Read Online Martyr by A. R. Kahler - Free Book Online Page B

Magic Is Sin. The End Has Come. Classic. As usual, the twins walked on as though completely oblivious to the world around them. Or maybe it wasn’t that. Maybe they just hadn’t deemed the outer world worth noticing. It was a skill Tenn wished he could employ, especially right now.
    â€œOh, look,” Caius said, “God must have been on a break today, friends. He let the queers live.”
    Tenn turned and made to say something, anything—Water raged in his gut, told him to surrender, to let the bloodlust sing—but Jarrett’s grip was firm. He dragged Tenn away.
    Tenn made sure to kick over a God Still Hates Fags poster on the way.
    They walked up the concrete steps and entered the guild. It still felt strange walking in, dressed in leather coats and scuffed boots, when, not four years ago, the place would have been crawling with soccer moms in spandex and bodybuilders with protein shakes. Now, the foyer was relatively empty save for a single guard who gave them a perfunctory nod before going back to reading his book.
    The back hall was flanked by workout rooms. One had been cleared to make space for sparring and martial arts, where a small handful of his comrades were practicing as they walked past. The other was still filled with weights and moderately working machines. Orbs of fire hovered in the corners of the room, fueled by a Fire mage currently doing handstand press-ups. The light glimmered off metal and iron, everything within surprisingly well-maintained. Boredom didn’t kill, but it meant you were wasting time. Thus, if you weren’t fighting or eating or sleeping, you were training whatever way you could.
    The hall darkened further in, lit only by a couple torches guttering in the walls. Two sets of stairs led up and down. They paused.
    â€œLet us know what you discover,” Dreya said. “We shall be in our room.”
    Jarrett nodded. Without even glancing at Tenn, the twins walked downstairs. Jarrett and Tenn watched them go. Then, before Jarrett could try to comfort him again or say he had to go talk to Cassandra, Tenn spoke.
    â€œWhat did they tell you?” he asked.
    Jarrett’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? What did who tell me?”
    â€œThe Prophets,” Tenn said.
    â€œI don’t—”
    â€œDon’t play stupid. I know when you’re lying. I know the Prophets said something before we left.” He shook his head. “Why else would you have believed me when I mentioned Tomás? It’s like you were expecting it.”
    Jarrett didn’t answer, not right away, and that told Tenn everything he needed. His fears had been correct. Jarrett was hiding something from him. Then a little voice rose inside him and quenched his indignation. He might have a secret, but yours is definitely worse. Yours could get everyone killed .
    â€œOkay,” Jarrett said. He nodded to himself, but he didn’t break eye contact. It was one of his more unnerving traits, especially when standing this close. “You’re right. The Prophets told me something was wrong. They said there was a great darkness stirring in the world, and that you were somehow a part of it. But that’s it. Honestly, I thought it was just a load of garbage or else some really bad riddle.”
    Tenn let it sink in. A darkness stirring… That could be anything, from the Kin to a kraven. Everything in the world was dark now.
    â€œThat’s it?” he asked.
    â€œThat’s it,” Jarrett replied. No flicker of the eyes, just a steady gaze.
    He was telling the truth. Or else he knew to lie better when Tenn was around.
    â€œOkay,” Tenn said.
    â€œI’m going to keep you safe.”
    â€œYou said that already.”
    â€œYou’re forgetting it already.”
    Tenn lowered his head. He didn’t want to voice the words in his head. He didn’t want Jarrett feeling any more protective than he already was. Jarrett put a hand