Disclaimmer: Saint Seiya manga, anime and characters belong to their respective owners.

Written by: Flavia "Millerna" Rizental - 2002-03-15

He lay on the ground staring up at sea, even after all these years it was strange, almost unnatural but not quite. Surely he had lived this before, surely he had sat beside the same lilac-haired man who now played the flute, perhaps it was the same tune as time before. The melody was unnerving, it pulled odd cords in him, this exquisite climax that simply wouldn’t come. He closed his eyes, in a gesture that on the surface might have been interpreted as too much exposure to light, only there was no sun here and the light was of magical, godly origins and was never too-bright or too dim, it simply was. He sucked in his breath through his teeth, he was hurting and he knew only too well why and he hated it that he still cared, that it still mattered. And the song that kept playing on – what was it? – a mourning of sorts. His heart was beating too fast, the song was driving him mad. Quit it, stop thinking about him, it’s not right but still the visions came. Maybe it was the shock, that after all this time they would see each other again, after all this time he’d be given a chance to avenge himself, it was the end of a long coming dream and maybe, just maybe reality hit him like a freaking rock.

"Damn it, stop!" He didn’t mean to sound so harsh and he felt genuinely sorry his companion turned to him with a confused and hurtfull look imprinted upon his elfin features, maybe a bit hurt. With Sorrento, Isaac could never really tell, the man was odd, so gentle and seemingly so capable of cruelty. But then, who was he to judge when he had commited and would comit the very same austrocities? Nay, judge me not till you’ve walked in my shoes! He found that humourous, and insanity being what it was he burst into a peal of laughter, Sorrento arched an eyebrow, fingering the flute most lovingly. That made him laugh again. "Please, stop.I can’t stand the music today" it was a plead. It was the truth. Truth? What was the truth? His heart was so heavy it could be made of stone. He wasn’t a good man, he had fallen into the dark depths, into the lower cirlces and there he had danced.

"It’s a new song I’m working on." The man was saying something, better listen, people could think you are crazy if you don’t listen. "Is it that bad?" Siren Sorrento, the perfectionist, forever performing to a faceless crowd. A crowd that would never live to tell the beauty of his song. It was bitter irony. Isaac shook his head ruefully forcing a laugh.

"The song is great, the song is wonderful." The song can make me cry, the song can make mad. But most importantly the song reminds me of him, him, him. And I hate him. He smiled.

"Philistine!" Sorrento rolled his eyes and in a liquid movement rose from the rock upon which he had been seeted and walked away casually, pausing only to bend down and retrieve a flask of wine from the ground. "I’ll leave you to mope then. It’s time to get back to the gathering, at least six of us should be present, and our Lord." Gathering.

He watched as Sorrento tilted the flask to his lips and drank a mighty gulp. Now that Sorrento had stopped playing, he could hear the other sounds, the sounds of the gathering of the seafolk. They had had that last party, that prelude to war, they expected the invaders tomorrow and they had such joyous news, Athena the dicator was in their grasp. The seafolk were glad, this feast had been thrown for and by them. He looked out towards the gigantic tents that had been placed for the event, there were five brightly colored tents, one larger than the others. Where the Shoguns would have dined, where the other five and the other marinas had been housed. Where their leader, Sea Dragon and his little mistress Mermaid Thetys probably still sat entwined, looking as if they were king and queen of them all. Thetys, with her beautiful hair and lovely figure, he felt a sudden longing, something stir when he thought of her. Which meant it was better not to think of her. No, think of the Sea Dragon, think of the plan, think of war. And Julian Solo, must not forget Julian Solo, his god, to whom he owed his allegiance, shame that he hadn’t felt that way though.

Isaac blinked hard, swallowing back the lump in his throat, pushing back the urge to scream. He needed to know…

"Sorrento, wait." Isaac sat up and turned away, shielding his scarred face within the shadows. He touched the tip of the scar on his cheek, it was a habit, something the others called a fettish. But they didn’t know how much he needed this scar, his life depended on its existance. As long as the scar was there he would roam this earth, yes. "Is there anything else? Tell me, please."

The lilac haired man paused in his tracks and turned back to Isaac, eyes of an impossible pink regarded him quietly. "I have told you everything." Was that a frown on the Siren’s face? No, he knew that look, he hated that look, compassion.

"Ah." What was it he felt? Dissapointment, finality? Hatred. "So you are certain it was him?" The tone was bitter and Sorrento cocked his head, he knew to listen to that which was not spoken.

"Cygnus? Blonde hair, blue eyes…and they called him Hyoga. He was your companion?" Sorrento grinned, stressing the word companion meaningfully. Isaac turned his scarred face and laughed. Companion, yes. Friend, yes. Traitor, yes. Everything, yes.

"Just because you’ve designs on the frigging Sea Dragon doesn’t make all of us - "

"Sea Dragon? Pah!" Sorrent glared at him. "Why waste time on the man when Thetys is nicely available. And rather nicely curved too." a smile crept on the Siren’s face. Isaac rolled his eyes, nicely available indeed, little tramp.

"Keep the mermaid, you can have the mermaid if you don’t mind sharing her. All those smoldering looks between you, it’s driving our overlord mad". He lept from the rock and landed a few yards ahead of Sorrento, he turned to the fellow shogun with an impish smile on his face. Smile so they won’t know how much you need to scream, to scream and drive away the madness with the sound of your raw voice.

"Smoldering looks?"Sorrento smiled smugly, "I like that. As for the shogun being driven mad…if I can give a push it’ld be a pity not to take it."

Ah, so it was like that, was it?

"Great and if he hears us he’ll knock us down to hell and kick us when we land." Isaac moved towards that far-off pilar…the southern most one…

"Kraken."

"Yeah?"

"Who was Hyoga?" Such a serious tone for Sorrento, the man must be worried, Isaac grinned painfully.

"Someone I trained with." He would not cry, he wouldn’t show weakness not in front of Sorrento, not in front of any. " Killing him will be my greatest pleasure." The Siren snorted.

"Whatever you say." And Sorrento strode away. Isaac let out a long sigh when the Siren was gone from sight and hearing range.

"You’re a fool, Isaac." In a blur he was in the temple, on the way in he paused. Stop and kiss the pillar, yes, gently with your eyes closed. The Pillar that was his duty to protect and he looked around the temple with something of dread and fought back the panic. This place where Isaac would see him tomorrow and they would battle and one of them would die and Isaac knew whatever way, the Krakken would have Justice.

*****

He remembered the day Hyoga arrived. He arrived with a load of boys from the neighbooring villages only he came from Japan and Isaac remembered the stir that caused among the others as they pointed and said names in russian. They were six and only one would be chosen by Camus. It was almost a selective process. Isaac had never gone through one, it was strange. The exercises were the same that Isaac had had to perform but these boys cried and argued and complained and tried to flee. It was disgusting to the small boy of eight. They were pathetic all except the blonde boy. He stood apart from them from the beginning, he didn’t cry, not even when Isaac knew that Camus was being a bit too harsh.

