Moondust.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon simple sat and watched her, watched her eat, watched her put on the face the Gods would expect and watched her think. In truth, he liked to watch her. She fascinated him, and not in a way he wanted to praise her, but more so in just trying to understand her. She seemed to be at battle with herself - with her wants and her expectations. Oh how horrid it must be to be a God; Apollyon’s wants almost always aligned with his expectations. HIs wants were all that matters and for a second, the idea of taking Hades’ title became riddled with responsibilities that he did not want. He just wanted to be able to do whatever he wanted, free of restraints and judgements.

He smiled, with surprised, though he figured she would say yes, it was her best option. A deal with a God was a risky deal in the Underworld, to make an ally that everyone hated. They would have to be diligent in keeping up appearances. Demons cannot know they are working together, they would surely talk and then the Gods would know and then they would be killed before they even started. Was this even possible or would they both simply die? Apollyon almost shrugged. Unlike Gods, death was not scary to him. The idea of ceasing to exist seemed to make sense, in the end, especially if he was no longer going to be allowed to do what he wanted anyway.

“Yes, well, that may be hard for me to get. Do you surely need that many?” He asked. This was not a lie or a ploy. Apollyon did not require hearts to feed so why would he ask for so many humans? People would wonder and he could only conjure human lives, the Gods learned how to protect humans from that power, of course. “I want to provide for you, princess, but you have to understand that we cannot appear to be working together. That would be fatal.”

He smiled, tugging at his lips and his eyes sparkling. She had a new fire within her and he wondered why. Was it the battle? The war? The danger of making a deal with a demon? He was attracted to it in a way he couldn’t understand, an overwhelming desire to either snuff the flame or ignite it even higher. He wasn’t sure which, but he knew that neither would be possible. If anything shone brightly, it was her hatred for what and who he was.

---

The infirmary smelled like medicine, not the good and pleasant and pure kind that Aurora used but the kind that others used that she believed was far more poisonous than helpful. She walked through the spacious white room, though this time she felt she blended in instead of being a speck of dirt. She followed Arneas with a dulled wonderment, glancing at the cots (though most were empty to her relief) and around the infirmary; even for a infirmary it was still magnificent. They stopped at another door and she looked up Arneas.

His face twisted into an emotion that Aurora did not recognize on him and when he opened the door, his face only twisted more. The room smelled of smoke and rotting flesh and though Aurora was familiar with the scent, it felt so out of a place here. She wrinkled her nose and stepped cautiously forward. The angel in front of her looked like a child, smaller than Ariel, but also looked like death was just hovering above him, trying to offer him a kiss. His breathing was shallow, though consistent, and he did not move when Arneas touched him. Aurora wondered for a second if anyone felt the way she did when Arneas touched them.

Aurora stared at Izra, her hands fluttering if only a little nervously over him to and then back by her side. She bit her lip. “I can try,” she said. She flinched a little, expecting the worst for her response. Try? She should not try. She should succeed. This was obviously important and painful for the God. He gave her a lot, she had to give him this. “I will try,” she said, the words falling from her lips quickly, trying to correct herself.

She let her bag slip off her shoulders and pulled out the supplies, busying herself because Arneas was just so distracting and he also made her inexplicably nervous. It was a few minutes of him leaning against the wall that she finally set her hands down on the table. “Would you mind leaving us alone?” She said, with a soft smile, “I can’t focus.” With that, she blushed so embarrassed to admit that she was, in fact, affected by him.

Yune turned her eyes to him, tilting her head. True, he could not provide as many without questions being raised. To feed a God to become so strong was… not a good thing for a demon. Others would surely turn on him. She pondered, and then proposed, "Then release me. No, let me escape to a temple of mine where I can have my fill. Then capture me." She put a finger to her lips, a small smile slipping on, "Of course, I could escape then." There was no use in not saying that possibility. It was clear as daylight.

She ran a few fingers through her hair, watching it fall between. Another bath was due. She couldn't stand not being pristine. Blood and gore was wonderful, but at the end of the day that needed to come off too. "Or," she said quietly, "You let my Angel come to me. He will bring me the hearts." She did not say a word about Uriel. Of course, she would summon him, and he could easily take out many demons here. Apollyon may prove a big challenge for him even at his strength however. So long as Apollyon stayed by her side when Uriel came, she could not and would not escape. She would not put him in danger. He had potential.

Yune stretched her legs out in front of her, and looked at them. Her outfit was a mess, her skin raw where the shackles touched, and although her skin looked pretty clean, she could feel the demonic dust on it and it bothered her. "You wouldn't have a bath for me, would you?" She glanced at him without turning her head, "I'd rather you not touch me. I want to wash more than just my legs and arms."

---

I can try. Arneas looked over at her, at first hesitant. He did not want her to try, he wanted her to succeed. To can, to do. But he realised she was only human, she did not have magic. There was only so much she could do, even with her apparent talent.

She amended herself though, and it seemed to put him at ease. He stepped aside to lean against the wall, watching her set about to work. Her delicate hands going here and there, and her face full of concentration, cleaner than he had ever seen before, as she leaned above his angel. Now and then, she would press on a wound and he felt a tingle in his being as Izra silently shouted out in pain, but the boy held strong clinging to his life.

He was absorbed in his own thoughts as he watched her when suddenly she spoke of leaving them alone. He looked briefly confused, then understood her meaning and if it were not for the stressful situation he would have smirked. But there was nothing to smile about here, and he nodded, detaching himself from the wall and leaving the room without a glance back at the angel. He didn't need to see, Izra made everything quite clear within.

However, not long after he left - a mere hour or so, Ariel materialised by the door (he never seemed to actually use the doors), watching Aurora quietly. He stood, silent and still, for a good few minutes, before finally moving to the side of her and setting a glass of water and a few apple slices down (he did this not out of kindness but because he was asked to) for the girl on a nearby table. He cast his narrowed hazel eyes onto the injured one.

"Will he die?" He asked bluntly, turning to face Aurora, his face void of emotion.

@ ashen knight;

Apollyon nodded, she had so many requests and so many needs. He offered so many options, yet she seemed to want none. She was a curious creature, confident in herself and in her needs. She still thought she had the power, the control in this situation yet she was shackled, stuck and hungry. She spoke as if he had to listen to her, as if he needed her. He thought that his offer was good and yet, she did not want it. She had no control here and yet, he found it enjoyable to allow her to think so. She would not, of course, be allowed to have her angel; Apollyon enjoyed the game but he was no fool.

He nodded. A bath, another simple request. He waved his hand, a tub materializing in the middle of the room. His shackles remained her wrists, but the chains unlatched from them and she was capable of moving. Perhaps he liked her better this way, still shackled to him but not chained to the wall. It would be easier to play with her, flirt with her, touch her, if only in a fleeting caress. It would be another game, a new game. A game of control, a game of cat and mouse with neither knowing what role they were playing.

He leaned back in his throne, looking at the chess game laid beside him. “Go ahead then, love. For you,” he said, gesturing to the tub. He was not going to leave, he had no reason to leave. It would be more fun this way, to see her squirm but to also see her attempt to desperately to hold onto her pride. She would succumb because he would not leave or perhaps they would fight. Did she realize the kind of excitement that would give him? Did she know anything at all? He would sit here, play his game of chess and let her go about her business.

---

Aurora worked and worked, the angel’s life just fluttering underneath the surface, his heartbeat a gentle almost nonexistent thumping against her fingers. She wrapped his wounds, she wiped the sweat from his forehead, she whispered sweet nothings in his ear to help him cope. She worked and worked and then she sat, falling back onto a chair to see if any of this would actually help. His skin was so burnt, clearly dying in places and dead in others, there were infections and he had a fever and he was sick. An angel was so fragile like this, so human and she felt like she needed a miracle to fix him.

Aurora jumped when he spoke, Ariel seemed to have a habit of startling her. She looked down at the water and snatched the glass, chugging it. How long had she been working? Her feet finally ached and she looked outside to see the sun high in the sky, noon. She took an apple and bit into it, falling back against the chair. Would he die? She didn’t know. He was weak and very sick, but she felt like she could feel him fighting, wanting to survive. That was the feeling that mattered, the feeling she needed to know that this person would survive and she felt that here. This angel had that and she felt confident that given some time, he would survive. She could never say that, never let that them be disappointed by her. 


