The Unknown God/Goddess

Angry Gods

Austin's P.O.V

Rafaela told me to stop visiting for the mean time. She says she's going to be adjusting to her new environment. Yes, that's what she said. Calling her own mother 'new'. It was cute. I could tell how happy she really was behind her own facade. She was fidgety, that's that too. 

"Oh? You're here?" Pharsa walks past by me and went straight to the refrigerator and got herself some milk. 

"I live here too." I stated as a matter-of-fact-ly. I place my glass down and turned to her. 

"Hey, you remember Mine's caretaker before?" 

She turns to me and drank her milk. 

"Yes?" she answers after taking a gulp and then drank the remaining. She placed the carton of milk in the refrigerator again and washed her glass. 

"She's Rafaela's mother." she stops and looks at me. 

"No wonder Rafaela looked a little familiar to me." 

"Right? I mean, man, what a small world." 

Mine came in and scratches her back, still sleepy. She was barely keeping her eyes open as she yawns. Her face looked a little puffy and there was a little drool on the edge of her right lip. Adorable was all that I could describe. 

"I heard my name," her voice was still sleepy, raspy a bit. She clears her throat and washes her face, splashing the drowsiness off. 

"Your caretaker before is Rafaela's mother." 

"I knew," she stated so bluntly. 

"Wait, you did?" 

"Yes, I thought you did too so I didn't bring it up." Mine blinks multiple times before drying off her face with a towel that I didn't know she brought. 

"Well, that's that too." Pharsa says and starts to walk away. 

"Are you not talking to Layla yet?" I had to ask. 

Pharsa stops walking and stayed. She didn't turn to us, she kept facing forward. 

"Of course not." then she walked away. 

"Leave her be. She's persistent." Mine says. 

"Yeah, okay." I sigh deep. 

It's been days since she stopped talking to Layla and Layla doesn't seem to mind, like she's used to it or something. The Vampire Clan is under the Hades' control, so I bet they converse on a daily or weekly basis. Layla is the Vampire Queen, she's needed in Hades' quarters from time to time to report on her findings. 

I don't understand those two. A quarrel is inevitable but prolonging the said quarrel isn't healthy either. One of them should try and make amends. 

"What do you want for breakfast?" 

After our morning routine, such as breakfast and work out and bath, we decided to chill. Mine and Pharsa don't have school because it's a weekend. Layla seems to be off somewhere, probably doing that report that I said earlier. 

"Can you dim the room a bit?" Pharsa asked so casually. 

They were always like this since I've got a hold on how to use darkness now. Acceptance is a must, otherwise I won't be able to come to terms with it and I won't be able to control it completely. I need to practice more but things so little like what Pharsa just asked, I can do. 

They're so complacent with my new accepted ability that they've been asking for things like this. Dimming the room, place a temporary dark mist around the room for Pharsa to feel at home. I'm not complaining. I'm happy that they're not afraid of me anymore. I'm worried about Layla though. Since they haven't been talking, Layla also seems to be keeping her distance from us too. We were getting dragged into it without notice. 

"Fine," I did as she told. 

We continued watching until we heard a knock on the door. 

"I'll get it." Mine runs to the direction of the door and answers the door. 

"Her-Hercules," she stutters. 

I whip my head to the side and saw a familiar smile on Hercules' face. 

"Hello, Your Highness, Princess of the Underworld and Mine." I know he doesn't have any intentions of malice in his statement but I just had to laugh. 

Mine pouted and lets him in. She closes the door behind him and rejoins me on the sofa while Hercules takes a seat. The last time we saw each other was when that date happened. His curly bangs did his face good. His manly divided chin and his blue eyes looked handsome. He has a seductive stare but he is innocent. 

"Oh, Hercules, hey," Pharsa addressed him so casually and she didn't even bother fixing her posture. She's so chill today that I had to wonder if something happened. 

"Your Highness, I came bearing dire news." the atmosphere turned serious all of a sudden. The chill Pharsa shifts in her seat and kept listening to us while watching the television.

I know because her ears would twitch whenever she's listening attentively. That's something that I found out days ago. I chuckle to myself and turned my attention to Hercules. 

"What is it?" 

"The other deities have gotten a hold of your disappearance." 

The day has come for the war to finally begin it's countdown. I do not want any bloodshed but I will not take one's life. 

"It's faster than I thought." Mine stated. 

"The others are angry and want you back." 

"Are you not here in pursuit of me?" he shakes his head and gave me his signature smile. The same smile that captured a lot of maiden's hearts, even goddesses. 

"I am one of those very few that know of your situation." he didn't say 'origin'. 

"Very few? Who are those?" 

I've been wondering. For me, I think it tool too long for the others to finally realize that I was gone. The council would've found out early since they always see me after their meeting and they were the most fond of me. Were they keeping their mouths shut? 

