The Etherea Anthology

Ripped of Wings: Vol. III

Erebus stepped into the Council room. He knelt down before the Counselors.

"Ah, Erebus, Angel of Order and Dominion. We have received a distress call from Amaterasu, Council Representative of the Flaric Kingdom. The Kingdom has fallen into turmoil and disorder. We fear a Trumpet may sound should it get worse." The head counselor said. Erebus nodded and stood.

"I understand the stakes, your Holiness." Erebus bowed and exited, walking to the platform. The wind of Lunaura flowed around him, as he looked to the side, hearing a loud roaring. He looked to the left, noticing a red waterfall begin to descend from Lunaura to Etherea. He tilted his head, but he would not question the Council.

Erebus spread his wings, and squatted down, ready to leap before feeling a small tug on his cape. It was Selene, who just smiled and waved goodbye. Erebus smiled softly and waved before leaping off, aiming himself to the desert.

He soared through the air, his cape flowing behind him as he sped towards the Flaric Kingdom. He neared the ground to land, before getting tackled to the ground by a hooded figure. The figure rolled with him along the ground before beginning to punch at Erebus. Erebus reflected both punches, and created a golden javelin in his hand that he stabbed through the person.

The Flaric fell to the ground, and Erebus sat up, shaking the sand off of him. A figure was flying to him in the distance. Erebus created a golden katana in his hand, waiting for them to strike first. The figure landed in front of him, kicking up sand he blocked with his wing.

When he looked up, a tall muscular woman stood in front of him. She wore golden colored sandals. She wore a white robe with red lining, but most notably were yellow spikes that protruded from her head, five of them in a half circle. She was holding an aura scimitar, her arms were also wings like that of a harpy.

"You. Angel. Are you the one I called for?" she asked, pointing the scimitar at Erebus.

"If you sent a letter to Lunaura to the Council, then yes." Erebus replied. "I take it that you must be Amaterasu, Counselor."

"Observant. Good." Amaterasu stuck her hand out, which Erebus took to hoist himself up. "Shit's gone down the drain. Someone's been leading a rebellion against the Council. The Council has all hidden away." Amaterasu ran her finger on the blade of her scimitar as she spoke.

"So why aren't you there with them?" Erebus tilted his head in confusion.

"Some of us are better than those of Lunaura, who can't fight back even when their life depends on it. I fear however this may be out of our control now."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well what started as initially rebellion propaganda has been formed into a warning. Aries 3 they say. That's tomorrow. Rebellion activity hit an all time low. Putting the dots together?"

"They are planning something."

"And the night is coming. I do not know when they will attack, but I will remain vigilant. Come with me, there is a group of loyal people who will listen to you if you're here beside me."

"Lead the way, ma'am." Erebus bowed. A small smirk came upon Amaterasu's face, as she gestured to him to follow her. Erebus followed her, and wandered through the dunes for some time, till they stopped at the edge of the entrance of the Flaric Kingdom.

Amaterasu got onto her stomach and crawled to it to avoid being spotted, Erebus mirrored her actions. The Flaric Kingdom was oddly silent, but Erebus could feel the unrest from where he was standing. The Flaric nervously walked around the main place, looking over their shoulders frequently.