"That people like you brought this world to its knees," my whisper barely audible. "Each god has there own power source, each god is of their own control, save for us. We are one Destroyer and you tore us down the center. I might be limited in my abilities for myself, but god forbid you touch him..."

"Who is him?"

"My other half, my equal, I am the Goddess of Balance. He is the God. We were made for each other, to uphold the balance."

Axel's eyes narrow slightly, his chin angling up as if to challenge me. "You're as weak as any other starving girl? Then what is there to stop anyone from killing him?"

A fire clicks, the metal drips off me like liquid honey and pools up at my feet, heat engulfing my eyes and raging through my veins. He steps back in shock as I straighten my back and crack my neck. "Are all Destroyers so terrible at listening? I said for myself... He's half of my strength, you insufferable maggot."

Another breeze sweeps the hair out of my face, my wrists screaming with delight as the heavy iron cools off on the ground below. I flex my fingers, feeling the cracking of joints as they relocate to an appropriate position. Shaking the molten liquid off my ankles, I step out of the metallic puddle and into the light.

Little did they know, breaking that seal did everything for me.

Sun graces my skin, creating a glowing aura. With scale-like flesh, the humans didn't have to adjust to the temperatures the same as before. Though it doesn't appear too different from my own, each scale seems too tightly compacted to be individualized yet. A developing mutation.

Axel is certifiably terrified, backing away very slowly while I adjust to my newfound mobility. His steps are so uneven, a breeze might knock him onto his ass. Ebony is hovering by the stairs. She's clearly ready to escape at any given time, only preparing to hang around for the chance at staying near Axel.

Tapping my fingers together, I run them through thick coppery clumps of my sweat infested hair. "I need a shower," I whisper into the air, void of direction. Sniffing the air around me, I scowl.

Desperately.

Reeling myself back into the situation, I step up into Axel's personal space. My eyes trek over every small feature, from the freckles on his nose to the dirt hiding inside skin cells. "You never answered your 'sister', Axel. So, tell me, are you stupid?"

He stutters, his back hitting the wall. Something steels over in his eyes and I understand the position he's going to put me in. The tall boy straights up and pushes out to hover over me. The ever-present alpha-male complex grows in an attempt to subdue me.

The growl that rolls over my face is hot. He bares his teeth at me and aims to smack me across the jaw. In this split second, I have to decide whether or not to just alarm him or end it. I lower my hand again and take the impact full force.

A crack echos against the walls of the temple and it's not from my skin. Without twisting my head, his wrist shatters against the force of my concrete bone structure. Axel's voice breaks against the stone, likely alerting anyone in the vicinity.

He grabs his arm and flinches at the pain. A strangled sob escapes his mouth.

"Axel..." Ebony says timidly, a look of terror consuming her face.

A noteworthy expression since the root is fear of him, not the otherwise frightful god in front of them.

"You..." He gasps, panting. "You broke my-"

"Ah, ah, ah," I shush him. "No, you just threw a full force hand at the same molecular construct of steel. I did nothing."

I yank his arm away from him and drag my nail over the initial impact to heal his injury. "So then I'll answer her for you, Axel."

My gaze rakes over his body and then migrate to her. At this point, Ebony's legs are shaking in an obvious attempt to support her. Meeting her gaze, I take a deep breath and lull my voice into a false sense of domestication. "Your 'brother' is in fact stupid. Miserably stupid. In fact, I have to wonder where a Destroyer's sense of self-preservation has gone."

"He's just-"

"An idiot?" I supply, a gentle - mildly deadly - smile pulls on my lips. "I know, don't worry dear."

Axel continues to whine behind me, so I release his hand. A faint afterglow follows his wrist and my fingers as they separate in different directions. "You're insane!"

Amusement tugs at my eyes and lips, perhaps something of a compliment given everything I've endured.

"It stopped hurting two minutes ago," I state slowly, raising a brow at him. I dare him wordlessly to challenge me again.

Flicking the mana off my fingers, I inspect the ground. Carefully tracing out dust to look forwards, I smirk at the foolishness of nothing beneath me. No sigils or trapping spells. All they'd accomplished to do was put me in chains, relying solely on the magic sealing the door.

Unfortunately, that is the only thing they weren't smart enough to avoid doing. I swallow away the sour taste of memories and analyze Axel's face slowly out of respect. Even as I've just repaired any damage I've caused, this is the least I can do for what happens next.

I see nothing of value coming from this interaction.

He makes it easy for me, coming at me again and ducking to take down my waist. Axel grunts when I take the blow like a wall, my heel shifting slightly in response. I frown sadly and slip one hand beneath his chin and the other in his hair to brace myself.

One movement and everything is over.

With a snap, I drop him on the ground, dusting myself off.

