All Gods Must Die

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

I reach up to catch the dawn as its golden rays slowly cast incandescent shades of burnt oranges and bright pinks across the sky. Everything around me is quiet, the silence a peaceful sanctuary that settles over me and keeps me warm as the cool morning slowly awakens.

The jagged cliffs conceal me from the world, a small haven that I can call my own.

I glance out upon the kingdom that is both a home and a cage, the wall’s colossal size making it impossible to ignore. The shield and its shadowy foundation darken the Sidus town below, casting its tainted darkness throughout and blocking nearly every piece of light from the emerging vibrant sun.

The distant palace stands tall, even amongst the mountains themselves.

I am awed by its beauty. Its pearly whites and golds shimmer in the soaring light, casting rays of wonder among the lush greens that surround it. Extravagant waterfalls cascade down the side of it, merging into the lake below before expanding out among the homes of the Caligo. The lake carries down to the Sidus town, turning murky the closer it gets to us.

Whereas the Caligo and their homes reach the high translucent shield and, in turn, the sun, the homes of most Sidus below see only shades of blacks and grays.

A line that is deftly drawn across one kingdom divides the two furthermore.

My mother never kept the truth of what I was from me. Born both from light and dark, I eternally hover between each world while never completely fitting in either. What I am goes against the very laws of nature. An imbalance that is unholy and should be destroyed.

A smirk tilts my lips at the thought. I am an unknown, and for that, I am feared, and anything feared should be destroyed. The odds will always be against me, but I will revel in proving wrong those who question my existence.

Embracing my shadows one last time before suppressing them for the day, I pull myself into the void and straight out onto the small alley that is almost completely deprived of light this early. Its dark cover guards my secret as I walk out into the bustling dark streets.

Buildings once similar to the majestic homes of the Caligo are now nothing more than disintegrating blocks of shaded structures. The sidewalk and streets now blend as one, no longer maintained, with more important necessities prioritized, such as food and shelter.

The shield started darkening at its base years ago, but one of the side effects is that it started rotting the plant life and decaying buildings.

Since the homes and land of the Sidus are the only things to suffer under its influence, the darkening shield is otherwise thought harmless. As the Caligo are high, near the top of the shield, no harm is befalling them, while the Sidus take the brunt of its ill effect. And although the atmosphere is still thick with its murky shades, the Sidus people stand strong and proud.

Our ability to cast and control the light is not weakened; instead, the darkness makes it stronger. Though the Sidus’ powers are not as strong as the Caligo’s, many found a new way to use their powers and adapt to the strange new environment.

“Seren! Seren!” someone calls out, shaking me from my thoughts.

I turn, finding Meira running toward me, her little legs stumbling as she tries to catch up to me. I bend down as she reaches me and scoop her into my arms.

“Meira. Is Andro chasing you again?” I glance around for the young boy who is besotted with Meira. Though, who could fault him, with her big blue eyes, wild red hair, and never-ending ability to show kindness. Her beautiful heart makes her someone everyone adores.

“No, I lost him some time ago.”

I chuckle quietly to myself. Meira is not only known for her kindness but also her cunning nature. Although only six years old, she is intelligent beyond her years.

“Seren, Mama needs your help.” Meira’s face grows sad, sending a bolt of worry through me. Meira’s mother, Natasa, is always too proud and stubborn to ask for help from anyone. I silently beg whatever gods are up there that it isn’t something sinister.

“What happened?”

“She’s… stuck. Please come help her.”

I frown but put Meira down to follow her.

“Show me.” Ryuu will not be happy with this delay, but I cannot ignore someone in need.

We run past curious stares before coming to the edge of the town. Meira continues on out farther, until she stops beside a well. I pause beside her, giving her a questioning look. She points into the well before stepping away. It takes me a minute but finally dawns on me what she’s trying to tell me. But… surely not…

I peek over the edge, seeing nothing but darkness. Frowning, I call on my light, letting it flow out and down into the deep well. Luminescent strings float downward before circling a figure completely drenched in thick mud.

“Not. A. Word.” Natasa’s sharp voice rings out around the dark circular walls.

I pinch my lips from the chuckle threatening to escape. It would do no good to mock her, not when she needs help.

“Just help me get me out of here.” Natasa sighs. Her weary tone snaps me out of any previous amusement.

I lean forward, getting a better look. Casting my light farther around her, I push more power into it, making it grow.

“Together?” I ask her. Like the Caligo, most Sidus work together to perform larger tasks that require more power. And although I could do this in my sleep, the Sidus are unaware of my expanded abilities.

“Together,” Natasa replies, calling upon her own light to join with mine.

We connect our strings of light, forming a net. It cocoons her, wrapping around her to gently lift her off the ground. I feel the slight pull as she moves upward, slowly floating toward me until she nears the top. Reaching out, I grab her nearest arm, my hand slipping slightly from the sludgy mud all over her before finding a grip. I drag her up, giving my light an extra push to help lift her over the lip of the well, before she’s able to break free.

Sweat and mud cling to her like a second skin. Her face, somewhat visible through the brown sludge, is pale, making me frown. Using her powers to carry herself, even with help, has drained her.

