Chapter Text
Apollo hurries, hand firm on his sword. He hadn’t been able to find her, Graves, despite all his efforts. He asked a few of the people who know her, he looked in all the hidden spots of the school, and he snuck back into the school the way she taught him. Nothing. Graves had up and vanished.. and by the gods it worried him. It had to be the Lich. As for why… he couldn’t ascertain. He hoped, by the gods hoped it wouldn’t be—
Apollo pivots quickly into an alleyway, avoiding the gaze of a few policemen patrolling. The curfew had already started. People should be inside by now, and while Apollo could talk his way out of it, he’d prefer to keep himself free from the headache. If anything, he could easily use this to get to The Archmother’s base quicker. Just down this…alleyway He paused, glancing at the wall. There was a bullet hole in it, though it had been clearly cleaned up otherwise. Probably just a human civil dispute. With a scoff, he was off to the base.
…. Hopefully Graves would be there. She doesn’t skip often, perhaps distracted, but full on not being there? That is rare for her. She works hard, and for her to be missing on the day of the ritual? Hopefully she hadn’t second guessed herself, and instead decided to get there first to prepare. Or that hand hadn’t pulled her away.. if it has, then nothing he could do would convince her to continue the ritual, or even worse, if she had decided to stand with the other patron. He didn't want to kill her, it'd be a terrible shame, and he really enjoys her presence in the labs and her skill in the work. He could feel a smile slowly bloom on his face as he remembered the banter in the small hallway between them.
Almost as if they had teleported, two guardians stood in front of him, both of which were regarding him with one blank eye. It was the Archmother's base, he had already gotten there. He quietly chastised himself for getting lost in his thoughts again, so close to the ritual's start. The Guardians turn in place, the ground grinding and screeching in protest, before their hands extend out, indicating for Apollo to enter.
Once he does, a breathy, reverent “By the gods…” escapes from his lips as he looks up at… at her. At the Archmother. Ghostly and yet still stone-like in construction, she looks up and reaches to the side, holding the heavens on her shoulders, in the very center of a large domed museum. A gorgeous thing, lined with books and artifacts, some apollo could tell originated from Ixia even from a distance.
She tilts her head down to Apollo with a blank face, and hopefully a kind glint in her eyes.
Apollo grips his head, gnashing his teeth as… something—She—The Archmother wormed her way into his mind.
”Apollo.”
Her voice reverberated, both from within his skull and all around him at once.
She dug further into his mind, reading it much like the books around her
”Ah, Apollo. Do Not Worry. She Will Come, And You Are Not Alone.”
One of her hands reaches out. It shouldn’t be long enough to reach him, Apollo reasoned, and yet his deadened legs still tried, and failed, to step away. Just her gaze was enough to hold him down.
And then her arm stretched.
And stretched.
And stretched, until finally one of her cold stone fingers touched the center of Apollo’s forehead, trailing down his face and arm, stopping at his sword.
”The Archmother Is Glad To Have You On Her Side.”
And then she is far, far away, looking up and reaching around the heavens.
Apollo quickly reaches up to his face, touching his head and his sword arm.
...
Nothing. Not a scrape, not heat, not even a lingering sensation of something having touched him. Nothing but the lingering weight of a goddess having continued access to his mind.
His privacy was taken, and his mind and soul was laid bare. Apollo shuddered and held tighter on his sword, his knuckles blanching, preparing to use it. Though it occurred to him that this too, would be something she could read and react to.
His mind wasn't solely his.
He wasn't alone.
...
It'd be better to just go and meet who else was here. Hopefully that is all she was referring to.
Apollo walked up the stairs, keeping a careful eye on The Archmother, before entering the backroom where… a man sat at the shop. He looked up from the wares he was browsing, immediately locking eyes with Apollo. He looked young, if not for the world weight in his eyes. He had an almost militaristic outfit, if it weren’t so archaic as well. He looked less like a soldier, and more someone who came to life from the history section of a museum about supernatural explorers, if not the large cape.... It's still entirely possible he did...
Apollo swallows. "Hello, how do you do? What is your name?"
The man nods briskly. "Fine. Warden."
"That is... more of a title." Apollo says
"That is what I am." Warden, apparently, says.
Apollo purses his lips. He seems awfully serious... which is perfect! This is precisely who he was hoping would be paired up with. "What are you doing this for, Warden?" Apollo sits by him.
His cape writhes, wrapping protectively around him. "To change the world."
"...How exactly?" Apollo asks.
