The House of Spirit: The Rebellion
As I said, I tended to jump around a lot in perspective back then and there were a lot of Eliksni POVs. I think it was an attempt to get the word count up but now I realize it doesn't flow easily lol. So here's another split chapter of the House of Spirit POV. I 'might' have another chapter ready. We'll see if I have the time.
Edited: 03/27/2022
Axtris always had known that there were disagreements in the House. But she wasn't surprised by this; it was bound to happen after taking in the House of Wolves. After all, with their encounters with the Guardians, the difference in views were bound to happen.
What she hadn't expect was to hear shouting, war cries that easily could be heard behind the walls of her hut followed by the familiar sound of weapon fire. When she took a step outside and defended herself with her own shock blades, she had thought that the Devils had finally found the entrance to their House when her four eyes connected with another's. However, as she forced them back, she froze when instead of red colors, she saw the familiar silver and white.
That is when she looked up and saw that everyone had the colors of House Spirit. And that they were fighting each other.
"Axtris!"
Turning around, Axtris couldn't help but shout back, "Vellak! What is going on?!" She paused, "And why are you out of bed!?"
"Is that important right now?" Her oldest brother huffed as he hobbled over, staff in hand, "According to what I heard, there are others who are still enraged over Vivaks, Zhavaks, and Tiroks' deaths. When they heard that we were tending to a Guardian, they decided enough was enough."
Axtris' eyes furrowed, "A riot? How absurd-"
She jumped when a Vandal suddenly jumped onto Vellak's shoulder, prompting a startled cry as he stumbled back. Before she could take a step forward and help however, her littermate slammed the butt of his staff onto the ground, giving him a foothold. Then, with his superior size and arm length, he reached up and snatched the offending Vandal by the neck and tossed them. Axtris barely heard a screech before they were gone over a crowd.
"We have to reach the Guardians before the others." Vellak heaved out, leaning against his staff as he added, "They are their primary target."
"But they have done nothing wrong." Axtris retorted as she waited until her brother moved to follow, "Why can they not see reason and that not all Guardians are to blame?"
"We are talking about those who were imprisoned in the Prison of Elders, Axtris." Vellak explained, "They were nothing more than 'practice' by the Guardians for years. I am not surprised there are still dissenters who are still angry at them."
"But-"
Axtris words were interrupted as another Eliksni jumped them from the shadows of two huts, and this one, she realized, were missing their cape. And like before, it took Vellak little effort to lift his staff and swing. Flinching at the crunch that emitted from impact, Axtris forced herself to ignore it and continue to follow her brother.
"No time." Vellak snarled, as he continued to stumble forward, "We have to hurry. If they kill the Guardians, then our relationship with the Tower will crumble, and all our work will be for naught."
"Kill the…" Axtris' voice faded before she ducked to dodge a shock rifle shot, the realization slowly dawning upon her. She clenched her shock daggers tightly, "Why would they…"
"As I have said, no time." Vellak growled, "The Guardians were given their own private quarters. We have to –"
"The Guardian!"
That is when Axtris heard the fighting halt and then, the air echoed with the sounds of victory and rage. This prompted her to glance over and follow their gaze towards one of the many buildings that allotted their home. Only to feel as if her heart came to a stop.
There, on top, was Anikis and on their knees, is the injured Guardian, the latter of which was practically being held up by the Vandal's right hands.
"Tonight, we shall be free of the Soldiers of Light's yoke!" He shouted, prompting more cheers, "And we shall start with this one!"
When Axtris saw Anikis pull out a blade, she couldn't help but release a screech of rage, of shock, of protest before she dashed forward. She heard her brother cry out, feeling fingers brush against the back of her shoulders, but she didn't look back. She couldn't, not when a Guardian's life is in danger.
Shoving her way through the crowd, Axtris leaped forward, grasped the edge of the building and easily climbed up; she is grateful for Inkolas' prosthetics.
"Anikis!" She screamed, making her way towards the Vandal, "What in the Great Machine are you doing!?"
At first, a bewildered look glossed over the male Eliksni's face, but when he turned her way, Axtris saw his face light up.
"Axtris! Are you here to witness our freedom?"
She couldn't help but gawk at him, "Freedom?" Axtris glanced between the injured Guardian and Anikis, "This is freedom?"
"The first step." Anikis clarified as he hoisted the Guardian onto his feet and that is where Axtris saw his bound hands.
At first, she was confused. It was simple rope, a bondage that any Guardian could free themselves with little effort. That is, until she spotted what was in Aniki's lower left hand.
The Guardian's Ghost was struggling in the Vandal's grasp, cursing no doubt, but frantic, judging from wide look in their optic. She sucked in a breath when Anikis shifted his blade over the Ghost, and she couldn't blame them for immediately going still.
"Don't. You. Dare." The Guardian managed to wheeze out but, it did little to deter the Vandal. Axtris froze when the tip of the blade pressed against the Ghost's optic.
"We have been enslaved by the Guardian's for too long." Anikis said; Axtris glared at him, "I thought this 'treaty' would make a difference but, after hearing how they easily killed the Scouts, I thought wrong."
"It was a mistake, an accident." Axtris snarled out before she could stop herself, "Those Guardians were newborns, inexperienced, naïve. They did not recognize our banner, they were new to the words of the treaty."
That is when Axtris saw the way Anikis tilted his head, looking at her. Judging.
"You are taking their side, Axtris?" She saw his four eyes narrow at her, "Are you betraying our people?"
"Betraying our – I am conforming to the Treaty between the Guardians and our people." Axtris argued, "Do you not realize that it could save us? That this is our chance for our people to rise?"
