The Path of Time ★ [3] ? (EDITING)

Architects of Destruction

I detected Steve's aura approach as he moved closer to me, Peter falling back towards his team. I felt his hand try and reach out to mine. I curled my fingers away. I didn't want comfort, especially not from him at the moment. I needed to look strong, not look like I relied on others. Eon could use that to work against me, and I wasn't going to allow him to do that. I'd be putting Steve and the others in danger, and I wasn't willing to risk that.

Eon's red eyes drifted to me. And a sly and malevolent grin crawled onto his weathered face. "I see you have found more to die for your cause, Andromeda."

"I do what I must to take you down," I countered back coldly. "My intentions are good, and my friends are loyal. I cannot say the same for you."

He scoffed. "Good? We shall see when their blood runs at your feet." His eyes flicked to the Avengers. "'Heroes', you are called. I beg to differ. You are nothing but defiers of death. The Vision: the one who challenges death; the Asgardian: the one who does not fear death; the monster: the one who seeks death..." His eyes moved to Stark. "...the Innovator: the one who believes he is immortal."

Stark's expression twitched, what looked like memories of Ultron flashing back to haunt him.

Eon turned to Steve. "The Soldier: the one who has to die; and his other side of the coin, the Soldier Who Betrayed: the one who has died before."

I fought with all my being not to look at Steve, to look at his expression, for I was afraid of what I'd see there. He knew of the future words and I knew that they were haunting him at that moment. Eon was rubbing salt into an already gaping and bleeding wound.

And then his red eyes rested on me, sending my heart pounding hard in my chest and my blood thrumming in my ears. The next words he uttered were true, and it hurt: "The Time Walker; the hero of our story; the One Who Will Save Us All; the one who escapes death, flees it at every turn, sacrifices all who stand in her way and by her side for her own selfish immortality." The more truths he spat out the louder and angrier his voice became, raising it high for all to hear. "The one who would rather run than face her responsibilities, who would rather frolick within the peaceful periods of time than save her own people." He spread his arms out to gesture to all around him. "And you follow her! You choose to align yourselves – your lives, your safety, your children, your freedom – with a hidden tyrant! A lurking darkness standing in the light! An architect of destruction! You have sealed your deaths in stone siding with her. She will be your doom."

I could feel everything inside begin to crack. With every word he spoke, an earthquake shook inside of me, tearing down everything I'd built. It was like a every word, every truth spoken, was a blade sliding into my skin, twisting further and further, before being ripped out and done again. I did not defend myself. It felt wrong to. It felt wrong to against words that rang true.

"What is your purpose here?" Primavera boomed, silencing the whispering among the crowds and moved persecuting eyes off me onto her.

Eon raised his hands in surrender. "I wish to parley. Enough have died over our squabbling."

Primavera nodded ever-so-slightly, her eyes closing and opening again in unison. "Then let us parley."

Before stepping forth, he sent a halting hand in Chameleon's direction. The traitor stood as still as a statue after raising a closed fist at the army behind him, who retreated away from the camp as instructed. Primavera spun on her heel and entered her tent with Eon following close after. His aura hadn't changed since the last time I'd encountered him – one of death, danger, and coldness – as he passed by me, sending one more glare as he followed Prima in.

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The parley had lasted for longer than an hour. People got sick of waiting, dispersing from the head tent to attend to other matters. The Avengers and the Guardians remained close by, however.

I sat on the table I'd been leaning against, legs crossed and elbow rested on knee with chin on fist. The wait gave me time to think about Eon's words. As much as I wanted to deny it, he was right. He was right about everything. When I stumbled onto something I didn't want to confront, my first instinct was to run, especially if there was something I could do to mend the situation. I was willing to sacrifice people for my own cause; for myself. Just because his words rang true, didn't mean I was proud of them. Those truths were words I lived with every day, words I was forced to think about every waking hour; words that haunted me no matter where I went.

My attention snapped to the entrance of Primavera's tent as the flaps whipped open. Eon sauntered out, swiftly making his way down the walkway towards Chameleon and his small battalion. Before leaving, he turned back to the Lady of Time, who exited her tent to stand how she did before the parley began.

"You know my terms, Primavera," he said coolly. "Like you, I do not want this war to continue. If you want it to end, I expect them to be met. You know the consequences if you refuse."

Prima's expression was that of stone: blank and unwavering.

Eon squinted. "You have three days." He whipped around and stormed off with Chameleon in tow, who sent me a sympathetic glance before following his leader away with their army.

"What are his terms?" I asked Prima, not looking her way.

The Lady of Time did not answer. She simply turned on her heel and re-entered her tent in silence. To say that her response made me nervous would be an understatement. I didn't like where this was going. Whatever these terms were, it was clear that they weren't in our favour, and, with that said, we needed to get our plan underway as soon as possible. If we didn't soon, Omega Chronos was lost.

❈Author's Note: Hey, there! I'm sorry this chapter's been so very late. I've been on a crazy Assassin's Creed binge lately that I've been completely dead to the world (and I've been working on a related project I'm soon going to revive).

Also, a really, really good friend of mine has just joined 抖阴社区! Yay for TheWardenofFerelden! I would really appreciate it if you'll could follow her. She follows back (90% of the time), so if that's a little incentive, then yay! Also she's written a Dragon Age fanfiction, so if you like that kind of thing it would be lovely if you could check it out! :D

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