Lilure's chosen one

Her chest hurt with every breath. She tried to take a deep breath to let oxygen in her lungs but she felt them fill with blood instead. She was choking.

It was not right, why were people running around her? Why were they not stomping her? That would have been a kinder death.

She immediately noticed her vision getting blurry and her breath shallow. She knew her moment was getting closer, and she needed to see him. She scanned the room as quickly as she could, her eyes frantically searching for him.

When she found him she felt like she could breathe again.

He stood tall, his long blond hair loose, not in his usual braid. His face was paler than usual, his cheeks flushed with fatigue, but his grey eyes still shone with conviction.

And his name was her last thought before everything went black.

Liang.

Antinous stood tall in the center of the room, two guards at his side, their gaze fixed on the ground. From time to time people would come up to him to give him their condolences, he would nod, thank them with a small smile and shake their hands. This was quickly getting old.

“How long have we been here?” he whispered to the man on his right, the guard looked out of the window for a few seconds.

“Around three hours, sir” the man mumbled back.

“It’s time to end this pity party” Antinous mumbled and turned towards the altar in the west part of the room. The guests yhat noticed him moving immediately stepped aside, lowering their heads. He felt a sense of pride at being recognized as the rightful king.

As he reached the altar he took his dagger out of his belt, letting it shine in the light, showing off the rubins that covered the handle. And just like that the ritual started. Two of the noble women, dressed in long dark dresses, walked into the room holding a squirming lamb from its legs. As the animal was carried through the room the people slowly kneeled on the ground while chanting softly.

The two women put the lamb on the altar and for a split second Antonous searched for his stepson in the crowd and didn’t find him. Stupid child, missing such an event.

He raised the dragger high over his head and then with a swift move he pushed the blade into the animal's throat. It gave one last terrible sound, its eyes wide open in horror.

Blood spilled all over the altar and on his hands, he let go of the dragger and watched the blood drip for a few seconds before talking, his voice echoed in the room, that immediately fell silent.

“Tirian, God of Death, today we are here to offer you the blood of this pure lamb as an offering” he took a moment to let the words sink and then continued "we ask you to kindly accompany our dear queen Ambra to your world and to let her rest in your shade"

He cupped some of the blood in his hands and raised them, then waited. Where was his stepson? He really wanted to ruin his mother's funeral?

One of the noble ladies that had carried the lamb rushed out and came back a few seconds later carrying the vase with the queen’s ashes. Usually a family member would do that but her sons were both unavailable, the older one dead while the younger one had decided to hide.

The woman kneeled before the altar, raising the vase over her head. The crowd started to chant once again.

Antinous walked up to her and let the blood spill on the vase, making sure not to get any of it on the woman or her dress.

“Please accept this offering and remind us that we all will one day belong to you” he said, finishing the ritual. The blood immediately dried on the vase, showing that the god had accepted the offering, the people in the crowd stood up and clapped. They were so annoying.

Antinous went back to his place in the middle of the room, the guests walked up to him and gave him a final goodbye before leaving.

He had to stand there for another hour before he could finally go back to his chambers. He ordered for the guards to stay by the door and not let anyone enter.

He kicked off his mourning clothes, they were of a suffocating black.

“Stupid funeral" he glared at them, he sat down on the armchair, the cushion enveloping him "the brat didn't even come!”

"He snuck out an hour in" a voice said, it was melodic and beautiful. Antinous looked up at his bed where the other man was laying. He had long green hair that fell in waves on the blankets, his honey eyes were shining in the light, the man was breathtaking, his skin perfect and his lips full.

“My Lord" Antinous mumbled, he didn't think Elci was actually listening to him. The god came and went as he liked and often amused himself by scaring the king.

"You look pretty well for a man who just lost his wife” he smirked sitting up in a slow and fluid motion, Antinous held his breath.

"I did poison her” he paused and reached out to grab the whiskey bottle he had left on the coffee table "I would be more disappointed if she was alive”

"Fair enough” the god shrugged "I want some” Elci raised his chin to point at the bottle.

