Black Roses Antonio & Rhion Speak Out

Antonio Jelonas Carlonday, who was sometimes referred to as T.J by his friends and family, found himself being physically pulled from his bed in the early hours of the morning by a distraught and very frightened Lilly Rose.

The quivering little blond was sobbing loudly, her words coming out so fast that he couldn't understand so much as a smidgen of it. He soothed the girl as best he could even as he snatched up his pants from the floor and followed her out into the large stone hallway.

He could clearly hear his second mate Jace as he stumbled from their bed cursing loudly at the darkness. "What the hell? LILLY? What's going on damnit? " Jace's words were laced with more worry than anger as he nearly fell into the hallway in the process of pulling on his pajama bottoms. "Lilly Rose?"

"Y-young D-d-damian, he's d-dead, Blue Eye's saw---" suddenly she burst into hysterical sobs and began to pull frantically on Antonio's arm.

What he found upon entering Blue Eyes' personal rooms had brought him instantly to the kneeling boy's side. His small pale face was streaked crimson from the blood-laden tears he was shedding. The front of his white robes were nothing more than a mass of layered reds, some of it far t0o dark to be his own blood.

A war had been fought here with things not of the breathing world. Blood was coming from his wrists and ankles as well as from beneath his robes.

Blue Eyes was such a small individual, not even five feet tall and a mere wisp of a creature despite the fact that he'd been nearly nineteen when born into immortality on the edge of a dragon's blade.

But despite his concern Antonio knew better than to touch the young seer in this state, it could do more damage than good.

"They crucified him, Antonio." Blue Eyes' words were laden with a deep wounded kind of despair. He'd been hurt personally by this and not just in a physical way but at the very core of his soul.

Blue Eyes was looking straight ahead, his blind eyes seeing nothing that resided in this world only the things that lay within the realms beyond it. "They stripped his soul bare and gave him to the beast. They have delivered him into the fires of hell to be born again." He paused; turned for a moment to look at Antonio and for a brief instant the Warrior would have sworn he'd really seen him through eyes unclouded by blindness. "Darkness will fall, Whimsica has seen to that. Death will visit our house---your house, it will take one very close to you."

"It doesn't matter, death will claim this one and there is nothing you or any of us can do about it. Go where your heart leads you, where I know you wanta go."

"Rhion is there, he needs you. He has written his destiny and it leads him away from us and into the arms of one chosen by darkness. His path shall never be the same as yours again." Antonio nodded, understanding on some level.

"Jace, fetch the healers. Then tell the others that I've gone to Whimsica and that they should prepare to protect themselves."

"But---damnit!" The golden haired boy turned on his heel, already heading for the healers; it really wasn't in him to disobey a direct order despite his last twelve years of freedom or his last eight years as Antonio's second mate.

The fact was he'd been a slave far longer than he'd been free. For nearly sixty immortal years he had lived as the property of another and it had definitely taken its toll.

He'd yelped in surprise when he was caught in the circle of his mate's strong arms, pulled into a tender kiss that spoke of nothing harder than warmth and affection. "I love you kid, don't you be thinking I don't."

Antonio tore away from his younger mate, careful not to look back into those haunting green eyes as he pulled on his shirt and grabbed a sword from the wall all on his way out the door.

It had taken nearly three days to arrive at Whimsica, giving the white warrior plenty of time to simmer in his anger.

He'd met the small dark princeling a few years before and then again for the second time just a few months back. He had in fact went to the Leviathan plantation both times with a purpose that involved the young prince, although he could never have admitted that to Lee who'd seemed wary of even allowing his son out with Antonio's youngest son, Shining Moon.

Well Shining Moon was very much a Carlonday despite his loose tongue and overly cheerful nature. Antonio for one couldn't see any harm in allowing the two boys some space, something that Daniel didn't seem to get enough of.

He had been fond of the dark haired youth, despite the fact that his personality shifted dramatically at times. One minute he'd be quite, careful and guarded. Like a rabbit waiting for the wolf to slaughter it and the next he'd be bold, opinionated and fierce as though he'd morphed into the wolf and was now hunting his pray with reckless abandon.

Daniel had on several occasions pushed Lee almost to his breaking point, testing the waters and pushing his limits with a skill that was truly uncanny.