“I don’t know,” she said, finishing the apple slice and grabbing another. “I think we have to wait now. I don’t know what else to do,” she added. She felt nervous, she felt like she already failed them and yet, she truly did everything she could think of. This place seemed so magical and yet, here it was tainted with sickness and pain and possibly death. Could something die in a place like this? Could someone die in a place that shimmered with magic, that glowed from the sun, that vibrated with the happiness of its people, that housed a God like Arneas?



“Will he get rid of me?" She asked him, "If I fail?"

As she had suspected, he gave her no answer to her requests. Then again, if this was reversed, she would have laughed and said no also. He was no fool, that was for sure. Instead, she was provided a bath, and he wouldn't leave but she was free to wander. And it had Yune in slight confusion on how to feel. On one hand, she was free for the most part, but on the other, he was some pervert.

She couldn't expect any more of a demon though. Yune stood, making her way to the bath carefully, stepping lightly as if she were walking on broken glass. Touching the water, she found delight in the fact that it was warm, and so stepped in. The water hissed lightly around her wounds, reacting with the healing and the demonic presence in there. Slowly, she lowered herself into the water, hesitating only the slightest (and casting one annoyed look back over her shoulder), before dropping the dress off her shoulders as she went down, in a fashion that Apollyon would only ever see her shoulders and her back, and nothing lower than her hips. She would not give him that satisfaction.

Once she was fully submerged save for her neck and head and knees, she began to wash, also taking the opportunity to wash and mend the dress with a little of her power, hanging it over the side to let it dry. "You truly are perverted," Yune commented once she was near done, a small smirk on her lips as she looked over. "Do you watch all your prisoners bathe?" She reached for her dress to put it on.

---

Ariel listened as she spoke, keeping his eyes locked in on the younger angel. He reached out and hovered a hand over the boy, half closing his eyes, seeming to sense for something, an improvement in condition, or a worsening. He found it was the former but only by a little. Ariel withdrew his hand.

"No. He asks you a difficult thing. If Izra pulls through and survives - and it will be a long journey, do not expect soon recovery, then you have done a miracle and will be rewarded appropriately. If he dies, there is nothing you can do, nor can we blame you." He turned his gaze onto her, the type a young child should not have, and it sat strangely on his young features as he added rather coolly but without ill intent, "You are a human, after all." Did he like her any more? No. Was he going to admit that he was impressed by her healing skills? No. He would not show favourites. He had not, and he will not.

Reaching for his shirt, he pulled it off and sat down on a nearby chair. "Arneas has asked you to heal me also." He turned to her with the side on which he had another wound, a smaller scale to what Izra had, but devastatingly horrid nonetheless. He averted his gaze, tense. To allow a human to touch him? He had surely sunk to the lowest of his standards. It was pathetic. Should any other angel in any other realm here of this, they were surely laugh at him.

The very thought made him shudder and bite his lip to keep himself from pulling away from her and rushing out of the room. But the pain in his side was great. Greater than his pride. And so instead, to distract her from his unease, he asked, "Why do you help? Help the angel, help to heal, why?"

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon was distracted, playing chess against himself, keeping his mind sharp and his eyes averted from Yune. Perhaps he had to earn her trust, she seemed so difficult to get along with. She was always on the defense, always witty and argumentative. Perhaps she needed to think he needed saving, needed her help. Maybe just maybe, this plan would work enough to get them on the same side and take down Hades. It shouldn't be difficult, the Gods hated him. Hades did not do his job well nor did he work well with others. Maybe if Apollyon was nice, she would be too.

"Only the pretty ones, but I will go if you'd like," he said, pushing up from his throne. "I have a few meetings to attend to anyway. Do enjoy your bath." He conjured some food (one heart and some fruit and wine) as well as some extra clothes. "Let me know when you're finished, if I'm not back before then," he said, casting a casual wave behind him as he walked out.

It wasn't too fake or too friendly, he felt like this was a good plan, a good place to start. He obviously had no meetings, nothing really to discuss though he could check in with the various factions and maybe even look into how exactly to work with those human souls. He sent away for the book on human souls and began setting appointments and having meetings. He felt like many hours passed when he finally decided to head back into the room.

"Feel better?" He asked to the shiny and far more attractive version of her.

---

Aurora bit her tongue, trying to let the tears from her fear of failure to stop from tumbling. She felt safe, if only a little, and warm and pretty and she had not felt that way in quite a long time. She was tired, her fingers were throbbing and aching and stained purple from her herbs. She closed her eyes, trying to listen and hold onto Ariel's words. Was he right? Would Arneas let her stay? Was this an impossible task? She peaked at the angel, whose chest was rising slowly and softly, and wondered how it would feel to watch something so beautiful die.

Aurora nodded, and gestured towards the table next to the other angel. Ariel's wound was deep, his skin burnt and red, but far more manageable than what lay next to them. She worked quickly, feeling the tension in the air as she did and she wasn't sure if it was from him pain or his disdain.

"I think because it makes sense to me. It feels natural, like my body and my mind and my soul have just always connected with people this way. Maybe not so much the talking or anything else," she blushed a little - touching and loving and being intimate truly weren't something she did. "But with their bodies, when they are in need, then I understand them. Bodies just want to survive, they just want to do what they were made to do so perhaps that's what my body wants to."

She shrugged a little, she felt silly but by the time she finished speaking, she also finished pulling the bandage tight against his skin. She patted it and stepped back, signifying she was finished. There wasn't much else she would be able to do now except wait and let ice water trickle into the other angel's mouth every once in awhile. She eyed the cot across the way, longing for a nap and for something to stop her aching fingers.

The dress was abandoned the moment Apollyon left the room (she farewelled him with a small satisfied grin) and the clothes given to her were observed, soon enough put on and admired on how well they fit once she finished her bathing, scrubbing herself clean and to a pristine condition. She could almost feel the difference.

Yune stepped out and wondered about the room some, eager to get some movement back into her legs. The chess board he had left sparked her interest and she spent quite a bit of time around it, eventually seating herself onto the throne chair – for no other chair was nearby – and tucking her feet under her. Would he rage? She didn’t know, she wanted to see. She was in a playful mood. The food (the heart was left untouched, for the heart had to be sacrificed, and she was no monster to eat a heart simply) and bath had done her a lot.

The chess pieces she did not move, but she observed and mapped out all the possible ways one could move the next piece or other. When the door opened she lifted her gaze to him. “Quite,” Yune lingered on his throne long enough before slipping off and rounding to the other side of the chess board, hand trailing over its carved decoration.

“Play with me.” She gestured to the board, pointedly glancing at it also least he get the wrong idea. She had no doubts he would be good, but how good? A game of chess showed a lot about one’s character. It also showed off their tactical thinking. Send in the pawns first or retain them? Sacrifice what for what? Yune was eager.

---

Ariel listened to her, deep in thought at her words. What a strange thing for a human, a non-believer especially, to say. He felt much more at ease when the last of the bandages was applied and she pulled away, and he tugged his shirt back on. Ariel stood but did not leave. He caught her gaze wonder over to one of the cots, and before she could step away or so, he reached out and took her hands.

Ariel did not know why he did so, and he did the act without pleasure, but he did it nonetheless. He felt her aching hands and her tired self, and with the best of his own abilities, as limited as they were, he calmed the ache in her hands. As he did, his eyes glowed a golden colour, and it was as if the air around him stirred to lift him up, but the little act was nothing, and required little of his power, and the display was short lived.

“Go sleep.” He then said, pulling his own hands away. “Izra will not wake up soon. However, if he does, rush out of here. He will be weak and hungry, and you are a young unspoilt maiden. A tempting, pleasant snack.” His eyes darkened mischievously, and Ariel threw his head back and laughed as he danced out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Did she know? Did she hear of the rumours of angels whisking away babes and girls and foolish young men seeking strength? Regardless of either, he had warned her. Whether she followed it or not was her own choice.

