Read Divined Online

Authors: Emily Wibberley

Divined (15 page)

“Or what if they want you far, far away so you can’t prevent the bloodshed they are planning? It’s why they’ve been torturing you, why they’ve continued to press you until you were driven to weaken yourself even more with the draught. You thought you were making your own choices, but you weren’t. You’ve been their vessel the whole time.”

“I don’t believe that.” Clio turned to Riece, tears in her eyes. All this time… No, she had defied them. She needed to believe that, because if it weren’t true, if she’d done nothing more than play into the very plans she sought to oppose…

But Riece was silent, his mouth flat and small. He met her eyes, and Clio saw the defeat in them.

Before she could find the words, Ashira stepped out of the cavern. She wore fresh robes, and her dark hair was wet. She made her way across the wooden bridge to stand beside Ealis. “Clio, perhaps the Vision isn’t true. Perhaps this is all another trick of Vazuil’s or your father’s, but perhaps it isn’t. There’s no one who can tell you the right answer. But you have to make a choice. And even if it’s wrong, it will be yours. Not the Deities’.”

Clio studied her Vessel, the young girl who had grown so much in the last year. Ashira had always seen what Clio was too stubborn to admit. But she didn’t know what was true anymore. She had forced Riece away because she thought she was saving him. She’d hurt everyone in her life over her Visions. She couldn’t do that again. And now—Atzi could be just another one of the Deities’ tricks.

Clio looked up at the faces all watching her, waiting. “All of this depends on if you truly can free me from them.”

“I can,” Atzi answered. “Using a ritual like what was done to me. It will free you, and it will keep them from seeing you in their Visions.”

Riece stepped forward. “Is it dangerous?”

“It isn’t…easy. But it will not hurt her permanently.”

“I don’t know, Clio.” Riece looked to Clio, his brows creased in worry.

“You can trust Atzi.” Ixie spoke up.

“I don’t even trust
you
,” Clio replied, terse. If it was true, if this all wasn’t some elaborate plan to trick her back into doing the Deities’ will…

She looked down at her scarred hands, at the dagger still wet with Atzi’s blood.

“Ealis,” she said suddenly, facing the prophet. “The Oracle is bleeding.”

Ealis’ eyes widened. “But it will only show me what she believes. She could have been lied to.”

“It’s all we have.”

Ealis nodded and stepped toward Atzi. “Would you mind? I can stop your bleeding.” He held his hands up, hovering over the Oracle’s neck and the thin line of blood trickling down her collar.

“Is this really necessary at the moment?” Riece asked, incredulous.

The sleeve of Ealis’ robe slipped down his arm, exposing the small circle rune. When Atzi saw it, her eyes widened, and she nodded once as she fixed her gaze on Clio.

Ealis wiped away the blood, exposing the small puncture left by Clio’s blade, then reached into his belt to pull out a large, folded leaf. He ripped the leaf into two pieces and pressed one onto the Oracle’s neck. The leaf grew redder as it soaked up blood, until finally, Ealis peeled it from her skin, and Clio could see the wound was no longer bleeding.

Ealis didn’t react in any way, but when he palmed the bloody leaf in his hand, Clio knew he was seeing inside Atzi’s thoughts.

“Well… Glad someone dealt with that dire situation,” Riece said. “Clio, what do you want to do? The decision is yours.”

Clio looked to Ealis. He closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded. “She is telling the truth. The ritual, as far as she knows, will free you.”

Clio turned to the Oracle. “All right. I’ll do it. I’ll do the ritual, and if it works, I’ll help you. Now, let’s see if your Deity has told you the truth.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Thunder roared above them, and the sky flashed white. Rain began to fall, pounding down into the
cenote
and disrupting the placid waters.

Clio looked up in time to see a man appear on the cavern’s rim. He was large, and light seemed to shine under his skin. When he took the first step down into the cavern, the ground shook and water splashed out of the pool, spraying Clio.

As he continued, though, something changed. His light seemed to fade, his shape to diminish and twist. The ground no longer moved with his steps. And then, when he was only a few steps from the floor, he reached his hand out, holding the wall as if to steady him.

Atzi rushed forward, offering the Deity her shoulder. He smiled down at her gratefully as they approached, his gait halting. There was something wrong with his left leg, Clio realized. It seemed stunted, as if somehow shorter than his right. When the Deity reached the ground, he winced and rubbed his thigh underneath his black robes.

