Authors Note: I am posting this at 1am NZ Time but ITS WORTH IT. Buckle up for one hell of a ride. Also, you guys have no idea how long I've been waiting to use this quote for this specific Chapter. (Hint: Since Chapter 26).

THANK YOU FOR 1 MILLION READS. (I will have to post a bonus Chapter at some point to say thank you. Any ideas of what you guys would like?)

Much love,
Daisy xx

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Chapter 46 | What I Must Do

*

'Hell is e m p t y
and
all the d e v i l s
are
h e r e.'

- William Shakespeare

*

OBSIDIAN

On top of a perilous mountain peak, three figures stood with the posture of Gods readying themselves for war.
A soundless wind rushed through the landscape below them and the trees gave a collective shiver, as though anticipating the inevitable battle to come.

Staring at his Father down the length of his sword, Obsidian vaguely noticed that the black blade did not tremble as he directed it towards its previous Master and it pleased him, that now the moment had finally arrived, his hands were steady.
With Obsidian's previous declaration, Zeus had offered a distorted smile in return, the expression anything but pleasant and now he opened his mouth to speak.

"Those are heavy words, boy."

The sword fell back to Obsidian's side with a swish, the black metal ringing slightly as he sheathed the blade.
"It is the truth," he uttered dismissively. Noticing how Zeus' gaze lingered on the weapon at his hip he added with a sneer, "however, I no longer need to rely on a sword to kill you. It would be nice to be consistent though, I suppose."

"Is that so," Zeus said slowly. His gaze remained on the sword as he slowly raised an arm, his fingers curling as though beckoning, "Then, since you have made your intentions clear, I have no reason to hold back." His hand closed into a fist and he jerked his arm forward, as though tugging on a string. "Come."

Thinking that the words were directed at him, Obsidian stepped forward without hesitation, but a second later the ground underneath his feet jerked violently and he halted, glancing sideways towards Zalas instinctively.

The Air Nymph looked sour as he hovered a few inches off the ground, so as not to be disrupted by the now heavily shaking earth and upon meeting Obsidian's gaze, his scowl deepened.

Don't tell me you forgot about the other thing already.

Realising what he was implying, Obsidian looked back to his Father. Zeus was still standing in the same place, seeming unperturbed by the unstable ground. He gave Obsidian a bored look. "I thought you were coming to kill me," he said patronizingly, "you can't be having second thoughts already; we haven't even started."

Obsidian ground his teeth together. You take care of it, he told Zalas, let me focus on him.

The Air Sprite's growl of derision was only an echo in Obsidian's ear as he plunged towards his Father without hesitation.

*

CIRCE

"Ambrose."

Isn't it funny, Circe thought, as she sat calmly in Obsidian's chair, her fingers drumming a steady rhythm on the worn leather, how one name spoken can hold a thousand different emotions?

Although her outward façade appeared collected, inside her mind a million different thoughts were clamouring for attention. She wasn't getting answers just by sitting here however, so with some difficulty she opened her mouth to address the Water Nymph that stood opposite. His cerulean eyes had been quietly assessing her as he waited languidly for her to speak- now that she looked at him properly, he straightened, and his hands shifted to link lightly behind his back.

"Hobbson and Aisling returned safely then?" She asked. Ambrose could have tracked her alone, but it was more likely that their location had been passed along by the returning pair. Circe's heart thudded a little louder as she thought of the news that Hobbson would have had to convey. There would have been many points of interest in the report. She wondered which one Ambrose was here to address.

"Yes."

She could not help the slightly ironic smile she gave at his obvious omittance of information. "I heard you were injured."

It was just the two of them in the room, after Circe had asked the others to give them a moment alone. Cobalt had just barely agreed, but Circe could tell he didn't like it. Quite honestly, she didn't like it either. Ambrose's appearance did not bode well for anyone, least of all her. Which was exactly why she needed to talk to him alone.

"Yes," his expression gave nothing away as he replied, "regrettably. But it was nothing that our healers couldn't attend to, thank-you for your concern."

