Life of a Phoenix - Chapter 18 - Revelations

Aryun's sword hummed in her hand as she advanced upon her father. Gods! That word seemed such a lark to her anymore. What actually was a father? Someone who defended, cared and loved his offspring, or so she believed.

KimVay gave her nothing by pain for many years.

Now, she licked her lips in anticipation thinking of the imamate fight. Now he'll pay and no one is here to stop me.

KimVay for his part had risen, using the wall as a brace for his spinning head. Quickly, he held his hand forward and a golden sword materialized in the slender hand. The golden hilt was freezing within his grasp, and he wondered how long had it been since he actually fought.

Years, he thought dryly as he stepped slightly away from the wall, edging around so that he was evenly faced with her, the wall at his side. He held the golden sword at ready; unsure of her since the last time they met like this.

"En garde!" he yelled before swinging his sword, which was quickly deflected by Soul Stealer, and suddenly he was put on the defense as Aryun's calculated swings backed him up quite forcibly. His swings were quite skilled, but nothing matched the naked skill that his daughter was showing now.

For the first time in many long years, Aryun allowed her anger free reign as she swung her sword. All the years of torment, of abandonment by him, of his callous treatment, treating her like some badly behaved puppy. She would not take it any more and the more she hurt him, the better.

Her anger and betrayal sang like a pure song to her blood as she dimly heard the sound of steel singing upon steel. She swung again and the force of the blow left KimVay's arm stunned. Aryun pulled back slightly, allowing him a brief moment to switch arms, then crash into him again.

KimVay struggled to hold his ground, and he was at a distinct disadvantage using his left hand. He was surprised that Aryun allowed him a brief moment of respite to switch hands. He shook his head, hard as he kept pace with her barely. Of course she would allow that. She did have honor.

He grimaced at himself, at his inadequacy. Kieran had made him promise to tend to her, but he blew it off, thinking that she would never fall. She was Kieran's daughter after all. What he failed to realize was that she was his as well.

He allowed her to become the Sh'ith'an, the Dark One born of Blood. He swallowed his thoughts as Aryun made him back peddle yet again. Her blows were numbing his arm and he struggled to meet her swings, knowing that each one was meant to kill.

Because he had failed . . .

Aryun's anger filled her mind, her heart, and ate at her soul as she swung a powerful blow meant to cleave his arm from his torso. Tears filled her eyes as she recalled her tormented childhood. She had beatings daily, and was not even allowed to visit her mother. Not allowed to think for herself, not allowed to speak, nor do anything that displeased her father. She was so happy that he wasn't her true kin. How could anyone that horrid have children?

The shock of her life, though, was finding out, in one blow, that her father was indeed a god, and that he wanted nothing to do with her. Her sword swings became harder, more complicated and faster as her thoughts dwelt upon the pain and agony this man had caused her.

She didn't care that he was her father. She had tried everything to come to terms with her, but he refused every time. She tried to make him proud, make him love her, but she could not, and she just gave up trying after a long while.

She had tried, that was enough for her. If he didn't want the relationship, that was fine with her too, but he would not, would not, hurt her like that again.

The steel was still ringing loudly, and neither bothered to see that Erdric and Thanatos had fought each other to a stand still, dripping blood all over the marble.

Thanatos held his hand out to Erdric who took it without qualm, and pulled him into a tight embrace. He pulled back, ignoring the wild ring of steel as he tilted Erdric's face forward.

"You fight well, Magus, and I am pleased." He inclined his head in a bow.

Erdric's eyes slid over to Aryun and KimVay's ruthless sword fight, and then back to Thanatos. "Help or not?"

"It is her fight, young Magus. You must accept that. KimVay has done her wrong, and so in this he might realize where he failed, the promise he broke, and the life he ruined." Thanatos kept one hand around Erdric's shoulders, knowing that fatigue raged within his veins.

Nara and Mara walked quickly over to Erdric, placing their hands upon his back and arms as he kept trying to see Aryun's sword fight. Xristis checked them both over, healing the more serious of damage. Not all of it, they would have to see the healer here, but he healed enough so that he knew neither would pass out from blood loss.

"Well, you both need new sets of clothes, and he," he motioned to Thanatos, "Needs to get that armor reworked."

Erdric nodded absently, still mesmerized by the flow of Aryun's body. He didn't care that he was bleeding upon the floor, that his face was cut to near ribbons, nor the fact that his outer robe and shirt were just tatters upon the floor.

