The Forgotten God's Curse

The Forgotten God's Curse (Pt 2)

          I crouched in the middle of a cold, stone palace with Hazel Beth holding my hand. My pain was completely gone, and I wanted to collapse in relief but I knew I couldn't, not with the new threat of Vrag present.

          "I am glad you've came, Olivia Hedge."  

          "What do you mean?" I asked shakily.

          "You're quite valuable," Vrag said, "Yes, very valuable." He materialized in front of us, at least ten feet tall in long black robes. He had black hair that was cut military style and his face was the pale color of one that had never seen the light of day. "I know you have come to ask for the blessing of the river Berkat. You had better have something worth my time or you both will suffer for the rest of your miserable existences!"

          "Don't worry, I do." Hazel Beth stood and went into her own true form, and both gods towered over me. "I will only trade it for a complete cure for the girl's curse, and I want it in writing."

          Vrag flicked his hand and a page of notebook paper appeared. "What shall we write?"

          Hazel Beth laughed coldly. "Don't try your games with me, Vrag. I want our contract on Berkat bound paper."

          Vrag sighed and flicked his hand again. "Happy now, Azeth?" Hazel Beth didn't respond. "Yes, clearly. And our contract?"

          Hazel Beth took a deep breath. "You bless the river Berkat to cure Olivia Hedge of her curse."

          Vrag paused. "What do I get?"

          Hazel Beth closed her eyes and whispered, "my soul. You may torture me however you wish until I fade away."

          Vrag looked as if he'd won the lottery- do gods have lotteries? With a flick of his wrist a contract was drawn. He passed it to Hazel Beth, who read it and then signed. Vrag signed, laughing cruelly. "Foolish goddess," he taunted, drawing a bow. "I will enjoy this," he said, letting the arrow fly.

          "No!" I screamed.

          "It's all part of the deal, Cursed One." Vrag said joyfully. Gods does his voice haunt me.

          "It's against the law to kill a goddess," I said, standing.

          "Not if I have proof of consent." Vrag said, smugly holding up the contract. "I can do anything I want to her until she fades away. I can kill her if I want. I can torture her if I want. And I want to." Another arrow flew. "So I will." Another arrow, another scream, another bloodstain turning her green dress ugly brown. I tried to run towards her, but shadows sprung from the floor and held me. As pain hit me I realized they were souls. I screamed too, and our misery made harmony.

          "It's pointless," I called. "She'll fade away soon anyway!"

          "I- I can't fade... if I'm d-dead," Hazel Beth said, gasping in pain. "The dead don't n-need memories to exist."

          "That's not fair!" I yelled.

          "No one said anything would be fair, Cursed One. Necessary, sure, but someone being fair," he laughed, "is almost unheard of."

          "You devil!" I yelled, and then realized... "You're the devil."

           Vrag laughed. "I wondered how long it would take for you to realize that. I am the devil, not like how you believe, but we do the same things and share the same name."