Giving her a moment to catch her breath, I reach out to help her stand up.

After a moment, Natasa takes a deep breath, and her pallor face returns to a normal color.

“Thank you.” Natasa’s voice is rough with emotion.

“Anytime.”

Pulling Meira into a tight hug, she dips her head before turning to leave. Just as she takes another step, she hesitates, turning back to me and clearing her throat.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention this… misfortune to anyone.”

I frown, feigning confusion. “I can’t say I know at all what you’re referring to?” My frown turns into a knowing smile. Keeping this small secret for her is no hardship. I have my own, though one more weighty with far more severe consequences.

Her stiff posture loosens as she shares my smile. Taking hold of Meira’s hand, she turns, heading in the opposite direction of the town. I doubt she wanted anyone to see her in such a vulnerable state. Vulnerable for her proud nature, of course.

“Thank you, Seren,” Meira shouts out.

I wave her off before heading back through town and on to another bonding session with the captain.

Approaching the cusp of Ryuu’s land and old home, I pause, taking in the small stretch of terrain around me. Distant memories of passing this place as a young child rise up.

Before Ryuu became involved with my mother and lived here, my innocent eyes saw a small oasis in a world full of shadows. A land once carpeted with wildflowers that flourished among the terrain is now barren. All that is left is decaying earth full of rocky ground and hard soil. An oasis no longer, but favorable for the use of training.

As I continue on past the crumbling archway, Ryuu’s tall build comes into view, his rigid posture pacing leisurely back and forth. A deception in itself.

“You’re late,” Ryuu’s gruff voice barks out. He has an air about him that demands respect and obedience. A captain through and through. He towers over my average height, while my pale skin and hair brighten against his dark and bronze tones. Though his sea green eyes are the exact shade of my own. It is the only thing we seem to have in common.

I sigh, taking up the position he expects. Eyes forward, shoulders back, legs slightly apart, and hands behind my back.

I don’t need to look at his face to know what expression he wears. Ryuu is in a constant state of scorn. That is, until he is in the presence of my mother, and a different person rises up. One with warmth in his green eyes and a gentleness to his touch. My mother is not a fragile woman, but to Ryuu, you would think she was made of glass and could shatter any moment. His love for her is unequivocal, which is why I don’t object to our alleged bonding sessions. That, and I’m not foolish enough to turn down an opportunity to further expand my skills.

Although my mother has trained me well, there are always more techniques to acquire and master. Ryuu has a different viewpoint, a different approach when assessing his opponents and the ways in which he would take them down.

Where I was disciplined to be swift and silent, his attacks are brutal and unforgiving. His presence is full of raw power, and he pushes me just as hard as, if not harder than, his soldiers. And although we never see eye to eye, his unbiased nature has helped me build respect for him.

“I’m here now.” There is no point making excuses with Captain Ryuu, no matter how genuine they are. Excuses to him are just that, and anything beyond death would not suffice.

“I expect you to be on time; an extra hour in the stables after our session.”

Cleaning out the Caligo guard’s horse stables is one of the many punishments he likes to dole out for disobedience. Not that it ever bothered me. Though the stables smell foul, the animals are beautiful beasts with calming natures.

“Yes, sir.”

A dip of the head is the only acknowledgment given before he continues on.

“I’ve been made aware of your foolishness.”

The hope that I would receive any form of blessing from him dashes away.

“Sir?”

“Do you think yourself some sort of champion, Seren?”

Champions are foolish beings who covet fame and fortune. I require neither, nor have I ever desired the fictitious nature of such a position.

“No, sir.”

“Some sort of clandestine, then?” His taunts are only cruel words, nothing I haven’t heard before.

I remind myself of my own deception—what I keep hidden from him and the guilt it holds—before letting my emotions get the best of me.

I face him, seeing the flames of anger in his eyes, his jaw clenched as his eyes pierce through mine like blades. “No… sir .”

“Ah, maybe it is that you think yourself as one of the rebels? Maybe you would like to join them and their immoral behavior?”

The rebels are no help, causing nothing but trouble for the rest of us.

The Caligo guards believe us to be untrustworthy and incapable of any sort of alliance, and the rebels have done everything to prove them right. They cause havoc, their methods unorganized and sloppy. They speak of equality and fairness but hold no such regard for themselves. There have been many times their asserted plan went asunder, leaving the rest of us to clean up their mess. I would rather work by myself than join the group of fraudulent misfits.

“Of course not.”

“Then I cannot fathom why one would sneak out and commit such a foolish act.” His tone is as sharp as a whip, doing nothing to ebb my own rising ire. He turns his back to me, continuing his back-and-forth pace.

My voice is steady when I reply. “I only want to help.” Seeing firsthand what our people go through should make him understand what I’m trying to do. There are not many who know how to fight anymore. No one even tries to learn, too fearful of the repercussions from the Caligo guards. Many are left unprotected and alone. We need anyone and everyone that can help.

“Your mother is under the impression that you are ready for such a responsibility. I do not agree with her on this.” Of course he doesn’t. He would train me to use a blade but lock me up to keep me safe. His words and actions are constantly at war with one another. He would tell me daily that I should stay out of the guard’s business and any trouble, yet that very same day, he would show me a maneuver to incapacitate an attacker in two strikes.

