CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 113: A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

Seraphine kept her head bowed as Zeres towered over her. His presence was overwhelming. It always was. The heat that rolled off him was not actual fire, yet it felt like standing under the sun at its highest point.

He was the god of the sun, the second in command after the true god himself. A being whose decisions shaped the heavens. A man whose words carried absolute weight.

Whatever reason he had come for today, it was serious.

Seraphine’s fingers curled slightly at her sides. She raised her voice just enough for him to hear without breaking the reverent silence around them.

"What brings you here, Zeres?"

Zeres answered without hesitation. His voice was deep, clear, and unshakeable, rolling off his tongue and echoing in the mysterious silence.

"Where is Calithar?"

Seraphine froze for a moment. She kept her head lowered, but her pulse quickened. It was rare for Zeres to speak names directly unless he had business with that person. And Calithar was the last person she wanted him to be searching for.

Zeres continued speaking, his tone firm.

"I felt a surge of power. A power that matches the level of a high god. Since Calithar is known throughout the realms as fallen, there is no reason for him to possess such strength. Not unless something is wrong."

Seraphine lifted her chin slightly to look up at him. At that moment, his golden armor began to shimmer. Light gathered around the plates, breaking them apart piece by piece until the heavy armor scattered into glowing particles that dissolved into the air.

In its place formed a simpler attire. A long, white cloth wrapped around his waist, tied with a golden sash. Another piece of cloth, draped diagonally, rested over his shoulder, exposing part of his incredibly strong, masculine chest and one strong arm.

It was the kind of clothing gods wore. Effortless yet regal power resting openly on display without needing metal or adornments.

Zeres was tall. Much taller than her. His golden hair rested behind his shoulders in thick waves. His skin glowed faintly like sunlight trapped inside it. Even his eyes held the sharpness of a burning day.

He was intimidating quite alright but Seraphine steadied herself.

"Seraphine, speak." Zeres commanded again, this time firmer than his previous tone. Seraphine knew the history between Zeres and Calithar and it wasn’t a pleasant one. Instead of him, she had originally belonged to Zeres as his bride but because of one reason or another, that initiative changed.

"He is in the throne room," she said carefully. "He is waiting for me."

Zeres nodded, satisfied with at least part of her honesty. But then she asked him a question she already feared the answer to.

"Why are you looking for him?"

Zeres trained his eyes on her small figure peering cooly at him. Cute. Damn beautifully cute.

"Calithar must be taken to the heavens," Zeres said with calm certainty, as if announcing a fact and not a decision. He flipped his long golden hair from his shoulders, allowing them to rest neatly on his broad back.

Seraphine inhaled sharply.

"Why? The duration of his powerlessness has elapsed. It is only natural that his powers returned to him."

Zeres’s eyes narrowed. Why is she defending that criminal?

"Natural?" he repeated, moving closer to her. "It seems you’ve forgotten how things work Seraphine. A fallen god regaining divine strength without giving thanks for his mercy is not natural. He did not come to acknowledge the heavens. He did not kneel neither did he seek atonement and grace for the mercy granted him. That alone proves his arrogance."

Seraphine tensed, feeling the strong urge to face-palm herself. Everyone knew of Zeres’ obsessive compulsive disorder. He hated things not going to protocol.

"He is not arrogant," she whispered in his defense. For all she knew, he just wanted to bring up water under the bridge.

Zeres ignored her protest.

"He has proven himself a tyrant. And tyrants must be punished."

"After being released from decades of punishment and debilitation?" Seraphine asked with a tinge of sarcasm. Being the true god’s daughter had its perks.

Even with her comeback, the words felt like a heavy stone dropping into her stomach. This man would stop at nothing to execute whatever twisted plan he had.

Zeres took a step forward, the ground under his feet warming as if the earth itself responded to him.

"I will see Calithar now." he declared with a tone of finality. "Enough stalling and lead me to him unless you want me to get him myself."

Seraphine swallowed. She knew there was no winning against him in a direct confrontation. She was powerful in her own right as the true god’s daughter, but Zeres was... Zeres.

