DESTRUCTIVE MYTH

Sinira caught Drathis’s eye through the storm giving him a nod, willing him to see that he could trust her. She had to be brutal to make it believable, but now out of sight, she grunted with frustration pulling Galaxy to a stop. No men had followed her, she had hoped they would as to help thin out the numbers.

“We can’t go back, not yet.” Sinira said to Galaxy feeling her unease as she stomped around. Sinira looked to the mountains for a way up, had to get back, her only option was a sneak attack. “You have to stay here, hidden, wait for him.” She said climbing off Galaxy to face her. “He needs us, you are our escape, please.” It felt foolish talking to the horse, but she had seen Drathis do it countless times and watched Galaxy understand each time. Giving her a rub on her neck Sinira left to climb the mountain.

The relentless wind howled around her, whipping her braided hair about pulling strands through that stung her cut cheek. She paused trying to catch her breath looking back down. Galaxy was no bigger than the size of her hand stomping around on the spot. Sinira needed a bit more height and grabbed again at more rock pulling herself up and to her amazement, she arrived at a small wall. She looked down at it confused, a wall? Was this maybe the ledge the riders had used to chase after them? It had been odd that they hadn’t lost their footing on horseback. Following the snow-covered half-eroded wall, as it weaved between the mountain disappearing from view, had excitement fill her at the thought of the dwarfs had built it for patrol. Sinira scanned the mountain as she crept forward looking for any signs of a building or door into the mountain, any clue to the legends being true. Placing her hand on a piece of the mountain face exposed, wondering if long ago this titan roamed their lands, she frowned as the cold grey rock started to change color, glowing red.

“Shit.” She dropped to the ground as rock and fire blasted into the mountain above her scorching the stone exploding it all around her. Curling into a fetal position she put her hands over her head as rock and snow fell burying her under it.

Shaking it off she got back up into a crouch looking out over to the scene below; Drathis and Galaleiath were at each other’s throats rolling around on the iced road with blasts of black and green magic engulfing them, she couldn’t tell who was who in all the clashing power. She looked around them to the men Galaleiath had brought with, their bows were down, but a group of men with heavy chains stood around them trying to capture Drathis every time they were ripped apart from one’s power, throwing chains into the air to catch him.

Staring transfixed, it was one thing to use her magic and appreciate it. It was another thing entirely, seeing two prime alpha elven worriers having a full-on deadly battle. Their magic blasted through the air defying the laws of nature, the wind and storm bending to their surroundings, the powers clashing with booms, shaking snow off the mountains. She tried to spot Drathis but they looked so much alike in their battle, so very much alike in power that she worried they might just be equally matched. A new set of men edged nearer every time they were knocked down by the thunderous crackling and drumming of power throwing the chains at Drathis trying to hook him, tie him down. But she watched him slip away with ease blasting his brother with green flames. Despite the deathmatch, before her Sinira couldn’t help but feel even more attracted to Drathis, seeing him in full power was sexy.

Sinira started to edge closer, waiting for the right opportunity for her surprise attack, looking back down at Galaxy who was no longer where she had left her. She turned to sneak forward when her eye caught something black spinning towards her. Sinira ducked missing what looked to be shackles clinging loudly as they missed her slamming into the mountain, thudding to the floor. She spun around pulling her bow and arrow out aiming in the general direction from which it came, unable to see anything in the relentless snowstorm.

Before she could question the oddness of the situation the shackles, to her shock, took to the sky again, clamps open charging for her wrists. She released her arrow at it with fright watching it bounce off pathetically.

“No.” Dropping her bow, fisting her hands, creating an instant thick shield of ice from the snow at her feet, the shackles bounced off the shield relentlessly cracking it. Jumping out the way she watched it slam into the rock face again fisting her free hand into more ice trying to freeze it.

Rock and fire blasted into the rock above her scorching the stone further bringing more snow down. She looked from the frozen shackles to the direction it had come from noticing now the flames were not magically colored. Then she spotted him, a few feet to her left stood one of Galaleiath’s warlocks.

The ice burst into pieces as the shackles broke free clearly still bewitched.

Before she could react one cuff clamped down over her left wrist forcing her down to the ground in surrender. She pulled back ducking as the other tried to reach her free arm, willing ice to freeze the chain between the cuffs, it did but the free cuff kept snapping open and shut trying to reach her. She looked to the warlock with a smile as he neared her, spinning his hands for a new spell when she reached for the static in the air, bringing it down hard in a purple electrical current. Lightning zapped through the iced chain snapping it into frozen pieces, the spell broken.

