Muses: Skyler, Bryan
Inspiration: Loosing Your Memory by Ryan Star
Title: Loosing Your Memory
It was yet another day to visit Alice, and the smile on Skyler’s face never left. The six year old little girl had become a great part in her life. Although she neglected her life above, her life below was just another half of her. She had tried with Charlie, but as the days went by she finally realized she’d never be accepted into her son’s life again the same way no matter how hard she tried. Eventually she had too drifted away from friend’s and family, so she found her comfort with the dead.
The Underworld was a new beginning of life, but life by another name. Those who deserved it found a new freedom and peace in Elysium, while others found punishment in the Fields of Punishment. It was a matter of your life before. If you used it wisely or as a fool. Many of those who passed she would look for, even if it hurt to see them in this state. Though there was one soul she never heard dead, yet never heard alive.
Three years had gone by since she saw the face of an old friend. The thought never occurred to her once before, knowing the face had always found himself drifting and returning. A life that no one could ever understand, but all one could do was feel sorry for and wish for the best. A life as the son of the King of monsters and Queen of the river was never easy, or came by as a hoping one. Enemies wanted your blood. Friends betrayed you. And the sins of lovers would always haunt you, and that line became endless and forever.
One could say it was lonely.
Another could say it was hopeless.
“Sky!” Alice exclaimed, seeing the face of her favorite and only visitor. She ran to her and into her arms. “You’re a minute late!”
“Am I now? Darn, maybe I ought to go even slower,” Skyler joked, boosting Alice in her arms. “How you’ve been, Little A?”
“That’d make it worse!” Alice laughed, and grinned. “I made a new friend.”
“You did?” Skyler asked not thinking this should be too much of concern. She was glad Alice had finally made a friend. If it was someone in Elysium, even better. She knew many heroes rested there, and all had earned their homes there. Although she adored and loved Alice, she couldn’t bare to be her only friend, especially if she were to miss a day or have to go away for some times. “Who is it?”
“You can meet him! He said he’d be right back.”
“Then I guess we ought to occupy ourselves while waiting, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes! Let’s play hide and seek!” Alice smiled widely, clapping her hands as she jumped up and down. “You count first!”
“One...two…” Skyler started, closing her eyes, a mischievous smile forming on her face. “Go hide, Alice!”
“No cheating!” She heard Alice call as she ran off to hide. Skyler continued to count, only to have silence respond. When she reached ten she opened her eyes, looking around trying to get an idea where Alice hid. Although she could already sense her aura, she tried her best to ignore it to make it fair. Though it didn’t take long for her to walk and hear the giggles from behind a tree.
“Oh, Alice!” Skyler cooed.
“Sky?”
It wasn’t Alice voice, or even the voice of a girl. When she turned she saw the familiar face of that old friend. There he stood after three years of no communication. It was an odd tension that filled the air, and very awkward to add to it. After a few seconds of shock staring, Bryan broke the silence and cleared his throat calling out loud, “Uh, Alice?”
“Brybry!” Alice called, running out from behind the tree. “You’re back!” Alice ran to him and into his arms, hugging the son of monsters and rivers. Bryan lifted her into his arms, a smile forming on his lips as he put her onto his shoulders, “How are you, kid? Missed me?”
“No,” Alice giggled and held onto him so she wouldn’t fall. Bryan knew how it felt to touch a spirit, his mother being the River Styx. It wasn’t a usual feeling for him, since he hardly came there anymore. If he did he mostly stayed to visit his mom, rather than wander elsewhere. He knew was hid in the Underworld’s secrets, even some things Skyler never knew until she convinced him to show her years ago. Now she knew every dept and inch of the place.
“Careful, Alice…” Skyler smiled softly, looking at her favorite little girl smiling.
“I’m almost careful, Sky!” Alice stuck her tongue out. “Right, Brybry?”
“Right, kid,” Bryan nodded. “Nice seeing you again, Lunie.”
“You know each other?” Alice asked confused. She looked at them and giggled, “Oh.”
