War of the Immortals

by Noëlie Frix

  “General, I must commend you on your training. It seems highly effective,” King Damien came up to her, just as exhausted and out of breath as everyone else. “Despite being in more pain than I have been in the past twenty years, I must admit, I feel more alive today.”

  “Just wait for tomorrow! You may not be so thankful then.”

  “Ah, yes! I can imagine. What have you planned?”

  “Up till lunch, it’ll be similar to today, but, in the afternoon, I was going to have Shadow teach the men and women about how best to use their surroundings to their advantage. For my part, I will work with Aquae and Electra to prepare the navy.”

  “Very well. I will be able to join training, but only in the afternoon as I have political business to tend to.”

  “You’ll miss my training,” Heka noted.

  “Oh! How…upsetting,” but he could barely manage to hide his grin.

  “I’m sure. It’s fine though, I’ll catch you up later. I’m certain I’ll find time for a private lesson.”

  “Thanks, that’s very thoughtful. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I’ll have the time for it.”

  “Training is not optional. Say the time, and I’ll make sure I’m available.”

  “Again, thanks so much,” he looked crestfallen.

  “The pleasure’s all mine! Good luck handling politics. In that arena, you are much braver than I am.”

  “See you tomorrow then, Heka,” Damien left. Out the corner of her eye, Warrior saw Love&Beauty heading toward the poor king.

  “Désirée,” she called.

  “What is it?” the gorgeous Immortal asked as she came up to her.

  “The king is just as exhausted as everyone else, including you. Can’t you leave him alone for once?”

  “Are you kidding? I have suffered you all day, I am entitled to some fun now.”

  “Well, tell him I tried to help.”

  “He’ll be glad to see me, don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worrying, I just feel sorry for him,” she mumbled once Love had left.

  As she walked toward the castle’s main entrance, meaning to rest a bit before dinner, Heka saw two people heading her way. One of them, she had never met. The other, though she had seen only once, she would never forget.

  “Oh, Heka dear! How are you? It’s so good to see you.” The sweet melodious voice gritted against Warrior’s ears, making her cringe.

  “Myegi.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a very enthusiastic welcome!”

  “Gee, I wonder why?” she sneered.

  “Well I came here to help, but since I feel so welcome, maybe I shouldn’t,” the Moon Spirit snapped irritably.

  “You came here to help?” Heka said unconvinced. “Why? I thought you were neutral.”

  “You did help persuade me,” Myegi admitted. “As you said: this is my home, and I must protect it. Look, we got off on the wrong foot last time—”

  “That’s a bit of an understatement, considering you tried to kill both Shadow and I.”

  “Yes, yes,” Myegi said waving a hand dismissively. “But, you are the first ones who came for the flower and are still alive. That basically makes us friends,” she smiled.

  Heka raised her eyebrows questioningly, “Friends?”

  “Practically.”

  Warrior looked the other newcomer up and down. While Myegi had a slight silver aura surrounding her, he had a golden one. With his golden hair, bright golden eyes, tall and muscled frame, it wasn’t hard to deduce his identity.

  “You are the Sun Spirit, aren’t you?” she asked him.

  “Yes, my name is Aapol. Your sister, Electra, knows me. She’s close by.”

  “That sounds more like a statement than a question.”

  “Because it is.”

  “Of course. You both came to help, then?”

  “Mmh, mmh. And we’ve both got a new asset that I’m sure will help.”

  Heka looked up at the gray storm clouds that were slowly amassing above their heads.

  “Let’s go inside. I’d rather be dry to discuss such things.” Ever since my sister and Aquae met, it’s been storming a lot more than usual, she thought, groaning inwardly.

  They walked into a small, private salon where Jason, Electra and Trélig were resting. As soon as Storm and Shadow recognized the Spirits they had faced, they stood up, narrowing their eyes.

  “Why are they here?” Electra asked scornfully.

  “Wow, it really is nice to feel appreciated. Your hospitality is…over the top,” Myegi noted.

  “We were trying to be as hospitable as you,” Jason responded with a mocking grin. “Please, do come in and make yourself comfortable. Once you’re asleep, we won’t stab you in the back!”

