A/N: Hey! Finally, an update! I know. I really haven't been so much distracted as I have been—uninspired, I mean, they're about to fight a god! I needed a way for them to beat him and for it to make sense. Oh well, anyways, I'd hate to give away anything but this isn't the last chapter. So you can take that for a spoiler in a way. So anyways sorry for the long wait and if you think about it, it hasn't been that long. Last time I updated was the 31st so it's been about…3 weeks…ummm…sorry.
Chapter 10 Gentleness
The expansive golden throne room had a dreary silence that loomed over it. Breaking only momentarily due to the soft crackles of breathing fire resting in several torches lined along the walls. Nightfall had fallen seemingly just as Kaileena had torn her palms through her sister's neck. The disheveled body sent shivers down her spine as she gazed upon it, and suddenly her longing for Aria had increased tenfold. As the same was for all of her siblings. She had now witnessed the death of three of her siblings, and was at fault for two of them. A stinging lump formed itself in her throat as she fought back tears, her own kin, although they were evil and there was a time when she hated them, she still wanted them back. Kaileena wished she could get a second chance, to help Decquaris feel better about his life choice, to make Evia feel welcomed, to acquit Aria of her feelings of rejection. To prevent the chaos that was her siblings.
She stood up and reclaimed her swords from their position on the floor. Wincing quickly to avoid tears, she turned back to the silvery long-haired man that rested so smugly in his throne. His expression of sympathy for the death of his children, no empathy for the pain of his offspring. This expression proved noteworthy to Kaileena that all their pains, their heartache, were the result of being raised by that man. This was his doing, and now she would take revenge on him once and for all. She will kill him, and make a final tribute of apology to her siblings.
"Damn." The God of Time muttered indignantly as he began to remove himself from his seat. He eyed Kaileena fiercely as he began to walk toward her.
"What's wrong?" She asked, tightening the grip on the hilts of her blades.
"You and your lover seem to have impeccable timing with one another. Just as you tore your own sister's head from her torso, Arlyn was just killed."
Kaileena smiled, still retaining her look of seriousness. "I'm glad. I was scared that Prince would be unable to defeat Arlyn, and a Dahaka as well at that."
The God of Time turned around calmly, laying his fists against the small of his back. "Indeed, the Prince managed to kill the Dahaka by smashing him in the face with some of the river water around here."
Of course! I completely forgot to tell him that that water he collected could prove useful.
The God of Time had paused briefly as if he knew that Kaileena had begun thinking. "He also defeated Arlyn himself by breaking the Slow Time spell."
"Truly? How—like him." Kaileena's expression was now that of a resolved joy. "Father, do you still not see why I admire him so?"
"I do. He has a strong warrior spirit, never gives up, he is clever, even crafty one would say. And—I suppose you would say something to the likes of 'he has a gentle soul' and whatnot."
Kaileena grew angry again. How dare he belittle such a significant feeling she has for her lover.
"You say it as if it is worth nothing. But father, gentleness is what makes a person strong. How much one is accustomed to 'gentleness' is what determines how that person dies."
The God swiftly turned back around, lifting a silvery brow. "Really, how so? Explain, since you have become such a philosopher."
"Gladly. You see, Decquaris died because you were never gentle with him."
"No, Decquaris died because your lover killed him!"
"Yes, but I'm not talking about Decquaris's physical death, I'm talking about the death of his heart, his love from himself. That was gone because you never accepted him! So, Decquaris had died long before the Prince killed him."
"I never told Decquaris to become what he was. I don't see how it even happened. I have a love for women…" He walked up to Kaileena and rubbed his cold palm across her cheek. "Beautiful women, so I have no clue how he came to like men. But finish dear daughter, explain to me how your other siblings died because they were unaccustomed to 'gentleness'."
"Fine, think about Evia, she felt lonely and under appreciated, but if she had gentleness from anyone, it was Aria. Her sister gave her that notion of love that she needed, therefore Evia didn't die from hatred or bloodlust, she sadly died by—an accident. Which I believe is better. Aria—"
Kaileena's father raised his hand, halting her speech. "Aria, if anyone had a lot of "gentleness" from me." He said with a smirk.
Kaileena nearly spat at him. "You sick bastard of a fool! That which you did was not gentleness! It was pointless lecher! She if any died one of the most pain stricken deaths I have ever seen!"
The God of Time's voice boomed. "Don't you dare speak to me that way! Aria's death was pain stricken because of you ripping her neck apart!"
"No! It was pain stricken because she never felt loved! Why can't you just accept the fact that you caused pain for you children! Why?"
"Because I don't give a damn!"
Kaileena stopped. That statement had an effect on her. It was odd, she knew in the back of her mind that her father really didn't. But to hear it out loud was so permanent, so assuring. Possibly she had a small hope that maybe her father wasn't as cold as she was made to believe. Well, now her feelings were affirmed.
