do-over

xii; in the past

"Jackson. Adrian. I figured it was time for the next step..." It was Achlys. Goddess of the mist of death. "Iōánnēs, I think it's time you know about Jackson's past." I stood alert, panic running in shock waves through my veins. "Have you ever wondered how he supported himself? How he had some luxuries?"

"Why are you doing this?" I snapped, feeling my heart shake, on the verge of shattering. Adrian gave me a confused look. "It was.. It's in the past, Achlys! I've moved on and so should you!"

"So..." She hissed, standing up from her crouched position. "You don't want him to know?"

I felt my head get light. My breathing came faster. "I-I... Well.. I'd like to tell him myself.."

"Are you afraid he won't like you anymore? Won't trust you?" Her voice was in my head. All around me. I opened my mouth but no words came out. "Afraid he'll be.. disgusted by you?"

"Why are you doing this?!" I shouted, clutching my head as searing pain shot through it. Adrian tried to step toward me, face a mixture of confusion and shock, but it seemed he couldn't move.

"Then why don't I show him..." She was smirking and I saw a flash of a serpentine tongue as she licked her lips.

Suddenly images started flashing across my mind. It was me. And.. my previous job.

I heard an audible gasp from Adrian.

"Stop! Please!" I practically shrieked. "Okay! What do you want me to say?!" I turned to Adrian from a crouched position on the floor. It was as if something was dragging me down. That and my knees were weak, my shins numb, and I felt extraordinarily dizzy. "I made a living through... carnal pleasures! Okay! I worked at a club... and.." I gasped for air as the images stopped. Adrian wouldn't look at me. "I can't say I regret anything." My voice sounded hollow. Tinny. "I needed money. I was homeless, parentless, and.. I didn't have any other options!"

"I understand..." Adrian faced me, but didn't look at me still. "It's.. not what I wanted to hear. But.. I understand."

Achlys looked shocked. Horrified, even. Then, intrigued.

"Interesting.. Very interesting. You've made more progress than I thought," she made a face of disappointment. "But. There's still more to be revealed." Her eyes narrowed in on Adrian. "You. You're quite brave for what you've done. Iōánnēs. Graced by Yahweh. By the God himself. You were given a gift. A purity. And yet..."

My eyes rounded as I watched Adrian. He was looking defiantly at Achlys.

"You defied him. So, in turn, punished. You fought hard for what you've earned. A job of high status. Respect. A good life." She tilted her head as she glared at him through yellow eyes. "And you push yourself for the things you love. Strain yourself. Even if it burns your soul." Adrian looked disgusted, but still looked at her with knowing eyes. "Mixing with Luciferian blood. There are prices to be payed. For example... death.

"However, no matter how badly I want your lives, the Gods made me put you back. Adrian Aegeus Flynn. Your God-given name is Iōánnēs. As I'm sure you knew. You have broken the ties. You have polluted your soul. Your purity is gone." She lifted an eyebrow. "But, you're still driven by one name. Aegeus. And for only one person." Her lips tilted into a hideous smirk. "Your life was risked almost everyday, and you grew tired of it." Her eyes turned to me. "He worked as a spy. Of sorts." She shook her head, "it was a rather confusing job, but the point is he protected people." She turned her attention back to Adrian.

"And at such a young age. Almost taking lives that often and risking your own is hard on your soul, isn't it?" She hissed in pleasure as I blinked rapidly at Adrian. "So you moved, changed your name, found your parents, and started to work for them until you made your own company and started independent work." Her hands rubbed together. "Quite an interesting story, might I say."