Goddess by Liv Savell (autobiographies to read txt) 📕

But, Va'al had never had a hard time making himself known when he needed to. The God, blond hair lank and skin grubby with travel, grabbed the first important-looking attendant to come near and pulled her from the rest of the crowd. “Excuse me, but it is vital that we speak with your high priestess.”

The girl looked at him askance, one eyebrow raised nearly to her hairline.

And then, Va'al smiled.

“We’re important visitors,” he told her soothingly, watching her expression falter and change. “Your temple leaders will want to meet with us.”

Another moment was enough to suffice, and then the girl was nodding. “I’ll take you to one of the side chambers to wait.”

Va'al turned to the others and raised his brows, giving a little mock bow as she led the way.

Maoz only grunted and strode into the chamber presented. Enyo rolled her eyes, unamused with Va'al’s antics today. It took some minutes, but two officials entered, an acolyte following with a tray of food and drinks. The acolyte set the tray down and hurried from the room, casting wondering glances their way.

Perhaps they could sense Enyo, Va'al, and Maoz. Perhaps they knew how different the Gods were, even in mortal bodies.

The priest was in his forties, with pale skin and a moon-shaped face. His dark hair was trimmed short, and Va’al could see silver starting at the temples. The priestess was a younger woman, in her prime, her belly round with child. She was lovely, with skin so dark it was nearly blue and matching eyes. Her teeth, when she smiled graciously at them, were a stark contrast. Her face tattoo, Esha’s mark, was difficult to make out against her ebony skin. The ink marked both officials as high priests.

The woman folded her hands over her belly. Maoz, though still sullen, had calmed. He watched her with the stillness of a predator waiting for prey.

“Esha’s blessings, friends,” she greeted, voice deep and musical. “I am Priestess Maya, and this is my brother, Priest Arawn. How may we help you?”

Ah, yes. Va’al had forgotten the tendency of Esha’s people to consider everyone family.

He leaned back, considering the mismatched pair and nibbling on the food they had brought with them, deliciously spiced tidbits—nothing like the plain fair that made up travel rations. Once he was back in his body and Mascen was dealt with, Va'al swore on each and every one of the Cursed Realms that he would never go traveling through the wilderness again. Never step foot off a road or out of a city.

Now, he had only to convince these people that he and his companions were the Gods of Old returned to them in the guise of human bodies. Should be easy enough. Right?

He considered them for a moment more, then began with a question: “Has anyone in Gwynhafan come bearing news of the destruction just north of here? A swath of Rhosan is burning.”

The priestess shared a glance with her “brother” that was both assessing and worried. So they had heard.“Disturbing news indeed has come from the north. Fires and buildings collapsing. Have you come from there, traveler?” The hand on her belly contracted, clutching, though she was the braver of the two.

Maoz shifted, eyes unblinking.

“Worse, sister,” Va'al said, his eyes and voice sorrowful, “we met the source of the destruction.”He made a show of setting down the food as though the thought of what they had seen disturbed him so that he could not eat, could do nothing but relive it. “This destruction was caused by a relic of times past, a child of the Old Gods named Mascen. The three of us faced him in battle, and though he got away, only one of us was injured.” Va'al gestured towards Enyo and her damaged arm. “We believe that we will be successful in stopping him, but only if there are others like us. Old Gods in human Vassals.”

“Why would a God deign to be housed in a human?” Priest Arawn asked. For his part, he only sounded curious. It did seem a bit ridiculous, what with Alphonse’s frail form and Gethin’s soft-cheeked smile beneath a mop of curls.“Forgive me, brother. This is a bit much to believe.”

“Once,” Va'al said, standing so that he was of a height with the two priests, “it would have been easy to convince you. I would have slid into the shadows, disappeared before your eyes…” He took a step closer, grinning widely. “If you were lucky, that is. Else I might have even taken you with me. There are dark, in-between places left in this world where mortal souls ought not tread.”

He patted the priest’s cheek. “In those days, I knew Esha well. Fathered four of her seven children when she was not scolding me about the little tricks I pulled. Tricks that could leave mortals like you mindless and mute…”

Of course, he could still play with their minds. He’d done it to Etienne, hadn’t he? Weeks and weeks of slow grinding until the boy was so broken that he left Alphonse in her darkest moment. And now, he need not hide his interference, need not take his time.

“Would you like me to break your mind?” he asked the priestess, voice dripping with honey. Her head was a platter spread out before him, colored with unease and suspicion. He wiped these away with a thought, encouraged adoration and enthusiasm so that when she responded, it was eager.

“Oh, yes please!” she said, smiling beneath full eyes. Va'al just caught the priest’s shudder.

“Do you believe me now?” He stepped back, yanking his influence from the woman’s mind as he went.

Priestess Maya gaped at Va'al in open bafflement while her male counterpart only looked confused, trying to understand why she would be so agreeable to having her mind addled. Priest Arawn opened his mouth to protest the absurdity of this entire scene as Va'al’s eyes flickered to focus on him instead of the priestess.

Va'al sighed.