Chapter 46

Steele took some steps away from Hood. Backing away while shaking his head to indicate his total disagreement with Hood's plan.

He could never do such a thing as joining hands just to take vengeance on the gods. Whatever Hood was up to, Steele didn't want to get his hands dirtier than the way they were at the moment.

"Brother!" Hood whispered, his eyes narrowed at Steele who had stopped a good two meters away from him.

"Just don't. If you want to pursue with your plans, go ahead but don't involve me. Don't come to me in the name of the golden fiery red Phoenix because I won't listen to you". Steele said bitterly. His forehead etched slightly with regret of coming down here to talk to his brother.

If he was capable of reading minds, he would have turned back to go back to his den long ago.

"But I'm telling the truth!". Hood protested.

Steele shook his head slightly, a tear threatening to stream down his face.

He hadn't known that Hood would go as far as lying to him.

"No you're not. You're obsessed with your plans for vengeance that you want everything to go your way. You're insane!". Steele answered. "If the gods get to hear about this, you will be locked up in the abyss of hell for eternity".

"I don't care". Hood spat, waving his arm violently in front of him with a staggered step. "They all say that the gods are just but, are they just? All we went through is a clear indication of how ruthless and merciless they are!. They are not remorseful beings and yet, here all mortals are busy worshipping them. They don't deserve it!". He shouted and gave a wet smile.

Not a smile to show how pleased he was. It was a sad smile. A smile that mirrored his bitterness and the broken shells of his heart.

Steele wondered how Hood could still be smiling in such a situation. Hood had really lost his mind and Steele was a hundred percent sure about it.

What was Hood expecting? For everything to run down smoothly and fairly?. This was the universe where things went opposite of your expectations.

The gods did what they did and Steele cared less. As long as he was still breathing, nothing else mattered most to him.

In front of him was not his brother but a shadow of his remains. Another being was taking up the form and image of his brother.

In front of him, he could see a dark figure swallowing up his brother in one gulp. A dark figure representing greed, pride and pure evil.

The gleam in his brother's eyes was what made Steele be so sure of what he was thinking of, in front of him was not his brother but a demon.

Only the demon was greedy enough to desire his throne be exalted high above on the stars where it was never possible to be in. Only the demon was greedy enough to stand up against the Elite being and now, his brother was heading towards that same dark path.. it was either that, or Hood was possessed.

Nonetheless, Steele wanted nothing, absolutely nothing to do with what was on Hood's mind.

Steele exhaled sharply.

"For the sake of our mother's memory whom we both loved, I won't tell on you. Just stay away from me!". Steele warned and with one swift movement and flap of his wings, he flew in Hood's opposite direction back to his den above the clouds.

Hood huffed in annoyance, how dare Steele bring her memory up?. Wasn't he satisfied with pain that the memory of their mother brought with it?.

Hot beads of tears streamed down his face. His face felt hot as he let out a breathe through his mouth, his face felt squeezed up with emotions while he fell on his knees.

His throat tightened as he choked with the emotions in him.

His face was inches away from the ground so the breathe from his mouth fanned the dust which he inhaled making him feel disgusted.

Hood shook with the sadness he felt. He had been openly rejected by his brother, the only family he knew. He suddenly stopped crying, and took in deep audible breathes to compose himself.

"I planned this for so long. Having the golden fiery red Phoenix here is a blessing. I'll have my own revenge and become a mighty god. I don't care what happens but if Gregory is my highway to greatness, I must have him by my side". He said to himself and gave out a hiccup as the unshed tears in his eyes streamed down.

He hastily wiped them, "I'm not going to cry again. This is my time to make others cry instead".

His heart clenched with the thought of having what he desired most. His brain mirroring the same fantasy he had kept on playing for years making him smile.

That was what made him hold on for so long. That was the only thing that made him feel alive. That was the only thing that kept him sane and there was no going back.

No matter what, he had to get his hands on what he wanted. He stood up and turned his head to look at Gregory who was still protecting himself with the ice wall.

Ferlio was busy suppressing the orangish fireballs against the ice wall so as to hurt the boy. At this rate, the boy wouldn't hold on any longer.

Nothing was going to come in between him and his vengeance.. not even Steele's rejection or Ferlio.

"If Steele won't train him. I will. If Steele won't protect him, I will!". He said under his breath.

Right now, his heart held such great hatred and disgust towards everything and everyone.

He made a mental note in the back of his mind, when all of this was over, when he finally got what he wanted, he'd kill Steele. He was better off alone with no family if the only family member he had was of no benefit to him.

The mortal world was too small to fit the both of them in. Right now, his desires would be the ones leading him and not his mind.

It was time to act. The gods wouldn't know what hit them.

"Fanya uwesavyo". He whispered in Swahili meaning, 'Do what you're able to do'. A small glow in the boy which was barely visible flew before diminishing. It was high time the boy fought back.

•••••

The hits from the bird were getting stronger and stronger each time he attacked. Lucky groaned in pain as the latest fireball hit again trying to target his chest.

What was this bird holding against his chest?. Did this bird really want to finish him off so badly?.

His breathes came out as short, fast and heavy puffs out of his mouth. It was getting unbearable, he couldn't hold on any longer.

With a loud groan, he cracked up the ice wall protecting him which sent the broken pieces flying towards Ferlio who quickly protected himself by melting them down using the magical fireballs he had brought out.

"Cat got tired of hiding?". He questioned in a taunting tone. Smirking to himself with satisfaction of what he had managed to do.

Lucky huffed both with exhaustion and amusement. He wasn't sure why he was amused but oh boy, he was exhausted. He had never taken cover like that before no matter whom the opponent was.

Ferlio couldn't place it how this boy could huff in amusement at this particular moment. He wanted the boy, whose name he hadn't known yet, to give out a comment because of his statement. He wanted to distract the boy in whatever way possible so as to hit him because one thing he had taken note about the boy was, the boy was very alert about everything and nothing at the same time.

It had been a long time since he had last seen such a focused person in life but that didn't scare him. The boy had to fight to survive through this.

But he couldn't stress himself with that now. The boy was now tired of hiding and was ready to fight back. He'd teach the boy a lesson he would never forget even in the deeps of hell.

Widening his wings, he formed a fireball which instantly flew towards Lucky. Lucky was quick to dismiss it using a spell that his mother once taught him and created a magical whip that he held with his free hand, targeting the injured leg he hit it so hard which made Ferlio groan in pain.

He hadn't seen that coming.

Again, that was a second goal for the boy.

Ferlio being distracted by the pain in his leg, he hadn't noticed that Lucky had moved. Lucky now stood behind him. He quickly threw his whip around Ferlio's neck, tightening it hard enough using both of his hands with the intent of strangling him.

Ferlio gasped for air. His lungs felt constricted and his neck hurt.