*Song- A divided Land, Assassins Creed Origins

'Death and Dawn...'

White Frost and Fire

My eyes were closed; the sun's glare shining against my face, keeping me lucid.

I felt the energy leave my body in waves; tumbling down faster than I could rebuild it with my craft. The quick lack of power left my mind hazy and I felt myself slip further down the rabbit hole; a layer of deep, stalking unconsciousness creeping up on me. But I held on...

This was my third week in Blood magic and my umpteenth time trying to bend Thanatos with my sheer will.

He wouldn't budge- not even in the slightest, but today felt different. Today I could feel his veins and the dark red ichor running through his godly body. It was nearly impossible to bend, and the side-effects of the mere sensation of running my mind through his limbs left me haggard.

But I couldn't stop now.

Thanatos was watching me, I could feel it. We sat on the plush carpet in the tower, the beige cushions a familiar comfort after all the long hours we've spent mediating and training on them. Half of the room was filled with the sun's glare, my white dress shimmering in the light. Thanatos sat opposite me, in the dark, his eyes too sensitive for the deadly rays. His black attire blended well with the shadows as his eyes were lit like two torches; guiding me.

The rush of fatigue sprang forward, this time with zeal. I pushed it back to the darkest pit of my mind and focused on the pressure building in his veins- I was close. I was so close I could nearly taste the iron on my tongue.

Thanatos was more than impressed by my progress. Frankly, he was a bit... worried.

No god- especially a mortal- should be able to master blood magic as fast as I am currently. I was nearly at the top of the mountain and the side-effects of the craft hadn't even surfaced yet.

Thanatos was anxious, to put it mildly. Every morning, afternoon and evening he would ask me the same thing; 'how are you feeling?' or 'are you alright?'. I was patient with him; I knew he was concerned, I was too. Every time I stood up too fast or felt a slight pain, my mind would race to a dark place. Was it a panic attack ready to strike? A migraine that would make me crumble to the floor? A fit of energy blasting from my hands?

Who knew when or how it would happen- or if it would indeed happen...

My mind pushed through a barrier I hadn't noticed had sprung up between my mind and his- he was trying to block me. Sly bastard...

I broke through it, tearing my mind into the sheet like a knife. Thanatos gritted his teeth, but I couldn't make out his expression as I kept my eyes closed, trying to focus on my breathing.

These past three weeks were hardly uneventful.

Trita and Hypnos were becoming rather close, spending more and more time together. It was strange to watch, mainly because I never thought they could match each other so well, but they really did. I suppose it's right what they say- opposites attract.

I smiled. Funny how I hadn't thought of that before and yet here I was, sitting in a white dress in the sun across from a darkly dressed man in the shadows. Blue and red. White and black.

Death and Dawn.

Sonya and Barrios had finally managed to work things out and slowly but surely my kind-hearted friend was rebuilding her relationship with the reaper. He was perfect for her, to be honest. Kind, sensitive, courageous, dependable and loyal- he matched her so well it was uncanny.

As for Alexus, she was now surrounded by three couples, day-in-day-out. I felt a little sorry for her, but she'd been spending more and more time at the academy lately, mainly due to a large workload from Hades, but also because she liked helping Conrad and Samaria out with every day dealings.

Conrad kept her busy with all kinds of odd-jobs that he couldn't completely trust Samaria with due to her lack of skill level. Alexus and Samaria had also become quite good friends; going out shopping, doing research together and talking about this new boy Samaria met at a local rave. I could only image Alexus wasn't too used to having her ear talked off, but perhaps it was a good thing. She needed the social interaction after being alone for so long.

Persephone was coping better; having more of her dear friends, Artemis, Athena and her mother by her side now that she resided in Mouth Olympus. Hades was still acting king, much to some of the gods' annoyance.

And as for the traitor Hermes... Well, he was in and out of consciousness more than I'd like to admit. Even Thanatos was getting sick of torturing him. The god had some serious experience in being pressured, but there was no possible way he could hold out much longer. We needed a name, and it was fairly obvious that Thanatos was getting severely impatient.

And an impatient Thanatos wasn't something you'd like to mess with. Ever.

