HEPHAESTUS
They didn't succeed in seeing the thief's face. Other three bullets found their back. People walked away, someone pushed them to the dark rooms of Aztlan.
Eyes blurry with tears shedding down to their warm skin. But Hephaestus could see a pair of eyes, familiar to them that they were searching for them. Risking his life for them by entering the massacre. The young gunsmith did not have the bravery of a soldier to go find him.
They were right behind the temple. Their eyes saw a door that was slightly opened. Hephaestus took a deep breath and placed their hand upon their wound. They could feel the blood flooding upon their clothes, making them painted dark red. They could feel the heavy liquid caressing the skin.
Their head became lighter and cold sweat moved right up their dirty brow.
A loud sound of footsteps was coming to their side. They did not have the strength to run again. But they had to hide inside the temple.
When they entered the dark room they shrunk their body lower, leaning their back against the iron seats, hoping that none would find them.
They had entered only two times inside a temple with Venus by their side. The air was completely different from the outside and almost painful to breathe it.
The priest dove his hands inside the water and when he moved them out he showed them to be pouring water from a big and long grog into his hands and throwing it to the crowd. Hephaestus felt their skin burning when a simple drop had fallen upon their hand. Even the water was filled with iron. In the end, they lean their head to Venus's shoulder to cover their wound.
''You wanted to talk to me?'' A ruthless and prideful voice shouted near them. The voice belonged to the Great Ruler. They tilted their head to the left to see who she was talking to, hoping that she would not find them hiding.
The screams and shouting started fading from outside.
''Enforcers finally arrived'' She spoke with pride. Hephaestus could even feel that she was smiling with joy.
''You know what we want'' Another voice spoke. Hephaestus could now see that the other person was wearing a white mask and a dark cloak. The candlelight and moonlight made a part of their cloak reflect a glimpse of light. Hephaestus noticed the silver badge that was pinched on the cloak, near their heart but they could not see exactly what it was representing.
''If you seek revenge for your...'' She made a long pause, even letting out a short laugh. ''Friend'' She talked with bitter poison tingling her tongue, showing her disgust.
Another one spoke. His voice was calm and brooding. But Hephaestus could hear his anger raging moment by moment.
''You know what we want'' He finally spoke.
The masked person lifted their hand and moved closer to the great Ruler calmly.
''We do not want trouble '' They explained. ''We just need everything to be over ''
The Great Ruler laughed loudly as she heard an amazing joke. Sirens started screaming from outside.
The loud sound of synced gunshots appeared in their ears as the fast screams. Complete silence came after, making Hephaestus whimper from the fear.
This could have been me. A far and dark thought appeared inside their head.
''Who is there?'' The great Ruler asked. Hephaestus covered their mouth with their dirty hands and tried to restrain their breath.
One two three, One two three. Hephaestus thought and tried to keep their breath steady.
''I can agree with you. I also do not want trouble'' She spoke calmly, ignoring the previous interruption. ''But unlike you, I do not ruin innocent lives''
The man next to the masked person tried to take a step in front. They stopped him within a calm halt of their pale gloved hand.
The Ruler’s attention fell on the person with the white mask, making her lips twitch. '' Your ..unit'' She made another long pause. ‘’The first ones to die, correct?''
They did not reply.
‘’Tiring isn’t it? ‘’She tilted her head to the right.’’How many warlocks did you lose tonight?’’
She waited for something to snap from the person but there was nothing to be said. The Ruler exhaled with disappointment.
''If you do not want all of this'' She looked around with her head, showing them the color red, painting among the windows.
''Stop this madness'' Her voice slightly broke, just for a moment. ''Give me back what belongs to me and I will make sure that everything will be just a silly misunderstanding''
The man let out a long sigh and the masked person took another step closer.
''We have nothing that belongs to you'' They said.
After that, Complete silence. Hephaestus could only listen to their fast heartbeat and their heavy breathing. They could feel the tension in their fingertips.
What was that? They asked themselves, hoping that their mind could have an answer. Nothing. They could not believe what they just witnessed.
The wound became worse and worse. They could not concentrate. They didn't even hear the soldier appearing and grabbing them from behind. They tried to scream but they were too weak. They just punched him and pushed him away. They stood up again, listening to cogs fall out again. In the end, they were close to the auditorium, next to the big grog.