Both hands-free she raised the other into the air bringing down more lightning sending it towards the warlock.

The warlock deflected them best he could, missing one that zig-zagged scorching his side. Grabbing his side Sinira charged at him using the distraction to pull out her daggers flinging them at him, the warlock raised his arms in a cross to cover his face vibrating energy causing the daggers to bounce off. She stopped before him sliding her leg to swoop him off his feet, pulling another dagger out her boot hooking it under his chin as his head smacked into the snow.

“Stop fighting me, I am not your enemy.” She warned shaking her braids out her face as the wind whipped by them.

“I follow my king’s orders.” He grumbled looking down at her blade pressed into his chin.

“So, you follow blindly no matter what?”

“You are to be our new queen, and I was sent to capture you, I feel it is an honor to die trying.” He stated closing his eyes with concentration. She looked down at his pinned hands, wrists working a spell. Sinira heard the shackles begin to shake and rebuild behind her.

“Then die happy.” Sinira snapped slicing the warlock’s neck. She would not be bound and dragged back to Galaleiath to be some breeding mule and queen for his grand plans.

Sneaking nearer to the fight; it was clear the battle had intensified, a few men lay dead, and both brothers were circling each other a few feet apart shouting. She strained to hear but the wind did not carry it her way. They blasted each other again with power and both times they deflected it sending it towards the mountain. It was not the first time she had felt the mountain shake from their power, she watched more snow slip down the mountain just missing them, spilling over into the howling pits.

This was it.

Sinira backed up and leaped off her ledged down with the snow, using it as cover to land amongst these men. Keeping low under a cover of white, she scanned the men nearest to her trying to whip at Drathis with chains, she noticed now how the chains had hooks on them, sharp enough to sink in skin, hook, and hold. She looked towards Drathis, his back towards her; there were a few cuts and burns on his arms through his clothing but the protective wear she had forced him to wear, had taken a beating leaving him mostly in one piece.

“Drop it already!” Galaleiath snapped prowling back and forth, Sinira had only picked up the end of the conversation, but it was clear that it had been another failed attempt, from Drathis to explain the truth of his disappearance. She caught sight of Galaleiath’s face and sucked in a breath.

If ever the demon showed its true colors this, was it. The gorgeous man’s face had veins pulsing up his neck with rage, his mouth pulled in a dangerous smile, eyes, pitch black and glowing. She couldn’t see Drathis but could see the snow and wind passing his face shone green. Sinira watched the men rotate waiting for the perfect moment, these men were going for the kill, if she missed…

Drathis deflected again sending dark magic just past Sinira into the mountain again, she looked behind her, as the ground shook more than before followed by a loud crack that echoed down towards them. Sinira looked towards her left, as the cracks continued causing a massive avalanche about half a mile away, the avalanche rumbled and crashed down over the road ahead almost taking away their vision, as white powder rose in the air all around them.

This was her chance, through the haze she leaped out from her hiding spot, having followed the brother’s positions sneaking up behind Galaleiath.

* * *

Drathis had practiced countless times over the past few weeks with his magic, imagining what he would do to Dimas, but against his own brother was another story. They matched each other in almost every defense, he had expected to be on his ass in the first attack after hearing of his powerful position. Still new to it all he relied on will more than skill and so far it had kept him alive. But it was clear his brother did truly want to capture him and kill him at a different stage, perhaps force him to watch chained up as he married Sinira, he growled at the thought.

Drathis would never allow it.

They had bellowed at each other more than tried to see reason, till Drathis had realized that they were both just too stubborn to see, Galaleiath was stuck on the lie of him being the traitor, he still had no proof otherwise.

The ground shook viciously almost causing him to lose his footing as they both stopped to see the avalanche a way off, crashing down the mountain. it had caused most of the men with his brother to fall dropping the chains. Good, the bloody chains and hooks trying to trap him down had almost succeeded a few times, thankfully not yet.

Movement caught his eye through the white clouds around them, and he instantly raised his arms in a defensive attack till he spotted the slightest hint of violet magic. His eyes went large in shock as he caught Sinira creeping up behind Galaleiath taking the avalanche as her chance. Drathis’s heart gripped with fear, she was powerful but his brother was on the verge of a blood lust craving. He blasted Galaleiath with ice hidden in smoke trying to neutralize the shock on his face to give nothing away.

This just made knocking his brother out, that much harder trying to not hit her.

