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

“Mehshabel,” he whispered. “Stop. Please.”


Oisin had no will remaining to put behind it, but it acted like a spell all the same, for suddenly Bel let him go, pulling back with a low cry and laying Oisin down on the grass. He looked down at Oisin, and there were tears making tracks in the blood that stained his face. “Oisin, my little deer…I am so sorry.”


Oisin smiled up at him, weakly lifting a hand to his cheek as Bel bent over him. “You’re alive. I’m alive. All is well.”


“You utter fool,” said Bel tearfully, and he folded his arms around Oisin and picked him up. He staggered coming to his feet, and his pace was slow as he went towards the house, but Oisin’s blood appeared to have worked a miraculous healing on him.


Chapter 39