Divinitas

026 - Mirrored Images

~ * ~

The crowd was non-existent to Phoenix as he stepped out of the simulator, a blank mask for a face. T sta standing closest to him took a weary step back, shocked into silence by what they had just witnessed on the LCDs mounted on the walls. The evidence was all too plain on Phoenix\'s body: the twin rips on the back of his uniform where the wings had burst forth.

Phoenix only had one thing on his mind. And that was to reach Aether. The slash on his chest was all but forgotten. This was nothing compared to the torture he\'d suffered previously by Aether\'s hand in any case.

As if by magic, the path cleared from him, revealing the Child of Soul kneeling in front of his simulator, his golden head bowed. From defeat, from exhaustion. From confusion, perhaps.

Phoenix halted in front of Aether, face passive, his emotions sealed, and knelt down until he was at Aether\'s level. Slowly, as if with a will of its own, Phoenix\'s hand lifted itself and cupped Aether\'s cheek before the boy lent his head forward and touched their foreheads together.

\"I won,\" he whispered, meant for Aether\'s ears alone. \"When you\'re ready, tell me why you did what you did. Until then, stay the hell away from me.\" With those final words, Phoenix stood, the silver collar engraved with the Child of Soul\'s signature falling from his neck. The ringing from the impact echoed around the spherical hall long after Phoenix had disappeared from it.



~ * ~

Everything that followed was a dream. Nightmare. Whatever. He wasn\'t there. It was just a shell that striped itself of its clothing before climbing into the scalding shower, half hoping to drown in it.

Shouldn\'t he be jumping up and down with joy? He had won! He was free! So… Why did he feel as if he had just been dealt a horrible emotional blow that left him staggering even now? It had taken all of his strength and will power to walk out of the Metamorphosis training hall without looking back. And now, here, locked in the bathroom, he could feel the tears stinging behind his crimson eyes.

Why was he hurting…?

I don\'t want to know.

The boy pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the shower, turning his head to the side to look at his reflection in the mirror. What was it that he saw? Aether… What about this thin body did he want so much to own.

Weary blood red eyes looked back at him. Lifeless. Soulless. There was no fire in them now. Why? Because his wish had changed without him ever actively making the choice? It was disconnecting, that sudden realisation. A person\'s dream helped defined who they were. It was a primary reason for living. Having that change, either suddenly or gradually, and then realising it for the first time… It was… almost frightening.

The eyes closed, blacking out the image for a moment before opening again. The water beat down on his back, comforting yet hurtful at the same time. He really was a masochist, wasn\'t he? The boy in the mirror smirked back at him.

But something was wrong with the image. Something subtle but terribly wrong. It wasn\'t the lack of the silver collar that had almost become a part of him. And the scar that inscribed Aether\'s name was still engraved onto his stomach where the fresh wound above it stung just a little every time the near scalding water ran over it. If it were not these two things… Then what was it that bothered him so much?

Red. There was too much red.

Slowly, Phoenix pushed himself off the glass and turned his back to the mirror, eyes never leaving the silver surface.

Two long twin scars, the colour of burning red flames, stared at him from in between his shoulder blades. He could feel them now, a pulsing heat that originated from them as if they were a heart, pumping forth alien warmth.

An uncontrollable shivering slowly washed over his body. And all Phoenix could do was slide down the titled wall and curl up into a little ball, letting the rapidly cooling water spray over him.



~ * ~

\"Hurts the pride, doesn\'t it? Losing?\" A familiar mocking voice spoke up as soon as Aether had closed the doors to his rooms.

Aether turned around slowly, favouring his left shoulder which still throbbed despite his body already working overtime to heal it. Lounging on one of his couches, looking as if he was right at home, was a teenage boy, his long silver hair loose, and his feet propped up on glass coffee table in front of him.

\"Hurts the body, doesn\'t it? Dying and then being dragged back?\" Aether answered, walking towards the mini bar and pouring himself a drink of alcohol whilst offering the intruder none. \"I had wondered… Why Gryps seemed to lack the darkness within him. And then intelligence told of his having a twin which he murdered. In fact, he ended up here because of his \'crime\', working undercover to gather information on my activities.\"

\"Are you proud of yourself, Lord Aether?\" the other asked, smirking as the title passed from his lips. \"Doesn\'t take much to look in old archives and then bribe others for information.\"

Aether downed his first drink and poured out another, looking at the silver haired boy and smiling savagely. \"Did you simply come here to gloat, Ari? Because if you did, I\'m hardly in the mood for your antics. It\'s no wonder your twin chose your sister over you. You really are a bastard.\"