Their darted eyes fell on the soldier who was close to them. His gloved hands wrapped their thin neck and pushed their upper body closer to the grog so their face could fall and melt. Hephaestus scratched his face with their bitten nails so he could let his hands go from their body. Nothing.
''Have a nice slumber monster'' He growled. Hephaestus let their hands fall, resting their body, and waiting for them to fall.
The air became cold as a dark figure pushed the soldier away from them, making Hephaestus fall to the floor.
Since they were young, Hephaestus knew that there were the hunters and the hunted. That was their way of the world they were living in. Eat or get eaten. Kill or die.
One two three. The night was stormy and quiet as usual, for a winter. Everyone was inside their houses relaxing in the warmth. Well. Almost everyone.
Venus was holding Hephaestus's hand while pieces from their broken toy were falling to the ground. They broke it again. They were always ruining it and trying to repair it but they never managed to succeed.
Their cane was helping them to follow Venus's fast steps. The rain shower flowed to their dirty faces while the mud soaked their feet, dragging them deep inside into the dirt. Both of the kids couldn't catch a breath.
Someone was coming for both of them. Hephaestus's body leaned towards the wall and let go of his hand. Venus stopped and looked at them, breathing heavily. He wrapped his arms around their thin and frail body and looked at their blue-darted eyes. ''I am sorry'' They both said at the same time.
''It was my idea to steal from her'' Venus said.
''No, it is my fault, I made a noise, and now'' Hephaestus stopped talking and looked right behind them as the trembling lantern was still on and the light was falling to the wet ground. They could see a dark figure walking closer to them. Both of them made eye contact and started running again.
They were now both on the dead end of a dark alley. Hephaestus stared at their toy. Their cogs were missing. They could feel the cold steel around their fingertips while the drops of the rain were making a small sound, every time they hit the toy.
Venus grabbed their thin wrist even tighter as he was looking with a shaking face, at the woman that was approaching both of them. Hephaestus could feel Venus's pulse racing. They wanted to help him but their fear was stronger.
''Hello,'' The old woman rasped as she emerged from the darkness. They could see her tooth gaps while dark red blood was all around her face. She moved around her wrinkly fingers and without even knowing Venus walked closer to her. She was a warlock.
She touched his dark face and smiled with satisfaction.
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''So beautiful''
''So young''
She licked her lips with her rotten tongue. Venus stared at Hephaestus who was frozen from fear. They just looked straight into the yellow eyes that belonged to the woman.
''We don't have money'' Venus admitted with a whimpering voice and ignored with terror her hideous face. She let out a hideous giggle.
''I don't care about money '' She grabbed his face even closer to her and he could now smell her disgusting breath. ''I need ...'' An iron bullet crossed her stomach. Spots of blood fell to Venus's face that were coming from the woman's mouth.
''Are you alright?'' Heavy footsteps from iron boots approached the kids. Venus took a deep breath and walked back to Hephaestus. They were still frozen from fear. He hugged them tightly, trying to calm them down.
''Everything will be alright. She is...'' He turned back and saw her hands moving but the ones who had iron boots dragged her away. Venus took a better look at them. He saw them wearing light blue coats and had an iron badge next to the heart. An iron rooster. Their left shoulder was painted with green and red colors while the mark of a vulture was knotted with white and golden threads.
*******
''No parents?'' One of the soldiers asked the two kids while the others were dragging the warlock inside the cage that was behind the car. Venus looked at the soldiers with admiration and said yes. The soldier groaned and tried to investigate Venus. He was at the age that most kids could go to the army. It was a good opportunity for him because he didn't have parents, which meant he didn't have to go to the orphanage. But then, they looked at Hephaestus who was staring with an empty gaze at the ground. They were frail and scared; they didn't even have to think about their left leg which was missing till their knee. But, the soldier also saw that both of the kids were holding hands together.
The soldier took a deep breath and forced their eyebrows together. ''I have an offer to make you'' They kneeled and smiled. They pointed with their second finger at Venus. The young boy smiled. Then pointed at Hephaestus who tried to look the other way. ''If you wanna be with them you have to become a soldier'' They looked behind the car and back at Venus with nervous smiles. ''You will probably hate..''
Venus nodded a no and agreed with him. The soldier looked at Hephaestus. ''And I can find you a job..'' They didn't react. They just stretched their wrists. ''Yes,'' They finally said with a calm, whimpering voice.