Isaac knew he would be chosen, he had to be, only he was worth something. That meant Camus would have a new pupil and Isaac would hate the new child.

Said and done, Hyoga was chosen. On the first night Isaac kicked him down a slope of snow, the boy tumbled and fell hard. Too hard, the kick had been violent. Hyoga lay on the ground for a moment then stood up and shook the snow from his clothes and wiped blood from his nose. But the look he gave Isaac…the boy shuttered. And Camus had asked:

"What happened? Why did you fall?" Voice so stern it made Isaac flinch, he looked into those eyes and he was certain Hyoga would tell. Why had he done that? What had possessed him, petty jealousy? Yes. Suddenly he felt ashamed, he’d deserved whatever punishment Camus would give him. He looked expactantly to his teacher.

"I just slipped." Isaac blinked, staring at the little boy in awe…why had he? Blue eyes bore into his, wide eyed but not so innocent. "It doesn’t matter. It didn’t hurt." Defiant, better than Isaac. Better than Isaac? And Camus had frowned as if he sensed that something had occurred beneath his nose and he hadn’t quite caught the scent of it.

Superior. That’s what the boy was, it startled him and he resolved at that moment what would take him his lifetime to achieve.

He would be the perfect student, he would be better than Hyoga…god help him. He apologized that night, a heated little apology he meant from the bottom of his heart, Hyoga had watched most quietly, judging and again shame crept through Isaac. Shame.

And he forgave him.

"I don’t understand, why do we fight for Athena?" Hyoga had asked a few weeks latter, the two had been sitting together drinking a cup of steaming milk. The question unnerved Isaac not because he didn’t know the answer but because he had never thought to ask it. He paused and wrinkled his nose considering the question. Hyoga hopped up careful not to spill the contents of the tin cup and moved towards the mantel where the little statue was kept.Little Athena, ready and willing for battle, it was the little image Camus went through great pain in keeping clean, as if it was a duty. Maybe it was, he had never thought to ask either.

Why did they fight for Athena? Isaac frowned and let the first word that came to mind slip.

"Justice."

"Justice?" Such an innocent, wide-eyed look. The boy fingered the base of the statue.

"Athena is just. That’s why we fight for her, because there isn’t justice in this world."

"How can she bring justice? It seems that all she wants is to fight and fight and fight." Hyoga frowned and squeazed the image of the goddess.

He didn’t know.

"I don’t know. But she will." and it sounded more like a threat than a promise. Hyoga shrugged.

"I don’t care. As long as I’m here with you and Camus, I don’t care." The boy turned and smiled, patting the head of the statue as if it were a pet.

"Oh."

That night Isaac had slipped from the bed and gone to the statue, he glared at it. How can you bring justice? You have to bring justice, you have to. Life doesn’t mean anything without Justice. But how will you do it?

"Isaac?" Camus. The boy turned chagrined to his master, of course Camus would have woken, his teacher was so powerful. Camus frowned. "Indeed. What are you doing?"

"I…er…"

"Go to bed."

"Master, how will she do it?" His little fists clenched by his side.

"Excuse me?" How calm his teacher looked, almost bored.

"How will she bring justice? Will she bring justice?" Camus looked at him strangely.

"She is our goddess." He moved towards the statue and touched her feet reverentelly. "The path she threads is narrow and not always easy to discern." He let out a low sigh. "But…she is our Goddess. Do you understand, Isaac? What Justice is?"

"Justice is everything." Isaac nodded.

"To some." And Camus had smiled softly, sadly and Isaac couldn’t understand that, what it was that could make his teacher sad.

"But you said justice was the only reason to fight. You said that." Accusing his own teacher, he half-expected to be tossed across the room. Only Camus wasn’t like that, always demanding never violent.

"But it is, for a warrior there can be no ulterior motives."

"Not even love?" Why had he asked that, except maybe it was a question for Hyoga. Yes, maybe his friend would have liked to know.

"Love?" There was a little ironic smile in that, wasn’t there? Almost imperceptiable but there, certainly. "No, only a cheap warrior makes love his reason."

Did his teacher think he was childish? He couldn’t know for certain. Not with Camus, who acted most of the time as if he didn’t care. And what about Isaac? How did he feel towards Camus?

Admiration, the need to be like Camus. Yes, he wanted to become the man Camus was.

"Don’t make your reason love, Isaac, as much as it might make others strong it would lead you to defeat." And he had touched his hair lightly, carresing his head absently but carelessly.

"Go to bed."

"Yes, sir." Such a meek voice, the boy studied his toes looking up when he heard his teacher’s clothes rustle and then Camus was gone.

Don’t worry about love, he told himself. Think of Justice, yes, Justice. He liked that, it filled his chest with hope. He looked upon the statue with admiration, love. She was beautiful, she was his. Goddess of Justice, of Wisdom. And War. But that didn’t matter right now, all that mattered is that he would serve her. Because he understood justice, he always had.

He closed his eyes and tried to remember her. Mother. She was a child herself, sad and starving child. It had been Justice what she had done to him, surely. He remembered it, he remembered the starvation. How she used to cry into the night while her son attempted to soothe her. She wasn’t pretty, she was too thin and guant, with hair that was moussy and dead looking. But wasn’t hair already dead when it left the scalp? He knew how she suffered, he remembered how his grandfather had tossed her out of their home one winter night, calling her whore.

He looked like his grandfather, if the man was his grandfather at all. The man was rich, his mother told him and the house was fine and there were good things to eat there. But they shamed the man and so the man who was supposed to be his grandfather tossed him out.

And she had really tried, she really had but she couldn’t afford to keep him. When the grandfather told her she could come home if she left the child she had wept. He had been miserable, he didn’t love her but he wanted her to be alright, he wanted her to be happy. He understood when she took him to the monestary. He was glad. It was just. Why should she suffer on the account of him?

They would both have food. And he liked the monestary, they taught him to read. He read the book of the monks, the Bibble when he was four, it impressed them, the little honest monks.

He learned a lot of intersting things in the monestary, he learned about a man called Jesus Christ who sounded almost too good to be true, he seemed so perfect, it burned Isaac when he thought of such perfection. And there was of course the matter of Justice.

It marvelled him that religion could be about Justice and at the same time so full of examples of Injustice! He became fascinated by Justice. Justice, he felt was the true religion. That’s what the Son, the Father and all the Angels wanted, Justice for all!

He understood this but when he asked the monks they looked at him as if he were more than half-mad. How could it be that they didn’t understand?

And injustice riddled him. Injustice ate at his dreams, turning them to nightmares. Injustice were those dreams where he saw his mother sleeping on the harsh ground crying from hunger. Injustice was when he met those who had no food, no home, no warm clothing. Faces he would never remember during the day but would come to plague him at night. He knew that Justice had not been met. It wasn’t that Justice failed it was simply that there had been no Justice for the broken ones.

