Viper and the Gods

CHAPTER ONE

THE PLAN

SHIVANI

One harsh truth I've learned about the world is the futility of trust. You cannot have it, not in the god that abandoned us nor in the child loitering outside the shops with their sad eyes. You don't accept anyone's words as truth unless you're prepared to pay for it. Honesty is a rare commodity, and those who possess it don't survive for long. A moment of mercy can cost you everything. The world is cruel, but I can be worse.

At least, that's what my mom taught me. I wonder if she's repeating that to the keeper of the under realm.

Before my time, in an era I'm not sure I believe ever existed, the Goddess of the Moon and her sister, the Goddess of Starlight, crafted our realm. The Goddess of Starlight grew envious of her sister after she wed the God of the Sun. Our realm flourished for a brief period until the news of a child to be born from the Goddess of the Moon spread. In a fit of jealousy, the Goddess of Starlight slew the God of the Sun and imprisoned her sister, the Goddess of the Moon, within a tree. The Goddess of Starlight took her sister and departed our realm, leaving the other gods behind, too. They continued their rule in a state of perpetual anger.

Our king now calls himself a god-king. He claims he has the blood of the gods in his veins and that he is the last remaining line to speak to them. All the kings have the same name and enraged temper, even with different faces. Not many of us believe him; there's no trace of Gods left. No trace of humanity, either.

The only ones who disagree live inside the lines that separate our fates. I live on the outside of those lines. I've been a burden since I was old enough to remember. My father left to look for a woman who could bear him better fruit from his seed, fruit with more use, and my mother only kept me so I could earn her coin. It's easy for me to see the king's lies, but he keeps us so low that there's nothing we can do. We spend all of our time worrying about the next meal. No one has the means to revolt.

Besides the stories of our god-king, we were told tales about demons and how their price was always high. We had better deny them if they showed up. I was already paying a high price for life with nothing to show for it. I was already walking the line of death every day. There was no price higher for me. When he offered me blood magic and a chance to hurt my mother the way she hurt me, I agreed without hesitation.

When he told me all he wanted in return was my soul, that price was not higher to me than the overwhelming wave of relief and joy that washed over me when I pulled every drop of blood from my mother's body and heard her heart stop. It was a fair price because with it came the ability to listen to her last thoughts while she left the realm of the living. I adjusted to hearing many thoughts from strangers that I couldn't before the deal.

Today, when the sun woke and the sky shifted from oranges to gold, I killed for the second time. I drained the blood of a girl from a land far away while she slept at the inn. I took every belonging she had with her before I buried her body underneath the most beautiful rose bushes. I sat her small silver, jewel-filled headdress over my red hair after I braided it. I covered myself with her veil and hid my eyes. I wore her red gown filled with delicately designed embroidery, and I took the hand of her coachman. I sat in the seat she would have been placed in and commanded the man to make haste on our journey.

I did my best to slow my breathing. I heard the man's thoughts. He ignored my presence entirely. He forgot I was present at all, and instead, he spent his time moaning and groaning about how he didn't want to be up so early. He considered if he could nap while the horse took us on the correct path. I still could not fully ease my anxiety. I took my time to learn every detail I could of this girl before I killed her. I made sure we looked as similar as we could have. I sifted through the fine details of killing her and where to hide her.

I picked to leave her under the roses our village coveted because it was against the law to dig them up. Claiming to have grown one set of flowers was impressive. Having a row of bushes became part of the town's prized possessions.

She was selected to be one of the girls sent to the castle to be picked for new staffing. I wasn't born into a wealthy family or a position of power, but with a strong sense of will and an even stronger sense of motivation, I was confident I could make up for it. That's more powerful in the end. There were multiple positions to fill. Two that mattered, two for marriage to the princes and common staff. I was going to take the position that mattered. The one of the Queen and nothing less. I spent enough of my life as a maid or worse. I was ready to promote myself.

