Unbelievable
This is Part Twelve in a series.
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven
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After overhearing the conversation between Maris and Finbar, I went back to sleep in the bed where Egan still lay, but I promised I would talk to Maris in the morning. Unfortunately, that morning proved terribly, terribly awkward. Finbar woke early and was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when I came downstairs. He had baked biscuits, with enough for all of us. My stomach rumbled, but, after last night, I felt too guilty to eat food he had made.
Finbar didn't say a word to me as he pulled the biscuits out of the oven. He place them on the counter, assiduously avoiding my eyes. I wondered if he might have realized I overheard him and Maris discussing me last night. Slowly, I made my way to the cabinet to look for any dried food I might consume.
Maris asked, “What are you doing?”
“Looking for something to eat,” I answered.
“We have biscuits,” she said.
How did I explain I didn't deserve a biscuit?
I mumbled, “You didn't have to do that for me. I won't take from you.”
Maris rolled her eyes. “Breccan, just take a damn biscuit.”
Not wanting to argue with her before I had even drunk any coffee, I slid onto the bench next to the kitchen table and took a biscuit. Maris busied herself making the much-needed coffee, while Finbar took a seat as far away from me as possible. I didn't blame him in the least. Once the coffee finished, Maris poured some for all three of us. I savored the bitterness, which matched my current mood well enough.
Finbar muttered, “When is Egan going to explain about this 'Chosen One' thing? I think it's kind of important that I know.”
“He doesn't seem to be taking it very seriously,” Maris pointed out. “I wouldn't put it past him to make the whole thing up.”
“Egan wouldn't lie about that!” I exclaim.
Finbar looks hurt that I mentioned Egan's name. But he wouldn't lie about needing to save the world, would he? He might have broken up my and Finbar's relationship, but surely the god wouldn't go so far as to give someone a false destiny?
“I wouldn't lie about what?” Egan's voice carried from across the room. He looked as luminous as ever, seeming far better-rested than I was. Not a hair was out of place. After all, he didn't get up in the middle of the night to overhear a discussion about how his spirit was ruined.
“About Finbar being a Chosen One,” Maris stated flatly.
Egan's eyes went wide at the accusation. He acted almost as if he had been lying about that. But that couldn't be! Could it? Everyone turned to look at him, silently waiting for an answer.
The god shrugged, his face restored to a more level expression. “You caught me. I lied.”
“What?!” everyone else exclaimed.
My body stiffened from shock.
Egan said casually, “I lied about Finbar being a Chosen One. He has power that could be useful in saving the world, but his shadows were merely an unfortunate accident.”
Finbar's face paled, all blood seeming to go out of it. Even his shadows appeared to gray. Egan could not be serious. How could he lie, and, even more important, be so casual about it?
“Wh-why?” Finbar choked out.
“I had my reasons.” Egan looked not the least bit sorry. Worse, he smiled at me, almost as if I were somehow responsible for his lie.
“I should kick you out of this house,” Maris hissed.
Egan smirked at her. “Go ahead and try.”
“You have no idea what I am capable of trying,” she said darkly.
I remembered what Maris had said last night about contacting the other gods. Was she truly going to do that? I wanted to ask her about it, but I had no way to do so without revealing I had eavesdropped on her and Finbar. Instead of asking, I stared at the dark wooden table, focusing on the grain of the wood.
The god didn't take Maris' warning seriously at all. “Oh really?” he asked.
“Really.” She glared at him. In this situation, I would bet on Maris. That glare suggested she could move mountains even as a mortal.
* * *
After an awkward breakfast, I pulled Maris aside, hoping she might be able to use some of her mountain-moving power on me. I still had trouble processing Egan's lie, but I did know I needed protection from the god if I were ever to have a chance with Finbar again. He didn't deserve anything that had happened to him.
Maris' eyes widened ever so slightly when I pulled her aside, but she didn't fight me off. “Do you want something, Breccan?” she wondered.
“Yes, I do,” I mumbled.”
“Well, what is it?”
I took a deep breath. “I - I need you to protect me from Egan.” As I spoke, I avoided looking directly at her.
She asked, “You want me to what?”
Sighing, I muttered, “Protect me from Egan.”
Maris raised an eyebrow. “You didn't sound like you wanted protection yesterday.”
I couldn't tell her what had changed. “Yes, I know. But I feel different today. And I - I hope if you start protecting me now, I won't...have a chance to change my mind and go back to him.”
“Breccan, you realize this wouldn't exactly be easy, right?”
I nodded. “I understand that. I won't be angry if you don't succeed, but I want to break away from Egan, especially in light of his lie.” I still couldn't believe that.
Maris appeared to be thinking. “It...might be better if you waited to break away from him, actually.”
“What?” I knew she was going to contact the gods, but I didn't think that meant she couldn't help me now.
She said, “I know you don't want to wait and want to do this while you have some courage. But I have a plan that should make it more possible for you to separate from him. As much as I hold him in contempt, Egan is powerful. I don't know what he'll do when you tell him it's over.”
I worried about that as well. Still, I didn't want to stay with him any longer, partly because he tempted me so very strongly. Falling into Egan's arms and never wanted to leave was all too easy.
“What is this plan?” I asked. I knew what it was, but it would be nice to hear her say it.
Maris announced, “I plan to contact the other gods and have them take care of their rogue fellow.”
Even though I knew her plan, it still managed to shock me when spoken aloud. Again, her confidence struck me. Maris had more of it than anybody I had ever known. If anyone could contact deities and make them listen, it was her. Finally, I had some hope.