With the haze finally passing, he kept his eyes locked on Galaleiath refusing to look at her, the slightest wrong move could ruin everything.

“Get up!” Galaleiath growled as he looked past Drathis at his men trying to find their footing, Drathis turned to see the men fighting against the tremble and wind. Losing his focus for only one, single, moment caused everything to chain react in slow motion.

Galaleiath used the unguarded look away from his brother to his men as his chance, raising both hands smacking his fists together sending an arrow of dark magic straight at Drathis.

Drathis turned to face back to his brother, too late taking the impact into his stomach doubling over as he fell to his knees, the men charged at him with all their chains and ice engulfed his hands and feet leaving him stuck on all fours with the wind knocked out of him.

Galaleiath sent another at him as Sinira shadowed his movements from behind, his Sacramento-hued power suddenly diminished by her overpowering purple magic shooting past crackling to a halt right in front of Drathis’s flinching face.

Drathis cracked the thick layer of ice as chains started to wrap around him, Sinira had to now face Galaleiath alone. Fighting against the hold he heated his fists up breaking through, punching three men in front of him with green flames sending them to the ground screaming as they clawed at their faces. Still, a large group of men bombarded him with chains, as he fought to free his feet and arms becoming intertwined as they jumped on him pulling him back down.

Sinira with a moment to spare rolled back and away from Galaleiath, smacking her hands together, grunting as a large sum of magic coursed through her veins, exploding from her fingers towards the men smothering Drathis.

Galaleiath in slight shock, turned around to see his attacker, stopping half-turned to see her then back at her power snapping necks and bodies of a large portion of his men. He whipped his head back to face her with a distasteful sneer.

Drathis suddenly feeling less struggle and deadweight, pushed up with all his might, shoving the bodies off of him as he ripped off the chains hooked onto him. Less than half the number of men were now left, including a warlock keeping his distance. Drathis finally feeling strain pulled his now vibrating sword hacking at the men coming near.

Sinira spun in a single circle cocooning herself in a violet shield of magic, her fingers sparking she let go as lightning and iced spikes were thrown at Galaleiath.

Four men had managed to grab the ends of chains still attached to Drathis pulling him back as he tried to near his brother. Turning around he blasted them with fire, the warlock deflecting it. A handful more of men jumped in pulling the chains back bringing Drathis to a standstill. Again, he whipped around roaring as he sent fireballs their way only to be deflected again. He locked eyes with the warlock pissed at its calm stance out of harm’s way.

“So, my little queen can bite.” Galaleiath missed Sinira’s attack racing forward till he stood inches in front of her shield, looking down at her with an unearthly smile. He pulled out his sword tapping it against her shield watching it being resisted entry. “Scared I might bite back?” He smirked.

Sinira remained still, watching him carefully, he was tired. The past few hours fighting Drathis had left him with sweat despite the storm, his veins in his neck and arms throbbing from overexertion.

Drathis whipped around dragging the men to the ground, lighting his fists to melt the chains when arrows started flying towards him. He looked up then in the direction of the wizard seeing four men with him now, bows being reloaded. He ducked yanking one of the men holding his chain forward using him as a shield, dropping the body after catching three arrows.

Galaleiath swung his sword at Sinira’s shield and it bounced off almost being ripped out of his hands.

“Step out and face me!” He roared throwing his sword down charging his hands up aiming his dark power at her, thick smoke that defied the storm’s logic engulfed the shield beginning to suffocate her.

Sinira let down the shield needing to breathe, rolling out of the dark smoke to the side skidding on the snow, one hand still in the snow she willed it up. Iced spears shot out and up from the ground threatening to impale Galaleiath.

Drathis wrapped his wrists around both loose chains dragging the men holding onto them towards him, a few let go, others fought the losing end of tug of war. The arrows came at him again but Drathis turned using the men as shields again, once reloading he yanked the final space between him and the men. Picking one closest to him hurling it towards the arrows being released again.

Galaleiath hacked through the ice sending a fireball towards Sinira, she deflected it sending it into the mountain face again.

The mountain shook, this time longer than before causing sheets of snow to fall all around them. Finally, free Drathis unwrapped himself from the chains having used it to wrap around the men crushing serval necks. Snow came crashing down on him as the warlock approached.

