The Apollo Brothers

The Apollo Brothers; Chapter Eleven Part Two

11.2

Austin’s Point Of View

The first thing I noticed in Defluo was the musky scent that trailed off in all directions. We had to travel during the night for about four and a half hours to arrive, yet, even though it was almost seven in the morning, it seemed as though the sun had forgotten to rise over the gloomy city.

“She can be saved.” He told me. “We can bring her back.”

I held onto her hand tighter, her fingers cold and stone-like. I remember the first time I ever met her, in the front foyer of the Miles high.

There were hundreds of students rushing around, whispering and laughing. We hadn’t known where we were going, so we stopped by the school map and attempted to read it carefully. The girl in front of us blocked our view. Ethan was becoming impatient. Just before I was about to excuse her, she turned. Her brunette hair was flowing past her shoulders, her hazel eyes glanced up at us, innocently. I could tell Zane had flashed him one of his smiles, as she blushed and quickly headed off.

That lost and innocent girl we had met that day, within a month’s period, she was already lifeless. I grabbed onto her tighter, I knew that we were the spark that lit her life into flames. We were the cause of her mishaps. And I was fully aware that I was going to protect her.

We drove around the small, secluded town to find a place to stay.

“So here we are. How are you supposed to heal her?” Ethan insisted in monotone. Zane was driving and spoke distincantly.

“I don’t know, but we will heal her.”

                A clock was ticking away, it’s second hand seemed slightly slow. The room was dark, and around me were odd items that were dusty. They looked like they hadn’t been touched for a long time. I could see spider webs all over the room. Out of nowhere appeared a hooded figure on the second floor – which was a balcony of some sort filled with books. His eyes were glowing. Was he a Phenon? No… his eyes were glowing pure, and white. It was sort of like a beacon every time he blinked.

                “So you’ve arrived.”

                I took a deep breath and swallowed. “Who… who are you?” my voice was trembling. I was alone, defenseless and I had no way out.

                “You already know the answer to that… my friend.” His voice was deep and strong. “I am… one of you.”

                “A Phenon?”

                “Why do you question something you know the answer to? Besides, who I am is not important. You must raise her back.”

                “But how? Please-“

                “It is true what people say, you cannot raise the dead. But, that is a saying among humans. To truly raise her, one of you, most give a part of your soul to her. A fragment. In this case, she will be bound to that person and to that person alone. She will be loyal and be forever indebted to him. That bond will be almost impossible to break, and, listen carefully Apollo, if that soul is removed once, just once, she will not be able to be saved any longer, and the owner of that soul will be wounded.”

                “That’s fine. I will do anything and everything I can to save her. How though? How do I give her a fragment of my soul?”

                “In this store, you will find an ancient Phenon relic. It will be disguised, but it will be a container for the soul. To tear a fragment of a soul however… is much more difficult.”

                “Tell me what it is. I’ll do it!” I proclaimed, my fists were clenched.

                “You must kill a human of this planet. But the other part is not as easy. If you do give up your soul, you will be bounded to this world, never be able to return home, and the most difficult part… you will become mortal.”

                “Mortal?”

                “Meaning that any blade and weapon made on this Earth can harm you. You will no longer be able to heal and you will die of old age, like the rest of these pity humans. Will losing a fragment of your soul something that you three brothers can decide?”

                “I-“

                The man vanished, wind howled around me as though someone had opened all the doors and windows.

                As soon as I woke up, I repeated every single word of what the man said to my brothers. I then described what the store had looked like, and where it might have been located. Their faces were indecipherable. I could not tell what they were thinking. I had already come up with a plan. I knew what I was going to do. I was the youngest; therefore it was my duty to do what must be done. Ethan, being the oldest, was much more wise and experienced. For him to be bounded to Earth would kill him, and me. I would not be able to watch that happen. And, as noble as Zane depicts himself as, he would never do such a thing, to give his immortality away to a stranger. So I knew that it was me who had to do it. Honestly, I didn’t feel scared whatsoever. It felt as though it was the reason I was brought to the earth. To save Madeleine, and to protect her from others.