The Ancient Elder

The Long Path

Than sat upon the pile of corpses he had made with residents of the village being its sole build. Using one of the poor souls broken femur as a toothpick as he tried to remove their flesh. He had intended to leave some of them alive so he could have more fun later but his bloodlust got the best of him. Not that he cared, they were all going to die anyway. As were the villages that surrounded this one.

After finally picking the annoying piece of flesh from his teeth, he forced the broken femur into the skull of a deceased boy no more than 8 years old.  He wouldnt feel it so it didnt matter what happened now. As Than picked himself up of the mound of corpses almost slipping the vast amount of blood that surrounded him. He could see something shining in the diatance, it was the middle of the night now and yet this light blazed like a firestorm. His curiosity getting the better  him for a moment he began to jog towards it. Making his sure his hulking mass was hidden behind the dense trees that populated this area. He hid behind a tree no more than 10 feet from this light, he could not see what was creating it only that each time he looked it bore into his skull like someone pushing their thumbs into his eyes.

He raised his gigantic arm up to shield his eyes as he rounded the tree and close the gap between him and this light. Something about it gave off a serious vibe of warning, not of danger. Simply that whatever it was did not mean him harm, but not good either. He stood and watched removing his arm as the light died down with his approach to see a woman in a Chiton he believed they were called. She was as tall as Than but not even a tenth of his size. Her hair blonde with a small platinum crown and her features as pure and delicate as tulip. Her beauty was beyond his comprehension and in that moment his anger was forgotten. "Who are you?" His voice barely a whisper and yet she heard him as if he had spoken aloud. "You should not have done that Thanatos, temples are sacred places meant for worship and not blood" the sadness that laced her voice was thicker than he had ever heard. But realisation formed quickly in Thans head as he realised what she was. "Another messenger i assume to threaten me or attempt to kill me" his disgust as apparent as the moon in the sky. "Many have tried both immortal and not, if you are here to kill me what makes you think you can succeed when they could not" she said nothing at his accusation that she was there to kill him. She had no need to, she could see that this being before her was beyond repair. He had suffered for centuries, been attacked and beaten by mortals and gods alike. Now he hates both and has the strength to destroy both. She didnt know how to approach this man, she could not approach with anger at his crimes for fear he would kill her. He had defeated his father in hand to hand combat in mere moments, what chance did she stand if the king could not defeat him.

Yet she felt she had to try, if not for his sake. For the little girls that was taken from him. "Im not here to kill you Thanatos" her voice now determined but a slight string of fear still evident in it. "Im here to bring you news of the little one that was taken" Than stopped his thoughts foe a moment, had he just heard right. She was going to tell him of Emily? The one iota of peace and happiness he had in this world that was taken from him. "Choose your next words carefully" he snarled "for they may be your last" his threat hitting home with obvious effect as he could hear her immortal heart beat furiously and could smell the sweat of fear as it cascaded down her brow.

"I...mmm....i mean to tell you only what has happened to her. So you may try to help the poor soul" Than raised his eyebrow to her as she spoke, curious to what she was implying. "She was given to your father as you already knew, but he has been torturing her daily to get information from her about potential weaknesses of yours" Than flew across the space that separated them and grasped her throat in a grip that would have killed lesser beings. "She is a child, of no more than 10 years and you all have been standing by whilst she suffers" his grip now a lot tighter with each word spoken. "You would have me believe you are here to warn me so i can help her yet you do nothing but sit upon your throne" the pressure he was applying to her throat clearly showing as the creaking of her bones underneath were a testament to his strength. "Now i will warn you, go back to your home and tell all of them that i am coming. They will bow to me or be slaughtered by me. There will be no exceptions" Than released her and she fell from his grasp, her hand upon her throat as if to ease her pain. Her deep breaths ringing in his ears as she tried to get her throat muscles back in working order. "You threaten all of us because of your stupid feud with your father?" Her face had become a serious expression of anger when once it was of fear. "You dare to challenge your betters?" Her voice now raising to a shout as he healing was kicking in. Than simply looked upon her as he let his power fan out and assume his immortal form. Towering over her with his leather kilt and sandals except this time his weapons werw on show, a beautifully sharp khopesh in his right and a radiant ohm battleaxe in his left. His body a mix of wolf and god as his ethereal crown manifested upon his brow. "I am your better" his voice like a sonic boom as he looked down upon her now terrified form. "There are none above me, not even him. Although he is king by title, i am king by blood." He raised battleaxe until it was under her chin, his arm not wavering from the weight of it as it was completely still. "Now you will tell them what i have told you,or you will die here as i tear your immortal essence from this world" she could do nothing but stutter as she looked upon his form. She knew him to be a god but not one of this power. It was practically suffocating simply being near him. In a bolt of light she vanished, her fear forcing her power to transport her to the heavens.

Than stood there for a moment and sighed before allowing himself to revert back to his orginial form. His weapons and armor vanishing to be replaced by his usual clothes of shorts and a buttoned shirt. He walked over to a stump he had spotted just moments before she had left and sat on it. Putting his head in his hands as he whispered to himself "Emily what have they done to you, my child"