Ruby hit the unseen ground within the Inbetween with blunt force. She winced, her head beginning to spin with the sudden change of scenery. Nexus stepped in front of her, his fists clenched at his sides aggressively. "Had I known that you were going to be this much of a pain, I wouldn't have separated you two in the first place."
Ruby clenched her jaw, staggering to her feet. "Perhaps you shouldn't have. But you did, and that merely seems like it's an issue that you need to face. Why should Safire and I have to pay for your mistake? I won't apologise for your mistake, you bastard! You and your brother are nothing alike."
Nexus scoffed coldly. "Brother? He's not my brother. We were born from the dying galaxies inside the Inbetween. We call one another siblings, but Genis and I have no relation outside of the fact that we were both born of the Inbetween. I'm the youngest deity, with Serina being the eldest. She'll be upon us soon. You'd better be grateful that she's willing to talk with a mortal being."
Ruby snarled, backing away from Nexus. "I don't care what you think. I won't be rejoining Safire anytime soon. You'll have to kill me before I voluntarily go back. I'm not going down without a fight, though. So prepare yourself for that."
Nexus narrowed his eyes, stepping toward Ruby as he materialised a jet black sword by his side, wielding the weapon with rage. "That might be applicable, actually. We'll have to speak with Serina. Taking your head with that foul look would be oddly enjoyable."
Ruby backed away, her heels suddenly losing all grounding beneath them. She was standing directly on the edge of the invisible flooring. She sighed deeply, turning back to Nexus with a deep growl. "Fuck."
Odeen stumbled back a few steps once he was shoved into the Inbetween. He seemed disoriented and a little taken aback before Genis stepped inside. Odeen's eyes widened with shock at the tall blonde who appeared before him suddenly. "You, you're Genis?"
Genis merely grinned, brushing himself down. "Are you that shocked that I exist? I mean, after everything that you've witnessed up until this point, you seem far more stunned that I stand before you now. Welcome to my home, Odeen. You'll be able to see me on all planes now that you've passed through the Inbetween. This will make working together much easier. Now, we're here to find my brother and Ruby." Genis looked around, finding nothing aside from Nexus's abandoned body. "Strange, this is where he normally shows up." Genis sighed, massaging his temples. "Of all times to change up."
Odeen swallowed all fear he felt, looking around the darkened, open universe that lit up with the dull illumination of stars. His eyes squinted slowly as a figure moved high above them, barely detectable. "Genis, is that them?"
Genis turned his head up to see the figure approaching like it was floating. Genis shuddered deeply, taking Odeen's hand. "Nope, that's one of my siblings. Looks like Serina has upped security since I last set foot in here. We've got to get out of here."
Odeen yelped once Genis pulled them from the platform, sinking further into the Inbetween slowly, as though there was no gravity where they were. "Why are you being hunted if you're the good guy?"
Genis chuckled in amusement. "Your runaway bride and I have a lot more in common than you'd believe. I was chosen to hold the world's, like Nexus is doing now. But I refused to be bound for an eternity. I don't know how he separated his body from his soul." They landed delicately on yet another platform as Genis looked around. "He's been one busy kid. I'm almost proud. Keep close, mortal. If I lost you in here, Serina would have a fit."
Odeen stayed behind Genis as they continued through the inky darkness. "Who is Serina exactly? It's time that you and I discuss what we're facing. If you want my help, I need to know."
Genis hummed, nodding his head in agreement. "I suppose that's fair enough. Serina is the first-born deity. She materialised in the Inbetween when Teralu and Earth were just specks, barely realised planets. She put herself in charge of watching over the two universes. Then, as time went on, more deities were created through the magic that passed through the worlds. She became our unofficial queen. Anything she says goes. Her power is unmatched. I'm not the only one who has denied her commands. But I am the only one who lived to tell the tale. I've been on the run ever since."
Odeen was stunned into shocked silence, left to process Genis's words. "Wait - so the most powerful being in this place is after you, and she's the bad guy? How are we meant to take on someone like that?"
