Another boom echoed in my ears and another ball of fire descended on the small Italian town. I watched from the mountain as the orange and yellow consumed the houses and buildings. Women, children, and men ran, some crying, some yelling, some badly burnt. There was nowhere to go. They were trapped by the fire.

Aruhi appeared by my side. “It’s done, my lord.”

“Good,” I said.

I waved my fingers at him and black snakes wrapped around him. He cried and jerked against the magical hold, but the snakes bit him and his body went limp, falling to the ground.

Forgetting the fallen lesser god, I watched the scene for hours until the fire was gone, leaving only charcoal behind.

I sighed, walked to Aruhi’s sleeping figure, picked up his limp body, hoisted it over my shoulder, and teleported to Imha’s castle. This time, the demons didn’t advance on me. They watched me, probably wanting to attack, but knowing they weren’t supposed to. Not yet.

I walked up the path, ignoring the growls and hard stares. They were only acting like that because Imha thought she was the best of all of us. If they knew how each god and goddess was exactly balanced, they wouldn’t bare their teeth at me.

Corinia met me at the entrance of the castle, raised an eyebrow at the body over my shoulder, and escorted me to Imha’s throne room. This time, Corinia opened the double doors but didn’t go in with me. She bowed and closed the doors behind me after I entered the room. Imha was seated on her throne, playing with a purple orb.

The orb puffed out of existence and Imha stood. “A gift for me?”

“Yes.” I dropped Aruhi’s body at her feet.

She squealed like a child with a new toy. “I already heard about your deed. Well done.”

“And?”

She strolled toward me, swished her hips. “With what you did today, how can I doubt you?” She halted in front of me. Her eyes sparkled with more than evilness. She licked her lips and rested a hand on my chest. “Besides, who says I want to doubt you?”

I refrained from stepping back. “Where’s Omi?”

She shrugged. “Who cares?” She stood on her tiptoes and offered me a naughty grin. “I just got myself a new toy,” she whispered.

I tried not to, but I stepped back. I turned to Aruhi. “What do you want to do with him?”

Her smile changed to a crazy one. “So many ideas.”

“I could take him to your dungeon and torture him.”

The shine in her eyes grew brighter. “Only if I can watch.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I said, trying as hard as I could not to grit my teeth.

She let out a laugh like an evil queen from a fairy tale.

* * *

I walked out of the cell and the door slammed closed.

“Well done,” Imha purred, handing me a damp rag.

I didn’t say anything as I took it and wiped the blood off my hands.

She circled me, watching me with her too-clever, too-crazed eyes. “This torture session was extraordinary. I knew you still had it in you.”

I forced my lips to curl up. “It was good to use my skills again.”

Her smile widened. “I know. I felt it.”

All I wanted to do was to get away from her. I wanted to go to my new chambers and hide there until she evaporated into nothingness.

“I think I need a shower,” I said, turning toward the stairs that led out of this dark, damp dungeon.

She touched my shoulder and I fought the urge to wince. “Hmm, do you want some company?”

I glanced over my shoulder, unsure what lie I would tell her to keep her away, but as I opened my mouth, my eyes spotted something behind her and I halted. “What’s that?”

A heavy wooden door stood at the other end of the corridor, symbols drawn with what looked like dried blood smeared on its surface.

“Oh, you don’t know?” She bounced to the door and spied over the tiny cutout square on the top part of the door. “Come take a look.”

Wary, I walked to the door and spied through the tiny window.

Oh, shit.