The Dead Fights Back

\\ empyr \\

It states in myths that you're not supposed to be able to remember how you died. Of course, myths are just things that are spread from stories. Barely any have been proven true.

Empyr remembers exactly how he died. He remembers every feeling from it and remembers the person who did it. The person he hates with every little fiber of his being. The one person who could always get on every single nerve in his body no matter how many there were.

Empyr was stabbed through the stomach by a sword that used to be his. The sword he'd used to use while fighting Phantoms, before he became one.

His murderer was the same one that tried to finish him as a Phantom. Empyr thought it was funny, how the same person had tried to murder him twice. It was amusing to think about what the person would do upon finding out that surprise, he was still alive. Well.. Not alive alive, but that he hasn't been killed twice.

"Dying twice.. It's a surreal idea." Empyr closed his eyes for a brief second, sitting on the sofa. He enjoyed using his Corporeal form the most, because it made him feel "human" again. As if maybe he still had body.

It also allowed him to drink his favorite wine. 

Corporeal forms were different than human bodies, but allowed the Phantoms to take on the attributes of a human body. Drinking, eating, and other physical activities were possible in Corporeal form, but it drained the power and energy of the Phantom.

Empyr's favorite things to do within his Corporeal form was to dress up and drink, though Dove obviously had different intentions.

It's not that Empyr wasn't attracted to her, if she gave him the chance; he'd surely take it, but he didn't want to waste his energy on her willingly.

Incidentally, it was his same murderer that killed the only Phantom he would have wasted his energy on while in his Corporeal form.

"Would you like to die twice?" Dove asked, looking up at him. Empyr raised an eyebrow, looking down at her. She laid her head on his leg, her eyes looking at him with that usual seductive gleam they held.

He had not realized he had spoken out loud, voicing his thoughts. He returned his gaze to the wine glass he held in his hand, the wine within it as red as freshly drawn blood. "It's a different thought, because I survived dying twice."

"That contradicts itself." Dove's tone was quiet, and he looked down at her once more.

"Well.. I almost died again, if you remember." Empyr sighed. 

"Blase, Shay, and Daeva actually died that day. We'll never forget it." Dove responded, turning herself so that her laid on her stomach. The Brotherhood had moved bases, taking up room in an abandoned mansion up in the mountains, hidden away from society. 

Currently, he and Dove were in one of the larger bedrooms, candles lit within the room and all throughout the mansion to provide light as electricity had been shut off and The Brotherhood refused to bring attention to themselves.

"You know.." Dove sat up, a small smirk appearing, "these candles really set the mood." 

"I don't know how." Empyr looked away, taking a drink of his wine.

He scowled in annoyance as her hands pushed his glass away, guiding his hands to the side table to put the glass down. He looked at her, and she smirked.

"Give me your undivided attention." She whispered, before blinking, "Also, scowling is bad for your complexion."

"Good, maybe it'll make you leave me alone." Empyr hissed, before Dove giggled. "What're you laughing at?"

"How you seem to hate me, everyone, so much, yet sometimes you'll give in to temptation." 

"Greed is a sin."

"Well sometimes you're very greedy, whether for power or pleasure."

Empyr couldn't respond. She was right, and at this one time, he didn't want her to be right. Right now, he wanted to sit back and enjoy his wine. Right now, he wanted to enjoy the dim light and peacefulness. Right now, he wanted to remember what it used to be like to be alive.

"So instead of moping, come be greedy."

Empyr knew that in the moment, he wouldn't get what he wanted. He had always, whether alive or in his current form now, had to take what he wanted. He was never given chances.

Except now.. Dove was giving him a chance, like she always seemed so eager to do.

So, when Dove kisses him, he doesn't tear away or push her off. He embraces the chance, and the greed. He embraces her.

***

He wakes up beside her. They had fallen asleep in their Ethereal forms, waking in their Corporeal.

His wine glass still sits on the end table by the sofa.

The face flashes through his mind. It burns in his face and it makes him frown. It makes him want to burn the world.

The face of his murderer is stuck in his mind, except the face is smiling. There is genuine kindness in that face, and Empyr can't help but fight tears.

He had taken sanctuary in that smile, in those eyes that shined with the promise of a bright future. He had taken sanctuary in the person so much that he had hesitated, and it had gotten him killed.

"Empyr come on!"

He closed his eyes, and covered his face, the tears appearing. 

"Empyr, you're so slow!"

He didn't want these memories, he didn't want the memories. He didn't want to remember.

"Empyr, don't make me do this!"

"Shut up!" The Tempus howled, and Dove jumped awake. He ignored her, though tried to stop the tears from dripping down his cheeks, "Get out of my head!"

"Empyr!" Dove exclaimed, lunging forward. She cradled his head, while he covered his face. "Hey.. Our noble leader shouldn't cry."

"He's stuck in my head."

"Who is?" Dove asked, her eyes widening.

"I want to get him out.. I want to watch him burn.." Empyr fought against her and sat up, wiping his face quickly.

"We'll help you." Dove insisted.

"No, he is mine to kill." Empyr snarled, glaring at the wall across from him, "I will kill him over and over and over and over. I want revenge."

"Against who?" Dove asked again, narrowing her eyes in confusion.

"My dear brother." Empyr hissed.

"Emeryx."