Moondust.

riscilla hissed at her as their skin sizzled with their contact and there eyes were locked with the same amount of hatred burning within them. She did not mind the pain, a succubus like her practically feed off of it. This stupid little Goddess was such a fool, letting her own anger and need to hurt power Priscilla even more. She used her free hand to grab onto Yune’s arm and throw her from the throne, across the room. She landed on her feet, which wasn’t a surprise, but it was the principle of the thing. The throne was not and never will be for Yune. It was for her Apollyon.

“Is that truly all you can do? Insult me for being exactly who I am?” She spat as they stared at each other from across the room. Their bodies were tight, ready to fight, and yet, they spoke. Priscilla was, at least, somewhat smarter than your average demon. “You think I am insulted by sex. I love sex - I embrace its very nature. You pretend to be so high and mighty, but you’re not. You want him just as badly. That’s who he is. He will change you. He has changed you.”

With that, she leapt forward. She would rip her head off and present it on a platter to her lover.

---

Aurora let her hands run over the stiff pages of the book, let floral scents fill her nose and let the feeling and smell of home ease her into safety. She sat, wondering how many times her father sat in this spot and scribbled away or slaved away on something to save someone else. She closed her eyes, letting herself think of them both. Were they in love? She felt that it must be impossible to be in love with a God, to be touched by a God and not be completely absorbed by who they were. She felt that frequently when she was with Arneas. Perhaps this was why her father loathed Gods so. He wanted her to be herself, not someone else.

Her father wrote many things, books upon books and diaries, some in Godspeak and some not. She found the earliest ones, the ones where he was transitioning between the two languages. She was scribbling on her own sheet of paper, translating letters as she went, and was absorbed completely in all the knowledge that was here. She would never understand why he hid all of this away from her? She could not understand why he did not want her to carry on the legacy of healing.

When a sing-song voice broke the silence, she felt ice creep down her spine as she looked up to see an angel (of sorts) in the mirror. His eyes were not like Ariel’s, who at times seemed kind, but rather they were as dark as the night sky. His words echoed with something more malicious than what they really meant. His fingers were cold when he grabbed her chin, but he was strong and she could not break free from his grasp.

“Who are you?” She said, struggling to be free from his fingers. She felt her heart jump when the chair rocked back and he used his nails to keep her from falling. She felt the sting and felt tears jump instantly in her eyes. She did not want to cry in front of whoever or whatever this person is. He was different than Ariel, so entirely menacing and strong and she wondered how he found her. Did she suddenly scream for other beings to find her now that she knew who she was? She couldn't ignore how it felt to be alone with him and she was screaming desperately for help - Ariel and Arneas’ name over and over inside her.

@ ashen knight;

Yune was, momentarily, appreciative of the force the succubus had as she threw her across the room. Unfortunately for the succubus, the Goddess was not quite dead or weak enough yet and she landed gracefully and on her feet. She welcomed the throw to create the distance. It also gave her time to summon her lance and some light body armour. She smirked when the succubus went on her little rant. "I didn't think you'd understand. After all, you're just dirt. As all of them."

She snapped her hand forward as the succubus leapt at her, thrusting the heavenly light in her palm right into the demon's face. The intensity was greater than when she first came in, and it would make any demon of high rank flinch. It was akin to the demon stench that made any god sick and filled with hatred. Perhaps Yune had become accustomed to it here though, for she no longer felt it as strongly but as a heavy weight in her lungs.

The light alone would not be enough to stop the succubus, that she knew, and she brought her lance forward towards the demon's shape beyond the light, sharply thrusting it forward but with sureness, that if she'd miss she would retract it just as fast, and if the succubus dared to grab it the demon would singe its hands to bare bone. Regardless of that, she held her lance with the toughest grip.

To free her hand, she let the light fall from her palm and into the air to hover above them, pulsing and shining like the sun itself. Now she had two hands on her lance, and her feet quick and in the air to gain the upper hand on the succubus. All of this was very well and fine, but it bothered her that so much effort had to be put in just to take a lowly rank out so. Her early days would not have seen this. This succubus wouldn't even have touched her skin in the first place. The anger of this fact drove Yune forward, intent on every moment to pierce this lance through the succubus and pin her down. Leave her barely alive.

---

This whole place reeked of God yet he couldn't make out why. Did the girl in front of him know about them? Her question was vague and he had no will to explain anything to her. Simply, he let the corners of his lips twitch again into the tiniest of smiles, while his eyes remain as cold and barren as any lifeless snowed in mountain. "An angel, my dear, forenamed Uriel."

He leaned a little closer, studying her eyes and the soul beyond it. His great wings folded in neatly behind him, and he would have taken her soul there and then, swallowed her heart whole (his free hand reached up to hover over heart), when a faint little sound of a puff caught his attention. His eyes flicked to the side, to the source, to see a young angel appear from a small portal. How? His eyes narrowed in wary suspicion and he scanned the room. He saw the insignia of a portal, God-made, just behind the angel. Uriel let go off the girl, allowing her to fall, and teleported to the wall with the insignia.

His claws dug into the wall, and through some pain and effort, he dragged them through the mark, destroying the portal. The young angel that had appeared for the girl was not smart. He should have protected the mark first and foremost. Instead, it rushed to catch the falling Aurora. And as it rushed, Uriel caught it by its wing, pulled it back sharply, pushed it onto the floor, and ripped the wing clean off. The angel screamed. It was a sad sound, full of anguish and pain, but it didn't last long. Still stoic, Uriel summoned a sword and drove it through the back of the angel's head. And there was no more screaming.

Uriel lifted his head and looked back at the girl. "Now that we shall not be disturbed, perhaps you mind telling me what you are doing with Arneas?" If it was even possible, his voice had become more hostile than before. "Do you plan to fall him too? Twist your love unto him and bring him to his death?" He narrowed his eyes. It shouldn't make a difference to him though. If this was earlier, he would have left her alive if that was her intention, but Yune was long gone and out of reach. Every angel for himself. Uriel would feed on. She was his to eat regardless of her intentions. He strode towards her. And yet…. his fealty to Yune was strong. He had to at the very least find out.

@ ashen knight;
Light. There was a blinding light that pushed into Priscilla’s face that felt like the sun, but was bearable as she stepped away. Once the show of power was over, they were again looking at each other, planning the next step. The wretched Goddess flew towards her, but Priscilla was fast and she flipped herself out of the way, landing on top of the alter where Yune once laid. She laughed, her shrill laughter echoing off the walls to show the triumph she felt would come to her. The Goddess was so weak from the chains that surrounded her and thus, she could not so easily destroy Priscilla. It was the lance that worried Priscilla, but she tried to remain calm as Yune turned back to her with a new found rage in her eyes.

“What’s the matter? Losing your touch?” She asked, as she jumped from the alter back to level paying field.

The Goddess moved quickly, a blur of light and the next thing she knew, the lance pierced her above her hip. She let out a scream of pain and felt her knees crash against the stone. She was not going to lose this way but the lance within her felt like fire, burning up her skin and boiling her blood. Even once Yune retracted it, perhaps preparing for another blow, she felt the fire traveling through her. Hot blood came spilling out her lips and she used her hands to catch her as she coughed and stained the floor of the room. She was not dead, but she was very close to it. She had no thoughts except for trying to hold herself up, but her wrists were beginning to hurt. She could barely breathe as her nose and mouth flooded with blood. She felt panicked, but she heard Apollyon’s voice in the distance.

“What is the meaning of this?” Apollyon called through the the darkness.

Apollyon stumbled upon their fight with shock, but only at Priscilla’s jealousy and audacity. She was foolish to believe that she would win against Yune and her foolishness was as bright as the blood that stained the ground. More importantly, she was defiant and territorial. She decided to take matters that were none of her business into her own hands and while she called for Apollyon desperately, his attention was focused on Yune. She looked wild: her hair and skin glowed brightly, her bloodstained lance was clutched in her hand and her teeth were clenched in a victorious smile.

“Yune,” he said, addressing her calmly, “Why don’t you put that away and go take a seat?” It sounded like a request, but his tone was harsh. It was not a request and while a fire burned brightly in her, he hoped that she would recognize and remember how he felt when people attempted to steal control from him. If one of her angels acted up, she would want to deal with that herself. It was difficult to move his attention from Yune because was impossibly attracted to her in this moment, but he could and would act on that later. He walked over to Priscilla.

“Apollyon,” she whispered, clutching the wound in her side. “Help.”

She had lost her beauty, all her energy was sapped and her beautifully constructed facade faded away to reveal the true demon that she was. He stared down at her with disdain and rage and it took only moments for her to register. She began to plead, to apologize and to beg, but it was far too late to ask for his forgiveness now. He and the Seer just sorted out a perfect plan and in his triumphs, he decided to go power hunting. He had a new power to try out anyway.

“Incendio,” he said, spitting in her direction. In a instant, she became a torch in the middle of the room. The fire making the entire fight scene seem more gruesome than it actually was. He smiled and looked back to Yune. The flames lit her features and casted shadows in all the perfect places to highlight her beauty and in comparison to Priscilla, she would always win. He wondered, while looking at her, if she felt the seeds of darkness that had so clearly been implanted inside her: when they kissed, when they fought, when she teased him. Did she feel them now? Sure, Gods killed all the time, but Gods killed quickly. She wanted to prolong the pain and that was not a form of divine intervention. No, that was evil.

