From Shadow to Light - Book Ten

Ch. 25- Dinner With Gods

"And she can kiss a man or slit his throat."

It was an absolute feast. Plates full of various foods lay on every center of our black marble dinner table with glasses full of red wine and blood for the Vampires. My mother sat at the end while Father sat on the other end and all of us were in the middle including the Gods. I was not wearing clothing suitable for this elegance but no one seemed to care, not even Mother. She was happy because we were all here with her, which in return made me smile. Her scarlet hair was pinned up to a braid crown on top of her head as she wore a white cardigan and blue jeans, showcasing her ivory skin and pointy Fae ears I dearly missed every time I looked in the mirror. I sat back in my chair as I sipped on my wine which was the only thing I could gulp down without vomiting. Helios noticed—he always did somehow—and snapped his fingers like it was nothing. In front of me lay a pile of fruit and a golden glass filled with a liquid the same color. My eyes flashed to the Sun god who sat in front of me. "What is this?"

Moros noticed the food and drink in front of me and harrumphed, while Verena and her daughter smirked. Ares clicked his tongue and snapped his own fingers and in an instant, there was a plate full of the same. "How would you like to taste the food of the Gods, the one your Kingdom is named after? And the drink made specifically for us?" I looked down at the plate and examined it closely. Round fruit that was the color of pink and my mouth salivated instantly. "Ambrosia and nectar."

"I'm sure you helped my ancestor give her the name of her Kingdom, Helios," Father replied simply. He slowly took a sip of blood, pulling his lips into a smirk as he connected the dots of our family's past. Alistair Breevort was the first to have sunlight in her veins, then my Father, and me. It is known that our fellow Sun God helped us along the way, watching us use our gifts. "It makes sense now."

"She made it her own, Sebastian," Helios confessed. "And so did you in your own way. Your promise is known by millions of people across Kingdoms and worlds, even centuries. It will stay long after we're all gone." From death to life. It was not just four words to us, but a promise we make to each other every damn time we step into danger. We say it when we are injured or see each other after months of being apart. A reminder to all that we love and that we will never give up whether or not we are alive or dead. Even though we pass on, we will be remembered for years to come. Even in the darkness, we hope for the light. The hope and the dreams we have to make this a better world. For the Kingdom of Ambrosia and all the others. For mortals and children. For the lonely ones. For those with shadows in their minds. It is our belief, most of all. As I ate this strange fruit called Ambrosia and the golden liquid, I felt strangely more awake. Alive. Godhood was different and ever since I was changed, my body seemed to not want to get comfortable with my new abilities. Whispers of who I used to be clung to my body like a leech and I didn't want to let it go just yet. I was born with the blood of both a Fae and Vampire and that will never change. It never will.

To our right stood a floor-to-ceiling glass window and what once let the winter sunshine in now darkened the dining room within seconds. Darkness swept across every inch of my home like a silent caress across my cheek. Cold and gentle, but dangerous. For a brief moment, I let out a breath of relief even when I gritted my teeth for doing so. The only light illuminated was the candle across our dinner table, and I could see the dangerous stillness of Moros and Verena, the Gods of Death. The panicked state of my parents and siblings as they looked around to make sure we were okay. Amias held my hand tighter even when his own heart was beating frantically. Helios and Ares braced for the fight to begin, waiting for my signal. My friends clung to each other for strength. For mine, too.

Erebus wanted a war in order for me to be his for eternity. He will get one. The God of Darkness sought to plague my world into never-ending darkness because of my betrayal. Is everything ever fair in love and war? We shall see.

I stood up slowly as all eyes trailed over to me and I picked up my glass of Ambrosia, signaling the others to do the same. Each of my family, friends, and Gods by my side picked up their own glass and waited for me to speak. "Let the games begin."