The Devil's Smile

Chapter 33

The Cursors weren't going to be there to pick me up forever and I had to remember that fill I had to step back from all the confusing emotions they instilled in me sometimes they almost treated me like an equal. Like when they saved me from being sentenced to death by sacrifice just because of the stupid competition. Or just before when they had formed our circle around to protect me as though I was someone worthy of being protected. a dweller that actually meant something to them. A dweller that meant something.. And then there were other times when they treated me like dirt Vinny their feet. The way that they were taught that they were supposed to treat me.

I needed to make sure that I never forgot my place. Dwellers who did that ended up with a fate worse than death. They became Jeff. Or Jeffrey. Or something else. I did not really know. I was just assuming that becoming Jeff was the worst thing that could happen to our kind.

Time to remind them all that I was just an emotional dweller.

Which one of you Demi gods is going to tell me that the freaking hell just happened right then? Going on the attack felt natural. How in the hell did a God just walk out of Elysium and talk to us? What the hell is this weather storm thingy? What the hell are you 5 hiding that means you can walk into Elysium and about the gods colours and what the hell?

I might have been yelling towards the end there which might have caused a lot of huffing and puffing when I finished. Damn I needed to get into shape. Clearly making beds was not enough to build stamina.

As I heaved 5 sets of eyes observed me its sparkling unnaturally in the darkness around us. Was it possible that these demigods were extra special? Sure they had told me that they were but I figured that it was just their arrogance speaking. I hadn't really taken them that seriously. Or maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

And why wasn't anyone answering me?

Hey was about to go crazy dweller on them again when the sky opened above us and Rane followed through on his storm promise. I was scooped up by someone and then we were running. It was the only hint of gold and summary scent of burning sugar wrapping around me that told me it was Amor. He talked to me close to his body so no tree smashed into my limbs and then they were full on sprinting.

We need to get to higher ground! Silas shouted. He looked to be out the front leading the way. I know a spot.

Higher ground? It never rained enough in Vandelay to worry about water rising above the ground. I was talking to think that I knew nothing about this world or gods. I probably should have paid better attention in class like Red said earlier.

But again there was that searing pain at the back of my head and I recalled that I was here for some other purpose and this was not my world. What the hell was I doing here and why were they running with me

But this was not the point when I should be thinking about my existential crisis when we were being chased by a storm created by a god.

It was almost pitch black around us now and since we were running at full Sprint and threw a tightly knit forest it was pretty scary. I could barely focus on the trees flashing pastas and the knowledge that I was probably going to be smashed against one enemy soon to have my chest pressed against Amor’s chest.

A girl could use to being pressed against the Cursor brothers chest whenever the world decided to go insane. One benefit to all the shitty drama they brought into my life. I sensed that they were talking about my head but this stage I was too tired and cold for even listening. I had been walking for almost a full day which was something I was sure that I had never done before and my body was punishing me for it my ears refused to work so I let my mind drift off.

I must have dozed off fully because obviously a crazy storm and being lost in Vandelay was the perfect situation to get comfortable enough to have a little nap. I was going to blame the exaggerated 40,000,000 miles we had walked that day full of the comfort had nothing to do with amore the comfort in his strong arms.

As I opened my eyes I realised that it was still dark and cold outside but The Cave we were in was awash from warm from the huge fire right in the centre of the round area. A rock wall was on my right side warmth pressing along my left shifting my head I saw the silky strands of black golden hair. Silas. from what I could see over his huge body next to him where his brothers will the other 2 parts to their trial anyway. It didn't look like if cronus and drawn where in The Cave with us. Hopefully they hadn't been abducted by angry gods or smashed against a tree.

As I shifted slightly I realised that I need a bathroom break immediately. My bladder was at the bursting point. I wiggled around to get my hands on the rough ground my head was pillowed on the shirt which thankfully was not mine I still wore a more shirt and it was now drying and toasty one. Realising that there was not enough space on either side for me to get up without using Silas as leverage I attempted to use my stomach muscles to pull myself up. Of course I didn't have really any of the stomach muscles so I managed to do was flap around like an i***t.

A heavy arms draped across me and I almost peed myself. Come on this was not funny! a flash of light from outside dream attention and before I could say anything the 3 Demi gods were around me up on their feet and standing in front of me I understood why the moment the red robes came into view.