"That's for me to know, friend." Warden says, looking back to his wares.
Apollo leans onto the store counter. ".... Would you say you're good?"
"I am righteous. They aren't, and they will fall." Warden picks up a couple of the tools.
"Confident." Apollo says. "Why?"
"I've trained for this, and I'm ready." Warden taps the flask on his belt, which holds a few others and an array of magical artifacts. "Are you?"
Apollo smiles. This is beyond what he had been hoping. This.. Warden, he seems perfectly picked by the Archmother. If everyone is so devoted and prepared, Apollo won't need to pick up any weight at all, and his life won't even be at risk! "Plenty ready." Apollo says. "It was hard, but I've been preparing in secret. I don't think anyone.. Well, there is one person who expects me to be here. That's it though."
"Fantastic. The work falls on me to keep you alive then." A whispery, gravelly voice sounds from a corner. Apollo turns around quickly to see a sandman. She rubs her temple, or.. the smoke forming the top of her head? One of the two. "Apollo. What.. are you thinking? Who else could—It better not be your father—"
"No! No, no. A classmate."
"You're a student?" Warden asks.
"You brought a classmate?!" The sandman asks, looking increasingly more distressed.
"Yes—howd you not—I didn't bring her! She's coming of her own volition." Apollo says. "We trained together!"
".... Who?? You're not really friends with anyone on the fencing team.." She says, holding a hand to her chin.
"She isn't—excuse you! No need to be rude. I have friends." Apollo says, slightly glaring at her
"Like this classmate? Who are they, Apollo." She moves, silently, but terrifyingly quickly up to Apollo. Several of his instincts told him to cast, to disengage and create space. He willed his body to stay put, to look calm. He's had practice.
"Darcy Graves, if you can't wait for her to come." Apollo says.
"... The necromancer lawyer? Your lab partner?" She pulls back.
"You know an awful—"
" It's our job, Apollo. Clearly we were not doing a good enough one since you managed to sneak here." She says, sighing and looking towards Warden. "Hello... Warden"
"... Hello sandman." Warden says, his melancholic gaze somehow darkening further. "What does the OSIC want from the patrons?"
She narrows her eyes. "I can't tell you. You know that."
Its quiet for a moment as the two examine each other, gauging each other's intentions just from a stance. Apollo sits in the middle of this. Dear gods. He hopes this doesn't splinter and explode. Having a sandman working for them in the ritual would be incredible! If... she doesn't get either him or Graves in trouble. The lich... She wouldn't be a fan of someone like that close to him. She doesn't seem to know either.... This is going to go terrible...unless..
Warden turns to the items he was examining. "Whats your name, sandman?"
"Haze." Haze says.
"Your name?" Warden glances over his shoulder.
"Good enough for this, Warden." Haze says.
"....Fair. Why are you here, schoolboy?" Warden says. "This is no place for children."
"I'm more than competent for this." Apollo protests. "I assure you, I will surpass any expectations you hold on me."
"Lofty." Warden says. "Can he back it up?" He glances at Haze.
"... He's not terrible. He'll do fine, but Apollo. You shouldn't have come here at all. If you die.."
Haze goes quiet, letting him think on the sheer political consequences of letting an ally state's son die in the country he's staying safe in.
"I know of the risks. It's good motivation to win today." Apollo huffed.
"You can still die if you win." Haze leaned over to glower down where he sat. Her eyes, more like glowing orbs, shined right through him, illuminating both the truth of her words, and the situation he was in. The one he couldn't leave now. He swallowed, quickly tearing his eyes away from hers. He had to come up with a justification, not even to her. To himself. There was so much at stake, he had to be sure. He had to be. And yet, his mind drew a blank... what if… he did die. What if his father was alone..
Two figures stumbled in, saving Apollo from his responding for a moment longer. A.. goo organism, and a midwestern cowboy. The goo thing waved. "Hello! I'm Viscous!"
The cowboy rubbed her eyes, not really looking at them. "Holliday." She looked up, looking.. extremely tired and hobbled. Like she hadn't slept in days, or properly eaten anything. "That freaky god.." She stared blankly at Apollo. "Is that a fucking kid. "
"A fancy kid!" Viscous said
"I'm dressed modestly. Why does everyone feel the need to point out the obvious today?" Apollo says.
"Sheriff. Viscous. It's nice to see you two here." Haze smiles.
"It's nice to see you too Haze! Thank you for helping with the Adversary!" Viscous exclaims.
