Spiral of Ants

Brutus

One year. One year and three months, actually but who's keeping track?

One year and three months since Aseil had acknowledged Evelyn in more than passing. One year and three months since he had shown up with Apollo himself. One year and three months since Apollo moved in with Aseil. One year and three months since she had seen Aseil without Apollo.

But who's keeping track?

She tried to be reasonable about it. Hell, she was even excited for him at first. The absolute honor Aseil had been given. The rapid changing and improving state of the church, thanks to him.

Of course, he was busy. That's to be expected when your life changes the way his did. Of course most of his attention was on Apollo. That's what happens when your friend starts dating someone, even when they're NOT a God.

But there was only so long she could sit in the back of meeting rooms, seeing their god practically clinging to him. Only so long she could be okay with passing 'its-good-to-see-you's or promises to catch up with zero follow through.

And then there was Apollo. He was friendly. Personable. Her conversations with him had always been pleasant. But it was clear Aseil was his favorite. He was quick to get distracted by Aseil, forgetting and quickly abandoning anyone he may be talking to.

It wasn't fair. None of it was fair. And it was getting harder and harder to stifel that feeling.

She was sitting at the far end of the meeting room at the moment. She didn't trust herself to talk with anyone right now. Her temper too short, her nerves too raw.

So she wasn't excited when someone sat beside her. She looked over to see who it was, being very familiar with all the regulars but was surprised to find it was no one she knew.

The first thing she noticed was his eyes. His left eye, in particular. It was a shade of blue that didn't seem exactly right? Especially in contrast to his right eye, which was a comfortable brown. The mark over his left eye only drew all the more attention to it. A blue streak, which she could only assume was some sort of tattoo. She would have remembered him, if she had ever seen him before, that much she was sure of.

She was debating if she should say anything or ignore him, but he made the decision for her.

"You don't like him much either, do you? " he asked.

"Hell of a way to open a conversation" She said, eyeing him "You must be new. I haven't seen you around"

"Yes, well, I haven't been 'around'" He said.

The stranger's whole demeanor wasn't helping her irritated state. The way he carried himself, the way he sat, the way he spoke. It was already clear to her he thought himself far more important than others.

Before she could make an excuse to leave, the stranger spoke again "You didn't answer my question"

"Yeah well I'm not one to spill my guts to strangers" She said, barely making an effort to disguise her annoyance.

"You're not denying it. How... telling" The stranger said, never looking away from her. She was not in the mood for this today.

"Look what's your deal dude?" She snapped "I'm not interested in whatever you're trying to do or provoke or get at"

The man leaned back in his chair a little, crossing his arms and observing her. As if scanning for something. What it was, she couldn't begin to guess. All she knew was that it was making her uneasy.

"I think" The man started carefully. "That you and I have very similar opinions and desires here. And I would like to discuss that with you"

"You're insane. I have no clue what you're talking about."

"Then answer the question" He said "Do you hate Aseil Stoll?"

"Me and him go way back. Childhood friends"

"That's not an answer"

Evelyn clenched her jaw, before getting to her feet and striding out. She already hated being in there watching Aseil and Apollo, too angry to enter the conversation. Too hurt to try to reconnect. That creep was the final straw.

To her relief, he didn't follow.

To her disappointment, he was there the next week. Sitting in the same spot he was last time. He was watching the door. She had no chance to duck out of view or retreat. The stranger got up and came over "I believe we got off on the wrong foot. My apologies." He said, offering his hand "My name is Aktal"

She hesitated before shaking his hand. "Evelyn" She responded, her tone cautious.

"It's good to meet you, Evelyn. I didn't mean to upset you, before. However I do think it would be mutually beneficial if we talked."

"Even if I wanted too, this isn't the best place for the subject matter"

"So we can find a better place to chat"

"Right now...?" She asked

"Unless you would rather attend this meeting you seemed over enthused about last week" Aktal responded.

He had a point. She really didn't want to attend. She also didn't want to be alone with Aktal though. There was something... off about him. Not serial-killer-criminal off, but off nonetheless. "Here, there's this dinner a few miles down the road. You can meet me there" She said, before turning around and heading back into her car, not waiting for a response. If he didn't come, she'd get herself some dinner and head home. At this point she just wanted an excuse to not stay.

He was already there when she got there. Standing out front. Waiting. How did he get there so fast? She didn't pay the thought too much mind, getting out of her car and coming over "If you want me to say anything, you're gonna have to share your cards first. I want to know who you are, what you want to do, and how I should be involved before I tell you anything, "she said.

"Understood" he said, heading in and taking a seat "Well I suppose I can start on what I am"

"I said who not what. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I was about to explain. Do you mind?" Aktal asked, raising a brow at her. His condescending tone ignited a fire in her but she bit her tongue.

"Yeah, yeah, continue" She mumbled.

"I am what Apollo is. Gods, I believe is what you call us"

"Prove it" She quickly cut in. Apollo could prove it. Easy. The tentacles, the microphone. There was no way he was human. If he was whatever Apollo was, then he should have no problem proving it.

"Tsk. How demanding" he mumbled "But I'll humor you, if that'll help you listen, "he said. He took a moment, seemingly considering what he could do, before grabbing the salt shaker between them. He tapped it with his other hand, and it almost instantly melted out of his hand into a puddle that almost reminded her of oil, but instead of a sickly rainbow it held what looked like a cosmos.

He ran his hand over it, instantly restoring it. "Is that enough for you?" He asked, almost boredly. If she hadn't seen Apollo do some similar feats, she would have been shocked. Instead she kept her disinterested resolve, despite no longer doubting him.

"Yeah. Continue"

"How generous" He mumbled before saying "I've come to check on Apollo. And to be quite honest, I'm not happy with how things are going. I don't like Aseil. At all. I don't think he deserves the position he's wormed himself into. I don't think he deserves Apollo's attention."

"Then why don't you just tell Apollo all of this?"

"Do you see how enthralled he is with Aseil? He has absolute tunnel vision. To be honest he's always been that way. But with how much this human form has broken him, it's so much worse than it ever was. I'm not quite sure if it's possible to make him see reason"

"So why are you telling me this? A gods beef is none of my business"

"You feel left out, don't you? You said Aseil was your childhood friend, correct? You two must have been quite close."

She was silent for a long moment before saying "We were"

"He didn't even look at you, last week."

"I was intentionally not interacting" She quickly said, feeling defensive of Aseil despite herself.

"If he cared he would have seen something was wrong. I saw something was wrong and I hardly understand humans"

"I can't- I don't want to hate him" She said, clenching her fists. "He was a good friend. He really was"

"Was" Aktal echoed. "I don't think it's right. You being left out. Left to the side of the meetings, no one reaching out to you. Them not seeing what they're doing to you. Aseil is what's blocking Apollo from seeing you. Seeing all of you. I think you know that. And I think if we work together, we can fix that."

"I..." She trailed off "No. Even if he's... not doing it right, he's trying. I think. He was good. I don't think that changed."

"Do you really believe that?" Aktal asked

"I want to believe that"

—

They didn't really get anywhere, but Aktal still considered it a success. He had gotten her to acknowledge she felt left out. She couldn't bring herself to fully defend Aseil. All good signs.

He didn't actually care about Apollo's religion of course. What he did care about was eliminating Aseil. It was true that he was totally and completely obsessed with Aseil. He couldn't get Apollo to come home with Aseil still in the equation, and if he killed Aseil, for good, Aktal couldn't help but think Apollo would be too angry at him to return.

However, if he could drive this angry human to take care of Aseil for him... Aktal could be the one to pick Apollo back up. He could take Apollo home.