His Dark Obsession

Chapter 41 - A Blind Oath

EVANGELINE.

The door closes behind us, and we are left in one of the grand sitting rooms of the palace. A waterfall fountain is against one wall, splitting open as it parts down the centre, curving along the archway that leads off from the room.

I hope I have made the right choice in asking to see him. After all, I have prepared these questions for long enough!“What will it be? Let's cut to the chase,” he says coldly.

I step forward, knowing that he clearly isn’t one for games.

“On behalf of Selene, I ask for your forgiveness. Please, end her punishment. We need-”

His eyes darken as his rage becomes apparent, his blistering anger clear in his eyes.

“Impossible,” he hisses.

“You speak of what is best for everyone, yet you refuse to look past your anger. Selene disobeyed you, yet despite all these years, you cannot forgive her?” I ask.

He remains silent despite his festering anger. His face is passive, and his eyes remind me of bottomless galaxies. So deep, there seems to be no end to them. They are deep and go on forever, and I feel myself being pulled in.

Zedkiel places a hand on my shoulder, and I’m snapped out of it, gasping. I step back, and Zedkiel frowns, watching him as he pulls me close.

There’s more to the Eternal God than I know.“I gave her warnings and chances, yet she still chose to disobey. I had to get the message across, and she is an example to others. A statement to others that sins shall be punished,” he says venomously, looking away.

I can tell from the way his nostrils flare or that tick in his jaw that he is getting angrier by the minute.

“She loved, that is not a sin,” I say.

“Love is an illusion or a desperate attempt to find a source of distraction. We are gods, not mere mortals,” he says, and I can tell from his voice that he truly believes that.

I don’t know if I should be sad for him or not. He doesn’t really look like the type that you feel sympathy for.

“You do not know love,” I say quietly, despite the mess of nerves that fills my stomach. I clench my hands that are pressed against my waist and take a deep breath. “You cannot say that one of the most beautiful things that exists is a mere distraction unless you have experienced it for yourself.”

He looks at me sharply, his irritation unmasked, and I know he’s taken offence. His gaze flicks to my clenched hands before he frowns deeply and looks up at both of us.

“This discussion is over. I have given you enough time. Congratulations on becoming the Goddess of a cursed creation. I am through.” He turns, swiftly heading to the door we had entered from when Zedkiel steps forward.

“Then at least lift the curse that we were not responsible for. If you want to make an example of Selene, then do so, but don’t let the innocent suffer,” Zedkiel says icily.

The Eternal God doesn’t seem fazed, nor does it look like he wants to listen.

He’s almost at the door when Zedkiel speaks again. “Or, like a coward, will you refuse to admit this curse was far too extreme?”

My eyes widen as the Eternal God turns. His eyes seem to turn even darker as he glares at Zedkiel.

“Do not test me, Lycan. I did what I needed to! There was an evil created by Selene before my curse! The curse I have put upon you cannot be broken, not by me. If you are able to break it, it would have to be of your own accord. Curses are made to withstand the test of time and power.”

At least he has turned back to listen, but clearly, he won’t help us.“Then give us some guidance. I know you don’t want to forgive Selene, but there has to be a way. Zedkiel and I need to return to Earth. There are things we need to rectify,” I say.

“You can no longer return to Earth. Your duty is here, Moon Goddess.” His voice is harsh and full of iciness.

“No. There has to be a way. Surely there’s a way for her to both handle her duty as Goddess and to be my queen on Earth,” Zedkiel says.

The Eternal god cocks a brow. “What I have stated is the truth. You will return to Earth, but she cannot. She has taken her place as the Goddess, and if she breaks the divine laws, then, like her mother, she will pay the price.”

His words fill me with dread. The finality in them makes me turn to Zedkiel.

“There has to be a way for me to return to Earth. I know I have things to do here, but can I not go for even a short period?” I ask. Zedkiel’s irritation is also rising, and I know I can’t promise something that would upset him. Even I wish to be selfish, wanting to remain with him forever.

“We are going to figure this out, with or without him,” he says, his eyes flashing dangerously. “There will be a way to return.”

“There’s only one way for you to return, and that is to pass the mantle to another who is worthy and strong enough to hold that title, one of your own blood.”

Evelyn?I mean, I can imagine her up here planning to torture people.I almost smile, but I also know I can’t force her to take on such a burden for my own happiness, even if the curse is broken.

“Selene,” I murmur.

“Selene is no longer a potential candidate! Her job as the Goddess is over! She has fallen into disgrace; she shall never be free!” He snarls.

My head is pounding. He won’t listen.“How about you just tell us what we can do for you in return for her freedom and Evangeline’s return to Earth?” Zedkiel snarls. “There’s always a fucking way.”

“Nothing! You have nothing to give me,” he hisses back.

They glare at one another, and I step in front of Zedkiel protectively.

