Page 21 of Deliverance
One of his servants opened the door and behind him stood the goddess, Odessa. “God Eloy, the goddess, Odessa, wished to speak with you.”
Eloy politely waved him away, then beckoned Odessa inside his formal meeting chamber. The servant took several steps backwards and then closed the door after Odessa entered, but not before bowing to all three gods. Eloy offered Odessa one of the comfortable chairs to sit on, but she declined.
“This one will not stay long,” she said.
“You have already missed the presidential meeting,” Eloy informed her.
“This one will leave that you the two of you,” Odessa said.
Eloy laughed under his breath before taking another sip of his wine. “Then why didthis onecome here?”
Simeon chuckled at Eloy’s taunt.
Odessa ignored the jest as she swallowed hard. “This one has a confession.”
Suddenly, both male gods ceased their chuckles at her expense and grew more serious. “What it is, Odessa?” Eloy asked.
“When this one thought she would see the last of Titus’ life spill out in a red gush upon the sands, I finally understood why you fancy these humans.”
“Is that why you spared him?” Simon asked.
She nodded. “This one did not want to see him die.”
“Are you telling me that you have fallen in love with him? I know that you have picked him to share your bed on many occasions, monthly if I am not mistaken?” Eloy asked.
“Love? This one does not know. Maybe something close to it. This one would explore,” Odessa said.
Simeon smiled. “Well,this oneis happy for you, my dear.”
“This one would not have put Titus in danger if she had thought he would lose,” Odessa said.
That was when the mood in the room changed and Eloy sat his wine goblet down and stormed over toward her. Simeon rose too, just in case he had to intervene.
“What do you mean, Odessa? Spit it out!” Eloy demanded.
She looked off to the side, as if ashamed to look Eloy directly in his eyes. He reached out, grabbing her chin and forcing her gaze back toward him. “Confess. What have you done?”
She swallowed again. “Kijani and this one were afraid of your affections for that gladiator, Mateo. Together, we planned to have Titus face him in the arena, certain that the Champion could not lose. We wanted him to die. Personally, this one could have killed Mateo anywhere, but it was Kijani who wanted to you watch him die before the crowd. Kijani wanted to see your expression when the moment came when Mateo would be taken away from you. This one knows now that it was wrong, but she feared what your affections would bring about.”
“You were afraid of him falling in love?” Simeon asked.
She nodded.
“Too late, I think,” Simeon said.
Odessa looked up at Eloy, whose nostrils flared in his rage as his chest heaved. “This one knows you are angry at her. This one also confesses her part in the death of your former lover. It was poison, not sickness that took his life. Kijani wanted him dead, this one helped. This one did not know your feelings until she saw what she could have lost. Please forgive her.”
Eloy huffed and turned away, his fist balled so tightly that his nails would have drawn blood had his body not been protected by his god energy.
“Eloy?” Simeon called his name as if testing the waters.
“Does Kijani still seek to kill Mateo?” Eloy asked without turning to face Odessa. It was too difficult for him to look upon her at the moment, knowing now what she’d taken from him in the past and what she had tried to take from him by plotting to kill Mateo.
“He does, that is why this one has come, to warn you. Kijani is mad with rage and has shut me out as he feels this one is as weak for human companionship as you,” she said. “The only reason why he has not already taken Mateo’s life is because it has seemed that you are no longer interested in the gladiator. He has not had your company for months. Is this true?”
“I have taken Kijani to my bed to keep his feelings of jealousy at bay. To protect Mateo and nothing more,” Eloy said.
“His spy keeps watch on Mateo in Rama’s home. A servant, the last servant Rama has who willingly serves him. It is to keep Kijani informed on when or if you come for Mateo,” Odessa stated.
