Master of Death

Chapter 13 - In Flames

Some desires of the heart are not truly sin; only  the truths we fear.

My thoughts grow hazy after the god speaks his harsh greeting, perhaps because I have begun dipping in and out of consciousness. All I can determine is that I am thrown over his shoulder and taken someplace far off from the village where Shu will soon discover that I am not with the children. I hope they all made it back safely.

I do not regain my senses for some time, but now I am finally able to move and breathe. It takes me only a moment to prop myself up on my arms and take a look at my surroundings, only to find myself in a glass cube. Outside of that is an extravagant room adorned with vines of fire, and a throne to my right. I am no longer wearing the same silver dress that I was, but rather one of the same yellow topaz as the eyes of the god who abducted me. I was not impressed the first time this happened, but a second time is even more unacceptable.

Unfortunately I am not given much time alone with my thoughts before the massive doors at the end of the room are shoved open. In walks the man with a much more leveled expression than I have previously seen, and this time I can get a better look at him. He wears a magnificent golden headdress and white garbs plated with armour here and there. His hair is a bronze colour, shorter than that of most gods and tied up out of his face. He does not slow his pace until he is standing on the other side of the glass, peering down at me with a pleased expression.

"Ra was not lying when he said you were much like a delicate and vulnerable bird," he says with obvious amusement. "However, he was not right about him being the one to use your power,"

"None of you will use me," I spit, glaring at him so sharply that he straightens his back.

"That is where you are mistaken. Oh- I almost forgot to introduce myself. How rude of me. I am Verethragna, god of war and victory. Let us see if I remember your name... Isis. That's right- Isis! What a lovely name indeed. Of course, I imagine that your true name must be even more wonderful,"

"It is a shame that you will never hear it,"

His smile begins to broaden at my words. "Tell me, Isis, have you ever been touched by a god's desire?" When I make no attempt to answer, he continues. "It is so powerful that a mortal body will be consumed in pleasure that varies based on the god. While an immortal will be able to feel its complexity, mortals will simply have their senses dominated by the power of the god. Do you know what that feels like? How impossible it is to refuse them while you are under that influence?" The glass then loses its solidity, allowing Verethragna to pass through as if it were never there. I begin to back up until I run into the glass, where he crouches in front of me and grabs my chin forcefully between two fingers so I can do nothing but stare defiantly at him. "Shall I give you a taste of my desire?"

I begin to protest, but his lips attack mine before I even make a sound. For a fraction of a second all I can think about is the absurd hunger for the energy pouring through me, but I quickly return to my senses. In a desperate attempt to push him away I raise my hands, only to have them restrained with one of his. He forces his tongue into my mouth, which I bite hard enough that it begins to bleed. He pulls back to stare at me with the eyes of a predator and lick the red liquid from his lips while I spit it out beside me in disgust.

"You cannot fight me here, you fragile thing. Not even your powers as a goddess work in this crystal cage, and no one is coming to save you. Not even Ra will venture to this place." He moves his face beside me, and I reflexively shudder when he licks the side of my neck. "You will not be able to resist me for long, so it really would be best if you were to give in,"

"In your dreams,"

"I will be sure of it."

Fortunately, he releases me and exits my prison, then the throne room all together. This feeling of absolute disgust is painfully familiar to me, and I shake my head wildly to rid myself of the thought. The servants within me begin to stir, whispering amongst themselves until one speaks up to talk to me while I wrap my arms around myself.