Their toy was now just pieces of broken metal. The screams and praying from inside the cages filled their ears. Some of them were even children. Hephaestus could hear it. A hand tried to escape from the cage while it was reaching for the dark sky. Their big blue eyes were darting from the hate and fear.
The soldier tried to touch them. To comfort them with their hand which was covered with a dark glove that was filled with iron dust. Hephaestus took a step back and fell. Venus let go of their hand and turned back to get them up from the mud. They took a good look at him. Their head was spinning around. ''Are you alright?'' He asked worried like the first time they met. Hephaestus nodded a slow yes while the young boy made them stand up, like the first time they met but this time there was no fire.
The kid just lifted their head above and even in the darkness, they could see the giant wall that was far away from them, protecting them.
*******
''Good evening dear'' Said the soldier with a brooding tone as he was holding Hephaestus up by the collar, showing them like a wet cat.
Hephaestus was startled, seeing the tallest woman in the world, standing in front of them with a white crop top to show her scars, a thick cigarette on her red mouth, and her hair pushed back.
Her sharp eyes looked at the soldier and then at Hephaestus. Based on the clock behind her it was past midnight and the smell of copper and iron filled Hephaestus' nose There was one fire coming near a candle, brightening the entire workshop. They looked back at the woman whose brow grew thicker.
''Hi''They managed to say with a nervous grin.
''What's this?'' She spat. ''Your heart grows bigger each day?''
Looking at the soldier he seemed that his brow was thicker too.
''This one needs work.''He explained.
The woman scanned Hephaestus from head to toe and her eyes stayed longer on their missing limp.
''Clearly.''She narrowed, making Hephaestus feel a sort of burn in their heart.
''They have to work.''The soldier stated.
The woman waved her hand.''I have plenty of hands.''
''But not enough work.''The man said and that seemed to make the woman more interested.
''What are you suggesting?''She asked.
''I might talk to some hire ups''The soldier answered.''You might gain roads for the army''His grin grew.
The woman turned on Hephaestus and got on her knees, taking the cigarette out of her mouth, and blowing the smoke on their face.
They began choking feeling the need to cry after dark smoke hitting their lashes.
''And this is the ticket?''She laughed harshly, looking at them as if they were a walking joke.''They won't last a day of working.''
Working? As a mechanic? Their eyes lit up.
''Please''They begged with a wide smile.''Please miss let me work.''
The woman blinked with a shocked expression and turned on their ink finger, touching their wrists tight. Five seconds later, she let them down and faced their shaking eyes.
''It will be harsh kid, this is now your choice are you sure?''
Hephaestus looked at her, then at the soldier, and right behind them where other soldiers were talking to Venus about how their life was. They had never seen him being so happy. Another tun on inside the workshop and the smell of craftsmanship.
''Yes.''
****
Hephaestus.
Their eyes opened wide only to see someone fighting the soldier.
''You little'' The soldier growled and then a masked person took his cloak out, showing his slim and shredded body. Hephaestus saw that on his left wrist, there was a praying bracelet with dark braids, covering a silver mark around his hand. A marked rose.
A priest? What is he doing here? They tried to think but they just let out a rough cough.
His clothes were completely different from the ones Hephaestus used to see. His dark blue pants were tight at the beginning and then wide at the end of their feet but the sleeves were tight again. His dark shirt with a turtleneck had no sleeves as colorful fabrics in the shades of green and blue were wrapped around his torso.
Two guns, with a silver chain, wrapped to each end of the grip. Chain long enough, falling to his knees.
''What is this shit?'' The soldier licked his lips mockingly and shot one more time.
The priest's gun let out a bullet too. Hephaestus noticed that it was slower than the soldier's. If this was a duel, he would die.
The bullet caused the man's left arm to bleed. He restrained his scream easily and went for the priest's head.
Hephaestus saw him being fast. Fast enough he flew up his pistols, pushing them in front of the soldier's face, right to his throat. The chain found his skin and the priest jumped right behind the soldier, pulling the grips of the pistols. The soldier fell to his knees, choking, trying to find air to breathe. Each one of his steps was perfection. Fast but not rational. Calm and almost silent for anyone to think that they were getting attacked from the shadows. Even the movements of his arms were perfect.
Hephaestus almost felt jealous of this perfect mysterious person.
The soldier gagged. Their body shook, his hand looking up to the ceiling.
The masked priest let out a laugh, burned and restrained as his hands moved closer to his shoulders, pressuring the chain at his throat.
