All is Lost (Sunshine Depths)

[apollo]

Apollo's blue eyes, which had been gazing around him, now glanced back down at where the cat was supposed to be. But that fiery furball was no where to be seen. "Drat.." He glanced around him frantically. Not thinking about why it mattered that he had lost sight of that cat mattered so much to him, but it did. "Take your eyes off something for one moment and it seems to escape right out of your fingers.. Good job Apollo."

The city about him was bustling, and the excitement and the energy had made him forget his past troubles, somewhat. Still that ache inside of him was present, and it seemed to be eating through his very soul and the barrier of his mind. That barrier had been put up by him as he tried to forget. BUt it was hopeless, so hopeless.

Dodging around the city folk he avoided the glances from some ladies who seemed to have had a little to much in the bar and leaped into a nearby alley. Sinking against one of the walls he closed his eyes for a moment. He could feel the pain coming back like the ocean lapping at the shore, coming and receding, yet ever present. Soon those blue depths were revealed as they once again looked into the street through the narrow alleyway. So many people seemed so happy. He found himself studying every face. So many had bright smiles, others had some scowls. Yet even though they seemed angry, he could tell that once they go home into their loving family's arms, all of the frustration would be loss. Then his eyes drifted to a young couple, lost in each others eyes. Fingers crosses with each others as they clasped their hands. Nothing took their focus from one another, they were in a world separate from the present.

Even though Apollo desperately wanted to look away, he found that he couldn’t With every word that was whispered from their mouth, it seemed as though a dagger was piercing his heart. I was so close… so close….. All thoughts of the cat were lost into his pain and longing. If only something could break him of this trance..

[aidyn]

The slim, curvy silhouette of a young woman leaned against the door frame of a nearby bookstore. Her eyes were sharp, golden depths that took in every detail and missed absolutely nothing. A river of firey red hair flowed down her back and shimmered like that of a wild flame. On her luciously red lips played a wry smile at the appearance of a rather handsome gentleman who looked thoroughly upset. Oh, what a lovely find this was. She sauntered toward him, every sway of her hips more enticing than the last to the male spectators that followed her with their eyes. Stopping a few feet away, she leaned against the side of a building and watched him carefully. Noticing his attention on the lovers that were looking up and down one another, she sniffed with disdain. "Revolting, isn't it?" Her voice was smooth and rich, like velvet.

She began to stalk closer to her target, her golden eyes never leaving his handsome face. "After all of my experience, I've always found love to end up a waste... Nothing like that ever seems to last," she speculated, seemingly to herself. Freely the tips of her hair brushed against his neck as she came all the more closer. Turning away from him, her eyes drifted off into the distance. "Don't you ever wish you could just make all the suffering, all the heartache, just..." Her longing gaze returned to him. "Go away?" Her expression was filled with regret and solemn loneliness, yearning for someone to pay her a moment of their time.

Gingerly her fingertip brushed the surface of his shoulder, a subtle but tempting touch. An air of knowing was about this woman; it was like she could see the very desires of men just by looking into their desperate eyes. Her very voice could ensnare the weakest of boys in her enchanting presence. She drew her lips as close to his ear as they could come without touching the skin. When she whispered, it was light, nearly inaudible, but all the same, her words were clearly heard: "Tell me what you want to know. I have the answer to all of your questions. All you have to do..." Her breath caressed his cheek as she smirked seductively. Her slender hand laid lightly on his bicep. "...Is ask."

[apollo]

The call of a musical voice nearby snapped him out of his trance and he turned his attention to a breathtaking girl. Every curve of her body, every line on her face was perfect, tantalizingly beautiful. As she took another step toward him his blue eyes widened slightly as he glanced from side to side. Was she coming to him? His eyes picked up the other mens stares at her, and his eyes flicked back to hers. She was beautiful, yes, but there was something about her, something different. Something that drew him closer to her, wanting yet, yet something that repulsed him.

those eyes of hers had a hypnotizing quality to them, they seemed so understanding. Those words that crossed her lips seemed to be the very reflection of his thoughts. Yet even though her breath was hot on his skin, and her presence was overwhelming his senses. He turned slightly from her. "More than you know.. I wish that the hurt could just disappear." His eyes drifted back to hers as he searched her face. He longed for female companionship. After the taste of it, he couldn't seem to live without it.

This woman by him, he wanted to take her in his arms and lead her into the darkest parts of the alleyway, yet he didn't. A sense of faithfulness to Ebony stopped him. But who knew how long that resistance would hold. For he was almost putty in this ladies grasp. Apollo, you see, had a weakness for women. Trying to push his cares aside, not wanting a female to see him floundering to much, he gazed into her eyes and mimicked her smirk, "Tell me this, how did you become so beautiful, you seem to be crafted by the stars fiery touch themselves." His eyes gazed at her hair before drifting back to her golden eyes. "Or did the fire give birth to you? Surely it did for you hold the grace of its dancing flames." Even though the words held flirtatious words, his eyes reflected his true thoughts, emptiness. "And how could a girl like you truly know what it is like to have a broken heart? Whoever could have done such a thing wasn't desiring of taking his first glance at you."