"The council," 

Well, that made sense fast.

"Well, why aren't they doing anything then?" he shakes his head again, every time he does so, his curly bangs would sway side to side. It was so distracting that I almost lost myself. 

"The council is respecting your decision, but that doesn't mean they're going to stop the others as well. You are still a part of Zeus, Your Highness." 

He's right. Erebus might be my creator but my father's divinity still runs in my veins. He was my acting father all this time and now I consider as my true father. 

"So they're just waiting for the results." Mine sums up everything. 

"Yes," Hercules nods his head, and his bangs swayed again. 

"You're enjoying your bangs, aren't you," I'm annoyed by how his bangs can catch my attention so easily. 

"Yes," he laughs lightly and smiles at me. 

"Ugh." I face the other way to stop my eyes from wandering to his bangs. 

"Anyway," Hercules stands up, " I need to get going." 

I stand up too. 

"Why do you always warn me, Hercules." there must be something that's pushing him to such lengths. 

He won't get something just from warning me, does he? I have nothing to offer to him. He doesn't seem to be the scheming type and I think he's genuine. He doesn't result to violence like Ares and he's much stronger than Ares. They've fought once and Hercules brought shame to Ares. 

"Because I want you to fight for your own sake, Agnostos. You deserve so much than just being a treaty," 

I gave him a hug. A hug that contains my appreciation that can't be explained by words alone. He hugs me back. He was taller than me because of his build. 

"Train hard, champ," I've always viewed Hercules as my older brother, reason being that he would always be there for me when I was having a hard time. He would pat my head just like this one. 

Hercules is the reason why I'm so good at fighting. He sneaks in our humble abode and train me himself. Father found us out one time and told us it was okay, just not let anyone see him enter our house. Hercules kept coming everyday and trained me. He taught me a lot of things and he would share stories of his war, censoring some things that is in need of censoring. 

He is the big brother that I have always wanted but did not get. To me, he was more than enough. Who knew this day would come? His mentorship to me was going to be displayed in this tug of war that is going to happen. Maybe father saw this day coming. That is the only possible reason why father would let him train me when father, himself, doesn't want me to go to war because it is dangerous. 

"I will. You take care, too," he grins at me, the same grin that pumped me up to train. 

He shows himself to the door and closes it behind him. 

"He seems to be attached," Pharsa stated. 

"He trained me when I was still young," 

"WHAT?" Pharsa's head whipped to my direction, wide-eyed and mouth agape. 

"That's true," Mine supported my claim. 

Mine would sometimes visit too and train in secret with me from time to time when Athena is away. Mine might be timid in front of her mother but when it comes to Hercules, she gives it her all. 

"Why were you there?" Pharsa asks. 

I take a seat again and crossed my legs. 

"I wanted to train too." Mine answered shyly and scratched the back of her neck. 

"But your mother is Athena. Why not train with the best?" 

I had asked that question before too and Mine didn't answer me then. There was something preventing her from answering me then and I respected her decision. I don't want to demand anything. I'm not that forceful. 

"Because," Mine looks down on her hands, "I don't want mother to be disappointed by how weak I am. It would tarnish her name." 

I remember now. Hurtful things were being shot at Mine for being weak despite being the goddess of war's daughter. It was the reason why Mine shut herself out from everyone. 

I chuckled. 

"What's gotten into you?" Mine asks. 

"Don't you find it funny? Pharsa being an exception in our history, bullied. You, being bullied as well for not having the same qualities as your mother. Me? A treaty and an outcast. We make a pretty great team." 

"Sounds corny but you're right." Pharsa smiles and nods to herself. 

"I guess we do." Mine smiles as well.

The grounds suddenly shakes and I feel my gut pulsating, signaling danger. Pharsa and Mine felt it as well and looked around. There was a barrier being put up. The three of us got outside. Are they finally making a move? No, this fast? If they had seen Hercules, they wouldn't be kind to him and torture him. That goes the same for these two as well.

Layla is nowhere to be found and I feel like we're being outnumbered. No. I need to make sure everyone is safe. I brought this unto them. I don't need to rely on Layla's strength. I need to trust myself. I clench my jaw, preventing my fear from surfacing. 

As soon as we got outside, we see three deities. But they weren't just normal gods, they were of the councils. They slowly approach us. I couldn't read their expression, I just couldn't. They were so stoic, so stagnant and so stiff. They weren't displaying an ounce of affection. 

"Your Highness," one of them greeted me. 

I wasn't allowed to know their names, nor their faces. Everyone of them wore masks. It seems that it's to prevent from any unjustly promotions or actions. Their presence was making me tremble. My stomach can't stop itself from trembling. 

"What brings you here, members of the divine council?" I asked, trying to regain my lost confidence. 