I took two of my fingers and gently lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. We were already nearing the border of my homeland, Askia, and close to entering Vesper, the kingdom that held the royals. Vesper held a smaller compound of royals who would never rule. They lived without need there. Royal blood was blessed blood, as the king would say. Inbred filth is what most outside the walls would say. Never out loud. Never in mixed company. Our king liked to get creative with punishments. I never knew if the day would bring news of burning, boiling, or becoming food for the crows. I didn't care how they bred themselves out as long as I got into their company.

I knew I'd face one of his creative punishments if caught, but I refused to dwell on the thought. My soul, my afterlife, was sold and done. As long as I ended the god-king line before I was caught, that's all that mattered to me. I would become queen and kill him, regardless of anything else. I would make sure the lesser city children ate instead of going to bed in pain.

Outside the carriage, the landscape was covered in browns and reds. Fall was greeting us quickly. A warning winter wasn't far behind. I hoped to hold the crown with a dead king by my side before next winter. I had been able to make it twenty-two winters so far. Another would pass quickly. With how much I had to do, it would. I woke up today as Shivani, but I would go to sleep tonight as the nameless veiled beauty for only the king's eyes.

The carriage stopped, and with it, my heart dropped into my stomach. I knew we were not at the castle yet, but we would have at least half a day's ride if the horse kept up speed. My mind raced at the thought of the coachman receiving a bird that detailed what I had done. I was prepared to get into that castle and participate in selection no matter how many lives I had to take, but I had hoped my third kill would be the king.

A hand rested on the door to the carriage, and I moved my thumb over the button I kept between my fingers, small and hidden; one press and the dagger I kept strapped to my wrist would release into my hand. I was a young child when I watched a girl do the same to protect herself, and I knew it would also be my first line of defense. If I were to need more, I kept others hidden in different places of my body, too.

The door opened, and my thumb ached to press down. My hand begged to grip the dagger, but my mind told me to wait. I must keep my head level and hold it until the last moment. I practiced slow, deep breathing to keep my presence emotionless. A man was on the other side. He greeted me with a smile that did not meet his eyes. A smile that told me he was no happier being here than I was to have him. I tried to enter his mind, but there was nothing. Not a thought about even the frigid air. He didn't speak to himself of the tacky purple velvet covering the inside of the carriage. Nothing. It meant I couldn't get a glimpse of him to ease my nervousness.

Please, feel free to pretend I'm not here. He nodded in my direction before he moved the curtains to watch the scenery in the same way I had before his arrival.

I didn't know his name, but I knew from the black and gold trim on his clothing that he had to be part of the royals. The best our lands had to offer was theirs to take. From the silks to the healers, they owned it. The rest of us only existed to serve. How he looked at me with his chiseled jaw was the last indication I needed to solidify my assumption. He looked at me as if I were below him. His eyes ran over me, but the veil that was covering all except my lips made it hard for him to take me in fully; it was still enough for him to begin judgment. I was disgusted with him, too. His privileged scent was leaking into every space around us.

I didn't mean to startle you, he said.

I wanted to say that his voice made it hard to pretend he wasn't in my carriage. I wanted to remind him that he permitted me to ignore him, and speaking again was making that hard. What I wanted to do was release my dagger. What I did was give a small laugh like all the well-mannered girls I had watched come in and out of my village, like we were a sight to gawk at.

It's my fault, sir. I startle easy, I smiled.

Your nerves must be high. I should have left a note letting you know I'd be joining for the final stretch to Vesper, he said.

His voice was rough, as if he had spent days yelling or talking more than his vocal cords wanted. He had medium-length white hair and the brightest golden eyes I had ever seen. The contrast between the brightness of his hair and the darkness of his skin was beautiful in the sun.

His presence outside of his looks could have been more impressive. He had the body of a man who fought often but the demand of a lonely barman drunk and drooling on himself while everyone complained of his scent. I left the smile on my face regardless. It helped me stay in character. Adding the softness to my voice was harder.

Please, sir. There's no need to worry. This carriage, the horse, it's all yours after all, I said as I lowered my head.

You can call me Fennic. There's no need to keep saying, sir. You're making me uncomfortable now, he said, his lips turned down.

I apologize again, Sir, I answered.

He sighed and crossed his arms. So, what's your skill, then? Do you cook, sow?

