Shaia was clearly uncomfortable with the task her family had foisted upon her, but she was a dutiful daughter and went through all the motions. She attended all the little luncheon gatherings that were arranged, and every other social occasion designed solely for the purpose of making me finally choose from among my hapless suitors. Although Shaia feigned interest, it was obvious that she was more drawn to the men who were her supposed rivals for my hand. It wasn’t only her discomfort that eventually made Shaia the target of my petty revenge; her aloof, superior demeanor and the upturned corners of her perfect little mouth irritated me to no end.
I started slowly at first, paying her close attention and occasionally letting my hand slip over hers while we sat beside each other. The look in Shaia’s eyes whenever I did so was absolutely priceless, a mixture of shock and even revulsion that she would quickly cover with an awkward smile. My ‘devotion’ to her didn’t pass unnoticed, and soon we were constantly seated together during each of our carefully orchestrated gatherings. Shaia’s discomfort grew as she noticed this, yet she still carried on, undoubtedly determined to fulfill whatever role her family had assigned to her, regardless of her own desires.
Our first meeting alone was soon scheduled. I’d never shown enough interest in any of my suitors to warrant such an occasion before, and I found myself looking forward to it. This would be where I planned to truly test Shaia’s resolve, seeking to determine just how dedicated she was to her task—and how little she cared for herself as well. I knew that she wasn’t really attracted or even interested in me; her true desires lie with the men who sat beside her. If she had her way, I knew Shaia would have gone after one of them rather than waste her time with me, yet she lacked the spine to stand up for what she wanted. I was disgusted by each and every one of my suitors, and all I really sought to find out was if they were truly as pitiful as I believed them to be.
We shared a light meal before enjoying a glass of wine in the sitting room that had been reserved for us. Well, at least I enjoyed the wine—Shaia downed hers quickly before refilling the glass once more, much to my delight. She clearly didn’t want to be there, yet there she was, sitting beside me and pretending to be happy in my company.
She managed not to recoil when I stopped to stare longingly in her eyes, and even suppressed a shudder when I moved closer and slid my hand along the smooth skin of her thigh. A look of near panic flooded across her eyes as I leaned towards her, yet Shaia’s lips parted, and she returned my affections willingly when I kissed her.
It was quite awkward at first. Like me, I don’t think Shaia had ever kissed anyone before. Yet despite our inexperience, I felt a genuine sense of passion blooming between us almost instantly. In my shock, I pulled away from Shaia, expecting to see my own sense of surprise reflected at me when I looked back at her. Yet rather than that, the only emotion I saw as I stared into the depths of her deep brown eyes was Shaia’s desire for much more than the little taste of me she’d already had.
Before I could react, Shaia pulled me into her, kissing me once again. I could feel the longing growing within her when she turned the tables on me, and I had to forcefully pry myself away from her clutching grasp. I’d had no idea that she’d harbored any such feelings for me; my attempt to unsettle Shaia and test her resolve had blown up in my face rather spectacularly.
I excused myself and made a hasty exit, leaving Shaia behind as quickly as I could. The look of utter devastation on her face caused me to not only regret what I’d done but also question a great deal about who I was as well. I’d set out to expose Shaia for the fraud I thought she was but had only managed to uncover some uncomfortable truths about myself instead.
Shaia hadn’t been interested in me, of that I was certain, yet I’d somehow made her want me. I knew the only possible source I could have obtained that sort of power from, and realizing just how much I’d inherited from that bitch only served to deepen my remorse. Beyond that manipulation, there was one other disturbing revelation: Although the moment had been brief, I’d actually enjoyed the kiss I’d shared with Shaia.
I knew how I’d come into this world; the relationship between the Goddess and my mother was certainly no secret. Yet right up until that moment, I’d never felt any sense of attraction towards another woman. Feeling the… warmth of Shaia’s lips made me realize that my own desires weren’t quite as straightforward as I’d once believed.
