by Amy Sumida
The shores of Saudi Arabia quickly came into sight, lined with gods and humans. The Mesopotamians stood stern and resplendent in ancient armor. Magic gleamed in the air around them and crackled up toward me like static. The humans around them wore desert camouflage along with thick helmets and vests for protection. Black stripes across their chests soon revealed themselves to be assault rifles, lifting as we came into range. Tanks squatted like fat frogs among their ranks, and artillery aimed their barrels at us, preparing to fire. But, in an instant, the humans were gone. Vanished. Guns falling to the sand, tanks unmanned, and artillery abandoned. The Gods stared around themselves in surprise, but they didn't falter and there was a good reason for that.
Sin and Enki had prepared me so I wasn't surprised by the show of force. After seeing the six hundred Anunnaki, I would have known to expect a vast army anyway. But the number of Mesopotamian Gods was staggering, even with being prepared. Sin had called them legion, and I agreed with his description. Their ranks extended to either side and back over the land like an infection.
Fire is the best cure for infection.
I dove and circled above the god army, blasting them with my burning breath and relishing in the screams that rose in my wake. The Star Gods split away from me to lead their regiments, but Sin and Enki flanked me, their mounts blasting our enemies as gleefully as I. Wards went up and magic lit the air with vibrant colors as the Mesopotamians scrambled to defend themselves. Fire would generally have only a temporarily incapacitating effect on them. These were immortals after all and there were doubtless healers among their ranks. But, depending on the strength and magic of the deity, a direct hit of dragon breath could kill them. Even if it didn't, it would cripple a god enough for even the most basic of weapons to finish them off; a sword, an arrow, or a claw.
After areas were blanketed in fire, my dragon warriors landed and began the long task of dispatching the wounded gods before moving on to others. They streamed over the Mesopotamians; a tide of dark crimson fluttering with leather wings and sparkling with the glint of teeth and talons. Magic blasted them, horrible magic that tore flesh, froze bodies, and filled lungs with water. Evil magic. But for every dragon felled, fifteen gods succumbed to the slaughter. The Mesopotamian Gods were dying. Going extinct. My warriors may be without magic, but they were resilient and strong and had fire on their side. They were Dragons!
“Foul beast!” Marduk shouted as he strode forward over blood-soaked earth and body parts. “Face me! Your death awaits!”
Marduk raised a hand and lightning shot down from the sky, filling that hand with a burning bolt. The lightning lifted him into the air as his body filled with fire, waves of heat radiating out from him. I cocked my head in fascination. Fire wouldn't work with this god, not even to incapacitate. I felt a thrill shiver through me; finally, a real challenge.
I couldn't resist Marduk's taunt, not in my dragon form. I circled about and headed back to him. Enki directed his mount to follow, screaming at me to remember my oath. I barely heard him, my mind was drenched in blood and dragon pride.
I hovered before Marduk, taking a moment to admire his fire and bravery, enjoying the crackle of the electricity he held like a rope. So confident. So proud. Gold and leather armor adorned Marduk's body; pretty, though the breastplate looked strange. Was that a slab of stone strapped to the metal?
The Tablet of Destinies! Star hissed covetously. Don't let him use it against you.
How exactly does one use a tablet? Besides the obvious, of course. How do you expect me to stop him?
Well, I could stop him easily, but you told me not to hurt him.
He challenged me; he's asked for death, I pointed out with dragon reasoning.
I thought you might say that.
I felt her gather the magic inside me.
Wait! I ordered. Let's see where this goes first. I'm itching for a true fight. You can have him on the off chance that I start to lose.
That's your dragon talking, she huffed.
He hasn't attacked me yet, Star. Then I called out to Marduk, “Here I am. Your father has bargained for your life so I will not make the first strike, and I will even offer you the chance to surrender.”
“Surrender?” Marduk sneered. “That won't be happening. I killed Tiamat, and I can kill you, Dark Star.”
“Please, Marduk!” Enki shouted. “She will incinerate you with a thought. You cannot win against her. She's a far greater goddess than Tiamat. Stand down. Convince the others to surrender and this will all be over. I promise you; the Dark Star will spare all of you.”
“You stand down, Father,” Marduk growled as he slapped the Tablet of Destinies with his palm. “I don't need to grovel before a dragon, I have Destiny on my side.”
Power rent the air like a torn page, a shock wave of sound and magic that sent me tumbling backward. I heard the screech of my dragons and the startled shouts of my star gods. But I wasn't worried. I spread my wings and righted myself easily. The blast hadn't injured me, only given me a little push. I looked around for Viper to let him know I was okay and felt my jaw drop open.
Everything had gone quiet. Dragons hung in the air around me, wings extended but not flapping, mouths open, and eyes unblinking. Below me, the armies were frozen in place, streaks of magic like ribbons lashing between them. Everything was on pause like a still shot in a movie. Everything but Marduk and me.
