Chapter 27 The Beginning
The Beginning
Theo
Whatever the hell happened when we crossed over ripped off everything we were wearing.
I’m far better dressed than both Jayce and Ares.
I snicker, then realise my face feels different.
I raise my hand and touch it, realising I have some sort of mask covering the lower half of my face.
My black pants have way too much room, but they’re very fucking clearly pants, unlike the miniskirts both Jayce and Ares got.
A few straps wrap around my torso. I have arm and shoulder guards in dark silver and my real scythe – nowhere near as small or light as the one I used for the dance.
This thing has power, and I can sense it humming beneath my fingertips.
I spin it around, enjoying the feel of it, the symbols along the blade glowing subtly.
Slight glowing scars litter my body, and I wonder what they mean.
A few strands of my hair fall in my face, and I frown. It’s no longer blue, not even my natural blond, but white. I would wonder about its significance, but na, I’d rather annoy my brothers.
I now look over at Carter, who is dressed in what I can only describe as robes, pure white with an underlayer of grey. He reminds me of some kind of monk or scholar. I have no fucking idea. His hair on one side is scraped back and held there with three pins.
Renji’s in black and white with gold accents.
He’s wearing black pants similar to mine but tighter, black boots, and the top layer reaches the ground.
It’s open from the front, wrapped tightly at his waist with a leather belt holding it in place.
He has shoulder plates on top of the huge-ass sleeves.
His hair is long, pulled into a pony, and I grin, feeling the mask that seems to be stuck to my face grin, too.
“You remind me of a samurai or some shit,” I say to him. He is carrying a sword at his side.
“Hmm,” Renji says, but he’s looking towards Jayce, who has just put his cloak around Heaven for some reason.
Ares looks pissed, and I don’t blame him.
His miniskirt is slightly longer than Jayce’s, but it’s way girlier in colour, a brilliant green-blue colour.
But it’s his weapon that intrigues me most. A trident: its pure gold, encrusted with green and blue shaded diamonds.
He’s got similar armbands and shin guards. Funnily, he’s barefoot.
“Yo, Princess Arisa! Looking pretty,” I taunt Ares. “Damn, you got done dirty. You didn’t even get a cloak like Jaycey Boy.”
He casts me a death glare. “Why the fuck am I wearing this shit?”
“Who knows, I look good though. I don’t have these on Earth yet,” Ahren’s voice comes. We both turn, and damn, I think this asshole got the best deal. Dickhead.
He’s got these massive wings that remind me of leather bat wings spread behind him, fucking horns, sharp teeth, and a tail that I could totally make fun of. Yeah, I will.
He’s wearing pants similar to mine and Renji’s, but he has a bit of a jacket, with arm guards and some kind of cloak, if you can call it that, that flows from his shoulders.
Two slim swords are strapped to one side of his belt.
His eyes are glowing fully red, in the way I’ve only seen on him once or twice.
So, this is his true form…
“Take note, boys, on how you should dress to look cool,” I remark as Jayce turns and glares at me.
Why the fuck is he glowing?
Allie’s wearing black. It ain’t bad, it’s got more fabric than those two. She’s frowning as she stares at Heaven, who is still sitting on the floor, Jayce’s cloak covering her body.
I frown, seeing the marks that cover her face and neck. Her hair looks badass, though. Her eyes are wide as she stares at Allie.
“The fuck is wrong with you, Blondie?” I ask.
She blinks and looks at me. She shakes her head and stands up.
“Where are the amulets?” Carter asks.
“They’re here, just embedded in our chests,” Jayce says quietly, pointing at his chest.
“Then what about that one?” Renji asks.
Heaven looks at the one she’s holding. It’s Sienna’s, she writes.
“Right, so we are all wearing these weird get-ups. Why?” Allie asks, looking down at herself.
“Clothing that reflects our souls…” Jayce glances up at me, and I smirk. I’m sure he can sense the darkness oozing off me.
“Things are different here, so it makes sense. I am intrigued by what everyone’s mean…” Carter remarks, observing us all one by one.
“Yeah, well, we should keep moving. We’re in the open here,” Jayce says, his voice emotionless, but his eyes are on the amulet Heaven’s holding onto tightly.
