Young Writers Society

"Now that everyone is here," Xáos announced. "We must now all stand." The council of gods complied.

"This meeting is for the mistakes that Solex has done," Xáos announced. "The following mistakes involve lack of being there when her brother needed her most. That was highlighted by the incident of the first war - which, by the way - will not be the last."

The crowd was stirred by this discovery. "Disown her!" some shouted.

"N-No.... No please..." Her face paled, as her timid hands gripped the hem of her skirt.

"Worry none," Xáos assured. "Those choices were almost laid, but Xelos stopped me before doing so. He really cares for you..." He sighed, looking towards him. "If only it was the same way around..."

"So... What's going to happen to me?" She said, concerned. "I-If anything..."

"Well, you certainly are not disowned..." He looked at the others that said such. "But... Something similar."

"W-what?" Her eyes widened.

"Xelos, take her hand."

"What are you doing?!" She panicked.

He took her hand, his expression grim.

"They wouldn't let me give mercy upon you..."

"Xelos, you're scaring me!" She cried out. Xáos lifted his hand to the air. Suddenly, she felt a shift in her will, as if it was being sucked out of her bodice. She felt the world fall around her. Xelos gripped her hand tighter with pity. As he removed his hand, it seemed as if nothing happened. Was that just a delusional torture?

"Come forth." He ordered her. Without judging it, she complied.

Xáos smirked. "Now, flip to the beginning of the book."

She did so. It said: "Owned by Xelos and Solex."

"Take the words 'And Solex', and remove them with what power you have left," Xáos commanded. "And once that is done, you will be relinquished of your duties."

"Wait, I-I'm not his editor anymore?" Her eyes widened.

"Do not question it." His voice was empathetic for his daughter's loss. "Just do as you are told."

"But father-"

"Would you do just one thing you were told to?!" He slammed his hands on the desk, filling the room with silence. His eyes burned bright with rage.

Silent, she looked back towards the book, feeling a lump in her throat.

"Do it!" He pressed.

She very slowly put her finger to the words, her hands shaking.

a...The first letter was easy to just give up.

n.... She could feel her hands shaking.

d......She could feel her chest hurting.

S.........She stopped, clenching the book tightly in her hands. "No..."

"Excuse me..?"

"N-No!" She pulled her hand away.

"…" Xáos just gave her a cold stare, one she knew meant she would never be forgiven for her actions.

"Now." He said with a very low growl, as if the words uttered from an beast.

Finally, everything piled onto her and she broke down. She dropped the book, covering her face and bawling, apologizing repeatedly.

The gods all stared, looking at each other in an awkward silence. Xelos looked ready to break down as well.

"I can't do it!" she blubbered. Her face was red, tears and snot were running down her face.

Xáos kept his stare, ungrudging. He slowly turned towards Xelos with the same expression. "Finish. It." He growled behind gritted teeth.

He was still as well, trembling. He was about to shake his head when Xáos barked, "Did I stutter?"

Xelos walked towards her, picking up the book and pressing his thumb up on the blank spot. He had to drone out his sister's pleading as he cleared it off with one slide.

"Now you are dismissed," Xáos shooed them away. Xelos took Solex's hand and lead her out. "And prepare for tomorrow, both of you," he called out to them in a calmer voice. Too calm. "A war starts in a month … and it is, hopefully, the last." he said grimly before adding, "Like it was meant to be."

***

"Xelos...?" She lay in her bed, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Yes?" He replied, sluggish with fatigue from the day. It wasn't even sunset and they were ready for bed.

"I think Xáos Hates me..." She buried her face in the pillow; her voice cracked a little.

He sighed. "At least you're here now. It’s not like he made you mortal..." He couldn't stop rubbing his finger along the blank space of the cover where her name was.

"You're right." She forced a smile. "Goodnight, brother."

"Goodnight sister." He shut his book and got under the covers.

As the hours passed, the room was bathed in an orange glow, and she was restless. She looked at the book in lament. Why did it affect their lives so horribly?! As she held it in her hands, an idea hit her.

"If whatever is written down affects us, then... if I remove the pages..." She tore them out. "This war would be nothing..." She smiled. But her smile faded as the pages returned. She couldn't edit the book. But demolishment isn't editing, is it? She consisted on ripping and ripping, a repetitive loop that made her eyes sting and her throat lump.

"DAMN IT JUST GO AWAY ALREADY!” Her papercut hands gripped onto the book covers and she tried to tear it away.

"STOP IT SOLEX!" Xelos grabbed her hand, his eyes baggy from waking up out of dead sleep. "YOU'LL KILL ME, REMEMBER?!"

She looked at him in pain, then back at the book; and yet she consisted on destroying it.

"NO!" He slapped her out of impulse. "Don't you get that the war has to stay?!"

She touched her cheek, tears started flowing down her face from the pain. Which was worse, she didn't know.

"I... I have to go..." She ran out of the house, shaking her head.

"S-Solex!" Xelos shouted at her. But he didn't run after her. He knew it was best to simply give her space.