Paramythi I: City of Glass

Elias laid upon his bed, blue eyes wide and staring up into the dim corners of his room’s ceiling.

He had never thought of himself lounging around in dark spaces, doing nothing and feeling sorry for himself after joining the Rebellion. He knew, despite the heavy tightness forming in the pit of his stomach, he had to get up and start working. Or at least start moving before his muscles decided never to wake again. The comfort of the bed was only to be enjoyed after a long day; a day filled with accomplishments and taking closer steps to an outcome of peace and equality.

Another minute passed by and Elias did not move. He remained upon the soft mattress, covers half-hanging over the edge of his bed, and pillows propped beneath his heavy head. His hands were clasped over his stomach and his chest rose and fell with a slow motion. He could have slept. He could have allowed his eyelids to grow heavy within the darkness of the room and slip into a momentary reality where things might be kinder and comforting, or filled with the worst kind of nightmares imaginable. It was up to his conscious.

Alas, his ideas of succumbing to slumber were discarded when his ears were filled with the sounds of thunderous footsteps outside of his hallway, followed by the thumping echoes of Rebels rushing back and forth in what could only be described as a panic, at least from Elias’ point of view on the opposite side of the door.

Lifting himself up from his mattress, Elias got to his feet and took one step towards his door, when the handle rattled and Helios appeared on the other side, eyes wide and beads of sweat forming upon his forehead and cheeks.

“Elias, you gotta come quick! Psykhe’s in trouble and a whole bunch of Rebels are fighting some kind of Guardian down in Emvolo!” Helios exclaimed, jumping back with a less-enthusiastic motion then he would usually portray. His free hand was placed upon his stomach, protecting his bandaged wound as he walked down the corridor, his other hand supporting his own weight against the walls. “C’mon!”

Elias dismissed his appearance, knowing he looked rather dishevelled with his clothes scuffed and hair sticking up in odd places on one side of his head. It had been the tone of Helios’ voice and the panic in which he had delivered his words which forced Elias to pick up his pace and follow the Faeman out into the corridor and towards the small crowd forming by the windows at the end of hall by the elevators. Unlike most of the windows in the base, these were not as large and did not cover the whole wall, which made it difficult to see what was happening below.

“Wait, what’s been going on?” Elias said, voice groggier than he had expected. Clearing his throat, he tried to speak again, yet the rough edge to his voice did not sound any better. “I thought Psykhe was in a bad shape from our last mission. Should she really be down there?”

“She’s tough, I guess.” Helios shrugged and stood by Elias. “I think she’ll be alright. At least, I hope she’ll be alright. I mean, you and I got owned pretty bad, so did Ri.” A small laugh set the tone and eased a few people standing around. After his one-year’s worth of training, Helios had made himself well acquainted with the Rebels in the base and had strived to make a good impression, which was well-rewarded with smiles and lessened tension. “Besides, the best of the best is down there. There’s no way they’ll come out of this unsuccessfully.”

Elias said nothing. His lips felt glued together and he was too afraid to tear the skin if he even dared to open his mouth. The shock was not an uncommon feeling since he had joined the Rebellion, yet it never became easier to withstand. His heart fluttered whenever someone gasped or exchanged concerned whispers. From where he stood, he could barely make out anything other than the dark sky and twinkling stars.

“…something’s happening.” Helios murmured. Whether he had meant for it to slip from his lips or not was unknown. The look on his face, however, was a giveaway on the positives and negatives of the situation. “Oh, Gods above…”

Elias felt his stomach clench. Helios never spoke like that. He was always optimistic and upbeat. A harsh rumble of whispers and an expression of horror was not who Helios was and it scared Elias. It scared him so much that he ducked, dropping to his knees to scamper between the crowd of human, Faemen and other different members of assorted races gathered around the windows.

“Elias?” Helios blinked, baffled between his friend’s abrupt actions and the destruction unfolding below the Rebellion base.

“I need to see!” Cried Elias, coming to a short stop when his face collided against the solid surface of the window. He sniffled, eyes blurry for a moment due to such harsh impact, and he shuffled back, arm raising to rub the hem of his sleeve against the glass, ridding it of any condensation. “The church…? The mission is in the church?” He gasped aloud, blue eyes widening with every second.