He had done it just because he knew he could, knew Lee would tolerate far more in Antonio's presence than he would have otherwise.

Antonio could still remember seeing the evidence of harsh bruises on that almost too pale flesh, new overtop of old, healing wounds that had obviously been deep and painful spoke more of torture than training.

He was an abused kid, far too proud to see it himself. When asked he'd passed his training off as nothing, smiled and made some off the cuff joke about his 'demon teachers' but Antonio hadn't missed they way he hung on Shining Moon's every word, intrigued by his 'normal life' the fact that they had a lot in common as artists made it easy for them to converse or maybe it was just the fact that they weren't that different in age.

He dismounted quickly. Handed the reins to one of the stable hands without so much as a backwards glance at the youth. Normally he'd have stopped at least long enough to acknowledge the boy but not today, something else was simply more pressing.

He wasn't thinking war with the Leviathan House although that was conceivable at this point. His people, loosely accepted as such these days, had just crucified their chosen one, a boy barely seventeen years of age and this they claimed as 'right'?

He stopped in his tracks as the flash of crimson lightning lit up the rainless sky. His eyes taking in the scene that played out in the heavens above him as dark purple clouds spilled over the early morning landscape like churning seawaters. A low angry rumble promised a storm of some magnitude and yet rain and wind were the least of Antonio's worries as he entered the main hall.

It was really no surprise that he practically crashed into Rhion, who pulled up quickly and stared back him wordlessly, looking for the entire world like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Little brother?" Antonio ventured lightly, a little surprised by the sudden hardening look on Rhion's fine features, it was a look that was rarely directed at him and for the first time in his life Antonio saw the man that others had known for the last few years. Being a big brother he had perhaps been too blind to see it?

"No doubt you've heard of my foolishness? Which I don't regret in the least! " He added almost defensively. "If I could've stopped the bastards I would have done it!" The words had filled Rhion's heart, his very soul and written a path that even he was yet to realize.

"I know, you did what you could and you did it because you're a good man unlike those fools in there." He clasped a warm hand on Rhion's shoulder smiling reassuringly. "No matter what happens in the days to come never forget that I'm here for you, no matter what path you choose to walk I won't EVER turn my back on you."

His eyes softened if only minutely, he was shaken still, hurt by what he'd seen these people do to one he'd so obviously formed a connection with.

The plain truth was that he was trying desperately not to let Daniel's death break him. If Antonio hadn't known better he'd have sworn that Rhion was mourning for a lover past. " I won't forget, could never forget." He whispered so softly that it could have been missed and yet it wasn't.

"I have some things I must say to Whimsica, they can wait no longer" Rhion nodded and followed Antonio through the halls to the already much too noisy counsel room.

The two of them went virtually unnoticed as they throw open the large double doors that lead into the counsel chambers

The White Counsel members were smack dab in the middle of heated discussion, so much so that even the doors clattering against the walls barely even got them more than an irritated glance and that was from the fellow nearest the door who'd almost been walloped by the damned thing.

Being in the center of the castle the room was massive, set in the shape of a sacred circle with a large willow tree sprouting straight up from the stone floor like an eternal guardian overseeing the place it had been assigned.

The stone furnishings, with lavish cushions along with some visible stone flooring in some strategic places were the only things that made one think room instead of outer garden.

The stream that trickled through the center of the room was virtually silent among the boom of voices. The echo on the room was almost deafening due to ceilings spanned ten floors to the roof separated from the outside world by only a bit of gold trimming and some crystal clear panes of glass

This place was indeed beautiful, had been a momentous undertaking for its builders, but it was something Antonio Carlonday saw as strictly frivolous

The place was filled with representatives from every house; order obviously lost as they argued among themselves despite the smack of the gavel, which could barely be heard, no more than a mere toy among so many voices.

He looked at the counsel members, noticing at once that the leaders of Whimsica looked nervous yet not nearly nervous enough to suit Antonio.

"You have committed us to a war for which we did not aspire." Someone yelled from the crowd, voice full of anger. "My children will fight and die because of something you have done without consulting House Storm, without consulting any of us!"

