Apologize Not

Chapter 8:

      Azora and her students file into the huge ballroom. The ballroom reminds me of the medieval era. Gold is the dominant color with red and white being the accent colors. Different odd entities talk and eat, only pausing to acknowledge Azora's presence. Azora's students immediately spread out to different groups, leaving Azora alone. She walks around, her guard up as usual and her beautiful red dress bellowing around her.

      I stand in a shadowed corner with a mask on. Not many bothered to actually wear masks. I guess their way of dressing up is just being themselves. I press myself against a wall as a disgusting creature passes by leading a woman with blood staining her white torn dress away.

       "Why are they here?" I hear someone whisper.

        "I dunno. I think Slendy asked for them." Another responds. They squeak when Azora directly looks at them. She raises an eyebrow questioningly before descending to the balcony. Before I have the chance to follow, I spot a tall, faceless creature with long black tentacles, paper white skin, and wearing a suit follow. Using the little shadow there is in the ballroom, I teleport. Now being able to see Azora and the entity, I watch the two conversate.

      Azora barely smiles. She usually has a neutral expression or a frown. Now, there's a small smile playing on her lips. I notice the slight stiffness in her movement. Her dress is long and flows with the winds tugs. Azora doesn't feel coldness or warmth. Her dress exposes her birthmarks that look more like tattoos and she's not wearing her usual leather gloves. The collar goes up to her neck.

      Azora has always been modest, never showing her breasts or much skin. I notice that her scar have been covered with makeup, bringing out how beautiful she would look if she never had those scars. Those scars I drew on her. The tall entity says something and Azora responds with a smile and nod.

      She turns her back towards me and says something. The entity bows his head and nods in understanding. It's considerably taller than Azora. But that's because she allows it. She must respect it enough to hurt her neck to look up at it. I teleport closer.

       "...winter will come. Something tells me it'll be colder and longer than the last. Are you willing to wander that long around the world?" The entity says as he inches closer to Azora. Azora stares off into the horizon.

       "A small price to pay considering what you have done for me. Immortality may mean I cannot die so easily. But it does not take the pain away. When you found me passed out under the blankets of bloodied snow, you brought me into your domain without considering who I am. You helped me recover my memories and gave me a place to stay." I catch my breath.

        When did that happen? Twenty, thirty years ago? I turn away and hide behind one of the huge curtains before anyone spots me. Years ago, Azora allowed the humans to imprison her. Her huntresses were all nearly hunted down. Twelve survived and we're instructed to flee and hide until they're called. Azora warned the humans that if they didn't release her by the time all the stars disappeared from the sky, their kingdom would fall. Blinded by the fact that they have supposedly captured a goddess, they ignored her.

      Years passed by in which children stopped being born. There was mostly evil in that kingdom. Azora made sure to guide the innocent to safety through dreams and visions. And when all the wicked children grew to become adults and there were no longer any stars in the sky, Azora rose from the depths of the kingdom and called upon her huntresses. Kingdom after kingdom fell until a couple small villages were left. Azora decreed that she would no longer protect them.

      Children and pregnant women are the only ones still under her care. But even they hold onto a thin thread. Become wicked, and they'll parish in a merciless disease. The humans made a pact with Azora. No human was to enter any further than ten feet into the forests unless they have permission to hunt. And even then, they're monitored strictly. If they don't have permission and enter the forest foolishly, they'll be killed and their bodies will be left on the side of roads.

      Now, my armies and Azora's huntresses fight in the background. The tides are in her favor. But I won't stop attacking until I gain what is rightfully mine.

      "I'm glad you didn't kill all of us. You gave us a chance. Now, I must attend to other matters. I hope we speak again soon. We have some important inquiries to talk about." The entity excuses himself and leaves. I feel a cold chill slide down my back as he passes by me. He pauses and turns. With a final nod, he turns and leaves.

       I wait for him to leave completely before quickly approaching Azora. I stop beside. The two of us stay quiet for a while. Azora stares out into the distance. She seems to be in a daze. The wind is cold and inviting.

       "I'm sorry." I choke out. "For everything...I did. I used that stupid demon that was inject inside of me as an excuse to hide how afraid I was—and am."

       "What did you do?" Azora asks. It's as if she can read my mind. What I did to Elektra...is unforgivable. It's against everything Azora believes in.

        "Styx opened my eyes. I realize my mistakes. Azora, I'm begging for your forgiveness. Please—"

         "What...did you do?" Azora growls. I sigh and begin to tap on the railing.

         "I...hurt Elektra." There's a deafening silence. I glance at Azora and nearly flip over the railing at the sight of the angry goddess.

          "I should've torn your heart out a long time ago!" Azora yells and slams her fist into my chest. The wind gets shot out and I feel bones cave in. "Why? What was your reason for hurting my sister? WHY, AMORIOUS?"

          "Azora, please listen! I lost my temper and I—"

          "And you r***d your own wife!" It feels like years upon years' worth of anger wash down on me. Screams are heard. I realize that they're all my victims. I messed up and didn't recognize it until I r***d my own wife. I destroyed so many innocent lives. And yet, I still wanted Azora to accept my apologies. How can she accept lies? How did she put up with me? She saw what I was before I did. I f****d up. How do I expect anything now?

         "You're more a king than she is any day. Azora fears you! She fears your power. She—" No. She doesn't. Otherwise, I wouldn't be falling into Tartarus right now.