There was nothing specifically happening, not from Elias’ point of view. The church stood lonely at the perch of Emvolo’s border, standing noble and proud over the city below and the sea moved pleasantly towards the south. The sun had gone down a while ago, making any detail difficult to recognise. The moon was dim and only managed to reflect upon the surface of the aircrafts situated outside of the church, at the bottom of the hill.

A firm brush against Elias’ arm took the young Rebel by surprise. He tensed, eyes flickering towards the source of contact and his throat clenched. He was speechless. Beside him, kneeling on the floor, was Kaira. Her eyes were large and glassy as she examined the scene below. Her expression was utterly focused, making it difficult for Elias to work out if she had any knowledge that he was inches from her left.

“Look! It’s Enzo!”

“He’s carrying someone!”

“Are they alive?”

Elias looked back up, thankful the shouts and cries of the crowd had recaptured his attention. His face was practically pressed against the glass again as people drew closer, trying to see if they could make any further descriptions on what had happened and who was coming out of the church. Including who was not.

“Who’s he carrying?!” The rough voice of Kane Ruskin cut through the air, followed by the sharp ‘clicks’ of his shoes and the rough motions of his stride. “Who is it?”

The crowd parted without a word, allowing their captain to dart straight through. His long coat swayed behind him and his usual expression had cracked, exploiting his weaker side; tight lines crossing his forehead and lips. Unlike the other Rebels, Kane was quick to notice who Enzo was carrying out of the church and the loss of colour from his face and the stiff twinge in his jaw silenced the corridor and everyone in it.

“Who is it, sir?” Kaira whispered. Her hand gingerly reached out to grasp the loose fabric of Kane’s trouser leg and she tugged, gaining his attention. “Sir? Who is it?”

Kane blinked. The strict twinkle in his blue eyes had died and he stepped back, nodding solemnly as if to say, sure, this is how it has to be. His throat bobbed when he looked back and watched everyone’s faces, guilt draining him further to the point he thought he could not deliver an answer.

“Sir?” Elias whispered. When Kane looked down, Elias could only think of Psykhe’s pale, bloody face. “…who is it?”

Another bob of his throat and Kane lifted his head back to his fellow Rebels. With a deep inhale of breath, the man stepped forward and, in a low tone of voice, he said; “Tovi. Enzo’s carrying Toviah Thrax.”

Tovi had given up in his attempts at extinguishing Karnya’s flames. By now he had begun to sprint across the benches lined down the aisle, tossing fireballs in Karnya’s direction without grazing Calix or anyone else hunkering down in the shadows. It seemed an effortless idea at gaining the upper hand when Karnya could dodge them all with ease; laughing with every sway of his torso and dash to the left or right.

Conjuring another ice element, Tovi was able to catch his foe’s wing and momentarily buy himself enough time to pause, perched upon one of the benches as he caught his breath.

“Little bitch…” Karnya hissed lowly. He fluttered his injured wing and flicked his fingers, spewing small flames to melt the entrapped appendage. “Attacking another Guardian’s wings is blasphemy. A dishonourable action! Only outcasts like you should have your wings plucked!”

Tovi blinked and hopped off the bench. He rolled a shoulder, lips pursed and eyes keen.

Karnya straightened his posture and smirked. “Could it be that you no longer have wings, Toviah? Did you pluck them yourself to blend in? How foolish.”

Tovi said nothing.

“What?! Not even a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, now? I could hear you loud and clear earlier,” placing his hands upon his hips, Karnya lifted from the ground. “Or would you rather we get to the endgame, where one of us is lying dead in our own bloody mess, hmm?”

Tovi’s lips remained closed. He politely cleared his throat and removed his bow and quiver. He settled them on the nearest bench and unzipped his coat, slid it off of his shoulders, and folded it neatly beside his unequipped weapons.

“What’s this now…?” Karnya’s eyes widened and he tipped forward, wings fluttering as fast as an insect’s.

“Tovi, what are you thinking?!”

Tovi looked up. Enzo stood near the front of the church, a few rows ahead of him with a dirtied face and wide, green eyes.