Evil. Evil opposed to Justice. Like Juhdas opposed Jesus. Justice was all that was good, all that was beautiful. Evil sought to destroy Justice and sometimes prevailed. One day he would be strong enough to destroy Evil and then Justice would win, forever.

Or so he swore. When Camus came to take him away he didn’t complain, he was glad. He had heard of Camus, the man who was as mighty as Michael the Angel. So when Camus told him of Athena, told him to be a warrior to her, Isaac was not stunned. In fact, he was amazed, he loved her when Camus told him of her deeds of the way she met out Justice using Wisdom, she was absolutely perfect, he felt. She was what he had been waiting for!

And it didn’t really matter who he fought for as long as Justice was the reason. So he was willing, when Camus asked, to pledge himself to Athena. And he would do it, for Justice and he would destroy Evil. Evil would be erradicted from the earth and Athena would love him and Camus wouldn’t be able to say he was wrong.

When he slipped back into their room he was too excited to sleep. It didn’t matter, he’d have to be awake in two hours anyway. He pounced over to the bed he and Hyoga shared and shook the boy sleeping there. Hyoga grumbled and finally sat up in bed, pushing Isaac away.

"What’s wrong?" Grumpy voice. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to wake him…

"Nothing! I know the purpose. Why we serve Athena!"

"Oh." Not too much excitement there Isaac noted with exasperation.

"Justice is the only reason, it doesn’t matter wether she’s Athena or Jesus or whoever! It doesn’t matter, see? All that matters is Justice and destroying evil!"

Hyoga paused then glared and flopped back into his covers.

"I don’t think that’s all there is to it. Now shut up and go to sleep."

"Oh." He slipped beside the other boy and was almost sleeping when he felt an arm go about him.

"Goodnight." Warm breath at his ear and Isaac calmed down and went to sleep.

*****

He awoke with a start, joulting up in bed and tossing his covers to the side. He leaped out of the linen sheets and rushed towards the door to his quarters. For a blind moment he wasn’t certain where he was, he had been dreaming, something pleasant. He shook his head and concentrated, placing both palms on the dark wooden frame. Push away the dreams, push away the nightmares.

But the nightmare was real and there could be no escape from the world of mortals where the dangers lurked. Like his mind was diminished to a plaything. Yes, that’s what Hyoga had done, fiend.

Hyoga, why dream of him? Or maybe it wasn’t a dream of Hyoga at all…maybe it meant something, maybe. The dream was like a taste of something long forgotten, something eaten that would not disapear from his organism, as if it had become a part of him, something that he would, needed to remember. Even if remembering was forever.

Justice?

There was no true Justice. All paths led to someone’s Justice…he was the closest to Justice mere humans could ever get.

Love?

It was a lie.

In the end all there was was his hatred for the one who betrayed him. Hyoga had shown him that…the price for his love…

To hate this much was to burn. He would have wept if he still had tears in him, he would have screamed if it didn’t mean he was insane. He would…hell, he should have done something…

Instead he listened to the beating of the drums, his brow furrowed. A beat of sweat brimming and then he understood what it was that made his pulse race, with delicious anxiety. A small smile crept across his features even as he stroked the scar lovingly.

Yes, scratch it. Make sure the scar won’t fade so that when he comes he can see the scar and know that it is only on the superficial side, the inside is much more flawed, much more twisted and so dark it was a wonder that he could live within himself, that such a wounded mind could support such a perfect body.

It wasn’t the body that supported the mind, surely not. Not when the mind could kill you. The memories could kill, maybe one day they would. But not before he saw Hyoga again, there were too many things to say, too many things altogether. He wanted to tear Hyoga from limb to limb till all there was left was the head and watch that, to see when the brain inside died…what kind of expression would Hyoga make?… but before that, before that…

He heard a sound, the door to his apartments opening, and frowned. He sensed her, a girl, temple maid, yes, he remembered. What was her name? He didn’t care, he had never asked. He opened his door and walked out to meet her.

Why was she here? Oh, yes. The call of War, maybe he was indeed mad. He walked steathly until he could see her, a pretty dark-haired, dark-skinned thing. Merfolk that was obvious by the little gills on her neck. People who lived under the sea, would there come a time when humans learned of them? What would they do then? Keep them in giant aquariums to prod and dissect?

How many such peoples lived like this? One race forever hidden from the other. But then, Athena’s Sanctuary, Poseidon’s Empire and Hades’ Realm were kept from the humans too…so many worlds within one another, forever touching each other and they, the normal ones, the blessed ones, never knew. His entire life had been spent away from their eyes, in the company of the occult. He was a dark secret the outside world would never acknowledge or even want to. Secrets.

The girl hadn’t seen him and she was turning this way and that in search. Merfolk but foolish to walk into the cave of krakken. He could see that she wrung her hands nervously, she didn’t wish to be here, she simply wanted to tell him that the Sea Dragon had called them forth, yes…just that.

He read it from her mind, she didn’t need fear him, he would never have harmed her, no matter how pretty, how soft she looked to him. She was an innocent. And the Krakken never attacked the innocent.

Besides, he wanted blood, he couldn’t deny it…but his blood.

He made noise so that she would look at him…she did and imeadiately averted her eyes…the scar. He almost laughed, almost.

"It’s alright, I know." She didn’t understand and tried to stammer her message.

"Sir, the Shogun…" He stopped her abruptly.

"Fine! I go now." And he did, passing past her so fast she never saw him or felt him, just the flow of her skirts told her that he had indeed, left. The girl shuddered, catching her breath and fell to her knees.

They were always so scared of them, the mighty Shoguns. They were like dogs kept to guard, everyone trusted them but no one dared to walk into their kennels. It was better this way. They wouldn’t be hurt by them, the merfolk, they wouldn’t be hurt by the lies, by the expense of having their love.

What was the love of a monster? In the end Camus was right, of course, Camus had always been right. Love is meaningless for a monster. And now Camus was dead.

Because of him, Hyoga, how had he managed it? Destroy them so completely? How?

He moved faster than sound, there was no need to be faster, he felt the cosmos of his fellow Shoguns but concentrated on one place only. Poseidon’s palace, the Great Pillar there looming with the same raw power as Athena’s statue. Yes, there, where the God was. The young Godling whose name was Julian Solo, little modern day pirate. He was running up the stairs so fast the guards never got to utter a protest, as if they would.The first people he saw were those he referred secretely to himself as the Triangle. The achingly beautiful Thetys caught his attention, her smile, even as she stood beside the Sea Dragon, directed at Sorrento in a hopeful way. Sorrento being the man he was, a man Isaac found he admired, refused to look back, at least not like that, only the ocasional and highly cordiality was poured on her. For a moment Thetys seemed disapointed, her eyes downcasted, then she looked at their self-appointed leader and sucked in her breath, visiably. Ah, Sea Dragon Kanon…he was the best of them all…with that cold detached look shot at Thetys, as if it didn’t matter…he didn’t give a damn.

