Chapter Text
“Hey... is the bus still running?” A warm and familiar voice said, putting their hand on my shoulder, the first thing I heard since I woke up from last night’s breakdown.
“I think so, why?” I said blinking at him, trying to recall why I was here in the first place, and trying to focus my inner clock.
“We should get you back home, Nivith must be worried about you” Heichac said, he’s my best friend, always so overprotective, he’s the God of War’s son.
My name is Vichia, The vessel for the god of life. I try to live a normal life, I go to school, play with friends, but I also live the life of a demi-god, and boy is it eventful! Recently Nivith, the God of Life, fell ill a couple of nights ago, leaving me to deal with this all on my own.
As Heichac and I walk to the bus stop, I sigh, picking up the pace. “Hey! Slow down, what’s gotten you in a rush?” Heichac said, almost tripping as he tried to keep up with me. “I need to get to Nivith quickly,” I said in a rush, stopping as the bus arrived and hopping on quickly, “I have no idea how much time has passed since I last gave him his medicine...” Heichac got on as well, sitting down next to me.
We didn’t talk for what felt like forever, but was probably only a minute, when he asked me, “So… Aricies asked about you, he was a bit concerned.”
I blinked at him “What?” I finally said, taken aback, “The God of War? Concerned? For me? Yeah right!” I said with a laugh. “It’s true, Vichia. He’s worried about you and Nivith.” Heichac said, taking my snow-white, pristine hands in his dark, scarred hands. “You’re just a kid, we’re just kids!” He said worriedly, “If Nivith were to fall…”
“I… wouldn’t be ready to assume the duty of the god of life…” I finished for him with a sigh. I never liked thinking about what could happen to the mentor I had grown to see as my own father.
The bus screeched to a stop, tearing us from our conversation. I got up first, hurriedly exiting the bus with Heichac in tow.
We had to walk a bit before we made our way to the town square. In front of us stood a tall, bronze statue of the town’s mayor.
We stared up at the statue of the mayor. I grabbed Heichac’s hand before stepping forward and falling through it. We laughed as we spread our wings, riding the wind as we neared the world of gods.
I twisted into a dive, Heichac following close behind, we spiraled towards the ocean before spreading our wings again and landing on the beach. We rushed through the marble and golden streets, turning a sharp corner, up a long flight of stairs and through a blue wooden door. I rushed to grab the medicine and up to Nivith quickly, Heichac stumbling after me.
“Vichia… you’re okay…” A weak voice said from the back of the room. Nivith smiled lazily at me and Heichac as we approached. “H-Hello, Great god of Life… How a-are you...?” Heichac said, shuffling his feet. Nivith put his hand on Heichac’s, smiling up at him “Please… just call me Nivith.” I poured the medicine into a tiny glass, handing it to the sick god. Nivith took the glass and downed it quickly, handing it back to me with a smile before lying down once again. Heichac started playing with his hands nervously, making little noises at a whisper’s volume.
I found myself staring at him with a longing expression, I only realized this when Nivith snickered and raised a brow. “I assume you haven’t told Aricies yet.” He said, looking at Heichac. “No sir, not yet, I haven’t found the courage to tell my father…” He said, shuffling his feet. “Bah,” Nivith said, “Just go for it, what the worst that could happen?” I tucked my wings in close to my body at the God of Life’s remark. “He could… forbid him from seeing me ever again…” I muttered. Nivith’s face fell blank, staring at the celling, “I suppose that could very well happen…” He said after a long pause.
“Well, I think you two should go tell him, I need rest anyways.” Nivith said, shooing us out. Heichac looked reluctant but him and I nodded and bowed before leaving, and within moments we were in the air flying over the marble city, doing flips and tricks midair, laughing and pushing at each other. Suddenly Heichac banked left, it caught me off guard and I missed a wingbeat. I managed to jankily catch myself and follow him all the way to the Battlegrounds, where the Palace of War rested.
Heichac grabbed my hand, “You ready for this?” He said with a smile. I nodded reluctantly as he dragged me behind him, landing and walking inside of the over-the-top palace, nodding and exchanging smiles with the servants and nobles wandering the halls. We stopped at a balcony.
“Father?” Heichac said, Aricies turned, meeting his eyes, then mine. “Ah! Heichac, Vichia!” He walked over and pulled us into a warm embrace. “Father… we… we need to tell you something… in private.” Aricies’ face fell, he nodded, leading us to his room.
“So… what was it you needed to tell me?” He said, sitting down in a chair by the fireplace. I shuffled my feet and tapped my fingertips together, if this all went wrong, I couldn’t defend myself, I’m much smaller than him, so is Heichac, and Aricies was one of the biggest and tallest gods, we didn’t stand a chance against him. “Well…” Heichac began, but was abruptly cut off by a loud, bellowing roar from outside.