He would leave her alone for now, and report of her progress to Arneas. Perhaps Arneas could pay her a visit before Izra awoke from his pained slumber and ate the girl up. Ariel did as he needed, and Arneas sent for a meal to be delivered to the healing room, and himself came down later in the evening, opening the door quietly and stepping in, scanning the room for Aurora to find her napping away. He came closer, looked Izra over and then shifted his attention onto the girl. Absent minded, he fixed the blanket over her, and returned to sit by Izra for a while, himself falling into a light nap.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon smirked at her for he completely enjoyed just how perfectly Yune was draped over his throne. He enjoyed everything about her which he did not expect when it came to interacting with a God or Goddess, like herself. He had expected to loathe her, but instead he was intrigued by her. Was this sin? Was this the evil that he seemingly created and lived within? He was tempted by her and she so disgusted by him. She liked to play with him just as much as he enjoyed playing with her and he saw this sparkling in her eyes. He walked towards her, wondering just how long she would test him and sit in his place, his throne.

When he was only a few steps away, she finally slid off the throne and walked to the other side of the throne. Apollyon smirked again, letting himself fall into the throne and cracking his knuckles. "Yes, you would enjoy this game, wouldn't you?" He asked with a smile. They were certainly evenly matched, games going back and forth, some quick and some longer. Each time they both were straggling in the game with only a bishop or knight, a king, and some pawns left and it seemed that they were running an even game. Apollyon wasn't even sure how long they played, without speaking much, but rather admiring the other.

"Having fun?" Priscilla's shrill voice called, cracking the competitive and intense end of the game. The marble Knight was wedged within Apollyon's fingers when he looked from Yune to Priscilla. Priscilla was barely clothed, though that wasn't a surprise, and her long black nails rested against her hips. She seemed to be pinching her own skin in frustration and her face was contorted in an angry smile. Apollyon said nothing, he just moved his next piece, taking Yune's bishop in the process, and looking back over to her when he was done.

Did Yune have something to say? Should he say something? Did he even care if Priscilla was angry? No, he did not. That was simple enough. He was having more fun playing chess with a being he was suppose to hate than he had ever had when having sex with his gorgeous succubus. "Why yes, I would say that I am. Yune?" He asked, raising a brow to her.

---

Aurora jumped when Ariel touched her, mesmerized by the warmth that seemed to radiate from him, his eyes and into her fingers. Her body felt far more awake when he was finished, but her mind was exhausted. When he told her to sleep, she nodded moving away from him but stopping to listen to his warning. She had so many questions but he already left her alone before she could ask. She felt a chill run down her spine; were angels not pure? She turned to look back at the angel sleeping on the table. What if he awoke? Was this the point all along? Heal the angel and then get rid of the spare? She shivered, but couldn't force herself to leave. She climbed into the cot instead.

She awoke when the sun had set, the sky blanketed in darkness with pockets of light shining through. Aurora sat up slowly, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders. "Arneas?" She whispered, surprised to see him in the room. He did not stir and she was surprised indeed to see him sleep. He was far less imposing and while she always enjoyed looking at him, tonight felt even more rare and quiet.

A voice that she had not heard before broke her from her sleepy state and it was harsh, raspy and tired. She turned to see soft glowing gold eyes and an empty cot. Izra looked better than she thought he would, considering what he looked like just moments before. He raised a finger to his lips and it somehow effectively silenced her. Would he make true to Ariel's promise, even with Arneas in the room? She glanced towards the door and back to Arneas. How did she keep getting herself in these situations and in need of his rescue? She never wanted to be a damsel in distress and yet, here she was again.

"It is a game of war and logic," She cooed from the other side, "It's in my very being." She settled for finding a small spot to rest on during the game, and with intense enjoyment proceeded through to setting up the board and pushing her figures around. It was certainly not an easy opponent. Most of the games ended in draws, in stalemates, caught but not killed, how wonderfully ironic and alike to the current situation. It almost thrilled her to bits. But even more so was the heat of the action, when they would have their pieces put apart in many positions with traps so very evident from both sides, thinking, daring to put a piece to sacrifice for another.

Many times she sent him a piece to swallow but with a trap, and many more times she sent a piece for him to eat but without a trap. She liked to watch his eyes most of all, as he followed her move, as he calculated every step she made and what she could possibly do. And likewise she felt his gaze on herself too. If there was any struggle of thought, or confusion, she dared not show it but only by the moving of her brows together, something she couldn't quite control but could always fix with the ends of them lifting up. It feigned very well amusement and admiration for his tricky business. But the game was always even. As it progressed, she was forced to submit to her inner waging war, and admit that she admired his tactics. He was no fool. Not like any other demon, and not like Hades. Apollyon clearly had different tactics for every different situation. It was lovely. "You are good at this," she said after one game, and then complimented him no more, for saying just the one thing burnt her tongue.

This was all interrupted by a certain succubus, the name of which she still had no idea of, and Yune unwillingly left her gaze from Apollyon's fingers to briefly flick over to the she-demon, but returned quickly to the game, least he do something she didn't see. She saw her bishop fall, and reassessed the situation. She moved a knight, "Check," she said quietly before lifting her gaze up at the question and smiling - but not warmly - to the she-demon. "Of course," she lightly tilted her head, her shimmering golden-white hair falling to one side, eyebrows raising to study the succubus. What a disgusting creature. She almost felt sorry for its existing. Yune wanted to spark a fight here and now, she saw the anger in the she-demon and she wanted to laugh.

"I see he likes his chess a lot," she said then, casually and lightly, her voice so venomously kind and full of fake curiosity. She was unable to help herself. "Tell me, does he spend more time with you or the board?" Pick and prick and tease the she-demon, this was fun. All the while she stayed her eye on the board, keeping the she-demon in her peripheral vision. The board was more important. The little succubus was no match for a war goddess, even in Yune's state. Though of course, Yune did not let herself go completely. Do not underestimate your opponent. Ever.

---

Izra had felt many presences. Many healers come and go. He felt angels brood over him, he felt his God spend time nearby, and it gave him strength but it was not enough. Never enough. He hadn't healed at all until fingers brushed over his wounds and pain was eased away, and someone worked tirelessly on him and healed him and he felt his healing process increased. He was becoming more aware of his surroundings.

When his eyes fluttered open and he gathered his senses, he forced himself to sit up. There was Arneas, his God, his master, and then there was… a girl. A maiden, a young one. The temptation was strong. He was hungry. His eyes caught a little fire to them, which quickly washed out and expressed hopelessness. He stood thought it was painful, and moved towards the cot, his gaze fixed on the sleeping girl. What was her name… He heard it in his slumber, surely… Aurora. He cracked open his dry lips and whispered it, the poor state of his voice surprising even him.

But the act of a helpless and poor angel in need of pity and love did not fall. In fact he increased it. He saw her stir and he lightly reached to touch her. "You, you are the one that healed me?" he whispered, his eyes searching her face in a lost puppy manner. His fingers hesitated over her hand, like a little shy child, and he played more on the motherly and loving side of the girl, for her sympathy, for her pity. "I feel so.. weak." He continued to whisper, feigning a small stumble to grasp the edge of the bed and thus pull himself closer to her. "Please, help me." Izra increased his pulling on her emotions. If this worked, she would be ready to give her heart and soul and life for him, just like any other human, but for some reason it felt harder to pick through her soul, to play on her emotions like threads on a ukelele.

He whimpered in pain, batted his eyelashes, looked to her again. "Will you help me?" he cried, allowing a single tear to roll down his cheek, "I'm in so much pain," he reached for her face, "Please, help me. I just need…" he trailed off to stifle a small childlike sob, wiping his teary eyes.

Priscilla’s anger felt like molten lava inside her, surging and flowing around in her blood as Yune smirked. That stupid, beautiful, pretentious little Goddess, sitting on her seat as if she owned it. She acted like her and Apollyon were suddenly friends or allies, but that could not be. Priscilla dug her nails deep into her hips, perhaps drawing a little blood but she had to try so hard to not rip towards that little Goddess and put her in her place. Yune wasn’t on Earth, she was losing believers the more games of chess she played and she would be weak soon. Soon, Priscilla would be able to enact some sort of revenge for her distracting Apollyon so for all Priscilla wanted some attention, some intimacy, something sweet and dirty from her lover.

Yune's voice was so sweet, like honey, dripping golden and sweet but to be defended fiercely. She flashed Priscilla a smile which she returned though she was not nearly as good at faking it, the contempt and jealously were evident in all her actions. Of course Apollyon enjoyed her more, surely he would leave this place to be with her and not stay in this room with that thing. What was the point of chess anyway? It was just a game, boring and useless. Were they not starting a revolution? Did they not have plans? Did they not need to be doing something better and bigger than to be playing a game with a prisoner? She was beginning to worry about her lover, maybe he was becoming to attached to this prisoner of his.

