Light is all that emits from her. I stand there, rendered into a silent awe of her presence. She is the only one of the gods whose power feels true, and not an extension of their lesser intents. Omen nickers beside me, stomping his foot at the albino tiger looming around her. She smiles at him, warm and bright.

"This is Erebus' companion?" she inquires, stepping forward with a flat palm.

I nod slowly, watching Omen's movements. "Yes," I say, relaxing when he doesn't split open his jaw to reveal a horrendous set of fangs. Instead, he nuzzles her hand, skeptical but accepting.

Satori's smile widens as she strokes his mane. "And you are his son," she states, instead of asking. She keeps her eyes on Omen. "Strange. I never thought of all the gods, Erebus would be the first to pair with a mortal."

I shift my weight, feeling slightly unease at the subject. "Why?" I press, almost defensively. "Being the God of Death doesn't make him incapable of..."

She looks at me, the kohl around her eyes accentuating her gold irises. "Love," she answers, when I trail off. "You're right. If anything, he is more capable of love than you are, I sense. Except for Cassian, of course. You care for him deeper than I've ever seen."

My fingers twitch at my sides, feeling for the hilt of my sword - anything to hold onto. "Is that how your powers work? You can feel what I feel?"

Satori slides her hands from Omen's neck and stands to face me now, her figure towering but not intimidating. "I can sense everything that is in your heart," she tells me, softly, as though this angers some people. "Yours is strange," she remarks, turning on her heel, the tail of her white dress dragging behind her.

Her tiger glances at us and follows her, slowly, padding purposely with each step. Omen trots after, and so do I - towards the dome-like throne room. Even here projects out over the ravine, between the pillars, I can see everything. She must watch over everyone all the time.

Satori glides over to her throne, made of a beige stone, encrusted with floral gold patterns. Her tiger perches on a block beside it, tail swishing in the air.

"Why is my heart strange?" I ask her, stepping forward, but not too close.

The sunlight from above beats down on the ground, on my face, warm and bright. Everything about this place is safe - so much so, I feel on edge, because there is no such thing.

She crosses her long leg over the other, gazing in my direction but not fully at me. "Your heart is strange because it is so very dark, blackened with all the blood you've spilt. Except that doesn't burden your soul, does it? Because you would be anything for this boy, and so you've become a weapon."

My throat clenches itself. "He isn't a boy," I object, stiffly. "He is about to be a king."

Satori nods her head slowly, smiling. "But you met when he was a boy, and even then, you protected him. You've never been a boy, Azael. You never had the chance to be."

I shake my head slightly, unsure how to feel. Or what to say. "I did what I had to do."

She rises to her feet again, the gentle lines of her face creasing with compassion. "You are exactly how you were intended to be, dear Azael. Not a good man, but a perfect warrior. I've seen men like you before in all my time here, and the state of your soul tortures me. So strong yet so dark. Only ones like you carry such large destinies, for every other soul would simply shatter."

I have never felt so described, so exposed in feelings I didn't realise I had, as if they were buried in the marrow of my bones and are now simmering beneath my skin. "I've always known I am not kind, nor good," I tell her, resting my hand on the pommel of my sword. "But the fates didn't make me this way. I did. I chose to be Cassian's shadow, and I will do whatever that demands if it means he is safe."

Satori clasps her hands in front of her and observes me quietly. "It's much greater than that, Azael," she insists, softly. "Soon, you will see. But, what you've come here to ask of me... well, you can imagine what my answer will be."

I feel a snake in my throat, writhing, wrapping around the air. "You want no part of it," I say for her, the weight of it all bearing down on me now. On Cassian.

She nods once. "I'm sorry, Shadow," she says sincerely. "I do not take part in any war."

I look her in the eyes, godly and gold. "So your soul is fragile then," I conclude, setting my jaw hard. "You gods, making us mortals do your biddings, smearing the blood on our hands instead of yours. Complacency is more condemning than anything. I hope you know that, Satori."

She swallows the conviction on her face. "It's not so simple," she objects quietly.

My chest surges with anger, annoyance. "You and I know this can only end in blood."

Omen and I take our leave, putting the golden palace behind us. All its sunny lies and deceit. Not even they, I fear, can hide from the destruction of this war. Especially if they deny it is even there.