A flash of fury deformed Ari\'s face before it smoothed itself out into a politely mocking smile. \"Why, I would have thought you would have been happy to see me, Aether. You can\'t complete your plans without the whole soul of the God of Air, now can you?\"

At the rate he was going, he was going to empty this bottle and pass out before Ari had finished his annoying prattle. And it wasn\'t even lunch yet. \"Just get on with it, Ari. I had planned on a good sulking session by my lonesome self before you so rudely intruded into my sanctuary.\"

Ari flashed Aether a charming smile. \"Enrol me here at this school. Let me do as I please with my brother. And I will participate willingly in your plan to restore your powers.\"

Aether simply studied the exact replica of Gryps seated before him. The God of Air\'s dark side. The one that had no care for anyone other than himself. One who lived by \'the ends justify the means\'. How ironic he had been one of his personal guards in the past. Whatever the case, the brush with death had fully awakened Ari\'s memories of The Past… Which certainly made things more interesting.

\"As you wishAethAether said finally after the long moment of silence. \"But on one condition. You do not touch the other Children. Especially Phoenix.\"

Ari laughed. An unpleasant laugh that conveyed anything buy joy or happiness. \"Oh, I hardly have to. A few words would suffice. You\'ve done more than enough damage there, now haven\'t you? You never will learn from your past mistakes.\"

\"Shut up and get out,\" Aether said softly, walking past the other boy and towards his bed. He had a sudden desire to simply pass out.

Laughter again. \"Yes, yes, Lord Aether. Anything you say!\" The door opened and slammed shut, Ari\'s laughter echoing back to him though the long halls.

It was just his bad luck, wasn’t it? That the God of Air be reborn as twins. Really, if he weren’t for his own past as a God, he would be cursing the deities to hell right about now.

Of course he had known Gryps wasn\'t quite \'right\' as soon as he had laid eyes on the boy. And ever since he had found out about Gryps\' past he had excepted Ari to show up sooner or later, despite the fact that he had \'died\' so to speak. Destiny would not have allowed half a soul to pass on. Only when both died would the soul leave their bodies.

Ari\'s body had never been found after the incident at the cliff. It was simply assumed it had been washed away. Hardly unusual for something that fell from a cliff onto the rocky ocean below. They had searched for it, of course, but found nothing. The officials never considered for a moment Ari might had survived. No mortal could have, after falling from such a height onto those jagged rocks. And Gryps had never considered that possibility either.

So how would that Ice Prince take such a blow from the past? Well, at least Aether would have some entertainment to keep him occupied whilst he sorted out his current situation with Phoenix.

Phoenix…

\"Why couldn\'t you let me be your\'s by my own choice!\"

Aether downed the last of his drink and let himself fall back onto his bed as the alcohol began to numb his heart and mind.

He was still in shock. Denial even. But was that from losing, or how he had lost? Phoenix\'s words ran in circles around his mind, filled with anguish at being so misunderstood. And… The boy had almost sounded sad… when he whispered \'I won\' to Aether.

Aether rolled over onto his stomach, smothering his face into the soft covers. He was acting like a damn love-sick teenager that had just been rejected. No, worse than that. Like a damn love-sick teenager that had just completely misunderstood the object of his obsession.

This had to be the alcohol talking. There was no way in the world this was himself talking. Aether simply did not sulk. Or mope. Both of which he was indulging in right now and remained quite content in doing so.

\"When you\'re ready, tell me why you did what you did. Until then, stay the hell away from me.\"

The defeated Child of Soul rolled over onto his back again, letting out a long sigh and staring blankly up at the canopy of his bed. It had been so much easier to consider Phoenix as simply his property, to not delve into the possibility that the other really could love him. But now that the notion had made itself known, and he had been forced to acknowledge it… He couldn\'t dismiss it either and revert back to his old mode of thought.

Maybe because you like this idea better, Aether?

The violet eyed boy frowned at the drapes mounted over his bed, annoyed at them for having suggested such an outrageous idea, rolling over again just so he wouldn\'t have to look at them.

And crashed heavily onto the floor.

Lying there in a crumpled heap, his shoulder throbbing in protest to the rough treatment, Aether sigh again.

Damn, he had acted like a total fool, hadn\'t he?



~ * ~

Someone was shouting his name. The pounding on the door sounded like far off thunder. Yes, that made sense. It was raining after all. Icy cold rain that penetrated to the bone.

Another loud clap of thunder, and then the rain stopped. Something soft was dropped over his shivering shoulders. It smelt fresh, like lemon. A pair of arms hosted him from the wet tiled floor before someone hastily dried him as if he were no more than a child. A pair of disapproving sapphire eyes glared gently at him, trying to mask the concern shimmering underneath.