Antinous stood up from the chair and grabbed a glass where he poured some of the whiskey. He took it to Elci who didn't raise his hands to grab it, the king scoffed, understanding what he wanted, he lifted the glass to the god's lips, the god slowly started to drink the alcohol keeping eye contact with the king. Once the glass was empty Antinous went to grab the bottle and filled it once more before drinking from it himself.

“You won't ask me why I am here?" the god smirked lazily.

“To see me" Antinous answered for him.

“You wish" Elci finally stood up with a fluid movement, his bare feet touching the cold floor. He was impossibly tall, but he wasn't human after all.

"Then why are you here?” the king said a bit bitterly.

“You have to do something for me” the god whispered in his ear, his hand brushing against his back and then gripping his shoulder.

Antinous turned his head to meet Elci's golden eyes with his own.

“Speak then" he urged the god, he felt his heartbeat increase, when Elci came himself it was always something urgent.

"It's about your stepson” the god started, his hands massaging the king’s shoulders like he wanted to help him relax.

“What about him?” Antinous did, indeed, become tense. Elci grabbed his shoulders tightly, his touch wasn’t shooting anymore.

“You need to kill him” the god’s voice was calm, like he was discussing the weather.

Antinous stared at him for a few long seconds, then he slowly moved away, just enough to turn around and see all of Elci. The god smiled at him sweetly.

“Why?” he asked softly, scared his voice would tremble.

“Why?” the god repeated amused “do you need a reason to follow the orders of your god?”

“No, of course not!” the king said immediately, rushing with his words.

Elci stared at him for a few seconds, his gaze harsh, then he suddenly started to laugh.

“Ok, ok, I’ll tell you” the god patted the king on the back “he is a threat to your power”

Antinous burst out laughing but he had to bite his lips to stop it when he saw the god glaring at him.

“Him?” he asked out of breath.

“Yes” the god glared, growing more irritated by the second.

“That spoiled brat?” the king let himself fall back on the armchair.

“He is the biggest threat to your throne” Elci explained, trying to make him understand the gravity of the situation.

“If he is the biggest threat to my throne then I don’t have to worry about anything!” he finished the glass of whiskey in one sip and put it down on the coffee table.

“This is a serious matter!” Elci urged him, he stalked closer, with each step the glass started to break.

“Have you seen the kid?” Antinous raised an eyebrow “he is harmless, he can barely hold a sword!”

“You would be surprised by what he can do without a sword”

Their eyes met and understanding slowly crept in the king’s eyes.

“No” he said, out of breath, but the god nodded.

“Who?”

“The goddess of magic” Elci hissed, hatred in his voice.

“Shit” Antinous mumbled, eyes fixed on the ground.

“Kill him” Elci repeated, this time more firmly. The king bit his bottom lip, deep in thought, that changed everything.

“Won’t the goddess be mad at me and seek vengeance?” Antonous asked, he didn’t even bother hiding the fear in his voice.

“No, I will have your back” Elci shook his head slowly “You have nothing to fear”

Antinous nodded slowly and mumbled “I trust you”

Elci raised a hand and a sword formed out of thin air, it was large and its blade shone in the sun. The handle was covered in bright green stones.

“Take this” he handed it to the king, who grabbed it with trembling hands. It was light but impossibly cold.

“Will you be there?” Antinous asked softly as he slid the sword in the holder of his belt.

“Of course” the god promised, his eyes showed his amusement “you mortals and your need of comfort are so funny to me”

Antinous snorted but a smile was tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Where is he now?” the king asked, he looked up at the god, who was staring at the wall, eyes moving like he could see through it.

“In the east garden” he finally answered while closing his eyes to rest them.

Antinous glanced one last time at Elci before throwing on a random outer robe, it was black like the one he had worn at the funeral to show he was mourning. While pacing the halls he wondered how much longer he needed to wear them and act like a pitiful man missing his wife.

The east garden was large and covered in colorful flowers that seemed to never wither.

The prince was sitting by a cherry tree, he was wearing a light blue robe, which was disrespectful since he was mourning. He was braiding flowers in his long blond hair, his grey eyes slowly raised to meet Antinous’ and he smiled brightly.

“Good afternoon dad” the prince chimed like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Good afternoon Liang"