Untitled: The Last Firstborn

"Lucio don't look back, there's nothing you can do."
"If I didn't know that then I wouldn't be stuck with you, would I?"
"I'm sorry," she said sadly, still not meeting his eyes. "What I meant to say is that you musn't take the burden upon yourself. It hadn't anything to-"
"What the hell do you know?" he asked quietly. "It's easy for you to stand here like the coward you are and not risk anything for your own sake."
"I loved all of you," she said in a shaking voice. "You know I did but I promised your mother I would protect you."
"That turned out pretty well for you, let them all rot while you flee to try to take shelter in me."
She turned to look at him and her tearful familiar blue eyes met his fierce brown ones.
"I never meant to hurt you Lucio," she said quietly but firmly. "But you're right. It was foolish of me to think I wouldn't cause you more pain. I just wanted you to live even if that meant leaving them behind."
The continued to move forward in the silent night. He counted each of their steps in an attempt to deflect his mind. But it was no use. He would never forgive her.
"You coward." he said silently and clenched his fist in an attempt to keep himself steady and not hurt her. "You were too scared to take any pity oon them."
The night could have been peaceful. No matter how haunting they looked the trees had brought in life to the scenery. Their light came from the ascending full moon which was enough to illuminate the forest ground in which their shadows passed.
Then she stopped abruptly.
"Lucio," she said frightened.
"What is it?"
"I think someone's following us."
He heard it too, the soft cruching of leaves behind where they came. As they turned and looked beyond the depth of the trees, the movement stopped and what had caused the noise remained hidden in the dark shadows.
"Just a stray," the weak woman said softly.
"Show yourself," the boy said fiercely, his heart beating rapidly.
There was a second where all was still until the figure of the woman appeared. Her expression was empty, only to be known as a part of a devil's secret, and if it wasn't for the darkness of it, she could have easily matched Ariella's beauty for this woman resembled the moon as much as Ariella resembled the sun.
"Oh Luci, it's only you," Ariella said relieved. "You had us in a fright."
"Why are you here?" said Lucio not relaxing his position.
"There's been a change in plans," said Lucine, her own icy blue eyes meeting with Ariella's same shaded blue ones. "I'm heading back south and you should do the same. The boy will be dead soon and by staying, you will be just remembered as the foolish woman who remained by his side."
Ariella stared disbelievingly, "Luci, w-why-?"
"Your a coward Lucine."
All was quiet, as Lucine dropped her cold gaze towards Lucio who didn't flinch.
"I'm the coward?" she said with dancing mockery in her eyes. "Who's the one who thought himself daring enough not to listen to what his mommy had told him? Who's the coward who wanted his sister to die as an escape for his own foolishnes?"
"Luci stop, don't say that," said Ariella her knees giving up on her.
"It's the same person who's calling me a coward," she continued her eyes full of laughter. "No Lucio," she said more seriously. "I'm no coward. I'm just not a fool to know the limits of when to stop fighting."
The stillness followed and Lucio subconsciously loosened his fist where he felt the coolness of the wind bowing against his scarlet blood.
"It's funny now that you tell me that," he said coldly as if anything couldn't have been less humorous. "Wasn't it always you who said only cowards were followers of Shay?"
"I really hate repeating myself but I'll do it to clear all understanding between us," she said with a smile full of ridicule, and with a swift movement, the white haired women was in front of the golden haired boy. "As long as there's a chance then why not keep on fighting and not give in? But even an idiot like you knows when that hope is lost and how that makes it foolish to keep resisting. You and I think alike," she added maliciously, "we'll crush the weak that stand in our path."
"Like hell, I'll ever be like you." he said but as he did he felt fear because of the truth that sank within him. He kept his gaze on her loathsome eyes.
"It's really disappointing that you aren't the last æther," she added in a whisper hidden from Ariella. A cold laugh then echoed the forest and it took a while for Lucio to realize that it was his laugh.
"That truly is disappointing," he said unthinkingly. "I would love to prove you wrong Lucinda but I don't see the point in lying to you when you've only been honest with me. Now tell me, how you were able you were able to trick them into using the underground tunnels."
"It wasn't my doing," she replied calmly, "they all let themselves into their own fate."
"but you loved it didn't you?" Lucio continued loudly. "When you saw they all winded up dead. You just couldn't wait to tell your master."
"Don't talk of what you don't know of."
"It was you who killed Tzippora, wasn't it?"
He did not know what had made him say it but he knew it was true at once.
"Looks like your catching on." she said without a smile of mockery on her face.
