Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 143- Come

I can't take it I can't take it. This pain, will it ever go away? Could it ever go away? Should it?

"Claire?" Phoneix stands, appearing to be slightly wobbly still, at the edge of the meadow among the bushes. My head lifts and my hard face ices over in the silver and now icy moonlight. There is no chance I can open my mouth and form the words, it feels completely pointless and I feel too empty for such motions.

I stare as Phoenix makes his way, staggering, over to me. Did he...did he get up just for this? But how could he have known? No. No way. Not a chance. I'm not worth so much as for him to do that.

"Did you find Hester? Where is she? Where's Rin?" his eyes swivel over the meadow in curiosity and wonder. His face lined with precious silver and a clean sharp face, innocent and unknowing, his muscular arms are now covered in the crimson of his cloak and I must pull my eyes from it, blood and slaying, the slain and pain, regenerating to take over my mind through the horrifying memories I want to die.

"Yeah," I mutter weakly, "We found her, she was a traitor. Tried to kill us. Transformed. I killed her with Kol. Rin took the staff and left. So angry at me." My words are broken and hardly formed at all.

"What..." Phoneix kneels next to me and Genesis, setting steady hands on my shoulders and I bow my head, unable to look right into those deep galactic eyes of his.

"She's mad at me..." I shake my head trying to shake away her sharp eyes in my mind.

"Why on Earth is she mad at you? How?" Phoneix stares around searching for her again. Of course, I am aware she might find trouble all on her own at night in these parts, but I can't find the strength to get myself up on my feet and go after her, knowing she would be more infuriated if she so happened to find me stalking her.

"Because...I had to kill Hester," his eyes widen as though the blood staining my clothes and the grass now makes more sense. "I had to, she would have killed us!" lifting my face, I try to make sure he understands I had no choice, that I didn't want to, that I'm not addicted to killing, that I don't like to do it.

"Of course you did stupid! I know you wouldn't do it otherwise silly, so you have no idea where Rin went? It's too dangerous to be off wandering alone right now." I shake my head but turn to Genesis, she understands and rises.

"Follow Genesis," I point but Phoenix lifts a solemn hand to relax her for now.

"You need to get your shit together and get up, you can't just sit here for the rest of all time! I know you're upset and rattled, but that's no excuse, you need to keep going. This doesn't break you, it will make you. The world won't implode because of her anger towards you. And yes, it hurts because you were so close, yet, still you need to stand and fight with confidence. And I promise we will all always be at your side. I promise on my life and being." those icy eyes of solid and crackling blue assure me as undeniably as though a breeze had frozen my blood with assurance.

Getting up is hard. It's like trying to dig through the base of a mountain with a shovel, all alone. But I should at least try because there are people counting on me, and Rin might just be upset and in denial, for now, I can't stay like this or I'll surely lose her purity forever. What's the point of a bee without a nest? The point of a hive without honey? No hiding, I've had my calm and rest in the chaos, but right now is the time to accept and live with my demons and go get Rin back.

"I'll go get her, you stay here, Aegis was held back cleaning up the mess and should be here pronto." his smile is sweet and buzzing, I acknowledge and get up on my feet. Discouraging it is when, despite how motivated I feel and determined, it's still so much effort to move. Phoenix leaves with Genesis in quite the hurry and it isn't long until the silent silver is broken by Aegis's appearance.

"Where-" I interrupt, having not sat back down.

"Rin ran off in a rage and Phoneix went after her. She's upset because I had to kill Hester." the explanation is curt.

"Killed Hester?" he inquires startled.

"Yeah, she 'changed' sort of and would have killed us both otherwise."

"I see you are injured, lay down and I'll fix that up," I agree and lay in the soft sweeping grasses as he hovers his hands above me and honey warm current comes up from the grasses and diffuse about me, replenishing my soul.

"Thanks," he grips my hand securely to pull me up as Phoenix steps back into sight with Rin at his side. Her face...it still carries a heavy shadow and her eyes are wide, shining and stabbing, sharp and angered as before. Staff in hand, the knuckles of her hand are white as the clouds. My heart beats with adrenaline and beats as wings in my ears at her presence.

"Are you hurt Rin?" Aegis immediately inspects her as per usual.

"No," the voice doesn't match what I knew, her tone is harsh and cold, hurtful even.

"PHOENIX YOU DON'T JUST UP AND LEAVE WHILE I'M HEALING YOU!" Aegis scolds him and is more riled and hot-headed than we have ever seen him before.

"Look, I'm sorry okay! This is far more important though and you know that!" 

"No excuses!" Aegis retorts and demands he lay down so he can finish, it then becomes obvious how drained Phoenix really is, the bags run dark under his eyes and each movement lags.