It was useless to resist her charm, he found. She was the conductor of this play, and he found himself just being one of the musicians, playing his instrument the best he could to please her. Perhaps he was disloyal to Ebony, for seeming to flip so quickly to another woman, yet it was because of Ebony that Apollo recognized the loneliness that he had been unaware of. Without her, he found himself secluded, and hopless.

[aidyn]

The woman laughed out loud at his flattery. What a weak soul he was. Still, it seemed he had the qualities of a respectful fellow, so she accepted his compliments without mockery. She put her dainty finger to her lips in a gesture of thinking, a quiet "hmmm" escaping from her pursed lips. "Well, if it was the stars who crafted me, perhaps you should ask them how I came to be." a light chuckle hummed from her throat. "Fire was my first love. I have learned, however, that it tends to bite the hand that feeds it." To his last question, she paused before answering. Her eyes lost that devious spark for only a moment. Something seemed to drain from her face, but quickly lightened up again as a rueful smile crossed her lips, flashing her radiantly white teeth. As she remained so close to him, her hand drifting towards his chest, her exotic aroma aroused the senses. It was like an array of rare and pleasant spices, with a touch of sweet honey.

When she spoke, her tone was timid, shy almost, but her words were full of such passionate hatred that the two contradicted one another. "Believe me, sir, I have been abandoned by many. Sworn words are nothing but dirt underneath one's feet, left behind without a single thought. I believe in working alone. Putting trust in others only leads to..." Her eyes glinted with animosity. "Turmoil." Her desolate mood vanished within an instant, and the calm, flirtatious exterior returned to her face. As she looked into his hollow, longing eyes, her expression softened with pity for the poor creature. She brought up the back of her hand to his cheek and brushed it ever so gently. "Quite lonely you have been, yes?" she asked languidly.

Her eyelids drooped as she gazed at him intently. "Perhaps I can... Save you from your loneliness." Every word she spoke was the lighting of a flame, the spark of a new life. Her words held the promise of a new, better way to live. The price of that new life? A secret that she, and only she, would ever know.

[apollo]

"And the hands of others." He smiled crookedly, "Sometimes I think I should have been put in control over fire instead of what I am." He shook his head before she continued talking.

She drew closer to him, her scent nearly driving him mad. It was so wild smelling, so entrancing, it seemed like he was being put under her spell. Indeed he was, and she was leading him deeper into her trap, whatever that may be.

He believed her though, her words had wormed their way into his thoughts. Perhaps she could.. They both seemed to be lost soul, wanting a companion. He looked into those golden eyes, finding himself lost in them. "How?" His words were so strained, so innocent, he seemed like a child asking a mother if she could heal a cut on the knee. "I would do anything.." The words slipped out before he could think. But what had he to fear? This lady was beautiful and so.. charming.

[aidyn]

A wry grin crossed her lips as she gently took his face between her hands and gazed intently into his deep blue eyes. She closed her eyes slowly and breathed evenly, her breath brushing his face. "All you have to do... Is give everything to me," she cooed, her voice enchanting. She held his chin firmly between her fingers as her body brushed against his. The tip of her nose touched his, their foreheads connecting. "Feel nothing, lose nothing," she chanted in a whisper, over and over again.

Her lips came in closer to his, every movement she made sending firey jolts into Apollo's body. Ever so slowly, she began to take over, overwhelming every one of his senses. Her entire presence filled his body completely. Slowly, her hypnotic gaze weaved its way into his mind, blocking out everything but what was right before him. As their lips met, nothing could break the seal. Everything he felt, every emotion within him, gradually seeped through the new connection, giving her complete control. Nothing was left to him. All of the sadness, all of the pressure on his shoulders, gone with just a simple kiss. After one final moment, she drew away, but still held onto his body tightly. "You will never feel again." When she spoke the words, they were so joyous that it seemed like the best news in the world. "No sadness will ever dominate you. From now on, I am your only master."

She stroked his face softly, a victorious grin planted on her face. "Your burdens... are gone. Now you are free to serve me." The grin morphed into a malicious smirk. When she spoke again, the voice was harsh, deep, like one that has been worn out from living an entire lifetime. "I hope you are happy. Oh, wait, you know not what happiness is, do you?" She laughed, a deep and full laugh. "No need to worry. Happiness is useless in the task I'm going to give you."