  “Alright,” Heka interrupted before things took a turn for the worst. “Enough! Let’s put the past behind us, they’re here to help. And no matter how difficult it may be, we’ll have to learn to work together. Aapol, Myegi, why don’t you take a seat. You too,” she glared at her sister and boyfriend. Reluctantly, the four obeyed.

  “Whew, you guys are too intense,” Trélig whistled, impressed. “Hang out with plants a bit more, it should help calm your nerves.”

  Everyone glared at him in return.

  “See what I mean?” he retorted, sheepish.

  “You must be Nature,” Aapol looked him up and down.

  “Trélig, yes. Nice to meet you.”

  “Thanks, you’re the first in a long time to utter those words.”

  “Wonder why?” Electra muttered.

  Heka scowled, and her sister fell quiet. “Before we begin, and totally off topic, Sembor tends to hold a grudge, and can’t really digest the fact that you called him a pet. Would you please apologize to him so he stops seeing you as his next meal?”

  When the Spirits had entered the room, Sembor had immediately materialized. He now sat, his head bent towards his paw, inspecting his claws with great interest.

  “Aw, I upset the cute little kitty.” A low growl began to emerge from Sembor who was just about ready to pounce. “And what should I call him?”

  The Moon Spirit’s Nightmare would be a good start, he told Heka.

  “No name in particular.”

  “All right, Moon Spirit’s Nightmare, stop sharpening your claws,” Myegi turned toward the tiger. “I’m sorry. Really. You’re magnificent.”

  “You can hear us?” Heka asked aghast.

  “Not usually. Remember, I told you I only know overall intents, not reasoning, and Immortals are difficult to read. But your tiger thought it so loudly, I’m surprised no one else heard it.”

  We really need them on our side, Sembor. Please.

  Apology accepted, Sembor looked at Myegi with just a little less resentment in his eyes.

  “Great! That’s settled, so let’s let bygones be bygones, okay?” They all nodded their approval. “And now, down to business.”

  “Always that way with you, isn’t it?” Myegi asked.

  “Don’t try to change her, it’s a lost cause,” Trélig warned. “She’s pretty tense no matter what and—Ow!” he exclaimed as Warrior punched his arm.

  “You said you had a new asset that would help us win this war.”

  “Yes,” Aapol nodded.

  “Death’s power, right?” Trélig asked, suddenly serious, surprising the two Spirits who were unaware he could go from fool to wise man in a split second.

  “Mmh mmh. But it hasn’t been easy,” Myegi began. “Along with the Elementals, he’s the only Immortal nearly as old as we are, and as such, had great power which we have been assimilating slowly.”

  “And it’s difficult to control too. We’ve been working on it, but it will take time until all of his skills are transferred and acquired. And he still holds quite a bit of residual power which will benefit their army. But it is still an asset for us.”

  Heka seemed pensive for a bit. “You both are willing to join our army, then?”

  “That’s why
we came.”

  “Then welcome,” she smiled and sounded like she meant it.

  “And what of our training?” Aapol inquired and Heka answered with a quizzical look.

  “As of that,” Electra smirked with a sly look, “let’s just say: revenge, sweet revenge.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, Electra, but they won’t need any training. They are arrow proof, claw proof, and my training won’t help them in any way. Their only assignment will be to work on Death’s skills.”

  “Not fair,” her sister grumbled.

  “So sorry to hear that. Your training seems to be a must. If you don’t mind, we’d like to rest. Can you show us to our room?” the Moon Spirit smiled.

  “Room?” Electra asked puzzled.

  The four Immortals looked at them questioningly.

  “You want to hear our story?” Myegi asked.

  They nodded.

  “The Moon and Sun are forever apart,” she began, her voice captivating. “They both watched over the world, but never together. The Moon shared the heavens with her daughters, the stars—the skies’ messengers. But they rarely move.”

  “Shooting stars?” Trélig asked.

  “Shooting stars,” she acquiesced. “One day and night, they discovered man had come to conquer the world. At first they nurtured their growth. But as man ‘evolved’’, things changed. They fought over territory, killed in cold blood, committed horrid crimes and justified their actions through conveniently invented deities.”

