Divinitas

051 - Black and White

~ * ~

Walking towards the awaiting Child of Air was like walking towards royalty, complete with an escort of guards to each side of him, overlooking all that took place.

Only… the chains were still there. And the two Tenshi on either side of him were holding the ends.

Phoenix faltered, confusion flashing across his face as he noted the elaborate shackles still encircling the Child of Air he had encountered in the carriage on their day of arrival. He had assumed then that the chains were merely there because he had been a \'sacrifice,\' placed on by ignorant priests that worshipped an even more ignorant god. But now…

\"Why is he still in chains?\" Phoenix asked Ashura, paying no mind to Chimaera who had already ran up to the Child of Air and was literally climbing all over him.

\"Watch,\" was the only reply Phoenix was given, along with a slightly playful smile.

Frowning, the Child of Fire turned his scarlet eyes back to the Child of Air. Chimaera was trying to nag the Child of Air into speaking, tugging at his lifeless arms, and failing that, pulling on his long silver hair.

A sadistic smile suddenly lit up the previously apathetic face, and the Child of Air\'s delicate hand shot out like a striking snake, fingers digging into Chimaera\'s small neck. The boy gave a surprised yelp, fear overtaking his playfulness in the blink of an eye.

It all happened so fast. It was over just as quickly. A roar like thunder rolled through the air accompanied by the tinkle of suddenly taunt chains. A huge beast erupted from the ground, hooves cutting into the perfectly smooth lawn, dragon\'s tail whipping out and lashing innocent trees. The lion\'s head roared again, revealing dangerous teeth. Poisonous green eyes glared hatefully at everyone present, keeping them all at a distance from itself and the Child of Earth who now rode upon its back.

\"Ne, it\'s alright… I\'m okay. Please, don\'t hurt anyone?\" Chimaera soft voice whispered into the Divine Beast of Earth\'s ear, carrying over to Phoenix in the sudden silence. Yet despite the sudden appearance of a Divine Beast, Phoenix\'s wide crimson eyes were locked on the Child of Air. On his silver eyes that grinned manically, delighted at the pain and fear he had brought to the once quiet scene. This was not the person who had been standing there moments ago.

\"Don\'t lay a finger on him…\" the Child of Air warned with a threatening smile, arms pulled taunt out to either side of him by the Tenshi. Yet still he was smiling, grinning, silver-grey eyes dark with malice and sadistic intent.

The Divine Beast of Earth snarled, tossing its magnificent head in annoyance. With another pleading request from Chimaera, it lowered itself to allow the child off its back before diving back into the now ruined ground.

\"Are you sure that was the wise thing to do, brat?\" the Child of Air smirked, jerking pointedly on his chains. \"No hideously deformed beast to protect you… I might just mangle you little neck.\"

Chimaera backed away, slowly making his way back towards Phoenix across the ruptured grassy ground. \"He\'s so dark,\" the child shivered, hand clutching at Phoenix\'s garment. \"He was nice before, but now he\'s… not.\"

\"Yes. And that\'s the answer to your question, Phoenix,\" Ashura said with another smile. \"This Child of Air has two sides, one light, and one dark. So we\'ve taken up on calling them the \'Griffin of the Light\' and the \'Griffin of the Dark\' respectively.\" The Tenshi walked closer to the chained Child of Air, watching him carefully. \"And the reason we\'ve come to the conclusion that he will become the God of Air is that the Griffin of the Dark has already killed the majority of the other Children of Air we brought to Ten.\"

The Child of Air smirked evilly at Ashura. \"Ah, because they touched him. He\'s mine. No one may hurt him except me.\"

\"I\'m sure he appreciates your protectiveness,\" Ashura answered, the soft amused smile never faltering.

\"He hates me for it,\" the Child of Air replied, the grin widening, transforming his once angelic face into a demon\'s mask.

Ashura made a sympathetic sound before gesturing to Phoenix and Chimaera. \"I brought some of your comrades. The future God of Fire and God of Earth. I thought you might like some company, since the Tenshi have had you confined to yourself since your last little massacre?\"

\"One is a brat, and the other is an abandoned street rat. What makes you think I would even want to look at their disgusting faces?\" the Child of Air said loudly, flashing a dangerous smile at the pair. \"He has already met that Child of Fire. And frankly, I don\'t think he\'s worth knowing.\"

\"Ah. So you are afraid that Phoenix here and your other half might become friends and leave you out of the picture?\" Ashura teased, smiling happily just out of the Child of Air\'s reach.