“I can take care of myself. I handled the threat without any complications.” Minus the small injury I acquired, but I am clearly not about to bring that up.

“Fool’s luck is what it was.”

I lock my jaw, keeping my temper at bay. It was no luck that helped me last night but years of training and hard work. He has to know I am capable enough to take care of myself.

“It’s ridiculous that you think you are ready for such a thing and incredibly irresponsible to willingly put yourself in danger.”

I know I am not immortal, and although powerful, I realize I can also easily be killed. I also know it will be a risk going up against these creatures and what will happen if I am caught, but doing nothing will not help anyone.

“I have my mother’s blessing on this, and although I wish I also had yours, I must continue to do what I feel is right. I will fight.”

“You will do no such thing ,” he hisses.

My eyes widen as his anger pulses out around him, his Sidus power coming to the surface. Where two green eyes were a minute ago are now white orbs that mirror bolts of lightning.

He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, calming himself.

Ryuu is known for his control, especially when it comes to emotions. It’s one of the many reasons he became captain in an army full of Caligo. He sees daily the desolate and castaways and, among them, many a lost soul that does not have an ounce of hope left. And yet he is still able to continue with the job at hand. He puts up with the guards who constantly taunt him and make sure he knows that they see him as something beneath them.

So, for him to lose control so easily, it stuns me silent.

I swallow against the lump forming in my throat. I know deep down he has always cared in his own way. He helped raise me these last few years. But every child must grow up and leave the safety of their parents. They must forge their own path and make their own mistakes along the way.

This is something I need to do. Deep inside me, I know the gods must have created me for more than just sitting on the sidelines and watching.

“I can do this. Please trust what you and my mother have trained me to do.”

Ryuu sighs, shaking his head, suddenly looking older than his age. “You are barely an adult, Seren, and messing with things that you have no business messing with. What if the guards were to have seen you?”

I clamp my jaw shut, facing forward once more. He doesn’t know the extent of my abilities, nor the fact that I can shadow myself in the blink of an eye. A feat not many Caligo can achieve. Pushing him on this would not help my cause and only further anger him, so I try to stay quiet. It might make this lecture pass more swiftly.

“Hmm, nothing to add?”

His arrogant tone grates on me, but I push down my heightened emotions once more, feeling it unwise to behave childishly. If I want to be treated like an adult, I have to act like one. Screaming and shouting will get me nowhere.

I hold in my next sigh before speaking, but barely. “I was not seen by anyone. The guards were too busy fooling around to notice the incoming threat. They would not know what a threat was if it were to stand right in front of them.” I may be above screaming and shouting, but I will always get my point across. That, and I have acquired my mother’s eloquent quip. People can choose to listen and take my opinion or not. As is their right.

Ryuu stands still before shifting into my view. “Do you not think the guards capable?” His voice is but a whisper, his tone though, like quiet thunder.

Even though they mock him daily, disrespect him behind his back, he still vouches for the guards who are supposed to be under his command. I hold no quarrels with speaking the truth.

“I’m sure they are extremely capable.” Being trained by Ryuu would make them so. “Though I question their intentions and complete disregard for the safety of our people. They continually overlook the glaring truth and what that means.”

Ryuu harrumphs. “And you, naturally, know what this truth is?”

I look him straight in the eye so he can sense the absolute certainty in my words.

“Death.”

Ryuu’s eyes widen slightly before he composes himself, but I will not let this go so easily.

“We both know it, what is here and what is coming. It will not be long before they start getting through in droves. If we don’t band together and do something now, we’ll never be able to stop them.” It is only a matter of time. Time we don’t have.

We need to form a plan, and soon.

“This is not for you to worry about. The guards wi?—”

“The Caligo guards deny the very existence of the dark creatures showing up here or the Sidus deaths. How are they going to help us when they think us liars?”

When he says nothing, I continue on. “There is something coming; we all feel it. It is in the air around us, cloaking what little hope we have and twisting it into something sinister. It won’t be long until we have no choice but to fight. We need to plan ahead; we need to band together?—”

“You cannot protect everyone, Seren.”

“No, but I can try . And that should be enough.”

Ryuu’s shoulders deflate, a frown scarring his otherwise unblemished face. “There are things in this world… I wish… I wish that I could keep you far away from, but I know that it would be futile.” A slight quirk of his lips shows a brief display of humor in his otherwise somber demeanor. “You have your mother’s stubborn nature, after all.”

“An annoyance she has come to regret, I assure you. But not to worry, I still remind her of it daily.”

A smile that mirrors my own spreads across his face. “As is your duty.”

His expression turns serious once again. “Whatever may come to pass, I expect you to keep yourself safe. Demand it, in fact. Don’t make rash or impulsive decisions. Be smart about your actions and the trust you give to people around you.”

“I will, you have my word.” A sliver of elation rushes through me at his quiet acceptance.

Ryuu nods his head once more before taking a step back. Any previous emotion shown on his face retreats behind the distant captain’s facade.

“Let us begin.”