“Clio.” His voice didn’t boom. It didn’t resonate across the cavern or send chills down Clio’s spine. It sounded ordinary. Mortal. “I am so pleased to finally meet you.”

“You know my name. It’s only fair you tell me yours.” Clio held her dagger against her thigh, ready.

Atzi stepped in front of him, her eyes bright with fear. “You know he cannot give you his name.”

The Deity gently pushed her to the side. “It’s quite all right, Atzi. My name is Kusa. I hope that by giving you such knowledge as well as appearing to you in such a weakened form, you can be certain of my word. I do not stand with my brothers.”

Clio glanced at Riece, noticing the way he had stepped in defensively to Clio’s side. She dropped her dagger. “I don’t want to be the Oracle anymore. I want to make my own choices.”

Kusa smiled. “It will not be easy. I don’t have my powers down here so I cannot shield you from the pain. All I can do is give you the runes that will protect you.”

“I’m not worried about the pain.”

He nodded. “Then I must give you one final warning. If I am to do this, you must understand, your future will be an uncertain one.”

She stepped up to him, letting the rain fall onto her face. “No. It’s not uncertain. I vow to do whatever it takes to end the power of the Deities, and set those who have harmed me a fate more painful than mine.”

“Very well.” He raised a hand, touching her just behind her ear, and Clio screamed as pain turned the world white.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Clio woke to the sound of voices.

“You’re sure she’s all right?”

Riece.

“Yes.” A sigh. Ealis. “Like I said a moment ago, she’s only sleeping.”

“Not anymore thanks to you two,” Clio said, opening her eyes to find Riece and Ealis standing worriedly over her. Two sets of hands descended on her, feeling her forehead, her cheeks.

“Would you two give me a moment?” She pushed their hands away, ignoring the glare Riece was giving Ealis.

They weren’t in the main cavern anymore, and Clio realized she’d been moved to the small chamber across the pond. Her scalp stung, but there was no pounding, no throbbing in her mind. Gently, she ran her hand along her head, stopping when her fingers found a tender spot at the base of her skull. The skin there was raised in the shape of a small triangle. Farther up, she felt a patch of her hair had been shaved behind her ear and again, the skin raised in a crisscrossing rune.

“So that’s it? It’s done?” she asked, not believing it. Not believing she was truly free of the Deities.

“That’s what they said. I suppose we will see when you exit the
cenote
,” Ealis answered.

“Do you feel well enough to travel? We should set out for Morek immediately.” Riece tapped his hand against his leg, as if his hands were desperate for action. He wouldn’t want to stay here long, not while the Emperor was in danger.

“She doesn’t have to do anything. If she doesn’t want to go to Morek, then you cannot force her.”

Riece rounded on Ealis, towering over his slight frame. “What will it take for you to learn your place?” Riece’s voice was dangerous. His hand curled and uncurled at his side.

“Ealis.” Clio stood. “Would you see to the others? Riece and I will be out shortly.”

Ealis bowed, crossing his arm in the typical Cearo style before leaving with a final glare at Riece.

“This grows old, Riece.” Clio folded her arms across her chest.

Riece’s eyes flashed cold. “I agree. Perhaps you should stop bringing besotted boys along on all our trials.”

“He’s not besotted!”

Riece raised an eyebrow.

“He isn’t.”

“Need I remind you of a certain king of whose affections you were unaware until he kissed you in front of me?”

“This is different. Ealis is my friend. Plus, even if he did care for me, which he doesn’t, he knows where my feelings lie.” Clio looked at the ground, avoiding Riece’s stare.

He laughed once, clipped and bitter. “That’s unlikely, considering not even I can be confident of your feelings.”

“How can you say that?” She glanced at him, finding his expression open, uncertain.

“Clio, how many times have I told you my feelings? Not only in words but in actions? I came here to be with you, and all you do is push me away. You’ve never even so much as told me you love me. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m imagining more from you than you truly feel.”

“That’s not true.” Her voice was soft as she went to his side, taking his hand. “I must have said it before…”

“No. I would remember, believe me. I even proposed we wed, which by the way, you have skillfully avoided answering.”

She dropped his hand. “Now is hardly the time.”

“See? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Why won’t you say yes to me?”

