The God & The Shadow

Chapter 10

LORE
(This chapter contains a scene of which a character uses a dagger to pierce through skin. Please be advised.)

I entered the greenhouse with Elvira, immediately walking up to the nightshade Alec had planted weeks ago, checking its current state.

I looked back at Elvira to see her crouch before the white roses I had planted there years ago. I saved the memory as if it were taking a picture at the sight of her excitement at the flowers.

Do you think its worth the beauty that draws you in, when you know it could make you bleed once you become vulnerable? A voice queried inside of me, but wasn't mine, nor was it hers.

Suddenly, I was enveloped in darkness to reveal Alec and Tarrin staring down at a piece of paper.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noting the distressing atmosphere.

"Another museum got broken into, but this time it was burnt to the ground instead of just stealing from it and vandalizing the statues. Aphrodite's statue remains unscathed, but a letter addressed to the gods was attached to her. We intercepted it before the mortals arrived." Tarrin explained.

Crossing over to his side, I read the note:

We are blessed with the power the Goddess of Retribution bestowed upon us, the life the God of Life and Luminosity grants us, the symphonies the God of Music sings to us, and the thirst for blood the God of Death and Darkness inspired in us.
We are not afraid.

When the darkness envelops the world, they will know us, and they will know what true power is.

"They plan on pinning this whole thing on us? Bullshit." Alec stated.

"It's easily believable from a mortal perspective. They've been burning down art depicting Greek mythology, then vandalizing our sculptures. Everything points to the gods, which is why Demitricus is rightfully accused to be an accessory to this." Tarrin says, silently assessing our reactions.

I grabbed the paper to check its material. Any detail that is naked to the blind eye could contribute greatly to finding out who left the note.

"This is Papyrus." I muttered.

"So?" Tarrin asks.

"Papyrus is quite rare nowadays in the mortal realm, but most gods still use it." Alec explains.

"What? You think a god was involved in the fires?"

"Most likely. It isn't easy setting fire to an entire museum without going unnoticed unless you can burn the whole thing with a snap." I answer.

"And look at the names. Only someone who has a god on their side can truly explain the real names and titles of the gods. Even immortals fall for the mortals' lies about us." I add.

Alec takes a deep breath, then says, "Ask your people to examine the ink as well. We could probably check our records to cross-examine the writing with the gods. We'll get back to you as soon as possible."

Tarrin nodded and muttered words of thanks. I teleported back to the Underworld immediately to see Samael with a knife to his throat, courtesy of Elvira.