<div class="floatleft">(http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac161/boobytrap1993/Ez_zps5bb59020.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Ezra Vanauatu (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=207204.msg10204477#msg10204477)<br/><strong>Cabin:</strong>Ares.<br/><strong>Location:</strong>The Cabin.<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>September 23rd, evening.<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Avery, The War God. (http://i.imgur.com/lVKBwfY.gif) Malcolm (NPC).<br/><strong>Summoning:</strong>Ruin, Warhorse of Ares. (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/363/6/6/hell_horse_by_connormaxon-d5pmdhd.jpg)<br/><strong>Notes:</strong>Wearing: Engraved Armor. (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oft_XybHgEA/TaYNgf708jI/AAAAAAAAAAU/Rx_lw32D48U/s1600/44814_1541924238465_1545730925_31331048_7988729_n.jpg)<br/><strong>Warning:</strong>Some links include Gore.<br/><hr/><hr/><br/>In every sense of the word, Ezra was at the height of his power. He'd been offered a blessing this night as ramification for the injustice he'd had to suffer because of another son's stupidity, and for the first time he truly felt validated by his father. No longer would he doubt his father's watchful eye down upon him, no longer would he lose. With his father's steed a permanent gift, to be summoned with a sacrifice of blood at any given time, Ezra felt unbeatable. Yet even so, despite how titanic he'd felt his power, her eyes did not seem to care. Looking at her still made him uneasy, an inch away from his sword and still completely insistent in striking him with her hateful stare, judgement and scorn spilling from the gaze unfailry. Yet it made no difference who had done what. It was too late at this point, too late for explanations he would have given if she'd allowed him the chance to walk instead of standing in his way not moments ago. This was the end, and there was nothing Ezra could do about it anymore.<br/><br/>Spiteful words errupted from her lips in retaliation, and once again she'd refused his offer to let this all go. Furthermore she'd insulted his father in the process, and that was the last straw.  A growl escaped his throat as Ruin screamed a hellhish scream and bucked up on its hind legs, raising itself into the air and letting the fire spill in small burning sparks downwards. They'd burn whatever they touched, including Avery's skin which came in contact with them. The horse would land on all fours once more with a mighty stomp, and Ezra would be seconds away from slicing down his sword to end her with thunder clashed even louder, louder than it had ever before. Ezra averted his eyes to the skies for a single moment, before the impossible happened right before his eyes.<br/><br/>Suddenly Ruin was engulfed in thorny, vicious vines that would nto burn at the touch. Hera had seen her son's interference as un-necessary, and had taken it upon herself to intervene. Ezra growled again and started to slice away at the vines one by one, trying to free the war steed while it struggled, yet this was not the magic of Avery. At least, it was not magic he was familiar with. Perhaps Avery had learned something new, or just maybe she had more power than he realized before. Only Ares could help him then, yet the God of War was not so generous as to offer his aid so profoundly twice. Furthermore, there would be implications for further defying his mother. As such, Ezra was helpless as his steed was quickly dragged back down into the pit from which it came. Ezra's hand wrapped around Ruin's neck for a moment, bathing in its fire as the horse screamed out in pain. "I will summon you again, my brother." His words whispers to the kidnapped steed, before he was forced to jump from its back and land at the last moment possible before he got sucked down along with it.<br/><br/>"I told you your magic was cowardice! Ares will not forgive you for tainting his creations with your fowl magi--" His words were interrupted while he was approaching her, as once again she used her mind tricks to cause him harm. This one was different. For a second he was still, on his way to confront her, and another second his mind was being flooded with a heavy flood of water that crashed through his mind. His growls turned to painful groans, ripping through his throat as the immense, searing pain forced him down once again onto his knees. She was being helped by someone he had no resistance over, and no matter how strong Ezra was, he could not defy the powers of his own Grandmother. It was excruciating, to the point where Ezra could no longer speak. Crimson eyes started bleeding, as his mind twisted and bent within him. He began to cough up blood as the blood streamed from around his eye, painting him momentarily in a demonic figure. Everything about him would not yield. His eyes screamed it, his body refusing to move, his lips refusing to speak a word of surrender. His consciousness began to flicker away, little by little, and Ezra knew he had lost. Whether the Gods were unfair in their help, and despite the fact that Hera was the one that decided she would rob her own son from his strongest champion, he had still lost. Just as he held responsibility for Henry, he had failed the rest of them. A last flashing image brought a shocking smile to his face, as a certain black haired woman smiled within his thoughts. He'd never see her again.<br/>.<br/>.<br/>.<br/><br/>"STOP IT."<br/><br/>The voice came suddenly, quelling the thunder in the skies and surprising all who'd heard it.  A figure stood beside Avery and Ezra, and suddenly it began to step between them with its arms spread out as far as it could reach, trying to form a barrier between Avery and its brother. Of all people, who came to aid him, it was a certain boy with a broken nose. Malcolm had been watching the whole time, and Malcolm had decided he would not just watch anymore. Guilt and pain struck his heart as he watched his brother get blessed by his father, get stabbed and wounded for something that was not his fault, get tortured by a woman who falsely accused him. Softness had no room in the cabin of Ares, yet loyalty and sacrifice did. Ezra had been doing all of this to try and save Malcolm despite what he did, and it was time that he did something too. Tears were flying down his eyes along with the blood from his nose, and he raised his first to her face. He would not punch her, simply stopping it before her eyes to display the bruising.<br/><br/>"HE DIDN'T DO IT, I DID!"<br/><br/>Malcolm yelled out as loud as his lungs would allow him, trying to prove a point and shocking her into stopping her mental attacks. The surprise on her face would be evident, and in that moment Ezra would finally take a long breath like someone had been suffocating him this whole time. His chest would pant and heave as it struggled for air, and Malcolm would walk backwards to Ezra. He'd slide beneath one of his arms and let Ezra drape it around his shoulder, lifting the mentally beaten man up to his feet. Children of Ares were not ones to kneel, their place did not belong on the ground. Malcolm still glared at Avery, the tear flow increasing down his cheeks. "He was trying to protect him...and save me from YOU." He scowled at the woman, and in a twisted turn of events everything would be on its head. Suddenly, the cruel one was Avery and not Ezra. Suddenly the reason for Ezra's stubbornness would be revealed, the protection of his brother. Even if it was at the cost of his own life, Ezra was not going to relent. Thus was the dedicated he'd offered to his siblings when he took the role of leadership. Her misjudgment was grand, and it had cost him. It had cost him greatly.<br/><br/>"Come on Councillor...we need to get you to the infirmary. I'll go to Chiron on my own...I will be faulted here, not you." The boy said as he wiped tears from his eyes, and began to help Ezra walk away. In one last glance, his crimson eyes met Avery's ocean blue. They did not exchange words, yet his expression was clear. She'd seen the worst in him tonight, yet she'd brought the worst out of herself to match him. She wasn't the person he knew anymore, and her compassion that he had fallen for before, turned into vengeance. His gaze upon her was not hating, nor scorning. It was...disappointed.