Page 54 of We Were Eternal Once

“Zahra,” you say, turning your red eyes onto her. “You first.”

Zahra steps forward, her eyes wide. You circle her, pausing behind her, your lips close to her ear.

“Look into his eyes,” you say softly. “Lose yourself in them. Dig deep into his mind, as though you can sift through it. Once you find it, hold it. Do you have it?”

“Yes,” Zahra whispers.

No you don’t, I think angrily. She is lying to you—both by omission of her distrust in you, and now about her ability. Surely you see it. Surely, you’ll bring her to heel.

The human blinks, his head snapping side to side. You’ve released him without whispering a word. His eyes widen, his heart racing in his chest.

“Don’t be afraid,” Zahra tells him.

He screams and runs.

Menodotus snorts his laughter.

“Stop,” you command, and the human stops. “Come back,” you tell him. He marches dutifully back, resting next to the other human.

“Ardashir,” you say, dismissing Zahra. She blinks, ducking her head as she retreats.

I understand now. This is the punishment. Public humiliation, to be broken down before the group. I bite the inside of my cheeks to keep my smile at bay.

Hours later, you turn to me. “Melinoë,” you say. “Show them.”

“Jump,” I command. The humans jump. “Stop. Sit.”

They obey, even as their muscles shake. They’ve been made to hold still for hours, released for practice, only to run when they’re aware once more.

You and I make it seem effortless. A wave of a hand, a single word mumbled.

And none of them can compete.

The sun rises in an hour.

“I will leave the humans here for practice,” you say. “Chain them up so they don’t escape.”

We retreat into the night, your fingers curling into mine.

“Clever,” I say. “They will regret their hubris.”

“This is only the beginning of their torture,” you say, kissing my cheek.

The Fire You Fed

Icannot contain my excitement as we head to the temple. It is not far from our new home, though you’ve gone through pains to keep it a secret even from the devoted. It’s humble compared to our previous one, relying on the mundane to blend in. The other faction will not find us and soil our home, and the devoted will not stomp all over our sacred ground.

This is how I know I am worthy at last in your eyes. Our home remains just ours, secret and safe. It belongs to only us, just as I only belong to you, and you to me.

The worshippers may think they have a piece of you, but it is crumbs. Let them claw over each other to feast on them. Let them be starved by the fact that it is only, truly, you and I.

It is a privilege to allow them to worship you.

I know what I will see when the doors to the temple open. They will beg for mercy, ask for guidance, rebuke their self-assuredness at how ready they were for the gift. They will realize the error of their ways.

And also how weak they truly are.

You began to teach me early in my life, far younger than they are now. Now they realize that I am not nothing or unimpressive.