Spoils Of War
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and I am in no way making nay profit in this.
Chapter 13: All In A Day – Part 2
While Serena was chanting, her spirit was somewhere else.
"Is this what you want?" Aphrodite asked her pointedly, in a dream realm.
Serena nodded. "You said one favor. I ask it now. Help me defeat Eris. She has taken control of Prince Deamando's body."
Aphrodite sighed. "Do not fight her Serenity. Ask something else. I'll take you away, along with your Prince. I'll take you to an island where peaceful people live. You can be happy there."
"I don't think I will ever be happy with a massacre on my shoulders." She spoke eyes sad. "Will you help me?" Serena asked again.
"I will help. But I cannot guarantee Eris's defeat. My power is love, not an art of war. I can only lend you energy. Finish your chant." Aphrodite paused, "How do you plan to defeat her?"
"I don't know."
Pure light appeared out of thin air in front of Serena. It moved with supersonic speed towards Deamando who was still holding Darien by the throat. Darien felt the light hit his face. But instead of the burning feeling he expected. It was only a tingle and it was even somewhat pleasant.
Deamando screamed, for though the light was harmless to Darien it was burning hot to him. It separated Deamando and Darien throwing them back towards opposite sides. The throw knocked them both unconscious.
Serena gave Darien a worried glace.
"He's fine." Aphrodite murmured assuring her.
Eris stood where Deamando had been standing looking amused. "Well done. I see that slut Aphrodite decided to help you hadn't she?" She mocked. "I guess sluts stick together."
"She dare insult me?!" Aphrodite complained angrily inside Serena's head. "Hmph. That old hag."
Two opposing lights met at the center, not one stronger, not one weaker. Aphrodite's power, along with Serena's own love and will seemed like an even match against Eris' evil ambition. Truth was, though Serena wasn't a goddess anymore, it was the elements that gave birth to her. As long as there was air, fire, water or earth, she will never be truly powerless.
Darien was beginning to regain consciousness at the side. Serena felt him move and risked a glance at him.
"Serena?" Darien asked confused. His shoulder throbbed. He saw his father laying on a puddle of blood, his mother weeping. Soldiers were standing dutifully beside the queen watching for any sign of attack from the two women at the center.
"I guess I underestimated them. But they're beginning to underestimate me!" Eris thought scowling. She worked her magick on Deamando. It didn't matter whether she killed all the people in this kingdom or not. If she didn't kill Serenity, then it didn't matter.
Deamando felt as though he was being suffocated. He couldn't see and the voices were driving him mad. A picture of his younger brother entered his mind.
He grabbed a bow and arrow out of nowhere and aimed.
Serena caught the movement. With the energy paralyzing her, she managed to her turn her head slightly and shouted a warning. "Darien, watch out!"
Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, the throbbing ache in his head...Darien dived out of the arrow's way just in time. After the arrow was shot, Deamando was once more pulled into the darkness.
While the warning saved Darien's life, it was Serena's downfall. A wave of energy came from Eris overtaking her, that in the end she can't help but scream. Pain sliced all over her body. Though there were no visible marks in the outside, Serena felt herself bleed internally.
"Serenity!" Aphrodite gasped in horror.
Serena was flung hard towards the wall, that the impact made the whole place quiver.
"Serena!" Despite his wounds, Darien ran towards her catching her as she fell on the ground. Her eyes opened barely; as she began to regain consciousness, she became more aware of the slicing pain.
Darien hugged her to him and she winced at the contact.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Darien spoke with anguish. His face was naked with worry, guilt and love. He was filled with concern for her that he forgot his own pain. "I'm sorry, sorry, sorry." He chanted as he placed a finger tenderly on her lips.
Serena shook her head numb to the feeling. "Eris." She croaked.
Darien turned and found the woman looking at them smugly. "I win." She smiled wickedly. "I win." She repeated, then she gave a cackling laugh throwing her head back in glee.
Consumed with anger, Darien strode towards Eris.
Half conscious, Serena watched helplessly. "Aphrodite, help him! Help him I beg you… let my death… be for naught."
Eris watched him approach with amusement.
"No…she'll thrive on your hate. Feel all that you feel for Serena." A voice spoke on Darien's head.
A silver sword materialized on his hand. In one strike, he thrust the sword to her heart. Or where her heart should be if she even had one. The sword went through her body.
She had been confident that the battle has already been won. She didn't expect it to hurt. But it did. As though she too, was dying… 'No…no…" Eris whispered in horror. She felt her body disappear from this plane. "NOOO!!!" She shouted in denial. "Zeus! Is this your will? Damn you, damn you, damn you!" She shrieked like a spoiled child.
Then she was gone.
But the damages she left were still present. Darien walked back towards Serena and found a beautiful woman kneeling over her. Darien didn't even spare her another glance then, taking Serena's hand clutching it tightly. It had gone limp and cold.