After that debacle, I let it be known that my evening with Shaia hadn’t developed into anything I wished to pursue. I avoided her completely until she departed the Imperial Palace soon afterwards, and I never tried to toy with any of my suitors’ emotions in that way again. It had been a painful lesson for both of us and a mistake I never wanted to repeat. But I knew my own sense of contempt might very well lead me down that path again, so I’d been avoiding my so-called suitors whenever I could—resulting in the assignment of ‘helpful’ monitors to remind me of my… obligations.
“I’ll be back before it’s time.” The recollection forced me to rein in my ire as I reassured the messenger once again. “It’s not like I can go very far now, is it?”
I’d only been beyond the Garrison’s walls a handful of times, most of which had been on carefully monitored hunting trips where I’d been closely watched. My desire to leave was no big secret, and the Goddess took great pains to ensure that her wishes on that matter were adhered to. The brief freedom I’d enjoyed on the one occasion I’d managed to sneak out had been short-lived—the Goddess herself had been able to track me down within minutes of becoming aware of my escape. Although I could travel about the Imperial District without restriction, the guards at the Garrison would never again allow me to pass through that gate without the Goddess’ express approval.
My response seemed to satisfy the Goddess’ errand-boy, and I was able to resume my trek into the forest; hopefully, to finally find the peace I so frequently found myself searching for. Yet rather than calming down, the stirring of my memories had only served to fray my nerves even further apart.
The crux of nearly all my troubles was that even after nearly thirty years of life, I had no idea who I was—or, more accurately, what my role was in this world. In an effort to find myself, I’d taken lessons from nearly everyone who was willing to teach me, learning every skill I could and training with them diligently. Unlike the Goddess, the real people of Arrika didn’t have mysterious images and messages appear before their eyes, telling them everything they needed to know. We had to work hard to discover ourselves, but at some point, that truth would eventually become known to us. Or at least that was how it was supposed to be. Yet despite my efforts, I’d never found my true calling—just racked up a bunch of skills that I’d probably never have the chance to actually use. Some had referred to my ability to acquire such a diverse set of talents as a ‘gift,’ but knowing the likely source of that power only made me resent it even more. Nothing that woman ever bestowed upon anyone ever came without a steep price attached to it.
I stopped to take a quick look around to ensure that I wasn’t being watched before stepping off the path and into the forest. In the entire Imperial District, this was the one place I had all to myself, and I wasn’t going to do anything that would risk giving away its location. It took a while to wind my way through the thick brush, and I let out a sigh of contentment when the trees parted, and I finally glimpsed the shoreline of the lake in front of me.
I sat on the large, flat rock and peeled off my boots before lying down on its moss-covered surface, dangling my feet in the cool water as I stared at the sky above. It felt like the only place in the world where the Goddess’ stench didn’t linger around me, and I reveled in having at least one fucking thing that was my own. Sometimes, I even imagined that the water itself was reaching out to join in my delight—despite the calmness of its surface, I would often feel slight currents brushing across the soles of my feet. Somehow, that sensation always came with a sense of peace, and while there was no way for me to escape
from the prison the Goddess had made for me, the brief periods of solitude I was able to spend there provided me with at least some respite from her overbearing presence.
For a moment, I thought I felt the subtle flow begin again, but it seemed to dissipate before I could be sure of what it was. The sensation was immediately replaced by the distinct impression that I was being watched, and I rolled off the rock I’d been laying on—placing it between myself and the location where the odd feeling had come from as I drew my blades.
“Impressive,” the strange woman remarked, standing right where I’d sensed her.
“Who the fuck are you?” I was just as pissed off at the discovery of my formerly hidden refuge as I was by her unwelcome intrusion.
“Let’s just say that I’m someone who wants to help you, Ashíel,” she replied almost tauntingly.
“Well, if you really want to help me, you can start by leaving me the fuck alone.” Her cryptic words only annoyed me even more.
