Temple of Vengeance

I am not a hero. I never wanted to become a god. The demon lords of the underworld took my wife and unborn child far too soon. I will take back what is mine. And whatever else I must to do it. When she sighed, the goddess’ breath was heavy and moist, smelling of pomegranate and coconut and allspice. “I cannot bring her back to you, Z’nnek.” My heart could not have sunk any lower nor my resolve become any more unyielding. A blank black slate, my mind refused to produce a next plan. My heart stopped and refused to break.

Becoming a goddess wasn’t what I planned for today. Death made me an offer I couldn't refuse. But I'm in love with the archangel who is his oldest and best friend. “You have been friends for a millennium,” I said. Perhaps as much as a god and his angel could be friends, I thought. “It would be cosmically stupid for you to allow a woman to ruin such love.” I held their hands tight as they flinched and tried again to pull away. But they were looking at me now, not each other, which is what I wanted. Focus on me, boys, I thought to myself, selecting my next words carefully.

It is cold to walk in the shadow of a newborn goddess. When tasked to do the impossible, sometimes even the righteous must disobey.“What do you seek of my Raven Queen?” He opened his mouth —I’m sure to object or demand —but I tilted my head and smiled at him from behind my curtain of scarlet curls with all the womanly radiance I could muster. He was my windfall, the solution to my current problem set for me by Illyria herself. For all my training and years of practice as a bedslave, I also wanted, nay, needed this god to bend to my will. He did.

We are what we remember. I remember being betrayed and murdered. I remember rising from my own grave. I remember my vengeance upon the Chosen of Tyrr. I remember my victories, my defeats, and my sins. With all eternity stretched out before me, all I want is to forget. Hounded by my mother, my lovers, my friends, my allies, and everyone who craves something from me, there is no peace to be found anywhere. Worst of all is the Lady of the Dread Hunt whose twisted agenda leaves me aroused and confused. Am I her predator or her prey?