Claimed by the Order (S-Gods, #1) (22 page)

Pain stabbed through his heart. The things Marduk had said to him in the corridor came back to him. Marduk had been trying to protect him. It didn’t make sense at the time, but it matched with what Aya was saying.

The sound of harps filled his ears. Akad’s heart leapt. His father, his bride, and over a hundred gods were all waiting for him to walk out of the tent.

“Who has him, and where is he?”

“The Order gave Marduk to Seth, and Seth has kept him locked in the dungeons ever since. I know how Seth is, so I know Seth is torturing him.”

Akad’s blood began to boil. “I want you to find my father, and tell him everything about this Order. Anshar is a high-ranking member of the council. He’ll know what to do.”

Akad slipped out through the slash in the tent. He pushed through the crowd, ignoring the deities who called after him, and ran toward the temple.

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W
hen Akad finally arrived at the tall bronze door to the dungeons, he quietly slipped in and was plunged into relative darkness. A glimmer of light in a chamber far to his right was enough to reveal the bare stone floor and walls. Akad slowly slid the door bar out of the lock, and grasped it in his hands before venturing into the dungeon. When he neared the glowing chamber, the light grew brighter, and the sound of metal scraping on stone reached his ears. Then, a faint cry echoed from the chamber. His blood ran cold. As Akad approached the chamber entrance, his eyes fell on a pool of blood slowly expanding from the door. Akad walked through the doorway, and his heart stopped.

Marduk’s arms were chained to the floor with Shamash kneeling between them. Shamash was fucking Marduk’s mouth while Seth held Marduk’s ass up, hammering into him without restraint. Long red slashes marred Marduk’s back, and Sin stood beside him, a knife in his hand.

Akad froze, unable to move or breathe. He was once again standing on his father’s ship, desperate and powerless, as his lover was raped before his eyes. In that moment, something snapped in his mind, and molten rage erupted in his chest. This was not going to happen again. Blinding heat burned through Akad as he charged at Seth, slamming the bar into Seth’s neck. Seth flew back and hit the wall. Then a howl filled his ears and Akad swung around to see Shamash double over while Marduk’s jaw clamped down on his dick. Shamash struck at Marduk’s head, trying to break free.

Akad rushed to help Marduk, but a powerful force hit him, hurling him through the air. Akad hit the wall, the breath was knocked out of his chest, and the bar dropped from his hand, clanging to the floor. Akad remained pinned to the wall by the invisible force, and the sound of chanting filled his ears. Sin stood chanting on the other side of the chamber.

“Alu, Gallu, Lilu Rabisu, Asakku,” Akad shouted, calling five formidable demons to his side, just as Sin thrust his arm toward Akad, sending a volley of chains and stakes flying at him. Then a strong wind blew through the door, dropping the projectiles before they reached him. Screams echoed through the chamber and the walls shuddered as the demons dueled Sin’s spirits. In the midst of whirling wind and chaos, Akad saw that Marduk had choked out Shamash in the chains that bound his wrists. Akad whispered a command to the demons and Marduk’s chains snapped, setting Marduk free. Marduk stared at his freed wrists and glanced over at Akad. Then he grabbed a stake, stood up and jabbed it through Sin’s neck, pinning him to the wall. When Sin’s head slumped forward, the wind died down, and Akad fell from the wall where he’d been pinned.

Akad rose to his feet, but a chain struck out from nowhere, wrapping around Akad’s neck, and jerking him down to his knees. Seth’s laughter echoed off the walls, and the chain pulled harder, choking Akad so no words could escape his mouth. Seth’s voice rang out in his ears, as he banished the demons from the room. The chamber shook violently, stones falling from the ceiling as the demons vacated, then a strong blast of air threw Akad back and the pressure was eased from his neck. The demons were gone.

Akad sat up and opened his eyes just as Seth advanced on him with a knife in his hand. Akad backed up, scrambling to his feet, but before Seth reached him, Marduk rushed up behind Seth and struck him in the head. Seth immediately whirled around and slashed his knife across Marduk’s throat.