Ebony's cries rattle into the chamber and bounce out.

There is no sickening gurgle or satisfying cry. Axel's body makes nothing more than the gentle sound of his shoulders meeting the stone. Without any light in his eyes, I have no trouble noticing the darkness.

The Destroyers have succumbed to darkness.

I see a blonde flash on my way out, her sobs growing farther and farther away as I step into the fresh light.

Tears pool up in my eyes as I bear witness to the very thing I knew couldn't tolerate. With drops free flowing down my face, I fall to my knees and run my fingers over the crunchy ground. Black. For miles in every direction. A wildfire consumed every inch of these plains.

Tree trunks mark the only difference in elevation.

Flame burns in my throat, the pressure in my chest consuming my being until blue sparks dance along my fingers.

Everything.

They ruined everything.

The incessant wailing behind me grows taxing, the weight of her sobs rolling off me like slick water, yet everyone drowns eventually.

Turning, I glance over my prison. My temple.

The structure mimics that of a Roman temple with greek pillars, an Egyptian layout, and similar Indian resources such as more polished clay. As a whole, the building was originally constructed in order to represent a combination of culture. The very relatable culture we watched humans build.

So many beliefs.

Standing, my fingers dig into the ash and coal before I rise. Black and warm like the chalky ash, I pat myself off into the white gown I'd been captured in. Hell knows it's been through worse at this point.

I wipe my face and realize the incidental war paint now likely marking my skin. It crumbles and thinly powders my eyelashes.

The sound of pounding footsteps greets my ears long before I can strengthen myself. Ebony's face is a new shade of blush, a deep maroon from hyperventilation. Even bawling, her voice sounds more like choking.

"How could you?" She hisses in my direction, barely glancing at my current state before recoiling. "How could you!"

A deep laughter flutters in my chest and I don't hold back anymore. Tears pour down my face as I gesture around and spin. A wicked grin pulls on my lips and I hold myself upright through the hysteria. Minutes pass, the long-winded mania severely disturbing Ebony's broken mentality.

Swaying in a fresh gust of smokey wind, I take a moment to sniff at the air. Blood, dried blood. Burnt meat and unique enchanting spices. My mouth waters at the idea of fresh food, yet I'm more than aware the animal in that position is nothing short of a week old.

Scrubbing my face, I absently stumble away from the temple and towards a hill off in the distance. A few meters off a charred forest stands, beyond it supposedly a sustainable river. If only a dream, it's a temporary destination.

After me, I hear quiet calls. She asks where I'm going, why I'm heading in a miscellaneous direction.

White noise.

Background music to a combustion of colors and nature.

Stiff, the remains of grass tickle my ankles and stimulate my skin for what seems like the first time in millennia. A century without movement and braving the strength it takes not to shed my vessel is insatiable. Staying in the same air as those who betrayed us.

Alone.

Separate from the only reason I have...

I glance down at my lengthy nails and disgustingly long hair.

Even if I cannot shower, or bathe properly, cleansing my paling flesh and providing a little self manicuring is in order. Sharp glass for my split ends, specific rocks to file down my cuticles and dagger-like nails. Though humans were at a severe disadvantage in Anarchy, I didn't particularly enjoy everything that came with it.

Nudging a stone over with my foot, I search the sky for clouds or any sign the sun might be going down. I'm left staring straight at a fiery orb of insurmountable heat. It burns brightly above, with nothing to cast any shade.

Slowly feeling a sudden desire to be free, I tug the threadbare cotton gown off overhead. Dropping it into the field, I continue stumbling down the clearing and into the heartbreaking forest.

Minutes and hours surpass me. The first few were lost on me as soon as I fled my captivity. At this point, keeping track feels like a disservice to my very goal. Reminding myself every step of the way that I'm just another second from him is a distraction. Focus is key.

Wandering through this valley of dead plants and scrap metal is rubbing my very soul raw.

Twigs break under my feet, scratching my legs and holding me captive to this human confine. I pinch splinters and bugs off of my shins and thighs. Stepping into mud and leaves, I'm reassured rain and water haven't become one of the things unobtainable to the planet.

A tiny creek comes into view and I brush my hands one last time over my bare features.

Sinking down onto one of the rocks, I submerge as much of myself as possible and smooth the murky water over my dirty skin. Years of collecting dust and decay have left everything more than challenging to function with.

"One day at a time," I whisper to myself. "One day at a time and I'll get back to you..."

So I begin looking for the tools to bring myself back to life. 

Hey everyone! I'm glad this story is being received so well, thank you all for taking the time to read it and letting me know what you think. It means the world to me. I plan to enter this story into the Watty's and I have a really good feeling about how much everyone's going to like it.

I literally cried yesterday, all the love made me so happy.

Please continue to be amazing and I hope you all have a lovely day!