Our eyes lingered on each other momentarily while I considered my answer. There was no way he could see through my veil, but it felt as if he could all the same. I knew I did my work well when I picked this girl. I knew I didn't miss anything I needed to know. I also wasn't stupid enough to think the palace and the royal guard didn't do their homework. My palms gathered moisture again, just as I had convinced them to stop.

I can play many instruments, I responded.

He nodded. I thought with your over-the-top manners, it would have been your family ties that got you in. I suppose something so simple makes sense, too.

I ground my teeth through my smile before answering. No, Sir. My family ties didn't hand me everything, so I could do nothing and still benefit.

A smirk grew on one side of his face, but I still saw no teeth behind his lips.

So, then you know who I am? he asked.

I do not, sir. I can only assume by your attire that you belong within the ranks of the royal family, I said.

The other side of his lips finally lifted and turned his smirk into a smile.

So, then, we may as well gossip while we wait for our arrival. Whom did you come for? The king or one of the princes? Do you care? The prospect of an easy life makes it worth the risk, right? He leaned forward, resting an elbow on his knee.

I wanted to laugh at how easily he thought I would enjoy engaging in this line of questioning. I didn't need to know who he was or read his mind to know my answer would sign my death sooner than I wanted it. His eyes were still locked on mine, and he looked so deep into me that I wondered if he could also read minds.

I am here to do my duty as it's given to me, Sir, I answered.

Oh, come on, it's just us. I heard rumors while I was in Askia that the king was a blood-hungry demon. The princes had become his food bags, and the princesses were his breeding stock. What do you think? he asked.

Blood dropped off my hand from how hard I was digging my nail into the button between my fingers. There was only one way to get blood magic; if I used it so soon, it would set all of my planning and patience back. I could kill him with my dagger. I could kill him and the coachman and claim it was bandits. I could get away with it. I would talk down Askia and embellish its crime rate. I would claim creatures attacked us; there were any number of options I could toss around to make his death seem believable.

Nonsense rumors from starved mouths, I said.

He tossed himself back in his seat. You're probably right, but knowing your answer would have been fun so I could place bets on how close you get.

I didn't answer him because I had hopes that if he were not entertained any further, he would shut his useless mouth. I was looking forward to this ride being quiet—my last line of peace before the games began. He was making the trip insufferable. I didn't realize I had slipped out of my newly formed image and was contorting my face until I caught his lifted brow aimed at me.

Am I disturbing your peace? he asked, dripping sarcasm.

He was interrupting it as well as a rat interrupts a feast.

No, Sir. Your presence is driving away the loneliness of travel, I answered.

You may survive in the palace, he said. I'll place my bets that you at least meet one prince before you die.

Thank you for your blessings, Sir, I said.

Our carriage finally stopped after what felt like hours, and the coachman yelled something I couldn't make out from inside. His eyes rolled over me one last time before the door came open, and a woman stood outside. She was hardly older than I, but she looked as if she had won a grand prize with the arrival of our carriage.

Prince Fennic! She yelled in a shrill voice. You're finally home!

She pulled him by the arm out of a space that felt like it was shrinking around me. Did she say, Prince? I should have killed him. Attending a funeral on my first day would have been better than trying to combat whatever rumors he would spill through the palace. I bet you at least meet one prince. That little sprite licker thought he was being funny. He thought I wouldn't make it past talking with him. I swear if it's the last thing I do, I'll send him to his family crypt.

My lady. Fennic held out his callused hand.

My eyes twitched in unison from the amount of force it took for me to take his hand, but I did take it. I didn't need anything else occurring yet. He held my hand while I walked down the rotted wooden steps of the carriage, and while I was watching the ground to ensure I didn't step on the oversized waste of fabric I was wearing, he flipped my hand palm up so he could see the trigger for my dagger.

Smart girl, he said. Your personality is dull, and your face is mediocre at best, but at least your defense is more exciting.

He handed me off to the care of an attendant and left laughing with the girl who came to greet him. I would need to alter my plans already. My third kill was no longer for the king. It was for Prince Fennic, and I'd save the king for number four. Four kills would be fine. I was damned no matter the number. I'd send those gorgeous golden eyes to the afterlife and let him get a head start on our punishments.

