Page 25 of Deliverance
Eloy walked off and Mateo followed as carefully as he could. The cracks were numerous and he didn’t want to put too much weight on the ground itself as pieces still crumbled as they traveled through the maze Kijani had created. Finally, they were out of the danger zone and the rest of the journey toward Eloy’s temple was without worry and only half a mile away.
Eloy placed Simeon’s corpse on the bed that he would have slept in had he’d been alive. The room was lavish and designed to please any god. Eloy felt it was fitting. There was a frantic knock on the door and Eloy beckoned the servant in.
A young man rushed and bowed. “God Eloy, the goddess, Odessa, is waiting to speak with you on the phone,” he announced.
“Thank you,” Eloy said. “Please transfer her call to this room.”
“Yes, god Eloy,” the servant said, then rushed off as to not keep either god waiting.
Eloy walked over to the telephone on the nightstand and waited until he saw the light indicating that the call had been successfully transferred. When he did, he picked up the phone and pushed the button.
“Odessa,” he said.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Kijani attacked Simeon, Mateo, and I. He was mad with rage and would not adhere to reason. He tried to kill Mateo and when he realized he could never have me, he tried to kill me. Simeon sacrificed himself to save us and together we had no choice but to kill Kijani,” Eloy informed her.
“It is what this one had feared. Oh, for Hersi’s mercy… this one’s heart is heavy with so much grief as I felt their souls ascend,” she said.
Eloy could tell by the tone of her voice that she was still crying. “I felt it and saw them ascend. Let us pray that Hersi welcomes them with forgiveness and love.”
“By Hersi’s blessing, yes,” Odessa said. “Oh, how is Mateo?”
“He is alive.”
“This one is pleased to hear that. This one will give her blessing to Simeon and Kijani.”
“Together, we can,” Eloy said. “Come tomorrow, please, Odessa. I need time with Mateo tonight.”
“This one will accommodate. Until then.” She ended the call and Eloy hung up.
Eloy turned to Mateo, who had not left his side. “I am going for Kijani now. Stay here.”
“I can go with you?”
“No, it is far too dangerous.” Eloy approached him, taking him by both arms. “I will not ever put you in danger again.”
“You did not, though,” Mateo argued.
Eloy gave him a sad smile. “But I did. First, with the Games, then by not addressing Kijani’s jealousy before this night. At any of those points, I could have lost you, Mateo.”
Mateo stepped forward, hugging Eloy. “But you did not. I am here, Eloy. Forever with you.”
Eloy kissed his temple. “And I with you. Still, stay here.” He pushed Mateo away gently, then kissed him again, this time on his lips before walking off. He didn’t take long to retrieve Kijani’s body and he placed his corpse on the bed beside Simeon’s. Once that task was done, he searched for Mateo, finding him in his bedroom.
“It is done?” Mateo asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, fully clean and wearing one of Eloy’s gold togas.
Eloy nodded as his eyes raked over his human lover, taking in all his beauty and strength. He smiled. “It looks good on you, my toga.”
Mateo looked down at the garment. “I hope you do not mind.”
Eloy shook his head. “Never.”
The human managed to not only survive the fights in the arena, but also an attack from a god. He truly was remarkable to Eloy. He walked over to him, taking a seat on the bed, then reached over, caressing Mateo’s face.
“Human beings really are something to behold. For so long, I did not understand nor did I appreciate that fact. I took for granted my own power and succumbed to the most base of instincts my human body had. Lust, greed… Kijani gave into his envy. He wanted from me what I could never give him. Because I had already given it to you,” Eloy said.
Mateo opened his mouth, but no words came out. He licked his lips and tried again. “What?”
