Page 28 of Heart Shaped Wreckage
“I really wish I had a blanket,” I muttered.
“Come here.” His voice was no more than a light growl. “I’ll… My body will keep you warm. I wish I could have found more wood, but it’s the desert.”
I scooted over to him and placed my body against his. His arm curled around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. His hot breath lulled me to sleep, and when I awoke, we were not alone.
12
HEATH
“Heath!” I heard Kevin whisper loudly in my ear, and his elbow slammed into my ribs.
I shot up as quickly as I could. Sleep was still making my brain groggy. Fucking human weakness. A large bird stared at us. I knew him. His green eyes told me exactly who he was, even if I hadn’t seen him in ages.
“Thoth, is that you?” I asked incredulously.
“Greetings, fallen one. It has been eons since I have seen Magnus of the…”
“Why are you here?” I cut him off. I was not ready to deal with trying to explain any of this to Kevin, yet. I didn’t even have coffee.
“I’m not the only being you’ve seen, am I?” Thoth bent his head lowly. “Denzu has also been here. I’m sure we will not be the last.”
“This is getting very weird. How do I understand bird?” Kevin wiped at his eyes.
“Human, I am no mere bird,” Thoth shook his feathers in a very birdlike way.
Kevin, this is Thoth. Once worshipped as a god of wisdom,” I chuckled. I had always thought it funny that a long-necked bird was wise. He was, though. I will give him that.
“I can still see that time hasn’t changed your ability to be arrogant. I should be glad some things never change, I suppose, but… I was also hoping time had humbled you.”
“I have been humbled from the moment I walked the Earth, don’t you think?” I couldn’t stop the anger from exploding.
“See? That’s what I’m… Oh, sorry. Go on.” Kevin put his hand over his mouth. “It’s just I have so many questions about that.”
“And this is our fire-headed witch. You are quite the adorable one. It’s a shame you prefer this beast to an elegant bird such as myself. The things I could teach you.”
“Are you a shifter?”
“Am I a…” Thoth barked birdlike. It had always been quite alarming. “I have never been human. I am as you see me in the form that Kauket gave me at the great birth.”
“Wait. Like the Egyptian god?”
“He and I are and always have been the same. They teach nothing in these American schools,” he scoffed in his own birdlike way.
“I… wow… Is there actually a Zeus?”
“That’s a different story for another time, young one. Let’s hope you never have to understand the strange dynamics of all the gods. But I came beforealmostall, as the great serpent gave birth to this world.”
“How does this work with angels and capital G God? I am so confused.”
“That would make your head hurt even more. Creation didn’t stem from one capital G God, young one. It came from many. From Chaos and Jehovah and Kauket and Yimr and so many others, creation sprang forth, and the universe formed as it was always supposed to. Each primordial god gave birth to those whowould form the universe. From Jehovah, we had angels. From the others, their pantheon came to fruition. Why must one be true and the other a falsehood? Sometimes in life, there is no easy answer.”
“So speaks the great bird of wisdom. Why are you here?” I tensed. “You must have something to tell us, or are you here to watch us flounder?”
“I admit, watching the two of you so cozy did give me great relief. Only together can you complete this quest. The prophecy is old, and it has been waiting for the right moment to come into fruition.” He always sounded like he was giving a lecture.
“I think it had some help,” I growled.
“I had nothing to do with any of it.” He bent his beak under his wing and pecked at something. “I’m only here to guide you on the first step. The seeking stones and the swirling pool are near at hand. Denzu brought you to where you needed to be.”
