“Uh, Rome,” I whispered. “That’s the god I stole the cup from. Is it a good idea to call him down here?”
His mouth twiched, before he strode around and walked straight up to the massive god. Abil—or D.O.D.—had a face like beauty and perfection smashed together, and then some shiny sprinkled on top of it. I hadn’t paid much attention last time, all I had seen was purple robes and the cup, but now I could see him so clearly.
His hair was fiery red, but with a darkness to it, almost like a ruby had been spun out and made into hair. His eyes were green, though it wasn’t the usual green; his were whatever colour green would have been if it had been touched by magic. His skin was bronze, dark enough to be thought of as copper in the right lights.
I was distracted from my god-gawking by Rome’s words. “Hit by a blade forged in Crowe’s workshop.”
Abil’s beautiful face darkened then, and actual clouds washed across the previously perfectly-clear sky. “How is a blade from Death on Minatsol?”
“Rau and his dammed chaos.” Those words came from Siret, and my heart leapt for joy as I dashed closer.
He was awake!
I had forgotten that a scary-ass god was standing there, and I pretty much barrelled him over trying to get to Siret. Before Abil could react though, Coen and Yael were stepping in front of me.
I pushed at their backs. “Let me through, I need to see him.”
Abil’s low, eerily powerful voice washed through me. “Yes, let her through. I am very curious to meet the dweller my sons guard so diligently.”
The world around me went a little pear shaped, and it took my brain a few moments to register what he had just said.
Sons.
Had I misheard him? How could the Abcurses be his sons? The gods have no children, the Originals were created by the Staviti guy, and then the others were born of sols with enough power to be accepted in Topia. Right?
Right?
Where the hell was Emmy when I needed a history lesson?
“Ignore Willa. She isn’t your concern.” Rome’s voice was bite of command; I’d never heard him so angry before. I heard a thump then, and I tried to wedge my head through a small gap to see what was going on.
The thump had been Siret. He was back on his feet, although he looked very pale as he fought to remain upright.
Abil forgot about me then, reaching out and placing a hand on Siret’s chest. At first I thought he was just touching him, but then I realised there was something in his hand. A jar, or a small glass object. It shattered as it came into contact with Siret, and something misty emerged. The huge gash, which was still visible across Siret’s chest, slowly closed, and my knees almost buckled when he let out a relieved sigh.
“I’m going to kill Rau,” he said to Abil as he straightened. Finally looking like the sol—uh god-spawn, or whatever he actually was—that he usually did. “You let him know that if he tries to send his chaos down again, we will end him. If he messes with our dweller again, I will make sure his ending is long and drawn out.”
Abil’s expression grew even more serious. He looked between the five of them. “I will deliver the message, but you five need to get out of Topia. You know the rules; your punishment is for one life-cycle, no less. I will forgive this infraction, and not extend your time.”
His eyes flicked across to me then, where I was still wedged between two of his sons. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you soon, dweller.” His promise rang across the land, and then he was gone.
I couldn’t even bring myself to care right then—I was more interested in getting to Siret so that I could double-check he was okay. No one stopped me as I flung myself at the Abcurse, who now looked like he was in perfect health. He lifted me up and against his body, holding me tightly.
“You didn’t need to worry, Rocks. It takes more than a blade to bring me down.”
I pulled back, my eyes narrowing on him. “Apparently.” My angry eyes flicked between the other four as well. “I think you sols have a little explaining to do.”
The explaining didn’t happen until we left Topia—which was much faster and easier through the dingy entrance than the banishment cave—and were back in Siret’s room at Blesswood. Before anyone could change out of their bloody clothes, or even sit down, I had my hands on my hips as I stood at the centre of them all.
“Start talking.” My voice was a snap of command.
I actually didn’t expect them to say anything, since they never obeyed any of my other commands, but surprisingly enough, Siret spoke.
“What Abil said is true. He is our father and Adeline is our mother. Both gods of Topia.”
“So … you’re actually gods. Like real gods. A hundred percent, special cupcake, god-gods.”
Aros snorted. “Yes.”
“What the hell are you doing on Minatsol then?” None of this made sense. My head was spinning as I tried to wrap my tiny mind around the fact that my soul was merged with the souls of five gods. “You guys have seen my ass!”