The Child of Air\'s grin died, the silver eyes darkening. \"Do not suggest that, even in jest, if you wish to keep your dirty wings, Tenshi.\"

\"But you know that\'s what your other half wants…\" Ashura continued, a soft sweet whisper next to the Griffin of the Dark\'s ear. \"You, out of the picture. Out of his body, out of his life. Forever.\"

It had the desired effect. The wind whipped up, tearing violently at all present, ripping mercilessly at clothing and hair. Slashes of vivid blood splattered across the lush green grass, silvery-grey feathers twisting wildly in the turbulent air.

Everything stilled, fell silent. The feathers speckled with bright red blood floated gently to the ground. The sharp tip of a blade pressed against the Griffin of the Dark\'s throat, backed by burning crimson eyes.

Phoenix\'s forcibly calm voice broke the silence. \"Ashurou wou wanted me to train with him. Cut with the chit-chat and release him so I can kick the shit out of him and shut his slimy mouth.\"

The icy silver eyes smirked at the blazing red eyes that had never broken their intense glare. Chains tinkled as they fell through the air and gathered like silver serpents at the Griffin of the Dark\'s feet. With exaggerated grace, the youth composed himself, drawing his dancer\'s limbs back close to his body. \"I\'ll enjoy cutting you to pieces, Child of Fire… I want to thank you in advance for your generous offering of your body and blood,\" the Child of Air said with a malevolent smile, silver eyes dark with a wicked delight.

The Child of Fire made no acknowledgment of the mockery, pulling his double ended sword back instead, and backing away in measured steps to allow himself the distance to defend and attack. His free arm swept out and forcibly moved Ashura back and away from the battle ground, his blood-thirsty eyes never once leaving the Child of Air\'s.

Nothing else existed theust ust Fire and Air.



~ * ~
\"Is this what they call a \'date\', Lord Deus?\" Aether asked, his voice highly amused. \"This is the first time you\'ve asked me to meet you outside your apartments. Not to mention, out of your bed.\"

Deus let a small smile grace his lips, glancing sidewards at the God of Soul. \"I thought you might like to see the merchandise. After all, half a soul is a very high price to pay… You should make sure that what you are acquiring is flawless, shouldn\'t you?\"

Aether let out a pearl of false laughter, stepping in front of the taller god and placing his finely moulded hand on the flat of Deus\' chest. The amethyst-eyed fiend leaned forward, closing the distance between them and smiled seductively up into the deep sky blue eyes. \"Don\'t assume you\'ve won, my Lord. And even if you have, I think I\'m the one getting the better end of the deal. After all, what use is an unfeeling half-soul to anyone, myself included?\"

The God of Ten caught Aether\'s wrist in his larger hand and brought it up to his lips, placing a delicate kiss on Aether\'s palm. \"Don\'t assume I have lost, my dearest Aether. And as for your soul, I wouldn\'t offer this trade if I didn\'t truly want half of it.\"

The golden youth slipped his hand out of Deus\' hold gracefully, turning around to continue their walk to their destination. \"Why half then. Why not all of it?\" Aether questioned, his voice light, casual. As if he didn\'t really care either way… which was probably the reality.

\"You are the God of Soul, and you need ask such a question?\" Deus asked, letting his genuine surprise surface in his voice.

\"No, but I\'m curious as to your answer. Do you really love me that much?\" Aether\'s voice had turned mocking. It wasn\'t even playful. There was distaste and contempt underlying each word.

It brought a flare of anger to Deus\' face, lost to Aether who couldn\'t even be bothered looking at him. \"My answer,\" Deus echoed, forcing a smile and suppressing the resentment he felt. \"I can not have you because you do not love me, and never will. So I would have a piece of you, and leave the rest so you will still exist. Because, yes, I really do love you that much, and have no intention of letting you continue as a mere shell as you would if you lost your entire soul.\"

Aether shrugged. \"What difference would it make, really. I am a mere shell, aren\'t I? A pretty doll for you to play with.\" Something was different. Subtle, deep beneath the surface. Something that even Aether himself was not aware of. Regret. A desire for change. A stirring of long forgotten emotions. The beat of a cold empty heart. It made Deus want to smile in triumph.

