Fate Breakers

Chapter 22

Liam

"Hypnos, bright-winged bringer of blessed sleep, son of misty-eyed Nyx of the sooty night—"

"Do you always start off your conversations with Hypnos like that?"

Constantine scares the living hell out of me. He's too small and too fast for his own good. Specialist Rojas was right, it's the little ones you have to be wary of. We've been on dry land for some time. How we ever made it to the Oriellos Region is beyond me, but if I hear one more word about Odysseus from Ceno, I may take Hypnos' advice and let my impulse to throw him off the train win.

"Do not throw him off the train," Hypnos snaps. "You know damn well that is not what I mean by letting your impulses win."

"Liam?"

Right, Constantine. I clear my throat, rising from my makeshift altar. "Yeah, I tend to. It's... respectful to him, and to his mother. It just became a sort of routine for me."

Constantine nods, smiling at me. "That's sweet, thinking of Nyx when you pray to him."

I blink at him. "It... is?" I think of Nyx because I fear her wrath.

"I think it is." Constantine comes in, his hand drifting to the piece of moonstone I have set out for Hypnos. My body goes rigid, but I swear I hear the rumble of his laughter. Constantine looks back at me with a smile. "Yeah, all the Gods should be respected in their own ways, but I think actually taking time to consider and acknowledge other Gods you may not be as connected to is still worth it."

My mind draws a blank. Why is it that every time I have a conversation with Constantine, this sort of thing happens? Eugene used to say that I overthink the next breath I take, but seemingly every conversation with Constantine reveals something I'd never thought of before. Constantine just holds his smile. He goes to the wash basin in the corner of my room, washing and drying the stone before returning it to its place on Hypnos' altar.

"We're gonna hit Aurette in an hour," Constantine tells me, dusting off his hands, that smile still on his face. "We'll be there for the night, then make the trek down the mountain to the Natrix Channel. Unfortunately for Ceno, we will be boarding another boat so we can head back to Aclon."

"Hmm... right."

I hear the floorboards creak, and I feel the heat as Constantine steps a little closer. His smile always seems to reach his eyes. They flicker like they've each got their own place in the sky. "Apparently Darcelle knows the place we're staying at for the night, says it's got a good nightlife and food. You should stay out with us."

"Do it."

"I... don't think I will."

"Damn you!"

Constantine watches me for a moment. His smile returns, and he shrugs, going to turn away. "Okay."

"W-what?" Ceno always presses me, I can't ever seem to get Purity off my back. To have him just... accept it.

He turns back to me at the door. The yellow light of the hall gives the illusion of a fire in his eyes. "I'm not gonna twist your good arm over it," Constantine says. "If you want to, I know you'll be there. It was just a suggestion." He waves, going to head out of the room. "See you when we get to the station."

For a moment, I'm frozen. I don't know what to think. I realize the door is still open, so I go to shut it, locking it this time around. He always does this. Why do I let it happen?

"Liam."

"Hypnos, this isn't what I wanted to talk to you about."

"We will discuss that in a moment. What was that?"