Page 48 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

Well, all but one.

Alira is the queen.

The only player that Venus cares about getting to the end.

Pluto clears his throat and sits up more from his lounging position. “Of course, Venus needed you alive for this time-loop curse to work. So she begged me for my help. I wasn’t sure at first. But when I saw Alira’s pure heart and plea to save you in Florum Forest after you were cut down by her people, I couldn’t say no.”

Shock ripples through me. I thought that Pluto had taken mercy on me that day. That the gods all turned on us except for him. But was it just Venus’s coercion that changed his mind?

Was everything from then to now, my entire life…just for Alira to survive? For her to escape her fate?

“So if not for Alira’s altered fate…” I trail off, incapable of saying more.

“You would’ve died long ago in Florum Forest. That’s all that was ever written for you. A soul in Mortem and never the Blood Knight,” Venus says as she stands and walks toward one of the pools at the edge of the cave. “I should’ve known the Fates wouldn’t make it so easy, though. They found good use for you. You were the only factor that continued to change.”

“But…why all of this?” I hate how raspy I sound, bubbling with emotions that I wish I didn’t have. “All this pain and suffering, all this death for one demigod?”

It’s an honest question. The gods have had little regard for us for so long. What do they care what happens to us now? Why Alira?

Venus and Pluto share a look that suggests that they aren’t sure whether or not they should share that part with us. But Venus ultimately concedes.

“The Fates gave me two outcomes for my daughter. One that always ended in her demise, and another that resulted in the unity of both Devicit and Alzhor. In one reality, and one alone, do you end the war and both demons and demigods end in peace,” Venus says, staring at Alira. Everything about the goddess is so calm that it almost feels like we are talking to a statue.

Alira fidgets with her hands and shifts uncomfortably. “That is the one I want,” she whispers.

My eyes widen. She still wants that? Even after everything I’ve done. I bite my lower lip to keep my expression empty.

Pluto stands slowly in one effortless motion and walks in front of the chessboard in the center of the table that our chairs are circled around. It begs the question of who he’s been playing chess with and for how long.

He bends down and picks up a knight, knocking a bishop off the board before setting down the knight piece. Pluto’s cold gray hand then moves to the queen on the opposing team and lifts it. He studies the board methodically, the piece still in his hand, his head tilted in thought.

“Once upon a demon’s heart, it was done—only written in gilded blood can it be undone.” Pluto’s words are chilling as he sets down the queen piece, near the knight.

Alira’s eyes widen. Has she heard this saying before? “What does that mean?” she asks quietly, avoiding looking in my direction.

Pluto smiles and glances up at her. He throws back his hood, revealing dark hair and cold eyes that look like coal. “The Fates will only consider prayers written in gilded blood, but they always take things to create balance.”

Alira gives him a frustrated look. Only then does she look at me.

“I don’t understand. What would I write⁠—”

Venus interrupts her. “Something was lost that must now be replaced.”

I look between the three of them. What has been lost? Our trust in one another? “But aren’t we already dead? What good would our prayers do down here?” I ask.

Venus draws with her finger in the air, gold flecks falling in its wake like embers from a campfire. She whispers, “You are neither dead nor living. Yet you both hold the only blessing to save your kingdoms.”

“Enough of the riddles,” I snap.

Venus studies me for a moment and says, “I’m afraid that is all I can say.”

Pluto lifts his hood back over his head, motioning for Alira and me to follow him across that area toward a dark pool of water that surrounds the rock we stand on.

“Come. Look and see what has become of your kingdoms, what ruin has brought. This will continue until neither side is left. If you two cannot stop the fighting, there will be nothing to return to. You must hurry. Make your way through Mortem together; don’t lose yourself to your lies. Only once you overcome the dead that haunt you will you find the answers and peace you seek.” Pluto nods to the pool of water. Alira and I both look down into it.

Darkness collects like a storm cloud beneath the surface, swirling until it breaks apart, revealing a bird’s-eye view of warring kingdoms clashing together far below.

Screams erupt from the kingdom, my kingdom, burning in massive flames, the way I watched Alzhor burn to rubble in the time loops.