“I can assure you I offer more pleasure than a game,” Priscilla responded through clenched teeth.

Apollyon smirked, again enticed by Yune’s actions. Why would she tease Priscilla? What did she gain from tormenting such a poor little devious being? His lover was so simple and so predictable that it was a wonder why Yune wasted her time teasing her. She would obviously get angry, maybe even lash out to her untimely demise. It was pathetic really, Priscilla’ desperate ploy for his attention and he would unfortunately have to comply lest she start rumors that he had succumbed to the influence of a Goddess. He was, however, beginning to wonder what it would be like to be far more connected to Yune than he was right now and he smiled at the thought, eyes locked on the chess board. He felt Priscilla’ anger vibrating off of her like a signal to him: pay attention, pay attention. He wanted so badly to continue ignoring her.

Yune would win this round he noticed once he returned his attention to the game. She had trapped him and he was again impressed and memorized the board so that he would never fall for this again. Even the way she said ‘Check’ made him smile a little since she was so excited to end yet another game. He moved his King out of her clutches, but it was only a matter of time before she caught him yet again and he would have to be on defense from here on out. How perfectly frustrating to fall to her yet again, but these lessons were important. It was a reminder that he needed her more than he thought for while he stood a fight, she had many more moves than he did. “You were saying?” He asked Yune with a stretched smile.

---

Aurora watched the angel and felt the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up, something was not right and she felt that to her core. His skin was gray, not glowing and his eyes looked empty and helpless. She wanted so badly to catch him when he fell, but something in her would not let her move to help him. He had so many more powers than she did, why did he need her help? Why did he not awake Arneas if he was in so much pain? Could his God not help more than someone like her? She stepped back and towards Arneas as Izra stepped closer to her. She was uncomfortable with the closeness of the desperate angel and the distance of her Godly protector - was she becoming a believer in him? How did he sleep?

The angel was crying, what a sight that was. Her heart ached to help but her body reacted in the opposite way: move further away, protect yourself, something is wrong. He does not need your help anymore, you simple girl. She moved her hand to wipe his tears, but she hesitated in midair. Ariel’s warning as well as her body feeling like a angry cat made her draw her hand back to her chest. She felt frustration flash across his face and he stepped closer again, making her take an automatic step back.

“Perhaps we should just wake Arneas,” she muttered in response.

His whispered ‘no’ echoed against the darkness of the room and she felt her entire body stand on edge. He was still crying, making claims that she was the only who had helped him, the one who healed him and it was her help alone that could save his weak soul. She wanted to cry and she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or from her heart breaking at the sight of this child-like angel begging for her to help. She had never ignored a plea for help before, but she had also never felt the need to run like she did right now. He was inching closer and closer while she was trying to figure out her best plan of action, all of which seemed futile.

It was only when Izra’s fingers brushed against her own that she practically leaped away from him to stand behind Arneas’ shoulders. She let her hands fall onto them, would she grow to regret that later? Would he react violently? Would she even make it out of this room? Surrounded by all these beings she was acutely aware of how fragile and human she was, constantly in danger of dying or being sacrificed - apparently.

“Arneas!” She called, desperation in her voice.

She shook him, shaking him from his chair and he awoke in a blast of light - or so it felt. His presence filled a room, even groggy and sleepy as he was. Even confused and disoriented, she felt better knowing that he was awake. She felt lucky that he was even in the room because she wasn’t sure what she would have done had she been left to her own devices. Why was this God always in the right place at the right time? She didn’t mean to complain, but it was like some unforeseen forces were constantly pushing them together and making her need him, something she never expected.

@ ashen knight;

[Goodness, so sorry I don’t think I got the notification for the earlier post o: & didn’t end up seeing it- yikes!]

Yune wasn’t blind. She saw the anger rolling off the succubus in waves, saw the bit of blood drawn at the hips. She wanted to laugh. Such a silly thing. It was all a nice game, for a while. Yune had to check herself though, for angering the succubus here and now would surely later pay off quite darkly. She watched the succubus with an open expression that spoke of her self-superiority towards the succubus, one that openly stated that she considered the female an airhead. And yet this was seemingly one of the few entertainments she would get tonight.

Her response only made Yune want to tease her more. She was so easily angered! Why? For demons to express an emotion such as love was quite impossible Yune thought, but perhaps jealousy and envy due to lust? Yes, perhaps. She put her attention back onto the board for now though, for again it was her move and soon enough she had cornered Apollyon again. She rounded her pieces in again, most far from his reach and one daringly close but guarded by many others. One more move and she would have a final kill. She raised her gaze to his eyes.

Placing her hand by her cheek and her little finger’s nail resting on her lips, she cast one more look at the board. “You sacrifice your pawns too easy.” She pointed out – for it was her observation so far, her voice quiet. “Little they may be, but they are fierce in great number. Some may be sneaky, some may be powerful. It would be wise to pick those out, and send them around into places unexpected. Sometimes there are holes that little pesky things can go through.” She looked at him pointedly then, in a manner that strongly hinted she meant Hades had little holes, and maybe the odd squeaky demon was better on the battlefield than on his plate or whatever he did with the annoying ones.

She straightened then, and put a smile on her lips, “Others however,” She inclined her head towards the female demon ever so slightly but kept her eyes fixed on the demon king, “Are completely useless after they have done their job and matter no more.”

Yune looked at the succubus again, but this time her smile was less evident, and her eyes a little cooler. “If you claim to be so interesting to him, do take him away. I don’t fancy his presence anyway.” She turned away from the board, quite evidently done with the game for today. “Though I do wonder how he does not get tired of you. You must be a little more than I expected.” She slipped the words in like soft silk, like bread to a beggar. If she was to acknowledge her in any manner, it was only in that the succubus was clearly good enough to have the king coming back to her again and again.

I don’t envy her, of course, Yune added to herself, firmly driving the small point home, Humans don’t live long enough to come back. And gods… those relationships are rare.

---

Her resistance to his pull was irritating. It was frustrating. He was becoming annoyed. In his annoyance, he was losing his focus, he could feel the threads of her emotions slip out of his grasp as if he had stubs for fingers coated in oil. How! How weak had he grown? How pathetic was this, that he, Izra, third in command, could not feed himself on this mere mortal. And yet, she resisted his temptations with such strength that he briefly even wondered if she was human altogether.

“No,” he stumbled to her as she mentioned waking the God. No! He would not, could not. “I need your help, only you, you alone. I just need,” he reached for her, tears running down his cheeks, stumbling until he was on his knees in front of her, grasping at her clothes, her legs, her hands. He managed to get one, but she was resisting, her soul would not come. He pulled to her, “I just need for you to give me your-“ He didn’t finish, she suddenly yelled out.

The god came out from his little slumber in a quick jerk, eyes snapping open and he became acutely aware of a pain in the side of his chest. Some angel was in pain and needed healing and attention. He looked around, confused as to why he was not in his room but in an infirmary and why there was a girl – a mortal, a human – so close to him, touching him. She was… shaking him? He blinked at her, and willed himself to his senses, becoming instantly aware. It was a little difficult, for he felt no immediate danger on his own self, so why this racquet?

Arneas looked at the girl – Aurora – and her desperation reached him. He turned his head and looked at the child frozen in its place on the floor on its knees. He relaxed, gathering the situation together, and stood, pushing Aurora lightly out of his way and a bit behind him. His angel was awake, and while he was thankful for the girl, her time to shine was not now. Izra demanded attention, demanded urgent care. Arneas knelt in front of the angel and brushed a hand over his eyes and called his name. The distance faded away and Izra seemed to regain some colour.

“Izra,” Arneas said softly, like a father cradling his newborn, “Not here. Not now. This place is…” he trailed off, letting Izra finish his sentence about how this place was not a place of feeding, not a place of violence. A temple, a sacred haven, blood will not be spilled here, souls will not be taken, guests not harmed.

At that same moment Ariel appeared in a small puff of light, looking on from beside Aurora. He smirked at her. “Did he get a taste?” He cooed, hinting at more than just the feeding innuendo. He reached and touched her hand where Izra had brushed his fingers. “Ohoho!” He laughed, amused, and rubbed her hand against his cheek before quickly letting her hand go and dancing away towards the other angel, calling out, “Izra! Let’s go feed! There are maidens fair and beautiful nearby and they will be more than willing to help you! Come!” He pulled on the angels hand, standing the younger one and they fell away in a flash of light, vanishing from the room.