Wonder how he really feels about it all. I know he says he’s just doing what is his duty as her division leader, but we all know that’s bullshit. He came here. He’s risking it all for her. So, he can say whatever shit he wants to in denial.
“Heaven?” Allie shakes her shoulders, and Blondie smiles up at her.
Sorry… I just got a little distracted. Ares, is there something you want to share? she writes, looking at Ares. With her head turned towards him, I can see her eyes properly. Her right one is shimmering, and it has some markings around it.
“Stay out of my business,” Ares suggests arrogantly.
“Three brothers favoured by three brothers, huh?” Ahren murmurs, clearly realising what she’s going on about.
“What do you mean, three?” Allie asks.
Jayce is touched by Zeus, Theo is favoured by Hades, and Ares is favoured by Poseidon, Blondie writes.
“Hades? Whoa…” Renji says, his eyes widening.
“You’re a know-it-all, aren’t you, Blondie?” I frown at her.
She nods, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Yup, she’s still managing that here.
“Since when? And why didn’t you ever mention it?” Jayce asks Ares.
Ares shrugs. “It’s not a big deal; I’m not you that everyone wants to know shit that goes on with me.”
“Well, we have all the time in the world to share now,” Ahren remarks.
We all look at him, and Renji chuckles. “Now, that’s one look that is incredible.”
“Do you think you could get those wings on Earth?” Allie asks.
“With training, most likely.”
“Well, at least you got the tail on Earth. Cute,” Jayce mocks.
“Skirt boy’s just jealous,” I remark, making them all snicker.
“Far from it,” Jayce remarks, lowering his visor as he looks over at Ares. “No, really, when did you get your powers?”
“Around the time Sienna left.”
“Well, I got mine like two years ago,” I add.
Jayce’s eyes snap to mine. “I thought you said you got yours around the time I began dating…” It’s almost as if he was going to say her name, but then changed his mind.
Ah shit, yeah, that’s what I told him.
“Well, it feels like two years, init. Let me just say that it’s been two years,” I brush off. He stares at me again – fucking intensely. His brows furrow, and then he turns away.
“Clearly Ares isn’t the only one keeping secrets.”
No kidding…
I’m quiet, wondering how we even got to this point. There was a time we all told each other everything. And now there are far too many secrets. The lies, the betrayals, this shit is fucked.
“What’s wrong with you?” Allie asks, and I look up to see she’s talking to Blondie, who shakes her head.
“Heaven?” Ahren asks as he walks over to her. She shakes her head, and Ahren nods. “Alright, but if something is worrying you, let us know.”
“So, what’s the plan from here?” Carter asks, his tone clipped.
Silence falls, and I take a look around. As far as I can see, it’s just grass and sky in all directions.
I know a spell that will guide us to Sienna.
Ahren, I will need some of your blood, Heaven writes as she turns.
She then pauses and turns to Jayce before fiddling with the clasp of the cloak he had put around her.
Sorry, but it’s weighing down on me. I don’t think it was made for anyone but you.
I doubt I can perform magic as long as I’m wearing it.
Jayce nods as he takes it. “No need to apologise.”
Well, her get-up sure lacks fabric. It’s barely even fucking there. “Seems your soul is naked.” I snicker as I look away before Ahren can even cast daggers my way.
“All of you better keep your eyes off her. Magic up something to wear,” he almost growls at her.
“Oh, back off.” Allie glowers at him. “No one will look at her, or I’ll stab their eyes out.”
“Well, I don’t have any confidence in that. One of them already had his eyes on Sienna.” Ahren frowns.
“Well, don’t worry about that. The same mistake won’t be made again,” Jayce counters, his voice ice cold.
Damn, he’s ruthless. Ahren turns towards him, but you can’t really see exactly where he’s looking, not with his eyes glowing fucking red.
“Alright…” I say, feeling the heavy tension settling over us.
I walk over to the girls and sling an arm around Allie and Blondie’s shoulders, strangling Allie a little.
“You don’t need to worry about these two.
Anyone who spends even a minute with them will run far and damn fast, even if they don’t look too bad. ”
“Don’t touch me,” Allie growls as she slams her elbow into my ribs. She’s strong, but it doesn’t bother me. Blondie has already jumped away, glaring at me, red in the face from anger. I bet she wishes she had her voice so she could throw colourful curses at me.
“Maybe I haven’t showered for days,” I patronise Allie.