He and Thanatos had settled the agreement quite amicably, and for that he was happy. Sure, they nearly killed one another, but that wasn't the point. The point was that it had settled his mind that wherever Celia was, she was safe being held within Thanatos' kingdom.

He shook his head lightly. The first time he had seen the Lord of Death, was the night that she was taken from him, when the whole village was destroyed . . .

Erdric shook his head very hard, wishing not to think of such things, and blinked as he focused his eyes upon the vicious sword mêlée still being fought.

Aryun allowed her self to let go of everything as she fought, slipping unconsciously into a fascinata state. Through all her anger, she finally found her inner peace and whipped around, catching KimVay off guard and slit his arm in a long, bloody gash.

KimVay hissed in pain as his arm was cut useless as he quickly grabbed his sword and transferred it back to his right hand. Pain lanced up his arm and he realized the sword was runic. Cussing, he attacked for all he was worth, knowing now that once her sword had tasted blood, it would keep drawing out his life through the fight.

He had two choices. Give up easily, or loose and likely die. He'd rather fight to the end on his two feet than to admit defeat, even if he knew he was wrong.

KimVay grit his teeth and stuck back with all his strength, making Aryun loose her concentration and back peddle. He shoved her back and they both stood still, breathing erratic as they gauged one another.

Without warning, Aryun jumped and landed perfectly in front of her father, her red-gold hair rippling in her made wind, and quickly struck out, catching him in the side and as she turned the blade, across his face as well.

With a soft whimper, KimVay crumpled to the ground, one hand holding his left cheek tightly, the other had already dropped the sword. His voice was soft, broken even as he looked at his bloodstained hands. "Eiko, Aryun. Eiko. You've won."

Aryun held her sword at his neck. He didn't move, but how the hell did she know if he was bluffing. The KimVay she knew never yielded, never gave up.

"What are you playing at, KimVay?" She snarled. "You never yield."

"I know I am wrong, Aryun. Do not make this harder than what it is."

"Really? Why didn't you take my head off? Why didn't you just use your magic? Why did you allow me to best you?" She was seething, nearly foaming.

"I said that I was wrong. You are honorable, I can be no less than follow the code set out for me." His anger grew. "And I did not allow you to best me. You did that yourself, Aryun. As for not taking your head off, I didn't have that opening. At least, I am not good enough to do that. You think too highly of me, or just enough respect of my abilities that I could pull off a stunt like that." His irritation grew. "Why, of all times, are you quizzing me now? You had many chances in the past. I have offered what help I could without messing up the flocci."

The sword trembled slightly. "What the hell are you saying?" Her voice had a quaver to it as she stared at the wounded man who was her father.

"Goddamnit! I tried, Aryun! I tried to help you! I did everything I could, which admittedly wasn't enough. I ended up breaking the promise that your mother made me make to her!" He was trembling, his golden eyes closed tightly. "Every time I see you, I see my failure in keeping you safe, and keeping her alive, and my failure that you fell from the right path." His trembling grew worse as the blood slowly flowed from his wounded face. "Leave me, and never look back, Aryun. I have brought you nothing but pain and torment. It is right that you hate me, that you find a way to kill me. I will be more than happy to die by your hand." The trembling increased, and a glint of silver tears could be seen falling from his whole cheek. "I feel like hell," he stated in a defeated voice, "and I would appreciate it if you would allow me to go and lick the wounds in peace."

Aryun's eyes were wide as she stared at KimVay. Her sword trembled and clattered to the ground. "How?" Her voice was choked. "How did you try to help?"

"How little you understand me, and how easily you misinterpret my actions. Some things, though, are not easily forgiven by anyone." KimVay turned his face away. "I am the one who told Nicodemus. I had given you that fever when Kistal sold you to that brothel, knowing that they'd never use someone who had one. I led you to Soul Stealer, but I never showed myself. How could I, knowing that you blamed me for everything wrong that happened in your life, tell you I did care? That I sent you help? I know I was the cause of the abuse, but I never knew until it was far too late what was going on inside Kistal's head. You do not care, and let us end it that way. The more you hate me, the easier it is for you to live. Your hatred is still your shield, Aryun, and your hate of me is strong. I am glad that you survived, even if it was upon hate."

He rose, his body trembling violently as he pushed himself to his feel with one hand. He stumbled, his wounded shoulder colliding with a wall as he walked slowly away.

Aryun stared after him, her body held immobile in utter shock.