Page 64 of Claiming Demons

I opened my void to Erini and drank in the raging storm of her power. Adding a touch of Fen’s devouring, I easily consumed Erini’s hatred, jealousy, and destructive rage.

Still, she wouldn’t give up. Her powers were gone, but she flailed physically, lost to madness.

I sighed and knelt, using my peace to fill her with serenity, binding it with law, even a little love. I didn’t hate Erini. I pitied her. I couldn’t fathom what it must be like to be constantly filled with rage, jealousy, and hatred.

Her body stilled, unconscious, eyes closed. She shimmered and the extra arms and legs and heads vanished. She looked like a normal, sleeping person. I removed my sword and restored her lost limbs.

With a heavy sigh, I stood.

But when the adrenaline of the fight faded, I was left utterly exhausted. My three men pressed in around me, holding me — holding each other — close.

“Well done!” boomed a voice from above us.

ANAIS

Startled,I looked up to see a man with ash-white skin floating above us. Eyes like molten rock, red and seething, peered out from flowing locks of hair, some of which seemed red-gold in color, while other parts were black with crimson highlights. He was built solidly, with heavy arms and a broad chest.

Who the hell was this now?

“Shiva!” Grey called to the man. “What do you want?”

Shiva? That seemed to ring a bell, a Hindu god of… yeah, I had no clue. I really needed to learn more about the gods.

The man dropped from the sky, landing easily on strong legs.

“I’m not here for a fight,” he said bowing to us. When he righted himself, his arms were out in a sign of surrender. “I’m here for her.” He nodded to Erini.

“What do you intend to do with her?” I asked, curious.

“Andif you were here the entire time, why didn’t you stop Erini?” Grey said, harsh and accusing.

“Could he have?” I asked.

Fen answered. “Shiva is another Lord of Destruction, among other things, and as a true god with significantly more power than Erini, he would have been able to stop her, easily.” He didn’t sound happy.

I wasn’t particularly happy to hear that, either.

“Yeah, why didn’t you stop her?” I asked, matching Grey’s tone from a moment ago.

“Because, this was your trial, Anais. Erini needed to do what she did, so you would become who you were meant to be, Goddess of Bonds.” He bowed to me with a certain reverence.

“Wait… so this was all for me?”

Shiva nodded. “All true gods must pass a trial to come fully into their power. This was yours. It had to happen, somewhere, somehow, and of all the outcomes, this was the least harmful.”

“Thiswas the least harmful?” I glanced at the destroyed park around me, then back to the barely-standing hotel. “Wow. Fuck me.”

Shiva smiled. “I have a wife with whom I’m quite happy. I believe you have others to perform that function, do you not?”

I blushed then. I blushed even more realizing I’d let my armor go and I was… yup… completely naked.

“Ah… yeah… well… thanks, I guess?” I said, summoning my armor to cover me again.

“You are most welcome, Anais, Goddess of Bonds.” He peered deep into my eyes, his gaze penetrating deep into my soul. “And to you, Lady of Heaven.” I had the feeling he wasn’t talking to me.

No, he’s talking to me,that other voice inside me replied.

Oh…

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