Arneas watched them go, and then turned his attention to Aurora. “Are you alright?” He gestured to the chair on which he had been snoozing, “Sit, you don’t look too well.” He took his seat by a cot nearby but as worried as he tried to look, he couldn’t keep the small smile off his face. “I suppose you would want a reward?” He started off slowly, knowing he had to thank her, but not sure how. He had never given rewards himself, only granted wishes of mortals. Now he was in a complicated position. For him, at the least. How to give her his thanks?

Apollyon watched her, mesmerized by the way she thought and the finger that rested on her lips drew his attention there almost immediately. He watched her speak more than he listened to her and he was almost surprised by the attraction that he had for her. Perhaps the fact that it would never be reciprocated was enticing in itself and it wasn’t until she gave him a more pointed look that he began to listen. He looked down at his pawns, she was right, of course. They were small and losing them was easier and wiser than losing more powerful pieces first.

He nodded, every so slightly to her, indicating he understood her intentions in this lesson and would remember it in the future. He was annoyed by Priscilla, he wanted to talk openly and not have to worry about her and judgement. She was huffing, impatient, tapping her fingers and making her presence known. They would have to play smarter, be smarter, act smarter and they were and could do all of these things.


“Zugzwang,” he said, with a smirk. The game was over for tonight.

Her last piece of advice was for Priscilla than it was for him and he felt the negative reaction in her. She wanted to pounce on the Goddess and that was exactly what Yune wanted. He stood, wiping his hands on his pants and smiling at his angry little pet. He walked over to her, grabbing her and pulling her in for a kiss. “Come on then, love. Let’s go,” he said, pulling Priscilla away before she made a mistake.

He would not, could not, come back for a few days and he would have to spend those days with Priscilla and with the others of his kingdom. He would organize the people in order. Send in the Scabbers, the succubi, the werewolves, the shapeshifters - the pawns. Give them a purpose, find the holes, find the weaknesses, report back. Even if you must die, you will die with honor. The rest of days seemed to move in slow motion, a blur of people and arrangements of the constant pressure of Priscilla - her hand in his, on his shoulders, in his bed. She was exhausting, leading is exhausting and he still felt he superseded everyone around him. He wondered how Yune faired, alone in chains.

It took three days before Priscilla left to feed on someone else and he felt all his muscles finally relax. He walked into the room where Yune was again sitting on his throne, her eyes closed. He sent the guards away, they were alone again. Did she want to see him? Did she feel his absence in her brain as he felt hers? Did she long for the challenge like he did? Did she wonder of their very nature as enemies like he did? Or was he as worthless to her as she made it seem?

“You seem to like my throne,” he said, hoping to startle her, though he knew she knew he had arrived.

---

Aurora watched the care that Arneas had towards the angel and she relaxed and admired the beings in front of her. She was safe, or at least she felt safe. Arneas was gentle, though he often pretended not to be. The God of War cradles the creatures he loves, what a sight to see. Aurora was starting to see so much of what she barely believed in before. How could she not believe? How could anyone call her a nonbeliever now? She was not a dunce, she saw and she learned about this world, his world, and she was frightened and exhilarated by it. Did she fit in?

Aurora jumped when Ariel appeared, her body still felt a little on edge and, to be frank, Ariel made her exceedingly uncomfortable. He had certainly shattered the image of angels that Aurora once had and continued to do so as he whisked Izra away to go ‘feed.’ She shivered a little; was it really so lucrative to be young and a virgin? What did it matter anyway? She crossed her arms until her and Arneas were finally alone again.

She took Arneas' direction, her adrenaline running out and she sat, resting her hands on her knees and taking a breath. His face was a mask of worry, a mockery of her fear which she resented. She narrowed her eyes at him and his judgement. Who was he to decide that she could not or should not have been afraid? He may be a God, but that did not mean he got to decide everything for anyone. Besides, was his speciality not in War? It certainly wasn’t in empathy.

“A reward?” She raised a brow. “Well, I’d like for you to stop looking at me like I’m being silly,” she said to him. He only smiled wider at her and maybe she was being silly. Maybe she should be thanking him for saving her, again. She should be appreciative, but she was annoyed with his attitude.

“It’s really not fair. You have a lot more muscle than I do and I don’t put you in life threatening positions. And before you say something about that, I’d like to point out that only one of us here is immortal,” she said, leaning back in the chair and huffing, looking up at the ceiling so she could avoid his smirk and sparkling eyes.

@ ashen knight;

She was very much impressed as he listened, for she would later be a little more impressed that he followed her advice. Though his interaction with the succubus was more than revolting, and she chose to look away as they kissed - and she shuddered - she was disheartened when he didn't come back soon. There was nothing to do in this room. Not much, at least. Now that she was free of her chains she could wonder around, and she looked at the masonry, and she looked at whatever ornaments there were, and she walked to every corner and looked at every crack.

But most of all, she enjoyed to play the chess. Now that she was free from the table, she could sit on his throne and as he did, play the game. When she had first sat down on that throne alone, the guards moved to her and she shot them a cold look, and with a few simple words 'touch me, i dare you' she sent them back to their places and spent the rest of her time in the better-warmth, burn as it did though.

Occasionally, she would listen by the doors, to the rustle and the whispers and the rushing messengers. She slowly caught the idea that he had followed her advice. She wondered how long it would take for them to find those said holes. Of course, they were useless for now. One small demon could get in, and maybe another, and Hades would destroy them two steps in. No. Those holes were for the war. While Hades would be busy with the attacks, these could sneak in, start chaos, open the gates they could.

When the doors opened and he stepped in, Yune awoke from her little sleep but kept her eyes closed, seeing how he should act. It wasn't until he spoke that she opened her eyes, not moving from his throne at all, draped over it like silk, one leg tucked close and the other hanging off the armrest, her back half against the chair's back, and an arm hanging over the closer armrest.

Yune watched him come closer and lightly smiled to one side, "It sure is better than the floor and that altar. It is comfortable, to an extent, maybe I should take it from you." She couldn't help contain the laugh, and tilted her head back, shaking a little in her shackles. When she finished it, and it was kept short, she looked at him again, reaching out and putting a hand on his belt - as far as she could reach. "I want fresh air. I'm sure you would a private exit to the upper world, be it to a cave or deep pit."

She pulled her hand away, and at the same time she stood in his throne, quickly and sharply, grasping his shirt and pulling him close, firm gaze on his eyes, keeping her face close to his but away enough least he should try touch it. "I want air, or a battle. I need one. Preferably both." She trembled a little, but not in weakness. It had built up, over all these days coped up. She wanted a release, to fight. Yune was restless. It burned in her eyes.

---

Stop looking at her like she was silly? Arneas couldn't help it. The smile steadily grew. But she was, she was silly. In his eyes, at the very least. Not silly as in stupid, no, she had the wits and she had the talents, but her manner of acting was… different. She did not carry herself with an air of grace like all the other girls in this temple did. She did not curtsy and she did not bow, and she did not gush and flush and blush at his appearance as the others did. She was no believer of his, he felt it truly, yet she accepted his existence. Perhaps, silly wasn't the right word. Maybe it was more a little like… amusing? Interesting, for sure.

He opened his mouth, and she cut him off, though he was not angry for it, merely surprised. "Come now," he said, in the manner of saying it rather than actually taking her a place. "Izra would not have had the chance to lay a hand on you. I feel everything, I assure you." Yes, he dozed off, and he felt somewhere subconsciously Izra had awoken and was hungry, but he was a god of War and with that came the sense to when a fight would happen. Izra was failing at catching her and pulling her in, the fight between her soul and the angel had not even begun. The soul had already won. Arneas didn't mention this to Aurora of course. He would not shame his angel, nor would he absurdly over-praise her. Aurora's soul was strong and interesting, and something about it tugged at him as if a little voice was yelling notice me!, yet he couldn't locate it and figure out why.

He laughed when she mentioned immortality and leaned back, "Oh dear, you are mistaken." He ran a hand through his hair, momentarily closing his eyes, "Even Gods can die. Perhaps not from age, or mortal's wounds, but eventually even we cease to exist. There is always the cycle of life. For humans, for demons, for angels. We, Gods, do not escape it."