“You are a marvelous creature,” he said, stepping towards her with his hands up, smiling.

---

Aurora recognized the name almost instantly since almost everyone at the temple seemed to shiver a little at the thought of this particular angel. Ariel spoke of him frequently to Arneas and she heard his name a few times as she listened to their conversations. With the feeling of blood sliding down her cheek and the taste of it flooding her mouth, she understood why. He was not playfully mischievous, he was not kind and he did not even seem loyal. He was here for himself and she was reminded of how Izra looked when he attacked her, but this was much much worse. He leaned closer and her heart picked up a few paces as she turned her head away from, his nails scratching her face further. It was the first time she noted that she was not as resigned to her death as she had been just a few weeks ago.

Then, suddenly, she was falling. She reached desperately for the table, but she could not catch herself. Then, there was a scream and blood, but none of it was her own. She landed on the ground harshly. Her back already feeling bruised and the wind was knocked out of her, all distracting her from finding out the source of the scream. When she refocused, she saw a tiny angel fro Arneas’ temple with a sword in its head and she did not scream, but let out a broken sob. Her chest was already tight, but now she felt she could never catch her breath. Her hand flew to her mouth to stop the noise and in the process smeared the blood across her cheeks.

She sat up and pushed herself backward, away from Uriel, until she bumped into a bookcase and sent diaries tumbling down around her. He questioned her, his voice changing so quickly into something entirely unearthly. No longer did he maintain the front of an angel, but instead, adopted a vengeful and hateful tone; one that she did not completely understand. When he spoke of bringing Arneas to his downfall, she tried to control her response. No, of course not. She did not love Arneas, though perhaps one day she felt she could, but she did not want him to die.

Uriel, however, did. She looked back to the angel who was now dead on the floor. When he did not return, someone else would come. She was not sure who, but someone more powerful or perhaps, Arneas himself. She had to buy time and she wondered if she could distract Uriel for long enough. He was cruel, she had to be cruel. He was angry, she had to be angry. He was coursing with power, she had to let him think he won.

“Yes,” she finally said. “Arneas -“ she paused. “He is a selfish God. He is weak in his own arrogance. He enjoys that I do not fawn over him like a human would. He killed my father and then brought me back to the very place he slaughtered him.”

The lies slipped easily through her teeth and she hoped Uriel would think that her voice was shaking out of fear for her life and not because she was trying to think and speak at the same time. She was afraid though, of course she was. He tore apart this place, he killed another being like himself without flinching. She was nothing to him except a meal and she knew that. Uriel was taking steps towards her, having pulled the sword from the angel’s head, and Aurora felt her heart pounding against her chest. He didn’t seem to believe her and she was running out of lies.

“He does not deserve to be a God. He does not know what the rules are. He is not honorable,” she said, quickly as she tried to save herself one last time. "You know know the rules though and so did your Goddess. I can help you. I know his weakness."

Her taunts were heard and despised but at the same time welcomed. They only fuelled the fire inside Yune’s soul. Yune spun the lance around and as the succubus jumped to, she sprang forward and the lance was in the succubus’ skin, but Yune was not satisfied. She pushed it as far as it would go before it hit some bone, and pushed the demon to the ground. She pulled back, watching with mild satisfaction as the succubus coughed and choked on her own blood. Yune felt wanted to laugh and gloat, and where the succubus covered her mouth to stop the blood from spilling out, Yune bit the back of her own hand to suppress a strained laugh. Where was that even coming from?

She pushed it further down inside her, raised the lance to strike again but there was a voice and that voice stopped both of them. Yune narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, displeased with being interrupted in the moment of a fight, as she was about to prepare the final blow (she had gotten carried away), but at the call of her name, she found her wits and lowered the weapon. She regarded Apollyon with a simple look, as if deciding whether to follow his order or to defy and finish her prey. The latter seemed unreasonable, and she briefly wondered what would happen if it were reversed, if one of her angels had misbehaved. Only for that, her mutual understanding of him as a leader, made her step away. The lance was lowered enough but not unsummoned, and she gave them the space but did not go away to sit. She remained on edge and alert and she watched the scene unfold. The succubus was no longer beautiful, and Yune was not envious for it. A demon was a demon. The pretty face was a façade. Yune’s was true and firm. Even in her death she would remain perfect, scarred but beautiful, before fading away into ash and dust.

And then she burned, like the demon she was, like she deserved. Yune couldn’t look away from the flames, the way they leapt and ate at her flesh, and the screams that were – unfortunately - cut short. She watched, aware Apollyon was approaching, but so absorbed by the flames she wanted to leap closer and touch them. She raised her head ever so slightly. It was partly her victory, and Yune’s victory even more so as the succubus died in her own fault. Good. She was satisfied with this death.

It was only when he spoke that she turned her attention onto him, and unsummoned her lance and armour when she decided he wasn’t about to kill her for killing one of his… closest followers. “So was she,” Yune commented, nodding to the fading flames and ash pile, “But now she’s dead.”

He was unpredictable, rash but calculating. Firm and final. It was appealing to her.

---

How pathetic she looked as she scrambled away, so mortal, so fearful. Any insane man would gloat now and take the opportunity to be a sadist, to use her as he saw fit, bur for Uriel it was simply amusement of a doomed mortal struggling to stay alive. The words that tumbled from her mouth and spilled to the floor like little rivers flowing about his feet. They were not entirely true, he sensed it. His wisdom was beyond the centuries and he knew better than others, what a mortal would do in their dying moments, anything to spare a life. But her goal was – unfortunately for him – successful. He stalled for the slightest of moments and studied her again.

“Yes,” he breathed out softly, coming to a stop a few feet away from her, his sword still dripping blood. “He does not deserve to be a God at all.” He was ever so aware that she knew to which god he belonged. Goddess, she had said. It would have made sense for him to listen more, but he shook his head with a dark smirk. “I care not for Arneas. My Goddess is lost even if he falls. So the only way for you to help me, is to offer me your heart in sacrifice. Don’t you think that’d be lovely, o’ half-mortal?” He raised his sword and lunged at her, but there was a flash of light and his sword hit the floor of where she had been a second.

Ariel had felt the loss of a brother, felt it go out in a second, lost to the void. He knew it would have stirred Arneas too, but Arneas was still out of reach. At the very least, Ariel knew where the angel that had perished had gone to. The makeshift portal made by Arneas just last night. Except… Ariel found that it had been broken from the other side, and his worst of worries surfaced. It took him patience and time, precious time, to locate the angel’s last breath and hurl himself through time and space to the shack, appearing into it like a small tornado, to see Uriel launch at Aurora, and Ariel gave a small push of his foot, and he was across the room with Aurora in his arms against the wall, and shielding her from Uriel’s sword. The sword hit the wood. Uriel cursed.

Ariel didn’t let go of the girl, braced himself and teleported them outside into the open fields, away from the shack. Ariel didn’t let go of the girl, braced himself and teleported them outside into the open fields, away from the shack. He had to gather his bearing, where to take himself and Aurora next to Uriel wouldn’t trace them, but he didn’t have the chance. The moment his foot touched ground at the end of their teleportation, something wrapped itself around his ankle and jerked him back. He cried out in pain and dropped Aurora to the ground, pulled back by a force that only belonged to Uriel – who now stood a stone’s throw away, very much angry. Ariel thrashed and freed himself, staggering to his feet, putting himself between Uriel and Aurora. Ariel had changed. Where he usually once was a boy of just under 7 years of age, now he looked to be thirteen. His freckles were a little faded, but his eyes crystal clear and his hair all the same. His wings were larger, and there was a glow to his skin. A golden bident flashed in his hand.

From afar, Uriel laughed and mocked Ariel, but Ariel didn’t listen. Without turning to look at Aurora, he tossed her a small purple gem with a hilt around which a strand of her hair (from when he first met her) was elegantly wrapped. “Carve a portal.” He ordered, not taking any protests. “Listen to your soul and carve. Any destination will do.” He doubted she – a simple mortal – would be able to activate it, but she could draw one, and that was quite enough. “I’ll buy you time.” That was all he said, and he launched himself forward at Uriel, bident clanging with sword.

Apollyon smiled again at Yune, at her words and at how she let her defenses fall when they spoke. The Seer was right, she was so close to being his and nothing made him more excited than that thought. All he had to do was take her for his own, to mark his territory all over her body and to have her give into it willingly. Whether she would admit it or not, she trusted him and she understood him. She got close to a demon and let him into her mind all while believing that she was aiding herself. He would give her Hades’ powers and Hades’ throne if she pledged herself to him. He only had to take her as he promised her that he would.

His smile slid into a smirk. Apollyon had to wonder if she remembered all those days ago that he promised to devour her and he wondered if she realized how close he was to succeeding. He had not even noticed. She could, of course, deny it and reject him and try to be herself again, but it was almost too late for that. He wondered so many things that neither of them noticed: how it burned less and less, how the chains no longer sapped as much energy, how their souls were so inexplicably pulled together and challenged. He could free her from her Godly confines; a Goddess gone rogue. She already looked like it.

