Life of a Phoenix - Chapter 11 - Gods are Petty too

Aryun walked through the hall, whispers of old memories clung to every graceful curve of the marble hallways.

Her blue eyes took in the graceful columns, the sweeping curves and beautiful arches. She tilted her head back, gazing at the painted ceiling. The tapestries hung silently as their footfalls echoed in the palace.

Her eyes slipped back to Erdric who was having a slightly hard time walking straight. She felt sorry for not telling him, but she didn't want to be involved in this at all. She sighed as they made their to another intersection, motioning that they turn left.

Her eyes weren't on where she was going and she ran directly into a young man a head taller than she. His long hair was a golden-red, shimmering iridescent. His eyes were almond shaped, and the color of gold itself, and his body was lean. The robes he were fluttered at his heels and shimmered an iridescent red-gold to match his hair. The perfectly formed hands had few rings adorning them, and his face was like it was sculpted out of the cold marble.

His lips were thin; a pale golden hue to his skin, and his face was slender. His nose was slightly tapered and upturned, and his cheeks were high, slanting his eyes.

There was an aura of power around him as he quickly reacted to his situation.

She stumbled back, her blue eyes wide as the man caught her shoulders and shook her.

"Well, I'm surprised that my whore of a daughter has shown up. Where have you been? Most likely what you do best, whore."

Aryun jerked away, her pleasant demeanor utterly gone in a mask of sheer hatred. "KimVay." Her voice was strained, but low in a growl.

The group stood back, watching the unpleasantries, and all present were insulted at his behavior towards a woman who seemed the utmost lady.

"What? No words for your father?" His golden eyes were mocking, and they slipped over to the group. The golden gaze lingered on Mara for a few seconds, then flicked back to Aryun.

Aryun just glared at him, nearly hissing. "Leave them alone and leave me alone."

"My darling whore, why would I do that?" His hand came up and cupped her cheek.

Suddenly, he drew back with a cry, grabbing his hand, and he snarled at her. "Bitch!"

"Of course, KimVay. My mother didn't raise a fool. Don't you just find it a riot that I'm here, KimVay?"

"I am your father. Treat me with respect, bitch."

Aryun started to laugh hysterically. "You? Father? Oh come on, KimVay! Do you take me for an utter fool? Where were you when Faxon rapped me? Where were you when Kistal threw me out, battered, bleeding, and bruised? Where were you, you fucking bastard? Laughing at me! That's what you were doing. Sitting back on your high and mighty throne mocking me, laughing at me, and at what a fucking pathetic fool I was! You never even cared about me before I became an asset! So what the hell gives you the right to make me call you a father? Tell me that, KimVay. Why the hell should I call you my father?" Her sword was out, pointed at his throat. "Give me one good reason or else, I'll make your life hell. I'll make you feel pain since you can't quite die. True pain, KimVay, not some petty pain that I just gave you."

KimVay stared at her; his hand clutched to his chest, and started to laugh.

Swifter than anyone could have thought, Aryun had grabbed his throat, slamming him against the nearest wall. The long sword was pressed thoroughly against his neck, drawing slight rivulets of bright red blood that soaked into the iridescent red-gold robe.

The smirk refused to come off his face. "It seems the whore is actually a viper." He giggled slightly before he raised his hand, placing the fingers against the part in her shirt. "Remember, daughter, I could kill you quite easily."

Aryun smiled a mocking smile at him. "And what would prevent my body from being reborn, KimVay? It seems you've forgotten that I have some of your abilities." She snarled, "Abilities that I did not want! This curse that I have by the fact that you gave it to me!"
The blade bit deeper into his neck and suddenly the smirk was gone.

"Where were you when they killed my mother, KimVay? Sitting on your throne, laughing it up because you had escaped unscathed and created utter chaos where you went. You deserve to be Voaton's lapdog, bastard. No, wait, even that's not good enough. You are not even good enough to clean Faxon's boots. You sat here, laughing at me, laughing when they killed my mother. You deserve as much hell as I can give you, KimVay."

She sneered at him, "Yes, I'd have to say you're quite a father. You were never there when your daughter needed you. It wasn't you that carried me away, helped to clean my wounds. No. Not you. You've always wondered why I'm so devoutly loyal to Tyral, well, truth be told, he's watched over me ever since I was born, knowing that you'd never lift a hand, KimVay. He knew that you would never take responsibility for the life that you ruined."

Her eyes were hard chips of frozen ice. "He saved me where you have not. He is more of a father to me than you could ever be, KimVay. With all these facts against you, can you answer my question? Can you name one instance you have ever been a father to me?"

KimVay just watched her, nothing moving within the golden depths that were his eyes. Something flickered there for a second, but no longer. "No. I cannot."

Aryun heaved with her arm, sending him flying to the floor. "Leave me be, KimVay. You have no place in my life, nor did you ever. You are just the other half that created me. I have suffered in your name, but then, you know that. You saw and did not help ease my torment. Leave me be, or else you will suffer as I have suffered."

The sword point did not waver as it was pointed at his throat.

He rose slowly, and then turned his back. "You should thank me for making you what you are. I made you hate me, gave you that fire in apology for never being there. I thought it better that I should never interfere with you life, as was your mother's wish."

