Chapter 16

So I might have beena tad too cocky. My plan was not well thought out. My prospects looked dim. I didn't realize how much I'd relied on my magic until it disappeared.

The most annoying part? I never even had a chance to try and use my magic before a ring came around my neck, choking off my ability. I almost sobbed as I became mundane for the first time since I got my powers at sixteen.

Rescue seemed unlikely. Poor Typhon found himself just as badly trapped, the net they flung over him turning his golden armor into a dull cloak that hung limp without a single smoky ripple.

Fuck.

I glared at the golden knights. "Unhand me at once. I am a citizen of Earth." Probably the dumbest thing I could have said.

And yet they didn't laugh, just grabbed me roughly, a soldier on each side with a tight grip on my arms as they dragged me into a tunnel. I didn't bother fighting as they carried me off to a cell. Better preserve my strength for a proper escape. Remaining calm meant I could observe and catalogue. I counted the left and right turns as they trotted me through tunnels hewn into rock. Took note of the fetid stench of people living without fresh air. The gaunt faces that peeked out at times from crevices we passed. Abject poverty and misery hung thickly in the air along with despair.

What a horrible place. The deusvenati were a people moving toward extinction, so I had to wonder why they were so aggressive. You'd think they'd be looking to make alliances. Or at the very least relocating. Yet their destruction of Zuzamenn showed they had another plan in mind. One that didn't involve taking over the town for the poor people I saw. A plan that had them kidnapping those with magic.

What did they have planned for me? Nothing good, I imagined. I couldn't help but remember the oracle's words that a mortal wouldn't return. Me, I was that mortal.

Fuck.

We entered a tunnel lined with veritable dungeon cells. I got tossed into an empty one comprised of three walls of stone, the fourth facing the corridor being simply bars embedded in rock. No window. Then again, I'd seen the outside. Wasn't a great view. Wouldn't recommend. Zero stars.

"What's going to happen to me?" I asked as I scrambled to my feet before the door to my cell clanged shut.

No reply. The guards remained silent as they stomped off. Once the echo of their steps faded, I realized I wasn't alone. Someone sobbed nearby.

I grabbed the bars and did my best to peek. "Hello? Anyone here?" I called out.

"I'm here," said a low voice from across the hall. A huddled figure, whose rags had helped them blend into the rock, rose to their feet.

"Who are you? I'm Dina. From Earth." I introduced myself first.

"Barabella, from Zuzamenn," murmured the woman who cautiously approached the bars of her prison.

Rather than ask her about the recent fight, I went straight to the point. "Do you know what the deusvenati want with us?"

"Death!" screamed another woman, the same one who'd been sobbing. "We will all die."

"Yeah, I'd rather not," was my retort which caused Barabella to snort.

"Ignore Lacie. She's always been very dramatic."

"Well, she's got reason this time. Situation doesn't look good," I conceded.

"No. It's not. But where there's life, there's hope," Barabella said serenely.

I liked her attitude. "Have you spoken to anyone since your arrival? Any clue as to why they've taken us?"

Barabella, who'd joined me at her set of bars, shook her head. "No one will speak to me. The soldiers only came by once before they brought you to fetch the previous occupant of your cell."

Taking a wild guess, I said, "A witch?"

"Dwarven wizard. Before he was taken away, we spoke. He claimed to be the last of eight taken from his world."

Eight and none of them returned. Really not a good sign. "And no idea what they're doing with them, hunh?"

"No. But I have a theory," she whispered.

"What is it?"

"They are sacrificing us in the hopes of appeasing their god."

"I thought they killed their god."

Barabella's lips turned down. "Whatever the case, I believe they've come to regret what they did."

Thinking of what I'd seen topside, I kind of agreed. "Without a necromancer, I don't think they stand a chance in reviving a dead god."

The comment led to Barabella shrugging. "I don't know what will or won't work, but I do hope if their god returns, he smites them all for being twats."

A woman after my own heart.

We spoke a little after that, with her asking me where I came from. I told her about Earth. I omitted the part about being there when Zuzamenn fell. She had enough to deal with as it was, and I still felt guilty. I didn't need the only person talking to me getting pissy because I hadn't done more to save her and the town.