  Heka started, remembering her conversation with Marcus on the subject of humans. What are gods? he’d asked. Justification, Heka thought now.

  “Then the first genocide came,” Aapol said bitterly.

  “Men were tortured, women raped, children murdered. By the end, several hundred thousands were dead—mostly women and children. The stench of blood and human cruelty reached all the way up to the Sun and Moon.”

  “They used the stars to communicate, deciding they had to act. The day peace was signed was a day of rejoicing on the planet. But in the heavens, as they looked back on all the death and suffering the war had caused, it was also one of mourning. For the second time in their whole lives, the Moon and Sun shed tears.”

  “And we were born,” Myegi declared. “Along with the Sun and Moonlight flowers.”

  “They rejected their duties and powers, transferring them to us, charging us with keeping the balance, but warning us not to get involved in human matters.”

  “You’re the Sun?” Electra asked incredulous.

  “No. We are fallen stars. Fallen with their tears.”

  “They still watch, but are now unable to act, only to communicate with us,” the Moon Spirit explained.

  “What do they think about you helping us?”

  “They’re not too happy. But they understand,” Aapol said. “They’ve been able to turn a blind eye to humanity’s troubles. Not us. And we both are sick of watching and not doing anything simply because that is the way it has been for thousands of years. The world has changed—so have we.”

  “You said it was the second time they cried,” Jason noticed. “What was the first?”

  “No one knows how the Sun and Moon came to be. All we do know is they used to be lovers, until night and day parted them forever. When they realized they could never see each other again, their pain was unbearable—their first tears became the stars.”

  “So what about you and Aapol?” Warrior inquired.

  “We have part of the Sun and Moon within us. We haven’t seen each other much, but have always been in love,” the Sun Spirit looked at Myegi with tenderness in his eyes.

  “And what about Immortals? Do you know how we came to be?” Electra wondered.

  “Not exactly. We know when you came about—shortly after we were sent here—and we know which ones came first. However, the powers that created you were different from those of the Sun and Moon. Sorry,” Aapol apologized.

  “It’s fine.”

  “No, I mean sorry about our first encounter. I’ll try to be a more gracious host next time.”

  “Thanks, but, um…I don’t think there will be a next time,” said Electra.

  “I am not so sure. You are still young, all things considered. And the world is such a troubled place.”

  “Way to be optimistic!” Heka noted.

  “Optimism isn’t his forte,” Myegi interjected.

  “Not yours either,” Warrior noted.

  “Compared to him, believe me, I am super optimistic and idealistic.”

  “That bad?”

  The Sun Spirit grimaced, “Imagine if you were me.”

  “Not too hard to do,” she pointed. “For as long as I can remember, the majority of my life has been spent on the battlefield, among the dead.”

  “True, yet you don’t seem…” he searched for the right word.

  “Gloomy?”

  “You see, she’s always been a positivist,” Jason shrugged, grabbing hold of her hand. “Just one of the things I love about her.”

  “Thank you,” she said to the Spirits.

  “What for?”

  “For reminding us that we must cherish what we have, never take it for granted, and make the most of every moment.”

  “Thank you,” Myegi smiled. “For reminding us of our real duty, providing us with a new purpose, and for your friendship. Aapol thinks the same, he’s just too much of an emotional turtle to let you know.”

  Chapter 25: Chaos

  Heka rolled over in her bed and opened her eyes, surprised. The bed was bigger and softer than the one she occupied at Damien’s castle. She looked around in the semi-darkness of the room, confirming what she already knew to be true: she was no longer in the castle. The room was large and comprised of her bed and two doors. A single torch burned dimly across her bed, a dark chandelier hung above her head, blood red curtains covered the canopy bed. Her head pounded and a mild fever made her shiver under the plush covers. As she looked around, she realized there was no metal whatsoever. The doors were made entirely of wood, the walls of stone. Her pin was gone, and she knew if she tried the handles, the doors would be locked. Her headache started receding a bit.

