My Nemesis

He tried to keep a steady gaze on them, but it was hard. Every time he tried to speak, his eyes threaten to spill tears. His mouth opened a few times, trying to find words but failing. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind enough so he could tell them. And then..."Elias is back..." He let that sink in for a moment. Purposefully avoiding the phrase "your father." After what Elias did, he didn't deserve that title anymore. "You're older half brother, Tyranis, called me out to the nearby cliffs. He was angry that I 'stole you away' and tried to call me a traitor. Before anything could happen, we both heard screaming coming from the volcano, so we both went to see what was going on."

He looked at Actaea then, "I...I thought it was you...thought maybe you decided to go back and something bad happened, but..." He didn't want to tell the whole story. Didn't want to say every detail, but they deserved to know. "When I got there...there was...blood and...Elias...Domina..." He could feel his throat tighten again. Eyes beginning to tear up once more. "There was nothing I could do...it...it was too late to save her..." He let his words fade as he tried to keep himself together. "Elias murdered her. He claimed it was a reaping of her soul to the Demons...to Apollyon...I know it's something we never talked about, but that's because they're nothing but evil!"

He grit his teeth together, tears spilling freely now as the image of her massacred body flashed in his mind. The way Elias looked so cold and heartless...[color=#993300][b]" I declared him an enemy, denounced my faith to the demons. We fought. I blinded him in one eye and disfigured his face. Tried to punish him for what he did...but...I fear he will try to come after the two of you..." He looked at them, gaze shifting from Ignis to Actaea. "I promise I will protect you from that monster. On my life, I swear it!" He stood, moving to press his head first against Ignis' crown, and then to Actaea's. He knew this was painful. Confusing. And many more things. He didn't understand how Elias could have done what he did so easily..."I'm so, so sorry...Ignis, Actaea...I understand if you both need time. So I relieve you of your duties for the time being, if you wish..." He didn't expect them to say anything. He didn't expect them to stick around. He understood if they both decided to go and grieve on their own. He just wished he could have done something to prevent this..."I'm...sorry..." Domina's death wasn't his fault. But he felt like he was partly to blame. Had he gotten wind of her sooner, her could have saved her...