Bright golden sunlight enveloped them as the two gods stepped from the enclosed halls of the ce. ce. Violent winds swirled beyond the protection of the glittering white walls, its tongues lashings out at their garments, one of pure white, the other of darkest night. Air danced with fire, each rearing up high into the clear sky, twirling, twisting together like a two magnificent serpents.

The two chosen elemental children were locked together in battle within the eye of the storm, their respective elements pealing off them like waves in sync with each physical strike or blow. Nothing existed outside of their private battlefield, nothing except their strength and their will, their emotions that boiled and flared. One of burning will, the other of twisted protectiveness.

Deus smiled as he glanced at Aether, seeing the God of Soul\'s amethyst eyes locked on the Child of Fire, the slightest of frowns marring his perfect face. Oh, he had chosen well, that particular Child of Fire. Proverbial flame attracting the moth. That Child of Fire was everything Aether was not, and Aether\'s heart and soul knew that, even if he could not consciously understand the significance. So his heart and soul wanted the Child, needed him, desperately. A reason to live. A will to live. A Dream and Wish worth dying for.

\"Do you want him?\" A seductive whisper in his ear, his breath caressing the sensitive flesh like a butterfly\'s brushing wing.

It was as if he was pulling himself up from a deep dream, the length of time it took before Aether answered, turning his head and giving that cold empty smile. \"Maybe… But you know… If I really did want him, I do not necessary need for him to become the God of Fire, now do I? Should he simply die, then his soul is mine to keep for eternity.\"

Deus laughed, gesturing with his hand to the fight between the Child of Air and the Child of Fire. \"Do you really think he\'s one willing to die…? My dearest Aether… you want him because he will never die.\"

Just the slightest flicker, a pebble\'s ripple across the surface of Aether\'s soul. Then the cool calm of apathy again, and that unfeeling smile. \"Then perhaps I can make him change his mind. It would be nice, having someone willing to die for me.\"

The God of Ten merely smiled. \"We shall see.\"



~ * ~
He was bleeding from too many placed to count. Shallow cuts, stinging and painful as his sweat trickled into the open wounds. That bastard. That twisted and sick Child of Air. How many times had he had the chance toish ish him with one precisely placed knife of air? Instead he chose to cut him to pieces slowly, drawing blood and pain like it was some fine game. So he had repaid the favour in full. There would be no mercy of a quick kill in this game.

The world suddenly froze. The streams of air and fire hung in the air, his double ended sword too was immobile, as if stuck within a dense unmovable substance. He could move. But nothing else. Shooting a glaring glance at the Child of Air revealed the same had happened to him.

\"I think that will be enough for today,\" a cultured voice said, breaking the sudden silence. The frozen elements vanished, the weapons, now freed, clattered to the ruined ground. \"After all, I wouldn\'t want the future Elemental Gods to be scarred and burnt when the phrase of the Full Moon comes…\"

The Griffin of the Dark smirked. \"No, of course not, Lord Deus. Not with your fetish for what is beautiful, at least.\" The Child of Air smoothly picked up his twin daggers and twirled them in his hand before guiding them home to the two sheathes strapped to his thighs. With a final dark smile at the bleeding Phoenix, the silver haired boy promptly collapsed onto the ground.

Phoenix caught himself before he took two steps towards the downed Child of Air, shaking his head angrily and wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his equally bloody hand. The blazing crimson eyes turned sharply to the God of Ten, noticing for the first time the God of Soul standing beside him, returning his burning glare with a softly amused smile. A predatory gaze that said \'I enjoy seeing you covered in your own blood.\'

With a snarl of intolerance, Phoenix snatched his sword up from the ground and turned his back on the two deities, stalking to where Chimaera and Ashura waited. The Child of Earth dashed past him as he approached them, intent on helping the fallen Griffin of Light.

Ashura was slightly amused by Phoenix\'s forced ignorance of the two gods. So he would prefer to pretend they didn\'t exist. Very well. It would play itself out beautifully.

\"You did well. I\'m impressed,\" Ashura said quietly, pride in his voice, as Phoenix sank down onto the finely carved marble bench next to him. The boy made no reply, opting instead to watch Chima gently help the Child of Air to his feet and carry him slowly back to them. Looking everywhere else except at where he was most drawn by pure anger and hate. \"I also must thank you for your interference earlier.\"

The boy made a slight noise of acknowledgement, finally turning his eyes to Ashura\'s dusty wings. \"How are they?\"

\"Better than you are. They will be healed by tomorrow. You, on the other hand…\" The Tenshi lifted a hand and touched Phoenix\'s bleeding cheek, drawing closer to the exhausted boy. \"Here, let me heal you.\" His voice had fallen to a soft caressing whisper, one that mimicked the soft strokes of his fingers along Phoenix\'s cheek.

