe.
The True One turned glowing hands towards the door. He created a ward, making a glowing spider-web patter across the door. Muffin hit the door a final time before yelping and going silent.
I clenched my hands. I didn’t care that I had no access to my magic. I still had my knives on me. No one messed with my animal.
“What did you do to my dog?” I demanded.
“It was an electric charge. Nothing he won’t recover from. Devil dogs are, unfortunately, hard to keep down. Now, if you will follow me, we’ve delayed long enough already.”
What did he want with me? I was no one.
The walk was a silent one and the halls were empty – something that wasn’t typical for a meal time.
“Where is everyone?”
“They are attending a very special sermon with Jarl. You don’t need to be there. I wanted this time alone, so we won’t be interrupted.”
He’s going to kill me or at the least torture me. He suspects I’m not what I seem. Can I escape before he kills me?
He led me to a chamber that was guarded by two bone men. Their stares were fixed ahead, but I knew they were aware of me and any potential threat I represented. Somehow I doubted they were as friendly as Frank. Thinking of the bone man made me miss him. He was a good sort. He was quite odd and probably misunderstood by everyone. However, I didn’t take someone saving my life lightly. I’d be grateful to him until my dying days. He was a fierce warrior with an even fiercer heart.
We stepped into the doorway and I was teleported away from the Institute. Light was everywhere and I squinted my eyes until they adjusted to the brightness. Strange animals ran around a lush, grassy meadow. If I was barefoot, I bet the grass would feel as soft and thick as a carpet. Muffin would love running around here. He’d enjoy hunting the weird animals. I hope The True One wasn’t lying when he said that Muffin wasn’t really hurt. If he was lying, then I would rip him apart, or at least give it my best effort.
He started laughing and a shiver ran down my spine.
“My, you are a blood thirsty one, aren’t you? And the images of what you’d do to me are rather entertaining. Perhaps there are more uses for you than I initially thought.”
I’m so screwed. I didn’t realize it was an actual god that they followed. Gods and goddesses was never a good thing. They were so far removed from humans and other supernatural creatures. It was like comparing a human to a dog, no, an ant. Gods and goddesses had no use for humans and saw us as play things.
“I have use of you.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t. Find someone else.”
Power slammed forcing me to my knees. Pain radiated out from my knees. My insides felt like they were melting and my skin burning off my body. I screamed and screamed, but it didn’t make the agony stop.
At some point, I passed out. I woke up to the god kicking me.
“Are you done with your little act of disobedience?”
I didn’t trust my voice at this time, my throat felt raw from the screaming. I just nodded – hoping that an answer wasn’t required. Man, Jarl certainly got things wrong when he wrote the devotional book for The True One. This god was as cold, uncaring, and unloving as a god could be. Those poor delusional fools.
The True One’s head was cocked to the side. He had a curious expression to his face as he studied me. I shivered. There was no emotion in that look. It was an impassioned examination of a thing he found interesting. I’m so screwed and not in a good way. Even with my magic, I doubt I’d be able to get out of this mess. I couldn’t even get back to Germanna from wherever I was.
“Even now after you’ve experienced the pain I can inflict upon you, you are still thinking about fighting me. The foolish bravery of humans is a curious thing. Do you want more pain? Did you enjoy what I did to you? Why would you consider escaping when you know I can kill you as easily as ‘what did you call it?’ Oh yes, as an ant.”
I couldn’t do more than kneel, but I pushed my shoulders back and met his eyes.
“As long as there is breath in my body, I’ll fight. Tyrants don’t deserve to win. And I’ve already survived a monster far beyond whatever you