Time passed, how much I couldn't tell. I could say, however, that the collar wasn't coming off no matter how much I tugged or cursed at it. Nor could I feel my magic, not one bit. Adding to my annoyance, I missed Typhon.

Was he okay? Injured? Dead… I'd like to think that given I carried some of his power inside me I'd know if he'd been obliterated.

When company arrived, we knew in advance by the clomping of the boots. The golden guards arrived and halted between my and Barabella's cells. Both of our doors were opened.

The guard that grabbed my arm got his gauntlet slapped.

"I can walk. No need to manhandle," I snapped in my haughtiest tone.

While I presented a brave font, Barabella wailed and clung at her bars, her seeming calm nonchalance of before just a front. We got marched—well I did, Barabella got dragged—through the network of tunnels, completely wrecking my memorization of before. I'd never find my way back to the room with the portal without a guide.

The soldiers marched us into a massive cave, the ceiling of it soaring high enough I didn't feel claustrophobic. The air appeared fresher here, and yet I saw no sign of a ventilation system.

In this space milled people without armor. Women and children bedraggled and thin, their hollow cheeks a sign of scarce food. Their pallor resulted from the lack of natural light. Of interest, not a single man was without the golden armor.

The person who drew the eye, though, currently sat on a throne carved out of bone, the long teeth of the massive creature making me glad I didn't have to face it.

I recognized the woman reigning over the cavern, a voluptuous beauty with a perpetual bitch face that went well with her ostentatious crown. Ariadne wore white as if that would purify her evil intentions.

"I should have known the tin suits were acting on the orders of a thieving cunt." I didn't bother with politeness.

"You are a mouthy one. And stupid too. Thinking you and Typhon could waltz into my kingdom. As if I wouldn't know the moment you stepped out of the portal. My army might not have seen through your disguise, but you can't fool me." Ariadne smirked.

"Speaking of disguise, do your tin soldiers know you're a glorified witch?" I glanced at the guards flanking me. "You might want to collar the cunt on the throne. She's a liar and a thief and has way more magic than me."

Laughter burst out of Ariadne. "Nice try, but the deusvenati know exactly who and what I am. Who do you think placed me on their throne?"

The news surprised, and I couldn't hide it.

"I can see you're confused, but it's actually quite simple. The deusvenati are an interesting people. They destroyed their god to free themselves from tyranny, only to find themselves worse off because they had no idea their god had been using his magic to make this world habitable. The descent began slowly, the skies turning dark with dust, which led to their crops failing and the water fouling. Within a few generations, they moved underground, where they learned how to farm mushrooms and lichen to survive. But now even that is failing. The deusvenati are dying, soon to be no more."

"They'd be fine if they relocated," I pointed out.

"Some have, but most would rather see their planet return to its former glory."

"What does this have to do with putting your psycho ass on a throne?" I questioned.

"They've realized they need magic to return."

"And so, what? They're kidnapping wizards and witches in the hopes having them around will somehow fix their world?" I kept her talking because the more she yapped, the more I learned. The more I learned, the better my chance for survival. Or so I told myself.

"Oh, we don't keep them for long. After all, the deusvenati don't need extra mouths to feed."

"You're killing them." Stated, not asked.

Her teeth gleamed as she said, "Yes."

"Isn't that counterintuitive? I mean if you're trying to bring back magic, then how does killing them help since their power dies with them?"

"Not if sacrificed correctly. See, when their god died, the reservoir of magic it maintained, the source that kept their planet from collapsing, dried up. With my help, they've been filling it."

I arched a brow. "Doesn't seem to be working. In case you didn't notice, the planet is still a shithole."

"Because we've only been able to donate small amounts thus far. But having you here will change that."

Not the most promising thing to hear. "How come they haven't sacrificed you? After all, you've got tons of magic." I glanced at the soldier flanking me and admitted in an aside, "She stole a god's powers."

Ariadne chuckled. "They already know. The first thing I did upon encountering them was prove I could do miracles." She waved her hand and drew my attention to a lush garden area on the other side of her throne.

"You grew plants?"

"Creation and life are the purview of gods. And as a god, I told them what they had to do if they wanted to revive their world. Under my guidance, they've been hunting down magic users and bringing them back to refill the reservoir."

