Chaos

Time had surely stopped, it was reflected in the terse bodies, open mouths, and widened eyes. Seconds turned into minutes, then hours as the brain cells requires to comprehend Violet's actions were gathered. Deafening silence, fragile and sure to be shattered momentarily. Had the Ruenen ever been this unprepared for a development?

And Violet, oh Violet, who should have used the precious moments to disappear, stood just as still. Kuznet and Jace alone were watching the crowd instead of her, their postures screamed run and Violet, despite the impending battle found herself smiling slightly, eyes crinkled in fondness.

When this was over, she would have to thank the two of them, a heartfelt thank you. it's a true rare thing to find a friend, even more when that friend is prepared to do anything to ensure your safety. She could have never prepared herself for such loyalty.

After a brief second she latched her eyes back onto Kieren's. Surprise looked beautiful on that face, in those dilated oceanic eyes. Had he ever gazed at anyone with such a stupefied expression?

Her smile slipped, a sad drop of her eyes, he took a step forward, the picturesque silence shattered. It was over.

The parallels were astounding, suddenly she was running once again, just like the day they had met. She dodged a pummel of flames and landed a hard punch on an unsuspecting servant -who tumbled onto the floor.

Violet leaned to the left as a chain linked dagger swished through the air, she leapt up as a set of swords flashed by her feet.

Rain, fire, weapons, fists.

They were all after her now, it was a cacophony of attacks, yells, and whimpers as she sent fierce -yet calculated- attacks in return.

She did not plan on killing anyone else here, but she would if she had too. The sudden bang of a bullet, a slice against her cheek, Violet made eye contact with a distraught Alex who was shaking as she pointed her weapon.

Violet shot her a smile, raised a finger to her cheek and healed it quickly as she roundhouse kicked an elder Serpent kings member. She mouthed quickly over to Alex, "it's okay." Alex's semblance shattered and she turned to walk away, Violet took ahold of a railing and flipped herself up to a higher floor.

It went to shit quickly after that, the hundred or so people gathered —minus Kieren's crew, a few elders, Kuznet, and Jace— decided that dead meant problem solved. The attacks began to rain down incessantly, and Violet found herself dodging pieces of the wall and ceiling more than their abilities themselves.

She hissed in annoyance as a part of a walkway collapsed, and barley had time to dodge as Zet, finally close enough came barreling down on her. They closed the distance in seconds and engaged Violet's fist into Zet's hammer. Violet used her healing as she fought, her eyes scanning in every direction, she needed a way up, up into the innermost chamber and tower… it would be there.

Violet dropped herself into the splits as an enraged Zet began lashing out with her ability as well. Violet grimaced, she could understand Zet's rage, but she didn't have time for it. The commander's anger kept growing as the realized that Violet wasn't paying attention to their fight, her eyes kept darting and she was healing any injury sustained within milliseconds of their occurrences.

Having finally found a door that would take her up Violet sped up her movements, out of respect for the commander she unleashed some of her true strength, watched as her opponents eyes dilated in comprehension and delivered a thundering uppercut. Zet landed on her back, Violet raised her right foot up and heeded the gasps as she brought in swishing down. Her foot connecting heavily successfully breaking Zet's nose and knocking her out.

Take a leap backwards Violet watched as more began to charge, she was making this personal. Another sigh, "fine" she brought forward smoke grenades and began flinging them in every direction watching out for Kieren, who had quite some minutes ago, disappeared from her line of sight.

Violet made it up to the topmost tower ten minutes later, she had given up on healing some of the smaller injuries, they had begun just pelting her with ice, rock, anything they could throw in the smoke.

She noted the thick steal and magically reinforced door and bolted forward. The few seconds of relief cost her as Zen appeared behind her yelling angrily, "we let you in! You betrayed us and I'm going to MAKE . YOU. PAY."

A deep gash in her thigh, blood pooling, and Zen coming in for the kill. He was covered in dust and had several small cuts from the collateral of chasing after her. Violet growled, "As if you needed the excuse, jealousy's always prevented you from growing. You can't take me Zen, you should have waited for Kieren."

She only succeeded in infuriating Zen more, who activated his fire, covered his weapon, and aimed for her head. Violet didn't dodge, there was no other soul in sight and Zen needed to be put in his place.