Circe noticed that she had not, in fact, voiced any such words of concern- but she hummed amicably by way of reply and the short conversation fell into awkward silence.

When it became apparent, he was not going to be the first to speak, she sighed, running a weary hand through her hair. "Why have you come, Ambrose?" She spoke a little more harshly than she had intended; soft corners made sharp by her increasing sense of foreboding.

She did not miss the veil of sadness that fell over his gaze at her question. "I think you know why I have come, Princess," he replied quietly.

She stared at him. "My answer is the same as last time," she said blankly, "I have no intention of returning."

"This time you do not have a choice."

"I always have a choice," she refused bluntly.

"No," he gazed sorrowfully at her, "unfortunately, you do not. Before this, your Mother gave you leniency due to the ... circumstance. But now Circe, it is time to take responsibility for what you started."

"My Mother was the sole reason for that circumstance," Circe stated coldly, "if you remember."

"No," Ambrose refuted, "she was not. She acted in accordance with the information she was given."

"She was biased," Circe hissed, unable to hold back her anger, "she knew how I felt about him. She wanted him out of the way."

"Is that how you feel, now that you have had time to look back on past events with all the pieces laid out before you?" Ambrose refuted, "Because it was not how you felt at the time Princess."

Circe stared at him. "I was wrong," she said finally, the confession souring on her tongue, "I should have never doubted him. Of course, I realise that now."

"But you did," Ambrose pointed out, "and in the absence of his love, you swore an oath," his face hardened imperceivably, "or did you forget?"

She blanched at his blunt accusation, but did not look away, even as the hot flush of shame began to creep up her neck. He was right. She knew he was right. She had sworn an oath, an oath as a Ruler. To live for and protect a Kingdom that she did not truly know or belong to. And as she stared at the Water Sprite standing calmly opposite her, only now she did feel the sickening grip of dread take hold of her stomach, as the enormity of her past actions came sprinting up to slap her in the face.

What had she been thinking?

Had she been so blinded by her broken heart that she had allowed herself to be manipulated into such an agreement? No. When she honestly thought about it, Ambrose was right. Her Mother was not to blame. Evangeline had always made her intentions clear from the beginning- Circe had always been aware of her Mothers desire for her to take over the throne.

Which was foolish in itself, Circe thought angrily now, to trust a daughter she had only just met with an entire Kingdom.

But still. That did not change the fact that Circe had agreed to it.

"If it was so easy to turn away from such a vow, anyone could become a Ruler," Ambrose said quietly, reading her thoughts as easily as though she had stated them herself.

"I know that," Circe snapped, her cheeks hot with embarrassment, "I know."

"Then you would remember also," he reminded, "that I swore loyalty to you at that time. With the intention to serve on your council upon your coronation."

She lifted her eyes to his, her fingers twisting in the fabric of Obsidians shirt that had become slightly bunched around her waistline. "I remember," her voice was barely audible in the silent room.

Ambrose held her gaze for a long moment as though there was something else he wanted to say, but at the last moment he changed his mind and there was a subtle shift in the words he spoke next, although Circe could not quiet understand what it was.

"Your Mother is aware of his Resurrection."

Feeling some of her embarrassment wane, although the sense of foreboding remained, Circe leaned back in her chair. "You'll have to be more specific than that," she replied sardonically, "people have been popping out of the ground left, right, and centre recently."

Ignoring her sarcasm, Ambrose continued. "Obsidian Bones is not an innocent man, Princess."

"I know what he is," she sat upright suddenly, glaring at him with full force, "don't you dare try to imply otherwise." Ambrose was silent, and in his silence, she could not help but continue. "That man is the sole reason Zeus Gold will be wiped from the face of this Earth. Despite the fact that he was not the reason for his return in the first place," she hissed. "the real traitor there is Aranel- not some boy who was doomed to pay for his Fathers crimes a million times over before he was even born."

The air in the room had suddenly become suffocating and Circe wondered how long they had been in here together, trading words back and forth and getting nowhere.

"He will never be accepted in our world," Ambrose said finally.