"You mean conforming to them as animals?" Anikis spat; Axtris recoiled at his words, "The Awoken promised the same to us and our ancestors but look what happened. Our rights were taken, and we were treated nothing more than fodder for the Guardians in the Prison. And our life here will be no different."
"Pure One will change that."
"How?! When others will not!" Anikis then glared down at the Guardian in his grasp, "How do we know that they won't come here and try to kill us, like this one?"
"That one wandered here by accident!"
"And how do you know? You know there are those who would rather kill us than be allies."
Growling, Axtris debated on whether she should just charge and knock Anikis off the building. But she's not confident she will make it in time before he kills the Ghost.
"You dare speak blasphemy within these walls!?"
Perking at the familiar voice, Axtris snapped her attention towards the crowd below, only to see Ixrsis' towering form wade through; all present parted to let her pass. Judging from the look of rage in her luminescent eyes, it was best not to mess with her, especially at how easily she hefted the Scorch Cannon in her hands.
"Without the Guardians, you would not have your freedom!" Ixrsis roared, "They gave you the right to be free of the Ashen Ones and this is how you repay them? Threatening the life of one of their own and trying to insight a rebellion?!" Axtris watched as the Scorch Cannon in her hands flared to life, easily spotting the heat through the case, especially when she aimed it at Anikis, "We worked hard to create this Haven and you want it destroyed?!"
"This Haven is a lie! A cage!" Anikis retorted, "A farm to keep us enclosed! It is no different than our prison back at the home of the Ashen Ones!"
Axtris jumped at the roar from Ixrsis, her four eyes glowing with rage.
"Give me one reason why I should not kill you where you stand, Scout Anikis!"
That is when Axtris turned her attention back to the male Vandal. Her stomach dropped when she saw the smug look upon his face.
"You wouldn't want to risk killing this Guardian." Axtris cursed when Anikis hefted the Guardian to the front, easily using him as a living shield. It doesn't help that he also shifted his position so that the Ghost was pointed Axtris' way; a sign that he wouldn't hesitated to kill it if she were to take a step, "How would that look if the Kell kills a Guardian? Let us see how the Soldier of Light will act when you say it was only an 'accident'."
More than anything Axtris regrets not pummeling him for his advances back in the Incubation Chamber. At least then he would have been injured enough to subdue or, possibly, the rebellion does not happen at all. Or at least long enough for their House to discover it.
Clicking her mandibles together, Axtris once again glanced down at Ixrsis, to see of her reaction.
The Kell's eyes were still narrowed, her weapon still pointed at Anikis. However, she made no further movement to pull the trigger.
Axtris heard Anikis chuckle; he knew. She saw him turn his eyes towards her.
"After this Guardian is dead, 'the peace' built between us and the Guardians will be tarnished. You will never see your precious 'Pure One' again."
Anger settled over Axtris and before she could stop herself, she had removed her shock blades from their sheaths.
"Is this what it is about?" She snarled, "All this chaos because you cannot deal with rejection!?"
Her words seem to have struck a chord, for Axtris saw Anikis reel, flinch, before his eyes narrowed at her.
"I do not wish to be alone!" His shout prompted Axtris to recoil, "I have lost everyone! You were the only one left I could –"
That is when Axtris heard the familiar sound of dispersing energy, saw a shock blade appear out of the air. And dug itself into Anikis' shoulder.
The latter released a screech of surprise and pain, and Axtris watched as his grip around the Ghost's shell was lost. Relief flooded her senses when the Ghost immediately took the chance to fly safely away, and she spotted a flicker of fire form around the Guardian's wrist.
The Guardian snapped his hands free and, without hesitation, turned and swung a fist into Anikis' side. This sent the Vandal flying across the roof, and she could help but wince when he landed with a sickening 'thunk'. However, she opted to ignore him and instead turned her attention to where she had last seen their supposed savior stood.
"Olkar." Axtris let out a breath of relief as the last of the cloaking dissipated from her brother's form, "Thank the Great Machine you came when you did."
Olkar simply grunted at her words, "Same here, glad I am to actually do something useful for once."
Harmlessly slapping her brother across the shoulder for his statement, Axtris decided to turn her attention to the Guardian, only to see that he was standing, a hand to his side, and already connected with his Ghost. He then turned his attention towards her and Olkar, and Axtris couldn't help but shift nervously under his scrutinizing gaze. After today, she wouldn't be surprised if his wariness of her people grew.
However, much to her surprise, the Guardian calmly approached, and held out a hand towards Olkar, the latter of which blinked but nonetheless, clasped his hand around his. And they both shook.
Just as they released each other's grasp however, that is when Axtris heard cough and a wheeze echo through the air.
Dread sinking into her chest, Axtris turned towards where Anikis had landed, only to see him stumble onto his feet. Surprised that he survived the hit, it didn't take long for Axtris to see that he didn't come out of it unscathed.
There was an indent in his armor, visible from where even Axtris stands, and the puncture was enough where she wouldn't be surprised if it had punctured his side. Her thoughts were proven right when she saw trickles of blood trailing down from the injury.
"It is. Not over." Anikis managed to wheeze out, "Do not think that-"
A roar, so sudden and loud that not only Axtris, but both Olkar and the Guardian jumped, rang through the air. Followed by a crack as Anikis' head snapped, his body jerking from the motion before collapsing onto the ground. It was only when Axtris saw the vermillion blood pool around him she understood what happened.
Slowly, she followed the trail of the shot.
There, stepping out of the shadows, was Olkar's friend – Orion, if she remembers correctly – a sniper in his hand. And her eyes weren't the only ones upon him.
Everyone present had focused their attention onto the Guardian, something the latter must have noticed, for Axtris watched as he removed the clip from his weapon, tossed both to the ground. And raised his hands up in surrender.