"He was the destroyer of worlds you blasted fool, we did what needed done, when no one else would!" Samuel yelled shakily, the gray haired ruler of Whimsica had lost his control, become visibly shaken.

"I expected you to understand that sacrifice for our god is necessary." Samuel answered sternly, truly believing his words.

"Sacrifice should be by choice." A dark haired woman spoke loudly from among the crowd. Her voice was matter-of-fact and completely devoid of anger. "How can you force someone into confrontation and propose that it is betterment of soul? We all fight when we must, the real test is when we fight because we choose to and you should at least consider that killing this boy was wrong, even more than that it was murder."

"This is an old argument Kendra, best saved for another time." A soft male voice carried through the crowd on a wave that seemed to make itself heard despite the volume in the room. "These people know nothing of the true way of gods chosen, this they have proven." The woman dropped her face and nodded agreeably, almost sadly as she sank back and into the arms of the one who had spoken, his wings completely visible for an instant above the swell of the crowd before they faded from view back into the nothingness from which they'd sprung.

How many had seen that, only a few by the looks of it and of course Rhion who was studying the now silent pair with some fascination.

"They took a step none of us were willing to consider. We knew this threat was coming and we did nothing but wait, who are we to judge them for what might very well have been the most heroic thing in centuries."

"HEROIC?" Antonio thundered across the crowded room. He had already been started toward the front of the mob when the man had spoken. "YOU THINK KILLING A CHILD IS HEROIC?"

"I think it needed to be done and most of us were to afraid to do it! Their numbers keep growing and with a power like that they would have crushed us quickly."

"If they chose to they still will! Do you think one murdered child will change the outcome of your fates" Antonio stated firmly as the argument swelled loudly crashing over him in an angry wave of blame and condescension

Too many people talking at once and Samuel was standing now, screaming at him from safely behind his counsel table at the head of the room. Some argument about 'murder' vs. 'sacrifice' flowing from between those tensely set old and withered lips.

Antonio suspected he was being told to shut up, or perhaps even being banished from the proceedings. If the fool was so arrogant to believe he could manage such a thing let him try?

As the noise thinned ever so slightly some of Samuel's words spilled onto Antonio's ears. "---you and your kind have some nerve, barging in here and suggesting---"

"You people gallivant around with the enemy, befriend them and no doubt behave just as they do when outside of sophisticated company. You have no right to judge our actions, haven't you a mate who was once one of their own?"

"Yes, in fact I have three, let's at least get our facts straight, two of which were servants and one who is a member of House Leviathan."

"You shouldn't even be permitted to call yourselves White Counsel! Your loyalties are obviously split" Samuel burst out hatefully.

"My loyalty lies with the white god and with MY PEOPLE. I live by a code of honor that comes straight from the white scrolls, something I doubt you've even bothered to read since they point out that one can not be judged for a sin not yet committed." The man was staring at him now, breathing hard in his rage. "Murder is the ultimate sin Samuel, do you think you'll be spared the fiery depths of hell for your part in it?"

"YOU FUCKING FOOL! You killed a seventeen-year-old boy! SEVENTEEN DAMNIT! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT? Tell me Samuel, did you dare look upon this demon's face? " When the man didn't answer Antonio repeated, "WELL DID YOU!"

"I didn't need to, I knew as many others knew that he was evil." He stated this as he gathered his composure and took a seat. " Now, if you have nothing further---"

Antonio had moved forward swiftly, was standing on the table in front of Samuel, blade drawn and pressing into his chest before he'd even consciously decided on an action.

"You have committed murder, can anyone in this room deny it?" When no one spoke he twisted around to look at the crowd keeping the blade leveled at the old man's heart "COME ON! Where are your convictions now? Will any of you risk your very soul by claiming him innocent? Does anyone here think that boy a demon?"

"He was very much human." Rhion's words however softly spoken had filled the room. "I know. I dared to look upon this 'demon's' face." He stepped forward, eyes beginning to blaze. "I saw the confusion, the hurt upon it. You godly bastards. I believe in the light with all my soul and yet I vow it, I worship a different god than you!"

"Crucified!" Rhion stated loudly. "Have any of you ever seen a crucifixion?" Rhion's words carried with them a soft whispering hatred that was bleeding out into the room. Filling people who listened with the seeds of doubt.