“Grab your weapons and take this guy out! You never wanted to be a Guardian, anyway! So don’t stoop to his level!” Enzo snapped, climbing onto one of the benches to avoid the small flames hungrily expanding across the ground. “He’s got nothing on you!”

“Shut up!” Karnya growled and, in a blink of the eye, he swooped down for Enzo with claws and teeth bared for his throat.

Enzo gasped and closed his eyes, hand reaching for his gun instinctively. By the time his palm had clutched the cool, metal surface of his handle, he felt a pressure against his stomach and opened his eyes to see Tovi in front of him, shielding him from Karnya’s attack.

Enzo lost his footing and toppled back against the benches, losing his gun in the small wave of flames in the process. He cursed, twisting his wrist as he collided with the hard wood of the church furniture and looked up from his sprawled position.

Tovi was hovering above, growling lowly as Karnya sunk his teeth into his throat. Large, slim wings had burst forth from Tovi’s back, displaying marred flesh and visible bone structure rubbing against the surface of his flesh when he moved to shove Karnya away from him, spurting blood from his neck and over Enzo’s shocked face below.

“So full of surprises, just like the day you ran from Hera…” Karnya huffed, spitting blood from his mouth. It was not the sweet treat he had been expecting to feast on.

“Shut up,” Tovi whispered lowly in his rough, uneven accent.

“So he speaks.” Karnya chuckled and darted forward, arms igniting with conjured flames.

Tovi set his own arms alight with sharp ice and crossed his wrists together, shielding himself from the impact against Karnya’s heavy body. He was driven back nonetheless and he extended his legs to catch himself against the wall before he could be pinned in place. Karnya’s hot breath travelled over Tovi’s cheeks and he pressed harder, flames crawling up his face.

Pushing off of the wall, Tovi retracted one of his arms and summoned a metal element to cover the surface of his fist as his hand collided against Karnya’s cheek, forcing him to retreat for a matter of seconds. During such an advantage, Tovi flew upwards, coaxing Karnya to follow him out of the church.

The ceiling had already been heavily damaged from the Guardian dust beforehand and, much to Tovi’s displeasure, was easy to crash through upon impact. The colourful images written in glass telling Galaxis’ history came crumbling to a soft layer of dust which fell on the floor inside the church, damaging nothing but the people who would later discover their precious work and belief had been stolen from them.

Karnya was not sentimental like Tovi and flew upwards at a much faster pace, hissing when the ceiling’s dusty particles touched his skin. He felt rain cover his limbs instead and swayed slightly, knowing well enough how damaging the damp could be on Guardian wings and the dust they used to fly with. Alas, if Tovi could endure it, then he would be able to endure it ten times better!

“Toviah!” Karnya cried, catching up to his foe swiftly. He dug a clawed hand into the leathery texture of Tovi’s vest and tugged, pulling the man lower with a dangerous sway. “You will pay for your actions.”

Tovi pulled his legs to his chest and kicked out, heels digging into Karnya’s stomach hard enough to push him back and he paused, catching his breath once more as Karnya collected himself.

Shaking the rain from his eyes, Tovi glanced towards the stormy sea. Something made him freeze, something which grabbed his attention and called out to him; reminding him to face reality and accept the situation along with all of its changes, just as the sea did when it was swaying with a calmness, only to turn to a choppy array of destruction against Emvolo’s border.

He knew he should have struck out with a real attack instead of playing on the defence, yet he was unable to form himself into an array of destruction. He was not like the sea; he was not like Capitol. It was why he had joined the Rebellion. For peace. Not destruction.

Karnya lashed out during Tovi’s lapse of distraction and clutched his bloody throat tightly. Pulling the man close, Karnya chuckled and began burning Tovi’s skin. “If you wish to speak one last time, I would try it now.” He mused, lips curving higher.

“I’m sorry for killing your wife six years ago,” Tovi whispered. “I was foolish. It was not my place to take someone so important from you like that.”

Karnya paused, eyes widening. He searched Tovi’s stoic expression for further clues or answers. Anything. “You cannot expect to make amends just like that…!”

“I cannot.” Tovi agreed, choking softly as Karnya’s hand tightened. He could smell burning flesh and his eyes fluttered against the lack of oxygen to his brain. “I was…the fool.”