Before she could say anything more, he began walking toward the palace. She moved aside reluctantly, letting him pass.

She watched his broad, half bare back as he strode forward, the pale, soft moonlight reflecting off him like he was crafted from the sun’s own rays. With his almighty rod appearing in his hand, he looked like a judge walking into a courtroom where the verdict had already been decided.

Seraphine hesitated, trying to remain as calm as possible. Not that she cared about him or anything but...

Every logical thought told her not to interfere. Every instinct screamed at her to just leave Zeres be his cocky self. But it was Calithar...!

She sucked in a breath and moved, already regretting her actions.

"Wait."

Before Zeres could turn completely, she rushed in front of him, planting herself firmly in his path. Her arms spread wide, her small figure forming a barrier between Zeres and the way to the throne room.

Zeres stopped in his tracks. Well this was unexpected.

His expression did not shift immediately. Instead, he blinked slowly, almost amused.

Seraphine’s heart raced. She knew what she was doing was foolish. She knew she could be punished. But she could not let him take Calithar. Not when Calithar had suffered more than enough already that a blow like this could break him.

Zeres let out a soft, sarcastic chuckle.

"And what is our dear moon thinking," he asked, "by blocking my way? How unruly of a goddess."

Seraphine did not move. Her gaze remained firm even though her insides trembled.

Zeres’s eyes changed. They darkened with warning. But he stepped closer anyway, the heat from his body radiating against her skin. He leaned his head down until he was close enough for her to feel his breath. With a slow movement, he reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Seraphine frowned at his actions but still kept her arms outstretched.

"You should not frown," he said. "Your beautiful face does not deserve it."

Seraphine hated how calm he sounded. How gentle he pretended to be. His towering frame made her look even smaller than she already was. His power pressed against her like the weight of the sun.

Still, she refused to remove her arms.

Zeres tilted his head slightly.

"You are the true god’s only daughter," he reminded her. "I am sparing you because of that. Step aside."

She did not.

His jaw tightened.

He vanished the rod into his palm and suddenly reached out, grabbing both her wrists. His grip was firm enough to make her gasp but not enough to break bone. Zeres knew he couldn’t hurt her...unless he wanted to become food for leviathan that is.

The fairies, sprites, and other heavenly creatures that scattered about her, hiding in the trees watched anxiously. They fluttered in distress but did not dare interfere. No one could stand against the sun god. Most especially they.

Zeres pulled her closer. Her feet slid on the ground as he dragged her forward until her body touched his. She twisted, trying to break free, but he held both her wrists easily in one hand. The warmth of his body surrounded her, too overwhelming to ignore.

Seraphine knew using her powers against him was like commanding a dog to not bark.

"Do not make me repeat myself a third time, Seraphine," he murmured. His voice dropped lower. "Unless..."

He let his eyes trail deliberately down her form.

"You have something else you want to offer me in exchange for his pardon."

This idiot! If only father was here and bad heard him...

She stiffened instantly.

Her voice shook slightly as she struggled, still trying to maintain her image as a goddess.

"Let me go," she demanded. "Zeres, this is not right."

"Then move."

"I will not. This is my realm and I control it."

Zeres laughed and his fingers tightened around her wrists.

The moment stretched, heavy and tense.

Then another voice cut through the air.

Strong, cold and steady.

"You are here for me. Come get me."

Zeres’s head snapped toward the throne room that was a few feet away.

Seraphine’s eyes widened.

Calithar stood at the entrance. His wings were folded behind him. His expression was unreadable and his presence, though calm, held a pressurizing force.

Zeres released Seraphine’s wrists.

The sun god smiled slightly, as if satisfied.

"Good," he said. "You saved me the trouble of dragging you out."

Calithar’s eyes flicked to Seraphine briefly. She stepped back, rubbing her wrists, her heart pounding hard enough to shake her chest.

There was a reason why she was so against their marriage and had taken the first opportunity to get out of it. Zeres was insane.

The entire realm fell silent.

The three gods stood in a triangle of tension that could break the sky itself.