Chapter Thirty-Six

Two armies are coming at me

Their flags and weapons look the same

One tells the truth, the other's lying

And they're both calling my name

This is how villains are made

There lies my sanity

There goes my mind, I could not save

I don't trust, but I see right in front of me

I don't know who to betray

Chapter 36 - 'you reap what you sow'

Nephele's POV

"Handing her over will do shit and you know it!"

"Not handing her over will also do shit and you also know it!" The other person counters.

"So, are you willing to risk the entirety of the realms and the power you hold just because you cannot grow some fucking balls and fight back? What are you Zeus, a fucking scaredy-cat?" I almost laugh, if they weren't speaking about me as if I wasn't right next to them.

We sat in a large conference looking room. Except this conference room was the size of the Parthenon, and hosted thirteen chairs at the main table, with more chairs lining the walls.

In these thirteen chairs sat the most powerful gods in the realms. Some were in their Greek forms, others in Norse, some in roman and others in forms I didn't know. I noticed two against the wall who were in their native American forms. They were all the ones I could recognise, which made me feel bad for not furthering my cultural and religious studies in high school.

I didn't look or stare for too long, mainly because it was rude but also because they were starring at me with a sense of disbelief, bewilderment and fear.

I didn't want to know why they were scared.

"Maybe we should take a break." Athena – who was only recognisable because of her golden hair, golden arm wrapped whip and crown of literal gold – pipes up from her seat at the golden table.

I was sitting at one of the heads, opposite Zeus who looked at me with so much disdain it was amazing that I was still breathing. He seemed like he was going to throw a lightning bolt at me just for existing at this point. He was seething at Lucifer, who was also seething.

This was something I hadn't expected. I mean the room, the people or Gods, and their forms. Interesting, but something that was surprising.

"I agree to that." A god who sat opposite Athena noted, but I didn't have a clue as to who he was. He seemed important, and the way he spoke seemed extremely knowledgeable.

I didn't know who was in charge here, and I didn't know if there was anyone in charge, which made me confused.

I nodded and stood from my seat, all eyes on me again. I looked briefly at my father, who stood against the wall with grim eyes and a harsh expression. He hadn't spoken yet, but Lucifer and I knew where he stood. It was everyone else here.

I didn't let it bother me, only looking at Lucifer with his dark hair turning towards me and his equally dark red eyes boring holes into my own. I realised what this form of him was when I entered this meeting.

To be fair, as complicated as this world was, it made sense that he was able to – along with the other gods – shift forms between their multiple envisioned selves. For example, Athena had demonstrated that she was able to shift between her Greek and Roman forms quite easily. I think she had more forms, but just couldn't be bothered explaining more than the basics to me as we introduced.

She seemed nice regardless, but she seemed intellectually ruthless. She would make an interesting alley, but an even more interesting enemy.

Nonetheless, Lucifer was in his 'Hades' form. It fit perfectly.

The hair, the eyes, the clothing. They were the same person – same attitude, powers, thoughts, feelings. They just looked physically different which I found quite fascinating.

I walked away from the table, having not been asked a single thing about how I felt in this situation. It was infuriating. I was just as powerful as them (of course they didn't need to know that I had a long way to come in terms of training until I was back to that sort of power level) and yet they treated me as a child.

A child!

I was almost older than half of them by centuries!

Technically speaking of course. In this lifetime I was only twenty-something. Twenty-four, I think. Although I don't know if my birthday had come or not, so give or take a year.

I brought my hand up to my brows and rubbed furiously, wishing the headache forming to leave.

I could hear Lucifer a mere step away as he followed me with a huff, the floor-length black cape-looking thing he wore swaying in formation with his strides. He looked hot, but I didn't have the will to admit or acknowledge that fact right now. More important things were taking place today.

He was on guard, and so was Cerberus, who was somewhere concealed within the shadows. I felt Thanatos' presence as well, and I knew that he was ordered here by Lucifer. Lucifer was worried that they were going to try something here.