The smile on Bryan’s face fell a little. He looked up at Alice and asked, “Can you give us a few minutes, kid?”
“Sure!” Alice giggled, getting off Bryan’s shoulders. “Take all the time you need!”
Skyler sighed, and rolled her eyes. She chuckled and gave a little shove to Alice, “I’ll see you tomorrow okay, Little A?”
“You’re leaving?” Alice frowned, stopping and turning around to face her. “Don’t leave, Sky. You just got here!”
“I have some business to finish, Alice. I promise it’ll be an extra long stay tomorrow. I’ll stay the night, I promise,” Skyler said, kneeling down in front of her. “Cross my heart and hope to never touch a yellow tulip again.” She smiled, and Alice smiled and nodded, crossing her heart the same as Skyler did. Alice hugged Skyler, “Bye, Sky” then disappeared.
Skyler stood up and said to Bryan, “Nice seeing you again, Bryan.”
“Three years and all I get is a ‘Nice seeing you again, Bryan’?”
“What do you want me to say?” Skyler asked, raising a brow. She started walking off from Elysium, with Bryan walking behind her. “I don’t know. I’m happy to see you? How’ve you been? Where’ve you been?”
Skyler stopped in her tracks and turned around. “I’m happy to see you. How’ve you been? Where’ve you been?”
“Ouch. A little feeling into that wouldn’t hurt,” Bryan smirked at her. “Why the cold shoulder, Lunie? Normally you’d be happy to see me, or at least do a better job at pretending you were happy.”
“A little too many times at the least.”
“Only a few hundred times. No big deal.”
“Right,” Skyler said, starting off again. She began walking to the palace of Hades, trying to escape his trail but no matter how far she kept walking she felt him following behind her. When she reached the large doors she turned, “What?”
“Why are you so angry at me? It’s not like this is the first time,” Bryan said confused, shaking his head. “What did I do?”
“What didn’t you do is the question,” Skyler told him, rolling her eyes and going inside. It wasn’t hard to say Skyler had been there for Bryan years before the three. Even when they barely knew each other she was there by his side. Best friends for a long while. They both knew how it felt when their love fell for another, because the other was their lover. It hurt and it ached. That was why Bryan left. When his first true love ultimately betrayed him and left him in the dust. The same for Skyler when Alec broke it off, forcing their son to grow a hatred for his father, and eventually his mother. They were alone and broken by love’s past.
As Skyler walked inside the hellhounds came out and stopped Bryan from entering. Bryan shouted, “Sky, come on! What did I do?”
Skyler simply said, “Like I said: what didn’t you do?”
The days went on and Bryan stayed in the city, deciding it was time to remain home for some time. It would be the first time he came back for more than a day, but even a few days compared to nothing. In those few days he visited Skyler’s home only to be greeted by another face.
Charlie raised a brow, “Who’re you?”
“I think I have the wrong house. Er, sorry,” Bryan said stepping away from the door.
“Wait, who are you looking for? Maybe I can help.”
Bryan shook his head, “No. It’s fine. I was just looking for a Skyler Lunar.”
Charlie instantly stopped and stood outside the door. He shut the door carefully behind him and asked, “What do you need her for?”
“She’s an old friend. Do you know her?”
“Known her my entire life,” Charlie chuckled lightly. The tension between his mom and himself had lowered, but it still wasn’t easy. He had managed to move back in with her but it wasn’t the same as before. The same before she left and came back. He honestly thought he was alone, and it was hurting to see she just left and didn’t even tell him. His mother had died and he believed it. To find out it was a lie made it worse.
“Charlie?” Bryan asked, unsure.
“In the flesh. Who’re you?” Charlie asked.
“I don’t think your mom would’ve mentioned me by the way she acted when she saw him.”
“Old lovers?”
Bryan nearly choked on his saliva at the mention. He shook his head, “Uh, uhm, no. More like best friends.”
“Then why wouldn’t she have mentioned you?” Charlie questioned. “You must have fucked up bad.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know what I did.”
Charlie pursed his lip and asked, “You wanna come inside? She’s not home right not.”