“Shut up!” Karnya hissed. He squeezed tighter, one flex away from snapping Tovi’s neck when a clap of thunder erupted inches from them, knocking them both from the sky.

Tovi could feel himself fall. He recognised the sway of the wind and sea air brush harshly against his exposed back and wings as he came down. His eyes refused to open. Whether it was fear or fatigue, or even defeat, he did not have time to choose when he felt the hard ground of the church beneath him, blocking everything out for a matter of seconds.

When he did regain consciousness, the first thing he saw was Ares standing at the end of the aisle. It would have been the ideal sight for Tovi to witness. He would have been filled with relief and could have closed his eyes again for rest, knowing his little brother was safe and well…if not for the sight of Enzo kneeling beside Ares, blood trickling from his left cheek and right eye swollen.

Inhaling deeply, Tovi rolled onto his stomach and bit back a loud cry as his wings were relieved from the pressure of his weight. He knew they were broken. “Ares…” Swallowing the bitter taste of metal, Tovi began lifting himself up.

“Show’s not over,” Karnya’s rough voice scoffed. He slammed his foot down against Tovi’s back and made sure to dig the heel of his of his boot between his shoulder blades, cruelly pushing the broken bones of Tovi’s wings out further. “You’re going to watch your brother kill someone now.”

Tovi breathed heavily, sending dust particles up from the floor in a puff. “Ares, don’t—”

“Shut up!” Ares snapped. His eyes were glowing gold and a pair of bony, transparent wings were weakly hanging from his back. A clean awakening for a young Guardian. “This is the first time you’ve ever spoken to me that I can remember. I preferred it when you were quiet!” He reached out, hand latching in Enzo’s long hair. “You never told me what I was. You never told me what we were! You let me think there was something wrong with me! So, I guess you can call this karma, right? Karma for not telling me just how painful and furious it is to be a Guardian!”

Tovi struggled to move, thrashing when Ares’s hand flared up with fire and Enzo’s face was pulled dangerously close to the burning palm. “Ares, no! You can control this!” He panted, dust sticking to the side of his face.

“Quiet!” Karnya raised his voice and applied more pressure to Tovi’s back. He took one of his broken wings in a harsh grip and tugged viciously, snapping ligaments. “Don’t make me hurt you in every way I can imagine.”

A loud cry escaped Tovi’s dry lips, thus catching Ares off-guard.

The glowing in Ares’ eyes faltered and his flame went out. “Brother?”

Karnya looked up and sneered. “No, Ares! This man is not worthy of such a title! Remember now, he never intended to tell you anything! He kept you in the dark and lied about everything!” Tugging at Tovi’s wing once more, Karnya motioned for Ares to continue. “We are loyal creatures. Toviah Thrax is no such thing and should not be given the right to belong as our kin.”

Tovi began trembling as his back seized up. He could feel his shoulder blades pry apart as his wings were tugged on, wrenching muscle and cartilage from his spine. He could feel his stomach being pried upward from the ground, yet his chest was pressed flush against the dusty floor due to the force on his back from Karnya’s foot. He was losing the sensation in his legs. He wanted to scream. His mouth was open but there was no sound. It was too painful to even express.

Ares did nothing but watch as Karnya, a stranger, ripped his brother’s wings from his body. The fingers tangled in Enzo’s hair became loose and he was crying, silent tears sliding down his cheeks. A rage was building in his chest, yet his anxieties and guilt were holding back the urge to scream like a water dam.

“Tovi!” Enzo was quick to dash forward, freeing himself from any other possibility to a flame to his face or savage fingers in his hair. His mouth opened for a battle cry, intent on flinging himself on Karnya and tackling him to the ground. His feet, however, were quickly encased in solid ice and he was stuck in place. “What the—”

“Everyone…stop…” Ares whispered and extended his hand. The tips of his fingers were glistening with ice, ready to freeze someone else in their tracks at any given moment. “I can’t…think…”

Karnya tossed Tovi’s lifeless wings aside and jumped off of the man’s limp body. He chuckled, “Ares, you are conflicted solely because of your awakening. Give it time and you will adapt to the anger and rage. It is quite a wonderful feeling.” He walked down the aisle, leaving bloody footsteps in the dust. “Allow me to teach you the ways of a Guardian. We can return to Hera, together.”

