Neil encircled us. his sharp, condemning gaze rested on Lucan, who never loosen his grip on my being. Blood- caked fingers occasionally stroke the barrier obstructing it's intention; each stroke cause a melody of ripples across the seeming invisible structure. Electric eyes looked at my trembling form with a smirk before retreating into the darkness but he did not leave, instead he lingered in the depths stalking our movements. My companions tried to formulate a plan yet I was unable to contribute; those blue flickers in the darkness caused bloodthirst and rage to brew.
"Ash!" Cleus shook me violently, turning I looked at him confused, "We have to go" gazing around I was baffled.
"Layton, do it" Cleus ordered to which Layton nodded before extending a barrier mere centimetres inside my own, "Ash, take down your barrier" nodded I allowed my barrier to shatter disappearing in the still air.
Lucan immediately pulled me towards a hidden exit. Quinn led the way with Cerebus and Cleus following behind. We ran without looking behind, we ventured blindly before an ominous energy devoured the air. It was replicated the arua of the devil twins, Cleus stopped outside a large cave like structure.
"Cleus, what's wrong?" Cerebus asked puzzle at Cleus sudden change in mood
"Where are we?" his vioce was almost silent.
"We're nearing River Phlegethon, why?" Cleus ventured into the structure.
Once entering there were dirt made stairs leading downwards. It grew heated as we ventured deeper before an underground stream of what resembling volcanic lava followed. Cereberus grew anxious, the further we walked before stopping altogether.
"Whats wrong?" Quinn asked the anxious female
"They're sealed here" A look off fear cross his face as he looked around.
"Are you sure?" she nodded in response, "Cleus, we should head back"
Cleus nodded walking forward, I followed suit feeling as rhough something was drawing me in. Fear slowly crept in and when the entire structure began shaking, we realized what our actions had down. I teleported us out of the underground cave, collapsing of exhaustion once we were a safe distance away. We stared on terrified as Titans rose from slumber. They shook asleep limps freeing them of built up dirt and rock.
"Cleus?"
"You woke them..." His eyes fell on me
"But, Hecatonchires was suppose to..." Cerebus trailed off.
"What are we going to do?" I looked around for answers only to come up empty handed.
Their tall, towering nude bodies were covered in stomach curling scars. Some had patches of muscles exposed, others had patches of skin hanging loosely on their bodies. Their dark irises scan the area before stopping on us. They smiled wickedly before approaching and with every step destruction laid in its wake. We tried to get away but we didn't expect to be cornered with Neil's bartered being standing in our exit. He smile weakly before disappearing and we were beyond relieved yet we could let our guard down.
We had made it back to the river of Lethe where Lucan and Layton could be seen trying to make their way to us. Tears streamed down my face as I ran to Lucan, his clothes were torn and wet with blood but I did not care.
"ASH!" Layton shouted running towards me
I was mere feet away when the banks gave out causing rocks, mud and myself to descend to the mysterious water below. 1I fell watching as they all tried to grasp my hand and stop my descend. Cold water engulf my being invading nostrils and lungs; what had I done for all my efforts to end in vain. Worried heart rage against ribcage; I lost conciousness sinking deeper into the unkown.Tears burnt sad eyes yet it went unseen along with air bubbles filled with my last breath.
Ashlin's being flowed with the currents ofa forgetful river, wondering a sandy bank of a mortal river. Her body stayed abandoned in a forest surrounded with preatory creatures, who instinctively gurad her. Ashlin drifted in her mind's eye not knowing her circumstances, no knowledge of herself which scare this navie soul more than, the darkness surrounding. In honesty, Ashlin knew this was only a dream but unwilling to awake, she refuse to face reality yet, like much in her life; it wasn't her choice to make. Night's breath chilled a lost body damp with muddy water. Her hair matted from dirt's touch while her being resembled that, of a stone nature took pity on.
A group of tribal hunters stumbled upon her unconscious body while chasing their prey. They gathered around, scoping out her features and injures. Their leader stepped forward scooping her into his arms at that moment; many eyes began following them. They wondered for what felt like hours, stopping many times at the end of their path out of clusters of trees were their faamily members waiting on their return. They were stuck in the forest for an entire day which was unusual. Everyone ran trying to catch a glimpse of the unknown female. Ashlin's body was taken to the chief's tent where their medical expert examined her.
The tribe's members regarded her as a daughter a deity, offering her food and medical services. Ashlin awoke in unknown surroundings all filled with delicate/expensive items. Food and fruits decorate every tabletop causing utter joy to engulf her, after eating her fill Ashlin decided to explore. She became lost in the forest trying not to be seen. As night fell so did her hope, sitting against a tree she brought her knees to racing chest letting out a pain- filled cry. One person heard her cries, somdone her soul lesst expected. They sent various creatures to her aid; leading the hopeless girl back to the tribr who were anxiously searching for her.
"Little angel, did you wonder into the forest?" their chief spoke to which she nodded in agreement, "Did you get lost? She blushed from embarrassment looking to the dirt.
"It's alright, only our hunters and warriors can navigate through the surrounding, I get lost all the time" a young woman stated with a kind smile, "My name's Leala, what's yours?"
"I...I don't know" Ashlin spoke under her breath.
"It's alright, do you remember where you came from?" Laela kept her voice soft, Ashlin pointed to the sky and earth in response.
Ashlin only remembered two events; sitting amongst pearlyclouds while many angels flew by yet she wore a sad frown while they were smiling full of joy. Darken skies lit by a dim moon, under such a majestic sight; a young girl waering a bright smile pulled along two males while two others walked behind grinning and smirking as they looked at her. Besides these two memories there was nothing but darkness which slowly to root uin her heart. Ashlin wanyed to know who she was and where she came from yet these feelings sadden her more than it should; this emotion felt so familiar to her it was heartbreaking. As the days passed by she became sick, unable to eat anything. She was told about her ongoing pregnancy which she also had no memory of, everything began to feel like a sick joke played by an evil foe.
Ashlin lived amongst the tribe's people giving birth to her son under their supervision. She felt joy but her heart broken along with it. Ashlin couldn't help feel as though something was missing, something she couldn't ignore. On the birth of her son their was a blood eclipse and meteor shower unlike anything humanity have ever witness. The tribe's chief regarded this as a sign from the heavens, it signified the birth of a great ruler, a great being.