Destined To Die

Chapter 9 - The Tightening Noose

-9-

-The Tightening Noose-

Chernobog smiled thinly, his eyes drifting over to the now headless body of Annis, "Took a little longer than I was expecting."

"You wanted a show," Akane replied simply, walking over to the side of the table Maddy sat at, swords still held loosely in his hands, taking his eyes off the god as blood dripped down the side of his face.

"And you certainly provided one."

With a wave of his hand a few hands reached out of the shadowy corners of the room, dragging Annis's corpse into one of the many side corridors. Their forms were briefly illuminated by the spilled coals of the braziers, some twisted mixture between man and beast with no rhyme or reason. A man with the leg of a goat and one arm coated in scales, face monstrously disfigured. A woman with the eyes of a cat, the tail of a rat coiling out beneath the simple dress she wore. As soon as they'd dragged the body out of the light they were gone, smiling all the while.

"Well?" Akane asked, looking over to the god, "Your end of the bargain?"

The Black God hummed thoughtfully, his eyes dropping down to the head of Annis as it stared up at him, lifeless. "I told you I'd consider it, and I'm considering it."

Akane scowled but said nothing, and this seemed to please Chernobog.

"What did she do?" Akane asked after a pause, looking down at Annis's head.

"Hmm?"

"Annis. What did she do to anger you? I doubt you'd have her killed for no reason."

"Made one too many snide remarks," Chernobog replied, reaching down and taking the skull between two of his massive fingers, holding it up for inspection, "The fucking English," he said the word with disgust, "They think they're the centre of the world, but where are their gods? We were picking bones from our teeth while they were building huts out of mud."

Akane said nothing in reply, looking down to Maddy to make sure she was alright. She appeared a little shaken, but for the most part keeping it together. Akane gave her a reassuring nod.

"She got boring," Chernobog continued, flicking the head away from his table with a splatter of green blood, letting it roll away into a dark corner of the room, "Do not bore me, little Godslayer."

"I don't intend to stay around long enough to have that effect," Akane replied flatly.

The god chuckled, his laughter reverberating through the room with a rolling thrum. "Such fire, so much bite. I like you."

"I'm sorry sir," Maddy spoke up, unsure how to respectfully address the god, "But we've done all you asked. Will you allow us to use the Gate?"

Chernobog's eyes snapped over to her, face contorting into a barely contained snarl. "Nobody's talking to you, girl," he growled, seeming to grow somehow larger in his chair as he straightened, "Him, I tolerate. You, I don't eat out of simple courtesy. When I want you to speak, I will tell you."

Maddy's breath stopped as the god's presence focused squarely on her, staring into those completely black eyes. In them she saw untamed rage, ten thousand years of unchecked hunger and blood, the bestial power of a primal animal that would brook no offence. She felt Akane's hand touch her shoulder lightly in reassurance, though she still couldn't breathe.

"You've had your fun," Akane said quietly, "What more do you want?"

Chernobog's gaze lifted from her, air finally returning to her lungs in shallow breaths.