40. An Eye For An Eye
Regos & Theos
“I have come for my reward, brother.” Regos’ dark voice greeted Theos as soon as his presence manifested.
Theos’ shoulders sagged, head falling back to gaze into the sky beyond the ceiling in his throne room. Twenty dahys. He’d been gone for twenty dahys, and all he wanted was to be next to Haera. But he’d promised Regos.
“I’d hoped we could do this after I rested,” Theos began, feeling Kheos enter the room to watch the conversation unfold. “But I will honor my word. What are your demands?” he asked, lowering his head to face Regos.
Regos’ brows pulled together in what Theos read as disbelief. Then, mischief sparkled in his eyes. “Half your kingdom.” He declared with a wide grin.
Theos tensed, staring at his brother’s smiling features. Then, with a defeated sigh, he nodded and turned to leave. “As you wish.”
“What?!” Regos demanded. “That was a joke.”
Theos’ steps slowed. Kheos was before him, occupying the doorway he was heading towards. He turned back to Regos.
“This isn’t a matter for joking, Regos.” Theos replied as patiently as he could. “I’ll ask you only one more time.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “What are your demands?”
Regos was looking at him strangely, but Theos focused on waiting for his answer. “I have two,” his brother began. “One for each of your trespasses. ”
Theos nodded.
“The first, beg my forgiveness.” Regos continued, voice and gaze level with Theos’. “The segund, ‘an eye for an eye’. You crossed the line into my power. I want one explicit pass from you, sworn by oath, so that I may do the same.”
“So that you may…” Theos began.
“Reverse death and create life,” Regos finished for him.
Theos blinked at his brother, shoulders sagging even further from exhaustion. Kheos was silent at the doorway. Forcing himself to move, Theos ground his teeth together in annoyance but walked forward until he was only a breath apart from his younger brother. He watched emotion swirl through Regos’ red eyes. Emotions he could not read. Slowly, he lowered, kneeling first on one knee, then swallowing hard and dropping the other.
When his segund knee touched the ground, he cringed at the submissiveness of his position. If this was the moment his little brother had been waiting for to topple the balance of the trinity and seize power for himself, he had won. Reaching into himself, past the shredded remains of his pride, Theos sighed and looked up at his brother .
“I apologize profusely before you, the universe that listens, and before The Fates who chart our future, for breaking my own laws, trespassing into the domain of your power and causing death, twice, for multiple mortals.” Theos took a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily before opening them again and directing his attention to his brother. “I beg your forgiveness.”
A shudder raced through Regos’ form, and he made a sound like a growl deep in his chest. His voice was strained and hoarse when he finally replied. “I forgive you. Get up.” He closed his eyes, fists tight against his sides. “For fuck’s sakes, get up before I like the power this gives me too much.”
Theos rocked back on his heels and stood, angling his head at his brother. “You didn’t think I would actually do it.” He observed aloud, watching the way Regos’ features twisted into a rapid series of emotion.
“Was I supposed to?” Regos glowered. “You never apologize to anyone.” He snapped.
Theos’ nod of agreement was faint. “Perhaps that was the problem.”
Regos’ eyes widened, and he remained visibly stunned for longer than a few heartbeats .
“I have a proposition for you.” Theos continued. “Come with me.”
He caught the ghost of a smile that played on Kheos’ lips when he turned to leave. Leading Regos into the deepest heart of the castle, Theos didn’t bother to speak.
“I can’t believe you just got on your knees before me,” Regos muttered, obviously morose.
“Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” Theos asked, irritated by the reminder of just how submissive and vulnerable the gesture had been.
The sound of Regos’ steps fell away as he stopped. His murderous glare turned on Theos immediately. “You don’t get it, do you. You are so self-absorbed that it has erased your very ability to see. I have never wanted your throne you overconfident ingrate,” Regos yelled. “All I have ever wanted was for you just to fucking –” Regos paused.
Theos watched as Regos returned to sudden calm as though the darkness in the universe hadn’t just been flailing and expanding frantically while he’d lost his temper.
“Forget it.” Regos’ voice was now completely level, completely unaffected .
He strode forward, leaving Theos staring after him. Kheos appeared, also walking past a stunned Theos. “Maybe you should get out of your own way more often, brother.” He muttered as he went.