Subconsciously, the boy leaned into the caress, closing his eyes half out of exhaustion, half out of the sweetness of being comforted. Gently, soft lips were pressed against his flushed skin, moving over the open cuts and sending shivers of pleasure down the length of his body. It made him feel too relaxed, too comfortable. And the pain from the cuts on his face… they faded with each touch of the gentle lips. He could almost feel them heal over, touched by some divine power.

And then those soft lips were over his, applying gentle pressure that seeped cool warmth into his heated, pounding body. Ashura\'s warm wet tongue touched Phoenix\'s lips, seeking entrance. Feeling all too lost in physical sensations, the boy didn\'t hesitate, tasting Ashura\'s being with his own.

It was sweet, gentle, this touching of lips and wet warm tongues. Slow, careful, anything but burning or desperate.

Finally, Ashura drew back, lips glistening with warm saliva, pulling with him a find string of the mingled liquitweetween them before it broke like a finely spin spider thread. Phoenix slowly opened his crimson eyes, the peaceful contented expression on his face changing into one of curiosity.

\"What did you just do…?\" Phoenix asked, his voice just a little deeper than it usually was, coloured by the sensation of a new experience.

\"I kissed you,\" Ashura answered with a warm smile, his fingers still resting against Phoenix\'s now flawless cheek.

\"Kiss…?\" Phoenix wondered, letting the foreign word whisper from his mouth. He touched his fingertips to his lips, feeling how they throbbed, echoing the pounding of his heart.

\"Yes. What one might call an intimate act to express one\'s feeling for another. Often affection or love… But sometimes for the simple act of possession or even hate,\" Ashura\'s husky voice explained, his fingers curling around Phoenix\'s hand and pulling it away from his lips. \"Did you enjoy it?\"

No clear answer came to Phoenix. It felt nice, pleasurable. Something he wouldn\'t mind doing again. Only… how did that show love and respect? It felt empty. Some part inside of him was yearning for something that this \'kiss\' lacked completely.

Yes, did you enjoy it?

Such a simple question could not have held more jealousy or rage. It ripped through the tranquillity of his mind, accusing, hurt. The voice, Aether\'s voice, sounded as if it was wounded by the deepest betrayal.

Phoenix tore his eyes away from Ashura\'s dark dusty blue ones, seeking out the source of the voice. Where the God of Soul was standing before was now only an empty sunlit paved path. A great pressure swelled within Phoenix\'s chest, one that clutched his heart and demanded release.

His body rose in a fluid motion, pulling his wrist free from Ashura\'s fingers as he crossed the distance that spanned between him and where Aether had stood. In his rush to catch up with the God of Soul, neither the look of amusement from Ashura or the triumphant smile from Deus registered to Phoenix.

It wasn\'t until Phoenix\'s hand reached out and closed around Aether\'s black clothed shoulder, and had slammed the taller youth into the closest wall, that Phoenix calmed enough for his actions to register in his mind.

\"Why.\" The word growled out from the back of his throat, its fury matching that in Phoenix\'s burning crimson eyes. \"Why did you ask that!\" he shouted, digging his nails into the God of Soul\'s shoulder when Aether gave no reaction. \"Why did you feel betrayed and hurt?!\"

Something violent flashed across Aether\'s face before a veil of apathy closed down upon the storm of emotions. The God of Soul\'s hand reached up and took hold of Phoenix\'s jaw, pulling his face unwillingly closer. His other free hand snaked up under Phoenix\'s white bloodied garment, winding around the small of his back.

\"Did you know kisses have different meanings depending on where they are given, Child of Fire?\" Aether asked quietly, pulling Phoenix\'s tense and trembling body down onto his with a powerful jerk. The boy shoved vntlyntly against him until Aether\'s nails sunk into his naked side like claws, threatening to deliver more pain unless he kept still like an obedient pet. Phoenix stiffened, resigning himself to simply glare hatefully into those glazed amethyst eyes.