"Why the fuck is there a kid there?" Holliday says. "He doesn't even have a gun. He's got some.. a sword." She scowls. "You know how to use that thing?"
"I'll do you better, I won't accidentally hit my allies because I'm sleep deprived." Apollo retorts. Her hand went up eyebags, as her scowl deepened. Apollo continued. "I'm tired of the judgement. I'm here because people rely on me, Haze. There's something I can improve through a miracle. There's a schism that I can repair in my home. I need to fix it. I need to fix it for everyone who I'm supposed to lead in the future!" Apollo pursed his lips, willing himself to calm. The risk would be worth it. A united Ixia, his father and himself not being in danger. Going back to a safe home. It was far too important to doubt himself now.
Holliday gripped her badge, looking away.
Viscous nodded. "That's like me and The Deep! Does your home also have monster rampaging that you need to stop?"
“I.. kind of.. I’m sorry. I’m not informed very much about matters on The Deep. It’s not quite relevant to the history I’ve been studying… Could you tell me more?”
"There is a monster killing all of The Deep, and He must be stopped." Viscous said. "I was sent to stop him!"
Apollo smiles softly. "I'm sure we will. When this is over, I'll see what Ixia can do for you." Odd to find.. Kinship in a pile of jelly, but someone gets it. It relieved him slightly, that his logic was sound
"Thank you, fancy schoolboy." Viscous opens his arms for a hug.
"None of that, please." Apollo nods, looking away and holding in a sigh.
Holliday sits by him, opening her flask and taking a sip. "Sorry kid. It's just a scary place. You skilled?"
"...I'm a generational talent." He stares at the flask.
"Neat. 'Parrently, I come from talent. It'll pass down the line, I think." Holliday says.
".... You shouldn't drink. It dulls the mind." Apollo says.
"It relaxes the hands. Easier shots." Holliday says.
"That doesn't make sense." Apollo says
"Might work." Graves says as she enters. "Sorry for being late."
Apollo shoots up, tail slightly flicking. "Graves! Gods, you had me worried. Why'd you skip class?"
"...You.. noticed?"
"I notice everything, keep up. I was worried you left the ritual, or got sick. It'd be hard to fight alongside you if you left. Plus, all of our training would be for naut, and that would be a shame." Apollo says.
"Wow, you know, that'd really suck. Good thing I'm here, making sure it doesn't go to waste." Graves sighs as she walked past him and set her bag on the table
"Ah-Oh please, you needn't be so rude." Apollo follows her, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He furrows his eyebrows. "and don't encourage her to drink! She could very well die, and we'd need to pick up the slack!"
"I could do it. Just animate her up again." Graves pulls out two jars, getting them ready.
"Ohhh my god, he brought his asshole theatre girlfriend. This is going to go great." Holliday took a swig, before cupping it back into the holder.
"I'm not—Do NOT call me his girlfriend, not this loser—" Graves scoffed,
"She's not—I wouldn't—LOSER? How dare you, you're the loser—!"Apollo sneered,
"I'm not a loser, I'm a loner, big difference!" Graves retorted,
"A whole one letter, how amazing!" Apollo smirked,
"I'm going to deck you—" Graves steps closer, holding a jar over her head,
"You couldn't last time~!" Apollo sticks his tongue out as he steadies the grip on his sword,
Haze pulls them both apart. "Fight after the ritual."
Holliday holds a hand over his mouth, chuckling hard. "Holy fuck, this is going to go great."
"Get shot, maybe I'd like you better as a corpse." Graves says, going to and looking inside her bag. She purses her lips. Better now then never.
Apollo catches the glint in her eye, and the slight greenish glow illuminates her features. It's her. The mentor, the lich that Graves is bringing. He scanned the group quickly, a lot of the heroic sorts. Haze and Warden would especially not be fond of the lich hand. Warden may outright try to destroy it now. He positioned himself in-front of Graves, casually yet protectively. She won't get hurt, not unless they went through him, which they very much won't. Graves looks to him, noticing him standing between her and the group suddenly, and smiles softly. "Hey, so, everyone be cool." Graves says, pulling out the hand. "She's nice."
Haze, closest to them, is the first to see the object, though Warden is the first to recognize what it is. He scowls, gripping a flask tightly. "Lich."
Haze narrows her eyes slightly, her mouth slight agape. "... Whoever is supposed to keep an eye on Blackmore is doing a really terrible job... We have to investigate them for bribes at this point."
Holliday blinks, looking at her canister, before looking back at the hand. "I'm never havin kids... Christ almighty."
