everyone to become stronger, their chances of success would dramatically increase. What he really needed was for everyone to be together in one location...
Turning to Erik, he put his hands on the desk, giving him a flat look. "You said when we first met that Enak had something to tell me. What was it?"
"Ask him."
"Tell me."
Enak's tenor interrupted their staring contest. "Ah, yes. Good thing to bring up. What I need to tell you is something only you can know. This is for your safety and ours."
"Yeah, yeah. My lips are sealed." Mathieu had been wondering what it was for quite some time.
Enak came to sit in Erik's lap, both giving him an intense stare. The boy cleared his throat before starting. "Of our duo…Erik isn't really the god here. I am. Despite my appearance, I am Svenak, god of Salvation."
It took Mathieu a moment to process what the child had said. Once he had managed to wrap his mind around the concept. He actually laughed. "...You're the god? Impossible."
Enak smiled mysteriously at him before continuing. "Erik came to my realm twenty-one years ago and bound me to his soul in order to protect the love of his life and their son."
"If I understands gods correctly, once a god completes their agreed upon task they are freed." Mathieu said. “But you are still here and I see no child or loved one.”
"And that's true," Erik said, "except that he never upheld his end of the bargain to protect them. When a god fails, the contractor has the choice to either let the god go, or keep it with him until they die. In an act of vengence, I bound him tighter to me." Erik said, shrugging one shoulder. “I was a little angry.”
Mathieu's brow furrowed. "Vengence?"
Enak huffed in annoyance. "Unfortunately, by the time we returned, his beloved was already dead and his son gone. Until just over a month ago."
The chill that ran up his spine, combined with the look that Enak was giving him, made him go light headed. He had a sneaking suspicion of what the boy was hinting at, but Mathieu wasn't one to believe in coincidence. There was no chance that he was the son they were talking about, even if they were both giving him the look that said it was true. The thought that Erik might be his father, the one he had always wanted to have in his life, was surreal.
"But now that you're back, I have a chance to protect you and handle at least part of the agreement. I require your arm, okay? This won't hurt. God's honor."
Mathieu was so busy staring at Erik that he didn’t really think as he held out his arm. The possibility of this man across from him being his father was preposterous. Enak reached out and wrapped his hands around Mathieu’s wrist. A slight trickle of warmth wrapped around and around Mathieu’s lower arm. He winced but didn't look away from his supposed...father. Erik gave him a small smile before dropping his gaze to Mathieu’s wrist.
Sighing, he looked down, too, and saw that around his wrist was now a metal phoenix. Its body was about three inches long and its wings were extended out, wrapping around his wrist to lock into a single, flawless piece. The tail was a chain made of the same material and latched onto the middle and ring fingers of his left hand. It was designed to not come off. As Mathieu looked at it, the material seemed to glow with a faint redness that tinted the gold.
"What is this?"
Enak grinned at him, "I'm glad you asked. This phoenix contains a piece of my power. Focus on it and say my name, and the power within it will act to protect you. Just so you know, that won't come off. Ever. And don't forget my name. Svenak. This is my gift to you; do not betray my identity." He smiled again. "Now I'll take my leave so you two can…chat."
As soon as the boy god left the room, Erik leaned back in his chair, surveying Mathieu. "What is on your mind, Mathieu? I'd like to know."
"There are many things on my mind. None of which are you." Mathieu turned on his heel and left for the short flight of stairs, going down into the war room set a few feet below. His mind was made up. He had no father, never had, and nothing that this man said would convince him