Chapter 1 - The Beginning of Our End

#Writing #BloodofSilenceSeries #DanceTillOurEnd #DTOE

I remember the night it began. The beginning of our end.

Excitement was palpable in the air, for this night was a celebration of a new era to come. That of a new member of the Convocation, and the anticipation of all that he might do.
Black robes twirled upon the dance floor, the shuffles of shoes moving faster as the music sped up.

Mine was...admittedly more of a one sided dance, as getting Hades to move more than an inch was a feat in and of itself. But though he stood relatively still with arms crossed, he nevertheless gave me a twirl when I came in closer. And let it be known that I most definitely did not miss the twitch of a smile as he watched me get haphazardly flung rather than twirled between partners, laughing all the while.

As the music drew to a close, we were summoned back off the dance floor to the stage.

"Attention everyone! Grab your glasses." They waited as we did just that, and in anticipation, already rose our glasses into the air. "A toast!" my comrade called. "To our newest Fandaniel!"

"To Fandaniel!" the crowd cheered.

Gradually, the crowd drifted off to chat amongst themselves, and Hades gave a customary groan of irritation.

"To think we could have had this over and done with months ago."

I chuckled, "Indeed. I hear you had quite the adventure in my absence."

"Not that I would remember even if I did. I do so detest having to repeat my duties for the misadventures of others. Not to mention the paperwork," he shot me a glare.

"What are you looking at me for? For once, I had nothing to do with your 'misadventures.'"

"Perhaps," he shrugged. "One would be forgiven for thinking otherwise with Elpis abuzz with talk of 'Azem's wondrous familiar.'"

My lips pursed, eyes narrowing in irritation. "As I've told you a million times, I sent no such thing. I find it hard to believe you and Hyth could've mistaken something like that."

"So do I. Alas, the only one with a potential answers eludes us."

"Ah, Venat," my gaze drifted to the white-robed woman conversing in the far corner of the room. "Are you sure she was with you? Perhaps it was just a coincidence that she was there."

"How should I know? Most likely it was, but I am not wont to chase after her regardless. If anything of importance happened, I would know by now. And besides, one Azem is plenty."

"You wound me, oh eminent Emet-Selch." I placed the back of my palm against my forehead dramatically, making a show of it.

"Leave the pointless flattery to Hythlodaeus, my dear."

I chuckled cheekily, "Oh yes, I have plenty of other ways to get what I want out of you."

For a split second there was a bashful tug at the edge of his lips; perceptible only to the most trained of eyes. I smirked to myself in satisfaction. He was most certainly blushing beneath that mask of his.

The moment was cut all too short with the hurried footsteps of the emissary halting in front of us.

"Grave tidings from the east," he got our frantically between hurried breaths. "We must convene at once."

The room sat in a stilled silence. Naught could be heard but the buzz of the world outside; the soft chirps of birds, and the distant bustle below.
Minds churned, and it seemed as if no one dared to even breathe.

It was the irritated click of a tongue belonging to none other than Emet-Selch that broke the silence. "Surely we cannot be expected to believe this--this fairytale. Skies ablaze...never have I heard such nonsense."

"I'm inclined to agree. Perhaps it is some far-fetched, misbegotten plea for assistance. Another volcano eruption, or a code of some sort?"

"The next eruption is not for multiple hundreds of years," my brow furrowed.

"May I see the report, Elidibus?" asked Fandaniel.

He nodded, handing over the piece of parchment.

Taking a moment to read over the report's contents, he hummed in thought. "I know of no such beasts capable of..." he grimaced, quoting it exactly, "'ingesting human beings.' Such a creature would never make it past the Bureau of the Architect, let alone into the wilds. Even if by some miracle it made its way into Elpis, such a fatal flaw would be picked up almost immediately."

"Indeed. I shall consult with Hythlodaeus nonetheless, but such a thing seems unlikely."

"An unauthorised creation, then?"

"With that many of them, and on that scale? Highly improbable."

"What say you, Azem? You have much more experience with the east than the rest of us."

"There is no folklore, nor local phenomena that would even slightly resemble what was described," I started. "No, this... In all my years of living there--in all my years of traveling--I have never heard of anything like this."

"We are at a loss then," the emissary murmured. "I say this bears further investigation, would you not agree?"

The nods were unanimous.

"The likelihood of us needing to interfere is low, of course," he started with a nod, "but we must ever remain dutiful in keeping up with the goings on of our neighbours and the star."

I watched as a little black bird flew across the sky--blindingly bright in all its brilliance, even in the dim of twilight--as it had always been. As I assumed it would always be.
Beside me on the bench, Hades sat, deep in thought.

"Do you think it could be true, Hades? That the sky could turn red, and the stars fall from the heavens?"

"Perhaps if you conjured an illusion," he scoffed.

I sighed. "There was one thing that stuck out to me, out of all the things he told us."

He inclined his head.

"'Dead,'" I quoted. "It said the victims were 'dead.'"

"One does not simply die, my dear. I'm sure it was just some local wildlife caught up in the scuffle."

I frowned. "Maybe..."

He sighed. "You're going, are you not? Far be it from me to stop you."

My head jerked up at that. "You're not going to protest?"

"You seem surprised," he smiled, stroking my hand affectionately. "I know by now I couldn't stop you even if I wanted to. Especially when it concerns your family."

I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck with a whispered "Thank you."

He huffed in his usual way, though I could tell his annoyance was more feigned than genuine. "Well go on then. Before my better judgment catches up with me."

I pulled myself away with a nod, summoning my stead to my side.
Just as I'd turned to mount, I was paused by that ever so rare bout of vulnerability in his voice. "Stay safe, Cynthia. Promise me."

I smiled. "I always do. I'll be back to annoy you in no time; you have my word."

Many times had I watched her take to the skies upon that silver stead--wings of magnificent pink and blue that had seen her through many an adventure.
Many times had I watched as the wind blew back her cowl, letting the auburn of her hair flutter freely in the wind as she let it down from its ponytail.

Many times, and yet...

I could not shake the feeling that this might be the last.