\"Draco…\" Phoenix whispered, finally coming to his senses enough to recognise the other boy. \"What… am I? There… there are marks on my back. Like flames. Burning, red. I didn\'t, did I? I didn\'t really burn my parents to death, did I?\"

The older boy didn\'t answer, merely dressing him as if he were a doll and then tucking him up in bed. Phoenix was still shivering. His body was like ice.

\"Phoenix, look at me,\" Draco said, taking up Phoenix\'s slack hands and holding them tightly in his own. \"It was just Metamorphosis. It wasn\'t real. It was a simulation. No flames really came out of your body. The marks on your back were simply born because your body believed it to be real. Like the wound on your chest. You have to understand that.\"

\"Really…?\" It was like talking to a child, the way Phoenix was now. Easily swayed, and just as easily upset. \"Because I really don\'t want to be a monster. Normal people don\'t have flames coming out of their hands or their backs…\"

Draco remained silent as Phoenix drifted into unconsciousness, then gently removed his hands from the other boy\'s. There wasn\'t anything he could say to Phoenix\'s words. Because if Gryps was the true Child of Air… Then Phoenix was most certainly the true Child of Fire. That which he did not wish to be.

If the words he had just spoken, about his parent\'s deaths… The truth would only hurt him. It was a crippling weakness to not know where all this was heading. The Legend, Gryps and Phoenix being the true Child of Air and Fire respectively. And of course, Aether who was the Child of Soul.

All his research so far had revealed nothing more. But there was no doubt in his mind that Aether, if anyone, knew all of it. Yet at the same time, there was no doubt that Aether would reveal nothing to him either. Perhaps, as Gryps said once, long ago, it would be wise to leave here. Escape was the word he had used.

So why did he, Draco, still refused to heed that advice? Because humans tried to explain away everything, to rationalise it. Because humans in this day and age did not truly believe in anything supernatural. Because even if they had been given proof, they would rather deny it.

Logic really was his fatal flaw, wasn\'t it?

A soft sigh escaped Draco\'s lips.

When had his life become so skewed?

Draco\'s silent reflective moment was shattered as the doors burst open and Casi and Chima bounded in, their arms loaded with snack foods. Both were giggling like pixies high on weed.

\"Look, Draco! We scabbed all of this from the kitchens! Isn\'t this cool? We can throw a victory party for Phoenix!\" Chima grinned, dropping his precious cargo onto the table with Casi following suit.

\"I\'m sure Phoenix would appreciate it, but right now he\'s asleep,\" Draco said quietly, indicating they should lower their voices.

\"Oooooh…\" Chima and Casi both said at the same time, instantly becoming sober.

Casi tiptoed to Phoenix\'s bed and peered at the boy before giggling. \"He really is cute when he\'s sleeping. Too bad Aether hogs him so much,\" Casi frowned, wrinkling her nose at the thought. \"But! At least he\'s free of him now!\" Casi stated with a large grin. \"That should teach that good for nothing jerk a thing or two about my Little Phoenix!\" she declared, and proceeded to laugh evilly.

Draco sweat-dropped.

The door opened again as Gryps entered their dorm room. The silver haired boy paused for a moment, as if considering his actions, before making his way over to Phoenix\'s bed. \"How is he handling his freedom?\" Gryps asked after a short period of silence.

\"Right now, it\'s not that I\'m worried about. The marks on his back where the wings burst forth in Metamorphosis triggered some unpleasant memories from his childhood,\" Draco explained quietly, silently surprised that Gryps was showing concern for Phoenix. \"Though when he wakes up, the loss of Aether is certainly something he\'ll have difficulty dealing with.\"

Gryps nodded in acknowledgement.

\"Why would Phoenix be upset about being free of Aether? Isn\'t that what he wanted? I mean, he was the one that challenged Aether to the duel in the first place,\" Casi spoke up, sounding a bit flustered.

\"Phoenix doesn\'t want to be owned by Aether. But he still wants to be with him… Even if he hasn\'t quite realised that for himself yet,\" Draco explained, his inner voice adding \'now that\'s the understatement of the year\' afterwards.

Gryps smirked. \"Well, one of them will make a move sooner or later. Even if it\'s just to die from old age.\" The braided boy turned and walked towards his desk, picking up a large sketch book. \"By the way, in case you\'re surprised by my sudden concern over that brat\'s welfare? It\'s only because he is the true Child of Fire, and he\'s necessary for the future,\" Gryps said, smiling, and making his way to the door.