Rane stood there no expression on his face just the tiniest of fires burning in his eyes full whether it was the fire inside his gaze or the reflection in his iris I did not know. “I will have my beta,” was all he said and as Amor Yeti and Silas started for him he shot out a blast of energy that materialised in front of him as a spear of loosely held smoke it rolls above all of us circling around the top of The Cave lit from within the sphere by some kind of Milky glowing light. My eyes took a while adjust to the glaring even though I was in terrified I stumbled forward in hope that I could help the Cursors if they were in trouble. This glue couldn't kill them right? What was the time in doing? Their huge shadows were all I had to aim for so I headed towards the one shaped like Silas since he was the closest shut up again and I was worried that my current blindness was moment from becoming permanent. I continued pushing my way forward hoping that I wasn't about to stumble into the fire.

There was a roar in the direction of the door when this one I recognised as Dron. The giant demigod was not happy and I would not like to be in his way when he lost it. I kind of hoped that Rane got crushed. Decided I needed to get to Silas soon as I started to sprint, which of course had my feet tripping up against some spare firewood propelling my body forward and sending me flying into the darkness. Because of the momentum I had built up sprinting to get to Silas I managed to launch impressively high into the air my body sailing across The Cave the glare of the light became so intense that even with my eyes squeezed tightly I was blinded. My mind tried to react by repelling the 4 shutting down all of my senses half a minute to see Silas’ horrified face. he was reaching out for me but it was too late.

A sort of something hot pierced my heart branding with painful yells my breath was cut out. I tried to choke back some air as I began losing high plummeting towards the ground but there was no India to be hard. I prepared myself for the impact I should have been ground long ago but for my some reason my fault continued on next playing why couldn't I breathe? And why did my chest feel like something head sliced eating to and now a hot branding I that was flowing burning apart through my heart had I been hit with a godbolt or something? Was there even something called godbolt?

Charmaine?

Someone was shouting mining but its costly registered as I continued to slowly die or whatever was happening to me. When my body finally hit the ground I was barely conscious event enough to feel the impact. He didn't even feel that rocky and it smells good was double like summer days.

Amor.

Well at least if I was going to die then I was going to do it in the arms of the golden demigod. with that thought my heart stuttered one last time and then everything went dark.

Shouting was the first thing that my subconscious registered. How did Rane even make past you to? Yeti was angrier than I had ever heard before and his voice was thundering around the room

I was afraid to open my eyes and bring attention to myself what happened had I fallen asleep again? When did my chest ache and crap… Rane had been there! And weird blowing smoke ball. The Cursors had been about to fight him and I had tripped? Fallen? Did I fly?

My eyes snapped open and I was up on my feet in an instant. Everything spun around me but that did not stop me from scanning my surroundings my heart rate only settling when I realised that there were 5 Demi gods standing in the wall of muscle in front of The Cave. Rane had not been able to hurt any of them. Safe. my Cursors were safe I mean someone else's Cursors. They are their mother’s Cursors.

They all had their backs to me forming a line of defence between me and the outside world. Amor, Yeti and Cronas were shirtless now and I realised that I had been laid across the soft surface of their clothing. Looking down at myself I blinked for some time and as I try to remember what I happened after I tripped over the fire wood.

My hand dropped to rest against my chest right above my heart. The pain had been excruciating I wasn't surprised that my mind had blocked it out. Right then as my memories crashed back into me my stomach heaved and I leaned over to dispel whatever small amounts of food had been left in my body thankfully it had been a while between meals so there wasn't much for me to lose.

I felt the 5 cursors as they moved towards me. What the crap? I literally could feel them. In my chest their energy moved closer and I had no idea how that was possible as soon as they were around me the pains stopped. One moment I was suffering and then the next moment I was standing confused feeling completely normal.

Rocks? Silas his hand was on the back of my neck turning me around to face simple. you okay?

He was holding out one of the shirts from the ground and a hollowed out rock filled with water. I didn't ask about the rock. It held the perfect imprint of a pair of knuckles. So I wasn't getting into a fight withdrawn anytime soon.

Thanks, I nodded taking the rock and the shirt.

I wasn't sure what the shirt was good for but I made good use of the water to wash my mouth before walking past them to the entrance of The Cave. I needed fresh air. I need to see that the whole world was beautiful and not burning to a ground in a fit of godly rage. I took a few steps and then stopped as a small thrum of pain fissure through my chest. I gasped out dropping the shirt and curling around my fingers around the rock as though I need something to brace myself with. I took another step and it happened again. I sucked in a deep breath and suck my head hurting to the mouth of the Cape. The pain grew words and then it suddenly disappeared. Amor was at my side stop do you feel any different? He asked me his stunning features dark with emotion.

Maybe he was concerned or suspicious. Maybe he was trying to determine whether Rane's ball of smoke and light had altered me in a dangerous way. The question was if it had what were they going to do about it? Would they put me down like a rogue Bullock?