“Oh, my mistake,” she smiled wryly in response. “I thought you actually wanted to get out of this place.”
“Oh, please.” Now I knew that I could dismiss anything this stupid bitch told me. “The Goddess won’t let me out from under her thumb for even a moment.”
“Dreya’s influence only extends over this continent, child,” her words took on a distinctly conspiratorial tone. “There are others that lay beyond her reach.”
Tales of what lay beyond the oceans were still told, even after millennia without any contact from those distant realms. The seas were full of creatures that claimed any vessel foolish enough to attempt the crossing, and none had even dared to try for many centuries.
“Nothing moves between those lands; the waters are far too treacherous.” Although her scheme might have worked, there was simply no way to reach those far away shores safely.
“My, you are so lacking in faith,” the woman let out her own exasperated sigh. “You truly don’t know who I am, do you?”
Her comment caused me to look her over more carefully, but aside from her nearly ageless appearance and the odd way her ears came to delicate points, I saw nothing that gave away her identity.
“I’ve never seen you before in my life,” I was finally forced to admit.
“No, you haven’t,” she remarked. “But I would have thought that spending so much time around Dreya might have allowed you to recognize one of us more easily.”
Oh. Shit.
Very few would dare to call the Goddess by name, yet this strange woman had just done so for the second time during our brief conversation. That alone should have been enough of a clue for me, but her reference to ‘us’ indicated a very small group of individuals that could name themselves as one of the Goddess’ contemporaries.
I knew enough about the Pantheon to quickly rule out most of them, leaving me with only a very few to choose from. Yet something about the woman seemed to finally register in my mind, and I was suddenly all too certain who it was that had sought me out.
“Noxyl?” I named the Goddess of Thieves, mindful that her domain also included both mischief—and deceit.
“So, you do have a brain inside that pretty little head of yours,” she purred, smiling in satisfaction at hearing her name.
“Yes, I do,” I replied cautiously, knowing her penchant for making ‘deals.’ “Enough to understand that I can’t trust whatever it is you’re offering.”
“I might be offended by that if it weren’t so true,” Noxyl’s crooked grin betrayed her amusement as she took my comment in stride. “Yet what I have for you comes with no strings attached—we both want the same thing. You wish to be free of Dreya once and for all, and I want to see you achieve that goal.”
“Why?” I responded skeptically. “What could possibly be in it for you?”
“Do you have any idea how much Dreya has cost me?” Noxyl answered, the first hints of anger creeping into her voice. “Her version of ‘peace’ has robbed me of nearly all my followers in these lands. My domain has suffered greatly since she’s risen to power.”
“You and I share our disdain for her, Ashíel,” she went on, stepping forward as she eyed me closely. “Losing you will wound Dreya deeply, and I want nothing more than to hurt her just as badly as she’s hurt me.”
“What I’m offering you is this: instant transportation away from here and the freedom to follow your own path once you’re gone,” Noxyl explained. “You will be completely on your own, just as you’ve always wanted to be.”
I recognized her proposal for what it was: The opportunity to finally escape from the Goddess’ clutches. My desire to immediately accept Noxyl’s offer was almost overwhelming, but despite how well-equipped I was, I knew I wasn’t as prepared as I needed to be.
“I have to get some things first.” I hoped she’d be willing to wait long enough for me to fetch the gear I required. The armor and weapons I wore were good enough; although all of them bore enchantments, they were a far cry from the God-forged artifacts my half-siblings wore. The Goddess had taunted me with promises of my own such equipment, claiming that she’d deliver them to me ‘when I was ready,’ but she’d never lived up to her word.
“No need,” Noxyl smiled back at me. “I’ve got everything you’ll require right here.”
Her hands had been empty only a second before, yet as she extended them towards me, Noxyl held a sleek backpack in one while the other offered a well-crafted belt pouch. I tried to keep the utterly astonished look off my face as I accepted both of her gifts, strapping the pack across my shoulders before tying the pouch in place.
