Just a quick note for the readers
I am not a tattoo artist any more than a Greek Mythologist. This is a work of fiction and any miss steps in the way things really work are because of these facts. None of the people in this piece are real; any reference to the real world is purely coincidental. Enjoy
Styx walked along the rivers surface. Her thoughts a raging sea compared to the glass sheet of water on which she walked. She had asked. After a millennium, her daughter had asked. She had faced this Guardian as a mortal and stood toe to toe with him as a titan. He had spoken with respect even after her transgressions. Nike had asked.
Her heart wanted to believe yet her mind sought only rebellion. She flared her wings high seeking wisdom in the reflection of the still waters. The waters however were not so still or granting in any wisdom. Something beyond her thoughts clouded the waters beneath her feet. A ripple raced the surface of the water. Her eyes turned to the figure at the water's edge.
"I have something for you ancient." It said.
"Who are you?" She demanded. "How do you come to be here?"
"All in time, for now here is your gift." He said cynically as he threw a drawl sting bag to her.
She stepped quickly to catch it lest it hit the waters and scatter her. Bag in hand she turned to confront the being that had thrown it only to find and empty shoreline. Her heart skipped a beat. Her daughters scent permeated the bag. She opened the bag with shaking hands. Her eyes welled with tears as they gazed into the bag of bloody feathers.
Her scream cut the still like an explosion. Geysers of water shot out of the still depths shattering the still and rendering Styx to a fluidic state. She melted into the river and was gone. The bag floating released its contents over the water's surface. A pair of dark eyes closed in the shadows of the Cypress knees just beyond the waters touch. They left one diamond tear behind glittering on the sandy shoreline.
Joxifa came up off the floor in with a scream of pain. The windows of the apartment were obliterated into shards of powder white sand. Profene and Crossin went ridged than dropped to the floor like puppets that had their strings cut. Ducici cringed and started to panic as blood trickled for Anthony's ears and nose.
"Ducici get help." Lyrusi choked before collapsing on the floor just inside the back door.
She didn't know what to do. Splashing foot falls approached the front of the apartment. Cindy looked thru the hole of an open window.
"What happened?" She cried as she tried to open the door.
"I don't know." Ducici cried. "Don't die." She whispered caressing Anthony's cheek before racing to the door to let Cindy in.
"What happened?" Cindy said dropping folders of papers onto the floor looking out the gaping windows as the rain blew in.
"Joxifa screamed." Ducici said. "It may have killed Tony?"
"Where is everybody else?" She asked looking around the room.
"Not here. Most went searching for Shesin's sisters. Estephan is with Nikita somewhere. They faded to the higher realm an hour ago." Ducici said.
"Oh jeeze their bleeding from their ears." Cindy said looking from Tony to Mrs. Prizton.
Ducici scooted to the kitchen. Lyrusi was an ugly shade of greenish brown. Not healthy at all. She looked out the back to see both of the Cyclopses curled in a fetal position. They were scaled is gray and looked like a set of boulders laying in the shade of her tree. She used her powers to mask them a little more. Then darted back inside.
"Cindy, Lyrusi told me to get help. I don't know where to get help from. I can't go to the higher realm. It would kill me." She said as panic started to rise in her again.
"Who else is still in the mortal realm? Are any of the others?" Cindy asked.
"I don't know. But... Crystalia! He would be able to help." Ducici said.
"We can't bring him here, and I don't think moving them is a good idea."
"We need someone else. Someone to watch them while we go see Crystalia." Cindy said.
"Is everyone alright in there?" Kevin called from outside the window.
"Get him." Ducici said.
Cindy nodded in agreement and bolted for the door. She opened it and grabbed his arm.
"What... the... Hey... "He stuttered as she dragged him into the apartment.
"No everyone isn't ok. No shut up and listen. We are going to get help. Don't call 911 or anyone else like that. Just make sure they stay safe." Cindy said pointing around the room.
"We will tell you the truth about it all. But we don't have time. Those two could be dying, and those two could be dead forever if we don't do right now. Kevin please you are a good person. Please trust us and watch over everyone." Ducici pleaded.
"Alright go get this help. I'll see about covering the hole in the front." He said.
"Don't move anyone if you don't really have to. We'll be back shortly." Cindy said as she followed Ducici out into the rain to her car.
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Estephan had searched the ledge at least a dozen times. He couldn't see a way down or up. He had called for the Fates and gotten no reply. Even his attempt to call Shesin or any of the others went unanswered. Looking out over the countryside laid out before him, he felt helpless. He watched the clouds closely hoping she had gotten free of the thing that had grabbed her. But he saw nothing.