“You really like listening to yourself talk, don’t you?” Enzo remarked.

“Silence.” Karnya uttered. With a flick of his wrist, vines began growing around Enzo, coiling around his head until his jaw was fixed shut. “It is all Ares’ decision.” He soothed, stepping up to the young Guardian. “What say you?”

Ares’ eyes were glassy, his lips raw and trembling. He could not look away from the sight of his brother laying so still at the end of the aisle. Yet he could not dismiss the anger he felt towards him for all the secrets kept. “I…don’t know.”

“Ares Thrax!” The rich voice of Alexis rang out in her perfectly levelled tone. She stepped out from behind the statue with a bruised cheek and a furrowed brow. “Have you really lost your damn mind?!”

Psykhe stepped out from behind Alexis. Her right eye was bruised and she had a swollen lip from Ares’ assault from before. He had been quick enough to take both of the young Rebels down with brutal fists without causing any severe damage to their vital organs or snapping their bones. It raised Alexis’ hopes in finding a positive solution and coaxing the good back in Ares before anyone else could get hurt.

“Alexis?” Ares turned his head and inhaled sharply. He bit his lip and shrunk away from the woman. “I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you…”

“It’s fine.” Alexis raised her hands. “We’re unarmed. There’s no threat. Just, come over here, okay?”

Psykhe frowned deeply, eyes scanning the scene from Ares to Karnya to Enzo. “Damara, tell Enzo that you’re fine and that you’re helping Reidonn and Neoma out of that ice entrapment Ares put them in, okay? We need to calm the situation in here.” Thinking clearly, Psykhe took care of the concerned look on Enzo’s face.

When Enzo’s brows relaxed, Psykhe sighed softly and turned back to Karnya and Ares. “You should listen to Alexis. All we’re asking is that you come over here.” She said, albeit doubtful. “We’re not asking you to make your decision about Hera.”

“Don’t listen to them, Ares. You know we’re far better than mere humans…” Karnya whispered. He leant closer, being sure only Ares could hear him. “They’ll kill you if you go with them.”

Alexis cocked her head and stepped forward. “Hey, Ares! Ain’t you wondering where Calix is?” She challenged.

A cold chill ran down Ares’ spine and Karnya stood up straight, eyes bulging wide.

When Ares said nothing, Alexis took another step forward. “Calix stayed behind to protect us when we took you in the back room to keep you safe. This guy here, he strung Calix up like a doll.” She paused, wary of the distance between herself and the Guardians. “…take a look for yourself.”

Ares swallowed thickly and slowly turned on his heel, eyes travelling from the church’s altar and up the infamous structure of Emvolo’s God looming overhead. Sure enough, Calix was tied in chains like a puppet. He moved, barely perceivable to any other eye. But Ares could see his chest rise and fall. He could make out the faint glint of his partner’s eyes, and he was furious.

Karnya was already stepping back in attempts to escape when Ares faced him again. He was halfway down the aisle when a sharp pain plunged into the middle of his back and he hissed, arching in agony. His legs shook and he stopped moving. “I was prepared to show you a new start, Ares.” He swayed, turning around to lock eyes with his foes. “All you had to say was yes…”

Ares lowered his hand, distinguishing the flames he had thrown down the aisle. The bloody, fresh wings in his back began fluttering and he hovered, feet inches above the ground. “No, you weren’t here for me in the first place. You were here to kill the prophet and found us instead.” He explained solemnly. “You ripped my brother’s wings off and tied my boyfriend to a fucking statue.”

“Then I find it inevitable to leave without bloodshed.” Baring his teeth, Karnya used the support of the nearest bench and conjured metal elements to appear. They were long and sharp, similar to sewing needles; enhanced to the size of throwing spears. “You shall all perish and take the place of Lady Neriah Kiska!”

The metal needles flew through the air at a neck-breaking speed. Ares gasped and flew upwards, shielding Calix. Psykhe dashed to the side as quickly as her legs could carry her and tackled Enzo to the ground, breaking the ice and vines keeping Enzo restrained.