“Ashíel,” Noxyl’s voice took on a much more serious tone when she spoke again. “If you accept my offer, I will send you away right now to a place far beyond Dreya’s reach. Once there, you’ll be your own woman, free to pursue whatever destiny you choose. Understand that this is a one-way journey—I cannot bring you back again. Nor will I interfere to save you from the consequences of your actions; the freedom you seek is both a gift and a burden you alone must bear.”
I recognized her statement as the terms of a formal bargain being struck between us—one I simply couldn’t refuse. Noxyl had a reputation for employing a bit of verbal sleight of hand in her deals, yet I couldn’t see any downside to what she’d offered; it was everything I’d ever wanted. I nodded my acceptance, and the world around me shimmered for a moment before fading into utter blackness.
* * *
Noxyl breathed a sigh of relief once the stupid girl finally vanished from her sight—it had taken all her powers of restraint to not slap the shit out of the little… idiot. Still, she felt a sense of great pride in stealing Dreya’s daughter right out from under her nose, and a broad smile of satisfaction creased her face as she stared at the empty space where Ashíel had stood only a moment before.
There would undoubtedly be a price to be paid for her actions, but Noxyl was prepared for that. Dreya’s origins as a mortal and Sintári made her unique among the Pantheon, the only one among them able to have children. With the rest of them unable to bear any of their own, many members of the Pantheon had something of a soft spot for Dreya’s offspring. But Noxyl hadn’t been the only one to feel the sting of Dreya’s growing power over the centuries. Others had lost large portions of their domains as Dreya’s influence came to dominate Arrika’s lands—there was no shortage of resentment towards the upstart Goddess.
So, while a certain amount of outrage might be directed her way, Noxyl fully expected the matter to blow over quickly once the initial anger faded. In the end, Noxyl would have her revenge on Dreya, with perhaps only a short period of turmoil to weather before she could revel in her triumph again.
3
The forest around me vanished, and my vision shifted into pitch-black—a complete darkness unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. The ground beneath my feet seemed to evaporate as well, and I felt unsteady for only half a second before I was standing on solid earth again. For a brief moment, all I could se
e was a flurry of black and white dots before my eyes, like a swarm of colorless bees flooding my sight. Then the strange image was gone, and I saw the forest around me clearly once again.
Only, it wasn’t the same forest I’d been in before. The flat rock at the edge of the lake was gone, as was the entire body of water. Having spent virtually my entire life as a prisoner inside the Imperial District, I knew every inch of it well, yet the trees and low brush that I was looking at were completely unfamiliar to me—even the smell of this place was different. I’d certainly had my doubts about Noxyl’s offer, but the strange foliage told me that she’d delivered on her promise: I’d finally broken free of the Goddess.
The sudden realization washed over me in a wave of joy and relief, yet I also understood the precarious situation I was in. Alone in an unfamiliar land, I needed to proceed with a great deal of caution. The stories about the Goddess’ early days may have been works of fiction, but I wasn’t quite foolish enough to ignore the lessons they’d told. After a careful glance around to ensure no danger was lurking nearby, I unslung my pack and took stock of the aid Noxyl had provided me.
The pack was extremely light, and at first, I thought I’d find very little inside it, but when I undid its straps and peered inside, I discovered a bounty of equipment and rations stored within its confines. Noxyl had obviously given me a very high-quality item, one with perhaps a hundred slots and a tremendous weight reduction to go with them. My ability to identify such things was limited, so I wasn’t sure of its exact properties, but I knew I’d received an extremely useful gift.
I found everything I thought I needed and more inside the pack, so I closed it up securely and slung it back across my shoulders. Once it was in place, I slid my hand inside the small belt pouch Noxyl had also given me, expecting to find some token amount of money to get me on my way. Unfortunately, instead of the Talons and Marks I was familiar with, the pouch contained strange ‘coins’ I could place no value on.
Second Skin: Wayward: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 7) Page 2
