45. Chapter 44

Chapter 44

T he gods emerged in a blast of light in the main street of the Inner District. All seven of them, glided forward. Draped in gilded finery and glittering jewels, their very skin glowing with pure, unbridled magic, a shiver of unease wormed down Aya's spine. She refused to feel small before them, or show any weakness—maybe it wasn't smart, but she'd be damned if she yielded to them. Their blood would be upon her hands soon enough.

A shared sentiment it seemed. They stared upon her, hatred laid bare.

Aya lifted her chin and winked.

The wind whispered through her wings, whipping at her curls. Her blood thundered in her veins, thrumming with magic. She itched to fight, to sink her teeth into Akaria. Seeing the goddess of death approach, clad in her resplendent dark dress, with jewels woven into her hair, she was terrifying and beautiful.

Aya was going to rip her fucking throat out.

Patience, she reminded herself.

She eyed the gods, staring them down, not afraid or intimidated. They were eternal and powerful, but she had something they didn't. Possessed a strength they were never going to have, and she clung to it. A preternatural stillness settled in her bones, relaxing her muscles. Even her wings dropped a little, gentle against her back.

Arcan stopped first, the god of war not quite as she imagined, standing in the middle of the gods. He was tall, with skin like freshly fallen snow, and hair mirroring the night sky. Dressed in blood red, his arms encircled with swirling tattoos, there was a sword at his hip, making him every part his name. His gaze ran her up and down, seeing her for the first time, not in some vision so many years ago but in flesh and blood. The edge of his lip curled.

"Disappointing."

"I imagine all your lovers say that."

His eyes flushed red, anger flaring like a firestorm in his eyes. Flames flared along his skin. Aya held her ground, steady as she stared him down, refusing to look away. Arcan stepped toward her.

A woman at his side, adorned in the same flowing robes Aya knew so well, touched his upper arm. One small hand, yet it held him back. Arcan shot her a look, one Aya couldn't make out, and Dianera shook her head.

What were they waiting for?

Arcan finally nodded back before facing Aya. "Where is Aurora?"

"Close." Aya's gaze flicked to Akaria, delighting in the fury burning in those dark, vicious pools. "But first, I have a proposal."

"You think to bargain with us?" one of the god's asked. From his silvery white hair, Aya suspected Vikra. Overhead, the dark clouds churned restlessly. Thunder rumbled in the distance. "You, a mortal?"

"No, me, a fish." Aya rolled her eyes. "Fucking hell, god of the obvious, aren't you?"

"Enough!" Arcan thundered. "You will hand us the goddess, or we will rip this place apart. Countless will die, is that what you want?"

"What I want is a nice fucking sleep, a bottle of honeyed wine and, if I'm a lucky enough bitch, to marry the love of my life." Aya sighed, as if the whole situation bored her to tears. "But today is utterly full of disappointments. More so, for all of you."

A hushed whisper rippled among the gods. Aya caught snatches but it was not a language she knew, nor one she was worried about. It wasn't long now. She just had to bide her time, play it right. Trust in her family.

Arcan stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"You can't sense her, can you?" Aya murmured with a grin. "But you do sense something. Is it this little old thing?"

She drew the blade from her hip, holding it up to the sun. A soft gasp sounded from Dianera. Once more, she touched Arcan. The pair shared another look.

So, I was right.

"Now, I heard a funny little story that you think I'm going to kill you all," Aya began with a chuckle. "Which really is quite funny. Me, a mortal, killing the gods. I mean, it's not like I lack the motive or ambition. Problem is, there is something I want more than anything."

"And what's that?" This time, Dianera spoke, her voice like a song, warm and ethereal.

Aya tossed the dagger on the floor.

"I want Akaria dead."

Silence greeted her.

Arcan threw his head back, erupting into laughter. No one spoke until he finally fell silent, only to regard Aya as one might an errant child. A little frustrating but deeply amusing, small and insignificant all the same.

"That's all?"

"And I'll give you Aurora."

Arcan's smile faltered. "You seem to think you're the one holding all the cards."

