Soda

"Stay here."

Were the anxious mother's words as young Soda and Chalant were locked in a hidden chamber within the uppermost floor of the spire.

This dream was in Soda's perspective, a recollection of a past memory, so Lilo's perception was forced to remain in the dark room with them.

For awhile nothing happened. They just sat in the dark room in silence. Soda's tiny hands searched the room for his brother.

Chalant placed a comforting hand on Soda's shoulder.

"It's okay... I'm here." He pulled Soda in for an embrace and they rocked together out of anxious fidget.

In the darkness, Lilo made out a sinister smile growing on Chalant's face. Young Soda was unaware, but the ghostly Soda who was witnessing this dream with Lilo also made note of this unnerving smile.

It brought joy to Chalant's heart to know that his favorited little brother had to rely on him for strength.

It was times like this that reminded Chalant that he was older and that his younger brother needed him.

Young Chalant began humming a tune, one that he would always sing to comfort Soda before he went to sleep. A lullaby that their mother had taught them.

Unbeknownst to them, it was a spell. A forbidden magic that only kite riders casted to drop the guard of their enemies and give a false sense of ease when in battle.

A tool used in battle was a lullaby for the princes of the spire of self-control. The queen of this spire was cunning and stubborn; unwavering to the rules of society if it meant that her children could sleep in peace.

This disarming spell was taught as a song to Chalant and Soda, to sooth their spirits and calm their minds.

It was harmless when used to put them to sleep... but in a situation as dire as this, it proved to be a lethal hinderance in taking away their primal awareness.

They spent what felt like hours like that together, humming the mind numbing song, and slowly drifting off into sleep.

They awoke to sounds that could only be described as horrifying.

Claws shredding flesh. The chilling sound of blood splattering on the walls. The cries of the victims who were devoured by the hungry gluttons.

These sounds were all they had to rely on for information. The room was shrouded in darkness, and the two scared children gripped each other's hand in a hopeless attempt to comfort one another.

Chalant could feel his brothers pulse quickening with each terrifying sound that came from below their room.

The horrors were only getting louder and closer; and the palms of the brothers grew sweaty and white from their trembling grip.

Heavy, desperate, footsteps approached their door and both the boys huddled together, shivering in fear, thinking this would be their last moment shared together.

Under the sliver of light from the bottom of the door, a large shadow was cast of the figure that reached the door.

Chalant could feel the trembling heart of his little brother and Lilo witnessed that creepy smile appear on the young child's face again.

Out of the pocket of his tunic he pulled out a circular object. It was small and cylindrical, and when the small sliver of light from under the door caught the object, it gleamed a silver light.

Soda stopped crying and looked up at his brother, who was now placing that object into Soda's hand while the terrifying figure on the other side of the door continued to fumble at the door.

"Do you trust me?" Chalant asked with intensity.

Young Soda nodded with pure innocence and complete trust.

"Drink it. It will save us from the monsters that are approaching." Chalant said with full confidence.

Little Soda felt the cold sensation of the can in his hand and tried to look through the darkness at what it was.

Chalant placed his hands over Soda's and helped him open the can.

A quick hissing noise escaped the canned beverage and startled both of the young children.

Chalant quickly put a reassuring hand on Soda's shoulder and carefully helped bring the can to his brother's lips.

"Don't be scared. I'm here with you. Think of what mom would want you to be. Be brave." Chalant coerced his tone to sound comforting and encouraging.

Little, young, Soda had a pure and gullible soul. His heart fluttered at the mention of his mother and a determined expression grew on his cute face.

With trembling hands he brought the can to his lips and took his first gulp. The liquid was sweet at first but then burned down his throat in an awful tingling sensation.

The carbonated sparkling bubbles danced on his tongue and bounced around his throat, trickling into a potent hot sensation on the inside of his nose.

He coughed and tried to pull away, but Chalant tilted the can higher; forcefully making little Soda chug more of the awful sweet and spicy liquid.

Tears welled up in little Soda's eyes from the burning sensation and his hands grasped his older brother's, trying to claw away from the vile liquid being forced down his throat.

He choked and forgot to breath, panic setting into his mind. His nose was free but felt awful from the carbon bubbles, and his eyes darted in the darkness, in search of escape.

Abruptly, the door burst open with a thud and a muffled shriek escaped both Chalant and Soda's mouths.

Light spilled into the room, illuminating everything, and blinding the two fearful boys.

Chalant dropped the can of the sparkling, cursed, sweet liquid; spilling half of it all over the floor.

What remained of it in Soda's mouth came dripping out of the corner of his lips like drool. Snot ran down his nose from the burning sensation and his eyes were swollen from the tears.

There, standing with a look of horror on their face, was the king of this spire; their father.

His armor was covered in blood and his sword was covered with shreds of colorful glutton flesh. 

His brows furrowed and his ferocious eyes turned soft as tears filled his eyes.

The powerful and magnificent king fell to his knees and wept at the sight of his infected son.

He pulled Soda in for an embrace, clutching him like he would disappear if he didn't hold on stronger.

The king tilted his sons head back and reached into his throat with his large fingers; forcing him to choke and throw up.

Immediately the contents of what he drank spewed out of his mouth, causing a reaction of relief to wash over the king.

Soda wiped his mouth and ran to his father for another embrace, afraid and confused.

He sobbed into the broad comforting shoulder of his father, not knowing what had transpired or why it had happened.

Chalant watched nervously in a corner, analyzing on what to do next.

"H-he wanted to do it. It was his idea!" Chalant put on a frantic and fearful expression. "We found it here, and we thought you were a glutton coming to kill us!"

The king abruptly stopped, gently put his younger son aside, and wiped away his tears.

"Your mother must not know of this." He told his older son with cold discernment. 

"But... we don't know if any of it is still in his system! He'll turn into a crav-" Chalant began but was slapped violently across the face by his powerful father, sending him into the fresh pool of vomit.

"Do. As. You're. Told." With those words, he ignored his son who was soaked in vile liquid, and picked up Soda, placing him on his shoulder.

They walked over to a window overlooking the overrun spire. Fire, smoke, the smell of blood and the cries of death filled the air.

"My men and I will not allow this tyranny to overtake this beloved spire. This is our spire son." He paused to look into his infected son's eyes. "We own this spire and have protected its sacred grounds for centuries."

Soda seemed unconvinced as he looked out of the window that portrayed utter chaos.

"Listen to your king my prince. You are safe with me. I swear by the gods that no glutton will ever harm you... not even the cursed fruit will be able to ensnare you in its gluttonous clutches." The deep voice of the powerful king was inspiring.

"My child... human, glutton, craver or not, your mother and I will always love you; because you are special." The king's large fingers adjusted the crown on the prince's head.

"No matter what happens, you are our hope. You will deliver to the Timbers and break us away from the bondage to the spires. The gods made a promise to your mother, and the devil can't change your fate with his fruit."

Chalant remained lying in the pool of his brother vomit, clutching his swollen cheek. Dark, golden, eyes glistened as Chalant glared up at his father's overbearing figure holding up his younger brother.

A tear trickled down his cheek and meddled in with the puddle of vile liquids. Even in cast of his father's shadow, his sinister eyes glowed bright, and the unnerving smile reappeared on his lips.