To Kill a God by C.S. Wilde

Chapter 21

“I’m going there right now,”Belinda snarled from the blue screen inside Beta Three’s chest. “That bastard is up to something.”

“It could be a diversion,” Mera countered, but if that was the case, what could be the prick’s end goal?

Azinor couldn’t take Tagrad without conquering Atlantea first, or so she’d thought. Now the protection zone was gone, and Tagrad was left exposed.

Uncle Barrimond snatched the device they used to communicate from Belinda’s hands. “Belinda will go with a convoy of our best officers. Beta Three is authorized to attack anyone who threatens their lives once they arrive.”

The situation was escalating quickly.

“He won’t have to, Uncle. Lunor Insul is providing sanctuary to waterbreakers, but the political situation on our end is complicated. Sending more of our people right now—”

“You can’t stop this, dear.”

Mera clicked her tongue, searching for arguments. “You need Bel, and any officer you can spare, to hold the fort in Atlantea.”

“Giving you a few officers will hardly cripple us.” It was Professor Currenter who spoke, taking the device. His face nearly filled the screen. “Our soldiers are ready, and so are the automatons. Besides, Belinda managed to shoot Poseidon in the head. She’s the best choice to protect you. We have everything under control on our end, rest assured.”

“I don’t need protection,” Mera countered begrudgingly. “I can take care of myself. Also, I have Bast.”

Belinda snatched the device again, her brow raised. “Oh, you mean the nightling who got his tail handed to him at the isles?”

“Officer Tiderider might have a point,” Beta Three noted in his usual, droning monotone, looking down at Mera from above his open chest.

“You should learn how to read a room,” she grumbled. Shaking her head, Mera glanced at Belinda. “I think this is reckless at best, and foolish at worst.”

“I’m coming over and that’s that, Mer. We’re taking a few cars at full speed, so expect us within a day.”

“Do you have the map?” The professor’s voice came from the left, though Mera couldn’t see him anymore. “You must check in with me every hour, understand?”

Belinda nodded.

Sighing in defeat, Mera knew there was nothing she could say or do to stop her friend. “Once you approach the shore, send a transmission to Beta Three. Bast will winnow you inside the barrier.”

“Will do. Be there soon.”

“Oh, joy,” Beta Three replied, a certain irony coming through his metallic voice.

“Watch it, pile of rust.” With that, she blinked away.

* * *

Mera set a small,squared projector atop the wine cupboard in the throne room, then connected it to Corvus’ phone, turning it on. A blank screen popped out of thin air, the image wavering and unstable while a tiny drone jumped from the top of the projector, following from above her.

Tagradian technology wasn’t as smooth as her people’s, but it would have to do.

“Are you ready?” she asked Corvus and Bast, who stood ahead, facing the screen.

“Born ready,” her hart countered.

Corvus simply served himself a glass of red wine and nodded in agreement.

She turned to Beta Three, who watched a white marbled statue they’d placed on the left side of the room, near the arches that showed a cloudy sky outside.

The statue depicted an Autumn fae atop a squared stand. She stood on the tip of her toes, her draconian wings nearly twice her size. Long, curly hair seemed to flutter gently behind her, even if the statue didn’t move. The level of detail was astonishing; Mera could even spot the folds on the slender female’s dress, and the dimples in her smiling cheeks. The woman forever watched a marbled butterfly on her index finger.

“How about you, Beta Three?” Mera asked.

“I’m fine. Such beautiful artwork…”

“I have tons more like it,” Corvus added mindlessly, taking a sip of his wine. “The artist is a good friend, you see. She likes givingme things.” A wicked grin spread on his lips.

“Too much information,” Mera snapped just as the image of four councilors popped to life, each on a separate little square inside the holo-screen.

The picture blinked and wavered. Sometimes the colors intensified, others they vanished altogether.

Bast stepped closer with his hands behind his back. “Where’s Colin?”

“He won’t be attending,” the werewolf councilor, a man named Harry Trotter if Mera wasn’t mistaken, answered with disdain. “He has bigger priorities, it seems. But he’s given me written confirmation that he’ll agree with the majority’s vote, so we may proceed.”

“Busy, you say?” Corvus chortled in the back. “Ashamed is more like it, considering the trick this council pulled on us. How the tables turn. Now, Lunor Insul is safe and you’re not.”

An annoyed gruff rumbled in the wolfman’s chest, but he didn’t counter.

“Detective Maurea.” Councilor Adams watched her with relief. His hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes glassy. He’d lost weight, too. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“So am I,” she countered politely. “The people of Atlantea rescued me from Azinor.”

“Or so you say, siren.” The witch councilor from Evanora scoffed, a female with curly blond hair and pouty lips.

If Mera’s memory didn’t fail her, the witch’s name was Mia Hammond, and she’d been re-elected twice in a row.

Bast crossed his arms, a cold fury beaming from him. “You will show Detective Maurea respect. She dedicated her life to this country and—”

“She broke the law,” Mia Hammond cut him off, her hazel eyes oozing with hate. “She must atone for her crimes.”

“Her crimes? You’re clueless if you think—”

“Good luck with that, slatch.” Corvus raised a glass to the four squared images. “The detective is under Lunor Insul’s protection. You do remember us, yes? We’re a little island that’s incredibly vulnerable without the protection zone, in case you forgot. You didn’t inform us for a whole day that the spell was gone, but do tell me again how my people are an important part of Tagrad, you shigs.” He took a long gulp. “Thank Danu we watch out for our own.”

“I was against that choice, by the way,” Councilor Adams added, looking less than pleased with his peers.

