Knowing The End (SAA Book 2) ✔

26: Self-Aware

The woman stood, reaching a hand out towards him. 'Provocative,' Oren thought dangerously, and he stepped back. The world around him flickered like a dim light, and all went black for a moment.

No matter how wide he opened his eyes, or how close his hand got to his face, he couldn't see a thing. He was still awake, still very much alive. The grass below him felt different. Much colder, more hard. Like marble. He could no longer feel the grass blades being crushed below his shoe.

A large ballroom, certainly familiar, came to fill his vision next. It had a fiery setting to it, all warm tones and a mixture of oranges and reds. It was filled with all kinds of tools, weapons, armor and other materials.

The large blacksmith forge, lit like a fresh bonfire, the shelves of neatly stacked ingots and ores of all kinds. Maybe some alien ones too... Oren looked down, feeling exactly what he predicted. Glassy marble, the color of blood, supported his weight.

"I hope you find my father's ancient forge.. To your liking. It was a gift from the early periods. Quite amusing times, I must say." Euthenia's voice echoed throughout the ballroom. Her voice and overall aura sent an intense chill down Oren's spine. The woman who put him through the worst imaginable...

"You..." he snarled as his eyes scanned the empty room. If looks could kill, whoever was in Oren's line of sight would be desecrated. "You have no idea how badly you've destroyed my life." he rejoined aloud. His fists clenched tightly; he desperately tried to hold in the boiling rage that began to swell.

"Oh?" There was silence, then an airy chuckle. Above a small, worn statue formed a flicker of light, spreading and materializing into a woman, self-same white dress and done hair. She crossed a leg daintily over the statue, her gaze set just past Oren's head, to an empty chest in the back. It sat in the darkness, where the torch light couldn't reach, beside dusty barrels.

Oren kept his eyes on the woman, noticing her downcast gaze. Her eyes were a saddened milky pane, like she was acting against her will. Oren flicked his gaze to the forge, firebrand crackling and going frail as the fire dimmed out.

"Boy," she piped. Oren lifted his chin instantly. "You're... I've found that you're not exactly.. As you think you are."

"What do you mean?" His brow lowered warily. He grew restless, unable to be by Clayton's side. He never should have left the human back there.

"During my haste in creating new residents for Greece, I failed to notice that I've misplaced my immortality within your familial bloodline." She paused, letting the realization sink into his brain.

"You mean..."

"Remember all of those times that you came so close to death, just brushing against his embrace, then the world pulled you back and asked you to stay just a bit longer." Euthenia pressed a hand to her chest, voice going solemn.

"The day is bound to come when I reclaim the immortality that I rightfully deserve." She stood from the statue, swiping down her dress. "Everything I've tried discreetly, didn't work. I need to smother your arrogant flame before the immortal blood in you deepens further. Direct homicide is my only option."

Oren argued, "You say that like you're the victim. This whole whirlwind is your fault. I just want to have a normal life, a family to depend on. I want to raise my son and watch him grow up. I want to support my lover and get married. I have needs too." Oren began to plead by now, desperately begging for her to just let it go.

"I want to live a happy life. Please don't take that away from me."

Euthenia looked up, sorrow lacing her eyes. Oren was the one hurting, so why did he feel so guilty? "It's not that I don't want you to have your freedom, and the right to do whatever you please, but... You must understand, my family is strict. Without one's full immortality, one can become astray, different from their usual selves. They could be sent to Tartarus."

"So.. If you don't... If you don't kill me, then you'll go to Tartarus." Oren concluded; Euthenia nodded. Euthenia stood up and raised a hand, allowing little flames to engulf her hand.

"You understand. I am unwilling to fight one of my own blood, but nothing is worse than the fiery depths of that blasted realm." she went to raise her fist when she suddenly stopped, listening intently on something unknown to Oren's ears.

"Ah.." she lowered her hand, stifling the marigold fire with her fist. "It seems your lover has come looking for you." she waved a hand to show Oren, a small window opening up in the middle of the room. There he saw a frantic Clayton, dashing throughout the towering trees and hanging moss of the jungle.

"I'll let you see him on one condition." Euthenia swiped her hand flat against the window, sending it away. Oren looked up at her, grimacing at the possible requests. This woman was unpredictable; who knew what she had up her sleeve.

"And what would that be?" With caution, Oren let down his guard. When she didn't answer, he spoke up. "I'm listening. What are you waiting for? Tell me."

"Don't be foolish, boy. It is his direct death, or yours. Either way will help regain the immortality."

"Wait.. you're saying that I have to pick who dies?" he scoffed. "How is that even a question? It'll be my death over his anytime." Oren was never so sure about anything in his entire life.

"So it shall be." she snapped her fingers, letting the torches go out with a gust of wind. His vision faded briefly, before he was standing in front of his lover. Clayton faltered.

The two enveloped one another in a tight hug, both whispering little apologies to the other. Oren pulled back from the hug, caressed the human's cheek lovingly. "You don't have to be stressed about hurting me anymore." he formed a watery smile, vision blurring with hot tears.

"What do you mean?" Clayton reached forward and wiped Oren's eyes.

"I'm.. I'm not like you. I can't die no matter what." Oren admitted, glancing back to the Goddess who stood behind them. She was looking on patiently, confliction swimming in her glassy eyes.

"What?"

"I have immortality in my blood.. There's not enough time to explain. I-I have to leave.." Oren gently pulled Clayton's hand from his face. Tears overflowed his eyes, dribbling over his cheeks.

"When will you be back?"

Oren fell silent, lowering his head. His tears fell to the mossy ground below them.

"I don't think I'll ever be back."

_____
Thanks for reading!