The Forgotten Prophecy - Episode 2 (July 20th, 2702)

The two brothers blended in amongst the many Demigods out in the streets of Paris. There were tents everywhere for refugees, people selling sleeping bags and those with the ability to heal were aiding the injured. The sky was smoky red. There were several places in the city that had lost structural integrity that would collapse at any second. Everyone was always on high alert. Even the toughest were frightened of the smallest sound at this point.

Marceus pointed at the task force they were tailing. Gallus acknowledged and the two began to walk faster as the team took a turn to the left a few streets ahead of them. They silently followed the team for half an hour, neither of them uttering a single word. They were focused even when Gallus still had many questions. He knew they were tailing a team their father had set up but for what purpose? Marceus knew something but he too was missing critical information to fill in the gaps. Gallus constantly kept his eye on his brother. Marceus may have looked out for him his entire life but Gallus still never trusted him completely. He always tried to be like their father, always trying to prove something. Maybe it was because Arcadeus was a man of power, a power which still grows to this day. Gallus was never interested in that game but for Marceus it was his life goal. He dreamed of absolute power, to hold it in his hand and stare at its wonders. It scared him, watching his older brother fight for power but to his surprise it still hadn’t corrupted him. Marceus still had his composure and Gallus sometimes admired him because of that.

“They’ve stopped.” Marceus nodded. They found themselves in the vicinity of a big church. “That’s the church of St. Eustache.” Gallus declared, staring at its vastness. The church was of gothic architecture with an aged creamy colour. However, it had been the victim of many air strikes and battles. The one tower it had was lying on the ground, crumbled. “The church is a thousand and sixty nine years old.” “That’s very interesting Gallus.” Marceus replied sarcastically as he watched the task force enter the building “You really think so?” he smiled. “No, shut the fuck up.” Marceus continued towards the church as he left his younger brother frowning. They crept behind a massive hole in the structure and stalked the team from a distance. They seemed to be studying the area, obviously looking for something. Marceus cussed when he saw the team leader begin to talk to the others. “Some heightened hearing would have proved useful now.” “Marceus, they’re in a church.” “Gallus not now!” he scolded, irritated with his random interest in history. “But it could be a clue!” Gallus insisted. Marceus looked at his brother. “How so?” he asked through his teeth. “Holy grounds such as this attract only a certain group of people.” “Ok...” “So whatever group our father is trying to deal with has to have some kind of religious association.” “Then it’s probably some brainwashed idiots trying to summon God or something to get rid of us.” “Well, maybe?”

There was commotion at the other end of the building. Everyone heard it. Marceus figured that whatever it was the noise was made intentionally. He placed his hand on Gallus’ shoulder as they both watched. They waited and so did the task force. Everyone was ready. And then it happened but almost too fast for the eye to see. Several beings blurred around the team with tremendous speed, hacking and stabbing. Marceus felt Gallus move forward but he held on to him. “No.” He whispered.

The team could barely fight back but it was soon over. There were limbs everywhere. Blood spattered across the entire place. They never stood a chance. The blurs suddenly stopped dead in their tracks and towered over the massacred Demigods. They were three people, hooded and all dressed in black, who had just taken down a team of five Demigods. One of them kneeled down beside the leader and ripped off the radio and handed it over to one of the others. “Call it in.” It was a man’s voice. “Except this time, don’t say you succeeded. Make it a pursuit. We need these grounds undisturbed. The church of St. Eustache has been through enough already. Those who lie here need their peace.” The man then turned to the other. “Clean it up.” The person began speeding all over the place, instantly removing the limbs and blood. “It’s done.” Spoke a woman’s voice. “It should probably hold them off for a day or two.” She gave the radio back to the man who simply dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his foot. “We no longer have any need for that.” “When will we be out of here? It’s been a week.” “The one we seek hasn’t been spotted in the vicinity. He could be around or somewhere completely else. Either we find him or hope the others do. Until then, this is our home.” “Why this church?” she asked. Marceus figured she was just a pawn. “Because this church is one of the most beautiful in Paris. One thousand and sixty nine years old. Can you believe it? And it held up in pristine condition until this war started. Although when I say pristine it was actually renovated twice. Once, seven hundred and something years back and the other about three hundred.” he informed. “What the fuck is it with this church?” hissed Marceus. His heart almost lunged out of his throat as the three people looked straight at them. “Gallus! RUN!”

Knowing they would speed up towards them, Marceus pre-emptively bombarded his immediate vicinity with waves of fire. Gallus assisted by setting the church on fire. They then set off as fast as their legs allowed them. It took them five minutes before they realised they were still alive and well. They weren’t being chased at all. “Marceus, what the hell were those? Were they Demigods?” Gallus coughed. “Those weren't Demigods. Those weren’t fucking Demigods.” “We have to tell father.” “Yes we do.” The brothers began to pace themselves towards the fortress. The night was upon them now and the streets had gotten quieter as the people had retreated to their shelters and camped around fires. Marceus was reimagining the whole event over and over again in his head. Something wasn’t right, he thought. They got away too easy but then something suddenly grasped his arm and he was pulled away from the main street.

With a large crackle and the wind knocked out of him, Marceus fell to the burnt tiles of a home that had been a playground for an arsonist. The wall he bounced off of coughed up dust, covering him in particles of grey. While trying to regain his footing a hand clasped around his throat and pushed him up to his feet. It was the man giving the orders who was holding him and now that they were face to face Marceus got a good look at him and didn’t like what he was seeing. The man’s face had been burnt and melted to an extreme degree but it wasn’t his doing. The scars on his face seemed ancient somehow, almost as if he was born with them.

“Who did that to your face then?” Marceus jested. “Because it sure wasn’t me.” The man pushed him against the fragile wall and forced him through it, filling the area with blinding dust. Marceus used this against his attacker, engulfing his hands in fire before grabbing the man’s arm. The man roared in pain and tried to retreat but Marceus had him in his place, holding on to the arm with everything he had while intensifying the flames. “Not so strong without your speed are you?” he shouted over the man’s frantic screams. “Who are you!? Who is it you are looking for?” Marceus never managed to wait for a reply as he was attacked from behind. He turned around to see the other man who had done the clean up job back at the church. His face was similar to the other. Both of them had heavy burns and scars covering their entire heads. The man looked at him like a wild animal and began to throw punches. His fists blurred out with incredible speed. Marceus felt his body going into shock and his lungs collapsing as his ribs began to break.

Consciousness almost left him. He was getting weaker by the second. A few hundred more punches and his legs gave in. Marceus wobbled to the ground and was unable to control his limbs. The two men towered over him, mentally deciding how to end him. However, their victory lasted a mere second or two before all sorts of elemental projectiles shot across the building, wounding the men and forcing them to flee. A man outside shouted ‘clear’ before someone hurriedly walked in to where Marceus was lying. He tried to see who it was past all the dust and saw a friendly face. It was his other younger brother, the youngest of Arcadeus’s children, blond and blue eyed like Gallus but with shorter hair.

“Juleus.” he whispered. “Yes brother, it’s me.” he smiled as he kneeled beside Marceus. “Gallus...” “We found him as well. He’s in a better shape than you are.” “How did...” “I have my security detail with me and one of my men picked up on the distress. So, we thought we’d take a look.” Marceus looked at his youngest brother, no longer happy to have him as his saviour. “You’re not supposed to go after danger Juleus!” Marceus suddenly began to cough out blood. “How about you just thank me for now and yell at me later? Even Gallus was angry with me this time.” “What do you mean this time!?”