From Ashes and Dust (Book One)

Chapter 30.2

The god appeared at the corner of her vision. "I'm sorry," Enyalius said.

Ares only stood there, staring down at them. "Once I leave on my own ship, you're stuck with these fools. If Hephaestus was willing to do this, there's no telling where he'll stop. I won't be around waiting for his hand of justice. You don't want to be, either."

Enyalius didn't reply. He placed a hand around Vatra's throat, as if he could prevent the inevitable. As if he could erase what he'd done. The regret in his eyes was enough to show he didn't mean for everything to go the way that it did.

But it did, anyway.

Life was pulled from Vatra. She felt her fingers and toes turn numb. The sensation crawled up her legs and arms until the weight in her chest felt overpowering. Every sound around her muted until the only noise in her ears was the beat of her own heart.

Gods, I don't want to die again, Vatra thought.

"I'm sorry," Enyalius echoed his earlier apology.

The blurry image of Ares vanished from the doorway, darting off for safety before Vatra ignited into a cleansing inferno. Enyalius still had her clutched in his arms, and Revna stood watchfully above them. At least they wouldn't perish in the flames.

She gave one last glance at the fading image of Spyro's body. He would be gone by the time she awoke—burnt to ash and dust and left only in her memories. It wasn't fair. Spyro deserved to live again, too.

None of it was fair.

–

Vatra dangled her legs over the edge of the Agkistrodon. The vessel had been docked in the repair bay after the force of her death had blasted a hole through the side of the vessel. The repair bay resembled a giant garage, fit with every stereotypical, greasy worker that were hard at work already repairing the damage to her ship.

She watched with unfocused interest at the sparks flying down below. Her heels tapped against the Agkistrodon, lost in thought. The sound of steps behind her drew her attention.

"You shouldn't be alone," Enyalius said. "Hisato wanted to come check on you, but I insisted he stay at the medical bay with the others. Nat's there, and Set had a good gash from their own fights."

"I put my faith in a god once," Vatra said, opting to not address Enyalius' update. She looked over at Enyalius as he took a seat next to her. "I mean, whole-heartedly, entrusted my soul to a god type of faith. He saved me, and told me everything was going to be all right. And I was stupid enough to believe him."

"Is this about me?" Enyalius asked.

"No," Vatra snapped. "Until recently, I didn't know I was completely wrong in my faith. Then I found out Hephaestus was just using me in his own family dealings, and I realized all you gods really are the same. You keep using everyone around you."

"I didn't think about how Hephaestus' loophole must have affected you," Enyalius said.

Vatra sighed. "No, I guess you didn't. Instead, you believed Ares when he told you I planned on killing you."

"I can't even begin to explain my reasonings for believing him over you," Enyalius paused, "but in the moment, I just didn't want to die."

"And you think I did?" Vatra seethed. She could feel the anger translate to her expression. Her eyes watered from the raw emotion coursing through her veins. "You think Spyro did? We shouldn't be exempt from death, Enyalius, just because we don't want to die. You were selfish. Again."

The god sat back, his gaze flickering toward the godkiller at his hip.

Vatra rolled her eyes. "Oh, and you got your precious weapon, too, since Aspi died in the fire. Was it worth it?"