Chapter 126: Sanctum XLX

Chapter 126: Sanctum XLX

Theres no nobility in it. And posture all you want, but I know you wont kill them. Theyre not humans, and you eventually want them on your side.

I think Thoth considered one of her daggers, There might be a misunderstanding of how badly youve fucked things for me, Cairn. Certain events need to happen within specific windows, and my little resurgence of interest in you has cost me in that regard. If I mark this one off as a loss, it doesnt matter what I do.

If you can afford to lose the time. I tried to manage my reaction. Fear would entice her, goading her much the same.

A better question. Thoth extended the knife towards me, its blackened edge glinting in the low light. How far back do you remember? A dagger darted passed my face, stopping a millimeter from Jorras eye, where it floated menacingly. Jorras face hardened. He crossed his arms behind him and stuck out his chest. Another knife planted its point in my spine.

Lie to me and I start with the boy, Thoths face was void of emotion. Hes useful, eventually, but I dont like him that much.

There was a wave of disapproval that went through the crowd behind us. They might not have been understand the conversation, but they could see the knife. With as well as Thoth seemed to know me, there was no question that lying would be folly.

I told her the truth. That I only remembered the previous life. Somewhat surprising me, she asked for details. Dates. The more information I gave, the less happy she appeared.

Sweat dripped down my arms and back in slow, repetitive rivulets.

No. Thats wrong, Thoth finally said.

Deep within, I began to panic. Im telling the truth

Someone, Thoth interrupted me, looking up at the sky as if trying to catch a glimpse of an errant cloud. Is screwing with both of us.

I blinked. You mean, like, a god?

Yes But theyre being really oblique about it and its pissing me off. Thoth chewed her lip. It shouldnt matter. But these little inconsistencies add up, right?

Unsure whether the question was rhetorical or otherwise, I shifted on my feet. Thoths serpent eye snapped to me immediately, the other following behind slowly.

Still on high alert. Not nearly as relaxed as she looks.

Im not following, I admitted.

Thoth sighed. Last iteration was a peach. No civil insurrections, no last-minute betrayals. Everyone followed orders. And when it was time to slaughter the humans and sing campfire songs, everyone went above and beyond.

Sounds almost the same to me.

Thoth began to pace. Watching her strange, fluid movement was enough to make my head hurt. No. What you described happened some time ago. No idea when, but it certainly wasnt last time. Because last time, I cut your arms off. Told you Id let you live if you made it down the stairs. That was Thoth cackled. Fun. Puerile, but fun.

I ignored the cruelty of the statement, focusing on the bones of it. If there was a gap between my memories of the last loop and the current one, what were the implications of that? I didnt know.

Okay, one down, two more to go. Lucked out this time, you little bastard. Next question. Thoth pulled the knife back with a dramatic wave, letting it do a slow circle until it landed right in front of Bell. It pressed up against her neck. At the leyline. Do you have some artifact? Some way of reading me?

I closed my eyes. You were never going to let us go.

No, I just needed time. But the question is, how did you know that?

Thats wrong, I contradicted carefully. Even though I suspected how short any truce was likely to be, I wanted to take it.

Thoth waited, looked over to Ozra, then back to me. She broke out into laughter. Ah. The demon screwed you over. How quaint. Thoth turned and faced her Arch-Fiend, leaving her back open. I nearly darted forward, then, but held myself back.

Stick to the plan.

They do require something of a firm hand. Asked and answered. Once again, Thoth made a wide motion and the blade retreated, sailing through the air, whizzing behind me towards the demons. They parted, revealing a red infernal bound in chains.

Bacchus. My heart sank.

The older boy was quivering in the cold, bits of moisture accumulating on his spectacles. His teeth chattered. Terror shone through him as the knife pressed against his chin, pushing up slowly, forcing him to stand.

Sorry Cairn.

What happened? I asked, devastated.

They found me on my way back. Bacchus shivered.

Its not your fault, I said, suddenly much less in control than I was less than a minute ago. Im sorry you were dragged into this.

I shouldnt have come here. I should have never left the bookstore. Bacchus broke down in sobs.

Its gonna be okay, Bacchus.

But I knew it wouldnt be. With me gone, Thoth needed anyone with demon-fire off the board. This entire thing had been planned out. The first two questions were easy, meant to establish a pattern. Whatever she had saved for last would be the hook.

And now, the final question. Thoth leered at me.

Let it be heard.

How

Sworn to all gods, high and low. To the whisperers in the deep places. To demons and angels alike.

The hells

One day Ill kill you, Thoth.

Over and over and over Thoth mouthed.