[apollo]

Everything about the woman before Apollo was intoxicating. As she pulled nearer and nearer he wanted to pull away, but instead found himself getting closer to her. The breath on his skin felt strangely warm and caused his senses to get sleepy, like sitting in a hot room for to long. Those blue eyes that usually were so bright and cheerful, now were dim and distant. Feel nothing…lose nothing.. the words washed over him like a refreshing balm as his heart’s pain started to resides slightly.

Then she drew nearer, with every inch she moved closer, the more it felt like his body was literally on fire. His eyes twitched, his hand shook. The sensation was draining him, sucking his very life out of him it seemed. Fire was his weakness, and now this lady was. Run! Flee! Escape! The words screamed in his head, yet it was to late, he was gone. For just when he was about to try and flee their lips touched. A sensation that he had never felt before flooded him. It was the most delightful, painful thing he had ever had happen. At first it felt like all his passion for this woman heightened, he wanted to kiss her more and more intensely, yet at the same time it felt like someone had set his mouth on fire. The sensation quickly spread throughout his body making it feel as though he himself was on fire. Weakness racked his body yet somehow he remained standing. Then as his senses seemed at their peak, everything was forgotten, his pain, his past, his cares for the future, and everything was swept away.

Their lips parted and nothing was left in his heart, no pain, no heartache, no happiness, nothing. The feeling of heat dimmed and his eyes cleared, though now they were not bright and shining like the morning sun, but instead were dim and lifeless. What had just happened, even he didn’t know, all he knew is that Ebony was no longer causing him grief.

Looking down at the girl the realization that he had been holding her as tight as she was holing him came to his knowledge. The words she spoke rang lifelessly on his ears. “I will never feel again..” He noticed that now that he didn’t have any desire for this lady, no, he felt nothing at all. Nothing, what a feeling. A nod shook his black locks into his piercing blue eyes that now had a craftiness growing in them. The screams of his mind to escape now was just a faded whisper in the back of his mind, before fading into nothing. “A task?” His head tilted slightly, not from the emotion of curiosity, but rather the habit. But the curiousity faded fast and all that was left was a blank and lost look. “ Why would I do anything for you? you have only made the hole in my heart bigger, now I feel nothing.. nothing..." He stepped away, a look of bewilderment in his eyes. Yet even so he knew he was bound to this person in a strange way. Even though he felt no loyalty toward her. "If you want a task done do it yourself.". Flicking his black hair back he turned from her.

[Miss Fifi]

The cobblestone-lined streets of the rundown city began to crack and jolt violently without warning. Pottery, glasses, books-anything on a shelf toppled over and was scattered all over the ground after the earthquake-like shudder. "COME BACK HERE!" a screech echoed throughout the avenue, lined with small family owned businesses and those without a place to call home. From the depths of the shadows themselves, a black blurry figure shot out from its invisible hiding place and continued to flee down the street making the patrons dash in an enraged frenzy. A sudden onslaught of foreboding wind howled through the window panes, sending hats and umbrellas soaring freely through the air without warning. People scurried here and there, trying to regain their posessions before they were whisked out of reach.

Just as all chaos had erupted on the narrow street, the sound of shivering chains made them all freeze for only a moment. With a unanimous scream, the pedestrians all dove for the sidewalks and latched onto their children, shielding them from what they all knew was headed their way: a fate all wanted to escape.

Axel dashed down the winding street ways of the city, his speed never falling. His breath came in heavy, even pants. Nothing could stop this pursuit; the sickening feeing in the pit of his stomach forced him to go on. Even with his disdain for this place of light, his hatred for all of those who looked upon him with disgust, he had the urge to protect them. His wings flapped spaztically behind him; even they were antsy with the anxiety of what was to come. As he came closer to the main street, he instantly heard their cries of fear. Rolling his eyes, he continued on without a moment wasted. A mob of commoners stood in the middle of the street, huddled and frozen in fear like a bunch of brainless chickens about to be taken to the slaughter house.

There wasn't any way around them, so he'd just have to go through them. He tried shoving them first. Didn't work too well. He attempted to be at least somewhat civil about it, even though his tension shown through quite clearly. Any amount of "please get out of my way"s or "i need to get through, go away"s didn't seem to have any effect. They all just continued to shout and rant in pure panic. Fed up and annoyed, he decided to take the simplest route: "MOVE!"

At once, like an army of trained zombies, they stepped out of his way and watched in pure amazement as he sprinted through the crowd after the shadowy figure that was still almost barely in view. As he began to make up some ground, he narrowed his eyes and tried to get a clearer image of exactly what this thing was. It had the outline of a human, but nothing more. As it began to turn the corner, Axel took his advantage and leapt up into the sky, setting off a grouping of "oo"s and "ah"s from his spectators below. With a grunt, he plummeted back down to earth and slammed into his runaway, sending a rumble that left everyone falling all over the place like a bunch of drunks.