  “Okay. I am not feeling well. I’ve been captured again! The second time in just a few weeks; I’m getting old,” hearing herself talk was comforting.

  Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice spoke to her.

  Welcome, it said, to the mighty Warrior. The voice was warm, smooth as honey. Yet there was something about it that made her cringe. I hope you enjoy your room. Is it comfortable?

  “Oh, it’s comfortable, all right! I’m just not sure I like being captive.”

  Who says you’re a captive?

  “I have no idea where I am, I am locked in this room, and there is no metal around, which also tells me you know me. Or at least know about me.”

  I’m surprised at how calm you seem.

  “Well it’s not the first time I find myself in such a situation. And I’ve been in much worse,” it felt strange talking to empty space.

  Interesting. But I wonder, this situation must be intriguing, no?

  “No, not really. Why would it be?"

  You have no idea who I am. You don’t know where you are. You have no idea how you came to be here. Tell me, doesn’t that make you quiver with fear?

  “No,” she said simply.

  Curious, the voice seemed a bit upset.

  “So you don’t know that much about me.”

  Oh, but I do, Warrior. Molder of metal, trainer of soldiers, winner of wars.

  “Yeah, so what? If you really knew me, you would know I am not that easily frightened.” She sat up in bed.

  Fair enough.

  “Are you a Spirit?” Heka asked.

  Not entirely, the voice replied mysteriously.

  “Do you work for my uncle?”

  No. I never work for anyone, rather I am always the employer.

  Which meant, Heka thought, that her uncle wasn’t directly in
volved with the voice since Marcus was the same way. He never submitted to anyone—as a matter of fact, Immortals tended not to be submissive. Death couldn’t be behind her capture either since he only had residual powers left which he wasn’t going to waste on her.

  Tonight, you will dine with me, the voice interrupted her thoughts. The door to the bathroom is opened, you may get ready.

  “I may, or I must?”

  Mmh, the voice seemed to smile. I will see you at dinner. I suspect you will enjoy the clothes that have been set out for you.

  Heka shook her head in dismay. She was supposed to be training her troops. She knew that Jason and the others would keep preparations going, but they needed her. And she couldn’t believe she’d gotten captured without noticing anything. Her normally foolproof senses hadn’t picked up anything. Warrior had no other choice but to get ready and meet her captor. She guessed the door to her left was the one that led outside and would be locked. Heka was right. The other door, just under the torch, was open and led to a huge, magnificent bathroom made of white marble and porcelain. She walked to the bathtub, turned on the water and poured lavender scented bubble bath into it. Taking off her clothes, Heka slipped into the huge porcelain pool, sighing contently. She may have been a prisoner, but for once she was treated like a queen. She found a plethora of bath products waiting for her and, after scrubbing herself thoroughly with a vanilla soap, she washed her red curls.

  Reaching for a towel, Warrior extracted herself from the comfortable warmth, dried off her hair a bit, then wrapped herself in a soft silk bathrobe. She went to the closet and opened its teak panels. Inside hung a sumptuous gown that fell to the floor but was slit on the sides, revealing her strong thighs. The low V-neck highlighted her curves nicely. The gown was dark green at the top, fading out into white at the bottom, with gemstones making intricate, flowery patterns that wrapped around the dress. Heka looked at herself in the mirror, a bit surprised at her reflection. The dress left as much skin showing as Désirée’s did.

  Very Well, Love, Warrior thought. I’ll take your advice.

  She pinned up her hair, then dug out a makeup kit.

  “Ugh! Désirée, I hope you’re watching this,” she grunted as she set out to complete one of the most difficult tasks of her long life. She put some blush onto her cheeks, mascara, a light green eye shadow, eyeliner and dark crimson lipstick. Once Heka was happy with the way her face looked, she tried to find jewelry. She went back to look inside the closet and found a dark wooden box. When she opened it, Warrior lit up. Silver. He may have given her a suite with no amount of metal whatsoever, but her captor had made the critical mistake of leaving her with metal jewelry. The emerald necklace and earrings had very little metal, but the two wide wrist cuffs were made of solid silver. It wasn’t much, but she hoped it would be enough.