Thetys who was loved by Sorrento and kept away from him by her lover…her powerful lover, who wasn’t a lover at all…

He almost laughed…only it wasn’t appropriate. And something else beckoned to him…how sad it was for them. How sad and wickedly amusing.

A hand reached for his shoulder but he saw it and sidestepped and reached to defend himself.

"Fuck, Isaac, leave it for the intruders." Silas Io threw up his hands and laughed.

"Hm, It’s you." He rolled his eyes at the smaller man.

"No enthusiasm? Ah, darling, but I miss your nightly ministrations so badly…" Silas cooed shrilly, pushing his face under Isaac’s nose.

"Silas, darling dearest, let go before I give you a reason to speak in high pitch."

"Damned fruitcakes." Boring Baian…boring homophobic Baian who looked disgusted enough to vomit.

"Oh, Baian baby, there’s plenty of Silas to go around." Silas howled. What was about straight men that made them want to act like gay men? Bad impression, too.

Isaac pushed Silas away none too gently before Baian could take offence and moved towards the Sea Dragon. Kanon was glaring at his horde disapprovingly and yet…something underlined the Sea Dragon’s eyes, something hidden by his attitude, a look of contentment. Isaac looked around, they were all present and the lesser marinas too…standing outside the Throne room, only Thetys was allowed entrance, for reasons which were more than obvious. The call of war…Julian had already declared war on Sanctuary, so that could only mean…

They had gotten through the veil. Of course. Hyoga was near, the thought was both thrilling and frightning. Oh, God above, why? Just remember, it’ll be just to rid yourself of him…you have the right.

The right? To deal death? Yes. Yes…maybe. Maybe.

It was then that he saw her…the beautiful dark eyed girl and he realised they had all been in revered silence. He frowned and tried to concentrate…who was she? Why did the Sea Dragon look at her so. Julian Solo stepped next to her suddenly clad in the stunning Poseidon scale, the man looked at the girl he shoved roughly into the room with mixed hostility and almost tender lust. He held her forearm in a grip that must have been painful, his nuckled were turning white, but the girl showed no indication of pain, only a sublime and utter superiority.

He could see it infuriated the Lord.

They were all staring at her and she refused to look at any of them, staring straight ahead as if nothing really mattered. Who was she?

Julian shoved her foreward with suden violence, she lost her balance and stumbled but didn’t fall. She glared at him so viciously…like for a moment the mask had been pulled off.

"I give you her majesty, Athena!" Julian roared. "In all her splender and glory! In all her stubborness."

There was an outburst, they all stared at girl in awe. Athena.

Athena? This…girl? This pretty, pale girl?

There was snickering as they all recovered and then burst into laughter. Most of them laughed, incredously. Isaac didn’t.

How could he? When she was obviously exactly what Julian said she was. He could see it, could see her little ivory hands tighten to angry fists by her side, ever so subtle. Trying to curb her anger.

Athena.

"My lord, she should be taken away." The Sea Dragon, only it wasn’t a request, Kanon dared to order their lord. He looked obviously displeased. Julian shot a look at him and Isaac couldn’t quite understand. He saw Sorrento murmur something under his breath and shake his head.

"But that’s exactly what she is, see? Athena, the maiden warrior." Debauchoury, ugly naked debauchoury. And Julian staring at her as if she would tear out his heart. "And she is here and under my domain…and I can do whatever I like."

"My lord." Kanon lifted an eyebrow, Kanon who could control the lord, who brought the lord here. Kanon who now looked at the lord strangely, warningly. And Athena, don’t tear your eyes off Athena…

So beautiful…was she really the goddess underneath that skimpy nightgown, who had put her in that? He had always pictured her in her leather armor, with her spear at her hand, ready for batter. This was a maiden, with such dark eyes…

Athena. Did Camus see her before he died? This womanish child who Hyoga served. Served loyally? Yes, only don’t ask him to forget Mama for you, little beauty. But think of Camus, what did Camus think of her? When he looked at this maiden had he seen the Goddess he served all his life? Did Hyoga?

Could Isaac see her? Athena…the Athena he had once thought of protecting, he had daydreamed of dying for her, that beautiful dream where War and Justice prowled his mind. He had looked upon her carved face in the little hut so many times. And now he was seeing her, in what the Christian would call, the word made flesh. Athena born into woman, Athena that would bring countless wars. Athena who prevailed over the Priestess of Odin, over the corruption of Sanctuary. Athena who fought for peace. Did she really?

And he remembered that little question, asked so many years, asked during a time of innocense, a time when he knew what it was to love.

He covered his eyes. Don’t look at her…it broke his heart and it made him so enraged at Hyoga. Hyoga had taken this from him too, hadn’t he?

"You told me I could protect them, if I gave my life." Her voice, her musical voice and he had to stare at her as her lips moved, the Goddess speaks. The Goddess breathes. Can the Goddess bleed? "I am ready, I am not afraid. You will take me there, Julian. Now." She looked at the lord se levelly, so unafraid. Was this Athena? Or was the girl shaking beneath her dress. He wished he were closer.

Julian glared at her. So close to fury, this lord.

"I will take you when I am ready." He was trembling, Poseidon trembling.

"You should take her now, my lord. Before it is too late." Kanon remarked in that tone that wasn’t exactly civil, the shogun really didn’t give a damn, did he?

"Yes, My Lord, put her in the pillar." Sorrento, with all the reverance of a man seeing his god. And Thetys, the gorgeous creature, nodded looking at Athena suspiciously.

"Saori…is this your choice?" Julian stared at her hard, choice? What Choice did Athena have in the hands of Poseidon. And the Goddess, the young girl, looked at Julian almost compassionately, gently. "Your final choice? Think about it. Please." A man pleading…a God pleading? No, just a man.

"She must be put there. You know that. Now." Julian gave the Sea Dragon a seething look but the bigger man was untroubled, standing his guard. "If you are to triumph, it must be done."

The woman nodded. "I am ready. I will never change my mind. This is who I am, as humans say, take it or leave it." She smirked. "Leave it."

His eyes glazed for a moment. "I would have given you so much."

She lifted an eyebrow then smiled. "You will be defeated. Your reign will be no more."

Athena. Was this Justice? Thank God, he didn’t care for Justice anymore…what Justice had she brought?

Julian moved to stand directly before her. Isaac realised this was epic, divine. Two gods, doomed to battle and one doomed to die. They locked eyes, each judging the others streengths. In the corner of his eye he saw Sorrento move and Kanon halt him with one arm. Julian moved closer to Goddess, inches away from her now. He sneered but she didn’t even bat an eye.

