Chapter Eight - The beginning

Two young men with similar features-one blonde, one with dark hair-are clad is ancient clothes that spelt royalty and walking down a large hall. They come before a huge throne and bow.

"Greetings Lord"

A young man who looked not much older than the other two young men except for his eyes which told a different story stood up from the throne and walked towards the two lads.

"Aiden, Ares... You made it..."

The man tapped their shoulders in what would have seemed like a friendly manner save for the fright that seemed to emanate from them.

"Lord you called for us..." Aiden stated ignoring the worried look from his brother.

Ares was too weak, he had thought at one point but he loved his brother and he would give anything to free them from this prison created by 'Lord'. Ares hadn't realized it yet but the man, Lord was an evil thing beneath all that finesse. But then again Ares was a sucker for rules, anything Lord told him to do he'd do without a second thought.

Lord's eyes gleamed as he stared at Aiden. He laughed after a while and sauntered to his throne.

"I called you both here today because I've decided to grant you both your titles and authorities..."

Ares stared at him confused while Aiden was tense, his lips taut.

"You Ares... Golden hair, brilliant green eyes... You are the Prince of Light and all the beings that dwell within.... And Aiden... You're darker... Darker than midnight and yet those similar green eyes... You are henceforth the Prince of Darkness and all that dwells within... However..."

Aiden clenched his fists tight at his side, Ares put a hand on his brother's shoulder. Lord glanced at their little interaction and a wrinkle formed between his brows.

"There are conditions" he declared "The light shines and eliminates the threat of the dark, the moment it dims even a bit, shadows crawl in. Each balances the other... You balance each other" he quirked a brow "I hope"

Ares and Aiden stood in their palace wondering why they had just been offered titles and privileges. Lord was a mysterious one, he had created them and the world beneath them or rather, worlds. An entire universe and for some reason the selfish bastard was offering them places in his kingdom.

"This is suspicious" Aiden spat "it has got to be some plot"

"Why do you always assume the worst of our... Lord? He's ... He was gracious enough to make you and I and grant us our own minds"

"As pawns... So we'll be aware that we're pawns and he'll enjoy watching our little futile struggle"

Ares shook his head,

"You're looking for trouble Aiden... Trouble will do us both no good"

"You're just being weak Ares... Weak and submissive! Like a dog, a poor lowly dog!"

Ares' eyes glowed, his fists clenched at his sides.

He turned to walk away when Aiden spoke again,

"There... Walk away from your problems like you always do! Weakling!"

Ares punched Aiden in the face as he trembled with rage. Aiden who had fallen, licked blood off his broken lip,

"Immortality comes with the title you know " he told Ares.

Ares walked away leaving Aiden to his thoughts.

Tears clouded Aiden's eyes as he thought,

'You've left me no choice Ares... You may hate me for what I do but I do it all for you'

He stood up and walked towards the door and bumped right into Lyra, a butler of theirs, to cater to their needs Lord had said.

'more like to spy on them and report back to him' he thought

Lord could read their thoughts-though he'd blocked his with that thing the nature lady had given him, Lord didn't know of that-he could be anywhere and everywhere at the same damn time-one of the perks of being the creator- but he enjoyed the pleasure, the thrill and the game of having little helpers and pawns at his disposal, a little game of chess. The world was his chess board and they were the pieces.

He pushed Lyra out of the way and ventured out to the wild, the unexplored lower realms. Lyra called out behind him,

"Don't stay out too late young master"

Aiden glanced back at him, his eyes darkening like the darkness below,

"Tell Adrian" Lyra's eyes widened in disbelief

Aiden smirked, "... I think he'd rather be called Lord that this prince is coming for him... You may have convinced my brother that he's supposed to be grateful to you but I'm shattering that illusion... Wait for me!"

Saying that he leapt into the darkness below. Lord or rather Adrian was beside Lyra in an instant, his face pale.

"Lord!" Lyra bowed instantly. Lord waved a hand at the lower realms aiming to destroy it and whatever was in it. To his surprise the attack bounced back and dissipated into nothingness. His eyes burned with unbridled rage.

"Very well" he said through clenched teeth "very well... You want a play Aiden.. you'll get one!" He turned and walked towards the palace Aiden and Ares lived in.

Thoughts swirled in Lord's mind as he walked through the building, he should've known something was up with the kid the moment he couldn't hear a sound from his mind like he had stopped thinking or more like he-Aiden-could block out him out from his mind. He clenched his fists and marched down. Whatever it was that was helping Aiden, he'd deal with it, crush it because he was Lord! Their Lord!

Aiden watched Lord's little demonstration of power as he'd like to call it, from within the borders of the lower realms.

"You could've just hurt him" he murmured

A whisper of female laughter echoed around him.

"He needs redemption Aiden... Not death"

"After all he did to you? You don't want revenge? Hurt him just a little you know..."

"Redemption..." The voice repeated and dissipated with the wind that blew past him. He glanced around and sighed, at least the lower realms were off limits to Adrian. His 'creator' powers wouldn't work here and he'd be just like any other mortal if he entered this realm. Able to age,die, and feel.

The breeze blew again lifting his dark locks,

'Oh the breath of fresh air and freedom' he thought

Well he'd better get to it as Ares will be here any minute following his Lord's orders.