“Please, I understand I have a duty here, too, and I will do what I can before I go, but-”

“You will perform the duties of the last ten thousand years in a mere few days?” He scoffs, “You truly do demean a God.”

“Then allow me a short while on Earth,” I whisper. “Please. Help us save innocent lives from being murdered. We need to break this curse; it's our last chance.”

“You cannot even see what is right before you! What makes you think you can overcome this curse?” He says, his eyes dangerous as he glares at Zedkiel.

“Yeah, we make mistakes because it’s not like we are getting any fucking help,” Zedkiel shoots back.

“And why should we help? It’s not our duty. Remember that there will always be a price for the Goddess’ crimes. Request anything else, and I shall give it to you on this special day of yours. But remember, if you ask for your return or her freedom, I will not grant it.”

“Please, your anger at Selene may be justified, but because of your anger and rage, in the end, it is others who are suffering! My sister, Evelyn! Cursed for eternity to live life after life with memories of pain! How can you say you are doing the right thing, too?” I exclaim, trying to calm myself.

Zedkiel places a hand on my back, but I am unable to calm down.

“You have one request, you can pick within reason.” The Eternal God says quietly.

He isn’t going to listen. Ask for something else,I frown. What else can I ask?“What I want, is an answer to something.”

“Then ask,” he says emotionlessly.

I take a deep breath, hoping it’s the right question.

Careful, Little Mouse.Yeah,“What will it take for you to give our kind a second chance?” I say out loud.

Hoping I worded it right, I wait for him to speak.

Zedkiel looks at me, and I know he’s doubting my question. But I haven’t been wrong; I can’t be wrong this time.

“There is something,” The Eternal God says, tilting his head to the side, his long hair curtaining his face. It’s almost as if he is hesitating, though.

My heart leaps, and I look at Zedkiel, who narrows his eyes.

“Then let’s make an exchange,” I say quietly.

He looks at me intently, those eyes holding a glint of something I cannot fathom.

“Okay.”

“An exchange. I will give you a second chance in return for something,” he says, but why does he himself sound uncertain? Is he so fixated on ending our kind?

“I’m ready,” I say.

Don’t promise something blindly, Evangeline,I feel a sliver of unease ripple through me. Will he really misuse it?“Very well then, what I want is a gift that only you can give me, a treasure of the moon itself,” he says, looking around the room.

I frown. A treasure?“The Tree of Bonds?” I ask.

“No, something … far smaller.”

“Very well then, give us a second chance, and that treasure is yours,” I promise.

He smirks as he raises his hand, a glowing light appearing before him.

It is done.An oath between gods.Zedkiel's eyes flash, and I know he’s regretting it, and his unease is making me worried.

Did I make a mistake?“Then so-”

“Wait, what is this treasure?” Zedkiel growls, cutting him off.

He simply raises his hand, and I feel something pull from within my chest and see the glimmer of silver light. At the same time, a gold wisp of light comes from him, too. Both strands combine, and a scroll appears mid-air. The silver and gold light goes into it before he holds his hand out.

“So be it. You will find out when the time comes, the deal has been made,” he says, frowning as he stares at the golden scroll that now lands in his hand. “Proof of our promise.”

The scroll vanishes, and I realise I have just made an oath that I cannot break.

Have I done the right thing?“What is the treasure?” Zedkiel asks.

“Time will tell,” The Eternal God says.

An odd tension fills the room, and he frowns for a moment, staring at the marble floor before he looks at us.

“I didn’t like that,” Zedkiel mutters.

“So, you will give us a second chance?” I ask, pushing away my unease.

“If you show me you are worthy of it. I have nothing against your kind for the most part. Let’s go.” He turns and heads towards the arch on the far wall, the water falling down either side of it.

“Where are we going?” Zedkiel asks sharply.

“You want a second chance, then let’s go meet Selene herself. Perhaps her imprisonment has finally humbled her.”

My heart skips a beat. It worked!But at what cost?I frown, knowing he has a point.

“And when was the last time you even went to see Selene?” Zedkiel asks the immortal.

We leave through the arch and down the steps to the gardens. The Eternal God flicks a finger, and a portal opens. The other side is dark and cold, and I wonder where he’s taking us.

Is that the place where Selene is imprisoned?“Around 2,000 years ago, not long ago.”

“Wow, that’s not long ago, right?” Zedkiel says sarcastically.

“That is not long for a god,” he replies coldly before he motions to the portal. “Come.”

Do we trust him?It’s the only option we have,I know he’s worried about my return to Earth, about the treasure the Eternal God wants, but I just hope he is simply overthinking it. Although there’s a seed of doubt that has settled inside of me as well.

Was I too reckless?

I don’t have time to ponder as Zedkiel takes my hand, and we both walk through the portal, right behind the Eternal God.

We are finally meeting her, Selene herself.My mother.