#Writing #BloodofSilenceSeries #DanceTillOurEnd #DTOE
"There was fire around us so I should have known why
The touch of his hands were as cold as his eyes
So don't you tell me we weren't hypnotisedThe print was so small I didn't understand
He cut our thumbs and placed a feather in our hands
Told us we would see all our dreams and plans unfoldOur hearts we have sold
For diamonds and gold
But hey, baby, take a look
We have it all"-- We Have It All, Pim Stones
"I already told you, the answer is no, and I suggest you abandon this foolish plan before the convocation takes action against you all."
"But you did tell them, did you not? So did we, and yet here we are."
"I'm sure they'll come to their senses soon enough, so please, just- give them some more time."
"By the time they come to their senses, we may very well be dead, Azem."
A nudge at my leg brought me back to reality, and I shot my head up. "Do try and pay attention, dear."
"Sorry..." I murmured.
Hyth sent me an amused look, but--perhaps just to annoy me--did not make his drawling on any more interesting. The normality of it all was infuriating.
It was our regular meeting room. A large window covered the outside wall, giving us a clear view of what would usually be breathtaking spires glittering in the sunlight. Instead we saw hardly any more than ash, and I never thought the view would feel so unnerving.
A long table stood in the middle of the room with fourteen chairs surrounding it. It was not an overly large space, but it never really felt like that was the case. Today it felt painfully large and empty.
There wasn't anywhere else left standing that could be used for meetings, and the rest of the convocation were busy attending to the various recovery efforts. Consequentially, it was just the three of us.
"Emet-Selch," Hyth called, "I trust we can leave the rest of the redesigns to you?"
The man beside me waved his hand with a casual, "Yes, yes." He sounded about as bored as I was, despite having reprimanded me.
"Great," he started, pointing to another diagram on the board. "Our priority is rebuilding the housing districts; recreational sites can come later. We'll need a few people to help initially, can I leave that to you Azem?"
"I suppose," I grumbled.
He chuckled at that. "Then let us call this meeting adjourned."
Once Hades had left, Hyth quickly stopped me in my tracks. "A moment, if you would Azem. Before you go."
I inclined my head.
"I conducted the observations you requested of me. It is as we suspected."
"So it's true then? That he's..." I clenched my fists, biting back the tears. "Of all the things He could have claimed, the one thing that ever belonged to them..."
"It is."
Zodiark had claimed their souls.
The ride down the elevator was one of apathy. I didn't know what to feel as my footsteps echoed throughout the halls. It was if I was alien to my own reality.
I entered the main hall of the Capitol, and the murmuring crowd went immediately silent.
"We've arranged to begin rebuilding residential districts three through seven over the next few days," I began with a well-practiced tone that didn't betray any signs of unwanted emotion. "We need volunteers, so I'm going to hand around some fliers in just a moment."
I nodded to someone in the crowd, and they promptly took the fliers to begin passing them around.
"All public buildings will remain open for those who are still without homes. We have concepts for sleeping bags and fresh robes if anyone needs them. These are difficult times for us all, so we appreciate your patience with us." I gave my best smile.
"Is there any news on Lord Zodiark?" Someone called.
My body tensed, but the mask worked to hide my apprehension. My smile did not falter, though it never reached my eyes. "Everything is proceeding as expected. If we have any news to share, we'll be sure to let you all know."
That seemed to satisfy them, so with a polite bow, I excused myself.
The streets felt dull and lifeless as the wind swept ash across the pavement. The sun bathed the city in pinks and oranges as people prepared lanterns for the coming night. Street lights were not yet in operation, yet no one ever complained. Everyone was happy to do their part in keeping the city running, no matter how small.
On my way past the summoning site, a shimmer caught my eye from beneath a pile of debris. I crouched down to sift through and pry the broken trinket from the rubble. When I beheld it, though, my heart dropped.
A simple crescent moon pendant--broken and battered, but still relatively in one piece. On the back, barely even legible, was the name "Altheia." I didn't need to see the scratched and dirtied out last name to recognised instantly whose it was.