"And you seem to think you haven't walked right into a trap."

All at once, Zari and Sabra materialized on either side of the gods. With Sabra, Nora threw up her hands, light tearing from her palms. A song erupted into existence, threads of energy bursting from her, surging up and over the ground. On the other side, there was Aurora, a dagger in hand. She lunged for Akaria at the end. The goddess of death dove out of the way, too fast for the weakened goddess.

Nora's lights plunged down around the gods.

Sabra vanished from her side.

Aya exploded forward with a thundering cry. The gods threw out their hands, as if to call upon their powers. Nothing happened. Arcan acted first, bursting forward in a dizzying blur of speed. She barely had time to duck before he swung his sword.

With the spell in full effect, the gods were weakened. Not completely powerless but enough.

She hoped.

Aya surged up, thrusting both palms forward. Darkness flared into existence and blasted forward. He dove out of the way, rushing once more at her again. True to his name, he was perfect in his attack. Aya ducked and weaved, barely keeping it out of the way. Metal hissed past her ear. She threw out a hand.

A short sword, forged of shadow, burst into existence.

She swung it up, metal clashing in a ringing cry. The force sent her sliding back across the dirt. Aya gritted her teeth, digging deep into the strength she had. A single focus burned through, surging out along her limbs in ribbons of darkness. Surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Curious, isn't it? I still have my magic," she sneered. "And you don't."

"You won't kill us. You're outmatched."

"I'm not after you —forgetful, aren't you ? " Aya winked. "I just needed you all distracted."

A hand clamped over her shoulder. The world spun out from around her. It returned a second later, right behind Akaria as she battled Zari. She burst in. The goddess turned suddenly, meeting her with a snarling cry. A dark blade crashed against hers. Aya drove forward with a chuckle.

All around her, the more creatures rushed from the shadows; vampires and wolves, syrens too, from Dusk Quarter and Inner District alike. A perfect storm.

"You think you're going to kill us all?" Akaria laughed. "You have no idea—"

"Oh, do shut the fuck up!" Aya dropped low, throwing Akaria off, before she drove in, knocking the goddess back. Akaria recovered quickly, barely raising her sword as Aya lifted hers. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

"If you kill us—"

"Who said I was going to—"

Something sharp plunged into Aya's side. A scream unleashed as she staggered forward. Confusion crashed in. Suddenly, Akaria was on her, ripping the blade from her hand. A force slammed her down. Her legs gave out. The ground rushed to meet her. Sharp pain erupted along her head as it smacked into the pressed earth. She blinked dizzily, trying to scramble up when another blow struck her down, and then she was pushed onto her back.

A sword was at her throat.

"Enough!" Akaria's voice split the air like a clap of thunder. " Anyone takes another fucking step and Aya dies!"

The blade pressed in, drawing a droplet of blood. A sting that kept Aya very still.

All around her, everyone froze. The gods exploded into action. Tobias was dropped first as Arcan drove his blade through his stomach. Alexios screamed, the sound of an animal dying, as he rushed forward. He never got close as a goddess launched a dagger, slicing clean across the back of his ankles. He hit the ground with another scream, and Aya could only watch as he kept moving, clawing his way to Tobias.

Sabra appeared behind Arcan with a snarl. He was too fast and swung his blade. Zari was behind her, blinking them away.

Nora was the last to fall, hauled forward and forced to her knees, Aurora at her side.

" Now we have what we want," Arcan crooned as he strode forward. "Any last words for your crimes?"

"Fuck you!" Aurora spat.

He thrust the blade into her heart, piercing clean through.

Nora roared a string of curses, surging up from her knees. She never made it through as he swung the blade, severing her head clean from her shoulders.

"NO!" Aya roared.

Akaria dug the blade in a tiny bit more and Aya stilled, glaring furiously at the goddess her mother still worshipped. A faith poorly placed.

"You had a plan, and I will admit, it was a good one. Now, this is where you all die and the best part, when you are cut down by one of our blades, there is no bringing anyone back."