And by something, he meant to kidnap and then give to my mother in hopes they wouldn't be harmed by her if they handed over the thing she wanted most.

They were dumb if they didn't realise that although she wanted me, she didn't desire me the most. She wanted power, and she was using me to get that.

I open my eyes as I push through the large, heavy and golden doors, Lucifer stepping in front of me by a step. He takes my hand and leads me somewhere within these castle walls. I didn't take in many details, my head whirling with conversations that took place.

I did notice that after taking three right turns and two left ones, the corridor we were in opened up to a small square garden. It was romantic and cute. The garden was surrounded by four open hallways, each of which had a soft grey balustrade separating the hall from the garden itself. He pulled me through the balustrade opening, gently tugging on my arm as he led me to the stone seat in the middle of the garden.

I can hear him breathe harshly and know that he is angry with them. I didn't expect any less. The small heart-shaped leaves from the ground shrubs brush against my clothed legs, and the flowers that scent the room glow brighter as I look at them – their blush, rose and pink colours vibrating with golden dust as they realise someone is in their presence.

They were magically, and I was distracted for a little while. I smiled when I kept looking around, noticing the beauty of the small garden. Looking above, the glass roofing glittered with a faux sun that was glimmering overhead, the shards of glass that seemingly hung from the ceiling casting a wonderous sparkle to the garden.

Lucifer sat me down on the stone bench, kneeling down on two feet in front of me. He rolled his eyes and I laughed at him, letting him fall to his knees in front of me. He placed his head on my lap with a huff, and I laughed again.

I put one hand on his cheek adoringly, and the other in his hair. I let one hand run through his hair, liking the way his clean hair was silky and smooth to touch, and somehow wishing mine was like that.

He brings his head up and looks at me from below. I small grin lights his face up, the black silk falling onto his forehead. I make a move to push it away, and bring my two hands to cup his cheeks. With two soft strokes of my thumbs, I lean down and gently kiss him in the lips. It was just a peck, but my body still reacted with a shiver.

As via his promise, we spoke about communication this morning before the meeting. We also spoke about a lot of other things, which made me overtly comfortable around him.

But as soon as we arrived at this place – Lucifer having teleported us in – he turned into his cold-hearted, dicky self. I understood why the moment I spoke to them or interacted with them. That's how he was expected to be, and so I didn't push.

"I don't know how this is going to work out, but if you tell me you want to leave, we can. At any time." I smile at him and nod. I was going to reply, but I watched as his eyes glazed over slightly, and I knew someone was talking to him. I figured it was Thanatos as he was the only one, I knew who was able to link minds easily with Lucifer.

I lick my lips, feeling them dry out a little, and continue to admire the garden around me.

"Amare, I have to go for a little. I don't want to-" I cut him off with a smile.

"You don't want to leave me but have to and blah blah blah." I smile down at him and roll my eyes playfully. He only growls lightly, a guttural sound coming from his throat that makes me roll my eyes more. "I'll be fine. I will just stay here for a little okay?" I hum and reply and let go of him as he stands.

He smiles down at me, taking his rough hand and placing it on my cheek. He puts a thumb over my lip, softly dragging the calloused finger over my lip. I cheekily bring out my tongue and swipe at his thumb, which elicits a groan from his lips and a playful poke back. I laugh and push him away, but he doesn't relent, and instead comes down to my leave and places his lips below my ear. With a soft kiss and a whisper of words, he is gone a second.

"Cerberus is in the shadows my love, do not fret."

I roll my eyes at his implementation but stand regardless. I just wanted to look around the garden a little. In the middle of the garden, where I was, was the stone bench. All the sides opened up into the balustrade of the hallways, which all lead to their own respective parts of this castle. Above was the glass roof but what I didn't notice was that below the glass floated the vibrating pink flowers and bright green vines wrapped around adjourning branches of trees.

