HEPHAESTUS

Hephaestus walked far from the rest now taking the jar.

They found a stream of water nearby. Letting the jar to the ground, they rested their hands in the cold water. Or at least whatever it was supposed to be.

It hurts. They screamed inside their head, feeling their burn marks itching as if iron needles were piercing their skin.

Why did you bring me with you? Leviathan spoke.

Hephaestus did not answer as they moved far in front of the water and returned their fingers to their metallic leg.

They kept studying the ashes as if it were a sort of experiment, a machine. Is this what he wanted from the beginning? Warlocks that could not die? Is this how they would end up? A pile of bones, still alive, unable to move, to eat, to live.

No, it would have been something completely different. Why in such a thirst, such power to return them if it was already working?

Leviathan said that it was complete. If they already were a success, that meant all five of them had to die. But are they still alive? Was what they drank a different project? Or an evolution of it?

Are you that merciful? Do you refuse to kill me?

‘’Did you know that you might end like this?’’Hephaestus replied with a question.

‘’All dust and nobody.’’

That is the way of the world, birdy. I would end up in a pile of dust, one way or another.

‘’What did he do to you?’’ Hephaestus asked.

Just some shots, a few drugs, and then, testing me how far my healing and strength would go.

Hephaestus wondered if this was what Ma’at planned for Prometheus. A phoenix holder that could not die

‘’And? Are you happy with how you ended up?’’

‘’It’s no need, birdy, when the jar breaks, I will return back to my normal beautiful self.’’

I wouldn't call a snake beautiful. Their blue eyes opened wide. ‘’But Ma’at is using you like…’’

Let me tell you something brat. When he found me I was at rock bottom. Ready to die either from hunger or by the flames. When he offered me everything that I wished for was the first time I knew I needed to follow him.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

‘’He is hurting you, he has now left you to ashes.’’

‘’And when I return to him, I will have your head and your power in my hands.’’They laughed.

‘’What if he doesn’t want you back?’’ They asked.’’What if he kills you when-’’

It doesn’t matter to me. I would be grateful to die by his hands rather than see you breathing one more second.

Hephaestus stood up and tied their hair even tighter with their dirty ribbon.

‘’How can you think like that?’’

At that moment, Hephaestus wished that ashes could burn again and again. They hated them. They hated what royalty did to a person. How easily their pride and their thinking could just vanish and be conquered by someone else’s ideas.

You made it sound bad but you are also loyal to something.

‘’My morals are completely different.’’

Perhaps. And here you are, burned skin, no leg, and a power that makes you a perfect target.

Hephaestus lifted their hands. ‘’I made a choice.’’

Yes, you picked your mind’s side. And once again, how did things end up for you?

‘’Shut-’’

And if you think my loyalty to him is sick, what do you think about your healer’s trust?

Hephaestus inhaled sharply and stretched their wrists.

Do you know how many people he killed for him? How many lives he had ruined?

Hephaestus took a step away, thinking of something else to say.

‘’It doesn’t matter to me.’’

Yes but what if those lives were someone he cared about? Did you ever think that he might kill you?

Hephaestus took one more deep breath and exhaled tired.

‘’Once again, I know that he will.’’

And it doesn’t hurt you?

‘’Why should it?’’

For sixty seconds, Leviathan remained silent.

So Hephaestus decided to continue thinking. They hated the one who tortured them, who would kill them even now to return to the one who was behind every pain they had suffered.

But you killed him. You have his power.

And the one that had decided to work with can kill them with a simple order from his superior.

Hypocrite.

If you free me, I might spare you. Ma’at doesn’t care for the rest so I can kill him before he kills you.

Heat arose from their own veins.

The jar began shaking like there was an earthquake.

‘’It doesn’t matter’’ They rasped. Hephaestus hopped. Maybe none will get hurt. Maybe none will get betrayed.

The jar now stopped shaking as the heat had now vanished.

Leviathan hummed.

We will see.

Hephaestus stretched their wrists and looked above the sky.

He still needs a Phoenix holder.

Hephaestus turned to the jar once more. They just waited for another sentence. A phrase, a fact, Spirits something.

But they didn’t speak letting them in complete torture.

If they were getting caught, they would be the ones remaining alive. Is this why Leviathan was trying to kill them? To survive? Or just to seem worthy? Maybe both.

Facing once more the stream, they had made a simple decision. To not let the phoenix end up in anyone’s hands. No matter how the pain will continue, they will keep it till they die on their own.

‘’He does, but does he still need you?’’ Hephaestus asked them. And Leviathan did not speak again.