An attack, but how? Why now- My train of thought was cut off by a griffin as black as the void swooped in and snatched me up in its giant talons. “Vichia!” Heichac and Aricies yelled in unison. “No!” I yelled, before the griffin covered, my mouth, one of his large talons wrapping around my neck.
It wrenched the air from my body, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight, I was panicking. My vision rapidly darkened at the edges as I slowly stopped struggling in the beast’s grip.
I saw- albeit very blurrily and I may have been hallucinating -two pegasi chasing after me before the last of the darkness clouded my vision and my body went limp.
…
I jerked up from on the cold stone floor, my vision blurry. How much time has passed? Where’s Heichac and Aricies? Where am I? I thought to myself, I looked down to my wrists, then my ankles, shackled to the middle of the room.
The door swung open suddenly catching me off-guard, and I scrambled to the nearest corner. A tall, dark figure stepped in, along with a slightly smaller, slender figure. “You’re awake.” The taller one said, eyeing me as if I was a tiger with 50 heads he wanted to study. “What do you want with me?” I managed to mutter, staring up at them with what I assume was the face of a terrified kitten, as the two figures chuckled a little.
The shorter one whispered something I couldn’t quite make out to the taller one, the tall one nodded and the other started walking towards me, into the light. As soon as he stepped into the light, I could instantly tell who they worked for, they were servants of the Goddess of Void. The cruelest, pettiest, rudest of all the gods and goddesses I knew.
“What we want with you is irrelevant, but what Her Greatness wants with you is a whole other story.” He said (Actually he slightly cackled but that’s beside the point) with a freakishly wide grin as he reached for me. I instinctively pulled away from his grasp, avoiding him to the best of my ability.
“Stop moving you maggot!” He snarled, finally getting a grip on my arm and holding it so tight his knuckled were white so I couldn’t twist away from him, I was sure that would leave a nasty bruise at some point.
The taller one untied the chains from the center of the room and nodded to the smaller one. They tugged me out of the holding cell and through the halls, every window was pitch-black outside, except for the landscape, which was a lot of grey, grey, grey, and grey all the way to the horizon. I would occasionally hear my captors snarl something like “Hurry up” and, “Is the food ready? No? Well, get to it!” To the servants and cooks rushing about the halls.
Surprisingly, we entered the dining hall, where I was taken and seated at the smaller, more decorated platform on a little stage area. “Ah! Splendid, he’s here! Now go along, peasants, shoo!” The Goddess of Void said, shooing my captors out. “Take a seat, darling.” She said in a tone that genuinely confused me as I sat down. The Goddess of Void, being… nice? “They didn’t cause you too much trouble, darling, did they? You aren’t hurt now, are you?” She asked, observing me.
“Erm… No ma’am, just gripped my arm really hard and it still kind of hurts a bit, b-but I’ll be fine.” I added to the last sentence after seeing her nasty snarl towards the door. “M-May I ask what you needed to kidnap me for?” I asked, rubbing my arm (God it was already slightly discolored) and tilting my head slightly. “Oh, that,” she laughed, “I have an offer, I just didn’t need those gremlins putting any ideas and propaganda about me in your head, darling.”
“Oh, well… what is said offer?” I asked once again, thoughts spiraling through my mind. “Well, you see Vichia, I need your help with a war against Aricies.” She said with a smile, she obviously knew what I was about to say. “A-Aricies!?” I stammered.
“Yes, Aricies” she said again. “B-B-But… Heichac, h-he’ll…” I must have tucked my wings in closer, as her face dulled. “Don’t tell me what I think you will.” She snarled. “I’m sorry Lady Empiti, I’m sorry, but I have to refuse.” I said, fixing my posture and trying my best to keep the wobble from my voice.
“Take him to the anti-chamber so he can rethink his offer! Lock the door and don’t let him out unless my orders!” She snarled at her guards. I bit one of the guards as they tried to grab me, but after some more biting and scratching and snarling at each other they escorted me off to the anti-chamber and locked the door behind them.
I walked around the large room, especially for someone like me, I’m small for a 14-year-old. I sighed as I sat on the bed, I spotted a watching eye- the god’s security cameras -in the corner. I glared at it and lied down on my back, staring at the ceiling.
I then hopped off the bed and summoned the instant overnight bag I always had ready and pulled out my pajamas, headed into the bathroom and came out in an oversized fluffy bunny onesie. (Hey, if I’m staying here, I might as well get comfy!) I then lied on top of the bed and drifted uneasily into sleep.
I woke up to a servant entering the room and placing a plate of fluffy pancakes on the dresser. We exchanged a smile as the servant left.
