Betrayal

*Three days to the Council of Kings*

Helios was furious.

He had spent the entire day in his courtyard just to control himself before he burned everything to the ground. He had tried everything possible to sate his rage, but flames kept bursting out across his skin as he shut his eyes, thinking about what had happened.

What pained him the most was the fact that he couldn't do anything about it. He had already begun mobilizing his army, preparing them for the inevitable war that was about to take place. Sol and Elias had tried to convince him to calm down, but Averys had gone beyond his expectations.

He had killed the Wolf King.

On paper, it was said Raijin, the Wolf King, had been killed while attempting to fight off monsters that had invaded his traveling party as he journeyed to the Land of the Moon. Raijin had set out early, as he always did, hoping he could get there before the others did. Little did he know one of them already knew his habits and had set an elaborate trap to put him out of the equation.

Only a king had the power to kill another. Averys had cleared all evidence linking him to the death of Raijin, but his sources, as well as the survivors of the incident, had claimed the night had been filled with shadows. Shadows that looked like they were alive.

With one of the kings dead, the land in the skies was in disarray without a leader. Helios had already reached out to them, hoping to rally them to his side, but Averys could attack before they had a chance to mobilize.

Helios had received a letter from Yam, the Dragon King, warning him to be careful when he traveled to the Land of the Moon. Yam had picked up on what was going on, expressing his disgust and rage in his letter. At least Helios knew he had someone who could back him up.

What surprised Helios the most out of all this was the silence of Louis. The Chicken King was usually very vocal about how he felt concerning matters such as this, so it was absurd for him to be silent. There was a reason Helios could think of, but he couldn't fathom such a possibility.

Helios looked up at the darkening sky. He hadn't gone inside since he had seen the letter confirming Raijin's death earlier in the afternoon. Sol had advised him to stay outside, which had been a good idea. The flowers calmed him down.

"Should've killed the bastard," Helios growled.

He always tried to live his life without regretting his actions. He had spared Averys because he believed he would aid in bettering Garnedal in the long run.

He remembered the day he met Averys. The Kings had converged on the Land of the Moon, instantly attacking one another as they made contact. They had believed the others were Eeries in disguise, but their inability to get an advantage over one another was enough to tell them they were the ones they had been looking for.

Averys had been the first to introduce himself. As he spoke, Helios recalled the mistrust and doubt he had felt as words escaped his lips. He singled him out as someone who would do anything it took to get what he wanted. In a way, Helios' instincts had been right.

But back then, just meeting the others, Helios was relieved that he wasn't the only one that could fight the Eeries. He could finally have people he could fight with side by side without having to worry if they'd fall in battle or not.

The six had set out together, leaving the people they loved behind. As they journeyed to the Eerie capital, Helios and Averys bickered as they always did. Helios didn't understand why he resented the man so much, but he just couldn't stand Averys. It got to a point where they fought and required interference from the other kings. Like his powers, Helios' emotions were always ready to explode. He had fought with the intent to kill and he felt he could have if no one had interfered.

Raijin and Typhon had begged him to calm down and forced the two men to form a temporary alliance. The only thing it changed was that instead of a physical or vocal altercation, they exchanged hateful looks with the threat towards one another as clear as day, waiting for the day they'd get the chance to tear at each other's throats again.

When the day did arrive, Helios made the decision he was coming to regret.

They had infiltrated an Eerie stronghold and were sweeping it out as carefully as they could. While going around, they were lured into a room they presumed to hold the last of the Eeries. It turned out to be a trap instead, one that blew a hole through the building they were inside.

The others had managed to get out in time, but Averys and Helios had been caught by the blast. It shot them out of the building, sending them plummeting down into the hard ground. Usually, it was no problem to survive a sixty-foot drop. But Averys was knocked out cold, and Helios was struggling to keep himself conscious.

As he fell, he looked over at Averys and wondered what would happen if he just let him fall to his death. That was the moment Helios chose to swallow his pride. Unfurling his flaming wings, he grabbed Averys out of the air, wrapping his arms around his body as they both crashed into the ground.

Helios recalled standing over Averys, contemplating striking him down as he slept. Alas, the burning rage was replaced with pity. Instead of murdering Averys, Helios crumpled to the ground, exhausted from his attempt at saving the both of them.

Now, over thirty years later, Helios stood, wishing he had just put an end to him there and then. But now he knew he would get another chance.

And this time, he wouldn't hesitate.