Arneas sent a small thread out to one of the angels in his soul's network (so to say) and within a few seconds, the angel came in a small puff of light and set the requested platter of food before disappearing just as quickly and without a word. Arneas pushed the platter over to Aurora. It had meats and potatoes and salads, all nice and warm and freshly made.

Curious now, he watched her, setting an elbow onto his knee and resting his chin on his closed fist. "Tell me, now that you've seen me, and the angels, do you believe in other gods?"

@ ashen knight;

Apollyon smirked at her. Perhaps she would take it from him, he was not foolish enough to believe that he was all powerful. He knew better, he knew that he could fail or that he could fall to his sweetest temptations, which she definitely fell into. Her laugh sounded like bells, ringing repeatedly in his ears and he could not tell if he enjoyed the music or needed to silence it. He was torn between two needs but both had him devouring her - one way or another. When her hand pulled at his belt, he used all his strength to control his excitement at her actions and at how bold she is.

He went to respond to her, but she pulled him even closer this time, with just enough space between them to stop either of them from burning. He felt her breath against his cheek and he felt the energy moving through them and he could not tell what kind of energy it was. He motioned his hand and the door to the room shut - there was no need for interruptions today it seemed. She was restless, indeed, and she was hungry. It seemed they were both unsure what they wanted today or maybe it was only him. Maybe he was projecting his deepest desires onto that mischievous look in her eyes.

“I can certainly give you many things, Yune,” he whispered.

Who was playing with who? Who would get what first? Who would fall? Whose empire would shake and tremble? He smirked for she was trying to play with him and she was doing well, but he still had a semblance of control over himself. He wasted a lot of energy with Priscilla these last few days and he felt lucky. If he wasn’t so tired, he may not have had the amount of control he had now to keep the space between them, be it as small as it is. He also disliked her a little more for having this control over him because it was a kind of control that he would never have over her. He wondered if that was simply because she had never experienced the things he had experienced and that thought made him smile.

He again waved his hand, staircases emerging to one of his favorite spots, a cave that opened just behind a waterfall. The rush of water numbed the rush he felt from leaving the underworld - the change in pressure and the constant calling of his name made his head rush. He did not venture here often because it became easier to be conjured when he was above ground, but when he allowed the chance, this was the only place he wanted to be. It was dark, secluded and quiet, aside from the rush of water.

He let the distance between them shrink by just a millimeter.

“What will you give me in exchange for the fresh air?” He whispered, smirking again.

---

Aurora noticed his voice grow solemn, though it still had the tone of mocking her, as he spoke of how Gods die. She tried to ignore her pulse quickening when he called her ‘dear’ and she tried to remind herself that it was not a term of endearment, but a reminder that she was still a child in his eyes. She hated that she enjoyed looking at him, she felt like a school girl with a crush, especially when she watched his hair fall like hay tumbling from a stack. He was handsome and he knew it, was that a condition of being a God? She huffed again, moving her eyes away from him once more - lest she make his head any bigger than it already is.

She jumped when the angel appeared and was again frustrated with her incompetence about his world or their world, she supposed. She thought she would get used to things popping in and popping out and your sweetest desires appearing in front of you. She could not, however, get used to angels that attacked women and ‘feed.’ She felt a certain amount of unease thinking about these beings that Arneas had such affection for and she waited for the angel to leave before she uncrossed her arms.

Her stomach rumbled and she realized she had not eaten a real meal in awhile. She took the platter, muttering a thank you to him, yet again. She hated leaning on others to survive and she remembered when she was free and self sufficient. She remembered her little farm for the first time in awhile and the thought made her heart hurt for a second. She shook her head a little and reached for utensils and the potatoes, popping a few small ones into her mouth. When he asked her a question, she felt relief at the distraction from both his inquiry and the food.

“I have to, don’t I? It would be daft to argue anything else. All those temples must be home to some other God. There are bigger temples so the supposed hierarchy makes sense. Your angels would not hurt each other, so some other angels must do it. These people believe in you but others I know believe in other Gods so it makes sense. I suppose I just needed to see it to believe it,” she said, munching on a few more potatoes and some pieces of lamb.

It was true, she had to believe now and that frightened her in some way. She never believed in something bigger than herself and now she had to, he was right in front of her. He was big, he filled a room, he commanded a room and yet, there was a Goddess that was bigger than him. He mentioned that he lost to her and yet, he was here. Is that how he would cease to exist? She felt something sink her stomach at that thought; she would pick his side if she was ever asked to.

She wondered if your first God fit into the same rumors as your first lover. Would you cling to them? Love them endlessly? Would you accept their faults, if God had those, and celebrate their triumphs? Would she hold onto a piece of him for as long as she lived? She looked back at him, popping another piece of meat into her mouth, and wondering silently why he always looked at her like that. Maybe they would exist at the same time together or he would far out last her or maybe he would cease to exist before she did and maybe none of that mattered because they were here.

“Tell me. What would happen if I looked into other Gods and believed in them instead?” She asked, letting a smile tug at her lips.

"Oh, I'm sure you can." She smiled smugly at his whisper. Be he a God or a human she would have taken him to a war, fought her heart out in it, won, and then returned to him and laid him down on some lovely soft silk bed and spent three days and three nights in a world of pleasure - for as long as he could hold out. She was a Goddess of War, sure, but that didn't mean war was the only thing she could enjoy. Unfortunately, Gods were rare to indulge between themselves and silly humans were so weak. Three times was often too much, and they tired so quickly. And this Apollyon was a demon, and Yune was sure he was as durable as Gods were, except he burned and he was vile and it would be the end of her glorious self to sink so low and bed him.

Even though he neared her only by the tiniest of increments, she felt the energy spark between them, ready to burn and fire up and leave traces of pain. Yet she didn't pull away. She heard the staircase come down, she wished to look, she wanted to look, she felt the pull of fresh air and the above-ground freedom, but she would not give in here and now. Yune saw the little smirk on his lips, and it mirrored hers, or maybe hers mirrored his? They were both ready to pounce, but on what? She liked to think she would pounce but away from his grasp, and he would chase after her, and they would fight like lions.

"I thought helping Hades fall was enough, for everything from here on out," she teased, tilting her head. She feigned a moment of pondering. "Perhaps I will not kill your precious little succubus. Or perhaps," She hesitated for the briefest of moments. That fresh air was a lot to her. It wouldn't hurt. She raised her hand and ran her thumb quickly over a sharp edge on his throne, drawing blood. It was a little, but it was enough. He was a vampire or something alike, no? He would desire blood. God's blood, at the very least, she heard was better than anything.

As much as she hated to, she then ran her bleeding thumb over his lips, watching the little hisses of steam come up at the contact, acutely aware of the pain but also of the feel of his lips beneath all that on her skin. She wanted to close her eyes. How vile, how disgusting, she felt a small shudder run through her yet beneath all that there was something that had urged her to do this, an excuse to maybe touch his lips, to tease him to play with him in something other than blind hate. Maybe, she would do it again later, and again. If he liked it, she wanted to see him succumb to desires. Especially if she was the cause. Could a demon worship? How thrilling it would be to see him buckle and kneel and beg to touch her. And yet at the same time she wanted to be the kneeling and- Yune pressed her lips together and pushed the thoughts away. No. this was a sacrifice for a breath of air. And nothing more. Nothing more.

She kept her eyes on him, to see how he would react to the tease of a taste. Would he like it? She pulled her thumb away. A little was enough. She wasn't about to give him everything. Besides, if he did not buy it, there would be no use wasting it.

---

Arneas was not so blind to not notice her unease around the angels. Ariel had certainly put a bad impression on her. He couldn't help laugh silently at it, but did well to hide it. He wondered what the angel had told her, what lies and fantasies he pushed into her head. Some was truth, certainly, but Ariel could deceive. Angels couldn't like straight out (it was sin, after all) so they played their words. Not so much as purposefully deceive but rather cloud ones perception.

He listened as she explained in her answer, and nodded a little. She caught on quick. Stubborn but not stupidly stubborn. She spoke everything right, so there was nothing to correct. He watched her eat, such a mundane thing that she required. But again, he was no different. A heart or two would be his meal every other day, every so often. Mundane food such as meats and potatoes were merely there for the feeling of satiation. He reached over anyway and picked a potato from her plate, turning it over before popping it into his mouth.