I carefully got out of the bed, much to my reluctance as it was comfortable and made my way over to the pancakes. They seemed… off, off to the point that my body was screaming danger. I took the plate and observed it, I found the source of my sensory attack, blueberries. I’m allergic to blueberries, overly allergic.
“What? Too much Whip Cream?” Said a voice from the doorway. I turned to face Empiti, “N-No, it’s the blueberries, I’m allergic to them.” “Oh.” She said, “Very well then, I’ll tell the cooks to avoid them next time.” I nodded, picking the blueberries off. “So… have you rethought my offer yet?” “Nope. My decision in final, even if I did agree, which I would never do, I wouldn’t be of much help” I pointed out, getting as much of the whip cream off so that I didn’t have a reaction before digging into the stack of pancakes. “Oh? Elaborate.” She said, that wasn’t a question, that was a statement.
“I don’t fight, I can’t, and won’t, fight against a god’s army, I’m only 14.” I said through a bite of pancake. “But you don’t have to fight directly.” She said, taking off a black gem and obsidian necklace and weaving it around my horns, a heavy contrast to my white, yellow and gold pallet. “You could simply help make sure my soldiers don’t die.” She observed my golden earrings, my pointed ears flicking slightly.
“I… I won’t do it… I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline your offer once again… can I... can I go home now?” She laughed hysterically, “You think you can go home?” She put her hand on the side of my face, pulling it up to look me in the eyes. “No, darling, you can’t, you won’t. I’ll make sure of that.” She let go, taking my earring and replacing it with a black and purple one.
“My, you look stunning!” I shuffled my feet, not knowing what to do, I watched as she put my earring on the jewelry stand on the dresser. “I’ll be in my throne room if you need anything, darling.” She said as he walked out.
What was that about…? I thought as I stood there, I then realized I was still in my onesie and quickly went to change into something more comfortable. I stood in front of the mirror, fixing the necklace the Void Goddess put around my horns. I fixed my yellow and gold flannel and comb out my overly fluffy hair, which I inevitably gave up because of its thickness.
I walked through the halls, admiring the paintings and tapestries covering the walls. I then stepped through the side door to the throne room after I noticed it. It was well lit, unlike the halls to the palace. Empiti immediately noticed me and waved me over. “Hello darling, exploring the palace I assume?” I nodded. “Isn’t it absolutely dashing?” She said, fixing the collar on my flannel. “Uh… Sure I guess.” I said, then instantly darted behind the throne as an aristocratic family came in to complain about my presence. I didn’t stick around to hear the rest of it and darted down the hall muttering quietly to myself.
I stopped at a balcony that overlooked the courtyard and stared in the direction that the Battlegrounds were located. I wonder if they’re okay over there, planning a rescue… I thought to myself. I could feel the guards, that Empiti apparently assigned to me, watching me. From the clock on the wall, and my internal clock, I could tell it was now around lunch time.
A guard came up, “Vichia, Her Highness wishes to meet you in the ballroom, she’s throwing a banquet and would like you to attend.” “Oh, very well then.” I said, tucking my wings in and they escorted me to the ballroom. As soon as I entered, the Void Goddess came up to me and pulled me into an embrace and started introducing me to the other Gods and Goddesses attending the banquet. I said a polite hello each of them and made my way to the drinks, I took a bottled water and went to a lounge chair in the corner next to a bookshelf.
I don’t have any idea how much time had passed, but suddenly it was time to eat, I was lost in a book.
There was a seat next to Empiti reserved for me, which made me wonder if she had reserved it herself for me. I took the seat and immediately felt the eyes of every guard in the room lock onto me. I shifted uncomfortably in the too-big chair and flicked my wings, drawing them closer than they already were, nearly pinning them to my back.
“So, I assume the lantern over there didn’t come willingly?” One of the older gods said, pointing at me. “Nope, but don’t worry, he’s not freaked out by it.” Empiti said, “On the topic of you, are you feeling good? You don’t seem very comfortable.” “I-I’m fine.” I said, shifting again. I flicked my wings, muttering quietly to myself and eating the food that I was given quietly, listening to the others talk.
Soon after the banquet I found myself laying on my bed, staring at the celling. I pondered getting up to change, but that thought was quickly cut off with a loud bang and screaming from outside my door. I shot up and bolted into the hallway, the palace was under attack, Aricies and Heichac locked eyes with me and beckoned me over. I put on a dash of speed with my wings as I ran to them, finally, a rescue!
They pulled me into a warm embrace, darkened webbed wings pressing against golden-tipped feathers of white. I pulled away and ran to grab my earring from the jewelry stand in the anti-chamber. I shot a glare at the watching eye and ran out once again, jumping off a balcony and meeting with the two War Gods over the courtyard, weaving and dodging attacks thrown at them, and we flew all the way to the Battlegrounds.