"Take on?" Genis halted, hunching forward with the hysterical laughter that hurt his ribs. "You fuckin' psychopath! You want to fight Serina? Are you out of your mind?! We'd die the moment we stepped against her! No, no, and no! Our goal is to run, hide, and stay far away from her until after the harmonic period. That way, Nexus can't absorb Ruby and Safire's magic, and we get a 20-year head start to ensure their safety."
Odeen hummed, nodding his head absentmindedly. "So we'll be fugitives from the most powerful beings in the universe? Universes? I knew this mission was high-stakes, but this is not what I was expecting. We're trudging through Serina's domain, so what would happen if we were to be caught here?"
Genis thought for a moment, taking Odeen's wrist to drop down another level. "Uhh, you'd be sent back home without Ruby, and I'd either be chained in Nexus's spot if Serina is feeling merciful, or killed on sight." Genis shrugged, landing on the platform below with Odeen. "Probably killed on sight, now that I think about it. She wouldn't be too happy that I'm helping the humans."
Odeen furrowed his brows, grabbing hold of Genis's shoulder. "Then our mission right now is to find Ruby and get you out of here before Serina realises you're here. There isn't another moment to waste."
Genis nodded weakly, halting his movements when a glint from below caught his eye. A simple flicker was all it took to locate Nexus by the blade he wielded. "Odeen, shut the fuck up - I found them." Genis walked to the edge of the platform, kneeling down to study the scene. "It looks as though he's keeping her held hostage until Serina arrives. My cool-down period should be over by now, so I'll grab Ruby and open a portal, then we'll get the fuck out of here. Odeen?"
Genis turned to find Odeen staring at the sight with icy rage. "Ah, crap. Right, you like her. Muscles, there's no room for being blinded by emotions. You need to think clearly right now. Nexus is powerful here. I might be more powerful, but we're in Serina's land."
"I don't care." Genis gulped with the angered tone that came from Odeen. "He dares to hold a blade toward Ruby." Odeen's eyes darkened, his mind made up. "He will pay for this blunder." Odeen leapt from the platform with no warning.
"No, you idiot! Damnit! Mortals are such idiots!" Genis scrambled to his feet, letting out an exhausted groan. "There goes our element of surprise." Genis followed Odeen's lead, jumping down from the platform.
Odeen hit the platform behind Nexus, grabbing a tight hold of his wrist to begin wrestling the sword from the deity. "Get away from her, you disgusting piece of garbage! She hasn't done a thing wrong!"
Nexus was not expecting the attack, fighting back against Odeen's strength, desperate to keep the weapon he created. "You don't know a damn thing, you arrogant fool!" Genis landed beside them, rushing forward to knock Nexus from Odeen's grasp on the sword. Nexus was thrown from the platform, left to fall into the Inbetween. Odeen pulled his sword from its sheath, tossing it aside to sheath the weapon he'd stolen.
Genis sighed deeply, turning to Odeen. "Be careful with that thing, one tiny cut, and the magic within will corrupt and kill you." Odeen nodded his head, turning toward Ruby at the exact moment that she slammed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck in relief.
"You came for me! I was honestly starting to panic. That Nexus guy is someone that you really shouldn't fuck with! Are you two okay?! I'm so happy to see you!" Odeen halted, not returning the embrace. He merely stared at Ruby in shock. Ruby furrowed her brows, staring up at Odeen with confusion. "What?"
Odeen began to sputter, lost for words. "I... You - Genis, I think I may be having a stroke. This stress is becoming far too much for me. I thought that I understood every word that Ruby just spoke." Ruby pulled away suddenly, realising they were speaking to one another clearly.
Genis brushed himself down, tearing open a portal to Teralu. "Yeah, you can. You're in the Inbetween. The place where languages mix, and you're able to see deities. Of course, things are different here. You'll finally understand one another. Speaking to one another in the Inbetween gifts you with understanding. This place isn't all that bad."
Genis's portal shattered suddenly, separating Odeen and Ruby in shock. Genis's face paled as a commanding voice came from below. "Not all that bad, is it, Genis?" A stunning woman, bathed in a bright, glowing black light and wearing an enormous, flowing gown of white.
Genis's shoulders slumped as the woman stepped up onto the platform, approaching the trio. Nexus peered out from behind her. Genis turned to the woman, bowing his head low. "Serina. You're looking... ethereal."