Marduk's eyes gathered light from the air as he chanted, pulling electricity within them. I couldn't hear his words, but I could feel them shivering between us. He was trying to rewrite my destiny. The power crackled over my scales; a gleam of iridescent blue that sparked wherever it touched. I flew closer to him and cocked my head once more. What a curious man he was. Curiouser and curiouser.
“Does this usually work for you?” I peered closer at him.
Sweat dripped down Marduk's brow as he started his litany again, one hand on his lightning bolt and one on the tablet.
“Do you think maybe it's broken?” I suggested congenially.
Destiny boiled in the air around me, squeezing against my body and pounding on my impenetrable scales as it sought entrance. I could feel another future lurking within the sparks; a future that Marduk desperately wanted for me. Death and disgrace; my body lying broken on the bridge that once again connected Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. Dragon blood staining the water. The Dark Star fallen.
Star laughed inside my mind. There was a note of hysteria to it but also relief. You have no destiny! She shouted and laughed more. The Tablet cannot touch you. We are utterly freed from fate.
I smiled as I reached out and plucked the tablet from Marduk's breastplate as easily as I might pluck a grape from a bunch. My talons dented his armor, but I was careful to cradle the stone. Marduk gaped at me, panting. Fear finally replaced the light in his eyes as around us, the world resumed its progress. Wings flapped, throats screamed, and magic burned.
“No!” Marduk shouted. “You cannot have it! You cannot defy it!”
“Star, would you mind taking care of this? I've had enough time to cool down, and I've decided that I'd rather not upset his father.”
Marduk vanished.
“No!” Enki echoed his son's cries. “You promised me that he would live!”
“He's fine, Enki,” I said calmly. “I put him in a cell within my stronghold. Your son is alive. I simply couldn't let him remain in the battle. Honestly, if he had kept flapping those annoying lips, I probably would have killed him anyway.”
Enki's face went slack with relief and then he bowed at the waist. “Thank you, Dark Star.”
“Don't thank me, get down there and finish this for me,” I countered. “Convince them to surrender, and you can help me save even more of your pantheon.”
“Yes, Dark Star!” Enki swerved his dragon mount about and headed for the ground.
I sighed and stared across the land toward the horizon as I clutched the Tablet of Destinies within my claws. This was only the beginning. Many mo
re battles lay ahead. Now that I had Destiny on my side, I hoped that there would be less than anticipated, with far fewer gods standing against me. But even if there weren't, even if every god in existence came to fight me, I knew that I would win. Peace was within my reach.
I roared triumphantly and dove.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cheering bombarded me from all sides, but I loved it. I soaked up the sunlight, the adoration, and the smell of rose petals that floated down around me, cast by the crowd of humans who lined the streets of Madinah. I stood in the lead chariot of my victory procession, my general and star gods in their own horse-drawn, golden chariots behind me. We were making our way up to the Quba Fort, renovated just moments before to be an outpost for my Dragon Army. Behind the chariots of the military leaders, my dragons rode in vehicles I had designed and created; massive metal things that rumbled over the road like beasts prowling for a fight. Enki stood in one of those vehicles, waving at the crowds with a big, relieved smile on his face. His son was safe and he'd been able to convince several more of his friends to surrender; that was all he cared about.
But I cared about these people and it lightened my heart to see their appreciation for what I'd done. I had liberated them; freed them from the torture of an oppressive government and an endless stream of wars. Enki wasn't the only one relieved. These people were relieved. The Star had shown them what I would do for their country, the peace I brought with me, and they celebrated that. For the first time ever, humans knew what I was doing for them. They knew that I fought for them, and they appreciated it. They worshiped me for it.
I sighed and held my arms out to them, smiling beatifically at my new followers. Plans unfolded in my mind. I would watch over them and guide them. My dragons would fill the fort and all of the other outposts I had set up in Saudi Arabia. They would protect the humans and the peace I had just won. Life really could be good; full of falling rose petals and adoring faces.
A mother held her baby up to me, crying for a blessing. I waved a hand toward the child and a glittering butterfly floated down from me. It landed on the baby's forehead, and the mother gaped in amazement as the baby giggled and grabbed for the butterfly. The magic burst in a miniature fireworks display, pale lavender and deep iris, then sank into the baby's skin. I blinked, momentarily startled by the colors. Love had always been pink; this was the first time I'd seen one of its butterflies in a different color. But then the crowd cheered louder, and I let go of my concerns. I held my arms out to all of them, Love coming to my call and flying down my arms as eagerly as ever.
There are many forms of love. I wasn't bestowing romance on the crowd but the love of a goddess for her worshipers. A blessing for my people. I blanketed them in the lavender glow and softened their hearts with my love for them.
And turn their hearts toward you, Star added.
I'm blessing them, I protested.
As you like.
Star!
I approve completely. Don't waste an opportunity like this. Bind the humans to you. Love is the greatest magic, and it can also be the greatest weapon. Wouldn't you rather conquer with love than with hate? Love will protect them. Show them the way, Dark Star.