"You're murdering people."

"No one that matters. And their deaths are for a greater cause. I will return Atlantis to its former glory."

I snorted. "Bullshit. You're a con artist. Do they know your cowardly ass scrammed away from Earth because you were scared of me and my sisters?"

Her jaw tensed. "I wasn't afraid."

"Yet you fled like a rat from a sinking ship," I taunted.

"And will return stronger than before. A few more sacrifices of worth and the reservoir will have enough power that I won't need Typhon. I will become a goddess in truth. More powerful than your little monster god. More powerful than anyone. All who stand in my way shall be vanquished." She stood from her throne as she announced it, and her tin cans rattled their spears.

"Nice villain speech. Now how about a reality check. The other gods aren't going to let you waltz in and cause trouble."

"Those who don't bow will face my army."

"What army? I see a few dozen people," I taunted.

Her expression twisted. "I've heard enough from you. You think you can twist my subjects against me, but they know I am their only hope."

"You're going to get them all killed," was my blunt reply. "You should be encouraging them to evacuate and find a new place to live."

"I've had enough of your poisonous tongue." She pointed. "Take her to the well! Bring all of them."

Rough grips took hold of me on either side and dragged me toward a fancy arch, past the wilting garden. Seems Ariadne didn't have a green thumb after all.

As we entered a chamber, bare but for a well with a raised ledge, I was struck by the beauty. Unlike the network of tunnels, this room had been smoothed and polished, the stone a light tan, carved with symbols. Symbols like the ones on my back.

A place of power.

A place of magic.

A place of death.

For a second, I'd have sworn I could hear the screams of those who'd given their lives for Ariadne's mad scheme.

Oh wait, those were the screams of the living. Barabella was being held by two soldiers, and she thrashed and wailed. I couldn't blame her. No one wanted to know ahead of time they were going to die.

She glanced at me and screamed, "Do something."

Do what? I remained as powerless as her.

To my surprise, as they brought Barabella to the edge of the well, Ariadne approached and laid her fingers on the collar around the captive woman's neck. The collar opened and was grabbed.

For a second, Barabella's eyes glowed as she summoned her magic.

Then she was gone. Shoved into the hole at her feet, the noise of her scream receding until it abruptly ceased.

A shiver went down my spine. I'd yet to think of a way out of this.

I expected my turn next, but Ariadne was serious when she said she wanted to toss everyone in the well. The woman I'd heard sobbing was brought next. She didn't even try to use her power before getting shoved into the hole.

To my surprise, they had more prisoners, not all of them human appearing. One by one they got tossed. Most screamed. But one—a squat, green fellow who could have been Yoda's cousin—glared at Ariadne before jumping in of his own volition.

I doubted I could be as brave.

The line of sacrifices diminished until only I remained. My only relief was that Typhon hadn't been one of those brought forward.

Ariadne turned and smiled in my direction. "Your turn."

"My sisters will avenge me," I threatened.

"You mean they'll try. I'm expecting them to show up, and when they do…" Ariadne glanced at the well. "They should provide enough power to finally fill the reservoir and I shall ascend."

"You're insane," I muttered.

"Am I?"

The soldiers gripping me began to drag me to the edge, and my breathing quickened. I wanted to be brave. I also wanted to live.

All too quickly, I stared into the deep hole—a hole that seemed to have no end. I felt no tingling of magic. Saw no glow either. It led to me blurting out, "I don't think your reservoir is working as expected."

"It will. The oracle told me so."

I blinked. "You spoke to her? I thought she turned you away."

"She turned me away the second time I visited. But my first meeting with her was before we met. At the time, she didn't make sense. She told me I'd never get what I wanted on Earth. That I needed to go to a place where there was no god and that I would get what I deserved once I threw the monster god's champion into the well."

"That bitch!" I huffed.

"She is slippery," Ariadne agreed. "Hence why I wanted to speak with her again, but she evaded my soldiers. Pity, her magic would have been a potent addition."

"The oracle is gone." I didn't mention she passed on her mantle.

"A shame, but I have what I need in you. Any last words?"

"I hope you die painfully." I then sent a quick prayer to the only god who might be listening. Bye, Reaper. It was nice knowing you.