"Well I wouldn't disappear," he replied after a moment of thought, amused at the question. "You don't believe in me now yet you see me. Perhaps you would 'notice' the other God more, you would find your prayers answered one way or another. The other God would gain a follower, nothing less, nothing more." He tilted his head, raised a brow. "Why do you ask?" Did she think he would be jealous? If she was his follower, and then she became another's and left him, yes he would be disheartened (the mere thought of her leaving him for Yune suddenly annoyed him and he quickly pushed it away, confused). But neither of those had happened, and he had no reason to feel any emotion about it. And yet he was curious. Why? He was young, he knew little. Interacting with humans was something he had to do to gain strength, to understand them, to cater to their wishes.

"You are free to look and choose to believe in whomever as much as you wish." He shrugged, examining another piece of vegetable he had taken from her plate, "Though it would be a shame. I would have to give you up and usher you out of my temple if you have no faith to me." He did not know how to explain it to her but a person believing in another god and not him could not stay here. It was wrong. "However," he looked a little grim, "If you choose to believe in another war god or a rival of mine for mine place, I would not usher but cast you out. Expect my lions and my angels at your ankles. And that would be the most mercy." Obviously. He hoped she would understand. He would kill all those who believed in his rivals. That was the way of a God.

Quickly though, he changed the air again, and the grimness was pushed away and he offered her a light smile, one that dazzled the room and the sun came out again from behind the clouds and the flowers in their pots seemed to liven up and blossom.

He stood from the cot once she was done eating and held his hand out. "Come, let's go outside." No need to use the stairs of course, he could throw them through space to the large gardens of his temple. She was surely not okay being all cooped up in here. And he didn't like stairs.

@ ashen knight;

She was such a curious creature and her every move made Apollyon wonder what exactly she was thinking. At this moment, he did not care if Hades fell or if Priscilla died for he was completely consumed by her presence. The smell of blood flooded his nostrils and he closed his eyes to breath it in. When was the last time he had feed? He wasn’t sure, but her blood smelled sweet and he was craving her in so many ways. He wanted to pin her against the wall, to discover her curves and crevices and let their fire burn until it fizzled out in a blaze of glory.

He resisted the urge to moan when her finger touched his lips and it was incredibly difficult because her blood tasted heavenly and the pain made his head a little foggy. He let her finger slide down his lip, letting the drop of blood linger before licking it off. What a tease she was, indeed. She was playing into his most primal form, his most basic desires. Hers were harder to provide for, how could he merely start a war? All of his senses were flooded with her and he had never been so consumed by another being before, he did not know where to go from here.

She pulled away from him and he unconsciously reached forward for more before stopping himself; he would not let her have all of the control. They both enjoyed the game of cat and mouse a little too much to let it end so quickly. He stepped back, running his fingers through his hair and clearing his throat. The moment had ended, the electricity running through the air had dissipated and now they were just two - enemies, friends, allies? He was no longer sure what they were, but he did know there seemed to have been a lot hanging in the air between them. He had to regain composure and control, he had something she wanted as well.

He unclasped the chains from the throne and wrapped them once around his own wrists. At least he had in this way, she could not leave him if she tried and in this moment, she was a puppet under his control. He walked ahead of her, turning his back though he did not fear her retaliation, and pulled her along with him as they went. He was sure that no one would come looking for him and if they did, they would not be able to enter the room anyway. There was clearly something that Apollyon and Yune had to work out and he was not sure how long it would take.

“Let’s go then,” he stated simply, pulling his shirt to fix the wrinkles where her fingers once rested.

---

Aurora shrugged in response, pushing the food away from her. In all honestly, she was not sure why she asked. She was not going to go down to the local market and try to find another God to follow around. She was not going to go to another temple to read and do research on other Gods. Why would she? She had a God right in front of her. A handsome and powerful God found her useful and looked at her like she was a puzzle to finish or a riddle to understand. She found a place that was curious and safe and exciting and scary all at the same time and that was certainly more than she could ever ask for. She had no intentions of leaving unless she was asked or, apparently, forcibly removed.

“I was only wondering,” she stated, matter of factly. “Everyone is inherently selfish so I just wonder what a God of War can give to those who have no intention of fighting.” 

With that, she took his hand. Traveling through time and space seemed to be an effective way to end a conversation that she was not completely ready to embark on. She was not sure what exactly she believed or understood and without more knowledge, she feared she would look silly to him yet again. She seemed so simple next to him and she wondered why he seemed to take an interest in her at all. Either way, she enjoyed what it felt like to travel through space with him, their close contact made her feel like she was melting and the light made it hard for her to see.

They landed on grass and this time, Aurora landed on her feet. She stumbled a little, leaning on Arneas for support so she did not fall or get sick again. She wanted to feel him and she did not even care if he felt how embarrassed and excited she was all at the same time. She knew that this must be the effect Gods had on people. She always felt so wonderfully bold when she was touching him. She opened her eyes, not realizing until then how tightly she shut them. She was greeted with sunshine that felt warm on her already blushing skin, though she did not attempt to let go of Arneas.

“Everything here is beautiful,” she breathed, commenting both on the entire place as well as the garden in particular. There were fountains decorating the landscape, with their water reflecting the golden sunshine that shone down on them. There were blossoming flowers and fluttering butterflies and everything smelled sweet and refreshing. She took in a long breath, grateful to be outside and warm. She turned to look back at Arneas, still clutching onto his arm and smiling. The whole scene seemed to reflect the golden strands of his hair and the crystal blue waters of his eyes.



“Everything here reminds me of you. Why is that?” She asked, feeling free again.

Yes, he was tempted. She didn't have to hear a moan or try hard to pick up the fact that yes, he enjoyed the taste, that yes, he closed his eyes to enjoy it and only it and he was utterly infatuated for the brief moment that her blood was on his lips before it was discovered and picked up by his tongue. Where her lips parted in anticipation and suspense, she shut them before he could see, and inched a little away. There. There he was in all his glory, a vampire lusting blood. A demon, a monster, and she had given him a taste of her. A dangerous thing. She now only prayed he had the strength and self-control to not devour her whole. Yune had very well put a sign on herself saying 'I'm tasty! eat me!'.

A little thought worried itself into her mind. How would she get away now? If she succeeded, and Hades fell and she was freed (laughable), how would the Gods look at her then? She, the goddess that allied with a demon, fell another and let the demon put his hands all over her (at least, they would think so). Yune was digging herself a pit she didn't know if she could get out of. Only if to stand on his shoulders and use him as a step. And kill Arneas. She'd start a riot. It was uncertain. Unless, she became the new Hades. And spend the rest of eternity here with Apollyon. Oh, he would enjoy that.

She waited until he unclasped the chains, and tugged, and she had no choice but to follow along. But they headed for the stairs and for the fresher air, and she didn't resist. The walk was not long, and once they were out, Yune had to pause for a moment at the line between the underground and the aboveground and prepare herself. The fresh air was quite overwhelming. She stepped out into the small cave, watched the water rush down like a curtain. So beautiful, so calm and peaceful. It was nice to be out up here again. She had longed for it so long.

Yune didn't wait about. With a few breaths, she filled her lungs with the fresh air and promptly lifted her chin, suddenly going still. The answers, the prayers, they all flooded to her and even if she were in chains, she would answer them now. Although it was night, she suddenly seemed to glow, a light lightly pulsing underneath her skin with every answered prayer, with every war started in the distance. She couldn't help the soft gasp and then the soft sigh that she let out, eyes closing and relaxing. His chains would be happy. There was energy and freshness in her now. Not enough to fight him off, but it fed into the chains and he would be most happy, she was sure of it. Did the chains feed off her and feed him? Did he feel the energy as it poured into her?

She opened her eyes and looked to the water in front of her, then with a self-satisfied smile turned to him, "You have a lot of trust in me. Too much, I should say." There was water here. Water meant she would touch it, and the Sea God would know where she is. He would come to her, because they were not on friendly terms, and scold her for staining his waters red. And then maybe he'd see the demon. And then he would understand, and then… And then! A war! Yune did her best to not clap and laugh at the thought. A fight, a glorious battle! Instead, she tugged lightly on the chains, as if being the one to pull him closer.