With a strong fist he yanked his captive by the hair and held his face up, only to discover he had nothing of the like. It was a pure black shadow; no features, just a simple outline. He swore heavily under his breath and peered around, looking for a possible creator. A familiar face stuck out in the crowd, and it nearly caused him to faint of shock. With the wriggling creature's collar still tightly grasped in his hand, he wobbled to his feet and took a few steps closer. "...Apollo?" he queried, still not able to believe it himself.

[apollo]

Apollo froze as he saw a familair face. Black wings, dark stature, could it be? Those eyes that had held such desperation, now flickered slightly with hope. Was it his long lost friend?

"Apollo?"

It was axel, how long had it been since they had last met? How many countless years? "Axel?" He muttered. Nothing stirred in his heart, and the hope in his eyes faded. Desperation was taking over once more.. hopeless desperation. "I'm..sorry.. I must...go.." Backing away he turned and ran. He couldn't let his friend see him like this.. No he must leave... "What have I done!! oh, what have I done!"

[aidyn]

Kalos had lost all interest in that pathetic, whining creature. A menacing, twisted grin spread across his face as he faced his age-old enemy. A burst of grotesque black fire encased both of his hands, and the skin covering his masque began to melt off like snow on hot coals. The taunting, mocking grin still remained, intensified all the more with his true appearance in view. He took a tentative step toward Axel and felt the blood in his black veins heighten with anxious enthrallment. This is it. This is the last stage of their game; the game played for hundreds of years.

Kalos would be the victor, or he would be the victim of Death's hands.

The dark fire within his soul thrashed wildly with excitement and anticipation, waiting for Axel's anger to melt and boil into a flaring rage that he could not control. That was when he would strike. That was the key to his victory, to his overruling of this hellhole of a world. Hell. His eternal resting place, should this fall through. An eternal blaze under another's control-a place of scorching heat and screams of pain.

What a wonderful ending place that would be.

Yet, he knew there was things to be done on this ground. Until his burning mark was imprinted on every man, woman, child, and animal on this filthy world, his job would not be finished. He extended one hand, the blackened flame writhing eagerly in his pale, sickly palm. It lashed out like a whip and struck Axel on the face, hard enough to lengthen that disgusting indentation smeared across his cheek.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel's eyes widened with shock and panic as he saw his old friend dart away from the scene. With a heavy grunt he removed himself from the shadow, which instantly dissipated into the stones below him. He began to reach out into Apollo's direction, still holding onto a sliver of hope that they could go back to their old lives, even if he had betrayed him now. It didn't matter. With Miriel, well, who knows where, and Raphael just being himself, Axel was a lone soldier. It made him sick to his stomach. All of these years, he had to look strong, act strong, and just be strong. Not just for him, but for everyone on this damn universe. When you're fighting against an infinite army alone, that's not easy to do, to say the very least.

Axel had their fear. He had their lives in the palm of his hand. He had the power to manipulate them in any way possible. Still, it didn't feel like enough. What more could he have possibly wanted? What else could this place have given him?

A whole hell of a lot more.

He didn't want the fear, or the respect, or the power of manipulation. He wanted to live! He wanted to take his own chances, and fight for what he needed! Everything was just handed to him on a black, poisoned platter: a platter he had no desire to take from. What good is life if you live it in the shadow of death? No. Not any longer would he fight alone. Even if it was against everything he was meant to be, he would taste the fruits of life. Nothing would get in his way.

Or so he thought.

The fire sliced into his cheek, making him howl in agony. He slammed his hand over his face, and it quietly subdued. He whipped around to face his attacker, and his strength, heart, and pride plummeted into the depths of nothingness. No. Not again.

He would try to maintain his facade. Breaking in front of this spawn of the fires of the deepest pits of hell meant instantaneous death.

"I SENT YOU TO THE ETERNAL FIRE ONCE BEFORE, AND I'LL HAPPILY DO IT AGAIN!" he howled. His deathly scythe appeared in his rough palms and shimmered in the light of the afternoon sun. People were screaming. It seemed even the sky was screaming out as the sun was choked by a thick blanket of hazy darkness, sending a shadow over the entire land. All sound fell null and void. Axel only had eyes and ears for the bastard of fire that stood before him, mocking him, taunting him, provoking him.

This will go on no longer.

[violet]

Violet sat in the shadows, her blue/violet eyes watched the scene before her. Though everyone fled, she stayed, pulling the darkness closer to her. She wanted to leap out and stop this madness, but she couldn't, not yet. Madness filed the air with its stench, fear hung around the edges of the scene. How would this end? If Axel died...no she couldn't allow that to happen, she would do anything to keep that from happening, anything.

This man of darkness and man of flame, soon fighting to begin. Old enemies to gather, there would not be peace until one of the fell. She would stay in the shadows, watching, like always. Observing, not having a part in the play.