The Reaping of the Gods

Chapter 12

Walking hand in hand with Luke in the lakeside meadow. The only sounds were coming from the forest. Birds, wind through the trees, etc. He turns and smiles at me. I've never felt so peaceful.

"I love you, Larissa" He says putting a flower behind my ear. " I'm going to miss you."

"Please don't make me go." I whisper through my tears.

"I have no choice. I'd keep you forever if I could, my little human." He lifts my chin up with his finger, locking eyes with me before leaning in and placing a deep kiss on my lips. It felt like heaven. "It's time to go."

He takes a large step back, leaving me feeling utterly alone. I reach out for him.

"Please, don't make me go." I beg through tears.

"You need to leave, NOW." His voice gets low and demanding, a growl escaping his sneer. He starts panting like an animal getting agitated. Then I notice his wings emerging from his back in a burst of flames. Before my eyes he starts growing and changing into some sort of demon. Red skin, devil horns, claws and hoofs for feet. I'd never seen something so scary in my life. I start stepping backwards but fall over on my butt losing my footing. He towers over me.

"LEAVE."

I startle awake. I don't remember when I fell asleep. I cried until I passed out. I woke up to the giddy buzz going on in the room. Everyone was excited for the Selection. Everyone but me. I was dreading it. I get out of bed and start packing my things. I started going through all the gifts and clothes given to me by Set and decided only to keep the beautiful green dress. Everything else I'd let the girls pick through. I wasn't going to need it or want it.

"Are you okay, Larissa?" Josie grabbed my attention. I hadn't even realized she was sitting on her bed across from me.

"Umm no. But I will be."

Josie walked over plopped on the bed beside me and wrapped her arms around me. She had been my best friend since I'd been here. And I hate to say it but I grew closer to these girls then I had with any girls at home including my best friend, Danica.

"You don't have to go home. You could stay and live with me and Alec. You could open your own little bakery here."

"I know, Josie. But I think I need to go and forget about any of this. I'll never forget you though." I lean over and we hug. A deep embrace between good friends. I sigh resigned to my fate of this just becoming a faded memory.

Then, pain. Excruciating pain right over my heart. Feels like burning. The crippling pain doubles me over and I fall off the bed writhing in pain.

"Larissa what's wrong? ANAYA. Help. Someone help. Oh my gods. ANAYA!!" I could hear Josie's panicked screams and pleas for help but my vision started going blurry before I eventually passed out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beep.....Beep.....Beep.

I'm roused awake by the sound of a beeping hospital machine. Do gods even need hospitals? I crack open my eyes a bit and look at the room. It looked like a plain hospital room. I jump out of bed in a panic. They sent me home. I run to the blinds and pull them open. Infront of me is still Sovengrad. Thank gods. I am staring out the window, relieved I'm still here and realize I can't go home. Even that 10 second thought that I was home was hard. Then I remember the burning pain in my chest. I look down at the hospital gown and pull it open taking a look at my chest when I notice a weird mark on my chest.

I run to the bathroom adjoined to my room and take a look in the mirror. There is what looks like a horizontal 8 or an infinity symbol with a cross on top, but the cross has two horizontal crosses on one vertical line. Its bright red and sore to the touch.

"Knock Knock." Anaya calls out from the door to my room. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, What happened?" I walk back to my bed and sit down. Anaya joins me and grabs my hand, craddling it in both of her hands. Like she's about to give me bad news.

"You were chosen." Anaya explains. "The mark on your chest is a gods mark. This is how they used to choose wives. They would choose a woman and claim her via the gods mark burned through her chest into her heart."

"I thought we got to choose before they marked us?"

"We do now. But back then it was not a choice for the woman. And unfortunately someone has taken that choice away from you as well." Anaya lowers her head in contemplation. The words settling.

"Well can't I just say no? Like say no I don't want to be with you?" I ask timidly.

"I'm sorry Larissa, but these marks cannot be undone. You are now the wife of the god who marked you." Anaya put her hand on mine, squeezing it in some sort of sign of reassurance.

"I don't understand. How can this just take away my choice?" I argue pointing at the mark on my chest.

Anaya grabs my shoulders looking deep into my eyes, making sure I'm listening.

"If you fight this marriage, the mark could kill you." My heart sank. How could be someone be so cruel that they'd force me into marriage or death.

Oh my gods, Set. This is something he would do. Force me to be his wife or I die. Part of me thinks he'd take pleasure in each scenario.

"I understand this is upsetting news. I'm so sorry, Larissa." Anaya pulls me into her arms and I can't help but sob. Tears rolling down my cheeks, Anaya rubbing my back consoling me.

"I can't be married to Set." I whisper under my breath. Anaya pulls away from me.

"Hunny, Set didn't mark you." Her words shocked me and then relief.

"But then who did?"

"I did." A voice from the open hospital door. I turn and see.... Luke.