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Belos's ambition alone was what guided his footsteps forward, pushing past the blanket of frost and snow beneath his feet. Though he felt he needn't hasten, he still felt the presence of another as he traversed, but his fear were nothing more than an echo of the past, only his own hatred lit his path ahead. The shadows of trees around him parted their slender lifeless branches revealing a figure in the mist perched upon a hill nearby. His feet planted in the snow with the stones that climbed upon the hill where he stood carved into the stones in the shape of a barn owl with its heart-shaped face, the masks he had carved for the guards meant to serve the void in his soul where his brother now standing before him used to fill. the snow covering them grew silk like white fabric burned at the tips the closer they got to touching the man standing; awaiting Belos's presence with his soulless gaze as if summoning him into his throes. All bathed in the mist's gentle touch as the spirit stood tall among winter's frost. Belos drew himself to a stop, and stood frozen with his eyes locked upon the phantom before him that never could leave despite being buried nearly 20 years ago.
He wasn't real, he was only a mere fragment he had come acquainted with for what seemed like countless times. formless and dread yet grand in his allure, no matter how much had an glimpse at his new haunting form, it had not ceased the instilling in him both hatred but also fear. His expression was frozen in a somber look, still having a fragment of pity for Belos's stance. But nothing he could do could stray him. Yet no words were spoken, only further fulfilling the rage that started to poke its head the longer they made eye contact.
"Don't just stand there!" Belos spat, bearing his fangs at the figure that stood unmoving before him. he got no response, just a pitiful silence left only to mock his efforts. He could have just ignored the spirit of his older brother, moved on and ignored the silence that he had brought with him. He would have if this spirit was any like those he had killed in the past while staying on his own path of righteousness. Caleb had a hold on his decaying heart like a puppet, pulling the fractured bits out his mouth as he spoke with just his lifeless stare. He gritted his teeth, forming a fist with his claws now overtaken with rot. Caleb showed no fear like he did all those years ago. Instead, he raised his arm to point to a smaller figure appearing in the mist approaching from a ways behind. He never lowered his hand, even when Belos had turned his head. Caleb's eyes widened when Belos made eye contact with the child wearing the same silk white cape and golden bird mask covering his face, mirroring the same terror that plagued his expression upon his death. The child approaching took his mask of steel off, revealing his rounded face with soft features, rose eyes, and a hooked nose, his bright blond hair was long and disheveled after being rarely brushed with his soft pointed ears sticking out from the mess. Belos noticed right away how Caleb's eyes shifted to the boy approaching. Belos grumbled in annoyance.
"of course you pay attention to a witch" he thought. with his annoyed gaze came the fearful response from the newest Grimwalker he had created months ago. This one was named Judas, He looked similar to his ortet on the hill before them but had features that were mixed with someone else. He looked to be his kid at best, hence the name Judas. A traitor's name. Belos felt cornered by the memories he wished to push behind him, he refused to admit he was at fault for the pain he had caused even to himself. Caleb took a step back just as Judas had, something Belos made note of immediately.
"get rid of the Grimwalker get rid of the memory"
"Is something wrong?" Judas spoke, his voice very soft and squeaky with his youth. He sounded close to all the times Caleb would use a voice smooth and comforting to try and cure his woes at times when he would show his weakness like any sort of compassion for the dead and the damned. He hated all these reminders at once, he needed to rid himself of this sickening sadness in his soul. So, as soon as those words worryingly escaped from Judas's mouth; he snapped. Launching his arm outstretched forward, covering in green rot all the way down to his cracked and snapped bones that kept his arm upright. Judas had not a second to react before his neck was wrapped around his fingers, pulling him forward with his knees dragging across the snow and scraping across the ice below. He let out a choked squeal as he was pulled towards Belos still tightly in his grasp. he kicked and tried to pry his nails off his neck but had no strength as Belos clutched his throat nearly closed.
He saw the same refection of pure terror in Judas's eyes as he did Caleb all those years ago. Judas struggled and tried to break out of his grasp unlike Caleb, who welcomed death much more easily. He felt a hint of melancholy as he squeezed tighter, only if Caleb had fought back with the same flame that Judas had before him. Would have made his death much more justifiable but, oh well… Caleb needed the punishment for his bleeding heart. As for Judas, he needed to rid himself of Caleb's specter. If it was truly him that stood above then this could be a vision to him just to show how much he hated him.
Hated him for how he abandoned him,
Hated him for siding with a witch over his own brother,
Hated him for the desolate feeling he had left behind,
Hated him for how he still needed him…
yet he was still there…
Silent, waiting, the only voice he had was drowned out by his own retribution echoing in his mind. Judas still struggled pleading with his wearing voice to let go, it pulled Belos out of his thoughts but not his actions, with every word his mind spoke of Caleb was another force upon Judas's throat.
"It pains me to have to do this. But, the Titan wishes upon your sacrifice. A word I cannot disobey" Belos spoke grim but with a fake sense of sorrow in his tone. With his words came the fatal blow, using the strength he had, Belos sent Judas behind where he stood and heard Judas's body crash upon the stones at the cliff's base. The stones punctured into Judas's back and were washed by an eerie silence now laying idle with his neck twisted in an awkward tilt. Caleb had vanished within the mist, as Belos's chest heaved with each angry breath he soon realized that once again he was alone. Plagued by the familiar silence and a feeling of despair the more that silence grew. Judas had been killed. Caleb had been killed. Not for virtue, not for might. Jealousy, and his own fear of losing what grasp he had on Caleb. He was alone, forever in a limbo that he only created for himself.
He scoffed as he pressed on, following the path he had carved out for himself only.