Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

The War: Never An After Thought

If not for Reyna, I would have drowned in a sea of golden dust. As Epimetheus fell, he crumbled into dust like any monster would. Reyna, using her now bronze wings, kept me afloat by quickly hugging my stomach before I could fall. She stayed high in the sky as we watched Epimetheus disintegrate. He wailed in horror, watching his body fall apart. The expectation was a thunderous boom when he finally crashed into the ground.

Instead, he collapsed into dust before he could even touch the ground.

Reyna, her breath labored, readjusted her grip. "We should... We should get back to the others."

I nodded in approval, my mouth dry and tasting like copper, my voice failed me. Before we could turn around, we both watched as Gwen rushed into the cloud of dust below near where the titans head would have been.

Reyna immediately flew forward without a word. We had maintained our connection, so I could feel her anxiety rise as we approached and i reciprocated that feeling. In truth, without her strength still flowing through me, I would have passed out by now.

The dust had yet to settle when we arrived on the scene. Golden particles falling gently to the ground. Gwen stood ready with an arrow notched into her bow. The arrow burning white hot, pointed at a tall man wearing a suit that reminded me of the fancy doormen Johnny hired outside of his hotel. The titan stood before a large boulder  loomed over us, almost fifteen feet high. I guessed this man was a titan, seeing as he was half the size of the boulder itself. 

The man paid no mind to Gwen, instead intently focused on Epimetheus, who crawled out of the dust towards the man.

"I told you this would happened." The man said to the titan, who clawed at his dress pants.

Epimetheus coughed, gasping for air as he tried to rise to his feet. "I..... I...... I can't anymore."

The titan fell over, prompting the man in the suit to lean forward. The man rested Epimetheus on his lap, holding his hand. Reyna gently placed me on the ground a few yards back and rushed over to Gwen. She gently placed her hand on Gwen's shoulder, urging her to lower her aim.

Epimetheus coughed, his eyes losing their light. "Y'know..... Y'know I'm not coming back. Right?" He asked the man in black.

The man gulped. "I know brother. You are about to experience a rare privilege amongst the immortals."

Epimetheus groaned like a sad puppy. "Privilege? Your mad!"

The man chuckled. "I spent a millennium strapped to a rock being eaten by vultures. I would have gladly faded away to avoid that torture."

Epimetheus looked at his hands as they became translucent. "I've spent my entire life an afterthought. A shadow in.... In your greatness."

Epimetheus roughly gripped his brother's tie, crying. "I've been in this state all my life. I fought so hard to stay on this plain..... I thought this would be it. A moment to define me for generations to come...... Even if I failed..... I just want know that I did something. Something to be remembered by."

His brother, who I had deduced at Prometheus, stared at Epimetheus hands as they faded away. "No matter where you go. Your memory will always live within me. Within the titans. Within little Calypso."

Epimetheus laughed painfully. "Haha. That little brat is still around after all these years? Tell her uncle Epi will miss her dearly."

Prometheus smiled, holding his brothers hand tightly within his own. "I'm right here brother. Until the end."

Epimetheus closed his eyes. "I'm.... I'm sorry for everythi-...."

The titan of afterthought and excuses faded away before his brothers eyes.