Page 14 of Incarnate

“Oh my god, why? What’s wrong with my soul? What did I do? That Seraph man said that there was something off⁠—”

“Nothing is wrong with your soul, but Kallúm will be sending everything. And harming anyone that touches you, no doubt.” The skies darken into a storm, and Bonhilda laughs. “He must have just discovered you’re not at the platform any longer… he is going to be enraged. Margaret is not going to be happy. Good. She’s too cocky for being so young at her job.”

I watch as the bruised sky darkens so much that it appears as if a hurricane might be approaching. Rain patters against the glass of the carriage. “The weather reflects his anger?”

“When you first left the Underworld, Penelope, it stormed for a decade.”

K A L L Ú M

Just before he learns…

Ruling has a balance that many mistake for patience. If I’m lucky, the Godless will see this as such, but I’m more aware than they’re prepared for.

Bats fly overhead as I sit outside the mouth of a cave. The forest is thick around me, leaves changing their hue and dropping to the ground. The succubus who operates for reconnaissance in these forests saunters out, her hips swaying with an instinct of her kind.

“A personal visit. I am honored, Dominus.”

“You have knowledge from the Krim Pantheon?” I ask, turning to look at her.

Whoever is leading the Godless has taken on the name of Krim. A god of nothing, worshipped by those who aimlessly devote themselves. The irony of their situation is not lost on me.

The succubus smiles, settling on a rock near me, her thin dress clinging to the curves of her body. “Yes, we know who he is. We have eyes on a close confidant and are learning about his motives. His growth has slowed with paganism returning to Earth.”

I slowly move my gaze to the forests once more before glancing down at my sword that I had just cleaned. The vanum are Godless creatures, distortions of flesh. They have permeated through many Realms, including my own. “I just slayed nearly fifty vanum, Ayla. That is unacceptable. Their presence is also why I am here in person, not to hear what could be written in a scroll.” I slide my gaze to her. The succubus stiffens and watches me carefully. “But while I’m making the visit, I wanted to impress upon you the importance of learning who controls the vanum when they breech our borders. If you do not learn more by the next moon cycle, our agreement is voided.”

Her eyes widen before regaining composure. “Yes, Dominus.”

I glance at the spot on her arm where a raven in mid-flight is inked onto her skin. It’s something I give to those within my circle, the ink burning their skin as I try to contact them. The hotter it burns, the more important it is for them to find me.

She’s useful at doing what a Succubus does, extracting life force and information from the males and females she beds. Ayla, in particular, excels at her ways.

I reclaim my sword and resheathe it, standing on my feet. “Do whatever you must.”

She perks up, leaning forward. “I was able to get into the dreams of the Pope recently.”

I snort. “While I’d love to witness that kind of panic, it’s not really useful for the godless.” I give her one more glare, removing all humor. “One more moon cycle.”

I stride forward, leaving the cave behind as a harrowing cry echoes from deep behind me. It’s not my business what they choose to do in there, as long as they keep to their caves.

It always comes back to that balance. Human devotion cannot thrive if fear is the only supply. It’s a weak, distorted version of reverence. But many of my creatures in Nethram thrive on human fear, and they play their part in humanity seeking me out to give them protection.

That will have to change if we cannot understand the war with the Godless, however. It’s manageable, for now, but that’s not enough for me.

I enter the shadows of the forest, the small break from the chaos of my ruling even more valuable in this brevity. All the creatures seem to avoid me, lurking behind thick tree trunks, dead things pinned among branches from the Gralloch; a beast that called for my help with the vanum.

I peer through the darkness, spotting two very small glowing orbs in the distance, a massive shadow surrounding them. The guttural sound of his purring reaches me⁠—

My attention moves forward when I scent the ocean, its salty tang branching through the dead foliage. I move a little faster until I reach the edge of the forest line, the terrain dropping down a cliffside that overlooks a port.

The ocean of any kind will always be my true home…

She will forever be.

I watch the waves lapping at the shore, parts of my history forgotten, and yet my soul recognizes the allure. I sit down at the edge, a small forest creature scurrying over with a dead squirrel in its mouth, dropping its mangled carcass near me as an offering.

It’s a small act, but anything helps connect me further to these lands. Something Nara had lost over time as humanity lost access to her pantheon. It’s the reason she was weak at all, until I came across her and recognized who she was to me—a sense of foreboding rises in my chest, my brows furrowing as I look all over the sea stacks that waves spray around, as if information will come out at any moment.

The conch shell strung on a silver chain warms underneath my clothes, hot against my chest.