---

"Gods are Gods," he shrugged, smiling this time though. "Nothing for nothing." That was the end of that, and he pulled her closer and his arms around her as they went through the little portal to the outside of his temple, and stood there in the beautiful grass as it swayed lightly in the breeze. Everything so beautiful and green and flowers all blooming, and birds singing, and little insects doing their thing. Life. Life despite him being a God of War.

He did not mind her leaning on him for support, the warmth and presence of a woman by his side was not something he would throw away. He enjoyed it, and she offered it to him eagerly and willingly, be as God as he was. Would you lean on me so, if I were not a God? he thought to himself, looking down at her. Would you blush and cling to me, if I were as human as I were? Why? Why did Gods have this effect on humans? He did not regret it, nor did Arneas hate it, but he questioned it. Young and curious he was. Again, always.

A butterfly fluttered past as she spoke of the beauty, and he held a hand out so it would land on his finger, before bringing it closer for the girl to look at. A pretty butterfly, full of vibrant colours. He let the butterfly crawl onto the girl's shoulder, then go wherever she wished it to. An order, a simple order from a God and this insect would obey. He didn't even need to say it. Because everything was his, here. Perhaps, the wild butterflies would not respond to him as well, but this was his temple.

"Because everything here is a part of me," he replied, surprised when she asked, as if she had read his thoughts. "Everything you see, touch and hear here, I made. I sense the weight of a beetle on the strand of grass on the other side of this paddock. I sense the rose snipped off by the gardener, by accident, and I sense his worry." He didn't mind her not letting go off him, and kept one arm around her shoulders. It had been a little while since he let a human girl stand so close.

"Every God makes his own haven temple. The greater one is, the easier it is to make, and the bigger the temple becomes. It can fill more souls, more life." Arneas squinted lightly at the sun (it was only thing that he couldn't change here). He hoped that was what she meant. If she meant anything else - if she meant why she was so in love - then he completely missed it. A God of War knew nothing of love. There was only desire and lust for war, and the occasional sexual pleasure.

He willed some birds over, and they came and fluttered down, one landing on Aurora's shoulder and falling into a delightful song. "Do you like it?" He glanced at her, unsure why he even asked, unsure of what he even asked. The song? The bird? His temple? He was sort of at loss.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon leaned against the walls of the the cave, letting the waterfall rush behind him and he watched her in her element, or at least a part of her element. He felt the energy pulsating through her and how his chains sucked it up and gave it back to him. She watched her skin start to radiate in the darkness of the gave and he wanted to smile. She was a star in the darkness of his life, but he was not sure he wanted to solely revolve around her. She looked so peaceful, so content since she had arrived to him, and he wanted to watch her work for a long time.

He felt at risk here, he felt vulnerable here. He could be conjured away, she could call for another God or for one of her angels. She could call for back up, she could kill him and he knew that. He vacillated constantly between wanting to rule and wanting to die and he was never sure what he wanted more. Dying was so easy, ruling was so much more difficult. He had a lot of experiences in his 100 years alive and so would it really matter if he died now? Would it be an honor to die at her hands? He would rather experience something else through her hands and he smirked at her, though she could not see.

They looked eyes, his deep dark pools of hell matched her crystal clear eyes and he smirked a little wider. He bit down on his lip, she distracted him so. What she took as trust was really more of a complete disregard for his own life. He shrugged at her, letting her pull on the chains and he took a step closer to her. No one would hear them here if something were to happen - not one of her followers nor one of his. All of their desires, or again maybe just his, could come to fruition here and now.

“Perhaps,” he said, letting a smirk rest perfectly on his face. Was he challenging her? He wasn’t sure. He did not want her to leave, but he was not sure that they should stay together any longer. Had the fun run out? Was it more dangerous for them both now to be together? If he freed her now, would he miss out on an opportunity or save them both? Why did he care? His thoughts have never been so jumbled before and he closed his eyes to try to focus.

“I don't think you’ll do anything,” he commented in passing.

---

Aurora smiled at the butterfly perches on her shoulder and laughed as it crawled onto her fingers. She felt mesmerized, life was so intricate and small and she felt connected to this tiny creature. She let it crawl across her fingers and she looked back at Arneas and smiled, finally letting go of his arms. She let the little golden butterfly free, nothing that was alive should be trapped against its will. She wanted to watch the little butterfly travel around the garden, free to wander and she smiled back at him once more.

She understood than why everything was gold and shiny and could not stop her smile from stretching across her face, especially when his arms wrapped her shoulders. She wondered what it must feel like to be so connected to everything and being so aware of your own existence as well as hundreds or thousands of others. She did not ever want that kind of responsibility, she was just barely capable of keeping herself together. “That sounds like a lot of things to feel,” she whispered, snuggling in a little closer to him.

He definitely had complete control of this place and she giggled again when the blue bird landed on her shoulder. It sang and tickled at her ears and she felt a pleasant and warm feeling all throughout her body. This was what innocent happiness felt like; she forgot until just know what a proper smile felt like. She forgot until just now what it felt like to be close to someone and she enjoyed being so close to Arneas. The overwhelming giddiness she felt when they were close subsided and she felt in control of her own feelings again, letting out a sigh of contentment. She nodded to indicate that she was happy in this exact moment and she wondered if he felt that.

“How do you handle all of that?” She asked, as the little blue bird finished singing and snuggled up on her shoulder.

No. His comment had pushed her the wrong way. When he had come closer she was simply content to watch him near, perhaps to tease him. Perhaps to play with him. He thought she wouldn't do anything? Was he provoking her, closing his eyes so, standing close so, giving her all her wishes and desires? Yune felt a little lost, felt in control but lost. Who was the prisoner?

She narrowed her eyes, ran her gaze over him once and it angered her how calm he was. She took a breath, wrapped the chains around her arms and reeled herself closer to him, whispering,. "Then you think wrong." She let a little smirk run over he features. No, she would not fight to kill him and she would not call others. No. She was weak. Even if she survived Apollyon, she had lost enough followers that her next fight with Arneas would be her death. She had a different plan, and for that she needed Apollyon. It was final. She would take the throne of Hades. Who cares how, who cared what Apollyon wanted. If she could, she would keep him at her heel and he could rule the lands of the demons but hers would be all Hades had and the souls.

Having uttered that word, and only a brief pause for her thoughts, she grabbed his chin with her hand, growling lightly at the singe. "When we fight Hades, allow me to summon my angel. He will help your demons take out the Angels of Hades. I have the one of the strongest Angels. It would be unwise to not use him." She leaned closer, tightening her grip. Oh, she wanted to fight him. Make him bleed. And yet...

"But before all that, I want to see you fight." She leaned in closer, feeling their burn again and it only thrilled her more now. "Take me to a war of yours."

---

"It is," he agreed. It certainly was. Somewhere in the distance he was aware of Ariel and Izra luring away a young girl and her brother down a cliff. He pushed the sensation away and instead focused down at Aurora. He raised a brow. Unable to answer her question sufficiently, he instead replied with his own, "Well, how do you handle your breathing and your heart beating?" He asked, knowing full well that she most likely would not know how to answer. Besides. It was a rhetorical question. He didn't need her answer. He had, in a way, replied to her that he didn't know how he handled it all. He just did.

Arneas would have liked to say something else but it was in that moment that he felt a shift in his soul. His eyes snapped shut and the smile vanished from his face. His jaw clenched. Her. She had come out of hiding. She was still alive. His hand unwillingly gripped into a fist. The birds around seemed to become aware of the change in his mood and the my hushed a little, and some flew away. The God was not pleased.

Arneas took a moment as he stood, listening for Yune's presence, but it was weak and clouded over somewhere. He could not locate it. And as he felt her presence, he felt the wounds on him ache again. He grit his teeth, and let go off Aurora, his hand running up his chest to his shoulder, over where she had slashed him. The pain was overwhelming. It was as if she had slashed him just then and again. The power of an older God, for as long as she lived, she would cause him pain. Arneas buckled lightly, and sank to his knees. How weak! How weak to fall before a mortal! He took a ragged breath, but he did not, could not, get up.

"Curse her," he breathed out, tugging at his robes and shirt to get at the searing wound. As he pulled them aside and glanced down, he saw his wound had reddened, and because it had not fully healed yet, it was starting to bleed again, and ache, oh, the ache.