Born of the Gods

Chapter Thirteen-Written on Stone

I began to hate flying more and more. The idea of moving through the air is great, but, in reality, it's horrible. I had to squint my eyes and close my mouth tight to avoid getting bugs in them. I had to avoid clouds and birds, and, as if it weren't bad enough, the night air was freezing cold. It was a strange feeling when coupled with the burning of anger in the pit of my stomach. I had blown my chance to get even with Alulim.

The world was dark; the only light coming from the glowing moon. It was full tonight and provided enough light for me to see into the river and its banks. I watched the sides, looking for signs of Sophia and Tarik.

I'd been flying for maybe an hour. As I soared on I'd managed to determine that I had been going much slower than Sophia could move through the water. It disappointed me since I knew if I tried to go any faster I'd fall from exhaustion. I was already extremely tired but I kept going. I knew I was close to Agrios and didn't see any reason to stop just yet. Eventually, my eyes passed over the ruined remains of my home town and I quickly descended to the ground. My feet landed and I rolled to break the fall. 

I stumbled through the grass and tripped over a large rock. I cursed and stood, even more exhausted than I'd originally thought. I slowly made my way to the town and passed the gates. The moon cast a strange glow onto the entire town. It was as if everything was made of silver. I shrugged off the thoughts and searched around for signs of Tarik and Sophia. 

I thought of yelling, calling out their names in hopes of a response. I decided not to risk the chance that other people, or things, were here. Frustrated, I decided to check the house that Sophia and I stayed in on the last trip here. I gently pushed open the door. It squeaked on its hinges. The floor boards creaked as I stepped on them. Everything was noisy. Too noisy. 

I made my way up the stairs and immediately saw Sophia sleeping in the bedroom. The door was open so I quietly looked around for Tarik. I decided it would be best not to wake her. I found Tarik sleeping in the next room. He was curled up in a ball.

I quietly yawned and went down stairs. There was a small couch so I crawled onto it and tried to sleep. I'd expected to fall asleep quickly, but my eyes couldn't stay closed. My hands trembled and I put them under my head to calm them. I stood up in frustration and kicked the couch. Had my father not known that Alulim wouldn't be harmed by the arrows? I thought he knew who his father was? I sighed and took out the weapon. On my command, the golden arms extended. I drew the fiery string and an arrow formed. It became the sun as it lit the dark room. 

Arrow still drawn, I walked out of the house. I shot it into the night sky. The shaft of light could be seen even once it reached its peak in the air. As it fell it started to look like a shooting star, gaining speed as it dashed through the night. The arrow landed in the trees and I silently hoped it wouldn't start a forest fire.

I sat down in the burnt grass, looking at the destruction. Of the time I'd spent here not once did I really get to look at the wreckage. The houses whose rooves caved in were now rotten and flooded from rain water. Those with broken walls fell into the streets or into other houses, causing even more destruction. I saw the house with the tower, which I'd stolen from not too long ago. The tower had collapsed onto another house, crushing the roof and destroying the walls.

I stood and walked over to a burnt house. I took a small piece of blackened wood, almost the size of a charcoal pencil, and began to write things onto the stone floor. Simple things, such as my parent's ages, their names. I wrote Sophia's and Tarik's name and age. All of us were fifteen. It was strange. I frowned, realizing I didn't know very much about Tarik. Maybe since it was only us three I'd get to know him more. I scratched Zoei's name into the stone. I didn't know her age, so I wrote her favorite color, gold.