"I will destroy you and everything you love. Your arrogance will be your undoing." What an ugly thing to say to one such as she but Julian’s voice wavered and broke. So the rumors were true. Julian had loved this creature.

What was it like for them? Mortals forged into vessels for Gods. Poseidon and Athena, two of the Olympians, two of the most powerful. And to think, in such beautiful bodies and they could destroy the earth. Imagine it. The divine rage. Godly rage. A battle brewing. Hadn’t he always wanted to do battle? Yes…he wanted blood. Because blood could avenge all.

Athena, to her credit, never even flinched. She didn’t waver, he couldn’t understand quite clearly what occurred between the two but…Athena was resolute.

"They are coming, those that are mine. My saints." She smiled again, a parody of peace. Did she know how she could look to them? Calm and arrogant, a Goddess. And Julian. Look at your new God, with the pain in his eye, the way he looks at her, malice and something else combined…something pure. Did she notice this? Did she even care? No. A Goddess could not care, Camus told him that. He had been such a young boy when he dreamed of her, of the look in her eyes, of her battle stance. Of that magnificient power.

"Your evil kingdom will fall and so will you." She squared her shoulders. Athena launching herself into an attack. What was this he felt? He couldn’t understand, he could only gaze at her.

Camus…did you see her? She was everything you idealised, when you saw her, if you indeed saw her, was she the Goddess you had pictured? The goddess you told me of? Or was she just an arrogant, defying girl?

Hyoga killed for her. In her name the traitor had fought. And he had gained her love, the love of a Goddess. It was something else…something else to embitter him. Hyoga.

"The Seven Shoguns must each go to their appropriate pillars and there wait and guard." Kanon was stating something wasn’t he? Yes, instruction. Screw it.

"The pillars must not come down, on the punishment of death." Hell, he already knew that…Athena and Poseidon. Poseidon and Athena. Uncle and Divine Niece. My, my, what did the almighty Zeus think of this?

"This is a Holy War, you fight for the Empire of Poseidon, our Father. We have Athena, we have already won. Now you must prove your loyalty to Poseidon, the invadors must die. For the glory of the kingdom." Did Kanon even believe this crap? And that glint in his eyes, what the hell was that.

He flinched, what was that? He turned and stared into her eyes…Her eyes, dark pools of saddened knowledge.

Athena…she was speaking to him? Why? Such sad, sad eyes…like Hyoga’s so long ago. But why speak to him, he was lowly…then again maybe he was crazy. And that voice! So deep!

He almost felt, he wished he had and then it was gone, her deep solemn voice was gone. He saw Julian’s face as he watched him and he understood, Love and Hate. But she couldn’t be what Julian was because she would fight and die for another purpose. Julian led her away, his pride hurt, his heart broken. An elegant hand placed gently on her arm to guide her. Her skirts twirled, her steps fell faint on the marble. A maiden with a powerful Goddess sleeping within.

He felt as if he had lost something, so sad. So desperate.

Sacrifice. She was the sacrifice. The Great Pillar would be her tomb for who could bend the will of Poseidon, Lord of the Ocean? Justice would die before the rise of the next day.

Kanon smilled, teeth glinting eerily. Predator.

"The war begins."

He walked back to his temple where the Pillar still stood omniously but he wouldn’t think of that right now…

All he could think of was that presence, that cosmo that had found its way into the depths. Fresh beating cosmo…cosmo that he loved.

His thoughts drifted back to that other sacrifice.

*****

They were lying side by side watching the endless sky, so much more emphasized in a country such as this…in these open fields. Men could be driven insane by openess such as this. Which meant, of course, they loved it. They would be out there till nightfall and it became to horrible to stand…quietly beside each other, no need to let words come between them. There had never been a need, in the seven years they trained together they had become silent testimonies to their lives.

"If you could reach the stars…" Hyoga was saying something like that, Isaac wrinkled his nose and attempted to listen to the other.

"Why would you want to?" Isaac and his concerns...

"Just go with it, ok!" Hyoga and his concerns. Strange that no matter how close their concerns were rather different.

"You are so strange." Isaac snorted and rolled over on his belly looking down at his friend., blonde locks were scattered among the ice. They were lying on ice as if it were perfectly normal, yes normal, little sculpture. Little ice angel. "Weird and probably deranged."

"Which is why you like me, of course." The boy smiled slightly, eyes glowing, cheeks so pale. Was he cold? No, he didn’t feel cold next to Isaac. Theirs was a subtle warmth, the kind that started from cosmo …"But, if you could…go there, who would you want to see?"

See?

"To see, Hyoga? As if life was resumed to a fairy tale? Please." Yes, portray a bit of disgust so he wouldn’t be able to tell that you have no answer, how could you have an answer? "But…who would you…?"

"You." Isaac jumped backed, almost tumbling down.

"What??!!" Hyoga burst into laughter.

"Don’t be an ass, Izzie. I would see my Mother, obviously. I’ve told you about my mother…" And that mischevious glint in his eyes, Isaac felt like ripping off his head.

"Mother…hell, Hyoga. Hell. Why? I mean, why for Athena’s sake?" And Hyoga looked away.

"Tell me, Izzie, don’t you have anyone, you would see, forever? Anyone you would die to be with? Isn’t it worth it?"

"You are a fool."

"And you are a moron and you won’t answer me which makes you twice the fool. But I would be with you, Izzie, you know…if I could choose."

And that had felt extraordinarily good, hadn’t it? Nobody had ever said anything like that…to his mother he had been a burden, Camus treated him like a duty and only half the interest, the monks long ago had seen him as a nameless boy among many. He had never meant anything to anyone…not a thing. And now…he didn’t know how to answer to such a thing…he didn’t know.

So he didn’t answer no matter how much it meant to him, even if Hyoga didn’t really mean it, even if it were but a childish whim.

Hyoga was oblivious or at least he seemed to be…but maybe, just maybe, somewhere along the line as his eyes scanned Isaac’s face he understood. Maybe. A fat maybe.

So he said the only thing he could… "You are my only friend."

Hyoga laughed softly then waved apologetically, "It’s enough. You are my best friend, so its enough…" How so very personal of him to say that, things which were so private, subjects Isaac would never touch. It was exquisite intimacy, this. He felt his face grow red and Hyoga laughed some more.

Damn him. Isaac sighed and layed down back with a huff. He turned to Hyoga, so very close, he could smell him, soapy skin and snow. Hyoga smiled.

"I have found her."

"Her?" The wind suddenly felt chilled.

"My Mother. I found her ship, where she was left to die." Premonition made him stiffen, the little hairs on the back of his head sticking out.

"And?" Hyoga snorted and stood up, dusting the snow of his pants.

"I want to see her."

"She’s under the sea, under metres of ice and terrible currents. You are an idiot."

"No, I would be an idiot if I didn’t go. She gave her life for me!" His friend snapped, anger making his voice strong, like Camus’s …like a man’s.