As we landed, I suddenly stumbled forward as a sharp, bone shattering pain shot through my leg, I looked down, somewhere in the madness, they managed to spear my leg with a dagger I didn’t even know was there.
Heichac picked me up with startling ease and took me to the medical wing of the Battlegrounds palace, there we found out that the dagger was thrown hard enough to break the bone in my leg.
It took a while to get the dagger out and get my leg situated, and after that Aricies decided it was best for me to stay in the Human Realm with Heichac, much to our protest. He got us a room in a hotel where we, along with Nivith, would be staying while the whole war thing was going about. And back to school it was for me.
I held myself up half with a crutch and half leaning on Heichac, putting the illusion discs we used to hide our god-like characteristics in my bag and his. “Hey shorty, Fireball!” We heard from behind us.
We turned, running up to us was Cleo, Mark, and Henry, our school friends. “Where have you been, you completely missed two days of school!” Cleo scolded in her ‘tutor voice’.
I pointed down to my very clearly casted leg, Mark gasped, “Oh my god what happened here? Did someone do this? If so, I will avenge you!” “No, I just… err… fell.” I said, trying to make up a good lie. Henry snorted, then said in a polite tone, “Shut your traps, and get your lazy brains over to the bus stop.” We all shared a laugh as Heichac and I caught up on all the drama that happened while we were gone.
The bus came and picked us up earlier than usual, we hated these days, because we would have to deal with Cindy, Joel, Brock, and Lilly, the school bullies that seemed to enjoy picking on us more than anyone else. The moment we got off the bus they were there. “Oi nerds!” They called, but Henry told us to just keep moving to our classes.
Then came lunch and courtyard. I was reading a book in the corner when I heard footsteps approach, I looked up and before I could even register what was going on, they were all stood around me, blocking every exit I had. Not all of them I thought, but quickly stuffed that one down, I wasn’t going to risk it.
“What do you want, can’t you see I’ve been through enough this week? And can’t a guy read in peace?” I said, backing up into the corner.
Cindy and Lilly held me down as Brock and Joel pulled out the illusion discs. “Care to explain what these are?” Brock said with a smug smile. “I-I… how… what… where-how did you get those!?” I stammered, trying to pull away from the two girls, that were, yet again, much larger than me. “Tell us or we’ll break these right here, right now. I know they’re important to you and that fireball over there.” Joel said, I could see my friends talking to a teacher and pointing to my direction.
The teacher came over. “Brock, Joel, Cindy and Lilly! You faggots have done it now!” He said, dragging them off me and picking me up. I yelped as he picked me up, my legs swung, and pain shot through the broken bone. “To the office, NOW!” He said to the group of sophomores as he beckoned for my friends to follow and grab my stuff. He took us to the office as well, to get things sorted out for me.
The principal gave Heichac and I the discs back. Heichac promptly decided to always keep them on him. We’ve decided that because of my injury and the bullies, this little group we had would have to stick together. We later found out that Brock, Joel, and Cindy got suspended, Lilly got off with a warning. Then came the rumors about us and the discs.
We got called into the principal’s office one day in the middle of class. “So, I would like to talk to you about the disc situation. What exactly are they?” He asked them moment Heichac, and I sat down. We shuffled uncomfortably in the leather seats before I finally said, “Promise you won’t tell anyone, and I mean you can’t tell anybody, not a soul, about this?”
He staired at me for a moment, “Why? What so important that I can’t even tell your teachers?” “Its… important… to us. We can’t tell anyone.” Heichac said, playing with his fingers. “I suppose if it’s that important, I can keep a secret.” Principle Lions said, “Show me what they do.” Heichac placed the discs down on the table, we tapped the center, a shift in the air occurred, and our godly hood was shown, clear as day.
I tucked my wings in and shuffled in the seat at his reaction. “You’re… what…?” He said, taken aback. “Gods… sort of… Demi-gods.” Heichac said quickly. We tapped the center again, the illusion taking place once again.
The bell rang and we waved good-bye to Principal Lions and headed to the hotel. I plopped down on the couch next to Nivith, who was looking better than he did yesterday, and turned on the TV.
Heichac gave Nivith his medicine, made some popcorn, and sat down with us to watch a movie. Apparently sometime in the middle of the movie, I had fallen asleep and snuggled up to Heichac, because that’s where I woke up the next morning.
“Morning, Snuggle Nugget.” Heichac said with a laugh as I swatted at him. “What’s today’s date today?” I said with a yawn as I sat up. “Saturday, what about it, don’t want to go to school?” Heichac yawned. I nodded and snuggled up to him again, quickly drifting off to sleep.