DC's Path of Ruin: Book I

August 20th, 2015 - Part 4

Day 250 - August 20th, 2015 : Morning - Around 7:10 AM (2 PM Themyscira)

In the mountain temple of Athena Brian had given the orb to the Priestess Euadne who waited his return cautiously. Lilith's Orb had was shrouded by a cloak and tied to conceal its appearance when she had returned ten minutes later, Brian was left alone as Achilles had walked away swiftly once he had retrieved Brian at first break of day in Parris Island. As the oldest appearing of the Amazonian, the priestess walked before Brian and raised the hanging orb up for Brian to take.

"On the winter solstice this cursed child will come to life out of the egg of this orb. Let no eyes lay on it, and never speak of it or you will be judged unjust and unfit to remain" The middle aged, yet tan skinned woman warned bombastically in her religious theatrics.

Brian nodded and took the orb from her hand. He had some time. Once the week of the birth of the child arrived, Brian planned for a second departure. It may have been more painful to have to leave again..especially after the encounter with the white cloak. But, it would be done and he wouldn't have too much to worry about when all of this was finished.

He had headed back in the direction of 'home', or the building that Achilles appointed for them to live in. He saw the clone's feelings and attitude toward him the day before. He knew it to be a manifestation of Alva's true feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Though, because of this, the young detective didn't know what to expect when he walked into the door. Had his mother spoken to him...? Did she somehow manage to convince Alva that he was just like....him?

Brian didn't want to think about that...not now. He looked around, the house being completely silent. He went upstairs with his bag. The sight of it was his clothes scattered aimlessly around the room. He theorized that Alva had slept with them while he was gone. He would have went further up the stairs to check on his mother, but decided that he'd rather not. Brian walked back downstairs.

He looked around the downstairs, not seeing Alva anywhere....the only other place to check, was the bathroom. He walked down the hall and entered. When he had gotten further inside and looked into the pool of water, he saw Alva submerged in it. He was able to keep calm in the fact that Alva didn't need to breathe, therefore, the submerging wouldn't faze him.

He stepped toward the pool and kneeled at its side, watching Alva closely. Under the slowly flowing, warm waters Alva kept his eyes shut. His only sensation being the warmth of the water around his nude flesh, and the quiet sounds of levees opening and closing to change out the water gradually.

A disturbance of water and motion heavily moved the water, and sent waves of sound to Alva's ears. Startled by the intrusion he opened his eyes and saw Brian looking down from above the water line. His bleak emotions twisted and the teal eyes stared through the crystal clear water unflinchingly expressionless till Alva pushed himself up, his body dripping and flowing water most around the wide shape of his hips and waist. He said nothing to Brian, trying to walk around him. He wanted to avoid him, he wanted distance.

Brian closed his eyes and just let him move, standing up. Alva stepped over the rim of the pool, bare feet splashing warm water across humid stone flooring. He stared at Brian once, and walked to the bathroom door, doing nothing to cover his soaked body.

"I'm sorry." He finally said, not turning around.

Alva wrapped his hand around the silver of the door handle.

"Are you staying?" Alva's voice asked dryly, depressed.

"Yes..." Alva kept still, his hand shaking on the door handle, shoulders quaking.

"I do not know how long I have been in that water...waiting for you..." Alva mumbled, had it been days? Weeks? His crystal body needed nothing, no motivation to leave. He had submitted to the pain and darkness and kept below the waterline in acceptance of the wounding absence. Brian's head bowed.