The magical moment was gone, Isaac found that anger easily replaced those tender feelings brought by love…friendship. He faced Hyoga now.

"And how do you think you’ll do that?"

"Come with me, I’ll show you."

"You are an idiot, it is impossible!" But he followed him anyway, ranting and raving and boyishly scared.

It was an open plain…at least to the naked eye, to them the horror was understandable. A glacier, they stood on a freaking block of ice.

Hyoga paced and paced and then stopped suddenly, his eyes sought Isaac’s and then he pointed down. Too simple a gesture for something like this…he looked down.

"Fuck it, Hyoga."

"Thanks, but I’d rather not." Hyoga smiled a little bitter ironical caricature of a smile. Issac glared, disgust brimming at his throat.

He had brought Isaac to see his mother, after he said all those things…loyalty lay here.

"And how do you suppose to see her?" He could hardly control his voice. Goddess above, why be so angry with Hyoga? Why?

"I’ll break the ice." Simply said and honestly too, he meant it, he meant to go down there. Isaac stared down at the ice, what roamed there? In the depths of the ocean, in the dark and ailen world, what would welcome Hyoga? Brief, vivid memories of sea monsters clouded his mind but he shoved them aside impatiently.

"Ha! And then you’ll die, don’t be an ass, Hyoga. Break the ice and you’ll die. You will never make it, no matter how you try. Besides, the ice is too thick." He was so angered but he managed to control it and injuring Hyoga’s ego gave him a strange sense of satisfaction. Love was a complicated thing.

"I will die…do you really believe so? I never did." So serious, even for Hyoga and he watched his friend summon his powers. Hyoga flared his cosmo, the energy bright and terrific but Isaac could see it was flawed…it was still incomplete. Hyoga was imcomplete, didn’t he know it? He would fail. He would fail. He would fail.

Ice shards spray everywhere, the ground trembled for a moment and the winds screamed. Then it was over. And Isaac was right…Hyoga had failed. Hyoga stood in the middle of a giant cratter staring dumbfounded, broken hearted.

"I told you." Isaac whispered gently as he plunged down the massive hole to his friend’s side. "It’s not important, Hyoga, she’s dead. It’s not important."

Hyoga let him take him home that night but the damage was already done. The boy he had grown up with had become obsessed with reuniting himself to his dead mother. To Isaac it was always dangerous, it was insanity but Hyoga…he was obsessed. And soon Isaac realised he had to follow if only to make sure that Hyoga would not kill himself…

Until that fateful day when Hyoga turned to him and said so simply, "I love you." and then he had broken the ice and fallen in. Isaac knew in his gut that everything was wrong, the current too strong. He had made a choice then. A choice unseen by Justice.

How could he live in a world without Hyoga? What would life be like?

Funny the way things turned out.

He would have given Hyoga his life…and he did. But Hyoga? Hyoga had let him die! Where was Justice in all of this? Justice was dead.

For days on end he floated in under the ice, he wouldn’t die. He refused to face death, he wasn’t ready. And he had been betrayed, it was enough to drive anyone insane. He chanted the other’s name.

Hyoga, Hyoga, Hyoga, Hyoga, Hyoga, Hyoga…

Why had he done it? Why had he jumped in to save Hyoga?

Because he loved him…damn him! He had believed that he mattered. And Hyoga had let him die just to see his dead mother. When would Isaac have risked Hyoga so?

Never.

And he floated endlessly in the darkness, the coldness of the waters bothered him less and less and he found time was impossible to keep but soon, soon he could see again…from that one eye.

Hyoga had taken his eye.

Hyoga had let him die.

And now he had lost everything to Hyoga, the cloth, the eye…his love. He had given his love to a man who did not deserve it.

Imagine his surprise when he came upon his new God in His new Kingdom…or better an ancient kingdom. At first he thought they would kill him…but the Sea Dragon had other things in mind and Isaac forgot Aquarius and became Krakken.

Krakken the sea beast that killed in the name of Justice. It was irony and Isaac loved it. The Krakken was magnificient, the Krakken rulled in the depths and judged all who walked into his Lair. In the Krakken’s eyes the immoral must die.

Hyoga was immoral.

The Sea Kingdom of Poseidon was peaceful enough, the merfolk a calm joyous people but beneath the bubbly surface Isaac saw other things, evil things.

War. They were planning a war, it thrilled Isaac to know it. Athena was their marked nemesis. Athena the warrior goddess that enslaved the seafolk.

Or so they believed.

It didn’t matter to Isaac. There was only one thing that drove him on…revenge. Hyoga was alive and serving Athena and living the life that was Isaac’s by right. It was the end of Athena’s Justice for him…the end of Camus’ teaching.

When he heard of Camus’death he had been genuinely regretful. Hyoga had murdered their master and Camus had allowed it. Camus had died for Hyoga. It renewed his vows of vengence.

*****

Scilla Io had fallen. Sea Horse Baian had fallen…somewhere Thetys was fighting an amazon much more powerful than she…were they all doomed?

And Athena in her Pillar, the divine sacrifice, was her wrath to fall on them all?

He laughed and fervently hoped so, he wanted this…to die. But let him take Hyoga. Hyoga who was so close now, who’s cosmo was unmistakable to Isaac even if Cygnus could not remember his.

Why should he remember his when Isaac had meant nothing to him at all.

A common soldier was arriving in the distance, his speed was pathetic to Isaac’s standards but the Krakken already knew what this meant.

The man sank to his knee before the Shogun, "My lord, Cygnus has come." Isaac smiled and nodded as if pleased.

"I know. Go now, he is here." God, what was this? This beating of his heart? Hyoga…yes, he could see him now, looking quite amazing in his white cloth. A white knight? Nothing of the sort, really.

So many years of planning revenge of hating this man and Isaac had still not been ready for the shock. Hyoga. Well, now…come to me little duck. Little sitting duck.

He watched as the bewildered and nervous looking Hyoga entered the Krakken’s Lair. Isaac tilted his head, eyes closed, fingers iddling tracing the scar. Come little one and become the prey. In the Krakken’s Lair only the Just survived.

The krakken stalked his prey, once the intruder had stepped into its lair he was marked for certain death. Isaac could finally dream of the cruel things he would do before Hyoga released his last breath.

To hate this much was to be dead inside.

Hyoga had murdered the good that had once been within him…even if Justice were to have him again…he had been to the place where the demons prowled, he had tasted their wine, he had sang their songs. He had become the demon himself. It was too late to be Isaac again…so he would fufill whatever sick destiny the gods had in mind by becoming the Krakken, the divine hunter.

Yes, he would hunt because it had become his nature to do so. To wait in the shadows until the unfortunate came and then they would be judged. To judge was an exhilarating thing…to feel the course of power drift over his body.

