I live for you.

Chapter 10 - "At least I don't look like a monster"

I woke up to the sound of foot steps. I shook Tony awake and his fingers fumbled with the button holding us into the coat. He unbuttoned it and I rolled out and onto my feet positioning myself in front of him. It had been foolish to stop so close to the base and sleep. I supposed it was a mixture of adrenaline and some other strange hormone that was pulsing through me last night that caused me to be so stupid. 

I examined the person walking toward us. It was Castor all alone walking with his hands in his pockets. A light breeze ruffled the golden shirt he had tucked into dress slacks with thick golden thread holding them together. He stopped in front of me and smiled. His tight curly blonde hair flopping in the wind. 

I glanced back to Tony who was trying to get up. It seemed the whipped bottoms of his feet were getting to him. I almost backed up to help him. But he put a hand up and glanced at Castor urgently. I turned back toward Castor.

"Castor," I started "Let it go."

He smiled and shook his head laughing. His laugh grew maniacal and he drew his golden gun. He pointed it at me first. Then moved it over toward Tony's head. I stepped in front of it. He cocked it and shot it. It struck me in the gut and I doubled over coughing. I saw out of the corner of my eye as Tony lurched toward me, but I held a hand out motioning for him to stop. He hesitated and I groaned as I stood up straight. Taking deep calming breaths through my flared nose.  

"It will take alot more than a bullet," I said "We both know that, Castor."

Castor smiled and cocked his gun again to shoot. This time I shot him. He doubled over clutching at the bullet now in his own gut. He set his hand over it and stood up straight. 

"Castor," I started again "This isnt necessary. There are so many other ways. Find a different one."

"Stop calling me Castor!" He yelled, his face turning red with anger "My name, is Midis."

"What the hell for?" I asked opening my hands.

"I never liked my name very much. King Midis was a rich intelligent man. Why couldnt he have been my name sake? Well, now he is." he explained 

"I'll call you Castor," I replied stubbornly "That is the name of my cousin. Not this guy you think you are."

"This is me now," His voice was rising with anger. "And this is YOU now!"

He pointed at me accusingly and advanced toward me threateningly.

"Now your a monster, just like me," He sneered "But, in a way, your much worse than me. Arent you? At least I dont look like a monster. You do. Why dont you take off that mask I gave you? Why dont you show your love what you look like now. Do you think he'll care? Or will he jump off that cliff to escape that monstrosity behind that pretty little mask?"

I looked back at Tony nervously. He was on his knees trying to absorb what was happening. He made eye contact with me. 

"If it were about the way you look..." He started 

Midis interrupted "Dont speak when you dont know what your talking about,Stark." 

He smiled into my face and ripped my mask off before I could stop him. I gasped and dropped to my knees. Making my black curls fall forward to cover my face. 

"No please," begged Midis mockingly "Show us!"

He grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. I brought my hands up and screamed. I heard Tony gasp. I peeked through my fingers at his shocked face that had turned into a partial grimace. Tears began to push their way past my lashes onto my cheeks. Midis let my hair go and my head fall forward. I sobbed and shook.

I heard as Midis turned and started to walk toward Tony. My thoughts flew through my mind. I got up as he cocked his gun. I pulled hard on his leg and the bullet missed. I looked up into Tony's face. He made eye contact with me. His wide brown eyes zipping back and forth like he was trying to read what was happening.  

My attention turned to Midis. Who rolled on the ground and got back up. I stood as well. Glaring at him. 

"Try then," I poked "I know I'd like to. I have for a long time. Believe me, Castor this will be a relief. "

"What will?" he growled 

"Killing you." 

I clamped down on my jaw as he sent a few more bullets forward. I shot fire back at him. Lifting my hand up toward him. He hissed and patted out the flames on his clean cut gold shirt that had been singed. He examined the damage and growled at me. He snapped his fingers and wolves began to run at us from across the grass. Their fur was sloppily spray painted gold. 

I clenched my jaw at him and threw heavy rocks at the wolves taking a few down with pitiful yelps echoing in the air. I threw more fire at him. He summoned blades and threw them at me and then started aiming for Tony. I shot 5 bullets his way. One right between the eyes. 

He gave a yelp of pain and dropped to his knees. Holding his face. He looked up at me angrily. His face turning red again. The new bloody hole in his head still smoking. He snapped his fingers several times and more animals came barreling over the hills toward us. Too many for me to take down. 

I turned to Tony who looked at me with fear etched across his face. I turned back toward the advancing Midis and his golden animals on his tail. I began to back up. Holding my arms out and sending volleys of fire and bullets at him as much as I could. Hitting the animals, who were now growling on his flanks, with rocks. 

Castor drew his gun quickly and shot Tony in the shoulder. We were so close to the edge of the cliff, and the force was so much that he toppled right over. I watched as he began to fall. He let a scream out as he disappeared among the angry waves below. Frothing and slamming into the sharp rocks. 

I turned to look back toward Castor. The smile crept onto his lips as he realized he had won. I holstered my weapons. Turned and dove into the water. I fell for a long time before hitting the water. It engulfed me with some pain from the impact. I opened my eyes and looked around through the mucky water. 

I saw a body grasping onto a rock. I swam up to the surface and started fighting against the waves to make it to Tony. I saw him holding onto the rock. His hand outstretched toward me. He yelled my name. I watched as my golden mask splashed into the water next to him. 

I kept trying to swim over. Paddling as hard as I could. Kicking against the ever pulling and pushing water. Until a wave caught me and slammed me against a rock. I looked up as the water crashed over my face and warmth started leaking from my head. The blue sky turned to a suffocating black. I could hear and see nothing.