“No!” Akad roared, fire flaring in his chest as Marduk fell, blood spewing from his wound. Akad grabbed the bar he had dropped, and lunged forward, striking Seth in the head. When Seth hit the ground, Akad tore the chain from his neck, and swiftly bound Seth’s hands while Seth was still stunned. Once his hands were bound, Seth began to fight, attempting to kick Akad back. Akad punched him in the face and wrestled Seth’s legs up, using the tail of the chain to bind his ankles to his wrists. Bound and helpless, Seth began to curse. Then Akad dropped to his knees between Seth’s spread thighs, gripped Seth’s cock and balls at the base, and yanked upward, using his genitals to lift his ass off the floor. Seth cried out.

“Motherfucker!” he roared, struggling to break free, but Akad had him tied like a beast ripe for the slaughter.

“I’m going to fuck your mother!” Seth cried. “I’m going to make her my whore!” Still holding Seth’s ass up, Akad unsheathed his knife. He pressed the tip to Seth’s exposed anus and buried it to the hilt. Seth’s scream echoed through the dungeon as Akad twisted the knife inside him, but Akad was numb to the world. In that moment, Akad was the terrifying god his father had so artfully crafted. Removing the knife from Seth’s hole, Akad pulled on Seth’s cock and balls, stretching them taut. Then, with one fell swipe, he severed the flesh from Seth’s body.

Akad stared at the bloody mass in his hand, ignoring Seth’s screams that tore through the dungeon. Seth’s instrument of torture was now a worthless blob. Akad rose to his feet and stuffed the mass of flesh into Seth’s bellowing mouth. Seth’s cries instantly turned into stifled moans and gags. Taking a deep breath, Akad turned his back on the mutilated god, wiping the sight from his mind. Then his eyes fell on Marduk, lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood.

“Marduk!” Akad cried, intense pain stabbing through the void in his chest. The knife dropped from his hand, and he fell to his knees before Marduk.
It’s my fault. I let this happen
. Tears flooded his vision, his chest a tight mass as he pulled Marduk into his arms, hugging him. He had lost his lover again.

“No!” Akad sobbed. He was on Anshar’s ship, and Talos was bleeding out before him again. “I failed you. I’m so sorry.” Akad pressed his lips to Marduk’s bloody forehead. “I’m so sorry. I love you. Please don’t leave me.” Akad felt his heart being yanked from his body once more, but a hand was on his shoulder and a strong arm was wrapping around his chest.

“Anu.” His father’s voice came to his ears. “He’s okay.” Anshar assured him, hugging Akad to his chest. Akad could feel Anshar pulling him away, but he hugged Marduk tighter, refusing to let him go. He refused to let Anshar drop him into the ocean.

“Anu,” Anshar said. “He’s a god. He cannot die.” Anshar pressed Akad’s hand to Marduk’s chest. “Can you feel his chest move? He’s breathing; his heart is still beating. He’s a god. He’ll wake up once his strength has returned.”

Akad wondered if he was dreaming. Never had he heard Anshar speak so gently. Akad finally turned and raised his gaze to meet his father’s. Anshar’s frown deepened, but his eyes betrayed no trace of disdain. Akad had never dared cry in front of his father.

“Anu, I know what it’s like to love another so much that you would do anything to shield him from harm. You may feel you’ve done everything in your power to protect him, but you can’t blame yourself if he falls. All you can do is pick him up, let him know you love him, and be there for him while he heals.”

Anu stared at his father; trying to comprehend his words. Then Anshar hugged him to his chest. Though he had made no apology, Akad could hear the remorse in his voice. Some things he could never forgive, but he realized in that moment that his father was trying. Every harsh thing he had said or done was meant to shelter him from a fate like the one Marduk had suffered. Marduk’s parents had sent him off on his own, but Anshar was there by his side. In his own twisted way, his father was truly trying to do what was best.

M
arduk opened his eyes just as a cool breeze wafted a sheer, white curtain into the room. Behind the curtain, sunshine spilled in through a mud-brick doorway. Marduk sat up on his arm, scanning the unfamiliar room. He was lying in a large bed, beneath a layer of linen sheets. The white-washed walls reminded him of home, though he had no recollection of leaving the Temple of Power. He ran his hand over the white sheets, and his eyes drifted over the room. Next to a decoratively carved chest at the foot of the bed was a long white curtain leading to an adjoining room. Was he really in Uruk? His last memory was of the fight in the dungeon with Seth, Shamash and Sin. Had Akad taken him away?

The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. He looked over at the curtain just as Aya walked through, dressed all in white with a cup in his hand.

Aya brushed his black hair off his shoulder and smiled. “Good morning, Marduk. I’m glad to see you awake.”