He felt the taut excitement mingle with the dread, Hyoga, his one time friend. He laughed in the pure insanity of it all. And Hyoga turned, eyes guarded and shield going up almost instantly. Isaac drifted towards him making sure the scar was visible, making sure Hyoga wouldn’t feel him until it was time…yes, then the Krakken would unleash its fury.

"Cygnus Hyoga…how good to see you again." Ugly cyniscim in his voice. "But I’m lying, of course. You understand that well, if I remember correctly."

Hyoga fell to his knees, eyes wide mouth gaping.

"You look like a frigging fish. Close your trap."

"I…Isaac. Is it you?" And his eyes, how glad he looked, how good at pretending even to the brimming tears. "Isaac, thank the Goddess…I had thought…I had thought - "

"No! You didn’t think! You never did!" Isaac unleashed his fury and watched with grim satisfaction Hyoga’s horror as Cygnus slammed into the ground from the blow of the high kick.

"Isaac…why?" Such a tremor in his voice, funny thing.

"You’ve walked into the Krakken’s Lair, Hyoga, there can be no turning back. I will not fall for the same mistakes as Camus. You will die."

They battled, blood spilled all in a flash. Hyoga tempting to dodge and not attack…it was a trick, Hyoga would kill him when and if he got the chance. Isaac was adamant that the idiot wouldn’t get the bloody chance.

"Why? Dammit! Why join Poseidon? Why are you against me? I searched for you!" Lies, it was all lies.

"Poseidon? Fuck Poseidon. You LET me die!"You took my eye, you took my life and I hate you…but why haven’t I delievered that one powerful blow? Why do I play with Cygnus?

Kill him! Kill him! Kill him and stop his lies!

"I never stopped missing you. I had hoped you were alright. This is Poseidon’s work, I’ll take you to Athena, everything…" his voice cracked as Isaac plunged at him, Hyoga blocked easily. "it’ll be alright, it’ll be alright."

"You took my life, how can you even think everything can be alright?!" He screamed, he roared, he bled…or at least it felt like bleeding only the blood was oozing from Hyoga’s face.

His face. He was saying something, something about love and justice…

"I don’t believe in love. And there is only one form of Justice, the Krakken’s." He laughed as Hyoga watched pathetically, the look people gave a rabid dog.

But Isaac was entranced by the two dazzling dar blue orbs.

He had loved those eyes, hadn’t he? Yes, so he removed them. He roared in laughter when the other cried out and fell to his knees clutching the bloodied face desperately. Hyoga my love…

"You know what they say…an eye for an eye." Yes, darling look at me with rage in that other eye, the one still intact. Yes, make me want to rip it too. And to think that I loved you. "I loved you but you used me. You used me because you were too much of a coward to go there yourself, so you sent me." He tossed the dismembered eye at Hyoga it landed squarely at the Cygnus’ feet.

"No."

"No? Come, Hyoga, let’s have the grand explanation!"

"To hell with it, Isaac. I didn’t know…if I had known do you believe I would have taken you? You were my best friend, how could I? If this is what you need from me – this sick trade, then so be it. But dammit, stop this before it’s too late."

"Touching and almost convincing."

"Come back with me…"

"No."

Hyoga laughed then, it was the kind of sick laugh that came from a desperate man when the final realization hit him in the face. Isaac knew that laugh. Hyoga spread his hands and shook his head.

"Don’t make it be like it was with Camus."

"Camus was a fool. Camus lived his life a lie." That got a reaction, a frown, a flash of anger. Isaac sneered, it would be easy then, to turn Hyoga into his enemy. "Everything the man ever did or say was, in the end, a lie." Oh, yes, there it was, a little bit of anger, but just enough.

"He died…" Oh, poor Hyoga, so conflicted, unsure of his words.

"For you, right? That seems to happen a lot, doesn’t it?" And strange enough it hurt to say these words. And his friend with that obvious look of pain it cut Isaac’s heart. But still…"Your mother, Camus and I…how many times have you killed us, Hyoga? In your dreams do we come to haunt? God, I hope so." And soflty in a whisper, " you’ve haunted me."

"Shut up, Isaac. Shut up, you never understood how much…shut up. I’ll take you to her, Athena, she’ll see what needs to be done. Hell, maybe even Saori would know." And he sounded so unsure that Isaac laughed.

"Athena? Fuck Athena, to hell with Athena, damned be her name! You don’t understand do you?! I loathe you and her! What is Justice to Athena that she chose you over me? I was EVERYTHING!" He was shouting at the top of his voice but he didn’t care, his cosmo flared in vibrant colors, lifting the smallest rocks in a dangerous dance. "No! I choose to serve Poseidon, Hyoga! If you want to save her then let it be through me! You won’t get to the Pillar otherwise."

"Isaac."

But it was the last thing he said before the Aurora Boreal slammed into him and Cygnus was sent sprawling to the ground. It was a vicious blow and it commenced it finally, the war.

It seemed to Isaac as they fought, each finding new cruel things to say and hurt themselves with, that Hyoga never really wanted this. But somehow Hyoga was stronger, or maybe he just had a reason to fight. What was Isaac’s reason?

Revenge.

Was that all?

No…

He had prayed for death.

He had spent his life believing that he was special, he was Just. But Justice had eluded him and when it came it was in the shape of a Sea Beast and that beast what was the glory that it served? A God gone mad.

A God he couldn’t love. Because it wasn’t his God, just as Athena wasn’t his Goddess. He didn’t belong.

To die would be to put an end to a hideous dream, to this farce of supporting those that did not deserve his support.

And Hyoga, Hyoga who was screaming at him now even as he prepared to attack, screaming for him to stop. Something about Athena, about Camus.

He didn’t care about Camus anymore. Or maybe that too was a lie, maybe he finally cared for Camus, maybe he finally understood Camus.

Was Camus’ duty too much to bare? Did he love Athena? No, he wouldn’t have died for Hyoga, then surely.

Isaac’s duty wasn’t harsh it was simply that he did not believe in it…Uthopia, what was that? How was it possible? And he had seen the Sea Dragon, he had seen the look of madness in the God’s eyes.

He didn’t believe in any of them. Camus, Athena, Poseidon, they were lost to him, they were phantoms in his mind. He felt allegience to none. Hyoga.

All there was left was Hyoga…

Hyoga who had once mattered more to him that the others. Hyoga who had killed him once and would kill him again.

Justice, it was the most important factor in his life. Justice gave him a goal. When all was said and done he had always wanted that…to be Just.

Where was the Justice in serving a maddened God? A Goddess who brang war? Where was the Justice in the death of his teacher?

It failed him…or maybe he had failed it.

And that was why in the end he had chosen this path.

Because he had lost everything, he lost his duty, his lost his faith, he lost his love but most importantly…he lost Justice.

He knew he would loose, he had stepped into the battle knowing so, he had just wanted…to die because of Hyoga.