I practically sprinted to our apartment, bursting open the door with tears in my eyes. "Tell me you didn't," I plead. "Please tell me you didn't... Where is my sister?"
He stared at me with wide eyes from his place in the kitchen. "Cynthia-"
"What did you do, Hades? Why was her pendant at the summoning site?" My tone was furious now.
"You know we don't give special treatment Cynthia. You asked me not to give you names, and there was nothing I could-"
"I can't believe you! You sacrificed my fucking sister and you didn't even tell me! I never even got the chance to say goodbye! What if it'd been me that-"
It was then that the realisation dawned on me, and I felt my skin crawl. "'Family go together,'" I murmured. "I was supposed to..."
"You were away," he stated harshly.
Suddenly I felt extremely nauseous... I was supposed to be dead.
"So you sent me on a suicide mission? It was all pointless. You knew I wouldn't find anything, you just needed me out of the city. I either died out there or I died here, but if I was here, you all knew I wouldn't let you do it, and you knew that sending me away would allow a chance for me to survive."
He did not confirm, nor deny my suspicions. He simply observed.
"Don't you see what this has done to you? You've all been... I can't... I can't do this anymore."
"Cynthia, wait!" he called. He tried to grab my wrist, but I was gone before he got the chance.
I don't know why I had bothered asking. I already knew deep down what the answer was.
For the first time since the fires dissipated, it had begun to rain outside. Dark clouds permeated the sky, and the air was frigid, yet not unpleasantly so. It was much preferred to the dryness that had filled the air of late.
It drizzled down my mask and soaked my robes, but I found myself unable to care. It was strangely soothing in a way.
I buzzed the bell to Hythlodaeus' room, and he soon came down to great me.
"Whatever brings you here at this time of day my frie--" he paused as his eyes glanced over me, "Azem, you're soaked!"
"Ah... Yeah, sorry about that." I snapped my fingers, instantly drying myself.
He motioned for me to join him. "What ails you, my friend?"
Staring at the ground, I wondered where I would even start.
That my husband and collages had become slaves to their own creation? He knew that. That my entire family was dead? He probably knew that as well. That I felt completely and utterly useless and alone? He'd likely already picked up on that too.
And so I decided to simply get to the point.
"I'm...thinking of leaving the Convocation."
The ding of the elevator sounded, but he didn't say anything as we walked to his room.
The air was tense with the silence, but I knew him well, and I knew that this silence was not judgmental, so I waited.
"And what about the others? Hades?"
"I told you about Venat, yes? The summoning is in two weeks, and they plan to do it then night of the ball."
I walked over to the large window, gazing down at the city and trees below.
Just days ago the world had been bereft of all life. Rivers were poisoned, animal corpses lay littered about fields, and the ground was naught but ash and the disintegrating remains of plants and trees.
It had been a sight more disturbing and wrong than I had the words to describe, and yet seeing it restored somehow managed to exceed that.
It was as if nothing had ever happened. Birds chirped happily as if they'd always done so, worms wiggled about fertile soil as if it had always been there. Trees sprouted strong and tall as if they'd been growing for years, and the atmosphere was once again full of an abundance of natural oxygen.
Smiles began to spread upon tired faces, and yet...
It was so incredibly wrong.
The great city of Amaurot felt like a ghost town, and the people left mere shadows. Who could call this living? It was artificial at best; yet they kept offering up more and more innocent souls. And for what? A few hundred extra years?
Even if I did find a solution with the time afforded us, they would not comply. I was not so naive as to think I could change the world's fate on my own.
It was all so pointless...
"What are you going to do?" my friend asked.
Wistfully, I smiled. "The same thing I've always done. Something rash, something stupid, but something for the greater good."
I grasped my necklace tight against my chest, praying the stars would hear my pleas.
Please...let me save them from this fate. I can't leave them alone.
"No matter what, I promise I'll come back that night. You have my word."