“LOKI! WE WILL PURGE LUCIFER TOGETHER!” Paris yelled.

  A solitare scream that didn’t echo, the green sky still sparkled.

  “Dude have you just been standing outside screaming the whole time?”

  “Who’s that!” Paris spun around.

  His eyes landing on Gloxer who was clutching his right arm, chuckling.

  “Oh… it’s you.”

  “Loki? Do you still call yourself Loki.”

  “Yeah? It’s cool.”

  “Pfft. It’s lame. Anyway, let’s leave this spot— it’s gonna get crowded anyway with how everyone’s seeing Thidos. Or I should say Xeras for what he really is.”

  “About time, he never actually appreciated my talents.”

  Gloxer rolled his eyes, “Let’s go to your place. It’s the only other place I could go other than Ostra.”

  “My place? I’m a bum!”

  “I know. I meant The Guildford Estate.”

  Paris’s left eye twitched.

  “Never.”

  Gloxer shrugged and began to walk away.

  “Wait! You are leaving me that easily?”

  “Well.” Gloxer turned around smiling, “I’m not your friend, quite the opposite. I really hate you so I don’t mind letting you stay alone like a bitch.”Paris pouted, “But you don’t even want to hear my tragic backstory?”

  “I could pass, honestly. I was always just going to go Ostra anyway but whatever.”

  “Whatever! I’ll go to Mama and Papa.” Paris stomped his foot like a child before scurrying alongside Gloxer toward the mansion.

  Knock Knock Knock.

  Three knocks on a golden plated door, surrounded by slums. People standing outside their doors, admiring the green sky. All of the people in the slums did so, their smell however… The stench of piss and body odor filled the air but the scent from the door and inward was elegant.

  Fancy, rich, expensive.

  “It’s the smell of money all right.” Paris sighed, he was behind Gloxer who stood on the stoops, his arms drenched in his pockets as he turned around— his eyebrow raised.

  “What?”

  “That tuxedo makes you look cool.” Paris jittered.

  “Are you complimenting me? Dude, I don’t fucking like you— you killed Roxanne!”

  “It was five years ago, get over it!”

  “You also killed Arvo.”“You have no connection with that chimera, you honestly are just finding reasons to hate on me.”

  “Shut u—”

  “Are you with the mail?” A feminine voice spoke.

  Gloxer turned around and saw a caucasian lady dressed in a pristine amber tailored blazer, her pitch black hair tied in an upwards bun as she had a stern look on her face. Behind her was a walkway filled with artwork.

  “No, I’m with your son.”

  “Lucius has came home?” Her eyes lightened up, a warm smile stretching across her face.

  Gloxer winced, “Oh, ohhh that makes so much sense now. No it isn’t him, it’s the other one.”

  Her eyes died, she dropped the smile as she stared back— leaning towards the door side to invite Gloxer and Paris in. Her left eye twitching as it landed on the First Saint as he returned the glare.

  “Welcome inside. I didn’t think that Laufey’s son would arrive.” The woman muttered.

  “No.” Paris shook his head, “I’m your son.”

  “A cursed birth.”

  The first steps inside the house felt different. It looked elegant sure, abstract vibrant art pieces hung around everywhere in the corridor; a desk to the right hand side showcasing a statue of a man praying. A room down the left side, the end and a spiral stairway painted in gold upward. But it didn’t feel holy like Thidos’ Cathedral, it felt human.

  Human for once. The feel, the fabric of red carpet underneath the feet.

  Human.

  “You are lucky that your father is not here!” Miss Guildford spat, “You ruined Lucius’ prophecy!”

  “I’ve just came into this home after decades.” Paris sighed, “The first thing you do is insult me.”

  “You are no blessing, you are a curse! A cursed birth.” She was shorter than him, hitting his left arm.

  “Yeowch.” Paris mocked, tilting his head down as a grin appeared on his face. “I’m gonna need a bandage.”

  “Did I cause something?” Gloxer sighed, he pulled up his black tie to his collar as he began to step into the closest room.

  The living room, a large screen layered across the wall— castle windows on the floor and the carpet extended here.

  “Cool.”