So he allowed it. When he saw Hyoga spring up and the attack begin to materialize he let it come, he welcomed it with open arms. And he fell.

Blood trickled from his mouth and the pain was excrutiating. For a moment he was stunned and the world seemed to contract and spin then he was proppled up. He opened his eyes and saw Hyoga, saw the tears, the regret. He smiled. It felt suddenly right that he loved Hyoga even when Hyoga had killed him. It had been a favor. The only thing left to do.

Hyoga whispered something, something Isaac didn’t catch. But he did hear the tremer, the sorrow in his voice. He held onto Hyoga and said something back, meant to be soothing, something about Hyoga ebing right, of all things. Something that made it seem like Isaac had really given a damn about Poseidon’s insane crusade. Something about now understand that Athena was right, god help her murdering ways. Hyoga had nodded then, as if he understood. Little one, you don’t…how could you understand that all the dreams had died?

Hyoga left his for a moment and he heard the pillar fall.

Duty, gone. Good.

Then Hyoga came back for a moment.

He watched Hyoga, his beautiful love turn, anguish in his bloody face, heard him whisper something about coming back, for Isaac to wait, something about love…something…and disapeared. Isaac smiled against the rocks…in a way he had done it, an eye for an eye…and still, somehow he had lost and won. Camus was wrong, Love…was a good enough reason…

To die.

He was dying, he knew it, he had brought it to so many in the name of Poseidon. But now that it was finally happening it was somehow both grotesque and beautiful. He was fallling, plunging downwards and strangely enough he was enjoying this…freedom, after so much pain. So much torment, after chasing an ideal, chacing Justice, he was free. He smiled. Hyoga, love. Hyoga.

Justice…

And when death came to him he greated her with open arms and whispered, "Hyoga." only once…and the plain opened before him, a world of light…

You will not die. I will not allow it. You belong to me now. Mine, Isaac, mine.

It was a lie.

In the light there was darkness too as if Light and Darkness were lovers…playing on each other, flickering. In a corner of darkness he saw a figure approach, female, gigantic. He saw it extend its arms, he attempted to flee…he tried to reach the light…but it was gone, as if a flashlight had been turned off.

Someone was straddling his middle, warmth flooded through his being and the gates of paradise were shut, he screamed, the world went dark. He felt himself plunging back into his body with a thud, the members gained life and pain dealt in, he opened his mouth and shut it…what was this? Death illuded him!

He had…been free…paradise…death!

Long silken hair brushed his naked nipples and a strong female voice spoke into his ear.

"Suffer the little children for they will win heaven. Poor, poor Isaac, and he left you all alone." A thrilling laugh, mocking…cruel. He opened his eyes and saw her.

His heart froze.

She was the most sensual thing he had ever seen, sitting astride his midsection, her breasts uncovered by the loose white tunic she wore, beautiful and ivory. A perfect body, strong body, body of a warrior, even if unblemished. And full of curves, waist, hips and breasts, it occurred to him that she was a big woman, powerful looking. Her hands were on his chest her long nails playing idly as she watched him possesively, he tore his gaze from her body and singled out her face, his eyes hurt. Red hair flamed down her back and framed her oval face…he could see an aquiline nose, a voluptous mouth set wickedly and her eyes…she was laughing at him…with eyes that had no irisis, no pupils...completely white. Horrifying.

"What? Don’t you find me beautiful?" A little chuckle, deep throaty voice. He ignored it.

"I am dead, good." It seemed like the only thing to say and it seemed stupid all at once and he wondered why he couldn’t move. Why he was so very trapped by this female.

She laughed outright, wicked laughter, he felt himself grow angered. Where was he? He took a look around and saw a bedroom, he lay on a bed of stone, something very greek about the marble walls, the pillars. A temple?

"No, you aren’t dead, little one." She lay against him and he realised he was nude as well, she was laying with him like a woman…oh god. His mind spun and he felt he would go sick. He wasn’t in an underground Kingdom, he wasn’t in his tomb, he wasn’t with Poseidon…the world had changed. "You are changed, Isaac, changed forever." She kissed him and he let her, tasting her as if in a dream…he tasted blood and steal. Fangs. She had fangs and she was cutting him with them. Her hands moved across his chest carressing him, the nails making sharp fiery trails. She broke the kiss and licked her bloody lips delicately.

"You taste good to me but don’t worry…my tastes are for the little children." She smiled and arched her back so he could see her nakedness again. Where was he? It must be a sick dream…Hyoga, where was Hyoga, where was he for that matter? Maybe this was death and she… this woman…maybe she was an angel or, more likely, a devil. He heard her laugh and fumbled for his mind barriers, she looked appreciatively.

"Very good. Changed and reforged. Do you know what it means to be reforged?"

"Who are you? Why aren’t I…dead? Am I dead, speak little fiend before I snap your neck" He was loosing it…he knew…he was still dying, the pain was too intense, like hot fire in his lungs.

"You are spared, don’t fret now…just let me eat you." She laughed when he tried to shove her and bit his neck roughly as he screamed in pain. She patted him comfortably spitting his blood on the ground."You are too weak. But I am joking…and again, I have a taste for the little ones. I would fuck you though…maybe latter."

"What are you, dammit! Demon!" He tried to hit her, kick her, punch her, whatever. She held onto him like a bug under a pin. She laughed at his rage making him feel so small, punching him smoothly and saying in the singsong voice.

"I am Lamia" She carressed his cheek, the scar she fingered it then she kissed him lovingly, deeply. In his horror he could not move, only feel her begin to exert friction in his lower half with her hips, moving up and down until he felt himself harden. Her hands carresing, massaging, loving him entirely. Unbearably so, he despised this…but he found that strong as he was he had become the fly in the net. And he was hard for her. He felt her niples touching his skin, felt her join their bodies. Lamia…Lamia, he knew the name, he hung to that name like a dying man. Lamia the demoness…yes. Lamia who ate the little children. Tragic Lamia. He heard her laugh and felt himself falling once more only this time it was pleasure…pleasure equal to death. "I am demon, yes." He was deep within her, she was slaming against him, such heat and violence…was he dead? If so, it felt exquisite. Oh, goddess…oh, Hyoga, what was this? "I am she who hunts the little children, I sing and they weep". Her hair, her fragrance, she was no woman he ever known, she was no long lost love, she wasn’t Hyoga. But she was here and she was bedding him and it felt…good. He closed his eyes and bit his lip and shuddered and let his seed spill into her, her claws digging into his flesh, he closed his eyes and cried. She stroked his face.

"And I belong to Him, to the King of Heaven. And now…so do you."

Written for keeeewlest most adorable War-sama, Derrewyn Aensland. Given to her as a Christmas present for being such a brave, smart and talented lady. Messa knows you will go far…which is why I’m going to bloody keep those signed pics I keep asking you for…*grumble* …I hope you enjoy…Huggles from Plague.