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“Veles?”
He releases a harsh breath before looking at me, his face full of apprehension and concern, and it makes none of my already turbulent thoughts nor my churning stomach ease.
“In order for me to explain everything, I need to start at the beginning,” he says before giving me a look.
“Were you ever told or taught anything about the gods?” he asks.
My mind flashes to the statues in the cavern beneath the palace.
“I have a little knowledge about them,” I tell him. “I know that there were many gods long ago. They were revered and loved by all.”
Veles winces. “What I must tell you is a lot of information to absorb, but also try to keep in mind that I cannot lie to you.”
“I understand. Please, just tell me what you know,” I plead.
He scans my face for something before nodding to himself and starting.
“Many millennia ago, eight gods were said to have been created by the goddess Danu to help the world grow and evolve. All were beloved and worshiped by many.” He gives me that wince again before continuing.
“But over time, they grew in power. So much that it caused an imbalance and started to affect everything around them. An era of despair and misery began with sickness, war, death, and destruction following. But even then, some of the gods grew vengeful and hungered for more power. A restlessness came about, and they fought amongst one another. It was then decided that each god would take a piece of the world and rule it alone, staying apart from the others so as not to cause any more conflict. But the imbalance had already started. And their relentless need for power slowly became a taint that spread, corrupting everything they touched.”
I already have so many questions and so many things I don’t understand, but I fear he will stop if I interrupt him, so I push them to the back of my mind for now to listen.
“One night, a powerful prophecy arose. One that foretold the ending of all living things. A darkest night without moon and star and a world that would fall to chaos and destruction.” He gazes out at the mountain with a heavy sigh.
“The gods were told that they must leave this world in order to stop this and take their taint and imbalance with them. But they did not listen. Seven gods stayed, and now their taintedessence has spread into every corner of the world and corrupted it.”
But his words bring me no clarity, only further confusing me.
“And the world outside the shield?” I ask. Is that why they kept us in here? Because of this taint.
“It’s not what you think or how I assume you are imagining it. The world is still habitable. There are cities, towns and many people, animals and beasts.” He gives me a look full of unease.
“But there is also darkness because of this taint, corruption from its spreading, manipulation that creeps into everything it brushes up against, and cruelty and malice.”
I frown at his words. “Isn’t that in every world? How can you blame the gods for something us mortals do so easily?” I ask.
Veles glances out around him, and whatever he’s thinking ages him in a moment. “The black sea was not always this dark mass of death. It was the gods and their presence in this world that did that. That is a small piece of their taint, along with the dark creatures.” He turns to me with a pointed look, and I freeze.
Shock seeps into my body, making it cold. “The dark creatures were created by the gods?”
“Not on purpose. It’s the imbalance, the corruption. They form from their essence and spread the taint farther.”
“But they reached this kingdom through the black sea?” I ask, needing to know their origin.
He rubs a hand down his face. “They should not have been able to, but it seems they are drawn to the Sidus light, the very essence of the Sidus, because they are without it. You all are like a beacon to them.”
“The Sidus are drawing the dark creatures to the kingdom?” I ask in a shaky, disbelieving voice.
“Yes, but it is the gods and their taint that are the cause of it. Those creatures seek you out only because of their darkness and lack of light. But know that the shield would have alwaysprotected you from them had Amaro and Levon not attempted to bring it down.”
“Amaro and Levon. They’re both Fae?” I ask, and he nods.
“No one knew they were corrupt and possibly siding with the gods. The shield does more than just cast an illusion; it stops the Fae from using most, if not all, of their abilities.” He gives me a wary look. “Had you met Amaro or Levon outside the shield when they were at their full strength, you would not be alive right now.”
“The Fae are that powerful?” I ask as ice trickles into my veins.
Veles nods and chooses his words carefully. “And dangerous. We investigated a little after the dark creature was released by Nevan.” He gives me a worried look as if he is afraid I’m about to come apart at the seams and break once more. But my heart is too tired to think of my mistakes, my mind too full of questions that I need the answers to. I have later to fall apart and crumble.