Bursting out the top of the snow, he looked for the warlock, hoping the snow had crushed him and was instantly pulled towards the violet and black power erupting near him. “Sinira!” He called pulling himself and his sword free racing towards them. Within moments he was in front of Sinira, deflecting fire from Galaleiath scorching his forearm with fresh burns almost connecting with it. Drathis felt Sinira step out from behind him touching his shoulder in a silent thanks, taking her place next to Drathis, watching Galaleiath eyeing them both. All three pairs of hands sparking with anticipation as they began to spread out creating a triangle, waiting. Drathis frowned as he caught his brother’s lips twitch with amusement.

“You said death threats were boring,” He smirked keeping his eyes on Drathis, “Try a new tactic.” Galaleiath’s gaze slid from him to Sinira, and Drathis instantly understood.

“I meant on my life.” Drathis snarled following his eyes to Sinira watching as she stood her ground, back strong ready for a fight, eyes determined. His fearless mate.

“Exactly why changing the life taken makes this exciting.” Galaleiath smiled broadly.

“What happened to me being your queen?” Sinira called her frown deepening.

“The way you two have constantly tried to protect each other has been sickening to watch, its obvious you have chosen him.” Galaleiath sneered towards Sinira.

“I had informed you she was mine earlier.” Drathis frowned trying to grasp why he would now want her death.

“Obviously, yet minds can be changed, after all you have nothing to offer, I offer everything.” Galaleiath smiled again, a deadly smile that hadn’t once reached his murderous eyes. “Yet, the little minx wants tatters of broken honour to warm her at night.” He sneered looking Drathis up and down with disgust.

Drathis nostrils flared with rage, he felt heat rush through him about to boil over. “Don’t disrespect her.”

“Why? Because you love her?” He bit, Drathis felt a different kind of heat rush through him then, it was something he hadn’t had the chance to tell her yet.

“Yes.” Drathis breathed tensing from head to toe refusing to look her way. Galaleiath’s face twisted with distaste snapping his fist shut releasing magic at him, Drathis blocked best he could but still took a rib cracking attack leaving Drathis almost off his feet. Sinira attacked Galaleiath with iced arrows having a few successfully sink into his left arm.

Drathis stopped his brother about to launch at her shouting his question. “So, you would kill her for not choosing you?”

“No, I choose to kill her so that you can’t have her.” Galaleiath bit turning a shade darker with hate.

“What the hell?” Sinira snapped stepping nearer. “So, if you can’t have me no one can? Are you serious?”

“I do not have to explain my reason!” Galaleiath roared at them. “Choose me, marry me, and watch Drathis die in a dungeon where he belongs!” He bellowed at Sinira before turning to face Drathis, “Or deny me and watch her die.”

Drathis froze watching the call for blood in his brother’s eyes, a flicker of something he had known so well crossed his eyes, and was replaced by blinding rage, but Drathis had seen it, loneliness. He knew the feeling as if he had invented it. Could his brother truly have been as lonely as him? Was Sinira’s refusal to him the secret hope his brother had of a better life with children, family? Could he believe such a thing in this dark and twisted man.

“No one has to choose, brother.” Drathis called softly, the realization that Galaleiath actually had feelings stunned him.

“Don’t you dare.” Galaleiath growled through gritted teeth launching his attack.

For what felt like the longest moments in history Drathis watched with slight horror as all three of them attacked launching all they had at each other.

Till just one more powerful explosion missed Sinira booming into the mountainside.

The ground shook again, more than anytime before shaking them to their knees, Drathis looked from Sinira to his brother stumbling forward sword drawn. He jumped into the air at Sinira bringing his sword down hard sinking it into the snow, as she rolled away pulling out two of her daggers. Drathis stumbled nearer, the shaking not stopping as their blades connected.

A stronger rumble had Drathis falling near his brother. Galaleiath’s sword sliced at Drathis’s left arm as he rolled away.

“No Sinira!” Drathis called seeing her launch for Galaleiath, but it was too late, together they rolled in the snow, grunting and fighting. Ripping into each other dropping their weapons as they twisted viciously around in the snow. Drathis got to his feet to rip them apart when the sky darkened drastically, the shaking still constant.

But nothing, in all history, could prepare Drathis for this very moment, nothing.

A mountain, no a titan, had come to life, the legend itself that had just been sleeping now had Its hand causing the darkened sky. A hand, grater then a small mountain was coming down on them, the same way a child’s hand would squish an ant.

“Sinira!” Drathis roared racing towards them in the distance, still unaware of the impending doom, locked in a death grip.

Drathis called again racing forward best he could, till nothing.

* * *

Drathis woke up after a few moments, the smack had sent him flying knocking him out from the impact. He held his head at the throbbing pain as a ringing sensation took a hold of his ears, he felt his head and realized he had cut the back of it open watching his hand covered in blood. Drathis could see nothing around him, everything was white, but there was no wind, no sound, nobody.

