Page 47 of Psycho Gods

Flames spread down Malum’s head, across his shoulders, and he stared at Orion and Scorpius. “Yes.” His voice was rough like broken glass and whiskey. “We’ll have to use our powers.”

Silver liquefied into molten steel.

He exhaled roughly.

My heart rate increased, and I struggled to swallow as the leader of the kings pinned me with his gaze. The reason the High Court mandated group weekly therapy sessions was suddenly disturbingly clear.

They’d known the enemy had enchanted weapons.

Sweat dripped down my sides even though the temperature was freezing.

They’d known what we’d have to fight against.

I remembered the fear.

Petals swirled as Orion sang and entranced. Scorpius’s third eye opened wide and revealed the secrets of souls. Malum pulled a dagger from his flesh, and his red flames incinerated.

Bile scorched the back of my throat, and I pressed harder into John and Luka’s warmth. Arms wrapped around me and held me close.

I’d been pretending I had a choice.

Subconsciously I rubbed at the space on my hip where an enchanted tattoo used to be; like a fool I’d thought I could cut it away and be free from the kings.

I couldn’t even leave their presence because bond sickness still strummed through my veins.

The men who were instruments of mass slaughter depended on me because I was the only one who could stop them once they started killing.

The High Court had known all along what I’d have to do in this war.

They’d known my soul was tethered.

They’d known I would never escape.

Because at the end of the day, nothing had changed.

I was still enslaved.

To monsters.

Part Two

Conflagration

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

?Nietzsche

Chapter 8

Aran

WAR

Conflagration (noun): a large disastrous fire.

DAY 1, HOUR 3

I fantasized about slamming my head into the chalkboard.

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