"He doesn't need to be," The words had left her mouth before she even had time to think them. Her breathing was slightly erratic, and she felt her emotions running rampant across her face, leaving her open and vulnerable. "The last thing he cares about is your acceptance. And by you, I mean everyone."

"And you? What do you care about?"

The implication behind his words struck her with a sudden feeling of clarity and she couldn't help but think, ah. Here it was. The ultimatum.

Because that's how it always ended, didn't it?
With an ultimatum.
With the unspoken question of, what would you do?

Circe smiled softly to herself. No, that was wrong. It would be far simpler to ask, what wouldn't you do? Because there was only one answer to give.

Nothing. There was nothing she wouldn't do.

"You know that, if I go with you, he will come for me." She felt unashamed as she spoke such blatant words of possession.

Ambrose studied her unobtrusively. "Naturally, as future Queen, you will have the power to pardon those you see fit."

Her smile was tight. "I do not intend to be your Queen," she replied resolutely. She was pleased to see the quick shock of astonishment that cracked the Water Sprite's normally unfazed expression. "I will accompany you to speak with my Mother and be held accountable for the vow that I gave, that I now intend to break. If Obsidian Bones follows me, you will grant him clemency for any actions he takes upon his arrival at my side. These are the terms upon which I agree to return."

Ambrose sent her a sharp look. "Do you realise the enormity of what you are saying? Do you understand the consequences you will have to accept if you choose to do this? And, as for the Pirate, perhaps if you explained your departure-

"He will come regardless," Circe said dismissively. Steeling herself, she rose from her chair to stand on her own two feet and stare down the man in front of her. "Perhaps my Mother expected me to respond as a Princess would, but I'm afraid I have not been a Princess for some time now." Her tone was rigid. "I am not fit to assume the Throne. I will convince my Mother of this."

"Your terms are hardly what one would call fair negotiation," Ambrose said stiffly.

Her eyes drilled into his. "I'm sorry," she said coldly, "but Pirates aren't famous for negotiating. You either accept my terms or return alone. There will be no middle ground."

*

OBSIDIAN

The moment before they first collided seemed to approach in slow motion.

Obsidian could hear the rush of blood on his ears, see the curl of his Fathers top lip as the man bared his teeth in a fierce grimace, feel the prickle of his scales emerging as the black armor coated his skin just as his forearm made contact with the long knife Zeus had pulled from nowhere.

The delicate, yet unyielding blade clashed with his dragon scales, the grating screech shrieking through the surrounding air. Obsidian's other arm swung around, swathed in black, but a second blade immediately jumped up to block his path.

He hadn't been expecting that. However, he was far from disadvantaged. Seamlessly, Obsidian whipped his tail out and around, slashing the powerful appendage to the side. Forced to dodge or be cleaved in two, Zeus leapt back nimbly, his golden eyes flashing with delight.

"Oh, you have gotten stronger, haven't you?"

Obsidian's eyes narrowed and he did not reply.

Around them, the mountain continued to tremor and shake as what-ever was concealed within it struggled to force its way out. Obsidian glanced over Zeus' shoulder to the rock face behind him where a shape was beginning to emerge.

Following Obsidian's line of vision Zeus grinned wickedly. "It had to pause for a rest," he chuckled darkly, "decimating the Elven capital was no easy feat. Even for a Nyx."

As though reacting to it's name, the beast within the stone wall suddenly blinked it's single red eye open and with a final, juddering heave, evicted itself fully from the mountain, rocks and debris clattering down from it's back.

If the thing had been terrifying from afar, it was even more monstrous up close, and Obsidian grimaced as he absorbed the sheer size of it. It was at least as big as his own dragon form and he glanced at Zalas out of the corner of his eye, unable to help himself.

Don't you dare underestimate me, the Prince snarled in his mind, immediately noticing his reaction, just focus on your own problems will you?

Suddenly another voice forced its way into Obsidian's mind and his teeth ground together as he swallowed an agonised groan.

The Nymph is right.