  “Why’d you even bring me here.” Paris walked up, barraged by his mother however unphased. “Is this a humilation ritual? Or some sort of torture porn?”

  “Pfft, guess so. After what you did to Roxanne.”

  The Evil yawned, “When will you get over that?”

  “When Hell freezes over.”

  “You know it actually may.” He turned his head down at his mother, “Alright enough with that!”

  POUNCH!

  His mother was flung to the door, her head thudding against the panel as she sat in a fetal position.

  “What the fuck!” Gloxer roared, his fists coating in a red aura, “That’s your mother!”

  “I don’t care, she kept hissing like some mosquito! So I swat the damn fly, it’s your fault anyway!”“Isn’t she the only one here, why don’t you fight some men for once instead of picking on women!”

  “I don’t pick on women! I fight everyone equally, that is true equality!” Paris chuckled, “She’ll be up any moment soon anyway.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “What do you mean?” Gloxer turned his gaze at the door.

  THE MOTHER WAS GONE.

  “Yeah, mosquito wasn’t the word. She’s a fucking cockroach.” Paris pointed up at the ceiling.

  Miss Guildford was spread across the ceiling, upside down but her body resembled a spider— her tongue hissing down at Paris as her eyes slit into ovals. Her left hand resembled a right, her right foot resembled a left.

  She was mangled.

  “Did you?”“No. I didn’t do that— she’s a monster. One of Samiel’s energy from when she awakened or whatever. They only began to manifest in 20AD. Before you ask, she has not been around since then, she’d have more wrinkles. Mama really is—”

  “SHUT UP!” Miss Guildford hissed.

  “If you won’t let me call you ‘Mama’ anymore, then I’ll just say your name then… Mercurius.”

  “Mercury? The metal?” Gloxer looked back up at the ceiling of the living room.

  Now the lady was gone, relaxing on the sofa— with a smoothie in her hands.

  “Much better. Don’t call me your ‘mama’ you heard me?” She flicked her hand, the smoothie switching to a cigarette. “What you come here for?”

  “The world ended you know. I want to see if everyone I love is alive.” Paris forced a smile.“That’s a lie and one of our own is responsible for ending the world, was I such a terrible mother?”“Yes!” Paris chimed, “You abused me and the other two— forced Lucius to participate in some nonsensical ritual which made him half monster and half balaternian!”

  “We all are part monster— that’s probably how we have that buff in our enchants.”

  “Stop saying buff like you’re in some videogame, it isn’t cool.” Gloxer shuddered.

  “Who’s this bloke? I didn’t ask before but now I want to know if he isn’t your boyfriend.” Mercurius sighed.

  “He’s my colleague at work, actually he dropped out of the job today so no more I guess.”

  “I never told you I left the Angels!”

  “But I could work out the context clues.” Paris tapped his temple, “I am really smart!”

  “If so smart tell me what I should do.”

  “I’d say do nothing.” Mercurius smoked.

  “What?”

  “I mean the world ended, we could try and repopulate but considering Samiel she might just nuke it again.”

  “That’s why we’re going to fight her!” Gloxer grabbed Paris, “All of the combatants are aligning with Ostra to kill that bitch!”

  “That’s my child number one but also did you even ask Medea about that?”

  “Huh?”

  “You honestly think he’s gonna let you in easy peasy lemon squeezy?”

  “I mean, what other choice does he have?”

  “If I was him, I’d be rolling! Floria my competitor is evisicerated, Invalia’s some hellhole anyway and I have the only profitable society. I’d be making taxes rise, laws— bonuses. All sorts.”

  “Not like him to do so.” Paris grinned.

  “You meet him?”

  “I was the First Saint for five years of course I have! He’s an egotistical prick but he’s not like that.”“Clearly you haven’t met him— anyone in competition with another would react like how I said.”

  “I’m pooped.” Gloxer sighed, “I’m bored now.”

  “You come to my Estate unnanounced then tell me that your bored?” Mercurius groaned.

  “I’m willing to leave.” Paris chuckled, looking at his mother with an emotionless stare. “I honestly have no reason being here anyway, it only takes us seconds to move place you understand?”

