Loved -- Golden Guard

Chapter 13

TW: misgendering, dissociation, ptsd, dissociative trauma response, hints at (traumatizing) sex work, panic attack

The Day of Unity. A day in which the titan would somehow help us get rid of all wild magic and the coven system would be the new natural.

Somehow. Hunter wasn't sure how, but it was happening and he forgot to make Luz and Eda promise to not fuck with it. Maybe they'll respect that he's chosen to stay with Belos and not try and mess it up?

God he hopes so. He really hopes so.

He'd been given a fancy uniform that while similar to his everyday one, was clearly meant for an important ceremony rather than a mission.

It had gold lace along the edges of the cape and the buttons were gold. It'd probably taken forever to make.

He hoped the Day of Unity went smoothly and it didn't get ruined.

All together Emperor Belos had told everyone outside the castle to do whatever festivities they wanted, while inside the castle they'd do not only festivities but the important things that somehow involved Hunter.

He has no powers and nothing to offer, but if he was truly important to the ceremony he'd obviously attend. He owed it to Belos and he'd attend even if it was just to be there.

He watched out his window as people in Bonesburrow celebrated. He couldn't see individual people but he liked to imagine he was there, just as a normal kid, studying one magic track in school and having friends and half decent parents.

Not that Belos wasn't a good uncle or bad at raising him! Belos is great, but if he could Hunter would trade Belos for a normal life any day.

If he had to trade a life here with all these responsibilities and with dangerous missions constantly, not knowing which one might be his last, to get a normal life with friends and magic and a family and going to some random high school? He'd do it. In a heartbeat and without question.

But he didn't have that option so he should just stop thinking about it, especially on such an important day. Especially on such an important day to Belos.

Three sharp raps on the door made Hunter jump. He shook it off and stood from his bed, clipping his mask on and opening the door.

Kikimora stood in a similarly themed outfit to his. White with gold undertones, the occasional lace, etc.

"It's time for us to head to the ceremony. I've been tasked with escorting all the coven heads and you to the ceremony room." She looked him up and down, checking for flaws. "Unfortunately, I have to go one by one. You're first."

"Wonderful!" The Golden Guard chirped. He reached for his staff.

"Belos requested specifically you leave that in your room. You won't need it." Kikimora instructed. He stared at his staff for only another second before turning back to the door, pulling up his hood.

"Alrighty then, Kiki! Lead the way!"

"Stop calling me that."

Kikimora led him to an open courtyard behind a locked door. There were no plants, only hard concrete ground with symbols carved in.

Belos sat on a stone throne on the opposite side. Executioners, who typically performed petrification ceremonies, seemed to be preparing the Unity ceremony. There were... he counted, ten total.

They all seemingly had marked circles to stand in which were spread evenly across the main sigil.

There were nine spots in a sort of inner circle that all surrounded a single circle. Hunter wondered who would be standing there. Maybe Belos? Hunter wondered where he was meant to be in all of this.

He crossed the courtyard, carefully avoiding stepping on any lines or sigils, and stood next to Belos. His spot was slightly behind the throne, facing forward and watching for threats. That's where he always stood when watching over Belos' meetings.

"Hunter! Wonderful to see you, niece!" It stung but he ignored it, as always. "The Day of Unity has finally arrived! And you, dear girl, are right in the center of it!"

He kept his hands clasped behind his back, ignoring the paranoid feeling of being watched.

"Of course! May I ask, what is my role in this wonderous day exactly?" He could sense Belos' smile.

"Right in the center, just as I said. We are reviving the titan, and he needs energy and a vessel. The coven heads and executioners are the energy, and you, dear girl, are the vessel."

Hunter stared forward blank with shock. A vessel?? For the Titan Himself?? Surely this is a prank- surely any second Belos would chuckle and say he was messing around and then explain what Hunter's real role was.

But he didn't. He sat watching his coven heads arrive, the ones who might be sacrificed- Hunter wasn't sure how much power the Titan would need but surely Belos wouldn't-

Surely Belos didn't take Hunter off the streets just for this. Surely Belos wasn't planning on sacrificing Hunter to the Titan so this ancient being could return and do Titan knows what.

"I- I'm honored!" He managed to squeak. Belos huffed, amused.

"I'm glad. It is your purpose after all." Hunter's heart dropped.

Belos never cared about him. He never truly wanted to train him to be his right hand. He didn't have Kikimora train Hunter so Hunter could be strong. He didn't make sure he ate at least twice a week for Hunter's sake. He never cared.

Belos saw Hunter as a vessel. He's just the body for a god.

He's nothing more than his body. Again.

Feelings of disgust and panic return to him from his days on the streets, when he was thirteen and fourteen.

He pushed down the bile that was attempting to climb his throat. Now was not a time to get sick.

Belos stands, seemingly ignorant to the fact Hunter was having a mini breakdown.

"Everyone to your positions, the ceremony will now commence!" Belos pulled Hunter forward. Luckily his feet carried him to the center of the circle. Even in his dissociated state he made sure to stand tall.

Everyone around him began to chant words he didn't understand.

How long did they know?

He felt like he couldn't breathe.

Will he die so the Titan can use his body? Or will he be conscious the whole time? It's probably the dead one.

He looked up and met Kikimora's eye. She almost seemed sad, but then again it was probably wishful thinking. She'd hated him for as long as she'd known him and he couldn't even see her face that well...

He wonders if there's an afterlife.

He hopes quietly that there isn't.

Maybe he'll be reborn as a boy.