"Skip the compliments. I see that you're still the same trickster who vanished when your brother needed you the most. You know the law is to never mess with human souls, and yet you've involved yourself with 4 innocent souls."
Genis clenched his fists, lowering his head. "Well, so did Nexus. It's too late now, they're separate! I can't just sit by knowing that you're going to force them together. It's wrong, Serina. You know it is. They must stay apart now. It's too late to fix his mistake. Now we just... let them live."
"I don't remember asking for your input, Genis. You'll be tried for treason and sentenced to death." Blue chains began to climb up Genis's legs, pinning him to the platform with vicious tightness. Genis winced in pain, his knees buckling.
Ruby felt her breath waver as she stepped forward, the fear that once consumed her now nowhere to be found. "Let him go. This instant. He's the only deity that has bothered to learn about me and Safire. I will not stand by and watch you hurt him!"
Serina raised a brow at Ruby's brazen display. Odeen stepped closer to Ruby, standing tall. "You heard her. Release Genis. You've done nothing but cause trouble. Both of you. You're the evil doers here. Genis merely ran from a prison sentence."
Nexus scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest. "You know nothing of his crimes." Ruby's heart began to pound as Genis let out a pained cry. She shifted her gaze back to him, finding the chains slowly wrapping across his torso, pulling him to his knees with unnecessary brutality. She rushed to his aid, trying to pull the chains loose. "Ruby, there is nothing you can do for him. There is no good and evil on this plane. Only ever power. Genis disrespected mine, so he will see its full potential."
Ruby clenched her jaw, returning to her feet. "Power? Why don't I bring Safire here and we show you who's powerful?!" She snapped, causing Serina to tilt her head in curiosity. "Yeah, we touched! And we know exactly why you want to separate us! We have the ability to hurt you! And we're going to if you keep hurting Genis! Release him now!"
The Inbetween began to rumble, startling all present. All aside from Ruby, who stood passionately amidst the chaos. Serina's mouth twitched as she turned toward the human in shock. "You can harness it? Nexus. Kill her."
Nexus stepped back in shock, staring at Serina as though he had heard her wrong. "Serina? You want me to kill the human? O-on what grounds? I cannot take life, that's our law."
Ruby furrowed her brows in confusion as Serina's eyes hid a hint of fear behind them. The realisation hit her hard as, before her, a small glint of black caught her eye. Ruby grinned wildly as she answered the call of her power, summoning a raging black hole. Serina grabbed hold of Nexus, throwing them back off the platform to protect themselves from the violent appearance of Ruby's gift.
Ruby shuddered, stepping toward the black hole. Odeen grabbed hold of her wrist, staring at her with wide eyes. "Wait! Where are you going? That... thing will hurt you! It's too dangerous to go in there!"
Ruby slipped her hand from Odeen's grasp, smiling tenderly. "No, it calls for me. There's something more than just raw power here. It's alive." Ruby reached forward, touching the raw magic. It began to rumble and spark, illuminating the realm in a blinding light of magnificent power. Odeen covered his face, wincing from the piercing pain of the light. Genis raised his head, sucking in a harsh breath as the chains shattered around him. "She's... incredible." He collapsed to the ground.
By the time the light dissipated, Serina returned to the platform, finding it burned and charred. "This is worse than we feared, Nexus. She's harnessed the power through the Inbetween alone. Her power is not as strong as mine... it far surpasses it. There is no doubt anymore. They both must be slain."
Nexus frowned, shaking his head desperately. "Serina, I don't think that I could kill them. I was only using that as an empty threat to keep Ruby put until you arrived, but going through with it is a different thing entirely. I can't."
"You must." Serina turned toward Nexus with a cold glare. "What do you think will happen once they realise that those girls are stronger than I am? I will be overthrown, and the three worlds will be plunged into darkness. Kill Genis if you must. But those young women have been sentenced to death because of your mistake. Either you carry out this command, or I will send another. What is your choice?" Nexus squeezed his eyes closed in mourning, falling to one knee before Serina. "Good choice. You see now why we do not mess with the mortals. Eliminate them, then return to your body, and I shall pardon you from your duties. You'll see freedom once more."
-End of chapter 18-