As he closed in, rage clouding his sight, she stopped his scythe with her bare hand. She gripped it tighter and brought him in only to slam him against the nearest wall. Her left hand slammed into his chest as she put out his fire. "Do you really think you know anything Zen? What is your measly fire for me?" She pressed tighter into his chest as he panicked. She was in disarray, she, a healer had put out his fire. Nothing made sense.

"Do you even know how runestone weapons are made? Their significance? The fact that they're live weapons, and can be easily dominated?" She kicked him hard in the gut and took the scythe, "they can also be broken, taken, and re-made."

Zen charged blindly only to be slammed back Into the wall by Violet. She brought her face within inches of his, "Zen, you need to learn to recognize when you're utterly overpowered. I could take your life easily."

He screamed as Violet dug her nails into his chest, she brought out with her a small strong burning flame and he slid onto the floor clutching his chest watching in fear as she held his eternal flame. "No, give it back, how… What are you?"

Instead of answering Violet took his scythe and disappeared it, "you don't deserve this yet. Make me change my mind and I'll give it back."

"FUCK YO- Whmhp!!!"

Violet had crushed her flame-engulfed hand into his face, reinserting his ability and quickly asphyxiating him. He slid onto the floor only to let out a shuddering gasp before relaxing into the unconscious.

Screams and shouts reached her ears, annoyed Violet took off toward the door, she struggled to get it open as the crowd neared her. After slipping in she slammed the door shut and pressed the emergency lever. Alarms rang out as a second door came over the first.

The armory, she panted slightly, hands on her knees as the bangs and thumps continued against the reinforced door. Wiping back a sliver of sweat from her face Violet looked around calmly.

So maybe she had an ulterior motive for not leaving when she had a chance, but truth be told she was acting on a whim.

The Serpent Kings Headquarters were guarded zealously, she would be pressed to find another such opportunity, and she had heard that when the Tlanextli clan was decimated their objects had been brought here.

She sprung into action rifling through cabinets, chests, and drawers. Countless artifacts, weapons, sacred objects; all pillaged. In the back and up past a trap door Violet finally found what she was looking for, the only tool that came with her true title. Violet took the intricately decorated dagger and felt a shiver up her spine. "'Tonatiuh', son of the sun.

"You are the Muse Violet, and you need to do what's right." Violet shook her head sadly, "what does that even mean?"

Taking with her more items, so as to throw them off the trail, Violet leafed through the room. As sudden as it had all commenced it stopped. An eerie silence clung to the air and Violet stood up straight, outside the door the movement and banging had stopped. They were stepping away from the door, fleeing really, and Violet knew why.

Even from inside she could hear the sky, rumbles and growls like she had never imagined were centering around the headquarters.

Kieren had decided it was time.

A vicious flash of lightening outside the nearest window, another volatile scream of the sky. Her name, enunciated so clearly it hurt, from unmistakable lips, a delicious tenor to his voice that she knew, and was unlikely to forget. His voice was shaken, and the hurt was so palpable she could taste it on her tongue.

Fighting the urge to open the door Violet climbed up into the attic and focused on making her way onto the roof. The roof was the only place not guarded by marking stones, it was the easiest place to leave.

As she managed to break through a sudden rush of air and the creek of metal below her alerted her for the fact what Kieren had quite easily disposed of the doors. She jogged to the edge of the roof as he came into view.

He was alone, her breath hitched, he could take her on alone. The deluge began, rain accompanied the black thundering sky becoming ever more dangerous as his emotions spiraled.

Violet put up her hands to show she was unarmed, she stepped up against the edge of the rooftop and opened her mouth when his whine reached to her.

"Violet. Come here!"

She froze, her name again, on those lips, matching the panic in his eyes. He was holding out an arm, beckoning her tenderly.

She took another step back. They were at least eight flights up, a few hundred feet, he took another step forward.

"Violet" he whined her name again, "please come here, come to me"

It was as much a demand as it was him pleading with her.

Violet felt stinging near her eyes, he didn't look angry, there was fear, resentment, another expression she couldn't discern. She opened her mouth and closed it again. She shook her head slowly teetering on the end.

"VIOLET, PLEASE."

The sounds of footsteps, lightening striking every few feet.

Violet choked back the whine in her own throat, the desire to go to him, and flung herself off the edge.

She bit back a yell -one that had nothing to do with her fall- and then uncontrollably let it out, eyes widening in dread and she looked up to see him jumping, off the roof, towards her, towards the ground.