Aryun growled, spitting at him, "Father of Lies! My mother wanted you there. She often told me how you had left before I was born, not even bothering to look back. You may be a god of truth, KimVay, but you have learned to twist the truth so that what you say is a lie, not the truth."

He turned around and they locked eyes for what seemed like forever until another man arrived, breaking the spell.

"Brother dearest, why are you torturing your daughter? I mean, I know you get a kick from it, but there comes a time when you must protect your child and not hurt her."

Aryun snarled. "He is not my father!"

The young youthful man held up slender hands. "Alright, Aryun. He's not your father."

The statement had the desired affect of relaxing her slightly.

The newcomer's eyes were the color of spring, silver and green, and his pale brown hair hung down to his knees. It was braided into several delicate braids that framed his face and were secured with little beads of crystal.

He had a jovial face, although he wasn't smiling at the moment. His lips were slender, but not thin like KimVay's, and his nose was slender and fit his face just perfectly. His eyes were large and round. Delicate shades of green and gold clothed him, and fitted to his extremely slender body.

There seemed a trace of KimVay within this young man's face, almost a family resemblance.

The group watched both warily, and he waved his hand at them, wagging his fingers. "Ignore my brother and niece for the moment. That is their fight and no one should interfere." He swept a bow, smiling at everyone. "I am the Lord Elysian, Guardian of children."

Erdric watched the newcomer with open eyes, and finally he returned the bow as gracefully as he could with his spinning balance. He pulled it off graceful enough, and replied in a succinct manner. "Lord Erdric Cathaoir Media Hieme, the Regent of Zenthia."

"Ah! I thought you seemed familiar. You are the son of Lucreana, no?"

Erdric shifted, a little discomforted. "Yes, I am."

"Good! My brother Tyral would love to meet you!"

"He is not our brother, Elysian!" KimVay snarled, directing his anger at his brother.

Elysian shrugged gracefully. "Who cares besides you? You still have a ruling seat and did not Grandfather give us the child to raise as our brother? To me, he will always be my little brother, KimVay, and nothing will change that." He held up a graceful hand, palm out towards KimVay. "You only have that position because I abdicated. No other. I am your elder, and either you respect me, or I will have the dungeon prepared for you and allow Aryun her right to make you suffer."

"She has no rights!"

Elysian rolled his eyes, glaring at KimVay. "She is the offspring of a god and a mortal. She does not fit under the rule of man, or under our rule. You'd better get that through your head dear brother." Elysian turned his hand, snapped his finger, and KimVay disappeared. "I apologize, my dear Lady Aryun. It was not Tyral's intention that you meet your sire so soon. I am sure Tyral will have words with his brother after he meets with his daughter." Elysian smiled. "I was sent to fetch you. He's most anxious to see how much you've grown, Lady Aryun. He dotes on you too much." He laughed, folding his hands into the sleeves of his robes. "But first, I would like to be introduced to the rest of your entourage."

"Alena, Princess of Stantos," she stated as she bowed to Elysian. "And this is the Priest Xristis and the Magician Brey. Both are from my country."

"Ah good! I've seen much of you, young lady, and I am pleased to see you fight so well. And you, Priest Xristis, I have a feeling you are not for the priesthood much longer."

Xristis flushed. "Why is it everyone refuses to believe I can stay a priest?"

Elysian laughed. "It's not the choice of refusing to believe, it's the fact that there are smaller foot falls in your future." He smiled and turned to Brey. "Were you upset by the portal, Magician?"

Brey bowed, his snowy beard touching the floor. "No, Lord. Erdric however, was quite affected. I am a minor mage, and just focus on ice magic."

"Ah! A man from my own heart! Ice is such a lovely natural phenomenon, is it not?"

"Indeed, Lord."

"And the two beautiful women who so resemble one another?"

Nara bowed. "Nara a fortune teller from Saltatus."

Mara bowed right after her sister. "Mara, dancer from Saltatus."

"Sisters! Twins perhaps?"

Nara and Mara chuckled. "No sir," Mara smiled, "Nara is the elder by a year."

"Oh, that's too bad. You would make wonderful twins, but then one would have to loose their beautiful hair color."

Mara flushed, and Nara smiled.

Elysian walked over to Erdric and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Is what the Magician Brey said correct? Are you a Magus?"

Erdric's eyes were closed and he shook his head. "I just know a lot of magic, Lord. I believe I am no Magus as you say."

"Well, you must be if the portal upset you so badly." His hand reached out and lightly touched Erdric's forehead. "We will take care of it, Lord Erdric, maybe a charm perhaps. I've the feeling that you'll be going through those portals a lot."

Erdric sighed, opening his sea-green eyes. "Great. That'll be just great."

Elysian took his hand away and laughed. "Sarcasm does not become you, Lord."

Aryun finally sheathed her sword having calmed down enough to breathe correctly. She walked over to Elysian and tilted her head. "Thank you, Uncle Elysian."

He smiled at her, waving his hands in front of himself. "Don't thank me. You can thank me when Tyral hears of it and punishes him. Anyway, we must be going, darling Aryun. Tyral awaits."