The Last Siege

" let us see how the story begins "

My eyes opened, awake for some reason. Syren was attached to my side, despite my room being across the hall. I sat up and eyed the room. A figure stood at the desk and was flipping through papers. I slowly stood, making sure to be quiet. I grabbed my sword, ever-present next to my bed. The figure paused, lifting his head. I steadied the tip of the blade at his back. He chuckled. "You laugh with a sword a mere breath away from your heart?" I asked.

He turned and I stepped back. His eyes were an unnatural blue, glowing in the dark of my room. "Hello, Nerys. You look a lot like your mother." I sneered.

"Don't speak of her as if you knew her."

"Of course I did. Everybody knew Queen Venara." He began walking and I kept the blade at his chest, following him with my eyes. He came to a stop at the foot of my bed and the moonlight finally revealed his face.

Ethereal. That was the only word that came to mind. I wasn't sure how to describe him. Handsome was another that briefly wormed its way into my head. I glared.

"My name is Ienar, God of Humankind." I arched my eyebrow.

"Yeah. Right." He shrugged.

"Believe me or not. The world is ending, Nerys and my siblings have chosen their champions. It's time for me to choose mine." He settled against my bed, staring at me.

"And, what? That's me?"

"Correct." I frowned.

"I'm the champion for the human race to save the world from ending?" He nodded, but that wasn't an answer. My brother sat up suddenly, eyes wide and unfocused.

"Rys?"

"Go back to sleep Sy." He murmured and rolled out of bed, dragging his feet as he came around to me.

"No," he muttered into my shoulder as he pressed into my back. Ienar smiled.

"Well. I suppose it's not too much to say I choose two champions." Light suddenly encased us and I screamed.

///*****///

The first thing to come into view was a deck. Then people. I screamed again. The hardwood came into contact with my chest and I struggled to take in a breath. I blinked and scrambled to get away from my screaming brother. No use. He slammed the full weight of a grown man, onto my back.

"Sy. Sy, please get off." I struggled to say. He groaned and shifted on me. "Sy!" I bite out. He got up and rolled over. I stand, steadying myself on the ever loyal mast of the ship.

"Thank you for always being there for me, sis," Syren mumbled. I glared down at him.

"Fuck you. Fuck you and your dumb heavy ass." I brushed the dust off my front and stared up at the sky. "That all you got?" I yelled. 

Remind me to never yell at Ienar again. Got ya. 

A book slammed into my face, followed by my sword, my shield and a bag of clothes. Syren's bow and quiver along with a bag dropped on him. I rubbed my sore nose and picked up the book.

As it were, it was actually a journal. I flipped through the blank pages, looking for some sort of clue. I flipped back to the first page.

Write a great story. Tell the world how you saved them. Make your mother proud. Ienar. I bit my bottom lip. I looked up and stiffened.

"Oh. Hello."

///*****///

I sat back, the captain, Shyrros, glared at my feet but said nothing, as I leaned back in their chair, feet on the desk. Syren fiddled with a globe on the desk.

"So. The seven of us were chosen to save the world?" Syren asked, eyeing the others. Shyrros nodded.

"Yep. Though, it was just supposed to be one for each god." They eyed Syren, who either ignored them or didn't notice the look. I arched an eyebrow.

"Ienar said "I suppose it's not too much to say I choose two champions" his words, not mine," I responded and stood, stepping around the desk. I moved past Shyrros and their shoulder brushed mine. Screams filled my head and I winced. The moment our shoulders left each other, the screams were silenced. I stared at them, before gesturing for my brother.

The others were gathered in a loose circle, one sitting on a box sharpening a knife, another leaning against the railing, talking to two more. Shyrros stepped out after us and cleared their throat.

"Hey, hey. These are the humankind champions, Nerys and Syren." I waved and Syren winked his eye at them.

"Hello. I'm Neda, the nymphkind champion." The woman that spoke on the railing smiled.

"Akreq. Sirenkind champion." The woman next to her offered a grin.

"Dirlorne, elfkind champion. A pleasure meeting you." The man bowed, his short hair showing his pointed ears and magic-ink on his neck.

"Eirina, the dragonkind champion. Though I must ask," the woman on the box said, looking up from her knife, "why two humans? Because one is so incompetent?" She jeered with a wicked grin. 

Yeah. Erin was an asshole. Was? Is. 

I glared at her. "And I am Shyrros. The nephlikind champion." They walked past us, folding their arms. Nephilim? I stared at them, recalling the screams.

"Who were they?" The others seemed unaware of what I spoke of, but Shyrros offered a sad smile.

"The people you've killed. Intentionally or unintentionally." I nodded.

"That's a lot."

"Imagine hearing them every day, all day." They offered a small smile but it didn't reach their eyes. Sorrow glinted in their ruby eyes. I lowered my gaze. I felt a sudden weight in my pocket and I reached in, pulling the journal out. I flipped it open. I grinned.

"I need a pen."

///*****///

I tossed my head back and struck out, hitting my assailant in the face. "Fuck!" He roared. I sat up, tears running down my face. Syren rolled away from me, clutching his face and a broken nose. I looked around and a light suddenly flicked on. Neda stood next to the bed, worry set in her beautiful face. The other's rolled to look at us, various looks of worry, confusion, and annoyance.

"Nerys?" Neda asked, sitting on the bed. I stared at her.

"Am I a bad person?" I asked. She paused.

"I'm not sure," she said, staring at me. "Are you?" I looked at her for a few moments.

"Maybe."