Embers of Magic

The Messenger

Rebecca hated the man the moment she saw him.

He smiled broadly as he leaned closer, invading our space. His storm grey eyes reflected the colour of his emerald green tunic as stretched his arm outwards, running his fingers gently across her cheek, “Such a fiery soul.” He spoke with a gentle, yet rich sounding voice that hissed ever so slightly.

There it was – the near irresistible charm the Olympians made ever so infamous. I clenched my teeth as I grabbed onto his wrist, slowly moving his hand away from her cheek. Her brother, Raymond, wrapped his hands tighter around his bow. “What's your message, Hermes?” I responded, bluntly.

Hermes' eyes narrowed as his gaze turned to me. “You know who I am, yet you are still willing to disrespect me?” His voice hissed even more now as two snakes slithered down his arm, wrapping around his wrist like a bracelet. “Meeting gods has become an occupational hazard. There's really nothing special about it.”

“Take heed, I could eradicate you where you stand.” Hermes hissed as his bracelet turned into the very symbol of the messenger of the gods, the Caduceus. The two snakes winded around the staff, towards the wings at the top that matched the ones on his headpiece. “You're just a messenger.” I mocked. “So, deliver your message.”

He hissed in agitation as he stepped forward, grabbing firmly on hoodie and tugging me towards him. “Trust me, kid. You may be special but with that attitude, you'll never make it to Olympus.”

“Lord Hermes, please let her go!” Rebecca yelled as his attention suddenly darted towards her. “She's gone through alot and is probably not in her sound mind!”

“How dare you... ” I growled as Hermes considered what she just said, dropping me and turning around. “I guess, you mortals do have rather weak minds. Dionysius had been the same.”

I straightened my clothes as I sent a death glare towards Rebecca. She stumbled backwards. It wasn't that I had been broken, I was simply enraged. I was tired of living in a world controlled by bored gods and men who believed they were gods. And, I hadn't exactly appreciated being ‘saved’ by someone who would knowingly put the life of a child in danger, just to kill me.

“What's your message?” Raymond questioned as he moved forward towards the god. Hermes snorted as people walked around him, much like they had on that beach with Plutus, yet he looked around as if someone had been watching him. “I'm here for Dionysius.”

“Okay. Tell me.” I spoke, trying to calm down.

He looked around again, double checking if no one had been looking around before walking closer towards me. One of the snakes peered itself away from Caduceus and leaning towards me. The glimmer in its eyes captivated me as I reached out towards it in a near hypnotic trance. I felt as its cold golden skin wrapped around mine, smooth and comforting. It stared at me again as it opened its mouth, sliding its fangs out and plunging it into my wrist.

I flinched in pain, snapping out of my trance and shaking the snake off my arm before collapsing onto my knees. I could feel the snakes venom burn through my wrist, contracting the muscles and veins together until it felt like twisted mess of metal at a scrapyard – cold and lifeless. “What have you done?” I bellowed as the black venom moved into my forearm, burning a sentence into my arm.

“An address.” Hermes spoke coldly. “The venom will wear out in a few days, along with the memory of it. Be there before that happens.” He continued while standing over me, perhaps taking pleasure in my suffering.

Rebecca quickly rushed to my side as she grabbed my wrist, squinting her eyes. “I don't see anything!” She yelled, then began looking for a bite mark.

“It's useless, even for a healer. The venom I used isn't conventional venom. The words on her wrist, only she can see and the pain is only real in her mind.”

Raymond formed a claw of his heart with his hand before sweeping it through the air, towards Hermes. His eyes widened as his form shifted to a misty echo of the messager god. “How rude... ” He whispered before fading completely.

Raymond moved closer, “He was beginning to annoy me.” He said as he slipped my arm around his shoulder, lifting me effortlessly. “We need to get her out of here. She's beginning to build a fever.”

“Put me down, I'm fine.” I whispered weakly.

“Shut up!” Rebecca bellowed as she began looking around. We were near the center of Detroit not and things had been getting busier. To make matters worst was that it was nearly sundown. We needed to get to somewhere safe and fast. Rebecca knew that.

“Why don't you - ” I stuttered. “Just leave me here?”

“I said shut up!” She yelled again as she stopped Raymond from walking. “We're going to get you out of here, no matter what it takes!”

My eyes widened as determination glimmered brightly in hers. I've seen that look before in the eyes of Rain when she stated she'd save Metamorph, no matter what. I looked downwards, admitting that there was no way I could change her mind now.

“Look, we might have been enemies before but I think we got off on the wrong foot. Besides, we need you.”

“I'm getting tired of people needing me.” My voice trailed off.

She snorted as she started walking off again. “Well, deal with it. You're not the only one who has others relying on them. And right now, you need us. So cut out the whole sad song and dance. You're Ember.”

“Rebecca... ” I whispered.

“You're the girl who opposed Zahir and yet lived this long. You took on the empousa. You traveled through the labyrinth and you saved Gelida. You're the one who's going to save the rest of humanity. Start acting like it.”