I gasp lightly in wonder at the beauty of the place.

"All love stories find their way back to their beginnings, doesn't it seem?" I turn on my heel at the velvety voice that speaks from behind me. I give a small, but fake, smile to the man who spoke to me.

It was the same man who spoke for the meeting to be adjourned briefly earlier, agreeing with Athena on the matter.

"Do not fret child, I bring no harm to you." I nod but still remain tense at him. He seems to notice but doesn't say anything and remains standing against the balustrade, one hand in his pocket and the other resting against the green flower decoration that wraps itself up the stone column marking the entrance to the garden.

He had blonde hair, bright and golden. He also looked young. Maybe the same as my age physically which was surprising. A lot of the gods looked a little older than that, but I guess they could pick and choose what they wanted.

Blue eyes seemingly fitted with the look he went for, along with rather muscular tones to be seen below the white dress shirt he wore. He seemed modern, the dress pants plainly black, with the shirt tucked in. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone as well, indicating he wasn't going for fully formal attire. He wasn't unattractive, but I didn't find him particularly comparable to Lucifer.

"Who are you?" I ask timidly, smiling graciously and using my charm against him in case it was necessary. He was looking at the plant that dangled in between his fingers, stroking its soft leaves with upmost care, and only smiled with a chuckle as I asked.

"I go by many names my child. They don't matter in this circumstance." I nod my head, remaining tense.

"I say that love stories always come back to where they started for this is the garden that Lucifer first introduced himself to you." I nod my head along, "Of course you don't remember the meeting, do you?" I don't know how to respond to the proposition so I remain quiet on that topic.

"What is the point in retelling stories." It wasn't a question, more a proposition of my own. He turns his head, the sharp jawline snapping in my direction with God like precision. His smile held a thousand thoughts, and his eyes held a million secrets.

"I liked you, always have and I have a feeling I always will." His voice didn't give away what type of likening he had towards me but with the way he spoke, I figured it won't be romantic. "There was just something about you. Being the second most powerful figure every to be born in all the realms – how does it feel?" I bite my lip subconsciously, maintaining eye contact, searching for answers.

If I was second, was Lucifer first? That didn't make sense.

"Lucifer, although powerful, doesn't have quite the.." he pauses "potential, you do." I nod my head, realising he can read my mind just like Lucifer could.

"Who is the most powerful then?" I ask naively, knowing that he probably won't answer.

"You already know the answer to that question. Good, you learn well. The most powerful isn't your mother, that's all that matters here." A breath of relief, but I already knew that was a true factor here.

"Disregard all that my child, and listen carefully to my words." I swallow deeply, noticing how he steps forward one step, the power that flows from him grows and washes over me, like a wave penetrating my own forces.

"I warned you back then, and I will warn you again." His voice was darker than it was moments prior and I swallowed deeply once more, fear igniting my system as adrenaline flooded my veins. I was going into fight or flight at this rate, especially if he kept looking at me as if I am prey.

"Lucifer won't and will never be able to save you, my child. This story will end the same way each time, and there will be no relent in your mothers' forces. This will be a never-ending story. There is no way out for you, my dear, especially with his help." I go to speak at him, ask him how what, and why he knows about this, but he holds a finger up and silences me. I gap at him but close my mouth, accepting his words as most likely true.

I had already accepted that as the truth here.

"The only way you can stop this is if you stop this yourself." His eyes squint slightly at me as if he is judging me.

"What does that mean?" I push, stepping forward myself in an act to challenge him.

"It means what I said." I scoff and he smiles

"Yeah, no fucking shit asshole." I roll my eyes at him and turn away, moving around purposeless to burn some energy. He only laughs at my retort.

"Oh, how lucky Lucifer is to have someone like you." I scowl at his words.