Karnya laughed manically until the sound of penetrating flesh and splitting bones echoed down the aisle.

Enzo cringed and looked up. Much to his surprise, Karnya was frozen in place with an arrow through his eye socket. The sharp tip was peeking from his left eyeball, dripping with blood, and shining until the Guardian toppled forward, dead.

Tovi panted softly down the aisle behind Karnya’s body, leaning against one of the benches with his bow clutched in shaking hands. He nodded in Enzo’s direction, sliding to the floor from fatigue and blood loss.

Psykhe jumped to her feet and untied the remaining vines from Enzo. “Is it alright that he’s dead?” She asked, stomping her heel against the remains of solid ice from around the man’s ankles – having broken most of it off when they fell to the ground.

“It was necessary.” Replied Enzo quietly.

Ares flew down with Calix’s unconscious body in his arms, both unharmed from Karnya's last attack. “Bastard,” Ares grunted. “Alexis, I’m sorry—” He sighed, turning his head to the woman.

Alexis stood a few feet from the group, back turned to them. A pool of blood was forming at her feet, soaking itself up in the dust and debris from the fight. Her head turned slowly, a spasm shaking down her hands and fingers when she looked back, expression full of shock and a tear crawled down her cheek.

“I forgive…you…” Blood gurgled forth and poured down her chin when she spoke and she fell backwards, exposing the metal needles lodged in her chest and stomach.

“Alexis!” Ares screamed. He ran to her side but was beaten by Psykhe who would have caught Alexis mid-fall if only she had been closer. “Oh…Gods above…is she…-?” Stumbling forward, Ares came to his knees and Calix shifted in his arms.

“Alexis…?” Calix whispered, eyes blinking slowly. His head lolled back, examining the woman’s bloody face. “…Please, don’t go…” He murmured, slipping back into unconsciousness.

Psykhe was speechless. Her hands had already somehow managed to pull Alexis into her lap. She wanted to wrench out the needles but had no idea if it would make her condition worse. Fingers fluttered around the wounds and then to her neck, checking for a pulse.

“Oh Gods, oh Gods…” Ares whimpered over and over. “Please, Alexis…don’t do this…”

“Psykhe…?” Damara called out, stepping into the scene from behind the statue. Her face was bruised and her cheek had been split open, causing her green-Feral blood to trickle over the dark flesh of her face. “I thought…maybe I heard your negative thoughts but…I guess you were actually living the truth…”

Psykhe looked up and sniffled. She was not a pretty crier because crying was not supposed to be pretty. She had blotchy skin as if she were allergic to the streaks of tears running down her cheeks and she sniffled with an audible strain. Her voice croaked and her mouth was damper than usual, “Damara, please…tell me she’s still here…” She blubbered, unable to piece the words apart as she sobbed, pulling Alexis closer.

Damara knelt beside Psykhe and gently laid her hand over Alexis’ forehead. There was a silence aside from the heavy sobbing of Psykhe and Ares pitiful whispers and prayers to the Gods. Damara closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, teeth biting her bottom lip as she fought her own tears and sat back, choking back a sound.

Psykhe’s lips parted, though nothing was said. She stared towards the wall of the church for a couple of seconds, then turned to the body in her arms. “No, no, no…” She croaked, leaning over to cry against Alexis’ shoulder. “No, no, no…!”

Enzo stayed back, afraid he would intrude the group in their mourning. He had turned away, fighting the fury in his heart at knowing these young Rebels would be suffering yet another loss. It made him wonder just what good it was to have people so young die before their life could begin for real.

“Enzo,” Reidonn whispered, joining his side. Neoma rushed past the both of them and knelt in front of Tovi, arms engulfing him tightly around the neck as she cried against his chest. “We should leave before Capitol dogs sniff us out.” She said.

Enzo flinched. Reidonn was often set in her loyalty and would always act accordingly to the situation of any given scenario. But to say something like let’s go right after a young woman has just died was almost frightening.

“Yeah…” Enzo swallowed down his feelings and looked up at the sky, remembering how simple life had been seven years ago when he stood in this very spot with a ceiling to conceal his feelings for freedom and not a shattered ambition and a young woman’s lost life.