Lily's POV:
A week has passed since my conversation with the elder. Now, I find myself working on a new Habí, preparing for tomorrow when I'll visit the school to teach the little ones how to weave.
We, the Habiáns, are artisans of threads. Unlike humans, we don't etch our words with quills on paper. Instead, we weave our stories into fabric, using a needle, a backstrap loom, and thread. It's an art that has flowed through our clan for generations, connecting us to our roots and to one another.
As I finish the Habí, I retreat to the bathroom, cleansing the day's labor from my skin. A thought crosses my mind—I might visit Hades and Persephone later.
But before I can fully settle into the idea, something catches my eye. I pause in organizing my things, my gaze fixed on Hades darting past my window.
"Where could he be going at this hour?" I whisper, curiosity sparking within me.
Something compels me to follow him. Silent as a breeze, I trail his steps through the quiet village, past the houses where my people sleep, and into the wilderness beyond. His path leads to the cliff by the waterfall—a sacred place where flowers bloom in untamed abundance, their petals shimmering under the silver light of the moon. He stands there, still and watchful, his posture tense as though waiting for someone.
And then, I see her.
Persephone steps into the clearing, her presence radiant and soft, like the first bloom of spring after a harsh winter. My breath catches as she approaches Hades, and my heart twists painfully when she presses a kiss to his cheek.
"Persephone…" I murmur, the name tumbling from my lips before I can stop it.
They both turn sharply, their eyes scanning the darkness. My heart pounds as I press myself against a tree, willing the shadows to hide me.
"Did you hear that?" Persephone asks, her voice laced with unease. "What if someone saw us?"
"It's nothing," Hades replies, his tone calm and reassuring. "No one's awake at this hour. Don't be afraid."
But I am afraid—afraid of what I feel as I watch them together. A thousand emotions churn within me, each one more agonizing than the last. I've loved Hades for as long as I can remember. Not as a friend, but as something more, something I could never put into words. And Persephone… I love her too. She is my friend, my confidant, someone I cherish deeply.
Yet here they are, together, sharing something I've only ever dreamed of. Tears blur my vision as I watch them kiss beneath the moonlight, their figures framed by the cascade of the waterfall and the field of wildflowers. It's a picture of perfect love, but for me, it's a blade twisting in my heart.
I shouldn't feel this way. They are my friends. Hades is my friend. Persephone is my friend. And yet, as their love unfolds before me, I feel like I'm unraveling, thread by fragile thread, the very fabric of my heart coming apart in the quiet of the night.
****
Persephone's POV:
We kissed. Hades and I kissed. The thought still feels unreal, like a dream I can't quite wake from.
"AHHHHH!" A scream shattered the night, jolting me back to reality. Startled, I pushed Hades away, panic surging through me. Someone had seen us. My heart raced as I turned toward the source of the cry, and there she was—Lily, her face pale as a ghost, frozen in fear.
But her terror wasn't for us. Her wide, horrified eyes were fixed on something behind us. I followed her gaze, and my blood ran cold.
An Itachka.
The monstrous creature stood there, its leathery wings stretched wide, fire spewing from its mouth. Its four powerful legs stomped the ground, shaking the earth beneath us, and its fierce, unforgiving eyes burned like molten gold.
Before I could react, Hades grabbed me, his arms pulling me into a desperate run.
"Lily, get the elder!" he shouted over the roaring chaos. I barely caught sight of Lily sprinting toward the Mansseur, the sacred refuge of our people.
Hades and I kept running, our breaths sharp and shallow. The night was alive with terror, the shadows growing darker with every step. We reached the town square, where the massive warning horn stood—a relic meant for moments like this. Without hesitation, Hades seized it and blew, the deep, resonant sound echoing through the village like a thunderclap.
Doors flung open as frightened Habiáns poured out of their homes, their faces etched with confusion and fear. The square became a whirlwind of panic as I began herding them toward safety.
"Everyone, to the Mansseur! Hurry!" I shouted, my voice cracking with urgency.
They obeyed, their footsteps a desperate chorus as they fled. But the Itachka wasn't done. The beast swooped down, its massive wings creating a gale that knocked some off their feet, landing squarely in the heart of the square. And then, as if the creature wasn't nightmare enough, human soldiers descended from its back. Armed with swords and rifles, they wasted no time, cutting down anyone in their path.
The air was filled with screams. My heart pounded wildly as I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Hades was already fighting, his movements swift and desperate, striking back against the soldiers.
"Persephone," I whispered to myself, "You have to act. You can't just stand here."
With trembling hands, I grabbed a sword from the lifeless grasp of a fallen soldier. Gritting my teeth, I turned toward a group of terrified Habián children, shielding them with my body.
"Run," I urged them, my voice firm despite the terror in my chest.
As the chaos continued, one thought burned in my mind "Lily, wherever you are, protect the elder. Protect yourself."
I had no time to think about anything else. My blade clashed against another, my arms burning with effort as I fought to defend what little I could. The square was a storm of fire and fear, and I could only hope we would survive the night.
***
Lily's POV:
I dashed toward the Mansseur, ignoring the sting of scratches and the burning ache of wounds etched into my arms and feet. Every step was a blur of desperation, my mind consumed with one thought, I have to protect the elder. I have to save them.
When I reached the sacred Mansseur, my breath was ragged, and my chest heaved with exhaustion. The place was eerily quiet, the stillness unnerving. I stumbled inside, frantically searching for any sign of the elder. My heart pounded harder with every empty corner I checked. They were nowhere to be found.
Then it happened.
A deafening boom tore through the air, shaking the very foundation of the Mansseur. My gaze shot upward just as the ceiling exploded inward, raining shards of wood and stone all around me. Through the chaos, a massive shadow loomed. The Itachka descended, its wings stretching wide as fire flickered in its throat. It locked its piercing, predatory eyes on me.
I froze. For a moment, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Then, as the creature lunged, instinct kicked in, and I ran.
"El Dios, protect me," I whispered, my voice trembling with desperation. "Protect us all."
The Itachka roared, its sound like thunder tearing through the night. A ball of fire erupted from its mouth, lighting the Mansseur ablaze. Flames devoured the walls, the sacred Habís, the very heart of our people. Thick smoke filled the air, stinging my eyes and choking my lungs. I stumbled, coughing, my mind reeling as the once-hallowed sanctuary turned into an inferno.
I had no plan, no escape route—only survival.
The Itachka's tail whipped through the air, crashing down near me with the force of a storm. I dived toward a nearby Habí structure, my hands clawing at its surface to pull myself forward. But the beast's tail struck again, this time, I hold to the nearest Habí near me.
I felt a sharp tug, and before I could comprehend what was happening, I was lifted high into the air. The world spun wildly, the ground shrinking beneath me as the Itachka carried its victim—and me—far above the burning village.
The town square came into view below, a scene of devastation that stole the breath from my lungs. Flames roared, casting the night in an orange glow, while the screams of my people filled the air like a haunting melody. Blood stained the cobblestone streets, and the grief of my clan rose like smoke, thick and suffocating.
My heart shattered. "Persephone, Hades, Elder... please be safe." I pleaded silently, clinging to hope as tightly as I clung to the creature's tail.
Suddenly, the Itachka let out an earsplitting screech, its flight faltering. It twisted wildly, as if struck by some invisible force. My grip slipped as it plummeted toward the earth, crashing with a thunderous impact that shook the ground.
I collided with a tree, the force knocking the air from my lungs. Pain exploded through my body, and the world around me blurred. The sounds of fire, screams, and destruction faded into nothingness.
Then, darkness enveloped me, and I fell into its embrace, unsure if I would ever wake again.