Book 2 The Gods of Light and Liars

Twenty Nine: Pantheon

She knew immediately that this was not something she could discuss with anyone. The Light Archon would understand immediately, as he'd lived a clear life of deception where even one misspoken idea could kill you. But Em and Henry would require explanations. And Kaiser...

...Kaiser was what she had to hide from. And there was nothing she could hide. He knew about the connection to the Shadowmaster. He knew that the transformation from human to God had come through Alex's own flesh...and Kaiser had access to Alex West's wife. That math, from Hawk to Alex to Kaiser's incoming god-hood, was very easy to lay out.

If.

Go ask the Spartans, Alex used to say, because of their famed response to the promised invasion of Laconia by Philip 2 of Macedon. "If I invade your country, you will be destroyed." And their response was very simple: If.

If Alex loved Hawk, he would do anything to keep her safe. If he would do anything to keep her safe, then Kaiser could get anything he wanted by threatening Hawk. If he could get anything he wanted by threatening her, he would absolutely do something to get that immortality and more out of Alex, or...whatever Alex was now.

But that all hinged on a single if. If Alex loved her. If.

Alex was her life. Her person. Hers. And she realized she was contemplating taking a sledgehammer to their connection if that was what it took to keep him away from Kaiser.

He was looking at her right now, from across this little space of safety, swirling some of that sweet wine in a cup and smiling. Em and Henry were discussing ways to form an underground railroad. The Archon looked like he'd rather be drunk right now. But Kaiser was alert and watching her avidly, and with avarice aplenty. He'd done the math already, but Hawk wasn't quite sure that he'd accounted to that if.

And then a horrifying thought. Maybe he didn't need to convince Alex he was a threat. Maybe he only needed to convince one of the other gods that she was the key to capturing the Shadowmaster. And to prevent that, she was going to have to stick to his side like glue, all night.

"Archon," Hawk said, suddenly, snapping the others out of their arguments. "What would happen if someone found out one of us have lied? About anything?" Hawk said.

Archon looked from her to Kaiser and back. "It would be catastrophic for you all. There are legends and stories about people from the God-World. One of them is that they are too pure to lie."

Hawk almost choked on that. Em, who could always be counted on, said, "The fuck is that? Tell me you're shitting me." And forced Hawk to contemplate Emile Yung and the word "pure" sharing the same space and somehow not melting down, and now the laughter threatened to come. She didn't dare let it out, though, because once she started laughing it would go from there to the inevitable tears.

There was a sudden, loud, horrified scream from the dais with the thrones.

"What was that?" Em half stood up. The Archon pulled her back down.

"One of Argon's acolytes failed. Likely at the last test. To sanctify his altar, he commands a gift of flesh. Hold your hand in the fire as long as you can, while thinking on his name and his words. If he then appears before you (or, in this case, is already before you) you are to present your burnt hand, open, as a final proof of loyalty. Then, if he is pleased, he heals you." The Archon's mask gave a small, displeased jerk. "Unfortunately the number of people willing to feed his fire usually outstrips his patience for his own ceremony. He will insist they all finish, but he will tire of them soon."

"Will Earth Archon come for us?" Hawk said.

"Yes. Now, Hawk, you have some protections. Nasheth has to deny you before she can harm you. But your friends have no such safety."