\"A sincerely given kiss on the lips means \'I love you\',\" Aether breathed, his lips brushing against Phoenix\'s, his warm scentless breath washing over the boy\'s flushed skin. \"On the cheek means \'I only want to be friends\',\" the God of Soul continued, his lips moving over each position as he spoke of them, almost touching, but never quite making definite contact. \"And on one\'s neck…\" Aether whispered, tilting Phoenix\'s head back, \"means \'I want you\'.\"

The God\'s lips descended, closing possessively over the shivering naked flesh of Phoenix\'s neck. Warm and demanding, they pressed against the boy\'s pulse, as if he would lay claim to that too. Perfect teeth scraped lightly against the wet skin, sensual, savage and primal. Aether\'s hand holding Phoenix\'s chin released it, sliding back behind the boy\'s head to cradle it, pressing him just that much closer to his devouring lips.

Before Phoenix knew what was happening, the world spun, and he was suddenly the one pinned against the wall, with the taller God of Soul licking up the length of his neck in one long sensual stroke.

\"Did you enjoy that?\" Aether\'s breathy voice crooned into his ear, one hand gently massaging the back of Phoenix\'s neck, the other still digging into his side with a predator\'s keenness.

Phoenix could barely breathe. His heart was racing, whether from fear, anger or the thrill of thass, ss, he didn\'t know. Oh yes. That had been enjoyable. More than enjoyable. It was sick and twisted and designed to stab at his weakness.

Tears stung at his blood red eyes, and bitterness coloured his voice when he could finally speak. \"What right do you have to even imply such a thing,\" Phoenix accused, his whole body suddenly trembling. \"That you want me. Or that you were hurt by Ashura kissing me on the lips. You have a lot of nerve, Aether, to say you want me now, only when someone else has given me worth. Damn you, Aether. Fucking damn to back to your dirty Earth!\"

With a violent twist, the boy broke free of Aether\'s cruel embrace, wincing as the God\'s nails ripped four parallel gashes along his side. He shoved himself away from the wall, intent on not being caught beneath that lithe body again. \"I begged you,\" Phoenix growled, backing slowing away from the cold smile that graced Aether\'s lips and eyes, feeling the angry throb of his torn flesh. \"I humiliated myself, begging some high and mighty god like that. Do you know what it is like, to be hated so much everyone around you wanted you dead, and failing to kill you, just buried you alive, out of sight and out of sound?\" Phoenix continued, the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. \"A slow lonely death. That was what was in store for me. Locked irknerkness, with nothing before me except decay. I didn\'t want to. God, I didn\'t want to. But when you\'re starved and half mad, you can\'t control what you do or say. So I prayed to you, my God. I begged you for some merciful release. I can\'t even count how many times I begged and grovelled, crying out for you, my Merciful and Divine God of Soul.

\"But you never answered. You never heard me, or you chose to ignore me. You, who are meant to be the God of Chikyuu. You, who are meant to watch over your subjects. You left me to such a death.

\"And now, only now, do you say you want me. When I have every chance of gaining divinity and residence here in Ten, accepted and loved. I hate you for that. More than anything, more than your forcing these cursed elemental powers onto unknowing children, I hate you for only wanting me now, and not when I needed you!\"

Aether simply looked amused, tilting his head to one side. \"Reall he he asked in an almost bored voice. \"Let me tell you something, my Phoenix… The way you were before your \'death\' would not have been worth saving.\"

The God of Soul stopped, letting the words sink their poisoned fangs into the most fragile part of the boy. His voice then turned cold, almost hateful. \"It is people like who you were that has made me the way I am, and why I turn a deaf ear on all my subjects now. \'Save me!\' \'Listen to me!\' Always excepting some higher power to help them, rather than simply relying on themselves and living for themselves.

\"I\'m glad, my Phoenix, of what has befallen you. It ignited the fire and will that I want, that\'s worthy of wanting,\" Aether said quietly, his voice deadly.

Something about Aether had changed. Just a slight shifting within him. It dried up Phoenix\'s tears, turned his bitterness and hatred towards Aether into a deep seated fear of his own self.

In the blink of an eye, Aether\'s body was pressed up against the Child of Fire\'s smaller form, his hands holding Phoenix\'s face, his lips sealed against Phoenix\'s lips. It seared, drinking deep into each other\'s souls. A pull that tugged at both beings, melded them together until neither could define where their self ended and the other began.

Your first kiss… should have been mine.

Because…

I am what moulded you into what I need and want the most, my Phoenix.

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