He was inches away from her and the last time they were this close, she was embracing him and needing him. Now, the need for her burned as brightly as corpse in the room did now. His need for her was at hot as the fire that he felt on his skin. He reached a hand to brush a piece of her hair out of her face, a motion of intimacy that always made Priscilla squirm but here it felt right. She was beautifully dangerous, a lightning storm brewing in the sky. Would she rumble? Would she strike him down? Or, would they light up the sky?

“But you aren’t. Not yet,” he commented, placing his hand on the back of her neck.

He pulled her closer then, crashed his lips against hers and let his free hand move to the small of her back to push them closer together. For the most part, hair or fabric separated their body and the only heat he felt was between their lips. It was a gentle heat, not a sizzle, but a warmness he could not completely understand. He stepped back, pushing them towards the wall as they kissed or as she seemed to let him kiss her. He was not sure if she was okay with it or trying to understand it or too wrapped up in her own bloodlust to completely grasp the kiss, but he pressed on.


“Let go, sweetness,” he breathed against her lips.

---

Aurora knew that she failed, knew that there was nothing more she could do except die and let Uriel win. She was foolish to come here alone, clearly. Arneas warned her and she forgot what it meant to be ‘half-mortal’ as Uriel called her. She wondered what it would feel like to lose your heart and to be sacrificed to an angel. She turned her head, closed her eyes as he raised his sword. She was used to seeing death as this point, used to the glint of the point of blade and she wondered what it would feel like to have it finally pierce her skin as it had to so many of the people she loved.

But, she didn’t. Instead, she felt a warm embrace followed by the sound of splintering wood and a frustrated scream. She tried to open her eyes, but it was too bright and she knew that she must be traveling through space again. The arms that held her were not Arneas’ but instead, they were small and almost fragile. She finally opened her eyes to the brightness of only the sun to see Ariel, but it was again only for a second. The angel, who had grown so much since she last saw him, was pulled away from her.

She was so intensely frightened for the angel and she hoped that by looking older, he also grew more powerful. Did Arneas grow more powerful as well? Dammit, where was he? Every fiber of her being was calling, crying, screaming for him to notice that they were in trouble. Her identity meant nothing if they were dead and if Ariel died, Arneas would never forgive her to continue the search either way. They had to survive, but how could they? Uriel was so much stronger than them both and they all knew it. This was not a battle, but a stalling of the inevitable.

Aurora instinctively caught what was thrown her way, but knew not what to do with it. Ariel screamed directions at her, but she felt so useless. The gem felt like it was vibrating in her hands and yet, she had no idea what to do with it. Carve it where? They were in an open field? Ariel’s scream snapped Aurora’s attention back up as Uriel throw a column of fire that hit Ariel’s wings. She fumbled with the crystal and thought desperately of where to go and she thought only of the lions that guarded the entrance to the temple - they were safe. She lifted her arms and called desperately for Ariel as she drew an insignia in the air that seemed to pulsate until the angel flew over to her and they leaped into the portal together.

The ground was warm and the shining gold of the temple greeted her. She sat up and coughed blood onto her hand. She looked desperately around for Ariel, who lay scorched and knocked out next to her. She crawled over to him, hearing the rumble of the lion’s roar as she did. Her hands fell on his chest and she thought of life. She needed him to live, she willed him to live, to wake up and to be okay. She needed him to be okay. He deserved to be okay. Sure, he was not her favorite angel, but Arneas loved him and he saved her.

“Oh, no. No, no, no,” she chanted, tears falling from her eyes as she tried her best to touch and heal everything that was sliced and burned. Her tears and their blood all mingling on the steps just outside of the temple, waiting for someone to come.

@ ashen knight;

Yune averted her gaze back to the flames even as he continued to approach. She was tense, but not sure for what. She had a foolish faith he would not end her life right now, and if he did try she would provide so very little resistance she might as well fall into his arms and expose her throat for him. Only when he brushed the hair away from her face did she fix her gaze on him. I don't know what to do, she thought with a small wince. She was at loss. Why? How?

Every remaining instinct that still functioned perfectly well told her to pull away, screamed at her to push him away as he drew closer and touched her and kissed her, to slit his throat here and now, but she didn't. She let him have his way, do as he wanted with only a hand on his chest as if to lightly push him away, as if to say that no, she didn't fully agree, as if playing hard to get, even as she let him in closer.

His urging was quite enough to let her defences fall a little more. Quite enough to raise her hand and let her fingers be lost in his hair, quite enough to tilt her head and arch in, enough for a small gasp of anticipation and a satisfied sigh.

Shameful, shameful, shameful. For a goddess to frolic with a demon. To not only share his alliance but also his bed. She'd never come back. They'd never take her in. Right now it didn't matter. "You've vile and I hate you," she barely whispered against his lips as she - very un-reluctantly - returned his kiss, and deepened it, and allowed them to waste the night away by a pile of ashes.

And when they were quite done after it all, she pulled away to take a much needed breath. Her skin charred and cut in places, bleeding where he had bit (but she returned those onto him too), she welcome the cool air though even if it were painful, she thought it felt quite nice and she - turning away so he wouldn't see - allowed herself a small satisfied smile. What time was it? What day? It didn't matter. She was tainted and sinned, and there was a line of black beneath the skin by her chest, threading itself up like a river to her neck and to her collarbone, sin very much present, sin very much real. Sin very worth it.

---

Having put all his faith into Aurora, for the first and possibly last time - for his mind was racing with doubts and failures she would bring - Ariel came at Uriel with as much force as he could, with every intention on bringing the angel down. He could not depend on Aurora. She was human, right? What was he doing here, risking his life for a mortal his God had taken a little curiosity in? What was this nonsense? He thought all this as he and Uriel battled it out, fire flashing here and there, light as bright as a thousand torches. The difference in their strength was too great. The experience was too diverse. Yet through pure belief in his own God, in his own strength and in hope, Ariel managed to hold on. It worked long enough until he heard Aurora call to him, and he threw his last light towards Uriel to blind him and jumped to the portal, grabbing Aurora and with a small whisper and touch on the lines, he activated the portal. It worked. That's all he thought as he hit the ground of the temple, soft grass caressing his face, and passed out.

The thunder above rumbled menacingly, the weather adjusting to Arneas' mood and presence. Anger, rage, at the loss of his angel, at the ordeal. He felt a portal rip into his temple and headed to it, the lions first to spring towards. But upon seeing Ariel and Aurora, they turned their guard to the portal, tearing it down instantly and closing it after them. Whoever their attacker was would not come through now.

Arneas saw Aurora hovering over Ariel, and while he had not felt Ariel's life be ripped from his soul, he feared the worst. He rushed over, followed closely by summoned helpers, and pried Aurora's hands away from the unconscious angel. The wounds were enough to know who did them. Uriel. Again. Arneas grit his teeth, but hate was not in place right now. He had gathered Aurora into his arms to pull her away from Ariel (the boy was flocked to by other angels and carried away), and settled her onto his lap in the midst of the field and gently rubbed her shoulders. "Hey, ssh, it's okay, you're safe here." He whispered, trying his best to calm her.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon laughed as she insulted him, but it was not an insult, not even a little bit. He won and it was as simple as that. She gave completely into him and gave only passive (and fake) attempts at resisting him. It stroked his ego to think that by simply killing Priscilla he finally won Yune for everything that she was and everything that she could be. He would have killed Priscilla much sooner if he realized that was all that it took to make her truly appreciate him and to buy into the future they could build together. A few days ago, he told he could give her many things and in this moment as they hungrily kissed each other, he knew he had not lied to her.

Every second they spent on the floor of throne room, discovering the crevices of their bodies that were suppose to be forbidden was a glorious experience for Apollyon. Sex with Priscilla was savage, but this was purposeful, strong, and a ravenous exploration of territories uncharted to them both. His hands seemed to fit perfectly in all her curves and she seemed to fit perfectly against him, around him, surrounding him. To make a Goddess like Yune quiver and whisper (if ever so quietly) his name was quite an achievement and if he were to die today, he would feel satisfied. He was satisfied in himself and in how he changed the world for Gods, Goddesses and demons alike.

When they finally separated, Apollyon made no effort to hide his triumphant smile as he laid back on the cold stones of the throne room. His hair was a mess, his skin burnt and bleeding, his eyes sleepy but his mind was on fire. Surely the Seer must have felt the change and maybe the entire Universe felt how the world changed; he certainly hoped it did. He felt it in the room now. There was no more need for chains or tortures, she was not going to leave him anytime soon. They had so many possibilities laid in front of them: places to go, things to discover, people to conquer, nights to celebrate. He wondered if she saw the future that he saw.

He lifted himself up on one arm as he studied the body he so recently devoured and he smiled again. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back down towards him so he could kiss the delicate line of black that looked to be fracturing her porcelain skin. He traced it from her heart to her collarbone and back down, resting his head against her chest. Surely she knew now what she was, if there was a word for it. She could no longer deny this, but there was power in falling. She no longer needed followers to keep her alive, as long as he lived so did she. She would be renewed in in strength Hades’ followers, but she didn't need them.