  “Oh because your fast— if so fast then fly all the way to Ostra.” She waved the two off as they began to leave the house.

  Pat.

  Tip.

  “Why does your footsteps sound like that.” Gloxer groaned, he was standing on the stoops as he turned behind; viewing Paris leap down from the house like a fairy.

  “What do you mean?” “You sound like some… I don’t even know.”

  “Lil ol me making big man Gloxer angry?” Paris cooed, he ignored Levy’s glare and stared up at the green sky. “Is that ever going to change?”

  “Pfft.” Gloxer took a phone out his pockets, the time reading ‘21:00’ with a background of the Pentagons members smiling outside the Cathedral.

  “Oh!” Paris chuckled, “Is this your friends?”

  “You met them, you even killed Roxanne!”

  “You’ve said this a buncha times.” Paris blew out air, “I’d love to apologise but I don’t feel like lying right now— I simply can’t feel remorse for it.”

  Gloxer looked back at Paris who was looking upward pouting. “Are you serious? You honestly say you don’t see anything wrong with resurrecting someone’s girlfriend after you steal their power— then murdering that said girlfriend in front of millions? Hell even more?”

  Paris looked back at Gloxer, a smile attempting to creep on his face although he tried concealing it.

  “As I told you! I honestly see nothing wrong with that, we are all here for ourselves and I’ve benefited alot from that stunt!”

  “How? Thidos couldn’t of gave you a job well done— right after we, excluding you, were bowing on that flooring.”

  “After Medea left, he was like.” Paris put on an impression giddily, “Ahem! ‘Sir Paris Guildford, what an excellent spectacle you’ve unveiled today. I’ve also acknowledged your expertise— sabotaging Lord Medea’s choice is a superb thought! I bless you and your bloodline with undistinguishable honor!’”

  “Dude.” Gloxer facepalmed, “If it’s your nature to be a stupid sociopath then I can’t really fault you.”

  “What!” Paris yelled, anger in his voice.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “I AM NOT STUPID!”

  “Clearly you are.” Gloxer lowered his eyebrow, chuckling. “You fell for Thidos’ trick and became a little good boy for him. I mean, what else shows that you are stupid. You even took us on a patrols for him!”

  “I didn’t do it for that bastard’s respect! I did it for myself!” Paris grabbed Gloxer by the collar, partially ripping his tie.

  “Elaborate then.”

  “I made myself the First Saint! I showed them a spectacle so vivid in that trial that even that filthy fucking Imp would squirm! I have one of the most lucrative abilities ever— I take bodies, I can turn myself into Loki! LOKI! The God of Mischief I am!”

  “Sure.” Gloxer held in his laughter, “What does Loki do?”

  “When I’m angry! I turn into a shadow!”

  “A shadow, like the same kind everyone steps on without thinking about?”

  “What?”

  “Your powers aren’t special, all you do is take other people’s hard work and then lie on the floor like some stalker. You aren’t special, just quite a loser.”

  “Shut up! I’m the Guildford’s Prize!”

  “Clearly with how your mother loves you.”

  “She treats all of us like that!”

  “Clearly not Lucius though.”“He’s a problem child! He’s the prophecy! The youngest Melissa or should I say Samiel ruined that prophecy!”

  “Which is?”

  “That a God within the Guildford’s would be reborn! But then that bitch stole Lucius— I mean Lucifer’s power!”

  “He didn’t seem quite angsty about it when he was in the Cathedral for that brief a moment. It seems like all of you guys play victim.”

  “Shut up!” Saliva splattered onto Gloxer’s face who didn’t react.

  “You know what, I’d like to hear that sad backstory you were talking about!”

  Paris dropped Gloxer, him barely moving as he stepped away onto the pavement. There was nobody outside, except for one dark silhoutte observing near the end of a house. The stench returned and Paris was bowing, his eyes directly set on Gloxer Levy.

  “I am the Guildford’s Prize, Paris Guildford. The child born from a virgin after my mother had sex. I was born as a balaternian therefore I have a signifcantly different enchant— unlike the others. Unlike people that are born with their ability, I and every other person cursed had to learn to Enchant.”