“We, as a group, did not want to create panic.” Harry Trotter’s tone was cold and devoid of any emotion. “Surely you understand that decision. We kept the rest of Tagrad in the dark just like you, and at this point, I should remind you that you have a magic barrier, while we do not.”

“Not my sarking problem, malachai,” he snarled. “Especially after your little stunt. You can all burn as far as I’m concerned.”

“Corvus,” Mera chided. “Azinor is already three steps ahead. We cannot win if we fight amongst ourselves.”

“I must remind the Night King that Lunor Insul is under Tir Na Nog’s jurisdiction,” the vampire councilor added shily, a woman with pearly skin and red hair whose name Mera couldn’t remember. “His compliance is not simply desirable; it’s determined by law.”

Corvus looked to the sides as if searching for someone. “I don’t see Colin forcing me to comply. Do you?”

“Night King, please,” Councilor Adams asked wearily. “We can discuss proper atonement later.”

That seemed to appease him. Shrugging, Corvus took another sip of his wine.

“The war will soon be upon us, and we must be ready.” Mera stepped forward, facing the holo-screen. The little drone hovered from above, filming her. She pointed to the automaton standing behind them, who still observed the statue with a certain sadness. “Councilors, this is Beta Three. He’s a machine from Atlantea.”

Taking his cue, Beta Three approached, his steps heavy on the marble. When he reached Mera’s side, he bowed his head slightly. “It is a delight to meet you, Councilors.”

They gasped in shock.

“I thought it was just an ugly statue!” Harry Trotter exclaimed, his eyes shining a bright gold as his canines sharpened—a wolf’s response to a threat, even if from afar.

A wrinkled frown captured Mia Hammond’s forehead. “What sort of abomination is this?”

“Is it alive?” the vampire councilor asked. Unlike her peers, she stared at Beta Three with more curiosity than shock. So did Councilor Adams.

Cocking his head to the side, Beta Three seemed to consider his answer. “It depends on your definition of alive, Councilor.”

“This is Atlantea’s prime creation.” Mera nodded to the automaton in a go ahead.

He bowed slightly, then turned to the statue. When Beta Three opened his mouth, blue plasma burst from the back of his throat. It smashed against the marbled woman, disintegrating her with a loud boom. A cloud of dust rose in the air, and when it settled, only the statue’s ankles remained.

“Dear God,” Councilor Adams mumbled.

“Twenty-one thousand. That’s how many automatons Atlantea possesses right now,” Mera explained. “My people could have attacked Tagrad without losing one single siren. They could have conquered us a long time ago, and yet, they didn’t. King Wavestorm is a kind and fair ruler, and he needs our help.”

“Your people are safe. Poseidon cannot attack on two fronts,” the witch scoffed. “He destroyed the protection zone for a reason. He plans on attacking us, not them.”

“And yet, he’s doing both.” Bast stepped forward, approaching Mera. “By the way, how did he do it? I’d always assumed the protection zone was indestructible.”

The councilors exchanged a weary glance, and the witch shifted nervously in her seat. “He attacked the protection pillars with powerful warlock magic, somehow escaping before the whole complex exploded.”

“The watch guards were killed,” Councilor Adams added with a world of grief. “All fifty of them.”

“Don’t you see? Azinor infiltrated both realms. He can come and go as he pleases.” Mera pointed at Beta Three. “If he conquers Atlantea, he’ll have twenty-one-thousand automatons at his disposal, plus phasers and technology beyond your wildest dreams. It’s a risk we cannot take. We must unite with my people—”

“We?” Harry Trotter cleared his throat. “We will not be strong armed. An emergency assembly will be held in the mainland, where we will decide the next steps. Including your fate, Ms. Maurea.”

Miss, not detective. Her fists balled.

Mera was safe in Lunor Insul. Colin Asherath wouldn’t dare go against Corvus—few ever would—but the moment she stepped on the mainland, she would be arrested. It was why the councilor insisted on it.

“You have lost your sarking minds,” Bast sneered, stepping closer to the wine cabinet. “The assembly will be held in Lunor Insul, where Mera has sanctuary. If you need to vote on something so simple, do it quickly. Time is of the essence.” Slamming his palm on the projector, he turned it off. The holo-screen blinked away.

Before Mera could say anything, the device beeped, and Councilor Adams’ square blinked back on, floating in the air.

“The meeting went better than I’d expected, albeit still disastrous.” He chuckled to himself. “I’ll convince the council. You have my word the meeting will take place in Lunor Insul.”

“I take issue with your word,” Bast retorted. “It doesn’t mean much these days.”

“Bast, he’s trying.” Mera bowed her head to Councilor Adams. “Thank you, Peter. I wish your colleagues understood what’s at stake as well as you do.”

“They will, which brings me to my next point. I can easily sway Erinna from Kazania to vote against Mera’s trial, but Trotter and Hammond are another story. They want blood.” Lowering his head, he fumbled with his fingers. “Sebastian, you have to win Colin over. We will need his vote to sway things our way.”

“Colin hates me.” Bast scoffed. “That thick-headed malachai will never—”

“You and Corvus are definitely on his blacklist. That needs to change if we’re to bring him to our side, understand?”

“But—”

“We don’t have another choice.” His screen vanished.

Corvus’ jaw hung open, his eyes wide. Slowly setting his wine glass on the counter, he muttered quietly. “There has to be another way.”

“There isn’t.” Bast stared at Mera, horror stamped in his clear, blue eyes. “Kitten, we’re fucked.”