“I can’t believe you’d actually bring this up now. Did you not hear a word of what Atzi said? The Order, the Empire, Deities coming to our world, massive bloodshed—and you want to talk about
marriage
?”

“Why not?” He shrugged. “You said you didn’t want to while you were tied to Vazuil. Now you’re not. So what’s your new excuse?”

“I—I. Now is not the time,” she repeated, searching for her voice. Riece opened his mouth, but she darted from the chamber before he could respond. The truth was, she didn’t know what was holding her back. She wanted to be with Riece. It was what she wanted most. But if she gave in to him now, how could she bring herself to face everything Atzi foretold?

“Walking out of the room isn’t going to end the discussion,” Riece shouted after her.

Clio emerged in the main cavern, where five pairs of eyes landed on her then shifted to Riece and back again. Clio felt heat rise in her cheeks.

“Clio, we’re not done yet.” Riece stepped out of the small cave, fire in his eyes.

“I have sworn vengeance on the all-powerful Deities. Forgive me if marriage isn’t exactly on the forefront of my mind.” She started to walk away toward the bridge, but was pulled back. She looked down to find Riece had grabbed her arm.

“Let me go, Riece.” She tried to tug her arm free, but his grip was uncompromising.

His lips curved into a wicked grin, and he pulled her behind him, dragging her back into the small chamber.

“Not on the forefront of your mind, you say?” He stared down on her when he released her, his chest heaving with anger, the scar on his neck pulled taut.

Clio backed up, meeting stone behind her and shivered as Riece stepped in closer, sealing off any hope of escape. His face was red, and his gaze slipped to her lips, searing her skin. Clio only had time to take in a shallow breath before his mouth was on hers. He pushed her against the stone, her body yielding against his. Her hands slipped down his chest, and she felt his moan in her lips. His kiss seemed to touch all of her at once, and it was all she could do to hold on to him and hope the world didn’t fall away.

When he leaned back, he was breathing hard and his eyes were dark and hooded. Clio pulled him closer to her, resting her head on his shoulder as her chest ceased its heaving.

“I told you, you could look forward to that kiss,” Riece mumbled, pressing more kisses into her neck.

Clio laughed, then stilled, looking up into Riece’s eyes. “How can you doubt my feelings after that? I’ve shown it to you. The words shouldn’t be important.”

He brushed his hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face as he studied her. “Then say them, Clio.”

She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t surrender all of her. Not yet. Not until she was certain they were safe and the Deities couldn’t torture anyone she loved ever again.

“I’m not the Emperor, and you’re not your mother.” He released her and stepped back. “I don’t know what you’re so afraid of. You can finally make your own choices. It should be freeing.”

“It should,” she agreed. But it wasn’t. Because every choice led to a world of uncertainties she had never before faced.

“You know, Clio, you’re like the rest of us now. You can’t see the future. You can never be certain you’re making the right choice, and you’re going to have to start making decisions without knowing what will come of them.” He strode from the room, leaving her alone with his words and the heavy weight of her freedom.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

When Clio emerged from the cavern, she found Ealis helping Ashira prepare a meal over the dying flames. Ixie stood beside them, rebuilding the fire after the rain and trying to catch Ashira’s eye. At first, Clio thought Ashira would ignore Ixie. After everything Ixie had done, Clio felt certain Ashira would remain distant. But when Ashira asked for water, Ixie was the one to hand her a small pitcher, and Ashira thanked Ixie with a small smile.

Clearly Ashira was ready to put Ixie’s betrayals behind them, but Clio would not be able to forget so quickly. She strode over the bridge and approached Atzi and Kusa, who sat on the bank of the pond together while Riece leaned against the wall. She felt his gaze follow her progress, knowing that if she looked up at him, she would see a satisfied smirk play across his still-swollen lips.

“Is the ritual completed?” she asked Kusa.

He nodded, and Clio noticed his breathing was slow and labored. Atzi pulled him against her, rubbing his back to try to relax his lungs. There was something soft in the Oracle’s gaze when she looked upon Kusa.

Other books

Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen
The Muslim Brotherhood by Alison Pargeter
Royal Renegade by Alicia Rasley
Where or When by Anita Shreve
The Awakening by Oxford, Rain
The Intelligent Negotiator by Charles Craver
Sedition by Cameron, Alicia
Triumph in Arms by Jennifer Blake


readsbookonline.com Copyright 2016 - 2024