He would try to deny it, but she changed him too. He felt protective of her, he wanted more of her and she would become his strongest weakness to his leadership and to his sanity. He would deny it, even if she asked, but he knew that it was true because his kisses were tender. Could a demon love? He was not entirely sure what that even meant, but every creature needed a mate. Perhaps he finally found his or perhaps this was to burn out as quickly as it started. The Seer made it seem like this would last at least long enough to win the war, but what war would propel them afterwards? He shrugged it off, it did not matter at this moment. In this moment, he had won.

“How does it feel?” He asked her, falling back to lie on the stones once more to get a better look at her.

---

Aurora cried out loudly when she felt hands pulling her away from Ariel. No. She was the one who could help him. She helped Izra and Arneas and Ariel himself before and no one else, it seemed, had anywhere near the amount of power that she may or may not have. What would they do for him that she could not do better? The answer was nothing, she was the only one that would be able to help. Whoever hands were on here she would fight against until she could finally get back to the little angel that saved her life. The angel that hated her saved her so she had to save the angel she hated just as much.

Arneas voice was the only thing that penetrated her panic and she stopped fighting against his hands that rubbed her shoulders to calm her. She looked up at his crystal blue eyes, as worried as they were, and she felt impossibly guilty. It only made her cry more. He did not deserve for her to openly ignore his advice. She put them all in danger, for the second time, and now Ariel was paying for it. She did not understand why Arneas would even want to comfort her instead of making sure that Ariel was alright. Shouldn't they both be helping Ariel?

“I’m so sorry,” she finally said beneath her sobs. “You asked me - to stay - and I didn’t -“ she took a deep breath. “I didn’t listen.” She cried again, pressing her face into the crook of his neck and his shoulder. She was in desperate need of a shower, but she was terrified to be alone. Uriel was so powerful, so much more like Arneas than like Ariel, and so certainly this place was not completely safe anymore.

How strange they must look: a God on knees try to appease a sobbing peasant girl he decided to save. How strange they must look: his purity radiating off of him, only stained by her sin, her foolishness, her blood. Other servants from the temple were hovering at its gates, watching Aurora cry to him and watching Arneas comfort them and it was, indeed, a sight to see. Aurora needed this, though, more than she could ever say. She missed the comfort of another person and she needed to feel some sort of warmth. In her head, she kept replaying the killing of the angel, Ariel’s scream and she cried until she was too tired to continue. She stopped, but she did not move from where her head rested on Arneas’ chest.

[Both of them at the moment like: 'doesn't matter, got laid' ]

Every time she moved, some piece of her skin would crack and bleed where she had been burned and for a while she lay quite still, seeping the coolness of the stone beneath her into her to calm her racing heart. No war had made her feel alive in the same way as this. It was different. No mortal, no other god had made it quite so exciting and adventurous. Gods could go on for long periods of times, and sure had the wildest of sessions also, but they were the same. As demons with demons were the same. This? This was something new. She tried to think of any other God that had done so previously, and found that there had been no record of any. Maybe some, like Hades, had but kept it quiet, least they be shamed for such a pleasurable thing.

Would she tell the world? She would have liked to yell it in the god's faces, but at the same time, she wanted to keep it a secret. Not to save her humility or innocence in the god's eyes, but because it was so good she never wanted to share it. Ever. It was a delicious treat all for herself. Her own. Mine.

As he traced the line up and down with kisses, and rested against her chest, she gently massaged the the top and back of his head in a sort of stroking motion, little circles into his skin. It was soothing and calming and she closed her eyes for a little until he moved away again, and she had to part with the motion of her fingers. She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into the crook of her elbow, peeking out a little when he asked.

"Good," She quietly admitted. Would she tell him more? Of course not. There was enough ego feeding for today. "I feel like I could start three wars at once and win them all." Alive, so alive.

---

Arneas looked down at her as she cried, and let her sob it out for a little while, listening to her apologies. Was he angry? No. Only because he was understanding. He was annoyed and slightly frustrated for her not having listened to him, but the two feelings stemmed from worry, and he could not blame her, nor hate on her, for wanting to visit her father. He had after all, allowed her to. He could not bring a mortal thing like the shack into his temple grounds, so he did the next best thing.

He held her for a little longer before once again catching sight of the blood on her face and taking her chin into his hands and gently forcing her face up. "You need to get this treated, come." He stood, and lifted her up to her feet and pulled her along to the temple. He was not rough, but he was not gentle. She was mortal and the longer Uriel's poison stayed on her skin the worse it was for her. Ariel could deal. Arneas had priorities. Save the healer first, and she would save the rest best she could.

It was this logic that prevented him from seeing Ariel, as much as he was worried for him. Leading her to the nursery, he sat her down on one of the cots and took it upon himself to treat her wounds and injuries, dipping the cloth into wet water first and wiping off the blood, then putting some lotions and other healing things in the nursery onto the scratches. They were not deep, thankfully, and all but one would definitely not scar. As for this deeper cut, it depended on how well Aurora could heal it. He did best he could (without taking the time to caress her skin, for he was more worried about preserving her), then handed the basket of healing things to her. "If you need rest, you may have it, but I think you should look Ariel over first too." It wasn't an option. In fact, he stressed his words just right to let her know there was no option. She had to look Ariel over and treat him. It was only fair. He was torn but he could not show favourites. Especially when both of the injured were at the top of the list.

He pressed his lips together and looked at the floor. His heart was still pounding, and although he hadn't been at the scene, he had received enough from Ariel to know the feelings that had rushed through his angel at that very moment. And those were enough to instil a small fear for their safety. Arneas reached forward and grasped Aurora's hand and turned her around. He put a hand on her shoulder and brought her closer into a small embrace, planting a soft kiss on her temple. "Please do as I say next time." He said quietly, and let her go.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon was surprised by the amount of time they lingered on the floor, naked as if they were relishing in the moment. Neither of them were particularly sentimental people and they had far more important thing to be worrying about than each other and yet, he could not break the spell. He did not want to disrupt the feeling that settled over them, he did not want to disrupt how precious she looked hiding her face. He wondered, of course, why she hid such a glorious face as if she was shy. There was certainly nothing she had to hide from him now: he saw her whole body and her whole soul within this last day. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

He smiled at her when she answered his question, again feeling quite proud of himself. If she were to ask him, he would respond similarly. It felt good, it felt different, it felt glorious to be with her. The Seer had not mentioned how he would feel after all of this or where he should go once they got this far. He needed her to admit that they were on the same side. He needed her to admit that she was with him and that she wanted to be with him. As soon as she did that, they would truly be equals on the same side. It wouldn’t hurt when he touched her anymore. He could give her solely pleasure, if that’s what she wanted.

“We have a lot to do,” he said, sitting up and putting his pants back on. “We’re going to help each other now. Aren’t we?” He asked, looking down where she lay. He wondered what it would feel like if she said no. It would hurt him and his ego and it would surprise him. In truth, he already felt addicted to her and if she asked, he would readily bring her to his bed this time instead of the floor. He also wondered what would happen to Yune if she said no. They both saw the sin within her, almost as deep rooted in her as he was, and he wondered if she could ever go back to being the Yune he stumbled upon just a few weeks ago.

---

She started to feel tired as they sat, but Arneas was ready to move so much faster than Aurora was. If she had it her way, she would curl up in a ball and stay with him in the middle of the field. Aurora’s mind and body felt numb and she stood and clung to Arneas’ hand as he pulled them through the temple. She always seemed to be stumbling after him and this time felt worse than all the other times. Her chest was heavy, her eyes stung from crying and her entire face felt numb like she could not move her mouth to speak anymore, even if she wanted to.

The familiar scent of the nursery stung at her nostrils, but it was busier than it was the last time she was there. Every healing spirit in the temple was working on Ariel and she felt even more guilty than she had just moments ago. She looked past Arneas as he wiped her face and rubbed a salve of her own creation on her skin. They weren’t doing exactly the right thing to help Ariel and she felt a little frustrated by Arneas’ attention. She was fine, she was fine. She was just in shock after everything she saw and that was why she felt so funny. She would be more helpful if he stopped fussing over her.

He handed her the supplies she needed, as if he understood any of it, and practically insisted she help Ariel, but she was already planning on helping him. She was trying to help him since they crash landed on the steps of the temple when Arneas tore her away from the angel. She wanted to help him this whole time, but everyone was too focused on making sure she was okay. It was her own fault, she had started acting helpless and she was not helpless. She did not always need to be taken care and this was her time to shine. Was it not? She was half a healing Goddess, who better to save herself and Ariel?

She just pushed through all the other spirits and set down her bag when she was turned around and pulled into an embrace. When Arneas kissed her, she felt only surprise and she lingered in that feeling once he let her go. She nodded in response. She watched him walk away, his entire body rigid with worry, fear and anger. They must have become closer than she realized or they must have come closer to death than Arneas ever thought they would for him to act this way. He was very rarely this gentle with her and she wondered if she looked even worse than she felt. She didn’t (couldn’t) linger on this too long for Ariel needed her more than Arneas did.