He'd snapped Hermes neck more than a couple of times this week alone. I dread to think what he would do as soon as the meter on his tolerance ran dry. Seems torture wasn't the way to get Hermes to talk, but Thanatos had figured that out within the first week already. He mentioned he had a plan he was waiting to set in motion, but whenever I asked what it involved, he'd change the topic and just wave off my curiosity.

I suspect it's best if I didn't know.

My parents were safe, for now. Sybaris had been causing some trouble with a group of Thanatos' reapers, but there were causalities on both sides, so another attempt at an attack from her was slim. She valued her children more than a reckless shot at revenge.

The news of us having the Aegis must be out by now. If Sybaris knew, and we have no idea how she even knew- then she must've already told her masters. The palace was on high alert, reapers sweeping it 24/7.

We girls were on permanent lock-down.

So as you can imagine, training Blood magic and energy casting the whole bloody day was starting to get really tedious. But it was paying off- I felt my mind break through another barrier.

Thanatos' jaw locked.

I'm close. I'm sure I'm there, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...

I crawled deeper, even more than yesterday. My mind felt like snapping- the simple effort of keeping my back straight straining and tiresome. I was draining myself all the way down. There was no possible way that I would have any energy left after this; none at all...

I don't even think I'd be able to walk and that only ever happened when Thanatos was feeling particularly energetic in bed.

Speaking of Thanatos; our relationship had grown even wider and deeper since we'd started our lessons together. We were connected in a new way now. Not only as best friends, lovers, soul mates and partners, but also now as a master and his student. It was strange at first, but the things we've learned from each other were unparalleled.

I knew him better than anyone- even his own twin. I was confident in the fact that I could challenge Hypnos to a 'Thanatos trivia game' and win hands down. That actually sounded like fun...

Well, anything after three weeks of moulding blood and energy currents sounded like fun.

Suddenly something snapped.

My shoulders instantly sank and I felt a deep grumble run up my throat, but before it could jump from my mouth, I realised something- it wasn't me who snapped.

Thanatos' wall was down. Completely down.

I'd broken through the last barricade without even realising it was the last one.

I'm fairly sure I couldn't feel my toes anymore, but right now I couldn't care less. I grabbed my one opportunity by the neck and squeezed. My eyes snapped open- there was no fucking way I was going to miss this.

Thanatos was looking down at his hand in horror.

And then his finger twitched.

A short, but awed laugh escaped my mouth.

His finger curled, it was the simplest of movement, but at the same time, it was deafening. Thanatos gritted his teeth and slowly his glare moved up to my face.

I knew he wasn't angry with me- he was angry with himself.

He wasn't the one moving his finger...

And as his hand squeezed into a fist and unclenched back to normal, I slyly grinned up at him, my smile full of delight. I could control him with my mind just like he could.

Finally, we we're equal.

"Not such a good feeling, is it?" I wanted to chuckled at his expression, but kept it in. However, I didn't bother hiding my proud smirk.

Thanatos inhaled deeply and watched as his hand moved up to his face. I moved his fingers against his cheek and he growled softly; "Stop."

"What's the matter?" I snickered.

Thanatos lowered his red eyes to the ground and tried to pull his hand back to his knee, but I refused to let it leave my control. He shook his head. "You're not supposed to be able to do this..." He was talking more to himself than me.

I scoffed; "Why? Because I'm mortal? I thought we were past that? I'm going to be the goddess of magic- I should be the best there is."

"Exactly. You're mortal. You shouldn't have the capacity for this yet. And not to mention there are no side-effects! Aurora, I have a bad feeling about this..."

I rolled my eyes and dropped his hand to his knee, but kept my mind locked in; "I am meant to be the best, so why is it such a surprise?"

"Don't get cocky."

I gapped at him with murderous eyes; "Excuse me?"

Thanatos sighed; "Look, I realise you're stressed and you've been locked in here for weeks now, doing the same thing over and over, but you're acting like a-"

"A what?" I challenged, my eyes glaring; "A what, Thanatos?"

He matched my glare; "A brat."

I shot a pain through his hand before I could stop it.

Thanatos grunted out in agony and quickly grabbed his hand with the other to stop the aching cramp. His sudden pain shot me awake like a jolt. I gasped, all the blood draining from my face.