\"Hey, Gryps, what did you need to do up at the administrations office anyways?\" Casi called out after him. \"And now that I think about it, when did you braid your hair up again? \'Cause if you know some trick to braiding hair that long in five minutes, you have to teach me!\"

Gryps turned and just stared stupidly at her. \"I never wear my hair down. I haven\'t done so for two years. What are you talking about?\"

\"Just now!\" Casi sighed, as if very tired of dealing with thick-headed males. \"We bumped into you on the way back from the kitchens. You were heading towards the admin office, and you had your hair down… You were also wearing different clothes. Wasn\'t he, Chima?\"

The younger boy nodded, his mouth too stuffed with snack foods to answer.

Gryps was visibly paling before their very eyes. \"I never bumped into you just now. I didn\'t change my clothes. And I had no business at the admin office…\"

\"Huh…\" Casi pondered and shrugged. \"Well, they say everyone has an identical counterpart somewhere in the world!\" Casi joked and started laughing again.

But by then, Gryps had already torn out of the room, his sketch book dropping forgotten to the floor. Draco too, was just as shocked by Casi\'s casually revealed information.



~ * ~

The halls and doorways flashed passed Gryps as he tore down them, his cool appearance utterly abandoned. The person that Casi and Chima saw. It was impossible, there was no way it could be him!

But still he ran, taking the stairs three at a time and then jumping down the last five steps. Images from that day assaulted him. Ari\'s face, an exact image of his own, hideously transformed as identical silver eyes looked upon him with great hatred masked within twisted delight.

Surreal. That day had been surreal. Perfect one moment, ripped to shreds the next. And he never did quite understand why.

All his life, he and Ari and been the best of friends. Yes, they had fought, beaten each other bloody at times, but what siblings didn\'t hate each other in heated moments? Ari had always been the leader amongst the two, always the one to initiate the advee, te, to drag the twins into trouble. He had a certain lack of concern for everything that made him fearless and outspoken.

When Ophelia had been born, Gryps had taken it upon himself to look after theirngernger sister. After all, Ari certainly wasn\'t of the caring nurturing nature, and someone had to take care of the little girl when they went out to play.

So because of that, Ophelia had bonded with Gryps, always going to him rather than Ari, and subsequently takin mor more of Gryps\' time. Leaving less to be spent with Ari.

It had never occurred to Gryps that Ari could have been jealous. Ophelia was their sister. Someone they both should have loved and protected. But on that day… the Heavens had come crashing down.

Gryps shut his eyes, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. There was no one there except the administrators. No student anywhere in sight, and certainly none that looked even similar to him. Stupid of him, really. To believe Casi\'s words enough to tear down here to either prove or disprove her. Because the dead didn\'t just come back alive. That just didn\'t happen.

Something changed. His heart was still beating loud enough for him to hear, and his breaths still came in short shallow gasps. But something had changed.

It felt… like there was someone standing very close to him. Close enough to radiate body heat, to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. But that was unlikely… There had been no one near him to begin with, and certainly, had someone approached, their footsteps would have given them away.

\"Diu enu enjoy it…?\" a soft low voice whispered into Gryps\' ear, so close he could feel the hot breath brush across his skin. \"Killing me?\"

Gryps\' molten eyes opened before he could command them to remain shut, locking on a mirror image of his own, smiling back at him. Standing before his his hands placed on either side of Gryps to discourage any notion of escape, was Gryps\' older twin. Long silver hair hung loose down his back, draping seductively over his slim feminine frame.

The past two years slipped away, the icy demeanour falling off like garments to leave the fourteen year old Gryps standing there, trembling as each memory resurfaced like a savage blow.

Ari\'s hand lifted itself and caressed Gryps\' pale face, his lips curving up in a tainted smile. \"Shouldn\'t you be h to to see me, Gryps? We do share the same soul, after all…\"

\"How…?\" Gryps whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from Ari\'s, unable to move even to hit the other\'s hand away.

His twin\'s smile widened. \"Didn\'t I tell you just before you threw me off the cliff? I am the other half of your soul. It would be rather rude of me to leave you behind, now wouldn\'t it, Brother? If the roles were reversed, wouldn\'t you have done the same for me?\" Ari leaned forward, closing what little space was between them. \"Oh, wait, you wouldn\'t have,\" Ari whispered, lips brushing against Gryps\' ear. \"You abandoned me before I even hit the ground.\"

Ari pulled away, his laughter rising in volume and echoing down the halls. \"We were meant to be one, Gryps,\" Ari proclaimed, grinning. \"And before Aether\'s plans draw to a close, we\'ll have to do some soul bonding. Something that, I must admit, I am highly anticipating.\" Flashing a final smile, Ari walked away, leaving Gryps cleaving to the wall, staring after him with glazed silver eyes.

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