“She won’t mind?”
“What she doesn’t know won’t kill her.”
Bryan entered the home of Skyler, remembering visiting her there before in the old days. He always found comfort in that household whenever it had to do with love, family or life as it was. Skyler had always been there for him, so why not now?
When he stepped inside, he glanced around seeing the pictures of Charlie, Skyler and their big Greek family filling the walls and tables. The memories were flooding in and he chuckled seeing one of Skyler and Charlie as a little boy on the beach. He heard Charlie say, “That was my birthday. Mom wanted to take me out somewhere where bright and memorable. She wouldn’t let me go up the lighthouse alone, but I snuck up there. She found me and well it turned out to be really memorable.”
“She yelled at you?”
“No. She said she was proud that I didn’t let someone push me around,” he chuckled. “And that next time I better listen, because she’s the only one I have to listen to.”
“You two sure seem to get along,” Bryan said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Wish my kids and I were like that.”
“It’s never too late.”
“It is. They died awhile back,” Bryan said, and Charlie muttered, “Oh. Sorry.”
Bryan smiled, “I miss them, but I can’t do anything about it. You know you’re a lot like your mom.”
“So I’ve been told, but before I used to get mad when someone told me,” Charlie admitted, shrugging as he started walking to the kitchen. He took out a can of Coke and tossed one to Bryan.
All Bryan could laugh at the soda, “Like brother like sister.”
“Uncle Coker, right?” Charlie asked over his shoulder. “He visits sometimes.”
“I’m not surprised. They were really close,” Bryan nodded. “Why weren’t your mom and you?”
“I was angry after she left. Then I was angrier when she returned. It kind of just hurt knowing she left without a word, and might have never came back. Like she missed a part of my life. Like she didn’t care.”
“What about now?”
“It’s better, but I don’t think she’s the same. I love her, but things never have been the same.”
“She doesn’t look the same. That’s for sure. It used to be hard to break your mom, but now-”
“She looks like she lost it? I know.”
“Where was Coker, Emmy, Rina, Zana, anyone?”
“Busy with war or busy elsewhere. It was just her on her own,” Charlie said, only to have the door open nearby.
Skyler’s voice scowled, “Why are you here?”
Charlie cleared his throat, “I think I better go. It was nice meeting you, Bryan.”
“How do you-”
“I may be only a few years old, but I know old faces,” Charlie said, as he left. “Good luck.”
Skyler rolled her eyes when they were left along, dropping her things onto the table. Then she grabbed a bag and started putting things into it, “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to see you.”
“So you decided to see me after three years? Wonderful,” she said, stocking into the bag. “I’m flattered.”
“Still stubborn as ever,” Bryan chuckled, walking over to her. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“Obviously,” Bryan said sarcastically, as he walked up behind her. “Skyler… Sky… Lunie…”
She turned around and faced him, snapping, “What?”
“Why are you so angry?”
“People change.”
“Apparently, since you’re still short,” he smiled at her, but it was only returned with a scowl and a glare. He didn’t get it. Why was she so angry and mad? What had he done? Yes, he hadn’t been around but no one else was angry. Why her? It was confusing and it didn’t make sense no matter what he thought or tried to figure out. Even her own son didn’t know what was wrong. What broke Skyler Lunar?
“And you’re still a jerk. How long are you staying this time?”
“How long do you want me to stay?”
“What does it matter?” Skyler asked, walking passed him. When she reached the center counter, her palms faced flat down on them as she shook her head. Then she turned and faced him, “You’ll just leave again. It’s what you do, Bry.”
“So we’re to Bry now? It’s a start,” Bryan told her. He sighed, “I would stay if I knew I was wanted. I have nothing here, Lunie. My kids are dead. Serena left me. I have nothing.”
“You had a lot here. You were wanted here.”
“By who?”
“Zana, Rina, Coker… everyone.”
“What about you, Lunie?” Bryan asked walking up to her, placing either hand and arm beside her reaching to the center table behind her. “Did you miss me?”