Obsidian felt his temples throb as his Father's mental voice pried open his skull ruthlessly, laying his thoughts bare and vulnerable. His eyes watered involuntarily as he forced his head to turn back to where his Father stood.

You're pretty cocky to take your attention off me, boy.

Obsidian had a moment to think that the angle of his Father's gaze was all wrong, before he realized that he had been brought to his knees by the unexpected mental assault.

Gritting his teeth, he sank his clawed hands into the earth below him, grounding himself as he pulled the walls of his mind closed. "Get out of my head!" The roar that escaped him was filled with fury and he used the momentum to launch himself forward without hesitation, the collision of their bodies banishing his Father from his mind, while simultaneously forcing Zeus backward. "I spent too many years with you burrowing into my skull like the cockroach you are," Obsidian snarled as he pressed the other man back further still, "this time, you are going to stay out."

Zeus chuckled darkly, "Is that so."

Zeus's back met the rock Obsidian had been forcing him toward and in an instant Zeus had used the leverage to bring his foot up and deliver a sharp kick to Obsidian's core. The blow sunk into his gut, shoving the air from his lungs as he was booted away.

Cursing, Obsidian righted himself hastily. He should have seen that coming from a mile away. Zeus stood coolly in place; his golden eyes bored as he awaited Obsidian's next move. Try as he might to keep a level head, Obsidian found that expression nothing less than infuriating.

Leaping forward, a single blade met his attack this time, the knife twirling in his Father's hands like liquid as he parried Obsidian's offense with ease. Sparks sprayed into the air like scattered moths, withering into ash before ever having the chance to truly fly. Obsidian mirrored his Fathers snarl, fangs bared in hatred as they coasted around each other, locked in a deadly dance of flashing steel and sickled claw.

He could feel his Father's power, thrumming below each strike of his blade and he recognised that Zeus's strength easily surpassed that of his memories. As he parried another blow, he had a moment to think; had the man really been so broken when Obsidian had killed him the first time?

But it's not your Father, remember? A small voice whispered in his mind, reminding. It's Kronos.

As though reading his mind, Zeus gave a manic grin, his long black hair whipped out around him as he spun in a fierce circle, his blade licking out to slice a shallow path through Obsidian's chest. "Your Uncle's body has it's uses, boy." Zeus chuckled darkly, all but confirming Obsidian's theory.

The blade appeared before him again, slicing towards his face with vicious intent, but he blocked it with his forearm and forced it askew. His Father's shoulder was compelled to follow the path his knife made as it diverted, tipping the man off balance- just for a moment. And in that moment, Obsidian's other hand swung around, claws fully extended as they sought the flesh in front of them.

Zeus let out a howl of agony, clutching his eye as he stumbled backwards. With blood dripping from his claws, Obsidian remained in place, watching as his Father pulled his hand slowly away from his eye, his body trembling with rage.

"What have you done."

"It doesn't matter what body you use," Obsidian uttered vindictively, "I will stop you either way." His lips curled upwards at the edges, "And as for that," he pointed to his own eye, "well you were the one who said we were a mirror image."

Zeus's golden eyes slowly lifted from his bloody hands to lock onto Obsidian's own. The long, jagged gash was disconcertingly familiar in his Fathers face. It was a pity he hadn't been able to hook out the eye with it.

"Oh, you're asking for it now," Zeus snarled.

A sudden colossal clap of impact diverted their attention as they both took a simultaneous step back to avoid the body that came rocketing through the air between them.

Zalas smashed into the opposing rock face with enough force to split stone, rubble showering down around him. The Air Nymph pried himself out of the mountain with an ugly grimace, shaking the debris from his body as he glared in Obsidian's direction.

"Hurry up with it would you?" He snarled, before launching himself back in the direction he had come.

Obsidian's eyes followed his flight path just long enough to see him collide with the Nyx once again before his attention was dragged back to his Father.

However in the split second of diversion, Zeus had disappeared from his spot and Obsidian had a moment to feel a sick sense of foreboding before the tip of a familiar blade was driving down through the air, aiming for his upper back where his scales did not cover.

Time seemed to slow down as Obsidian dodged to the side,