  “Less a backstory and more you babbling.” Gloxer folded his arms, “You are such a….

  boring person.”

  Paris’s eyes bulged, “Boring? How am I boring?”

  “Evil for the sake of evil, you have no sad backstory do you really?”

  “I’m the Guildford’s Prize!”

  “You’ve said that like four times already, I think I know what you mean.”

  “Then you can simply die in that retrospect!” Paris lifted up his right hand— eyes squarely on Gloxer as he then recoiled it back.

  “You’re willing to destroy this home and your mother just because your salty that you kind of have no seasoning?”

  “ENCHANT! BLOODY CURSE BORN WITHIN GOD’S NAME!” Paris lunged, a shadowy aura enveloping him as he darted towards Gloxer.

  But the attack never connected.

  No shockwaves, no damage to the home— Paris or even Gloxer.

  Just nothing came from it. Paris was restored to his former spot before attacking, same with everything else there.

  It was if time had been rewinded.

  “Foolish boy!” A feminine posh voice called out. From the back end of one of the houses, the silhoutte walked forward.

  Paris’ eyes twitched, “Oh. You should be in Ostra right now, Hecate.”

  The woman walked out with a half empty cup of tea in her hand, sipping as she gave a cold expression to both Paris and Gloxer.

  “Hecate the Principle? The Third Slavi is in Floria?” Gloxer looked toward Paris who nodded.

  “Why are you here? Here for a runback?”

  “Lord Medea wishes to give his kindest and saddest regards towards you people.” Hecate loudly slurped from her cup, “I was on the way to Thidos’ Cathedral actually but then I saw a bunch of people leave from there. I would rather not cause a stir up so I went to see if theres anyone else in the second most fancy spot. I saw your little argument, it was amusing.”

  She finished the cup, holding it upside as she stared at the emptiness— before slamming it into the ground. The shattered plastic roaming around the concrete floor.

  “Little uncalled for, wait— you reverse time right!” Gloxer began to walk up to Hecate, “Why don’t you just reverse all of this from happening!”

  “That’d be easy wouldn’t it? But I quite actually like this outcome. I’m using my intuition that those people who were leaving the Cathedral were actual Angels, Seraphims and Saints— so where else will they go? To Lord Medea wouldn’t they. Now we have strongest established army, why would we help out a competitor.”

  “Mama was right.” Paris chuckled, “See you think of the opposition as allies— Thidos did and now he’s reaping what he sown!”

  “Precisely, anyway I’ll forfeit giving him the regards. If you most honestly respect your own lives, I’d recommend coming with me. You do know what Thidos did to Samiel right?”

  “What did he even do for this to happen!” Gloxer stepped away, brushing his lip with his fist.

  “He sent Adolla to masqureade as one of her strongest army members— then he killed most of the Invalian survivors. He’s deceased now but—”

  “How do you know this!” Paris smiled.

  “The Lord sees everything and as his favourite, I was told. Simply that’s all!”

  “He even sees when I m-masturbate to gay BDSM inflation furry porn!” Paris looked at Gloxer who facepalmed once more.

  “What?” Hecate gasped and blushed before fixing her trench-coat, “No! Anyway— that ruined my mood, I’m leaving. Gloxer Levy, you may come if you wish but this fiend is banned!”

  “But! We had a relationship!” Paris pouted.

  “What?”

  “Not anymore— after you cheated on me with some harpie! I don’t count that as no dating.”

  “But you care about me so much you turned back time when you found out that I could get in trouble for it!” Paris chuckled.

  “Fuck off.” Hecate grimaced, hastily walking away.

  “She wants me.” Paris budged Gloxer’s shoulder repeatedly.

  “Fuck off.” Gloxer began walking with Hecate to Ostra as Paris barely followed along.

  Thank you for reaching the end of this chapter!

  A lot went down, and from here the story begins to accelerate even faster. Every character is being tested, and every decision is reshaping the world around them.

  If you have thoughts, theories, or reactions, I’d love to hear them, comments genuinely help the story grow. If you’re enjoying things, don’t forget to follow the series so you don’t miss upcoming updates.

  More chaos awaits next chapter, "Chapter 94: A Breath of Fresh Air"