Other Gods first chapter only

What if you lived in a world where when you prayed, the gods themselves answered? And if you were tricked into giving your soul away, would you kill a god to get it back? Averil is a young man who lost all faith when he traded his soul to the god of Darkness to save a friend. But when he and Maurice — Darkness’ most loyal servant -- find a ancient book, he might save the world and his soul.PLEASE NOTE -- THIS IS A TEST FOR A CLASS -- and as such, it contains only chapter one of the novel.What if you lived in a world where when you prayed, the gods themselves answered? And if you were tricked into giving your soul away, would you kill a god to get it back?Averil is a young man who lost all faith in himself and his world when he traded his soul to the god of Darkness to save a deceptive friend. Averil is challenged to reclaim his life when he discovers ancient words that can kill a deity, and is drawn into a quest that that will not only end his life, but challenge him to return from the dead to destroy every god. He is joined in his adventure by the most unlikely of allies, Maurice — Darkness’ most loyal servant. Maurice’s stated goal is to see his master become the One God. But Maurice also hopes this quest will bring him what all his magical abilities and talents have not, the one thing he truly desires — Darkness’ love.Maurice aids Averil in his destruction of the other gods, and Averil fights to maintain his humanity. This delicate balance collapses as Maurice finds himself doubting his master and beginning to care about regular people (and one special woman) for the first time, and Averil becomes what he has struggled against — an inhuman, uncaring monster of amazing power.This as an intelligent adventure where blood is spilled in combat, but the battle is decided in the minds and souls of the combatants. It is a landscape that allows us to see the power and potential of the individual and the danger of breaking free in a world built quite literally on the power of chains.