HEPHAESTUS

Every part of their arms was burning but Hephaestus could not feel the pain. They could see all the red marks and wounds that were trying to heal. With Mordred’s help, it would be back to normal. So they jumped fast to the seat and grabbed the communicator device. Their eyes found a red button that was letting up and off. When they pressed it, they spoke right at the device.

‘’It’s me’’ Hephaestus said.’’It’s Hephaestus’’They corrected themselves with a stutter.

A loud laugh screeched from the megaphone inside the room.

YOU ARE ALIVE AFTER ALL

Hephaestus lowered their head and tried to laugh but they looked back at Mara. Mordred tried to heal her but she could not open her eyes. They found her nails rather strange as they were long and dark like night.

‘’She is alive'' Mordred informed them. ‘’She just needs rest’’

''Is Lucifer alright?'' Hephaestus asked next.

HERE. She replied with a panic.

''Janus?'' Mordred stuttered, frightened.

''He is dead, he...'' Lucifer made a long pause. HE IS DEAD.

Hephaestus was aware of it from the beginning but they were still surprised by Mordred's expression which he was covering with his hand.

''She managed to...'' He said in disbelief and cleared his throat.

Hephaestus let out a sigh.

WE NEED TO GET AWAY. CAN YOU MAKE IT FASTER? He asked, frightened.

Hephaestus looked around at the levers. They could wait for Mara to wake up but it would be too late. And if they found the right lever then they could escape and run. And the machines could lend the destinations with soldiers and explosives ready to bring war.

Another attack and Hephaestus could feel it down to their soul. The machines were cracking, breaking. The lights had turned off and the only sign of bright existence was the fire from the sky.

Fire. Fire was bright and danger was flying right in front of them.

‘’Help me fix this’’ Hephaestus told Mordred, showing their burned hand.

He approached their side and tried to speak to them.

‘’Are you sure?'' He asked.

‘’I am no fighter. But I can do something’’ Hephaestus frowned. ‘’Will you help me?’’

His eyes lit up with the red-orange color playing around his dark brooding shades.

He let out a heavy breath and held their wounded hand, letting a wave of cold wind rush inside them.

They closed their eyes and lifted their other hand to the height of the machines. They had to accept power. The power that they stole.

They felt the warmth and heat. The rough burning waves. They heard the screams. They could see every memory they had before. The dark room, the pain they had felt when their back and leg were burning. The hatred that everyone showed to them when they found out the truth. The pain in their stomach after Venus’s attack.

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Orion and Talus were smiling before they died. Venus apologized before he died because of them.

A monster. A voice whispered to their ears.

Hephaestus took a deep breath and let it out instantly, feeling the heat inside their throat. Their stomachs are tied in a million knots.

At that moment, it didn’t matter what they were. It only mattered that they had to do something. Monster or not, they had to survive, to escape. If that meant causing the same chaos they wanted to prevent…they had to do it no matter what.

One,

They moved their fingers close to their palms as the fire tingled their fingers.

Two,

They lifted their hand slightly higher. The fire went to their face, making their eyes water from the heat. Their fingers were now almost close to the palm, ready to make a snap.

Let your anger out. Your hate. Your fear is out. And scream. Scream for what you want. A familiar rough burning voice whispered to their mind. And burn everything.

Three

They snap their fingers fast, feeling every wave of fire getting out from their body, escaping, and running away from them.

''I want to be an inventor.''Hephaestus played with their fingers as both they and Venus were watching the snowfall from the window. Six months passed after he asked them that question. A question that he had forgotten.

''What would you invent?' He asked.

''Anything''A big wide grin curved to their face and moved to his side even closer. ‘’From watches to cannons.''They lifted their chin. ''I will create whatever my mind puts on and everyone will use them''Their thumb pointed at their face, holding their smile up tight. ‘’Everyone will see how talented I am.''

A long pause, letting Venus' eyes draw around them, dark face flustered. He was stunned to speak. To say anything on that matter.

Hephaestus felt ashamed for a moment.

''It sounds amazing'' Venus answered loudly.''I mean..''He shoved his gaze down his thumbs.''Your dream sounds pleasant.''

Their eyes finally lit up, listening to their heart bumping.

''Be sure to do whatever it takes.''His head moved closer to theirs. His fingers found theirs.

''Promise me,'' he said.

Hephaestus gulped harshly and tapped their fingers on the bed.

''I promise.''

They had dreams. They had obstacles. Fears. Hatred.

Every one of them had a dream, a goal to make.

If they had to be feared by everyone so their dreams become true, then, let the horror grow.

If the world would see them as monsters then so be it.

And a dream helped them look even clearer. Of a land. Far from Akhet. far from Babel. With an endless lake to the horizon. With creatures, even their imagination couldn’t comprehend. And to this land, there was a cave. Cave under the ground, trapped in time.

And the dream stopped.

Screams of engines and humans found their ears. Their vision was blurry when they opened their eyes but they could see the vivid bright colors of red and yellow with metal falling like rain to the ground.

In their eyes, it was the most beautiful and horrifying thing they had ever seen. Time was slow for the machines that were falling with the fire of death caressing, conquering every part of them.

Even the screams were clear enough. And it was a clear melody to their ears.

‘’It worked’’ Hephaestus said breathlessly.

WHATEVER YOU DID…IT WORKED Ukko laughed with Lucifer chuckling behind him.

‘’It worked’’Hephaestus yelled and stood up from the seat, lifting their arms, laughing hysterically, making their stomach hurt.

Their eyes were still blurry when they found Mordred looking at them frightened. Sad.

They lowered their eyes, to find his hand trying to heal from the burn as their own hand was wrinkled and part of their skin had been peeled.

Their gaze returned to the glass to see their reflection.

Their hair became brighter, the shade of red and blonde, On the top of their hair it was pitch black like ashes.

‘’It…’’ Tears fell to their heated flesh.

They found their other hand in the same position as the other. Till their wrist at least, shaking and ruined, difficult to use it. Difficult to invent. Hephaestus’ mind could see the inventions they could create burning within a second.

Promise me.

I promise.

They sat on the ground, back against the wall, and eyes on the iron. Mordred sat next to them, waiting for the gunsmith to speak. Roses. They were back in the garden.

Hephaestus took a breath and forced themselves to speak.‘’Will you stay?’’ They asked him gently. Stay with me till I get sick of looking at you.

The healer’s eyes, warm and compassionate, found their cold, empty face.

‘’You will be a mess without me’’He frowned, showing a devious grin upon his tired face.