She worked quickly after that, barking directions to the spirits who were there to help her and trying her best to listen to her soul, just as Ariel directed previously. Half of her must know what to do, how to save him from the wounds and burns that covered Ariel’s body a map of Uriel’s destruction. She bandaged and she rubbed and she prayed (to who, she wasn’t sure) until her fingers and her mind felt even more numb than they had before. Then, she sat across from him and she stared, willing him to wake for two reasons. She needed Ariel to be okay because he deserved to be okay and she needed him to be okay so that the crinkle in between Arneas’ eyes would disappear.

She lingered on the floor a little more, but once Apollyon started to get dressed, she too had her clothes slipped back on and sat up with her legs tucked in close, running her fingers to comb her hair into place best she could, to style it again. Looking up at him, Yune allowed herself a small smirk at this question. Of course. Why would he even ask? Provided she got what she wanted out of it, then yes. “Give me his land and throne for the souls, and the rest is all yours. If you do that, I will do everything in my power to ensure you succeed.” As he wanted to hear her verbal help offer, she wanted to hear his. Did she doubt their success against Hades? It was probable, but she did not think it was a threat. They simply needed time and planning and thought be put in, and all the little loopholes in Hades’ guard had been found. And the God to open his gates was already here, and it didn’t matter how sinned she was, she was a God, and it would work. She knew it.

Was she going to reject helping him if he didn’t? No. She would help him overthrow Hades, and then fight Apollyon tooth and nail for the land that he wouldn’t even care for, for the souls he had no heart for. Why did she want them so badly? Because even if she lived here all alone and independent (and a miracle that would be), she needed something to do. Already she could imagine the lands of Hades, divided into their three areas, flourishing even more under her rule. He had let them down so much. The tortured were not tortured enough – perhaps some souls she could feed to the demons Apollyon chose, and the heroes were not blessed enough. Her eyes slipped to close and a small smile carved its way into her features again. Oh, that would be a lovely dream.

The dream wasn’t to last long though, for the small clinking of the cuffs still on her wrists and ankles brought her back to reality. Would Apollyon leave them on? Would he take them off? She hoped he would have enough trust in her by now. There was no where she could run. The upper world did not want her now. This place was her new home.

Something scaly and with a bit of fur here and there pressed against her side, and Yune looked down. The little demon she had cared for in her time here alone had appeared again, nudging her and rubbing its head like a cat against her arm. It had grown quite a bit more, and it was the size of a half-grown cat. Yune blinked, surprised at its rapid growth (just this morning before the succubus, it was barely kitten-size). What did it feed on? It didn’t occur to her that maybe it was her very own sin that let it grow and manifest here, feeding on every negativity of hers.

---

Ariel did not come back to consciousness for a long time. In fact, he stayed out for a day and only by nightfall of the day after did he finally come to his senses, aware of nobody being in the room but one presence. A presence he already knew well enough to not even have to guess.
Somewhere along the hours, he had abandoned his fighting state and – when nobody was looking, simply by convenient chance – he reverted to his younger seven-year old state, his lips puffy and his skin slightly red from the fever that gradually lowered, and left a pink tint on his chubby cheeks, and left his hair wet and plastered to his face, washed by a kind soul to become fluffy and lovely again. But even so, throughout the whole time he was unconscious, one hand was kept in a tight fist, gripping onto something inside, and no matter how hard anyone tried – not even Arneas – could open it up.

Slowly, Ariel opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He turned his head and peered at the figure in the room. It was dark, but the moonlight nicely fell in and illuminated the room. It was pretty. He wondered what day it was. With a small struggle, he moved his limbs one by one. Everything was in place and everything moved. Good. It was then that he raised his arm and looked at his tightened fist, and slowly opened it. In his fingers, curled and broken were a few white feathers. Uriel’s feathers. If there was anything he knew for certain, it was that nobody had ever laid a touch on Uriel’s feathers, nobody had ever gotten so close to grab a handful. Oh, Uriel would be mad. Ariel allowed himself a small smile, but the mere act of it hurt his face (there seemed to be a cut there) and he ceased the action.

“Hey,” He forced out, his throat quite dry and his lips even drier. He peered at the figure again, dropping his arm. “A drink. I want a drink.” Would she hear him? His voice was just above a whisper. Ariel lightly moved his finger in her direction, stirring a little wind to blow and tug at her clothes and hair, enough to hopefully disturb her and catch her attention.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon smiled at her and he realized that she just kept making him smile. Her hunger for power was refreshing because it mirrors his own so perfectly. She looked so lovely down there on floor, smiling at him. In a weird way, he felt this was exactly how this was suppose to play out all along and he loved it. They had so much power together and he was never more excited to start working. He would of course give her the throne and the power of the souls that he did not care about. They were, in fact, a perfect team. He can handle the demons and the beings of the Underworld and she can be the delegate to the humans and the Gods.

“I can do that,” he said with a smirk. “We can do anything, love.”

He reached down to lift her up, ignoring the tiny demon by her feet, and waving his hands so his chains disappeared. He did not need them anymore, they did not need them anymore. They were invisibly chained to each other. He felt so charged by the talk of conquering, of power, of growing, of defeating Hades that he was overwhelmed by it all. He grabbed her face and pulled her for another kiss, but did his best to not get carried away. He could exist in this little bubble of hypotheticals and sex for an eternity with her.

He pulled her back over to the altar, summoning a table to take its place and spreading out maps of the Underworld. The sects that he was in charge of were highlighted in red and they far outnumbered the sect Hades’ controlled, which were written in blue. He looked at her and smile. Would she be proud of him? He moved his way through the Underworld and he unified a majority of the Underworld underneath him - from the lest of these to the best. No one would alert Hades as they moved towards him because everyone along the way was expecting his arrival and oh, they would be overjoyed that a Goddess was with him.

“What do you think?” He asked, knowing that her knowledge of war and Hades surpassed his own.

---

It took so long for Ariel to wake that Aurora finally had to succumb to sleep and it felt so entirely lonely sitting in this room, waiting. She was waiting and waiting for almost an entire day and her stomach sank as she waited. Arneas came and went, trying to open Ariel’s hand or even his eyes and failed. With every visit, he became more frustrated and he spoke less and less to Aurora. As the sun was setting, casting an orange glow around her, she placed her head in her hands.

The wind that caressed her caused her look up so hopefully to see Ariel reverted back to his childlike form. His hand was finally open and his voice croaking for water. She wanted to cry, to scream, to jump for joy, but she hurried to his side with a glass of water first. He seemed capable to move his arm so she placed the glass in his hand and then lifted it with him to his lips. He drank and then dropped his hand from the glass with an exhausted sigh. She turned to a spirit and told to find Arneas quickly - if he was not already on his way.

“Ariel,” she said. “I am so happy you’re okay. Thank you so much for everything. Oh, I’m so sorry.” The angel and her were so frequently at odds that she wondered if her apology meant anything at all. She started examining his bandages to make sure that everything was okay, but they did not need to be replaced. She felt useless and so she stepped back lest her anxiety cause her to fawn over the angel. She hoped he would insult her then she would now they were back to normal once and for all.

“At least we survived,” she added, trying to fill the silence until Arneas came back.

His response was satisfying, and as she allowed him to pull her up, holding onto his arms as he pulled her into a another but short lived kiss, and then they were at the table with all the maps. Yune leaned forward, carefully adjusting her movements for the weight of the cuffs was gone and the freedom was quite surprising. She studied the maps, and felt his gaze on her. She could feel him seeking her praise or comment, and she tempted him a little more by not saying anything.

The maps and markers were enough to show his strength, his power, and his lead of war was impressive. She ran a finger over a border in thought. "Impressive," She said after a moment of pause, and it was genuine. He had pinned Hades from all three sides, and the fourth was a corner through which Hades could try to escape, but the bottleneck would slow his escape down, and all the escapees could be slaughtered by a handful of demons from the other side. Simple. Easy.

She ran her finger towards a small blue area on a mountain, half-engulfed in the red. It was an easy take, and she wondered why he had not taken it yet. She knew of Hades and of wars, but not of the land. "Is there something here?" She asked, looking up at him. It looked like a simple mountain, surely he wouldn't have trouble in taking over a mountain. There must be something there that makes it difficult. Either guardians or obstacles of the land, or a sprint of blessed water, the fumes of which would irritate demons for miles about.

---

Water touched his lips, wet his dry mouth an soothed his dry throat, and Ariel wasn't sure he had ever tasted something so lovely. He took a moment to enjoy it, and once the cup was dry and empty he let his hand drop aside and watched her fuss. When she got to his face, he flinched and looked away. Her apologies fell on deaf ears. He was in no mood for self-confidence and graciousness. There was a sad look to his eyes, as if he was ready to cry any moment.

"At least," he repeated, flicking a pained glance at her. "Do you know what that means to me? It means I'm the worst. I couldn't take you away from another angel without almost dying." His lower lip trembled and he quickly looked away. "What good am I to Arneas, a God of War, if I - his first and foremost angel - can barely hold my own against another? What good?" He raised the hand with the feathers and opened it up, watching them float down onto the bed sheets, and with his other hand, he gripped the sheets beneath.

