For years now the harvest has been less than it should be. Last year the people of Oisin's village sacrificed a goat, but their god did not come. Now, in desperation, a human sacrifice has been suggested, and Oisin, recently orphaned and feeling life is not worth living, volunteers. But the god Belinos is not quite what he seems, and Oisin's sacrifice will not be what he expects, for Belinos first came out of the darkness to drink the sacrificial blood not because he was a god, but because he was a vampire. This is just the beginning of the changes to Oisin's life, as he is drawn further and further into a world of gods and magic, where the most unexpected thing is not even his own blossoming talent, but the blossoming feelings he has for Belinos. Love between mortal and immortal is not without its difficulties, though. As outright war among the gods threatens, Oisin will end up making a far greater difference in the conflict than he could ever have dreamed possible.

The Sacrifice

He didn’t want to say what he was doing until he either succeeded or failed, though, and Bel was very likely to be able to figure it out if he read Oisin’s current notes. But for now Bel only said, “I had the thought that you likely know nothing of astrology, and might be usefully instructed about the stars. The sun is setting in the outside world, and I grow weary of my pursuits here. Would you come and look at the stars with me?”


Oisin blinked at him. “But the stars are always out here. Why would the sunset matter?”


Bel chuckled. “The stars here are mere decorations, and as they are my creations, they are far too eager to please me. They will move about at the least thought or whim I may have. To see the turning of the spheres I must go into the real world and look at the true stars.”


“Come.” Bel beckoned at him. Oisin rose and once again trotted through the halls at his heels. He knew his way around most of the palace on his own by now, so the way they took was familiar.


Chapter 27