Chapter 2: Sanctis
1651 Words
"Cassian doesn't want her to be disturbed," a male voice spoke from the darkness.
"Well, Cassian isn't here, is he?" a woman retorted.
Still caught between sleep and wakefulness, I felt a hand run through my hair. My eyes flew open, and my body jolted upright. I scrambled away from the woman, who regarded me as though I were some exotic, glittering object she had never seen before.
I glanced around frantically, struggling to piece together where I was. The last thing I remembered was the faces of my family before Cassian's flames had carried us away.
"Now you've frightened her," the man said, leaning against the bedroom door.
I sat at the edge of an unnecessarily enormous bed, my back pressed against the headboard. If I hadn't been so disoriented, I might have appreciated the beauty of the room. Strange artefacts adorned the space, alongside a golden table and vanity with a mirror positioned to one side. Beyond them stood a set of large glass doors that opened onto a balcony.
Outside, the sky was a blend of pink and blue, with stars glimmering in the distance.
"Can't you speak, human? I asked you a question," the woman demanded, settling herself on the edge of the bed.
I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the strange sky and examined her.
She wore a red gown that flowed past her feet, and her matching red hair was arranged in a style I had never seen before. The man standing behind her had short blue hair and, like Cassian, wore flowing robes adorned with golden ornaments.
They were undoubtedly gods, yet neither of them carried the same overwhelming presence as Cassian.
In his presence, I had felt as though I could barely control my own body. These two were different.
"Where am I?" I asked the woman.
She glared at me.
"How dare you speak to a god as though you were her equal? You do not question me, human!"
Her voice grated against my ears as she screamed the words. Behind her, the blue-haired god snickered, clearly entertained by our exchange.
Perhaps it was foolish bravery, but her haughty words did not sit well with me.
"Last time I checked, I'm the wife of a god, so that makes us equals," I retorted, my anger fuelled by the circumstances that had brought me here.
Her green eyes began to glow.
The blow came harder than my father's had.
My head snapped to the side, and I tumbled off the bed, landing painfully on the floor.
"You can't do that, Iris!" her companion hissed, rushing towards her before she could inflict any further damage.
I clenched my aching jaw, watching as he pulled Iris away from me.
My mother had always said I had a penchant for never keeping my mouth shut. At that moment, however, I felt no regret. The only thing I resented was the throbbing ache in my jaw.
All my life, I had been treated as though I were less than a person. I was tired of it. If refusing to let anyone, god or mortal, treat me like vermin meant risking my life, then so be it.
"Do you see how she's glaring at us, Silas?" Iris demanded, still struggling to free herself from his grasp.
"You started it," I muttered, slowly rising to my feet.
Iris's eyes began to glow again, and I braced myself for another blow.
Then someone cleared their throat.
Cassian stood at the far end of the room, his face devoid of expression.
"I see you've met my bride. And acquainted her face with your hand, too."
His voice was calm, almost conversational, but Iris visibly faltered. Whatever courage she had possessed moments earlier seemed to evaporate in his presence.
"I was only correcting her," she mumbled.
Silas sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Forgive her, Cassian. She will never make that mistake again."
In the blink of an eye, Cassian appeared beside Iris.
"The next time you lay a hand on what is mine, I will not be so forgiving," he said, his tone as casual as though he were discussing the weather.
It wasn't a threat. He was simply informing her of what would happen.
Iris bowed her head and apologised.
"Why did you let her in?" Cassian asked, directing his attention towards Silas, who seemed considerably more relaxed around him.
"I told you to guard her door, not study her."
"Iris insisted, and I wanted to see how it would all play out," Silas replied with a shrug.
Cassian offered no response. A moment later, both gods vanished from the room, leaving me alone with him.
Finally, he turned his attention to me.
"What are you going to do to me?" I asked quietly when he remained silent.
"What do you want me to do to you, Serena?" he asked in return.
My heart fluttered at the way he spoke my name. I quickly looked away, unsettled by the intensity of his gaze.
Marriage came with certain obligations, but I wasn't afraid of my marital duties. Not when my life was already hanging by a thread.
According to the books written about the women who had married Cassian, none had survived beyond a year. Their bodies were eventually returned to their families for burial.
Since no human had ever visited the realm where the gods resided, no one knew why the princesses died. All anyone knew was that they did.
"Are you going to kill me?" I asked.
He hummed thoughtfully, considering my question.
That only heightened my fear.
"Why would I kill you? You are my bride, as your people call you."
I remained silent, prompting him to continue.
"You and I are bound by a promise I made to the first King of Edoria. You are a gift to me, and in return, I bless your kingdom. So the story goes, generation after generation..."
"So, a sacrifice," I muttered under my breath.
He chuckled.
"It isn't all that bad. You are showered with things your mortal mind cannot comprehend. You are given a good life and a position others would envy."
How could I explain to a god that none of those things mattered to me? Not when all I wanted was to see my family pay for what they had done.
Revealing my desire for revenge would expose the deception my kingdom had woven around this union. And if Cassian discovered the truth, I could end up dead at his hands—or my father's.
That was without even considering the part about not surviving a year.
"Where are we?" I asked, turning my attention towards the beautiful sky.
Cassian extended his hand towards me, and I hesitantly placed my palm in his.
Thankfully, he didn't disappear in a flash of fire. Instead, he guided me towards the glass doors leading to the balcony.
"This is Sanctis. My home, and now yours until you die. You are in my domain of Light, under my authority, just like every other being who resides here."
I took in the view of towering trees and peculiar flowers as the cool air brushed against my skin.
Just like its ruler, Sanctis was breathtakingly beautiful. The trees were unnaturally tall, their branches reaching towards a sky that resembled an eternal sunset, scattered with stars. The flowers looked strange, unlike anything I had ever encountered, yet there was an undeniable beauty to them.
"You are to obey me without question, never leave my territory without my permission or presence, and never forget your place."
"And what is my place?" I asked.
"You are a mortal amidst gods. Iris may have struck you, but you are alive only because you belong to me. Older gods like myself will not be so kind."
He delivered the words with unsettling casualness.
"What would they do to me?"
Cassian leaned against the balcony railing.
"Some might blink you out of existence. Others might..." He paused briefly. "...use you."
His words left far too much to the imagination, and my mind readily supplied the worst possibilities.
"Enough about that," he said, dismissing the subject as though it were of little consequence. "I will assign Bela to you. She will serve as your guard and assist you whenever you require help."
He guided me back into the bedroom.
The glass doors closed behind us without anyone touching them.
"Bela," Cassian called.
A mist gathered in the room, swirling before taking shape. Moments later, a short goddess appeared beside him.
Like Cassian, she wore flowing robes adorned with golden ornaments. Her eyes were the same brilliant gold as his, and her hair was a mass of deep-black curls that seemed to float weightlessly around her head.
"She will help you prepare," Cassian said.
I frowned, confused.
"Prepare for what?"
He looked at me.
"Our actual wedding."
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