"What good am I if I can't protect a human, let alone a temple? If Uriel came here, he'd slaughter us all. If any Angel of the Heavenly Ten came down, I'd be swept aside like leaves in the wind. I'm an Angel of a God of War, I can't be so weak." He pulled the covers over his face and turned away from Aurora, least she see the tears in his eyes. At least they escaped. He wanted to laugh at the nonsense. For her it was a great feat, but for him it was failure. He failed to successfully protect.

In his emotions, he completely overlooked the difference in age between himself and Uriel, the difference in experience and the lifestyle. Uriel ate whenever and wherever and whomever, but Ariel was more restricted, more humane.

"I was so afraid," he mumbled into the pillow after a few breaths to calm his breathing. "I thought I would die. I always run away from him. Other angels die, and I run away." He gripped the pillow tighter to bury his face and shame further in, little shoulders shaking.

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon watched her as she thought and as she studied his map and appreciated how critical she was. Sure, it made him nervous, but it is not like she would be disappointed. He was not sure why he needed her validation, but for whatever reason he did. She scrutinized his map for longer than he expected and he had to wonder why; she always made him wonder. He shifted his weight on his feet, a moment of nerves, and waited. He turned to look at the map, was there something he missed? He scanned it back and knew that where he conquered were the only areas of the Underworld that would succumb to him easily.

Apollyon followed her finger to where it hovered on the map and he sighed. It was the fight that he knew would they could never win, but more importantly, one that should never be started. He looked at the mountain with more anxiety than before. How could she not know? She apparently had less information on the layout of the Underworld then he realized. The small part of him that did not trust her relaxed a little. Even if she decided to flee, she would never find her way out and that was after seeing the map.

“That is where they keep the Titans. There are cleansing pools for the Godly guardians that exists there and it is also protected by a guardian crafted by Hades himself who is more keen to evil than good. No one goes near it,” he commented.

He stopped and his anxiety rose. Would Hades go near it? Would his guardian release the Titans if he began to lose power? It was a horrible back-up plan that should never occur, but if Hades was desperate and not fearful of the Gods retaliation, he may just do it. Apollyon shivered at the thought of the Titans. How long had Yune been alive? Did she know of their destruction or had she witnessed it first hand? He was not sure, but he remembered exactly what it was like when they were released. He was young, but it still left an impression that brought fear to his heart.

“I would not go near it, but I worry now that Hades might. Do you remember them?” He asked, hoping that she did so she would understand why he was suddenly so worried for, well, everyone.

---

Aurora stepped back as Ariel hurled his words at her like rocks and as each one hit, she felt more and more pain. His words were harsher than ever before and she winced a little as he spoke. His words tumbled out almost as quickly as her tears did. She was only trying to help him, but she somehow made it all worse. She felt like she was stuck in this puddle of both of their trauma. She felt his pain intrinsically and she wanted to reach out and help him, but that had not gone well the first time.

When he started to cry, Aurora felt her own sadness and guilt wash over tenfold. She never expected Ariel to feel this way and she knew that Arneas would never want his angel to feel this. Arneas was so fond of him that it annoyed her. He would go to war simply for Ariel. How could Ariel not see that? Arneas was more frustrated with her than with Ariel and she felt guilt bubble up in her stomach once more. If she was smarter and if she listened, Ariel would not be hurt, physically or emotionally as he was now.

“I don’t think you’re weak. I don’t think that running makes you weak. It makes you smart. You can’t win every battle, but you can end them. You ended this one and we survived. You can live another day and you can get stronger. Arneas does not win every battle. To expect that is only putting blame on yourself, where it doesn’t belong,” she said, giving her best effort to comfort him. She hoped her words would be enough, but they did not feel like it. They felt empty even though they weren't and she sat down on the cot across from him feeling exceptionally low.

“I would have died if it wasn’t for you. You won my battle,” she whispered, mainly to herself.

Yune listened as she looked at the spot on the map under question. The Titans? She felt a little shiver run down her spine. "Yes," She said softly, "I remember them. We mustn't disturb them, nor let Hades get to them… That is indeed an annoyance." She seemed to go into deep thought for a moment, but then raised her head and - without looking to Apollyon - said, "Of the few Gods that were allowed to go down to the Underworld during the ordeal, the War God was one of them." She allowed herself a small smile, not knowing why she shared this part of her story with him, but the memory was both terrifying and pleasant. "I was newborn and naive. I snuck in with them. The War God was severely injured then. I took his title while he lay on the rocks not far from Hades' castle."

She traced her finger to the patch of rocks where it had happened and smugly looked at it. She knew only one side and the near proximity around Hades' land, but nothing more. However, a little area did not escape her attention and she trailed her finger towards this unclaimed area.

"If I recall correctly, a river of Dark Waters should pass here. If your demons use the dark water for coverage, you could pinch off this area and ambush it, claim it." She drew a little circle around the area mentioned with the tip of her finger and looked to the demon lord. "Only the hounds and guards patrolling the river would be a problem. You would have to take them out all at the same time, so they wouldn't pass any message on." The finger was withdrawn for the map to rest on her lips.

"I would offer my help, but I think we better not reveal our alliance until we stand outside Hades' gates. If he knows I'm with you, if he knows of my presence, he'll seal his gates and not even I would be able to open them." She bit her lip.

---

No matter what she said, Ariel was simply too upset to even hear her words the first time around. "I'll never be as goods Uriel, or any of the Heavenly Ten." But wallowing in self-pity was difficult for him even in this state, and no matter how much he felt the despair of not being the best, the self consciousness, he couldn't keep it up for long. His nature didn't allow it. He sniffed and gripped the pillow tighter, and would have liked to stay like that for a long time and maybe for forever, but he could feel the sadness and guilt of her soul and it was more overwhelming than his own emotion. For after all, the angel was made to put others first before itself.

Ariel pulled away from the pillow and rubbed his eyes, peering at Aurora. He took a moment of trembling lips and a loss for words before he finally could come up with something to say. "Yet, you are strong. You held your own against Izra's charm. You drew a portal right to the temple." He shifted so he could swing his legs off the side of the cot and peered at her through puffy eyes and pouty lips. "How did you do it? WHy is your soul so different?"

Could he see her light? Yes. Could he see her soul was not as dim as a human's? That it was covered in sin, sure, but it was burning bright inside, pure and true? It was like an angel had grown in her, but a lot brighter, a lot cleaner. A crystal in the mud. But Ariel couldn't pick out her demigod state, for he did not yet have the power to look so deeply into the souls of humans, only their hearts and minds, and in hers he felt the conflict and the guilt, and a certain emotion for Arneas whenever the name was mentioned. He knew that well enough, he had suspicions she was guilty for disobeying the God, for going against his best wishes and doing as she pleased. Doing in which caused an angel's death, but the angel was young and who could blame her? Nobody.

"Don't blame yourself for his death," He said quietly and softly in return to her, meaning the angel, "It was his own choice. We make mistakes and we pay with our lives. He chose you over reason. His own inexperience lead it so."

@ ashen knight;
Apollyon wanted to smile as he thought of Yune sneaking into the Underworld and stealing a title; it felt like she was always destined to be here. He could almost see a younger version of her lusting after the title of Goddess of War and he let that thought consume him for a moment. He was sure she must have looked exactly as she did after stabbing Priscilla. Apollyon knew that Yune was smart, but every time she speaks or makes plans, he knows that her intelligence and experience surpasses his own. They must have been about the same age when the Titans were released and yet, it took so much longer for him to rise up.

Apollyon frowned when she pointed to the river as it was his one failed conquest and he was surprised that Hades had not yet come to his door to yell about it. Perhaps he did not care for the Dark Waters, but they did provide an almost direct entrance into his gates so one would think he would. Apollyon allowed himself the relief in the fact that it was one of their first battles and they were stronger now, but he felt apprehensive to go back into that particular area. He did not want to watch another slaughter, which would not be very good for morale.

He rested his hands on the table as he wondered who was strong enough to take out hounds and guards all at once. He had so many factions at his disposal, but none of them seemed exactly right and he could not add factions up in his head. The hounds sniffed out practically any being, but they were essentially blind which could be helpful. The guards were exceptionally strong, but slow like giants. He glanced at Yune and noted that she bites her lip when she’s thinking. It was probably one of the most attractive things he has seen her do and he wondered, for a second, how they hell he would ever get as much work done as before with her around.


He forced himself to focus and then he smiled. “Vampires?” He asked, turning to her and flashing his own fangs. He knew vampires were low level or, at least, that’s how they started. He already knew she did not like the plan especially since vampires have such a bad reputation. They were known to look out for themselves, but Apollyon was one of them. The Queen loved him, lusted after him and cherished one of her own rising up (even if she was a little jealous).

“Hear me out,” he said, throwing his hands up. “They’re fast and stealthy. There is a ridiculous number of them. They’re dying to prove themselves to me and if they all die, we won’t lose something significant. They’re also ruthless and the Queen,” he paused. “We’re very close. And I know you might be worried, but I’m sure that the Queen and I can have a discussion. I’m sure there are things that I can give her. We can make it work.”