"I don't care about you or your pitiful siblings." He continued, sounding much more reserved now. "I love earthly women, I love the heat of their flesh, the soft curves of their body. I have my way with them, and when I am done with them I throw them away. Plain and simple. Do you know how irritating it is to find out that you have impregnated a woman? I use those women for one night of pleasure, but then I suddenly have to deal with a lifetime of toil because one seed decided to grow a little bit more. Of course I can't have a bunch of half-gods roaming the earth. So I take them in. Maybe even give them a nice little section of time to rule. Why? To get the little brats out of my hair! I don't care about you, I care about your body, but never you. At least when I have daughters I can use them for a purpose. But my sons I hate even more. I hate all of you. I despise all of you! You are all worth nothing to me! That's why I don't care how lonely you all feel, or whether I'm being gentle enough with you and all that nonsense. Because I simply don't care.."
"Then rest assured." A deep voice said out of nowhere. "Because after tonight you won't ever have to see any of them again."
Kaileena quickly turned around to see the triumphant return of the Prince as he strutted through the room with the majesty of a stallion. His Water Sword firmly in his grip, his clothes tattered, his vest removed, and still he exuded the confidence of the world as if he were a god himself.
"Are you okay Kaileena?" The Prince stopped next to Kaileena.
"Yes. I'm fine."
The Prince soon noticed the two limp bodies of Kaileena's sisters. "You took out both of them? What skill you have! I daresay you've grown stronger since we fought each other."
"Possibly." She said modestly. "But one death was a fluke."
"I see."
The God of Time was laughing. "How perfect, the warrior and his princess, here to finally destroy the evil king once and for all!"
The Prince and Kaileena both raised their swords. Their thrice of blades glinting brilliantly in the eerie glow of the torches.
"So, what is your plan of attack now? Do you two plan to kill me?"
Kaileena and Prince responded merely by maintaining their animalistic glares at the god.
"I suppose that mean yes. Prince, your time has finally run out. I believe it to be in your destiny to die and I am about to make it come true this very moment. Kaileena, you have defied me one too many times, your death is in the sands as well."
With that he quickly jumped back a short distance toward his throne. His silvery hair flowed elegantly all around him. The Prince and Kaileena hadn't budged, still keeping their guard up. The God of Time had begun to glow a faint color of black, despite the golden robes throne about him. Resembling Arlyn he reached inside his robe and removed his weapon. The Prince's eyes lit up as he gazed at the most glorious weapon he had ever laid eyes upon.
The weapon was scythe. With the hilt so long that it out lengthened the tall figure of the god himself. The hilt was made from black marble. Strung about it was little jewels of all kinds, rubies, jades, sapphires, and amethysts all covered the hilt in a particular pattern. The majestic hilt soon lead upward to the large crescent shaped golden blade that was peculiar to all scythes. This man was truly the reaper incarnate in its most heavenly form.
"Are you ready to die foolish mortals?" The god released with an amplified voice.
The Prince gulped. "We are ready to fight! But it is you who will die!"
"I admire your strength and courage Prince, I really do. But it is time you realized that your fate is in my hands! I determine what will happen to you!"
Shielding the massive golden throne behind him, the god's hair had begun to levitate in massive waves of grandeur. He readied his scythe, testing its strength by swinging it vertically and side-to-side. He hadn't had to use this weapon in thousands of years, and now would be the day to once again prove its worth. With an amplified roar he bounded forward and swayed the scythe toward the Prince first. Quickly reacting the Prince crossed his swords and tried to block his attack, and he was successful, but the sheer force of the scythe sent the Prince spiraling backward. The god released a hearty laugh before turning to Kaileena and swiftly backhanding her before she could react, sending her into the wall nearest them.
"This is the power that destroyed all of my children? I'm shocked." He lunged forth into the air and soared quickly over to Kaileena. He paused and stared at her for a little while, basking in her beauty. "I truly do not wish I had to destroy you, but your constant defiance is so much disrespect towards me that I have no choice. You will be the first to die."
"No!" The Prince blared as he quickly sped over to the god looming over his love. The god merely smirked and stretched forth a hand. Suddenly the Prince found himself pushing against a tough invisible force, he couldn't push through it and was knocked back almost as soon as he touched it.
"Now," the god continued. "Kaileena since I do love you in more ways you could ever imagine, I will make your death quick and painless." He lifted her head ever so gently, he would surely miss his love. Kaileena seemed to be to weak to speak, and she painfully watched as the single digit of the god's hand was slewed through her head, she lost consciousness.
"What? No…it can't be—" The Prince had become dumbfounded by the sight.
"Yes it can, Prince. And you are next. But you see, you are completely human so I can do this." The god laughed as he snapped his fingers, and the Prince fell lifelessly to the ground.
A/N: A little bit shorter than I have been recently doing, and cheap deaths I know. But don't worry, this isn't the end of the story. You'll see how Kaileena and the Prince beat him. I won't take as long either, especially since this chapter wasn't something you wait three weeks for.