“Wait, why aren’t you talking?” Ahren asks sharply, now looking at Heaven, clearly just noticing.
I comb my fingers through my white hair. Well, now this is going to get more fun. Heaven crosses her arms before she realises she needs a hand to write. Because it was the price to get us here and back safely.
“What?” Ahren asks.
I groan, dropping to the ground and putting my weapon down beside me while resting my head on my arms.
We are going to be here a while; I might as well get some rest.
It’s a while later, and we’re planning on following the map Heaven is working on with the use of Ahren’s blood.
He’s clearly upset, even if he is trying to hide it.
When she explained it to him, he was quiet for a while before he gave her a hug and kiss, thanking her ever so quietly, but we all have super hearing, not sure what he was whispering for.
She’s strong, though, I’ll give her that.
I heard her dumb boyfriend’s remarks, not sure why the fuck she thinks he’s good enough for her or why she’s staying.
I know plenty of boys who are into her. She could have her pick, and there’s plenty of her type: stuck-up, rich assholes.
But she’s a weird one, and I have no clue what goes on in her mind.
She hasn’t at all put on the ‘poor me’ act in all of this, although she has damn well lost a lot. Even now, she’s working with full concentration as we all wait for her to complete it. Jayce is beside her as they discuss the map.
See, I told ya he’s into this.
I glance over at Renji, who is sitting quietly, gazing at the sky, and then at Carter, who has been a bit quiet since he learned that three of us have the favour of the gods. Is he jealous?
It looks like there are separate lands. If we follow the path, we should be able to come across something or someone who can help guide us.
Once you challenge him, he will have no choice but to accept.
A duel cannot be declined. So, all we need to do is find a way to get that message to Helios, Heaven writes.
There’s a pout on her face as she concentrates.
She’s got a round face, with cheeks you just want to pull.
I smirk. I should try it one of these days.
Ahren throws something at my head, and I turn, glaring at him.
“I’m watching you.”
I scoff. Does he think I’m checking Blondie out? I fucking ain’t. “Can’t I listen in on the plan?” I complain.
“No.” He almost pouts.
“Wanker,” I mutter, making Ares snicker.
Blondie didn’t listen to him when he told her to conjure up some clothes, and he’s still salty.
“Right, we rest here until it’s light again, and then we move,” Jayce commands, standing up.
We had walked for a few hours but stopped to make a proper plan, and we had found a stream nearby.
“Sounds like a plan.” Renji yawns.
So, are we just sleeping out in the open? Heaven writes.
“Na, Blondie, we’re going to go knock on some immortal’s door and ask for four-poster beds.”
I can’t sleep on the ground. I will just make myself a bed.
We all stare at her incredulously, but Allie is nodding. “Make me one, too. I am not sleeping on the ground.”
“Divas…” Carter remarks. “I didn’t think you’d come out with that one, Alessandra.”
“Well, the ground is filthy,” Allie points out.
“Na, it ain’t,” I disagree.
“Do what you want, just sleep, and let me fucking sleep,” Ares growls, turning his back on them.
Heaven’s already at work, chanting a spell, and I see a thick pad beginning to form, although it’s definitely not a bed. I shake my head and close my eyes as she keeps working her magic, and the thing takes form.
They both fuss around, and only after a good five minutes do things become silent. Ares is already asleep, snoring lightly. Ahren is on lookout duty, and everyone else is silent.
That’s when a sudden thought pops into my mind.
I frown thoughtfully. “Ya know, we’ve been here for several hours, and I realised I didn’t even need to take a piss. Think we don’t need to go in this-”
“Shut up!” Allie growls as one of them throws a pillow my way. It hits my face, and I get a whiff of the culprit.
“You ain’t getting this back, Blondie,” I say, tucking it under my head.
“She said, keep it. She doesn’t want it since you touched it,” Allie remarks icily.
I smirk, cracking an eye open. Seems they only managed one bed since they’re sharing. “Sure thing.”
“Theo, can you shut it and stop causing issues, man?” Jayce says, his voice holding annoyance.
“Man, I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just wondering, did any of you need to take a leak?”
“Theo!” several of them snap at the same time, their auras surging.
I sigh.
Bloody uptight dumbasses.
I mean, it was a genuine thought.
Does that mean we don’t even need to take a dump in this place either?