Chapter Twenty-Two

Aliana's POV

“What in the gods’ names are you doing here?”

I jumped!

Black filled my vision, and a cold breeze whipped at my face, the wind chilling my bones. The room was filled with a familiar crow, the sound sharp enough to cut stone. Sharp eyes of liquid gold and great black wings that glinted blue unfurled with a sound like tearing silk.

Corvus!

I let out a screech when his huge body perched on my shoulder. But I was surprised how light he felt – and how light and careful he was with his talons. Still, I didn’t dare to anger the bird that ate corrupt souls for a snack…

“Relax, birdie,” Nyx rolled her eyes, her smile never faltering. “She was curious about the Master’s work. I see no harm in indulging her.”

“No harm?” Corvus screeched, his feathers bristling. “Do you remember what happens in there? Mortals weren’t made to see Justice done!”

What the hell did that mean?!

I swallowed thickly, once more remembering the way Ani effortlessly pulled a bullet out of his flesh. He flicked it off as if it didn’t bother him more than a fly. Then he’d charged the men, pulling out the soul and feeding it to Corvus and his unkindness.

And I had a feeling this was but a fraction of his true power...

Nyx’s smile fell, and she paled, as realization dawned upon her!

“Ah, Medusa!” She exclaimed and turned to me, eyes wide with horror. “My apologies, darling. I completely forgot myself. I haven’t been to the human world for so long, I didn’t even---!”

“Forgot my ass,” the raven crowed, flapping his wings again. “The realm has made you soft if you’ve forgotten who kicked your ass that landed you in this situation in the first place!”

“It’s not my fault,” the goddess pouted, folding her arms under her ample chest. “I underestimated how powerful Dikaios was. And I was just a tad bit hasty when challenging him.”

Now THAT was a story I wanted to hear...

“Keep telling yourself that, princess,” Corvus snapped, his beak clapping next to my ear as he made a chuckle-like sound.

“Princess?!” Nyx’s voice dripped with indignation. “Say that to my face, you oversized chicken!”

Was this seriously happening?!

The primordial goddess of darkness bickering with a raven, who openly mocked her. Still, this felt strangely--- familiar… Like siblings who’d been arguing since the beginning of creation itself.

Unreal!

I’d already said this a million times at this point, but honestly, it was the only word that could describe this situation. I should have been afraid, but somehow, I wasn’t! I didn’t belong here, but yet I found myself smiling at the strange normalcy of this...

Still---

My gaze drifted past them to the heavy doors at the end of the corridor. Black, tall, and etched with silver that looked like glowing runes. Just watching it had a shiver running down my spine, as if my body knew that whatever was beyond that door wasn’t meant for humans.

Suddenly, the air was filled with magic, and just like that, the oppressing cold that had felt like frost in my lungs dissipated. I sucked in a breath, dizzy as air settled back in my lungs...

“He’s done for today,” Corvus said and turned to me. “Forget that you were here today, Lady Aliana. You’re better off not knowing.” He turned his head, looking in the same direction I was – his expression unreadable. “The God of Justice carries burdens no mortal will ever understand.”

There was something in his tone that made me drop the question that burned on my tongue. Even Ani’s raven was apprehensive about his work.

I guess I didn’t stand a chance then...

Nyx touched my arm gently, steering me back the way we’d come.

“Come,” she said, her voice lighter now. “Let’s go find Master then! He’s bound to be in his bath after work. His magic is far from where it once was, so he’ll need it to recover.”

“A bath?!” I exclaimed, arching an eyebrow. Then again, I couldn’t really contradict her, as I’d felt firsthand how refreshing and rejuvenating his baths could be…

“It’s not ordinary water, little Muse,” Corvus crowed, still comfortable on my shoulder. “It’s infused with ambrosia, the drink of the gods. With oil from the very first tree Gaia herself created. It heals and restores anyone who drinks or bathes in it.”

That--- explained sooooo much!

The way back passed almost peacefully. We passed one of the many gardens on our way, and Nyx enthusiastically showed me a crystal flower that only bloomed if you sang to it. Which – if I’d ever doubted it – only sealed the fact that I for sure wasn’t on Earth anymore…

Corvus occasionally interrupted with sarcastic commentary, which only made Nyx more animated. For a little while, it almost felt--- normal! If normal meant being escorted around a divine fortress by the Goddess of Night and a talking crow!

Finally, we stood in front of the door to Ani’s room. And while I had no hope of ever being able to find it on my own, a surge of relief flowed through me at being back.

“We’ll see you at dinner,” Nyx smiled, and before I could brace for it, she hugged me like a dear friend. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered, genuinely happy. “It’s been so dull, only surrounded by men--- and no, a female dragon isn’t quite the same, but don’t tell Nyla I said that!” She held a finger over her mouth and then laughed as she spun and walked off.

“See you at dinner,” I waved after her, swallowing the “I hope” that lingered on the edge of my lips. Corvus took flight, and the sudden weight off my shoulder had me stumbling forward. But the black bird was too high and mighty for apologies, and was gone before I’d righted myself.

“A nice evening to you too,” I snorted and opened the door, not really sure what to expect inside...

“…wasn’t kill them all taking it a bit too far?” Erebus's voice drifted towards me, his tone stripped of its usual humor. “I mean! I understand why you did it. I’ve been wanting to kill off some of those jerks for years! But---”

I froze...

I wasn’t sure what I just heard, but one thing suddenly stood crystal clear in my mind.

Ani could kill gods!

“Because I’m the only one with the power to kill them?” Ani replied, his soft voice unusually void of any emotions. “So I did it?”

A stunned silence filled the room…

My heart hammered in my chest, and an anger I couldn’t explain bubbled up inside me. I wanted to defend him. Yell at Erebus!

“Ani isn’t that kind of man!”

But I couldn’t…

Because, in all honesty, I didn’t know what kind of man Ani was. I didn’t know him. All I knew was that he could make me feel like I was the only person on earth that mattered. That his eyes never just looked at me, but saw my soul and wanted to protect it. Wanted to keep all of me safe. That he was gentle and kind. And carried a burden heavier than anyone would imagine...

Without really thinking, I moved closer. Hell, if I were smart – which previous actions proved I wasn’t – I’d run away from there. But instead, I moved closer to the bathroom, peaking in through the crack in the door.

Ani was in the bath again, his eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them before. Steam curled through the air, and white light shimmered across his skin like molten silver. Erebus sat at the edge of the pool, his arms folded over his impressive chest.

“Well,” Erebus continued matter-of-factually. “Yeah!”

Ani looked up sharply.

“I didn’t kill them,” he said finally, his voice low, almost dangerous. And wisely, Erebus stepped back, hands up in surrender. Taking a calming breath, Ani let the air out slowly, growling when he added: “Something — or someone — else did!”

The words hung in the air like a blade, cutting through me like a cold whip, freezing my skin with fear.

Something was still out there – something that killed the gods...

“Then what in the name of Hades are we dealing with?” Erebus asked the question on everyone’s mind, his eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know,” Ani replied quietly and leaned back against the black onyx stone, staring in front of him as if the water might answer him. “But whatever it is — it’s still out there! And I intend to put an end to it!”