---

Aurora was not sure how to answer even though she now had the answer. If Arneas wanted people to know, he would have told Ariel himself. There must be a reason that Arneas did not tell the angel, but there is also a reason that Uriel attacked her so ferociously. Uriel could not use his charms on her anymore than Izra could and how would Aurora be able to deny these things. She was a horrible liar and she was having a hard time crafting something clever, especially with his sad and puffy eyes staring back at her. She did not have enough information to even craft a lie and she glanced towards the door, wondering again where Arneas was.

“Arneas says that my mother may have been Panakeia, but he’s not sure,” she mumbled after being quiet for far too long. “I’m not even really sure what that means,” she said with a nervous laugh.

Aurora felt the need to cry again when Ariel brought up the angel that died, the angel whose name she did not know. What a stupid way to justify his death to say that it was his own fault or that it was because he was inexperienced. Ariel himself was just crying about his incapacities as an angel and how he ran away instead of dying. How hypocritical to insinuate that this angel did not matter anymore. He did, at least to Aurora. She brought her knees to her chest and turned her head away from Ariel. She bit her lip to stop her from crying, but all she saw was the sword entering the little angel’s head over and over again. She can still hear the scream and the sound of wings being torn off and she shut her eyes to try to make it stop.

No matter what Arneas or Ariel said, she would not lie. It was not his mistake, it was Aurora’s that brought the angel to her. If she listened to Arneas’ warning, she would have never put anyone in danger. She would have never brought Uriel only a step away from this temple. If it was not for Arneas’ inexplicable need to protect her, no one would have come to her rescue. Ariel would still be sure of himself as an angel, the other would still be alive and Arneas would still be on his way up. She was bringing them down, she was complicated their lives and she was doing nothing to make up for all she ruined.

“No, it was my choice. I made a choice and here we are,” she said, after a moment.

She had no knowledge of his resources, the factions he had under his control, and as much as she wished to offer her help in thinking up a plan, she was clueless on where to start. So instead she focused on tactics with a hypothetic attacker. The river had curves and bends, and the guards patrolled about those, but there were many. The hounds were free and had less of a pattern. They were mostly blind but had a strong sense of smell, and she wondered what they wouldn't be able to smell, for to her demons reeked so strongly she'd smell them herself a mile away.

Looking up at his suggestion, she couldn't help but slightly tense at the flash of his fangs. It was a natural instinct she had no control over. Those specific teeth in his mouth could drink away her life. She wanted to object, but upon his words relented and force herself to listen. Give him a fair chance. And fair chance proved itself. At first she was reluctant, but his explanation stemmed an idea and slowly she nodded.

"You Vampires happen to… not smell…" here she cast a quick glance at him with a small smirk, and added for good measure, "As much as other demons. You are silent, stealthy; indeed, you would do well to send some against the hounds and giants. Perhaps a good number for the giants." Yune paused a little to hear about the Queen, and another smile touched her lips. She laughed softly, leaning against the table, "I'm sure you can charm her into lending you her spawn."

She only wondered how one could be so dismissive of his numbers, how he could not care how many insignificant ones died. But he was a demon after all, and those demons had no morals, she would stand by this belief for a long time. "And two more things," She placed her finger on a different part of the map, over another lake coming from the Earth, and asked, "Are you allied with the Sirens? I know they have history with Hades." Oh, the beautiful cursed Sirens. It would be neat to have them alongside. "And what of hellhounds?"

---

Ariel fixed his eyes on her as she mentioned Panakeia and blinked. Not sure what it meant? Was this a joke? "Panakeia is a goddess of healing," he said slowly but in a way that questioned her knowledge. did she not know? "Are you saying Arenas thinks you are-?" he didn't finish. He looked at her then, really looked at her. Past her skin and flesh and human into her soul. Was that the bright light he saw then? It would make sense but…

His thought was interrupted with further of her words. And by her expression he guessed she was upset at how he had come about saying the angel's death. He made an effort and willed himself to sit up a little more, gripping the sheets in pain as he rose up. "Listen." He said frankly, "I don't expect you to accustom to it, but this is how we, angels, live. If we die, it is because we are not successful. I fear not death but disappointment upon my God. Any Angel that falls to another angel is an angel unable to serve. That's all there is to it. That is our life." He took a breath and looked away.

"We all made a choice. You made a choice to not listen. The angel made a choice to try save you. I made a choice to come take you home." Ariel grit his teeth. "Accept it. At the least, do not let the angel's death be in vain. Your family to us because Arneas said to welcome you as such. Please try to act like it."

He shut his mouth, and just in time, for the door opened and Arneas appeared. Clearly he had made some haste to get here, for he looked a little rushed. As he appeared he wasn't sure where to look. Clearly there had been tension in the room, again, but about what? Both were extremely upset and looked (and he felt them too) ready to cry. He looked from Aurora to Ariel and back to the girl, but eventually gave in and went to his angel first. Briefly he exchanged words to make sure Ariel was feeling fine and well, and then turned to walk to Aurora. He slowed as he approached, and sat by the side of the bed and studied her quietly, with some sympathy.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that," he said quietly after a while, reaching over to place his hand on her knee. "I should have… I should have foreseen Uriel finding a way there." He quietened for a little while longer, then with concern, asked, "Did he say what he wanted?" Did he simply come to feast on her? Or was this a strike at Arneas? Either way it put Aurora (and his angels) in danger and if he knew the reason, he could guard against it. Protect what was precious to him.

@ ashen knight;
When Yune gave him approval, though he did not necessarily need it, he smiled. The Queen would be absolutely overjoyed to be an integral part of the takeover of the Underworld. He also relaxed a little, though he wasn’t sure if Yune caught onto what he was insinuating. She seemed to understand his ‘charm,’ but he expected her to react differently. Perhaps he was used to Priscilla and her fits of jealousy and Yune would be a carefree and easy lover. It was that or he had not been clear enough. Either way, he was not going to bring it up again.

She bit her lip when she started thinking and in the meantime, he walked to the door and had someone send for the Queen. When he walked back, she had another plan in mind or rather, two pieces of their much larger plan. He followed her finger to the pool of the Sirens and he smiled. They were almost as much fun as succubi and he nodded. “Yes, they also seem to enjoy my charm,” he said, chuckling a little.

“Hellhounds are all Hades. They’re extremely loyal creatures and they don’t travel in packs. They’re all individually loyal to Hades or at least, they respect him. There is no way to convince them all to join. We might be able to get a few, but it may be wasted effort. I’m not sure what he gives them or does for them, but they remain at his beck and call,” he commented, crossing his arms in frustration. Apollyon had yet to figure out the best way to motivate such a vast variety of creatures and he wondered if Yune even knew how.

Human desires were simple and easy and were frequently communicated to the Gods. Humans wore their desires like clothing and Gods and demons alike prayed on this. Demons, like the ones who Apolly won over, wanted power and that’s what he promised them. However, some wanted destruction, which he could not promise. Some wanted the death to all Gods (he looked at Yune) and that was another promise he could not fulfill. Some wanted things to remain exactly as they were, which was not possible either. He also was not totally sure how to give them power, but at least, they would not be stifled in their home of the Underworld. At least, they would gain some freedom.

“When the Queen comes, you’ll have to put the chains back on. She won’t take kindly to you or to..us,” he stopped and coughed. He was not sure he could explain anything to the Queen for she did harbor the temperament of a vampire: calculating and cruel. She would not see the odds in her favor with a Goddess involved.

“To our alliance.” That was a better word for it. What happened moments ago could have been just that, a moment. It may never happen again which would be disappointing but understandable. He looked at the black line that seemed to spreading across Yune’s shoulders and down her spine and he smirked a little to himself. It would most likely happen again.

“Unless you want to explain it to her,” he added. “Though it may be better for you to not be there at all.”

---

Aurora sighed, keeping her head resting against her knees as Ariel spoke. Ariel began to lecture her, which she may deserve, about angels and about expectations. She was starting to understand this world (her world?), but not completely. It seemed cruel to let creatures like that angel, or even Ariel, to die out of blind faith. She felt like Ariel was lying to them both. He just expressed fear of death and was not comforted by the fact that Arneas was not angry with him. He kept jumping back and forth in his words, but maybe that was because of the injuries or the poison. She never felt like family, so how would she know to act like it? Ariel certainly never treated her with kindness unless Arneas specifically asked for it. Instead of arguing, she simply nodded.

Aurora looked up when Arneas walked in and almost instantly felt relief, dropping her feet to the floor as if she should stand. She looked at Ariel and Arneas as they spoke and she decided that she had to at least respect their relationship. She may not like Ariel, but she could respect him even if he did not always make sense to her. Ariel looked almost as relieved as Aurora felt and she wondered if it was because Arneas just had a way of making you feel better or if it was because their conversation could finally be over; perhaps it was both. Her relief was short-lived since her emotions have been practically making her feel sick this entire time. She rested her head against the wood railings of the cot and closed her eyes, as if to give them (and her self) some privacy.

She opened her eyes when she felt pressure on the cot and turned to look at Arneas, forcing a soft smile. He was being exceptionally kind to her and she could not pinpoint the reason why. It was clear that being a ‘demi-Goddess’ did change a lot more than she expected. She was surprised when Arneas apologized because in retrospect, she was still somehow grateful that all of this was happening to her. She felt like she was finally given a purpose again and she was looking forward to understanding it better. She did not wish to ever encounter Uriel, that she would take back, but the rest of it she wanted to keep. She used his moment of silence to study his face: how it looked when was thinking and how concerned and rushed he looked. His hair was windswept from moving so quickly and his eyes looked tired, but still was brilliant as ever when he looked back up at her.

