Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella by Kristie Cook Page B

His will. Bah!”
    Noises of disgust and anger filled the room, then quieted when Eris’s father, the sorcerer, stepped forward.
    “ Our Lord, however, would be a much better god,” he said. “He doesn’t want all the glory. He wants his followers to keep it for themselves, to feel pride in their accomplishments and who they are. He doesn’t want control, but promises everyone would be allowed to do whatever they want. He will not ask you to submit to his will.” The sorcerer continued sauntering toward Jordan as he spoke, his voice slightly rising as his excitement grew. “When God demands everyone to care for others, Our Lord says, ‘Why? You need only to care for yourself.’ God wants humans to be more like Him, but Our Lord points out the truth—that it’s unnatural. Humans aren’t gods. They should be allowed to be human.” He stood right in front of Jordan now and leaned even closer. He dropped his voice to nearly a whisper. “And the inhuman should be allowed to be their natural selves, too.”
    Jordan’s eyes lit up. “I think I like this lord of yours. He is … ?”
    “Satan, yes,” the sorcerer said. “The truly better god. Do you agree?”
    Jordan didn’t have to think about it for long. The choice was simple. “How can I not agree? He offers so much more.”
    The figure by the fire moved between two thrones, into the center of the room. He didn’t so much as walk as he did glide. More figures rose from the thrones and gathered in the center, too, encroaching on Jordan and Eris.
    “He offers everything ,” one said. “Money, land, women … power . Especially to you, Jordan.”
    “To me?”
    “He’s been waiting for you. He was concerned with the prophecy about your mother at first, even sent us after her to prevent her from bearing children, but when he learned she would give birth to you, he realized he’d misunderstood. Your sister means nothing to him. He’s no longer worried about her, when we have you.”
    Jordan’s chest rose with pride once again.
    “But first you must prove yourself worthy,” Eris’s father said. “Prove you can be one of us. Have you taken my daughter yet?”
    Jordan looked at Eris and back at her father, surprised at the turn in conversation. “No, sir.”
    “Why not?”
    “She told me she is not that kind of woman and I respected her wishes.”
    Eris’s father laughed. So did several others. Jordan looked at Eris again, expecting her to be blushing. She wasn’t. Her eyes glowed with a knowing look. She licked her lips, her tongue running slowly over the full, pink skin.
    “How very human of you,” her father said. He turned toward the others. “I told you he was too weak.”
    Jordan bowed up again. “I am not weak !”
    “Then prove it,” one of the cloaked figures commanded. “Take her.”
    “Certainly,” Jordan agreed.
    “Now. Here,” another said.
    “Here?” Jordan asked. In front of them? In front of her own father ?
    “Can you take orders or not?” someone demanded.
    Jordan looked at Eris again. She stood completely still, her body rigid and her face devoid of any emotion.
    “Take her whether she wants it or not!”
    “Prove yourself, Jordan, or we have no need for you.”
    “He’s not worthy,” Eris’s father said dismissively. “Get him out of here. Give him to the wolves.”
    Fear of being exiled from where he belonged—rejected by his own kind—jolted through his body. What do I care about Eris? If forcing his way with her would prove he was worthy and satisfy them, then that’s what he would do. He clamped his hand around her wrist and jerked her into his arms. Everyone fell silent. He braced the back of her head, preventing her from turning away from him, and crushed his mouth onto hers.
    To his surprise, her lips yielded to his, parted, allowed his tongue into her mouth. He’d been yearning for this moment since he first laid eyes on her, wanting to feel her softness under his fingers, under himself. He grew