"Oh, how lucky your soulmate is to have you." I mimic and lock eyes with him, narrowing my own and hoping I hit a nerve. It was only a second – flash across his eyes – but I saw it. He didn't have one. A twinge of guilt hits my heart but I don't say anything. He only narrows his eyes in retaliation.

"I'll let that slide because I like you." I roll my eyes and watch as Lucifer fabricates into existence with a cruel smile on his lips. I smile with a stab of relief hitting me, knowing that I am not alone anymore.

"Ah Lucifer, my favourite creation." He smiles at Lucifer.

"I feel as though that joke is getting old, brother." Lucifer only pushes past him with a shove and comes closer to me. Wrapping an arm possessively around my waist, he faces the golden-haired man.

"That's not how the Christians recall the event." The man remarks.

"Just because you were created first, doesn't make you the Almighty God in family terms." The cheek in his voice leaves me appalled.

"But it does in Human terms. Go cry to the thousand other realms who agree, and then also go whine to the other thousand religions who, you guessed it; also agree." He begins to walk away as my eyes widen.

"You're God."

"In the flesh, although I do prefer the name Allah. Some religions call me Izacar too, that is the most modernized name though." I make the connection between Islam and Christianity, in that they both pay their religious respects to a singular higher power, regardless of their differences.

I had to recall back to Lucifer and I's conversation at the dinner table one time. He had to explain the concept of mixed religious identities to me multiple times (possibly because my mundane brain couldn't handle the concept as well as she wanted to believe she could).

I nod my head as walks the way he appeared, but I call out once more.

"If you know what you told me as true, then why not tell the rest." He turns, whipping a smile over his shoulder as he does so.

"I am bound by the laws of this universe. What I said to you is a stretch of those laws; telling the rest of them? Impossible. The universe controls us, much as we control the contents within this universe."

I nod at his words, realisation kicking in.

He didn't set mates and life paths and create any of us. In this realm – in this universe – he is just seen as the most powerful, but that didn't dictate his power within these realms.

I smile at him, even though his turned back cannot see it. He walks the way we came here, and with a second, he is gone behind the walls and down to the room in which we must also return to.

"What did he say to you?" I turn to him with a bright smile.

"This is the place where we first met. Why didn't you tell me?" I take his hand in mine, and squeeze it tightly. I may be slightly changing the topic. I knew what Lucifer's brother meant.

I almost laughed at him being Lucifer's brother – Izacar. It was just a lot different to what I knew of Christianity. I couldn't say the same about Islam, as I didn't practise it nor know enough about it to make a comment. I also couldn't recall any religion having an almighty figure named Izacar, but there was no point busying myself with names and religions at this point in time.

"Because I wanted you to experience it for the first time again, without stressing about memories again." His intentions were sweet which was comforting at least.

He knew that I did stress about remembering things, even though I knew I couldn't. I would never be able to recall what happened in the past before this lifetime, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

"I don't know if I can convince them... I will try my hardest Amare. I won't stop until we win." I look up at him, my hands resting steadily against his forearms, looking into his eyes and noting the burning passion that ignites them, noting the way they sparkle when he looks my way, noting the undying promise.

He won't stop until he has me.

Or until he is dead.

I nod my head to him, and give him a fake but bright smile, hoping he doesn't see the dimming light in my eyes or the falling corners of my lips.

"We should get back." I remind him kindly, looking at him briefly before he nods and begins walking in the direction that we came. I sigh lightly, rethinking about Izacar's words.

I knew what he meant.

I know the outcome already.

But he was wrong. I couldn't stop her alone. Having Lucifer here didn't make me weaker, and it didn't hinder my success.

I would prove that to him, whether that be out of spite or need.

We wouldn't know until later regardless.

So, I walk back into that meeting room with a purpose, and a voice.

Word Count: 3370 (Quite short i know) Also a filler.

We will see more next time, on...

(Total Drama Island)

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QOTC: uhm I am running out of ideas again, favourite book?

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SONG: How Villians Are Made - Madalene Duke

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