The Golden Chalice

✰✦✰ Chapter 38 ✰✦✰

✰✦✰ Chapter 38 ✰✦✰

" In The Hands Of The Villain "

MY HEART JUMPED in synchronicity with my body.

I had a mere second or two to register his presence—the loomingness of death that seemed to dominate him and every space he walked into. It made me wonder how I'd not seen it before—smelled the addictive, sickening scent of corpses on his person.

He wore black breaches underneath an inky dark double-breasted suit with a crimson tie and a smirk that made me feel as though he were bleeding me dry.

I sprang to my feet, stalking over to him. "You—"

He swirled his scarred hand in one simple motion and I froze instantly, feeling something slimy creep up my throat. I tried to cough and throw it up but it wouldn't relent. My body fell into a panicked state of paralysis, accompanied by the cold hand of fear—something I had a feeling Apheses was desperate to see on my face.

The slime travelled up my throat, coating every bit of me in a compelling darkness before it emerged from my lips, forming a cloud of ashy smoke and flew out of the cell. That smoke I recognised—The Shielder had possessed the same ability.

Finally, my body gave in and I collapsed to my knees as the hold released me. I heaved, thirsty for the clean air. Well, whatever clean air I could get in this dungeon.

My gaze stuttered up to meet the Olympian's. Queasy. I felt so queasy at the amusement evident in his exquisitely evil features.

A tear slipped down my bruised cheek as I studied the Olympian of Death. I'd studied his history—The Golden Age—when he and his fellow Olympians had ruled over Goldaria. All thirteen of them, right until they were wiped out by Shadow Stealers. Wiped out, were keywords here.

Because Apheses remained alive—in his physical body instead of a mere spirit.

He slammed the cell door shut without touching it and I heard the lock turn ominously. The Olympian sighed and leaned against the musty wall, crossing his arms across his chest as if he were about to lecture a child.

"You know," he said to me, "I prefer you much more like this. On the ground before me, worshipping me. I've missed this part."

I jumped to my feet, my jaw clenching so hard I blurred out how much it actually hurt. "You're meant to be dead—"

I lurched forward, ready to strangle him but my efforts were cut short when he rolled his eyes and moved his hand again, so quickly that I almost missed it. I was shoved back by the same black smoke that suddenly appeared and pushed me back.

Apheses smirked. "Really? One defeat didn't suffice? You had to stand up and make a fool of yourself too?"

"What is—" I blinked at him, too perplexed and too full of rage to finish my sentence. "How come you have the same abilities he does?"

Apheses tilted his head. "As whom?"

I swallowed, steadying myself again. "The Shielder of Darkness. How come you're able to conjure the same powers he has?"

This seemed to piss him off. Any humour swirling in those grey eyes was extinguished by a fury so unadulterated and chilling, I knew only an Olympian had the power to call upon such trepidation.

Apheses warned me, "Those are my powers. I was the one who shared them with The Shielder."

"W-What? What are you talking about?"