THE FURY OF GODS

Chapter 6: BLOOD OMEN

OLIVIA

At mid-morning Davios came to the shop as I counted my blades. He was dressed in an ivory-colored shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and brown fitted black pants and knee-high black leather boots, a style that had originated from the northern continent. He seldom looked like a glass merchant's son.

"Nadia said you were in here, slaving at your weapons," he greeted, casting a troubled glare toward my long leather sheath of various knives and daggers.

"Finalizing my preparation for the game, more like."

"A game? Is that all it is to you?"

I paused filling the slots of my thigh sheath. Davios' expression was solemn and he scratched his nape with worrying hands.

"Did my father persuade you into attempting to cajole me out of my decision?"

He sighed. "In all honesty, yes. I agree with him."

"I appreciate the concern, Dav, but now is not the time. My father is already displeased. I don't need my best friend's crucifixion too."

"I wouldn't dare to try, but I ought to" he said quickly. "I would just like to point out that this urge you have to stand out isn't worth it. Especially with tomorrow's game. Play sick, lose your spot."

I recoiled, both insulted and flabbergasted. "And prove Ifran right?

What will they think of me? I've never been a coward.

He sighed and dragged his fingers through his curly hair in frustration.

"Why? Just tell me why this is so important."

"You wouldn't understand if I told you."

Davios laugh was cold and bitter. "You're talking to a monster who, Livia. I am cursed until death to lose control of my mind and shift into a beast against my will. The first time I killed countless people. I have to live with their blood on my hands for the rest of my miserable life my father's father. My mother almost died trying to bring me into this world. My father prayed I wouldn't inherit the ability and I do everything in my power to not disappoint him. If anyone can understand, it's me."

He took a seat on the nearest stool and stared at me, waiting.

"I have reoccurring visions. The first time it happened to me was a year ago while I helped my father collect firestone gems in the Ash Minds near Keita. It was like a premonition, just flashes across my vision of a woman with my face but somehow I knew it couldn't be me. The scenery is unlike anything I've ever seen. The woman was in golden battle armor, dressed in white and covered with blood." I paused for good measure. "She had the pointed ear of the Scifan people but when she shifted, a monster woke beneath her flesh."

"Fae monsters," Davios said.

Fae, demons, immortals, I didn't care for semantics and I refused to believe an entire race of people were evil despite the humorous wars and atrocities. Humans have done worse.

"She wielded a spear like no man I'd ever seen," I continued, "killing strange men wearing foreign armor. They had the palest skin I had ever seen. Some were human and others were fae."

A frown puckered Jabari's brow. "Like a Northerner?"

"I don't know. The only human northern person I know is Helix at the High Chancellor's palace. I felt like that woman was me, Davios. I was in her flesh and she was inside mine. I saw through her eyes and felt every brush of her armor and lick of every blade that came too close to my skin. I'm worried. Why would I be dreaming of Scifan warriors and Northerners if something evil isn't going to happen? We've read the history and we know what war did to our country in the past."