‘'Only I have the power to save you''He whispered to his ear and took the soldier's pistol from his hand.
''If you love your pathetic little life..''He grabbed the chain with one grip and his free hand pushed the head to the ground, for the soldier to kiss it.
''Beg''His voice was rough, sharp like a knife, and thick like mist.
Hephaestus realized that they had heard this voice once. In the workshop.
''You ''Hephaestus whispered.
In the end, the soldier pleaded. Pleaded with tears in his eyes, whimpers broken as if he was a little child. ‘’Spare me, please, I want to live.’’
The priest hummed satisfied but he did not let the chains go. On the contrary, the grip seemed to be turned tighter and the scream louder.
''What are you doing?''Hephaestus panted.
The masked priest lifted his face up, staring at the young mechanic. And the tightening stopped/ But he did not let the soldier free.
He looked at the tears of the soldier. And then back at the priest. They waited four seconds before they made a decision. They did not want to look like a monster to the soldiers but not as naive as they actually were to the priest.
''Let him''Hephaestus coughed four seconds after the soldier passed out to the floor, with the water from the artifact falling to his body like rain.
The priest placed the pistols back in their place with the chain falling behind him as his voice let out a prayer. His soft steps approached the gunsmith. Hephaestus's mind had the time to wander around his presence. He then stopped.
They crawled back, trying to run away again. Sweat fell from their jaw to their vest.
The priest touched the grip of his left pistol, moving it to Hephaestus’’ side right at the top of their forehead. He did not pull the trigger, he did not move or speak. He just watched. Watched Hephaestus painting, gasping for air, fighting to stay alive.
''You can't kill me'' Hephaestus screamed with their eyes back to the soldier.
One, two, three.
The priest moved the pistol back to its seat. His hand slipped to the mask, letting it down, and exposing his face. Hephaestus tried to find a breath.No, they tried to remember how to breathe.
Prometheus had told them once about Lord Death. That he was not a fighting beast or a monster, but rather a beautiful creature that would guide you to a world of peace. That’s how they felt when they saw the priest revealing himself to them.
He was probably a year older than them. Certainly two heads taller than them too. Broad shoulders, dark thick curly hair till his nape. Sharp cheekbones, perfectly clear dark complexion like glass.
The moonlight found the priest's face, making it bright. Two golden suns, dazzling with insanity, and darkness. An eclipse. Even if there was blood around his clothes and dark complexion, even if he just killed a soldier... he was the most handsome person he had ever seen.
Even more handsome than Venus
As if the best sculpture of Akhet had made him out of soft silver and gold.
''Shh,'' The priest hushed and went down on his knees. They were too weak to crawl again as the pain was now in their back. They forgot that they had a bullet there.
''What are you?'' They asked.
He placed his hand upon their wound, Hephaestus tried to slap him but he caught their hand fast, looking at them with a cold stiff gaze.
‘’Will you kill me?’’ They rasped after that, looking back to the soldier’s body.
‘’It is not my choice’’ He explained rationally.
Hephaestus tried to speak but no words went out of their mouth. They tried to push him away but nothing changed.
‘’Stop struggling’’ He almost hissed. He was real at least. Not a machine.
He will kill me.
A black crystal emerged from his pocket and he moved it closer to them. They touched the crystal with him, feeling his warm fingers around the cold stone.
''This ..might hurt'' He said.
Hephaestus blinked fast''Wait..what are you doi...''
After that, they felt a wave of strong pain hitting their body. They could feel that someone was trying to burn them with fire. They tried to scream but then the pain stopped as soon as their eyes could focus on the pitch dark sky. The air was thin and cold, making their lungs and throat burn from pain. They lowered their head only to see complete darkness awaiting them down below.
Looking back they saw the strange man holding their arms and waist while right behind them there was a giant forest and a dark veil.
''We are..the wall'' They said heavily after they realized and tried to slap Mordred. This time they succeeded and he let out a whine.
''Stop struggling''
''You will kill me'' They yelled.
''You'' He stopped talking and grabbed both of their wrists tight. Now both of them were facing each other, breathing shakily. Hephaestus just kept looking right into his eyes.
''Will kill us both if you keep moving''
Taking a step back, Hephaestus felt their prosthetic leg finally break as they shook their head. Their balance was lost. There was no way out. They were sinking. Their last memory would be the masked person’s presence.
END OF PART ONE