Burned Out [Completed]

Storytime Part Two

When the fire died down, we were standing in a vast throne room. Amazingly, none of us had been burned.

"I thought I told you lot not to disturb me."

Sute sat regally in a massive golden through in the center of the room. She also seemed to have gotten taller. If she was standing, she probably would've reached fifteen feet. With her impressive size and intimidating posture, she had never looked more godly than she did sitting on her throne. Still, that didn't change what I was about to do.

"Why did you let him go?" I stomped right up to the base of the throne, ignoring Professor Ridgely's words of warning. "Was betraying you once not good enough?"

Sute glared down at me. "I fear I have been far too lenient with you, whelp. You will not insult me again."

Despite my anger, her words stung a little. I felt like I had earned the title of champion. Now I had been downgraded back to "whelp." I tried my best to ignore the insult.

"He was banished here because he tried to destroy you and the other gods. How could you let him go? Nick is out there working against you again."

"You talk of matters you can't understand."

"Then enlighten me! How did he get out of this place? Did he trick you, or did you let him go?"

The goddess stood from her throne. Her amber hair began to catch fire. Her pointed nails dripped lava. "You wish to know what happened? Very well."

"Oliver!" Martin tried to pull me away from Sute, but she was faster. She lashed out and grabbed my wrist, twisting my arm and dragging me forward until her nose was an inch away from mine.

Martin and the others were yelling. Sute's eyes burned with blue flames. Their light grew and enveloped my vision until the flames were all I could see.

....

When the light faded, I was in a clearing of packed earth surrounded by dense jungle on every side. Animals howled in the distance and bugs buzzed all around me. Huts made of branches and dried mud lined the far side of the clearing.

I looked around and spotted two kids, a boy and a girl, crouching over some stick drawings in the dust.

The boy glanced briefly over his shoulder and my hands burst into flames. It was Nick, no doubt about it. He had the same dark hair and jet black eyes. He looked younger, maybe only thirteen years old. He was sketching out the figure of a snake.

The girl looked to be about fifteen. She had auburn hair that seemed to absorb the sunlight. Her bright eyes shone with happiness as a jaguar took shape in the dirt under her finger. With a shock I realized the girl was Sute.

I must have been witnessing what happened centuries ago, before Nick became Sute's champion. Before he was influenced by the god of death, before he killed all of his people, and before he got banished.

They spoke and laughed with each other in a language I couldn't understand. They seemed so innocent and content, but the mood changed abruptly with something Sute said.

It was a question judging by the inquisitive tilt of Nick's head. Sute repeated herself and a greedy glint developed in Nick's eyes. He nodded without hesitation.

If Sute noticed the hungry way Nick was staring at her, she didn't let on. She held out her hand like she wanted Nick to shake it. Her fingers danced with fire.

I wanted to scream at her to stop. If Sute gave Nick her power, a lot of people were going to die and he was going to make my life hell. My voice wouldn't work and when I tried to move, my legs wouldn't either. It seemed like I was just along for the ride.