Page 320 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Wielding a black sword with glowing ruins, tendrils of black and gold magic dissipate from its length as I carve indiscriminately through flesh and bone, leaving only pools of blood, and mutilated corpses in my wake.
Gods, no... This can’t be me.
This has to be some kind of manipulation... an illusion.
The scene around me shifts for me to find Mareina slaughtering what I somehow inherently recognize to bemynephilim warriors.
My lips part, breath held, as I watch myself diving from on-high, sword poised to administer a final blow. Before I can reach her, a drakonati with turquoise and golden scales swoops down to absorb it. The flesh of its throat parts, spraying viscous bloodacross me before spilling to feed the dusty soil beneath as he plummets.
I don’t know who this drakonati is outside someone of great significance, because a blood-curdling and tortured scream erupts from Mareina’s chest as the ground rumbles beneath us, followed by the cracking thunder of new gorges splitting, spiderwebbing out into the horizon. Another roar of anguish sounds from nearby as her crowned mate descends, striking the ground like a meteor.
The scene shifts again to reveal the worst memory of them all.
Mareina clutches onto the face of the dragon, its vacant eyes tilted heavenward, as violent sobs wrack her body. Barely intelligible words spill from her lips, “No, no, no. Please, you can’t leave..."
The grief consuming her devours me—is somehow pouring into me. My body burns with the wrongness of this fate—herfate. With the need to turn back time, and the horror and helplessness at being unable to do so.
All at once, my mind is yanked away and returned to the guest bedroom.
Hollowness pervades my entire being.
Eyes reddened, Mareina’s emotion spills down her cheeks—a mirror to my own, or perhaps, vice versa—as her serpent returns and she drops my hand.
However insufficient, I can’t help but offer the words. “I wish more than anything?—”
With a subtle shake of her head, she silences me. “You don’t deserve the reprieve of death. What I revealed to you, is only a fragment of the suffering you have inflicted upon me. Upon the realms.”
Her tone softens in a way that emphasizes the verity of her words. “Soon enough, you’ll come to realize for yourself that thisworld would be a better place without you, and you’ll be grateful for my gift.”
Mareinawillsa gleaming silver pin that radiates a foreboding magic into her hand. “I had my mother imbue it with her power for you."
With a trembling hand I accept the pin. Its magic hums through me like being hooked up to an electrical outlet.
“... God-killing magic.”
Persephone’s previous admission echoes in my mind—my former self’s desire for death.
And now I understand why.
Pity, of all things, softens the edges of Mareina’s hardened stare as she watches me. “For when that time comes.”
Mareinafoldsaway, leaving me to be tortured by visions of a past I don’t recognize and all the guilt that follows.
The pin grows blurred in my tear-laden vision.
No wonder I wanted to die.
I’m a fucking monster.
A tremor takesresidence in my hands as I consider her gift and the salvation it promises from this pain.
The world would be a better place without you.
Something deep inside me knows it to be true.
I lift a finger towards the tip of the pin.
And hesitate.