Pharsa and Mine felt it too. How powerful they were and how we were doomed if we were to fight them. Just from their appearance made the ground shook. The barrier was so thick that it looked more abundant than mine. Their power enough was making me cower in fear. 

"We are here to watch over your growth in war." one says too. Their masks was preventing me from telling which was which, aside from the distinction of their voice. But really, I don't know who was talking. 

"You're not going to do anything funny, are you?" Pharsa asks, just making sure and clarifying everything. 

"Princess of the Underworld, rest assured, we keep our words." 

I let myself at ease and decided that I would hear what they want to say. 

"Surely, that's not all you came here for." Mine asks in a form of a statement. 

"Yes. Very on point, I see." 

"Zeus and Erebus wanted to give this to you. This day was foretold." 

Foretold? Me? Going to war with the others? Battling for my own freedom? And since when did they prepare such a gift for me? Erebus, too? 

One approached me and waved his hand. In an instant, a slender lengthy box appeared out of nowhere. It was long but not too long and it had a fair amount of width. I still call it slender. He hands me the box, and it was surprisingly heavier than I thought it would. 

"Can I open the box?" 

"Yes, that is the very reason for this barrier." 

"Uh, okay?" 

I opened the box using one hand and held on to the bottom using the other. Once I opened the box, I saw a sword, which a dark blue blade in the center and shiny edges painted - or I don't know, with white. It was so shiny that I could even see myself in the reflection. 

I grabbed the hilt and I accidentally lost my grip on the box. It fell to the floor and at the same time, a power surge entered my body. The darkness and light inside me were no longer fighting. They formed an alliance that easily with just a touch of this sword. 

My body felt light and I feel like I was cracking up. I closed my eyes and let the power enter me freely. The next instant I opened my eyes, the barrier was already broken. Pharsa and Mine were shielding from me too, as well as the divine council. 

"This is made by your creator and your parent. This sword is designed for your inner peace." 

So the both of them knew that there was going to be a turmoil in me? Both of them are scary. 

"Oh," was all I could answer. 

Did I power up or something? This isn't a cheat, right? How am I supposed to say this to Rafaela? 'Hey, I got a sword as a war present from Erebus and Father.'. Won't she freak out? She's already anxious and restless as she is. If she sees this, no doubt she'll flip. 

"If this sword gets into the wrong hands, they will perish upon contact." 

"Wait, what?" 

"Be sure to keep it to yourself. They are not to touch this, Your Highness." 

"Maybe tell me that before you give this to me?" 

"This sword has acknowledged you as its master. It has engraved your name on the hilt." 

I look at the hilt and I did see my name there, 'Agnostos'. I sighed. 

"This doesn't have a sheath!" I squirmed. 

"It will appear by itself if you need it." 

I do need it and it's not - it suddenly appeared on my left side, making me sigh. I put the sword there and it was instantly gone. 

"The life that you will take, its soul will get trapped in the sword."

"I will take no life." I said it like it was illness. I said it so fast, denying it so fast, that I'm beginning to falter my own belief. 

"In case that you do, there is a way for the soul to be at peace." 

There is no harm in not knowing, right? I won't do it. I promised myself and Father that I won't take anyone's life. I don't believe in violence. I don't believe in it but I'm here, waiting for war to happen. 

"Are you willing to listen, Your Highness?" 

"I.." 

"Austin," Pharsa's gentle voice entered my ears. 

"Austin?" Mine calls out to me. 

I turn to them and give them a doubtful smile. 

"Don't worry. I'll just listen." I turn back to the council and I nod at them subtly 

"You will have to enter the sword yourself, Your Highness." 

"What! Are you telling him to die?" 

"That's absurd! Don't listen, Austin!" 

They sounded so desperate to fight back for me, but I already feel so down that I might just consider the idea. No, no. Freedom is what I'm fighting for. 

"You are greatly mistaken, young ones. What we meant is that His Highness' soul should enter the sword's own realm and persuade them to come out and have eternal peace." 

"What do you mean persuade them?" it didn't make any sense. Why would I persuade them to get out? 

"They will see for themselves what you've gone through in your lifetime." 

"The loneliness, the sadness, the feeling of not belonging." 

"They will all feel it all at once. In an instant and they will feel guilty." 

I got conflicted for a second. 

"Is my life that sad?" I asked myself. 

"Our lives are," Pharsa answers me. 

"You're not alone." I feel a hand behind me and saw Mine with a smile. 

"We're here for you. Don't worry." Mine tells me. 

I inhale and exhale deeply. They're right. No more self-pity. No more wavering of feelings. I need to be resolute for me to have the future that I desire and fought so hard for. I've wasted so many tears and uncovered so many ugly truths. My success should be very satisfying at this point. 

"Thank you."