Gods & Monsters, #2
The Throne of Broken Gods
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 17
Overview
Eight hours earlier, Dianna infiltrates the Council of Hadrameil at the remains of Rashearim, spying on Elianna, Leviathan, and The Hand. After waiting until night, she steals the council’s texts using blood-magic and moves to use Samkiel’s blood vial.
A glamor drops, revealing Cameron, Xavier, and Imogen have trapped her, shifting the balance toward direct confrontation.
Summary
From high above the remains of Rashearim, Dianna, cloaked and shape-shifted into a small black-feathered bird, scouts the sharp-tipped council tower Samkiel once brought her to. She observes blue-tattooed celestials moving about and overhears a debate inside: Elianna insists the realms are sealed and safe if Samkiel lives, while Leviathan argues caution after Oblivion’s summoning. Dianna also notes Cameron and Xavier of The Hand trading jokes on the balcony, before Imogen reprimands them.
Choosing stealth over a fight, Dianna withdraws to the treeline and keeps watch for hours. When night finally quiets the halls, she slips back onto the balcony and resumes her true form. Carrying an enchanted vial of Samkiel’s blood from Camilla, she first blood-spells the scattered texts, porting the books away with the command to return to the void.
As Dianna reaches for the vial to begin her true objective, the room wavers. The glamor falls, revealing Cameron in the doorway with a blazing weapon, Xavier to her right, and Imogen at her back with her blade drawn. Their trap—cast with Xavier’s Kryellan glamour—springs, interrupting Dianna’s plan and forcing a direct standoff.
Mocking their pristine aesthetic, Dianna masks her wariness with bravado, while Cameron appraises her and demands to know who and what she is. The chapter closes with The Hand encircling Dianna, seizing the initiative.
Who Appears
- DiannaInfiltrates Rashearim’s council, scouts in bird form, steals texts via blood-magic, and is trapped by The Hand while reaching for Samkiel’s blood vial.
- CameronHand member and tracker; senses Dianna, banters on watch, springs the glamor trap, confronts her with a blazing weapon.
- XavierHand member with Kryellan heritage; sustains the glamor concealing their ambush and helps encircle Dianna.
- ImogenHand member; enforces discipline, arrives to chastise Cameron and Xavier, then joins the armed confrontation with Dianna.
- EliannaCouncil member advocating calm; argues realms are sealed and safe after Oblivion’s summoning.
- LeviathanCouncil member urging preparedness; disputes Elianna’s complacency regarding recent cosmic tremors.