"Well, now I have and it will haunt me for the rest of my days. I will wake to the sound of bones being snapped as stakes were driven through his wrists, to the sound that he made as he drowned in his own blood---"

"He was the destroyer of worlds, a demon, a god full of dark fire and death! He would have destroyed us all! He was already a killer; let us not forget the west villages that were destroyed under his blade. He was already carving out a path of destruction he was no innocent pup, he was the black messiah, a ruthless killer!" Another member of the Whimsica Counsel dared speak.

"Don't be mistaken by the pictures they draw you." These words were to the crowd. "He was no goliath as they'd have you believe, he was smaller than Lessa! He was also just as beautiful and they shattered that beauty as hundreds looked on!" Rhion was becoming more than angry and it was beginning to break through. "He was painting murals for the white god DAMNIT! What kind of black messiah is that?"

Whispers traveled around the room in a wave, the impact this revelation had on the people in attendance was obvious.

"The leader of Whimsica is not only an arrogant and useless old fool, he is also a cold blooded murderer who hadn't the courage to even attend the crucifixion he ordered." Antonio paused, turned to look Samuel in the eye. " Do you still believe you're a saint?" The question held a grave threat and Antonio watched as the old man swallowed hard.

He had just been about ready to speak when the doors burst open, this time to the silence Antonio had inspired.

"He lives! The Black Messiah lives!" the blond girl practically fell into a heap at the base of the doors, her breathing harsh and uneven. She had obviously run all the way here from her post, a message carrier with the gift of telepathy. "Lee took him from the cross and he revived."

"It's been three days! No natural born immortal has ever gone three days in a death sleep!" Samuel blurted out nervously.

"Rhion did." Antonio stated firmly as he caught his little brother's eyes realizing what he should have already known.

"When he woke he battled his own people, wounded Lee and nearly killed Mystic in his madness. He stole his father's horse and is already in the village of Shinia."

"I was going to kill you Samuel" Antonio stated wistfully. "Truly I was." He assured as the man looked up at him doubtfully knowing the white warrior's aversion to killing.

"May the gods take what you call your soul and---do with it as you deserve." Rhion's furious remark softened somewhat, under Antonio's stern eyes. "I mean it sincerely, Samuel. May devils bugger you in hell, you waste," he added in a mutter, but Antonio heard it if the preening old fool didn't. He could have laughed, if matters hadn't been so grave.

He jumped down from the table and started for Rhion saying one last thing to the crowd before he addressed his baby brother." The Darkness you feared has been born, all of us shall sacrifice those we love today. How's that for ironic?" And he knew it was true as he laid a hand on Rhion's shoulder. "Ride safely baby brother. Take care of yourself in the time to come and don't stay away from home for too long if you can help it."

Rhion gave him a ghost of a smile. "I can't promise any of that. And I think you know it. I shall miss our talks, big brother. I shall miss visiting your crazed and beautiful family. You will give them all my best wishes? And be kind to Jace, he can be so bloody insecure at times."

His face turned cold, remote. "I go to do what I must do. My lord brother, I salute you as always." He bowed with a deep and formal respect, and turned away.

Antonio watched Rhion go with a heavy kind of sadness in his heart. He was proud of his little brother, had always been proud of him but more so on this day than any other and yet he still couldn't keep from thinking that he might be losing one of those closest to his heart, feel a little hurt by it.

He would go to Daniel and there he would remain regardless of what happened. He would defend the boy with his very life because that was the right thing to do and more than that Antonio sensed that during those long agonizing moments of Daniel's crucifixion and his death they had forged a rough and unrecognizable bond that ran far deeper than guilt or attraction.

His brother's sense of honor was diverse but Antonio new of no one who was more solid, some would later argue this was what held him to Daniel, his honor but Antonio would always know different, he's seen it in those golden depths. The beginnings of love, or perhaps love reawakened, birthed from the ashes of some past life that now lay forgotten in the depths of their souls.

"You will be missed, brother." He whispered this to the wind as the noise from the crowd finally spilled in on him again. "Gods above, Let us not become strangers or worst yet enemies I fear I couldn't live with that."

Paths crossed, people grew apart, fought different battles and lines blurred into infinity if you thought about it too hard.