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I bit the edge of my lip, still able to taste Dianna from this morning. We truly were insatiable. It didn’t matter where or how many times I took her. I needed more. Even now, my body practically begged me to return to her. She claimed she didn’t have her powers, but the scratches across my back and the bite marks spoke otherwise.
Maybe Roccurem was right. I should let them relax and spend time together. I knew that once this was over, there would be many changes.
“I suppose you are right,” I said and turned to leave.
“How is she?” Roccurem asked, stopping me in my tracks. I spun toward him. His eyes scanned me from head to toe as if searching for something. His gaze paused on my hand before darting away.
The now normal flare of jealousy erupted within my gut, setting my temper aflame. For some reason, I saw Roccurem as a threat. It was a ridiculous notion, but that didn’t seem to matter. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. “Why?” My tone sounded rough and aggressive, even to my own ears.
“You have nothing to worry about from me, god king. My curiosity is no threat to you.”
“I apologize. I know my reaction is not rational. Dianna makes me,” I paused and gave a rueful chuckle, trying to come up with the correct word, “crazy, it seems.”
Roccurem smiled. “It is quite normal, considering the situation.”
I realized with a start that it was the first time I’d ever seen him smile. I cleared my throat and, careful to temper my tone, said, “Dianna is good, given the circumstances. She’s opened up more, but I know it is still not enough. She still keeps a part of herself hidden. No matter how intimate we have become, there is still a part of her, even given all my powers, that I cannot reach. I think guilt still eats at her, although I do not know its source.”
“It will take time,” Roccurem counseled with a small nod.
“Before, when you told us of the prophecy, you said there is a part of her that would never be healed. Is that still the same? Is that this part I cannot touch?”
“Death changes all, god king. You know that. The prophecy is more convoluted than even I can perceive. A mass of words, new and old.”
“I see.” I nodded before turning to head out.
“I would not agonize oneself over that part of the prophecy, god king,” Roccurem said. Then, before I could ask what he meant, he was gone.
* * *
“I have missed the age of arrogant gods. Your power makes you feel safe and secure, but your hubris will be your downfall, like so many others.”
“Yeah, you have said that.” I bit into the crisp fruit.
He had begged for it, for any food. This was just a small demonstration of the torture I had threatened him with if he did not start speaking.
“Now. Are you sure you can’t recall a thing from the break?”
I tossed the core to the edge of his cell. His large, glassy eyes tracked it as I rolled it back and forth beneath my boot.
Porphyrion sighed and slammed his backside to the floor of the cell. One powerful arm rested under his chin as he stared daggers at me. “I remember the sound of thunder cracking. Four times I counted. Then a mighty wind. All I know is prisoners were released, all but a few like me who were not so lucky. I assumed the others starved and perished.
“But not you?”
“No, not me. How can you not know?”
My foot stilled. “Know what?”
“That your family is full of liars and killers and cheats, Samkiel.”
I sighed, folding my arms as I leaned against the wall. “And how do you know so much about my family?”
“Who do you think made this place? Carved and imbued with the power of the gods and meant to entrap all who dared fight them. One being. The World Bringer. Your father.”
I pushed from the wall. “You lie.”
“I have no reason to lie. Three generals ran this place: one who sheds blood, one who controls it, and one who feasts on it. Only two stayed after the Great War. Then one came back, took the prisoners from here, and rained fire on Rashearim.”
“How would you know that if all you heard was the crack of thunder?”
