Torn Apart

It's Time To Start The Countdown

For this treachery, Puppet, I should leave you to flail along by yourself. You can't move with no energy. You have one arm. You could not get so much as a word out without me now, not after your little gift to the Firstborn. If my existence didn't still depend on you... but what is the use repeating myself. Know this, Puppet. For what you have done, I will not walk out peacefully when the time comes. You place far too much faith in the Firstborn. When I take control-and I will win this, Puppet-I will make you watch them suffer. All of them.

Your eyes open. You are not sure how much time has passed, but Hades is no longer there. The Second one crouches, face turned to the wall. Shame and grief ekes off her. Disgusting.

The she-beast of a Firstborn shrieks in your ear a tearing song meant to drive us apart, but the Puppet has need of me, and by his own permission I stand my ground.

By sheer force of will you do not shove her from your shoulder. "The Puppet would have me speak for him, since your voice is now returned to you. Of all people, you should recall that he can no longer speak without invoking me."

For a moment, Arthur rolled his head to rest against Kay's side, his cheeks straining with joy. He'd found her. She pressed her forehead to his. Her soul was graceful. Beautiful. And powerful. He could sense the strength of the spirit pressed to the side of his face and wished he could tell her.

"Would that I could drink you dry, and your power would be mine."

You are horrified, but all of us know who is speaking. Look at her, drawing back. That fire in her eyes. She knows it was not you, cease your futile anger, Puppet. We are too joined now for it to give me pleasure anymore.

"It is unwise to threaten my subjects, even in my absence."

There he stands, god of the underworld. On one side stands the fruit of your Mistress' womb looking marvelously ashen-faced. And on the other side of him that cursed blue wretch. Her fists clench and her eyes are flint on you. Oh yes, she knows who is speaking as well. An oversized foal cowers behind her. It is comical, the very picture of an oafish giant trying to hide behind a stopsign.

"You laughing at something, you knuckle-lidded cactus dweller?" she hisses. "Cause the only one that's welcome to talk around here is Squire, and he doesn't threaten innocent bystanding spirits."

"Look at her, Firstborn, she doesn't even know, you" you mock. "But why would she, she's not the one madly in love with and enslaved to you, is she, Cayenne?"

No, Puppet. You desire me to speak for you, and I will speak. It is my time.

Vivi's eyes widen, her mouth loosening. Struck dumb, thank the gods, she is most grating.

"Sugoiiiiiiiiiiii! Now Vivi-chan isn't the only one with a dead love unable to let go and pass on, Arthur-sama your luck has changed!"

Retraction, Vivi is the second most grating. "Say one more word and I will carve a hole in your skull so large and deep that-"

Arthur's head lolled back as music flooded his ear once more. He was Arthur. How was it so easy to forget? Was this going to be the way it was, always? A rapid cycle of forgetting and remembering? Chloe, he'd threatened Chloe. He clapped a hand over his mouth, his eyes wide. He couldn't even apologize to the oversized foal, now cowering belly to the ground.

"Arthur did not say that." Kay's words spilled over him like balm. "He cannot speak for himself, please excuse him. He returned my voice to me, and now only the monster speaks."