Viscous looks around at the group, not quite sure what is going on, before looking to Graves. "She said it's nice! Maybe it's a nice.. lich?"
"Yeah! What the.. uhm.. Dude, Apollo, what the fuck is that?" Graves whispers.
"Emissary from The Deep, Viscous. He's very nice." Apollo says.
"Yeah he's pretty gooey. What he said. She's a nice lich, we can trust her to help us." Graves says.
"You need to bring her to a Curator, now." Haze says, looking down at a watch.
"No, everything's fine. Didn't you just hear me?" Graves says.
"We don't have time. We need to destroy her." Warden says, raising a flask and a gun.
"NO—" Graves holds the hand close to her chest, her breath quickening. "Don't you dare. Get away from me—" She takes a step back, just as Warden takes a step closer. He glances up, checking the angle to throw the flask.
The gleam of a sword stops the potential arc Warden sees. "No." Apollo says, his other hand extending protectively out to Graves, gently grabbing her and holding her close to his back. "No one is going anywhere, or doing anything."
Warden glares at him. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from hurting our chances in completing the ritual. We don't have the time for a curator, and it'd be unnecessary. I vouch that Graves's mentor will work with us, and she listens to Graves." Apollo says.
"You vouch as the prince?" Haze says, tilting her head.
"As a fellow combatant, who has trained with this very person and the hand they bring. For this matter, The lich can be trusted and will be deeply helpful to all of our goals. Graves's words can be trusted. You should listen to her." His golden eyes narrow, the pupils widening as he scans all of the group. He straightens his posture and holds the sword out to the rest of them. "Lest something happens to the hand you use to threaten her." The sharpness of his words match the sharpness of his movements and stare
It's quiet for a moment. Warden slowly puts the flask back into his belt, Haze shakes her head.
"Hey, he's a keeper kid." Holliday says, leaning to the side to look past Apollo. "Doesn't matter to me, this ain't my jurisdiction. Just holler if you need a hand—help. Help. You don't need more hands."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Graves pushes herself off Apollo, glaring at him with a flushed face. "And- and you gotta stop grabbing me! Fucking.. prick.."
Apollo spins around, throwing his hands up. "I was helping you, and making sure you were safe! What is the hostility for?!"
"I..." Graves looks to the side as she wears her backpack, her flushed face getting slightly redder. "Sorry. Thanks.. I guess."
Apollo blinks, his posture slightly relaxing at the sudden. "... ah-Naturally. Of course. We need that hand for the ritual, do we not? It'd be foolish to let it be taken now."
Graves frowns and shakes her head. "Yeah, alright. We do... I guess it would!!" Graves walks off to the shop, her frown growing with each step.
Apollo opens his mouth, closing it and holding a hand to his mouth. He notices a couple snickers from Holliday, which elicits an eyeroll. "Whats the time?"
A cold, marbley presence digs up from the corners of his mind where they made a home. Her voice reverberates around his skull, both from within him and around him all at once, overpowering the thoughts within his own mind. He drops as words and images appear in his mind.
”The First Contact Of The Eclipse Is Soon. Be Prepared. You Face The Ixian Detective. The Venator, Father Quinn. The.... Doorman From The Baroness. The New Monster Hunter. The Vampire Upstart, and... haha. Pocket. Arin Fairfax. Go now. Split into your groups.”
The voice leaves them at the moment, and it takes a second for Apollo to look up and check on his team. Graves and Warden seem to be... mostly unaffected. How did she do that? She reaches out to him. "You alright? First time having a voice in your head?"
"I... Yes." He takes it and pulls himself up. "The lich grants you some resistance?"
"Not really. It's just something I'm pretty used to." Graves says. "And.. That guy, I guess. How'd you handle it?"
Warden looks and shrugs. "I'm persistent. It'll take more than just a voice to drop me."
Holliday shakes her head. "It feels like I got a hangover... Did she purge the drink from my system? Goddamn it. Whatever. Good luck, everyone." Holliday looks to Viscous, who nods and follows her on the zipline.
Haze looks squarely at Apollo. "Don't die."
"I won't. Graves has me covered." Apollo says.
Haze looks to Warden. "Ready?"
"Yes. Don't let any regrets stop you." Warden says softly, before getting on the line.
".... That's not a thought in my mind. Too many lives are at stake." Haze replies, quieter than usual, as she follows.
Apollo looks to Graves, clutching his sword tightly. ".... Ready?"
Graves bites her lips, looking down at the hand. ".... I think so. Let's go."