I wondered, then, about the so-called betrayal she wore like a shroud. It seemed so strange and out of character to even imagine myself stabbing an ally in the back. But what if it had been nothing so direct. What if my will simply broke, and I gave up? That I could imagine. Id experienced it, after all, more than once.

Im sorry. Truly.

No. You made me what I am. And for that, I am grateful. Thoth flexed her arms.

I couldnt even imagine what she meant. What happened?

Thoth shook her head. Not yet. And I havent forgotten.

Suffer, as I have suffered.

Two minutes left? I guessed.

One. Thoth vanished from my sight.

Duck

I listened to the voice far before I realized it was Vogrins, dropping as a whirling fury of blades passed over me.

Sweep right, now.

Without even bothering to look, I swung to my right. Hit. Thoth danced away, quenching the spreading flame from her armor. She looked disturbed, off-balance.

I heard Jorra whoop in excitement, yelling out encouragement along with his sister.

The rain washed the rose oil off her armor

I expanded the circle inward, flames greedily consuming the grass. Thoth swiped a hand downward contemptuously, sending the fire back towards me. Unwilling to risk doing the same, I held the gauntlet out and consumed the flame, holding it out and releasing it in a burst of fire in the same motion.

Thoth stabbed out at me and barely missed a blow that should have landed, blade diverted. She glanced down at her dagger with a frown.

I saw Ozra lower his arm. He must have misdirected the blow. Foolish as it was, hed given me an opening.

I summoned a burst of flash-powder before she could rally, partially blinding her, and Thoth retreated. For a moment, I thought I might be making headway. That somehow, the gods had heard me, and the fight was turning in my favor.

I breathed in a patch of the fire that was growing behind me, a mass of flame and mana that filled me. In one massive burst, I released it, hoping to wound her.

Then Thoth reached out, and the cone of fire froze in place. I didnt even have time to think about how impossible that was. Then, a half dozen shards of ice reversed direction and skewered me. My body screamed as I collapsed into the grass, choking, gagging as blood burbled freely from my mouth.

Thoth hovered over me. Just seconds shy. How tragic. But there was none of the manic joy from the last time she killed me.

There was a primal scream, and tilted my head to see Maya, fighting to get to me as her mother pulled her away.

Jorra sat yards away, staring at me, his hand on his whip. He met my eyes, silently begging for permission. I shook my head, and watched as he clenched a fistful of mud, his head hung. Thoth waved her bandaged hands over a ceremonial knife: black and gold trimmings on the handle, and a bright steel blade. It glowed green as it had so many years ago, so many years from now, at the night of the coronation.

I- I swallowed a mouthful of my blood. I wish I could remember. When we fought the darkness together. When we were friends.

Thoth stiffened. Then she laughed darkly. And here I am wishing more than anything else to forget it. To forget everything. Just like you. Lucky, lucky you. However you got out of it last timehowever you managed to rememberit will never happen again. Youll startle awake on that carriage, blissfully unaware that any of this ever happened. Not a care in the gods damned world.

Thoth slid the dagger in, directly above the first one. Just like before, it was almost painless. Then she stood, wiped her hands on her leather armor, and turned back to the Infernals.

The human failed you. I seldom give a second chance, but Im in a sentimental mood. The sing-song lilt of her voice was gone. Kill him or face the consequences.

For a long moment, no one moved.

Then, someone stood. The reaction from the crowd was instantaneous, a mix of scorn and vitriol. Bellarex, her face slack, eyes red, began a slow walk towards us.

Bellarex, daughter of Erdos. If you continue to walk this path, you will be exiled. Morthus boomed out, standing in the midst of the crowd.

Thoth made a gesture with two fingers towards Morthus, and the Decarabian arch-fiend shot a lance of white magic shot in a high arc, blisteringly fast. It struck Morthus in his core. The old man collapsed unceremoniously, his eyes wide open.

Dont tell anyone, but I snuck in some contraband.

I cried out, the sound bubbling and muted.

Bells sword dragged on the ground behind her as she made the long, long walk. Jorra and Maya were screaming at her, their voices almost unintelligible in the rain. Bells face was a mask of pain and agony as she looked around as if shed forgotten where she was, suddenly very, very lost.

Well, would you look at that? Someone finally grew a mind of their own. Thoth smiled.

Bells lip trembled. C-c-cairn? I dont wanna do this.

Really, Thoth looked between us, completely focused. Even after everything you told me, you still feel for him? He took your father from you. Your only blood.

Bell shook her head vehemently, her entire body trembling.

With all the strength left in me, I summoned the air, using it to carry my words to her ears.

Youre the only one that can. I tried, Bell. This is the only way.

It took two tries before she summoned the strength. Bell raised her sword, and with a wounded cry, brought the blade down.