Skyler looked up at him shaking her head. She did miss him. She missed everything and a whole lot about him. They were buds, partners in crime, and the Stormie to her Lunie. It was silly, but the more she thought about it the more it made sense. Never before did she need him there, except for one time, but instead he left.
“Just go, Bry,” Skyler muttered. “Please.”
“Why? I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Bry… Please.”
“Dammit, Lunie! I’m not leaving until you tell me what I did!” Bryan stormed and yelled, stepping back and shaking his head. “I’ve been gone! What did I do during that time? Because I sure damn don’t know!”
“You’re impossible,” Skyler shook her head and started to walk into the other room. Bryan followed after her and shouted, “I’m impossible? I’m not the one being vague about everything!”
“Get out of my house, Bryan!”
“No. Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
Skyler walked up to him and wailed, “You wanna know what’s wrong? Everything! Everything is this whole damn world is wrong! Every person, thing, and everything in this whole damn place!”
Bryan froze a little and asked, “What do you mean?”
“I mean eve-ry-thing!” Skyler shouted, tears starting to stream down her face.
“Oh, Lunie…” Bryan sighed, pulling her into a hug. For the first time Skyler didn’t pull away, but found herself crying into his shoulder, collapsing to her knees with him following. He patted and rubbed her back, “Shhh…”
Skyler’s tears kept going, and eventually her eyes shut. Bryan lifted her up and placed her in her room, and went downstairs. It was confusing and he wasn’t sure what to make of it. He collapsed on the couch downstairs only to be woken up later in the night.
“Bryan?” he heard Charlie’s voice. “What are you still doing here?”
Bryan woke up startled and groaned, “Huh?”
Charlie shook his head and patted his shoulder, “There is a guest room upstairs if you want.”
“Thanks,” Bryan nodded, slowly getting up. When he did start walking upstairs he passed by Skyler’s room only to see Charlie saying goodnight to his mother before going to his own room. Bryan kept walking and fell asleep in the guest room, knowing he should go but felt bad for Skyler wanting to make sure everything was fine.
The next morning he woke up and saw the house was empty and decided to go. When he did leave he found himself confused and unsure. Skyler had gotten up earlier that day and didn’t want to face him. Instead she went to visit her favorite little girl.
“Sky, you’re back!” Alice cheered, then her face dropped. “Were you crying…?”
Skyler smiled weakly and shook her head, “Course not, Little A.”
“Don’t lie, Sky… I know crying when I see it…” Alice frowned and hugged her. “Why were you crying?”
“Just a little overwhelmed, Alice. That’s all. I promise.”
“Is it because of Bryan? You didn’t look happy when you saw him.”
“Of course not, Alice. It doesn’t have to do with him.”
“Then why weren’t you happy to see him?” Alice asked, tilting her head out of curiosity. “Did he do something wrong?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Skyler told her. She sat below the tree and rubbed her temples. It was more that hard but it was aggravating. “Let’s talk about something else.”
Bryan had been in the local bar nearby in the city. He hadn’t visited anyone else yet, and he wanted to keep it that way. If things kept going on this way he had to go because obviously it didn’t seem like he was wanted. Only when he started to walk back home did he find himself in the worse drunken state he’s ever been in years. People would yell at him to get off the streets and all he did was flick them off and keep going. But eventually he found himself in the worse part of town, and getting into a fight that led him blood stained.
“Bry...an?” Skyler blinked when she saw him laying on a bench. He groaned, but not because of the pain but because he didn’t want to be disturbed. “What?” he snapped.
“Only you,” Skyler sighed, and tried to help him up. She shadow travelled them back to her house where she put him on the couch. “Don’t get up.”
“Why is the world spinning?”
“Because you got yourself in a fight, dumbass.”
“Yeah, dumbass, why’d you get yourself into a fight?” Bryan yelled at himself. Skyler only chuckled and laid him down on the couch, as she grabbed a wet cloth wiping away the blood. “Yes, you are a dumbass, Bry.”
“Who are you?” He asked looking at her with a confused look.
“A friend.”