The attendant motioned for me to follow her inside, but I had to hesitate and linger. The sights in my homeland were nothing like the ones that stood in front of me. The castle sat on uneven ground with hardly anything growing near it. The walls were built with some blackened stone I had never seen before. The air felt cold and full. My skin prickled in bumps from the chill, and I knew there had to be spirits lurking inside. The castle was built so high that I feared I would learn I was afraid of heights by the time I could make it to the top. My future castle was beautiful in its own dark way, and when I was in charge, I would have them add more fake flowers outside.

I made sure my veil was tucked properly so that I didn't have to worry about it, and my too-long hair was pressed down and tucked equally as neatly as it could be before I lifted my dress, just enough to go up the stairs behind the attendant safely. I had to make a good impression. I was no fool. I knew the other girls arriving would be just as smart as I or beautiful beyond words. I had to start off my stay running. My eyes were the one thing I was complimented on throughout my life. With a veil that only allowed my lips to show and kept my best asset hiding, I would have to rely on other parts of myself.

Taking the steps, one by one, in the heaviest dress I had ever worn felt like a journey of its own. I couldn't believe we had made it to the top when we did. An earth sprite flew in front of my face and attempted to get a peak under my veil. Swatting at it almost had me crashing down the stairs. A hand placed itself on the small of my back in time to stop me from taking the tumble I certainly would have been injured by. His eyes looked into me. They were red under black hair. How many attractive men could be allowed to live under the same roof?

My apologies, Sir, I whispered.

It's I that should apologize for having such an incompetent attendant. If I had known she'd be so careless as to risk such a jewel, I'd have assigned her to my sister. He gave a husky roll of laughter. Call me Riven in these casual moments.

I felt my heart drop and bile rise in unison.

Thank you for saving me, King Riven. I am in your debt, I smiled.

He pointed at two men, then the attendant. They dragged her off, despite her protests, and another came from behind him quicker than I could have said another sentence. That was power. True power. I'd have it in my hands soon. I'd ensure he received proper payback for these things.

She will show you where you need to be, and I'll be sure to take you up on that debt another time, King Riven said.

I gave him a small, polite smile and the necessary bow before he left the attendant and I behind. She bowed slightly and moved to the side, indicating I go in first. So, I listened and walked ahead of her. It seemed foolish to me; why would she not go first? I had no clue where we were meant to be going. I would only get us lost and have to ask for her to move ahead first anyway.

My steps were further complicated when two more men stood to the side of the only path I could walk. Two more men who looked as if they were chiseled from the most perfect clay that could have been used to make all of us. They both nodded their heads, and every fiber of my being screamed in embarrassment. Even without seeing my full face, they knew I was staring.

That's Prince Coy and Fennic's closest friend, Mori, the attendant whispered.

What are the odds that on my arrival, I would get to make a fool of myself in front of all three brothers? If this was any indication of how my stay would be, I might as well turn around and leave now while I still had my head intact. I was already a fool in over my head.

The attendant pushed my arm just enough to gently guide me to the side and into a doorway. Inside were a handful of girls waiting in a line, without any clothing on at all, and I stopped in my tracks.

The king assigned me to you because he has decided you are to be part of the harem selection, and this is the next natural step in that process. She shoved me with less grace this time.

No one had warned me that I would have to drop all of my clothing. It was laughter-inducing that it was so easy to become part of the selection that I went through so much to get here, and it only took me looking as though I had no brain to get where I wanted to be. I had no time to produce the laughter while being shoved to show every inch of myself, including the weapons.

I have weapons, I leaned over to whisper to her.

She shot a dagger of a look in my direction and gripped my arm this time. She pulled me to the back toilet and held out a hand. I feigned a laugh. That hand was not going to be enough. I leaned down and pulled the knife from my boot; I unstrapped the knife from my calf as well and handed it to her. I unhooked the matching set on the other side before I pulled the two on my left thigh, then the strap, and laid them in her hand as well. She had both hands held up, and I struggled to stifle my laugh at the look on her face.