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written for 500themes prompt #355 - "It Ends Tonight"
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven
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After overhearing the conversation between Maris and Finbar, I went back to sleep in the bed where Egan still lay, but I promised I would talk to Maris in the morning. Unfortunately, that morning proved terribly, terribly awkward. Finbar woke early and was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when I came downstairs. He had baked biscuits, with enough for all of us. My stomach rumbled, but, after last night, I felt too guilty to eat food he had made.
Finbar didn't say a word to me as he pulled the biscuits out of the oven. He place them on the counter, assiduously avoiding my eyes. I wondered if he might have realized I overheard him and Maris discussing me last night. Slowly, I made my way to the cabinet to look for any dried food I might consume.
Maris asked, “What are you doing?”
“Looking for something to eat,” I answered.
“We have biscuits,” she said.
How did I explain I didn't deserve a biscuit?
I mumbled, “You didn't have to do that for me. I won't take from you.”
Maris rolled her eyes. “Breccan, just take a damn biscuit.”
Not wanting to argue with her before I had even drunk any coffee, I slid onto the bench next to the kitchen table and took a biscuit. Maris busied herself making the much-needed coffee, while Finbar took a seat as far away from me as possible. I didn't blame him in the least. Once the coffee finished, Maris poured some for all three of us. I savored the bitterness, which matched my current mood well enough.
Finbar muttered, “When is Egan going to explain about this 'Chosen One' thing? I think it's kind of important that I know.”
“He doesn't seem to be taking it very seriously,” Maris pointed out. “I wouldn't put it past him to make the whole thing up.”
“Egan wouldn't lie about that!” I exclaim.
Finbar looks hurt that I mentioned Egan's name. But he wouldn't lie about needing to save the world, would he? He might have broken up my and Finbar's relationship, but surely the god wouldn't go so far as to give someone a false destiny?
“I wouldn't lie about what?” Egan's voice carried from across the room. He looked as luminous as ever, seeming far better-rested than I was. Not a hair was out of place. After all, he didn't get up in the middle of the night to overhear a discussion about how his spirit was ruined.
“About Finbar being a Chosen One,” Maris stated flatly.
Egan's eyes went wide at the accusation. He acted almost as if he had been lying about that. But that couldn't be! Could it? Everyone turned to look at him, silently waiting for an answer.
The god shrugged, his face restored to a more level expression. “You caught me. I lied.”
“What?!” everyone else exclaimed.
My body stiffened from shock.
Egan said casually, “I lied about Finbar being a Chosen One. He has power that could be useful in saving the world, but his shadows were merely an unfortunate accident.”
Finbar's face paled, all blood seeming to go out of it. Even his shadows appeared to gray. Egan could not be serious. How could he lie, and, even more important, be so casual about it?
“Wh-why?” Finbar choked out.
“I had my reasons.” Egan looked not the least bit sorry. Worse, he smiled at me, almost as if I were somehow responsible for his lie.
“I should kick you out of this house,” Maris hissed.
Egan smirked at her. “Go ahead and try.”
“You have no idea what I am capable of trying,” she said darkly.
I remembered what Maris had said last night about contacting the other gods. Was she truly going to do that? I wanted to ask her about it, but I had no way to do so without revealing I had eavesdropped on her and Finbar. Instead of asking, I stared at the dark wooden table, focusing on the grain of the wood.
The god didn't take Maris' warning seriously at all. “Oh really?” he asked.
“Really.” She glared at him. In this situation, I would bet on Maris. That glare suggested she could move mountains even as a mortal.
* * *
After an awkward breakfast, I pulled Maris aside, hoping she might be able to use some of her mountain-moving power on me. I still had trouble processing Egan's lie, but I did know I needed protection from the god if I were ever to have a chance with Finbar again. He didn't deserve anything that had happened to him.
Maris' eyes widened ever so slightly when I pulled her aside, but she didn't fight me off. “Do you want something, Breccan?” she wondered.
“Yes, I do,” I mumbled.”
“Well, what is it?”
I took a deep breath. “I - I need you to protect me from Egan.” As I spoke, I avoided looking directly at her.
She asked, “You want me to what?”
Sighing, I muttered, “Protect me from Egan.”
Maris raised an eyebrow. “You didn't sound like you wanted protection yesterday.”
I couldn't tell her what had changed. “Yes, I know. But I feel different today. And I - I hope if you start protecting me now, I won't...have a chance to change my mind and go back to him.”
“Breccan, you realize this wouldn't exactly be easy, right?”
I nodded. “I understand that. I won't be angry if you don't succeed, but I want to break away from Egan, especially in light of his lie.” I still couldn't believe that.
Maris appeared to be thinking. “It...might be better if you waited to break away from him, actually.”
“What?” I knew she was going to contact the gods, but I didn't think that meant she couldn't help me now.
She said, “I know you don't want to wait and want to do this while you have some courage. But I have a plan that should make it more possible for you to separate from him. As much as I hold him in contempt, Egan is powerful. I don't know what he'll do when you tell him it's over.”
I worried about that as well. Still, I didn't want to stay with him any longer, partly because he tempted me so very strongly. Falling into Egan's arms and never wanted to leave was all too easy.
“What is this plan?” I asked. I knew what it was, but it would be nice to hear her say it.
Maris announced, “I plan to contact the other gods and have them take care of their rogue fellow.”
Even though I knew her plan, it still managed to shock me when spoken aloud. Again, her confidence struck me. Maris had more of it than anybody I had ever known. If anyone could contact deities and make them listen, it was her. Finally, I had some hope.
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written for 500themes prompt #355 - "It Ends Tonight"