generosity of the gods............
Through tears Idunn looks down at Chanyeol, watches in horror as life fades from his eyes, blood seeping into the grass beneath him. Faint sobs escape her lips as her hands rove across his torso, desperately trying to heal him. She watches as the wound glows briefly, but a second later it fades, her hope turning to ash in her stomach.
‘It’s not enough, it’s not enough,’ she chokes, blinking rapidly to clear her blurred vision. ‘I need more energy.’
A taunting laugh comes from behind her. ‘I’m sorry your lover is dying, my little dove. It’s too bad.’
Emotion, unfamiliar and blazing in it’s intensity, rises in her. The feeling is so foreign it takes her a moment to name it - anger.
All her life Idunn had been familiar with joy and purpose, and in the months leading up to her journey to Earth she’d experienced boredom, restlessness.
With Chanyeol she’d finally learned what love felt like. Passion. Need. But never had this electric, restless heat raced along her veins. Until faced with losing that which was most precious to her Idunn had never needed to know the burning force of anger.
It dispelled her tears, casting them out along with any fear that remained in her at the thought of facing her husband. Before Chanyeol she had cowered before Thjazi, cowering in his presence like a terrified rabbit. But with Chanyeol Idunn felt strong, alive; braver than she’d ever been in the countless centuries of her long, immortal life.
Thjazi’s mocking, dismissive words push her to stand. What she was about to attempt could cost her everything, but if there was even a small chance at saving Chanyeol, she’d take it.
Normally Idunn’s power flowed in her veins like a life-giving river, calm and sweet, just as she used to be. But in her anger and fervent desire to keep Chanyeol alive it had turned into a churning ocean, capable of drowning the earth.
Meeting his gaze, blind to the battle carrying on around them, she focuses her intent.
‘You forget, husband, that I have powers too.’ Idunn advances, striding close enough to Thjazi that she can sense his heart beating in his chest. ‘You forget that even the gods can die.’
‘What is this? Has my little dove learned to spread her wings?’ he asks, hesitation creeping into his tone at the feral look in Idunn’s eyes.
Energy sparks at her fingertips. ‘No. I grew claws.’
With a growl she raises a hand to Thjazi’s chest and clutches, sinking her nails into the fabric covering his chest. Slowly she pulls back, dragging the energy, the vitality, the very life from his lungs.
Thjazi’s eyes go wide with fear, his hands clawing at his neck, desperately trying to cling to life as Idunn rips it from him with divine anger. The scream that tears itself from his throat draws the eyes of those nearby. Warriors on both sides watch in confusion as he sinks to his knees, body aging and withering rapidly.