After Serena witnessed Eris disappearance, she allowed herself to rest. The pain had begun to fade and she felt her body fade too. "I love you…" She murmured.
He kissed her repeatedly. Placing gentle kisses all over her face murmuring his love back. "You are a goddess." Darien spoke as though he wasn't surprised by the news.
Serena managed to give a nod. "I used to be. But this is proof that I'm no longer one." She hesitated before speaking seeing the agony and guilt on Darien's eyes. "I do not regret any moment till the last. Only that I should have believed that you loved me best." She gave him a sad smile. "I guess this is what it feels like to die…"
Darien closed his eyes painfully then looked away. "Hush. Don't speak. You're going to be well."
"Let her speak." Aphrodite spoke sadly. "There's nothing you can do. Nothing I can do."
Darien turned his gaze back to Serena and watched her eyes darken and become glassy.
"I never feared dying…or rather I never thought about it. Why would I? But I never really thought about what it was to be alive either. I loved many things. I love the grassy hills…. the wind as it blew… I love the nights with their hidden sorrow…along with the day that will still exist tomorrow. But our time together is what I treasured best." She spoke lastly with a final smile. It came with acceptance.
"No you can't die. You can't die." Darien whispered achingly gathering her to him, hugging her tighter and tighter as her breath left her. He buried his face in her hair rocking her back and forth.
"Yes. She wasn't meant to die." A clear voice spoke behind him. Darien was too consumed in his sorrow to notice.
"Artemis." Aphrodite acknowledged. "You came too late."
"I didn't." Artemis spoke stiffly. "I gave her warnings of what will happen. It was her choice to die."
"How can you be so callous?" Aphrodite exclaimed with anger. "She was your daughter!"
Artemis didn't speak. She watched her daughter on the mortal's arms and felt a twinge of emotion. She raised her palm and Serena's body floated to her.
Darien turned around with anger. He has had it with gods. From being an unbeliever, he was starting to believe and hate them with a passion. But as he stared at the intruder Darien saw the unshed tears on the woman's eyes and the love as well. Still he spoke, "Give her back. She's mine."
"She's dead." Artemis spoke without emotion eyeing him with scrutiny. "She was mine and you took her from me. Now she's dead."
"I know." Darien spoke with guilt.
"Hmm." Artemis approached him. "She can live…"
Darien looked at her, afraid to hope and being denied.
"…if you give up your life." Artemis finished with a small cynical smile.
Aphrodite made a protesting sound. "Don't toy with emotions Artemis. Besides, it cannot be done!"
"It can." Artemis spoke coldly giving Aphrodite a quelling look. "She will be immortal again. I have Zeus' permission. It's either your life or hers. Make a choice."
Darien looked at Serena's lifeless body and felt a wrenching in his gut. He loved her that much. He would die without her.
"Make a choice." Artemis repeated.
"I give my life." He spoke without hesitation.
His mother who was watching the whole thing made a sound of horror. "No…Darien…" She glanced at the heavenly beings and the woman who his son loved so much. When the woman had arrived at the castle, she had thought the woman only a passing fancy of his son's taste. She was such a bad mother.
"Good." Artemis smiled at him a little. She took her silver bow and arrows and aimed straight at his heart. He died a painless death with his lips speaking her name.
After that fateful day, Queen Isabella took Rei's warning seriously. The prisoners were taken back to their city and Elessar was helping Elysian rebuild. It seemed that Deamando was given a second chance in life. It seemed almost unfair that he lived and Darien didn't. With the king dead, he became the new king. Though he still had his bursts of temper, he changed a little. Knowing that there were consequences to be paid for his actions, he became a fairly good leader.
Apollo sent Rei another dream. Though the results weren't to his liking, he wasn't going to burn Elessar to the ground. Mostly, it was because Zeus had interceded. But three days and three nights the world suffered darkness. The sun didn't rise and the moon didn't shine.
"Father! You told me that if he died you'd give Serenity back her immortality." Artemis stormed Olympus finding Zeus sitting longingly on his chair at the head of the long table.
Zeus gave his daughter a patient look. "Do you think that your daughter would've lived happily… forever?"
"She'd be miserable." Artemis admitted. "But she'd be alive." Her voice hardened.
"Do not be selfish Artemis. It would hurt you to see her sad." Zeus admonished gently. "It was only to prove if his love is worthy of a goddess and he proved himself." Zeus spoke touching his daughter's cheek with a soft smile. "I couldn't have brought them back both to life. There are rules that even I can't bend. What I've given them is something better…"
He waved a hand in the air. A scene began to take place.
Artemis watched. A grudging smile began to form on her lips and then she laughed. "I understand. I guess it's better this way."
A/n: One chapter more! :)