From Humiliation to Godhood

4: Allies beyond fools

Leon stood there, his silver eyes locked onto Miranda as if she were the most foolish creature he’d ever encountered.

He scoffed, the memories of his vessel’s suffering flashing through his mind. The humiliation, the mistreatment… it was as though he was the one that had endured it all.

‘These people do not deserve any measure of grace,’ he thought, his expression darkening. ‘No… in a world like this, I will carve out my place. They will know who I am. They will kneel.’

With a sneer, he replied, “Madame, you will simply have to accept my presence. I do not sleep outside.”

Miranda scoffed, folding her arms. “Look at you, pathetic as ever. Do you even know where Isabella is right now? She’s out on a date with Victor. Yes, Victor. She wants nothing to do with you anymore!” Her smirk widened as she leaned in. “You said it yourself, you were leaving and wouldn’t return! So why are you back? Oh… I know. Because you realized you can’t survive a single hour without us. Pathetic!”

“Victor?”

At the mention of Victor, Leon’s brow twitched. His hand instinctively went to his throat, his fingers brushing over his skin.

“Ahh… I see,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. Then, without another word, he turned. “I’ve had a long night. I’ll show myself to my room.”

The dismissal sent Miranda into a blind rage. With a snarl, she snatched a mug from the table and hurled it at him.

The ceramic shattered against the back of his head.

Leon stopped.

The air in the room shifted.

Miranda’s smirk faded instantly, her breath hitching as he slowly turned to face her. She hadn’t expected the mug to actually hit him.

‘Have I lost my sense of perception too?’ Leon pondered. ‘No way.’

Miranda swallowed hard, her bravado slipping as those unnerving silver eyes locked onto her.

A strange chill crawled up her spine.

“H-have your eyes always been silver?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leon glanced down, his gaze briefly flicking over the broken shards at his feet.

Then, without a word, he turned away and walked to his room, leaving Miranda rooted in place, gripped by an unfamiliar sensation… fear.

Leon and Isabella lived in separate room, not by choice, but by the decree of her parents. As long as they remained under this roof, they would dictate the terms.

Entering his so-called room, Leon surveyed his surroundings with a look of utter distaste. Small. Cramped. Insulting.

With a slow shake of his head, he stepped inside. “Even in the age of empires, my chambers were grander than this,” he muttered, settling onto the stiff mattress. “This? This is an insult.”

He rose moments later, shedding his drenched clothing before freshening up.

As he stood before the mirror, he examined his reflection with mild amusement.

“Hmm,” he murmured, tilting his head slightly. “Leon is weak, but at least he is pleasing to look at. No wonder the wealthy heiress was drawn to him. What else could it have been?” He smirked. “Then again… women are an enigma. Even I, a god, once succumbed to their wiles. Never again.”

His gaze sharpened as he leaned forward, silver eyes burning with purpose.

“Now that I have awakened, the path forward must be clear. In this era, power bends to wealth. It is the lifeblood of dominion. And if I am to rise, I must claim my place at the top.”

He let out a deep breath, and closed his eyes, his fingers lifting to his temple in a gesture of invocation. “Tell me, Leon… who in this world stands beside you?” His voice was low, commanding. “Surely, you have allies beyond these fools?”

A memory flickered through his mind, and his eyes snapped open.

“Dante Cole,” he murmured. “A friend from your college days… and now a doctor. Impressive.” A knowing smirk crossed his lips. “Then I suppose I should arrange a meeting.”

—-

The doors of St. Pete Hospital slid open with a mechanical hiss as Leon stepped inside, making his way directly toward the elevator, a curious glint in his silver eyes.

“Hey!” A nurse in the lobby called out, stepping in front of him. “Sir, state your purpose for being here. Do you have a relative admitted?”

Leon barely spared her a glance as he shook his head. “No.”

“Then why are you here?” she pressed, trying to maintain a professional tone despite the scrutiny in her gaze.

“I seek Dante Cole. He is a friend,” Leon answered smoothly, a smirk playing at his lips.

The nurse blinked in surprise. “Dr. Cole? You’re friends with him?”

Leon inclined his head. “Yes. We were… what is it called? Dorm mates in college. Now that you are informed, I’ll be on my way.”

As he made to pass her, the nurse quickly grabbed his arm, blocking his path.

“Hey, hey, hey! We need to verify that first,” she said firmly. “And Dr. Cole is currently occupied in the ER. Let’s head to the reception desk while we confirm.”

Leon exhaled sharply but complied, following her to the front desk where a blonde woman in scrubs was glued to her screen.

Without looking up, she muttered, “Name?”

“Az—” He caught himself. “Leon… Ashford.”

A brief silence fell over the two women before the receptionist’s jaw dropped.

“Leon Ashford? The live-in son-in-law of the Hartwells?” she repeated, her tone shifting into something displeasing.

The nurse beside her raised an eyebrow, her expression mocking.

Leon immediately saw through their condescension.

“Instead of wasting my time with idle gossip, why not focus on… what it is you do.” he said coolly.

Both women rolled their eyes before the receptionist spoke again. “I’m sorry, but Dr. Cole is busy. You’ll have to find another way to meet with him.”

Leon’s gaze darkened. “Is there truly no method by which he may be informed of my presence? I highly doubt that.”

“We just told you he’s busy,” the nurse snapped. “Now leave so we can attend to actual patients!”

Leon’s expression turned icy.

“And what,” he asked, his voice dangerously calm, “gives you the right to speak so disrespectfully? I see now… your training was woefully inadequate.”