"She was a sacrifical piece, nothing could have prevented the death that will be just like yours Lucio. He wants to make sure you aren't the last one but he also told me to warn you Ariella," she said to the woman now trembling in the ground, "that you can still live by coming to his side."
"I'm not intrested in living tonight," she said steadily.
"Well then I've done my part," Lucine said softly, turning around. Before taking another step, Lucio's bleeding hand forcefully grasped her shoulder, holding her still as his nails dug into her bones.
"Your not going until you tell me what you did to her."
Lucine moved another step forward while knocking away the hand that held her. For a moment, when turning to him, she looked surprised to be caught of guard.
"I thought it being self explanatory," she said calmly, the coolness not leaving her. "She died a cruel death after I took her to him, though he did get angry at her unwillingness to defend herself."
She took another glance of Ariella then at Lucio's helpless face before disappearing in the darkness.
"Lucio let's go." Ariella said after a while. She got to his side and gently placed her trembling hand on his shoulder. "We have to keep moving."
"No," he said walking away from her. "I'm going after her."
With that he too disappeared in the forest's darkness. He sped through the trees no longer knowing reality. After a while he could hear the soft sound of voices being carried by the wind. Not thinking about the dangers that it could bring, he sped south towards them where the trees thinned and the fog began to thick. Only feet away from the black shadowy figures was he able to recognize what they were saying.
"It's dull work to be stationed like this," said the voice of a female.
"Stop complaining," replied the male. "If you really think it's dull then why don't you head north and join the search party."
"You know that they'll kill me before I get there," she replied to him. "I just don't see the point of staying here when there's nowhere for him to go."
"Just do what your told and it'll work out best for you," he said.
There were five of them, Lucio counted under his breath and almost laughed out of relief. Why not kill them all here? Make them all die so they can know a little of the pain he felt.
"Wait, do you feel that," said the voice of another women.
"What?" replied the same man.
"The presence of someone else, behind those trees." she answered. Though he couldn't see her he knew that she was accurately pointing in his location.
"What are you talking about Irene?" said another man. "We're the only ones watching this area."
"It's strong," she said now frightened. "Almost like-" but she stopped there, only mouthing the words.
"He's dead!" the first man yelled, but sounded frightened. "He killed him. Do you question his power?"
"No," she replied quietly, "I'm just telling you what I'm seeing.".
Silence followed, until broken by the second male.
"Well what are you waiting for? Girl, go check it out."
Through the branches, Lucio saw a smaller figure stand up and hesitantly walk towards him. As it came closer, he recognized it as a little girl. Her features were hidden by the shadow of her hood and by the darkness of the night. For a second Lucio met the gleam of her hollow eyes before she looked away.
"Well do you see him?" the man called after her.
"No," she said after turning away. "Just the golden eyed boy."
They stared, paralyzed in amazement.
"Why don't you show yourself?" The one named Irene, called to him.
With laughter, he rose up to their view.
"Do you know of the woman that calls herself moon? I'm looking to take vengeance on her."
The first man laughed. "You take vengeance on Lucine? How do you plan to accomplish that when we've got you outnumbered."
"It's not a question of how I'll do it more as it is more of how you will attempt to away."
"The insanity got into this boy." the first women said. "Go and contact him," she said excitedly, motioning to the second man.
"i wouldn't have dreamed it possible," the man said with thrill, "his son appearing right before us!"
"It's almost destiny, that he ordered us on the spot," said the first women who appeared to almost jump from joy. "We'll be honored beyond all others."
"Why not come quietly now, boy," the first man said to him. "We'll make it less painful."
"That goes back to you," Lucio replied. "Tell me where Lucine is and I might just let you all go."
"Don't act so cocky kid," The second man said to him, "If you really are looking for a fight, then we'll have no choice but to tear off your arms and legs and throw your bleeding self into the fiery abyss where your parents lay."
"Come and try it," said Lucio darkly, but before the words had even escaped his mouth his insides burned with pain. He had forgotten everything. How long had he felt this burning and how much longer will he have to bear that hellish laugh? It seemed eternity before he felt the hard ground that couldn't remember laying in. He raised his eyes and looked before him. The second man was also on the ground, perishing in his blood.
"I thought I told you not to touch the boy." Lucio heard the words but he couldn't find meaning of them. More hooded figures had appeared. All as faceless as the other. He saw Lucine besides the one that spoke which Lucio feared to see.
"Stand on your ground," the devil said coldly. "Show me you aren't the last one."
He closed his eyes, too afraid to even look at the scene before him.