I smiled at that. Yes, Star was right. It was far better to fight with Love than Hate. I'd bind their hearts to me and ensure that they never tried to oppose me. Opposition would only lead to their deaths and no one wanted that. I was protecting them. Guiding them. Being their goddess.
I continued through the crowd, casting lavender love over the people who shouted for more. They lined the entire path to the fort, all the way up the hill to the gate. My horse clattered across the courtyard stones, directed by my thoughts, as he had been throughout the entire parade. We circled to the steps of the main keep and came to a stop. My army rode in behind me, my general and star gods bringing their chariots up beside mine while the dragons lined their military vehicles in front of us. The gates closed, softening the roar of the crowd just a little.
“We have won our first battle!” I shouted to my troops.
The Army roared back triumphantly.
“There will be many more to come, but we will prevail. The world will bow to us, city by city, state by state, country by country, until only we stand. Today, we have taken Saudi Arabia, and we will hold it with forts like this one. Your commanders will assign you to your outposts, and you will hold this land for me. I'm putting my trust in you to protect what we have won. Do you think you can do this, Dragons?”
They shouted my name and stomped their feet.
“I know you will.” I nodded confidently. “I know because you will not be alone. I am with you always. If you need me, I will come, and I will help you. We fought together, and we will rule together!”
Another round of roaring burst out and then slowly faded.
“Form ranks and wait for your commanders. They will attend you shortly.”
I stepped down from my chariot and my general and star gods followed suit. They went forward to the waiting troops with proud expressions on their faces. All but Viper. He looped around so that he would pass by me as I headed into the fort. With a hot look in his eyes, he trailed a hand lightly over mine. I held his gaze for a moment, passion trembling between us, and then I broke our stare and stepped forward, leaving him behind. We all had our jobs to do and our success depended upon us remaining focused. Passion could wait; the world needed her goddess.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“The Viper!” a male voice announced dramatically as an image of Viper flashed on the screen. “Defending you against the gods who would control you.”
The camera caught the hint of a smile hovering around Viper's sensual lips, making him seem mischievous. His startling eyes were softened by their glow, hiding the reptilian pupils. Instead, the focus was on the dramatic angles of his face; the strong cheekbones, the square jaw, and noble brow. The pose he'd been caught in made him look like a heroic; one leg back and one arm extended. Muscles bulged beneath his scaled armor; rippling the amethyst metal and stretching the black leather. The view panned out, giving us a long look at his incredible physique before he shifted into action. Viper swung about deftly on his feet as he battled Mesopotamian gods. Snarling faces fell away beneath his balled fists. I snorted; either there had been a secret camera crew filming the battle or Star had made a marvelous illusion.
“What's this?” Sin asked as he joined us in the war room.
I had called a meeting with my star gods and general to discuss our next moves. The Commanders were already there, frowning at the screen along with me.
“Propaganda,” I huffed.
“We need to counter the lies that gods are spreading among the human,” Star said as she waved at the screen. The video had gone on to feature the other star gods and a smiling parade of humans. “The humans need to know that we're trying to free them. The Dark Star is here to bring them peace, not hurt them.”
Sin chuckled as he settled into his chair. “Is that necessary? Aren't you doing some kind of mass hypnosis on the humans anyway?”
“I'm keeping them calm so they can accept the change in their lives,” Star corrected. “Which makes this the perfect time to present the truth to them. They can process it better when they're calm.”
“You're brainwashing them,” Sin said with a nod. “Okay.”
“It's not brainwashing!” Star shouted and the room shook.
“All right, it's not brainwashing.” Sin held up his hands defensively. “Where will you be playing this infomercial?”
“Star wanted us to see it first,” I answered before my star tried to oppose my will and blast my general. “If I approve, it will be played on television in all of our conquered countries and be released on the Internet as well. I have no doubt that news stations in other countries will pick it up.”
“Yeah, but they won't be playing it to promote you,” Sin warned.
“The Horned Beast!” the announcer went on. “A fierce force for good.�
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Sin shook his head at the image of Beast laying his clawed hand gently on a child's head. “You know what the world will do with him. They'll make him into the Devil.”
“No, they've already given that title to me.” I waved my hand and the video changed to a news report.
“Prayer groups are gathering all over the world, encouraged by god sightings,” the reporter announced behind her shiny desk. “A group of protesters in Washington D.C. this morning were given a divine shock when, in the midst of their prayers before the White House gates, Jesus Christ made an appearance to bless their efforts.”
“Did she just say... ?” Sin gaped at the screen as an image of the J-Man popped up.
Jesus had gone old school for his television debut, losing the John Lennon glasses and campy T-shirts in exchange for a loose cotton tunic and trousers. He even left off the Birkenstocks and went barefoot, although I would have thought sandals would have gone with the look. My ex-brother-in-law opened his arms wide and was swarmed by Christians.
