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I'm not sure why, but I think I imagined a God to be more regal, not like a bachelor trying to bed someone at the bar's closing time.
But a quick glance at myself dispels the regal God theory. I suppose Gods are just people who happen to have world-altering levels of magic.
Not that I wanted it.
"You need a bath," he says without preamble.
"Sure, you going to let me out? I would absolutely love to scrub myself. Thanks for the offer."
He rolls his eyes, but his fingers twitch like he aches to pop his knuckles. "I can't yet. I'm sure you understand. Soon. Soon. I know you can join me soon."
I sigh and slump back down on the bench at the rear of my cell. "Why are you here, Himureal? Did you just come to tell me I smell?"
"No, of course not, Shadowweaver. I came to give you a present of sorts."
"A present?" He pulls both hands in front of himself, wringing them together. Is he… nervous? "What kind of present?"
"I found the person responsible for your parent's deaths."
It's so quiet in the room I feel like I can hear the beating of his frozen heart. "Stone was responsible for their deaths."
"He ordered it. The order was carried out by a man named Kon."
The name means nothing to me, but then again, it's not like I met a lot of fae while I was in Ytopie. "How did you discover this?"
"He came and offered blood, and I read it and saw all of it."
"And my present is the knowledge?"
Himureal cannot help himself and excitedly moves closer to the cell despite the effects of the slag, which I am sure he feels. "No. He is the present."
I wrinkle my nose. "You wish to gift me a person?"
"I have told him he can wed you. He will gladly pull you from this cell at my command, thinking he is marching into his wedding night. You are free to do with him as you desire." The excitement on his face is almost contagious, but there is a malicious glint in his icy eyes.
"Why tell him we were to wed?" I ask skeptically.
"I wanted him to be excited to be alone with you, to let his guard down entirely, to put him entirely at your mercy." He drops his eyes to the floor. "Do you like my present, daughter?" There is an unexpected vulnerability in his words, and I know with every piece of me that I cannot trust this God, but I also know he wants my approval more than anything.
I roll the information over on my tongue. Of course, I want toavenge my parent's death. It sounds like I could do that and get out of this cell at the same time. This could be my opportunity to get out of here.
A pleased smile curls across my face, and I reach through the bars of the cell and grab one of his hands. "I love it, Father," I say, swallowing the bile the title causes. "I cannot think of a better gift."
Himureal's face lights up with childlike joy. "I knew you'd love it. You see, Shadowweaver, I want to take care of you. I have only ever wanted to do right by you. I know how I got you here was unconventional, but please do not hold it against me. Against me. I swear, now that you are here, we can become the team we need to be."
Testing the limits of my ability to deceive, I reach out and affectionately stroke a finger down his cheek. "You were right earlier. I am tired of the fight. I feel like we could have a nice, simple life together." I cast my eyes to the ground. "I only ever wanted to get to Ytopie and live my life without worry."
"I can do that for you, daughter, and I will. You must trust me."
Part of me wants to. There is still a piece within me that Himureal sings to, that longs to fall victim to his every platitude. But now there are two other pieces, warring for attention, smothering the part of me that says he's all I need.
But, for this moment, I shove those pieces away and bring that dissenting part to the surface. "Against my better judgment, I do trust you," I say. The lie sleeps on my tongue, anunobtrusive phrase full of potential for truth. "How do I go about claiming my gift?"
"I will send Kon down. You will indulge his fantasies that you are to be wed to him, that I gave you to him. Once he feels convinced that you are truly going to marry him, I'll let you out for you to exact your justice." He pushes his hair behind his ears, a surprisingly human gesture.
"Why can't you let me out now to indulge him?"
Himureal shrugs. "When you charm him, it proves you are ready to assume your role by my side." He turns and heads out of the prison, pausing before he rounds the corner to look back at me. "You didn't think I would just let you out without a test, did you?"