She frowned a little. She did not want to think about what Uriel said or did, even though parts of it where playing on repeat in her head. She wanted to protest, but the crinkle of worry in her forehead made her concede. She sighed and really tried to think, covering her mouth with her hands as she thought. She remembered exactly how he looked and especially how his black eyes seemed to appraise her over and over. Her cheek started stinging as she thought of his claws, but she had to focus more on his words. What was he saying?

“He called me Daughter of the one who fell a God,” she said. “He asked if I plan make you fall and bring you to death.” She paused, taking a shaky breath because that was when the other angel appeared in her memory. He was dead just as quickly as he arrived. She shook her head and wanted to stop, but she knew she could not. He was so worried and as she spoke, she felt the hand on her knee press just a little tighter.

She pressed on, “He said that his Goddess was gone and that he did not care about you. That’s good, isn’t it? He won’t come back. He won’t come here?” She asked, a panicked question. She could not imagine Uriel coming back nor could she imagine surviving and escaping him again. No, if he were to come back, she would certainly die. She remembered his enraged scream upon their escape and felt her stomach sinking. He may not care for Arneas, but perhaps he cared for revenge.

Yune couldn't help but laugh when he admitted the close relationship he had with Sirens. "You sure go around." Was there anyone he hadn't bedded in this realm? Not that she could boast to being one of the rare few that wasn't. Not anymore that is. She reluctantly glanced at the ash not far from them. At least she was still alive, and she kept her head.

Yune frowned lightly at the information about Hades' hellhounds. That was no good. "If you could have Hades disrespect them somehow, that would be convenient." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Think, think! The hellhounds weren't an easy thing to take under command. "A shapeshifter, someone to impersonate Hades and hurt them to lose their trust." She blurted out quickly while the idea was still there. "Or get another hand to feed them." She hesitated, and raised her gaze to Apollyon. "Could you capture a few? Is that difficult? I want to try speak to them, lure them over to me. If it doesn't work, there's only a few hellhounds missing, and they would be easy to kill." Her eyes darkened lightly at the thought of stealing the hounds from Hades. If it worked, it would be perfect. She could convince, she could stir the soul of a beast into its war state. She was not sure if it could work on hellhounds. "I've tamed beasts before, though I cannot promise the like will work with these hounds." She looked back down to the map.

At the mention of her being in front of the Queen, Yune sharply waved a hand. "No. I would rather not be there. If she provokes me, I cannot say I will be tolerant." She said, honestly. "Alongside that, it is best to keep the image of me as nothing but a key to open Hades' gates. Your prisoner, whatever." Sure, her ego would hurt, but in the long run, a little play and fake could work well. She slipped off the table and neared Apollyon, glancing at the door to the hall. "I've never liked you vampires, tricky, cunning, sly things." Yune gave him a teasing smile.

---

Arneas listened with intent and concern, but not before having studied the way she thought. The way her hand rested over her lips, so soft and full, and for a moment Arneas didn't know what he was doing in this nursery. He simply forgot his purpose here, so momentarily distracted by her. No. This wasn't right. He couldn't deviate his thoughts so easily in such an intense moment. He quickly raised his guard and walled himself off, least Ariel felt it. But the angel made no sound and Arneas relaxed.

At the news of the Goddess being gone, Arneas fell into thought. He hadn't felt her death. He surely would. Somewhere, she was still alive and unfortunately for him, she still had the claim to Goddess of War. He knew also that his time was starting to run out. Sure, his followers grew, but he was a rogue god. He was not on the council, nor in the Heavens, not officially the God of the common nations but a pagan myth. In such, he was not pure and true, and the other Gods treated him differently.

Her questions he wanted to answer with affirmatives but he could not lie. Instead, he only shook his head with a small shrug. Reaching over, he took her hand into his and wrapped two fingers around her wrist. For a moment he looked at her arm and hand in his, so small and fitting quite so neatly. So well. He felt Ariel start to catch up on his thoughts and pulled more walls up. He heard the angel give a confused exhale. Arneas stood, pulling Aurora up after him and with only "come" uttered, he pulled her out of the nursery. Away from Ariel and the angels and spirits about. He skipped the leading through the hallways and summoned a smaller portal to teleport them to his private room's spacious balcony. There he let go of her hand and looked at the night sky for a little while.

He had almost lost two things he cared about most today. When did it happen? When did he start to care so much for this girl? Since when did he go exploring the past of a mortal to help them figure out their life? Since when did he invite a living soul into his temple, let alone a non-believer? Arneas closed his eyes, listening to everything around him in hopes something may whisper to him the answer. But who was a God to pray to when they are in time of need? Nobody. They were the peak of the mountain, and they were alone.

Was what he was about to do even realistic? Was it right? Was it playing favourites? He hadn't done this before, but the instincts of a God in him knew what to do. The question wasn't in how, but in why, in whether it was right. He wanted guidance, he wanted support, but he knew he would find none. This was his own action, his own way, his own reasoning. He would either succeed or fail, but either way he would learn. That was important, surely.

"Say," he started slowly, again finding her hand beside his as he stood next to her. He laced their pinkies together, then slowly took her hand into his and lifted it, lightly caressing the back of her hand with his free hand. "I want you to be honest." He looked her in the eye, his golden eyes quite bright and the moon showing bright behind him like a halo of sorts. "I want you to think about it, do you believe in me?"

The human version of love was nothing near this. No. That was brief and maybe deep, but he wanted to know if she truly believed in him. Believed in his presence, in his existence. Believed that if she fell off a cliff that he would catch her, or provide the deep waters beneath her to be soft and catch her in his place. If she did, he could place a safe keeping on her, with which she could summon him, pray to him directly. So that if Uriel, or anyone like him, came to her, he would hear her no matter where either of them were.

@ honeysuckle;
[I don't know if that tagged or not ]

@ ashen knight;

Apollyon chucked when recounting the creatures he used to climb the ranks and the creatures that used him. “I have a particular strength and I utilize it,” he commented, in regards to his many sexual relations.

He frowned while trying to think about a way to tame a hellhound and he worried that it was impossible. He thought on them and how black their skin and eyes were and how the always smelled like burning flesh and his frown only deepened. He was a dark creature, but they were darker. Her plans seemed idealistic and far from practical in regards to hellhounds. He could not imagine capturing them or securing them in anyway at all. Where in his vast caverns would they even keep a creature like them?

“We can try to capture them. I will send word now,” he said to her, though worry still crinkled his face. He worried for her to be so close to creatures like that and while he knew it was not true, she looked so fragile and (relatively) pure. He knew she could and would do so much, but part of him wanted her to stay here and not be on the front. She was too precious to be on the front. What if she died? He needed her alive, his kingdom needed her alive. It felt pathetic to admit, but recognizing ones’ own weaknesses is important and he was not big enough to ignore that she may become one of his.

Apollyon nodded as she spoke of the Queen, relieved that he would not have to try to mediate between them. He was even more relieved that he would not have to try to hide feelings from the Queen. It would be easier to hide them if he wasn’t looking at Yune. He walked away from her as she spoke, again opening the door and sending yet another message. At the same, he received confirmation at the Queen would be coming within the hour. He felt nervous, but also happy that things were finally moving along.

And then, suddenly he was looking at Yune again and he felt overwhelmed completely by her presence. Her smell filled his nostrils and her smile lit his soul on fire. He mirrored her smirk on his own face and placed his hands on her hips to pull her closer. “It seems you too can fall to my greatest strength,” he said, smiling wider. It was, clearly, going to be extremely difficult to get anything done and they only had a little while before he’d have to chain her again.

---

Aurora followed after him, realizing that perhaps this conversation must be had in private. She glanced at Ariel as the passed, surprised that he did not angry but complacent. There were evidently things that Arneas did not want Ariel to know or anyone to know and she felt something she could not name flutter inside of her. She felt special, but she was no longer surprised by how Arneas made her feel. If anything, he always kept her on her toes and this time, it was his need for privacy and his need to touch her.

They moved through the portal and landed on a balcony and she wanted to take a moment to appreciate the view. She looked away from him, over his entire land and his temple and she felt incredibly proud of him. If this temple was small in terms of God’s, she would never know. It was so impressive to her, it felt like there was nothing he did not know or own or touch or care for. She turned to look back at him when he grabbed her hand. She felt proud that he would touch her, know her or care for her. She felt proud that his crystal blue eyes were looking at her and only her and she smiled softly.

Did she believe him? She saw too many things from him now to not believe in Gods and she knew too much of him to not believe. She glanced back out over the land and back to his face. Even though she knew he was responsible for the ruining of her village, she also knew he won many wars. He created so many beautiful things and he was only beginning. Everyone seemed to continually remind her that he was small in the eyes of the Gods and she could not see how. He could and has already done so much for her. She took a step closer and squeezed his hand.


“Yes,” she breathed. “How can I not? Here you are.”