Read Online Claimed by the Order (S-Gods, #1) by J. Johanis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. Johanis
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happened.
Chapter 10
M arduk hung out in the gardens until his last class began. When Nanya and Shala arrived, he entered the haunted ruins and took a seat on the ground beside them. The afternoon sun cast a shadow, shrouding half the roofless, stone structure in shade. Their instructor, the great moon god Nanna-Sin, arrived shortly afterward and stood before them with a long, black cape draped over his shoulders. With his tall, solid build and short, disheveled black hair, Nanna-Sin was like a handsome devil. He tossed his cape back, his piercing black eyes staring down at them.
“Yesterday, I introduced you to the world of spirits, but today you will meet them,” Sin said, his lips crooked into a grin. “Spirits are like serpents of Hades to mortals, but gods have the power to command them. They will obey our orders, because they know we can banish them from this world.”
With a dramatic swish of his cape, Sin spun around and strode to the middle of the structure, threw up his arms, and began chanting. Every sound immediately became muted and distant, and the temperature around them plummeted. Dry leaves swept into the air around Sin as the sky darkened. Then a sickening screech rang out, echoing off the walls of the structure. Marduk covered his ears, noticing some of his classmates were doing the same. A moment later, the screeching was replaced with a deep drumming voice that spoke in a language he’d never heard. Marduk’s heart raced, and goose bumps rose on his arms. The voice seemed so close that it appeared to be inside his head. “Great god of spirits, I am yours to command,” the voice said.
Then Nanna-Sin thrust his hand toward the far wall of the structure, and the wall blew out, stones blasting out with the explosion. Sin waved his hand again as if throwing an invisible projectile at the adjacent wall. Stones flew through the air, crashing against the wall just as Sin had motioned. A howling wind threw his cape back, and the structure began to rumble. Marduk stared at Sin, his mouth falling open. Sin’s voice suddenly rang out in his ears.
“Leave us,” he said, and the structure immediately stopped shaking. Marduk shivered as the darkness receded, and the afternoon light warmed the air around them. No god had use of his powers while on temple grounds, so the only way to explain Sin’s display was due to his command of the spirits.
Tossing his cape back, Sin came toward them once more.
“Raise your hand if you heard and felt nothing.”
Several deities, including Nanya and Shala, raised their hands.
“You don’t have the gift. Leave my class,” Sin commanded.
Shala glared at Sin as she rose to her feet, and Nanya rose by her side, pouting. “I guess we’ll catch you later, Marduk.” Shala said, giving him a quick kiss, before grabbing Nanya’s hand and storming out the exit. When all the rejected students had cleared out, Sin turned toward the remaining pupils.
“For those of you who will continue this course, this year you will learn how to summon powerful demons and speak with the spirits. Not all of you will be strong enough to command the spirits, but for those of you who are able, your influence in this world will far exceed that of your peers.”
Sin continued his lecture on supernatural forces, but Marduk’s thoughts wandered. Given that this would be the last class of the day, Marduk would soon be expected to report to the lower hall. His stomach twisted into a knot as he imagined the things the gods might do to him next. He stared forward at his instructor, trying to focus, but by the time the class was dismissed, the anxiety raking through him had left him lightheaded and weak. He took a moment to collect his senses before rising from his seat, but when he arrived at the exit, his instructor held out his hand, barring Marduk’s way. Eyes wide, Marduk looked up at the great god Nanna-Sin before him.
“Shamash asked me to train you, so you belong to me tonight,”
Chapter 10
M arduk hung out in the gardens until his last class began. When Nanya and Shala arrived, he entered the haunted ruins and took a seat on the ground beside them. The afternoon sun cast a shadow, shrouding half the roofless, stone structure in shade. Their instructor, the great moon god Nanna-Sin, arrived shortly afterward and stood before them with a long, black cape draped over his shoulders. With his tall, solid build and short, disheveled black hair, Nanna-Sin was like a handsome devil. He tossed his cape back, his piercing black eyes staring down at them.
“Yesterday, I introduced you to the world of spirits, but today you will meet them,” Sin said, his lips crooked into a grin. “Spirits are like serpents of Hades to mortals, but gods have the power to command them. They will obey our orders, because they know we can banish them from this world.”
With a dramatic swish of his cape, Sin spun around and strode to the middle of the structure, threw up his arms, and began chanting. Every sound immediately became muted and distant, and the temperature around them plummeted. Dry leaves swept into the air around Sin as the sky darkened. Then a sickening screech rang out, echoing off the walls of the structure. Marduk covered his ears, noticing some of his classmates were doing the same. A moment later, the screeching was replaced with a deep drumming voice that spoke in a language he’d never heard. Marduk’s heart raced, and goose bumps rose on his arms. The voice seemed so close that it appeared to be inside his head. “Great god of spirits, I am yours to command,” the voice said.
Then Nanna-Sin thrust his hand toward the far wall of the structure, and the wall blew out, stones blasting out with the explosion. Sin waved his hand again as if throwing an invisible projectile at the adjacent wall. Stones flew through the air, crashing against the wall just as Sin had motioned. A howling wind threw his cape back, and the structure began to rumble. Marduk stared at Sin, his mouth falling open. Sin’s voice suddenly rang out in his ears.
“Leave us,” he said, and the structure immediately stopped shaking. Marduk shivered as the darkness receded, and the afternoon light warmed the air around them. No god had use of his powers while on temple grounds, so the only way to explain Sin’s display was due to his command of the spirits.
Tossing his cape back, Sin came toward them once more.
“Raise your hand if you heard and felt nothing.”
Several deities, including Nanya and Shala, raised their hands.
“You don’t have the gift. Leave my class,” Sin commanded.
Shala glared at Sin as she rose to her feet, and Nanya rose by her side, pouting. “I guess we’ll catch you later, Marduk.” Shala said, giving him a quick kiss, before grabbing Nanya’s hand and storming out the exit. When all the rejected students had cleared out, Sin turned toward the remaining pupils.
“For those of you who will continue this course, this year you will learn how to summon powerful demons and speak with the spirits. Not all of you will be strong enough to command the spirits, but for those of you who are able, your influence in this world will far exceed that of your peers.”
Sin continued his lecture on supernatural forces, but Marduk’s thoughts wandered. Given that this would be the last class of the day, Marduk would soon be expected to report to the lower hall. His stomach twisted into a knot as he imagined the things the gods might do to him next. He stared forward at his instructor, trying to focus, but by the time the class was dismissed, the anxiety raking through him had left him lightheaded and weak. He took a moment to collect his senses before rising from his seat, but when he arrived at the exit, his instructor held out his hand, barring Marduk’s way. Eyes wide, Marduk looked up at the great god Nanna-Sin before him.
“Shamash asked me to train you, so you belong to me tonight,”
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