"Oh my- Fuck!" I jumped forward to cover his hands with mine and mentally snapped my hold on his blood. I felt the already thin and feeble were break and shatter, all my hard work down the drain. It would take me at least another week before I could build up that degree of strength again.

But the love of my life was much more important than anything else. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, Thanatos! I don't know what came over me! I- I'm sorry..." I rubbed his hand with mine, my eyes filling with tears.

Lately, my emotions were all over the place, which for an ice-queen was fairly disturbing.

Thanatos hushed me, his good hand stroking my hair as I watched a tear drop down onto his hurt hand. "Shh... It's alright, I'm fine. It was just a sharp pain. It's gone now."

I nodded, my eyes to ashamed to look up. How could I do this? To him? What if- what if accidentally got angry at Sonya- or- or...

Thanatos grabbed me close and crushed me into him; "I'm sorry too; I didn't mean what I said. I'm just so concerned for you, Aurora."

"No, you're right. I've been such a bitch lately." I grabbed hold of his shirt as he rocked me back and forth; "Why am I acting like this?"

"I suppose we never thought about this but perhaps your emotions are flying all over the place because of the bending? This could be a side-effect?"

I nestled my face in the crook of his warm neck; "I suppose so... I'm so sorry, darling, you know I would never want to hurt y-"

"Aurora, hush." Thanatos brought my face up to his and lowered his lips onto mine; he didn't need blood bending to control me- his lips were more than potent enough. "This is natural, alright? Magic affects everyone in a different way. I know you would never do it intentionally."

I ran my fingers over his palm and pressed softly; "Does it still hurt?"

"No," He chuckled; "It's fine now. It was just a cramp. Relax... After everything I've done to you in the past, this is nothing."

I smiled down, but it didn't reach my eyes. Thanatos noticed. He lifted my chin, his intense gaze questioning; "Speak to me, angel. What are you thinking?"

"I shouldn't have let this happen. You're the one person I would never want to hurt, ever. I'm always in control. I can't believe I just let that happen..." My voice trailed off as my eyes drifted down, but Thanatos was quick to respond.

"Aurora, Blood magic is a monster; it warps you and makes you do things you never thought you would." Thanatos sighed and looked down for a second. I could tell he was readying himself for something. "Can I tell you a secret?"

My eyes widened; "Of course..."

Thanatos pursed his lips and stood up from the cushion. He picked me up in his arms and walked over to the wide couch. "The ground is getting uncomfortable and you must be tired..." He put me down, the soft cushion heaven to my numb legs.

I looked up into his eyes and scooted closer to him on the couch; "Thank you." I searched his face with curiosity.

Thanatos looked at me and chuckled; "Eager aren't we?"

I tried not to blush; "Sorry, I don't want to rush you..."

He rubbed my shoulder, but his mind was off somewhere else, searching for the right words. It's always strange seeing him like this- so sombre. He's meant to be charming and effervescent. He looked older now. So much older.

"You know how I told you that I could only remember my very first panic attack?"

I nodded, my fingers running over his palm, feeling the rough, tanned skin. Thanatos smiled softly; "I lied."

I didn't bother answering, I had the feeling he might've. Thanatos was getting better at opening up to me, but it was still a fairly new concept to him. I knew he'd tell me all about himself in due time; there was no need to rush it...

"I remember one more- one of the last ones, actually..." His voice was soft, like a whisper, but not quite. "I was a bit older, in my young adolescent years, and still trying to master Blood magic. At this point I was a prodigy in the rest, but Blood magic kept plaguing me. I was ahead of training, much like you right now, but it wasn't enough for me at the time." Thanatos rolled his eyes at the memory; "Of course it wasn't enough... I was such an idiot back then."

I smiled; "You've always been passionate; that's not idiocy."

"Knowing what the aftermath of the added strain would be and still doing it- yes, that is idiocy."

I snorted and laughed; Thanatos looked like he wanted to hit himself for his past mistakes. He was adorable, even angry- especially angry.

He was back to being serious; "Let me explain; I was close to the end of my training, but I hadn't mastered soul transfusion yet, which isn't something you'd ever need to know or actually be able to do. It's something I, as the death deity, am only able to do."