I took the dagger and the baton from my right thigh. I laid them both in her other hand. I removed the poison darts and the poison-laced hairpins from my chest and handed those over as well.

Are you sure this is it? You don't have any exploding concoctions to go with? She glared.

I snapped my fingers, That would have been a good idea!

Her growl was so audible I was sure it would have been heard outside.

Go, now! She pointed.

She was grumpy, so I listened. She was holding all the weapons now, which helped it feel like I didn't have a choice.

I joined the other girls in the perfectly formed row they had already created, but I kept my clothing with me. I enjoyed it sitting on me, where it belonged.

The woman I could only assume to be the harem leader entered with three attendants behind her and stopped in front of me. I was calm and collected now that I had given my weapons up. What was she to find? I had only one scar, and it was in my hair. An accident from when I was a child.

The woman didn't speak; she only nodded, ever so slightly, to one of the girls beside her.

Both hands were on the neckline of my dress, ripping the fabric to pieces at the seams until I was in only a slip.

If I must ask them to do the rest, you'll end today with a guaranteed scar, the woman said.

It was then that my heart started to beat harder, and I felt my blood boil. If we weren't inside the castle walls, I would hang her myself, but I had an image to form. Most importantly, I found it very hard to keep a handle on the blood magic I traded when my emotions ramped up to high. So, I bit my cheek and listened. I dropped the slip off and stood back up, focusing only on the wall behind them. There were designs in the stone.

The attendant grabbed my wrist, and my heart stopped. I had forgotten one weapon. It was such a part of me that I didn't think of it, and now it was too late.

Weapons, the attendant called.

I only brought it as a form of protection against the possible rumors being true. I wanted to ensure my virtue stayed intact while I was here! I pleaded.

I wanted to do my best to save myself before anything could be said.

Are you implying the castle isn't a safe place? The woman's tone sent a chill down my spine.

She removed the dagger from my wrist, and before I could protest any further, she used it on my braid. She sliced through my cherry red hair and dropped the tail of the braid to the ground between our feet.

Let that be your first lesson. From here, it's the whip.

I didn't watch her walk away; all I could see was my braid. The hair that hadn't ever been cut. The only part of me I always had control over. The one precious thing that no one had thought to take away from me until now. Maybe I should have taken it and used it as a sign that there was a new beginning on the horizon. I couldn't because the sight only brought burning to my chest.

It was a sign. It was the first real sign to slap me hard enough that I had a moment of doubt. I had only just arrived, and I had lost the one part of myself I always held onto. Regret left every breath I exhaled.

The attendants will give you the proper oils or salves that you will need to cure whatever afflictions may riddle your body. Each bottle needs a set amount of time to work; that will be the timeline you have until you can meet the royal family. Until then, you will have access to the wing of the castle assigned to us and nowhere else. If you aren't given anything, you are free to roam the full grounds. If you need something, I suggest you weigh its worth before seeking me out. Next, if you are infertile, you must tell us now.

She kept speaking, but the ringing in my ears was making it impossible for me to truly listen. She would be number five on my list. Her attendants would be six, seven, and eight. I'd shave them bald before taking their heads. I couldn't stop my fingers from running through the hair I had left. Even my vision had blurred out.

Before I could pull myself together, the same attendant who ripped my clothing until it could no longer sit on my body was pulling and tugging at my arms; she was making herself comfortable with every part of me. It was only my own attendant lurking in the background, staring at me with eyes that promised she would do to me what I wanted to do to them, that kept me grounded while they remarked on every part of my body.

I would swallow this down. Tuck it away for another time.

CHAPTER TWO

THE BROTHERS

FENNIC

I should have placed more bets before my arrival because, just as I knew she would be, my younger sister was waiting for me. She had the same rosy cheeks as when I left. Taller than I last remembered, but her joy for life hadn't diminished. I tried to take one last glance behind me, but she pulled me too furiously. This new girl was good at putting on an innocent act; that much was clear. I didn't buy it. There was something about her that I couldn't pick out just yet, but I knew she had to be playing cover-up for something. No girls in the castle were as polite as she was without reason.

I've been waiting to hear your stories! My sister said. We can have dinner together, and you can tell me all about the other lands.