Marduk sat up, his eyes darting from side to side. “Aya ... what’s going on?” Was he back in the Order’s custody?

“I just went for some tea.” Aya carried the cup to Marduk, setting it down on a small table next to the bed. Then Aya sat down next to him.

“Where are we?” Marduk asked, his eyes still wide.

“Don’t worry, Marduk. The Order can’t touch you here. You’re in Anu’s temple, and you’re lying in his bed.”

The tension eased from his body. “Well, where is he?”

“Anu is filling in for his father, while Anshar meets with Siren to apprise her of the Order. Anu believes she will abolish the Order, but it’s doubtful they will give in without a fight.”

“What do you mean? How does Anshar know about the Order?”

Aya smiled. “Well, after they gave you to Seth, I tried to find Anu, but Anshar would not let anyone go near Anu’s quarters. When Anu came out for his wedding, I was finally able to tell him what happened. I told him about the Order and where Seth was keeping you. Anu asked me to tell Anshar everything, and immediately left his wedding to go find you. I don’t know what happened next. I just know that Anu castrated Seth and brought you here. Anshar and Anu expect the Order will try to retaliate, so they asked me to stay here under Anu’s protection until things cool down.”

Marduk stared at Aya, trying to make sense of it all. The idea that he was free had yet to sink in.

“Thank you, Aya,” he finally said, lowering his eyes.

Aya took a deep breath. “I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

Marduk smiled warmly and took Aya’s hand in his. The ill feeling he once had for Aya had almost completely faded.

“Aya, you exposed the Order, and you did it to save me. I don’t know what else I could ever ask of you.”

Aya smiled, tears welling in his eyes. Marduk squeezed his hand. He could imagine having Aya as a friend.

“So, did he really cut off Seth’s balls?”

Aya laughed, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Yeah, he cut off more than that. Too bad he’s a god. He’ll grow it all back before long, but I bet it won’t work right for years.”

Marduk heard footsteps approaching and looked up just as Akad appeared from behind the curtain. He wore a wraparound skirt with a cord tied at the waist, and his long, sandy hair fell loose over his white tunic. The instant their eyes met, Akad’s face lit up.

“I’ll leave you alone,” Aya said, and passed Akad on his way out.

Akad strode across the room, sank down by Marduk’s side, and pulled him to his chest.

“Akad.” Marduk’s eyes began to tear.

Akad held him in silence.

“I’m sorry, Marduk,” Akad finally whispered, still hugging him tightly. “I should have trusted you. If I had listened and given you a chance to explain, you would have never suffered in their hands.”

Marduk lowered his eyes, remembering what they had been doing to him when Akad came into the dungeon. His face flushed with shame, and tears burned his eyes.

“No,” he said. “I should have told you about the Order much sooner, but I was afraid.... I was afraid that you would look at me differently—that maybe you would look at me in the same way they did.”

“Marduk.” Akad pulled him back from his chest, gazing into his eyes. “What they did to you, and what they forced you to do, makes no difference in how I feel. I love you, Marduk. Nothing can change that.”

Marduk’s heart swelled as more tears fell. Akad pulled him close once more. Hearing Akad speak those words was more than he could handle. He had lost all hope, and when he heard of Akad’s marriage, he was sure he had lost Akad forever. However, by some bizarre miracle, Akad had come back to him and was in his arms once more.

“What about your wedding?” Marduk finally asked.

Akad smiled. “I guess my bride didn’t take well to me running out on her. She was so upset that she refuses to marry me. Anshar said he’ll have a hard time getting any goddess to marry me after what I did.”

Marduk couldn’t help but laugh.

Akad continued to gaze down at Marduk, his green eyes twinkling as he stroked Marduk’s hair away from his face.

“So what happens next?” Marduk asked, trying to cast away his doubts.

“Well, I’m hoping you will stay with me until the thing with the Order blows over. After that ... well ... I still hope you will stay with me.”

“I want to stay, but what about your father? He told me never to come near you.”

“Don’t worry.” Akad smiled gently, running his hand through Marduk’s hair. “My father and I have an understanding.”

Marduk stared at Akad. He imagined he’d wake up soon to discover this was all a dream, but it was real. Akad gazed back at him. The look in his green eyes told Marduk everything he needed to know. Marduk ran his fingers along Akad’s jaw and kissed him softly.

“My heart belongs to you, Akad.” He took Akad into his arms.