"Does it involve sucking souls from a corpse?" I raised my brow. It sounded unbelievably hard. I couldn't even feel my own soul or aura, never mind try to find another person's.

"Not only from the deceased. I can drag a soul from a living entity as well."

My eyes widened; "Really? That... sounds painful."

"It is. And the entity dies shortly after. I don't recommend it."

"Noted. Continue..." For the umpteenth time I realised just how powerful Thanatos really was.

"I any case, I wanted to get soul transfusion out of the way as quickly as I could so I could focus all my attention on Blood magic, but it doesn't work that way. Soul transfusion is the purest form of dark craft there is and without even mastering the five crafts first- Well, needless to say, it wasn't going to end well."

Thanatos paused, his eyes lowering down to my hands; "I travelled up to Earth one day, to practise without the worry of distractions. I came upon an old traveller. This was sometime during the prime of ancient Greece and there were always bandits and exiled men lurking about- easy prey for gods like me."

I furrowed my brow at his words; "Easy prey?"

Thanatos was looking into my eyes with a sense of unease and nervousness. "Aurora, I know this may sound horrible and so perverse to you, but I was brought up to think of mortals as nothing but toys and pets for us to play with. That old man was the perfect subject to practice on..."

My eyes looked down and I nodded; I knew this was the way they all felt about us- or used to, at least. I suppose it's the way most humans thought about animals. It's sickening. We were like cattle for them to carrel.

Thanatos licked his lips. "I switched off all the pain triggers in his body and fiddled with his nervous-system before I started practicing soul transfusion. He couldn't feel the pain or any sensation, but he could still experience fear and confusion. He tried screaming for help, but I'd shut off that part of his brain too..."

I listened on in horror as Thanatos spoke, his eyes straying from mine; "Thinking about it now- it was... awful. But if you'd asked me if I felt any remorse about it maybe a year ago, I probably wouldn't have. To be honest," He avoided my gaze; "I still don't."

I gulped as he spoke, his eyes filled with honesty and it was so pure and brutal, I felt ensnared by it. "The only reason I feel any form of guilt now is simply because I- I don't want you to know about it. I just don't want you to think of me differently, and believe me- I've done far worse."

"Thanatos, I knew what you were when I met you..." I squeezed his hand; "Go on."

He nodded and I could see some relief run down his shoulders. He cleared his voice; "I attempted to suck out his soul, which already was a reckless thing to do while he was still alive, but I was impatient and..." Thanatos blinked, but didn't continue the thought, instead he continued with a new one; "The soul was almost ready to leave his body, but then I felt my energy run dry."

I knew what that was like and when your energy as a mage runs dry, it leaves you with two options; either stop and replenish, or carry on and risk a high chance at getting yourself and the people around you killed.

I had the feeling from Thanatos' face I knew which one he chose...

"I tried to carry on, but then-" Thanatos paused, his voice faltering. I saw the memory flash in his eyes; "The old man's heart exploded."

I gasped softly, my back straightening immediately. "What?" As my eyes widened and my jaw fell open, I could feel the pain radiate from his body as he spoke. "His heart exploded. His body couldn't stand the strain. It was... instantaneous."

My brain fumbled around, trying to figure out how a young boy, not even a man, could handle a situation like that. How do you recover? And as I looked up into Thanatos vacant eyes, I knew my answer.

You don't.

"What did you do?"

"I couldn't do anything. At that moment, my mind snapped and the strain of the transfusion brought on a massive panic attack. I was writhing on the floor in pain. I passed out at some stage and woke up with blood all over me." Thanatos scoffed; "Not mine, of course, his. He was bleeding from every pore or hole; staining the ground red."

I was speechless.

I wasn't sure of what to say or even how to react. The amount of darkness Thanatos has witnessed in his lifetime- it's...scary.

"You know what the worst part is?" Thanatos' eyes found mine; they were devoid of all emotion.

I shook my head.

"I left him there."

I felt my throat grow dry.

"I never even knew his name..."

Thanatos was staring at an area directly next to my head, his empty eyes matching with his detached voice. He looked so cold. So frozen. There wasn't a hint of emotion on his face.

"So please don't punish yourself for sending a small cramp through my hand." A thin smile ran up his to lips, but it held no happiness; "It could've been much worse..."