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

Inside, the room held long pews full of worshipers, while a priest stood at the altar at the head of the room. Both priest and worshipers held lit candles, though the priest’s was a massive thing, thicker around than his arm, while the rest mostly had small tapers. A few, those nearest the door, glanced at Oisin. He slipped into the last pew, and their glances slid away from him, turning back to the service. The priest was reading a long passage, but it was in Latin, so Oisin had no idea what he was saying. He looked around, trying to see Caydren. He must be somewhere in the chapel, surely.


A shadow moved behind the altar, where the priest was still reading. Oisin got to his feet, but he hadn’t even finished standing when the shadow became Caydren with a black knife in his hand. It slashed out across the priest’s neck and he fell in a shower of blood.


Chapter 65