I have to meet with our brother first. You know how the rest of the evening will go if he's not my first meeting, I said.

If you have a chance to push your boundaries, it's today. He's on his best behavior for arrivals, she said.

I nodded and kissed her hand. I'll be on my best behavior today as well so we can have dinner without interruption, but only for today.

She left me behind without a second glance, ignoring the rest of my words entirely. She was too caught up in her plans for the evening. She was right. If there were a moment I could push my luck, it would be today. He cared about his image more than he cared about us. He was careful about who to take where. Picky about who sat in on what meals with mixed company. He had the iron fist in the end, but he laid heavy weight on what was whispered about him outside and inside of the walls we were imprisoned inside. Even if I thought he was a fool, I cared for my sister too much to stir a pot that always stayed so close to boiling over.

The hallways were as dim as ever. Enough light to see, hardly. It felt appropriate for the kind of people that resided inside. They lurked in the shadows with too many secrets to hold in the dark. When I rule, because I will rule, I'll add more candlelight.

The white and grey that ran through the floors deserved to be seen. The pillars that our artists worked tirelessly to etch such small details in deserved to be seen, and secrets kept too long deserved to come to light. I'd find a way to eliminate the creatures that murder outside of our walls, too. Riven allowed those monsters the demons created to roam free for too long.

If I were to be called back to the castle, it would be mine before I was sent away again. I wouldn't be stuck here under his thumb and forced into a marriage.

The king's favorite room was empty when I entered. His prized throne, made of the last mammoth bones to walk our realm, looked as pathetic as he did. The floor was covered in the rugs of more than one animal he hunted to extinction. Cages of earth sprites, wings clipped, and birds treated the same way. Animal heads hung here and there. Still lit, just as dim as the rest of the place.

Our father would have been so proud of him and the way he kept ruling as he was taught. The day my brother killed our father had to have been the proudest day he had as a parent. My brother did not keep it a secret. He held a feast in celebration of his first accomplishment. Our father took his duty seriously, and I hope he is treated with at least the same respect he gave his kingdom in whatever afterlife he is in now. I hope he is getting even a sliver of the pain he caused while living.

I was the son of his concubine and, as such, worth less than Riven. I still hold memories of when my father only had one son. When his focus was on only me. I remember the day his true wife announced her son and how quickly I was replaced. I didn't mourn the loss of the throne but the loss of a father when I was so young. The only way I could make him proud now was by killing his favored son. Leaving his true heir in the crypt with him so they could reunite sooner. It would be my last gift to both of them.

Some days, I thought of handing it all over to my other brother. Coy could have the throne, and we would live in more peace, still, than with Riven seated on it. Then I remembered Coy was only ever trained to be a general. He knew little about how to run an entire kingdom. He knew everything about keeping them in line.

Red eyes stared ahead, and his feet carried him to his throne. Black hair bounced around his face in tune with his hurried footsteps. He didn't stand taller than I until he was up the first few steps to his throne. The fur that draped around him nearly prevented him from sitting gracefully. It didn't take much effort to keep myself from smirking. The sight was amusing, but I was smart enough to need only one lesson, one time. I did not require learning the hard way. Watching others receive punishment from the sidelines was sufficient.

Brother, I was worried you wouldn't make it in time, Riven crossed one leg over the other.

I started the journey back as soon as I got your message from the owl, I answered.

And what did you find? he asked.

I found no trace of blood magic in the village. I found no bodies. Only a man spreading rumor after rumor to draw more attention to his business, I said.

I thought this one would lead somewhere, he sighed.

You expect too much. Even if someone were willing to make the kind of deal it took to get the magic, they wouldn't announce it, I said.

Maybe, or maybe you found it and have it hidden for yourself? He let his leg drop and leaned forward.

I kept my eyes dead. Why would I keep such a thing from my king?

Now, now, my King. You know your brother has only ever been loyal to you. Niko's voice sent chills of disgust down my spine.

You're right, Riven said.

His hands slapped against each of his thighs before he stood and walked back down the small set of stairs to meet my eyes closer. He looked me over, grazing his eyes across