Moment out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. A falcon. It fought the wind to stay in the air. It had something in its talons. It banked almost drooping it but kept its grip and fought on. It was flying to him. He wills the noble bird his strength he hoped. The falcon made it to the ledge he raced to it. The poor thing had ice on its wings. He pulled his shirt back off and wrapped the bird in it. Carrying the poor creature to Nikita's nest he put it down in a soft place where the sunlight would hopefully warm it.
Once done he retrieved the bag that the falcon had almost died trying to bring him. He opened in to find some fruit and a wineskin. A scroll of paper was tied to the inside of the bag. He pulled it out and undid the binding. It read... 'We have heard you but can do nothing to get you. Call the one that is still in the mortal realm. He will know a way.'
"At least they got food to you. More than I thought them capable of. I will have to keep that in mind." A male voice said from over his shoulder.
"Who are you?" He asked as he spun to face the speaker.
"Depends on who you ask. I don't really have a name otherwise. Pity Charlie didn't think to ask." The male said from a dark cloak draped form.
"How did you get here?" He asked.
"You called me. Thou I don't have much to say to you yet." He sneered.
"Why did you answer the call then?" He jabbed back.
"Guardians are worth tormenting. From the smell of you I might have my work cut out for me. Unlike the last few, you might pose a challenge. Fragile little humans." He said and stepped out into thin air.
"What about the other Guardians?" he asked.
"Easy enough to twist to my bidding. Continue to leave the Fates to grope blindly."
"You cut the passageway for the Muses to return?"
"You're getting ahead of things. I don't much care for that. Perhaps something else to think about instead of me." He said and reached across the expanse of sky.
"What are you talking about?" He asked as something came hurtling at him.
His eyes started to make out a figure tumbling through the air. As it got close his heart cried out in pain. The figure was Nikita, battered and blooded, stripped bare of all her feathers. He turned to cuss this vile man only to see open empty sky. Her arch was starting to fall. She may not make it to the ledge if she dropped any further.
"NIKITA!" He screamed.
Her body twisted and flattened. She gained area and stayed high in her arc. He stepped close to the edge and braced to catch her. She impacted him hard knocking him from his feet. He held her from the ground as rocks and stones dug into his back. She looked into his eyes only for a moment before her head fell to the side in unconsciousness.
He lifted her and carried her into the nest. Blood still seeped from the bared skin of her wings. He pulled some of the silks from the bed to dress them. He pulled the stopper on the skin and smelled it. Putting it to his lips he tasted it. Wine. He spit it to the ground. It was white. Splashing some over a folded pile of silk he cleaned her as best he could. She never stirred.
"You are alive and with me. We'll find a way lovely messenger." He said to her then leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
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Cindy slid the car around the last corner and hopped the curb into the strip mall parking lot. She turned the car right and then yanked it to the left to spin the car around. The car came to a stop ass into the parking space at the front door of the florist shop. Both of them bolted from the car like it was on fire. Ducici knocked frantically at the door as Cindy pounded away at the buzzer like a video game controller.
"What!!" Janet yelled from inside.
"Open the door we need help. It's Ducici and Cindy!!" Ducici yelled.
"What kinda help?" Janet called.
"Open the door! The bad kind!" Ducici yelled wanting to punch the glass in.
Janet scooted to the door completely nude. She unlocked it and waved them in. "Lock it and come to the back." She said darting into the stockroom.
Ducici followed after her and Cindy locked the door and then went as well. When she got to the back she froze. Most of Crystalia's blooms had wilted. His lush green foliage has a yellowing tint to it. Janet looked ragged. She had empty water bottles all over the floor and it was clear she had been crying.
"He's thirty and I had nothing that will help." Janet said.
"So it's wasn't just us." Ducici said looking at Cindy.
"What happened?" Janet asked.
"We don't know but it made Joxifa scream in pain and Lyrusi wilt like his blossoms. Joxifa's scream hurt Tony and Mrs. Prizton. They're both bleeding from the ears and noses. A couple of Cyclops are turning to stone in the back yard as well." Ducici said.
"Cyclops? Know anything about Hobbs?" Janet asked.
"One was following the Cyclops for whatever reason then ran off, why?" Ducici asked
"Cyl-who? Hob?" Cindy asked. "We have other problems."
'Wait... Ducici pee on him." Janet said.
"What?" Ducici asked.
"Here drink the water. Add some of your nutrients to it and pee of Crystalia. Share the good plant stuff with him." Janet said reaching for bottled water on the counter next to her.
"How is that going to help him?" Cindy asked losing her place in what was being said.