Gathering his strength he got to his feet, the snow settling back on the ground, and called her name, but nothing could be heard, not even his own voice.

Holding his head, he picked up his sword slipping down an embankment that hadn’t been there before. Drathis climbed back out of it observing still dazed his vision slowly returning. He was standing in between the sunken fingerprints of a titan’s hand. He followed them looking around for her.

“Sinira!” He bellowed a panic filling him finally hearing his own voice. “Sinira? Answer me! Sinira?” He called again rushing forward looking for any signs of her, slipping down a small embankment again from an imprint of a finger.

“Drathis!” A small voice finally called. Drathis hardly heard it, spinning around to see where it came from.

“Sinira? Where are you?” Drathis called spinning in frustrating circles until he caught her eye. “Shit.” He lost his breath as his heart stopped, his legs going numb.

She was hanging on with all she could from the inside of the pit. “Hold on, just hold on!” He shouted as all the blood drained from his face. Drathis started climbing over the deep embankments of the titan fingerprints, ignoring all the dead horses and men moulded to the ground.

The titan should never have happened.

“Help!” She screamed as she slipped gripping onto another piece of rock. With all he had, he raced towards her as a shadow to his right caught his eye.

Galaleiath charged towards the edge of the pit grabbing Sinira, yanking her up and out wrapping his arms around her protectively. Drathis skidded to a halt a deep tremble rushing through him, as he watched Galaleiath. He wasn’t moving away from the pit, the heel of his boot touching its edge.

“Galaleiath.” Was all Drathis could get out, Sinira had her back against his chest looking at Drathis with pure horror on her face, his brother’s face was expressionless as he watched Drathis from hooded brows. “Please.” Drathis begged, he wasn’t sure what Galaleiath was thinking, the dead look in his eyes unreadable.

“She would have slipped,” Galaleiath whispered, his grip on her tightening. Sinira grunted with the pain unable to break free from his grip, “I saved her.” He growled.

Drathis took a few slow steps forward, a few meters away from them unsure what to say, the tremble in him still coursing through his body, it was fear, a deep unnerving fear.

“She owes me her life.” He whispered again staring into Drathis’s eyes.

“Release her, and I will go with you.” Drathis whispered, his throat closing as he watched her terrified eyes.

“No, I will go with you, I will be your queen.” Sinira protested speaking over Drathis.

There was a long silence as Galaleiath kept his eyes on Drathis, his other boot now nearing the edge of the pit.

“Brother please!” Drathis begged taking a step nearer in panic.

Sinira screamed feeling them edge nearer, looking from the pit back to Drathis as tears filled her violet eyes.

“I love you!” She heaved.

Drathis froze at the words, her crying face implanted into his soul for all eternity.

“I love you, so, so much.” She whispered as the tears kept running.

Drathis’s throat closed, his nostrils flared, “Don’t, we don’t end like this.” He said gruffly, his voice breaking.

“Don’t you love her then?” Galaleiath’s toneless voice questioned. Drathis looked from Sinira to his brother’s face, his eyes were full black again, no mercy, a yes or no could kill them all.

“Yes,” He swallowed looking away back to Sinira, “I love you more than life itself, you are my one true mate.” He said taking a slow step nearer feeling his throat dry as emotions threatened to explode from his chest. “I love you Sinira.”

She closed her eyes hearing his words as tears streamed down her face.

“No please, Sinira, don’t cry.” Drathis tried to comfort, dying on the inside to touch her face, kiss away the pain, hold her in his arms till she was ok.

“I’m ready brother, take me back to die.” Drathis said straightening his back looking towards Galaleiath.

But Galaleiath’s breath intake was increasing dangerously, his face darkening, his grip on Sinira hardening as she let out a groan of pain.

“Then let’s go.” Galaleiath hissed through gritted teeth, “I only came after one.” Grabbing Sinira by the neck he opened his arms spinning her out away from him, looking at her in his grip “You would have been an added bonus.” Releasing his hold on her neck, with a light shove he pushed her off the pit’s edge.

Drathis launched after her only to be yanked back from the edge by Galaleiath and slammed into the ground. The denial of what was happening, the sound of her fading scream, the feeling of his heart being ripped into a thousand pieces was overwhelming. He fought against his brother with all he had to get to the pit’s edge, to go in after her. Her screaming snapping something inside of him as a surge of power larger than any before erupted from within.