The Rising

by Kristen Ashley

  But he heard it.

  He heard it for the first time in over four thousand years.

  I told you the stone would not hold.

  He could not stop his smile, even if these decisions he had made—the one to create them, and the one to banish them—were the ones that drove them apart.

  Drove him to flinging her to her cave.

  Drove him to his hole.

  And the mistakes he had made, the loss of her had slowly drained his power over millennia.

  “I should have listened to you.”

  I know you were proud of them. I know you felt their work was needed. But we lost control so quickly. And they were so very destructive, my darling.

  “Yes,” he murmured. He opened his eyes and looked at his orbs. “And you were right, we should have eliminated them before our powers grew too weak.”

  She did not reply, and he worried he had lost her again and the wait to hear her beloved voice would be another four thousand years.

  But then she spoke, and when she did, his heart grew light for the orbs glowed even brighter.

  Take heart, my darling. We have new children now.

  150

  The Tomes

  Princess Serena

  Parade Grounds, Outside the Soldier’s Barracks, Sky Bay

  AIREN

  At the call, she made haste from where she was drilling Fern’s female Airenzian soldiers who wished to remain in service to their realm alongside Luther, Wallace and Nero, Darma, Genia and Heloise, to the Citadel.

  Her timing was exceptional for she saw her sister striding purposefully through the entryway as she arrived.

  And her sister’s husband was not with her.

  It was not that Serena did not wish Cassius to know.

  It was that Serena did not know if Chu wished anyone to know.

  “Elena,” she called.

  Elena stopped, looked to Serena and smiled a small, tight smile.

  There were not many bright smiles this last two weeks since Cassius won the war, but they lost Rebecca and Nandra and the threat of the Beast quadrupled.

  “The Go’Doan priest G’Ry has arrived,” Elena informed her. “He has brought the tomes.”

  “Excellent, but can I have a word?” Serena asked, arriving at her sister and stopping.

  “I’m keen to know what he reports, Rena,” Elena said carefully.

  “I am too, Ellie,” Serena said quietly. “But I have something to report as well. I have for some time, and thus, I feel perhaps it is now beyond time to report it.”

  She watched her sister brace as she asked, “What?”

  “There is a presence about the Bay. It has naught to do with Beasts or even this realm. And it follows Chu.”

  And with that, she had Elena’s full attention.

  “Chu?” Elena queried.

  Serena nodded.

  “Do you know what it is and why it follows him?” Elena asked.

  Serena shook her head. “He is aware of it as well. He knows I am. He refuses to discuss it.”

  “Do you have a guess?”

  “Yes,” Serena stated flatly. “It is, or they are, Mystics. Those who practice the art, not simply those who come from that land.”

  “Bloody hell,” Elena muttered, as she would, for she knew about the Mystic Arts. The learning of them took much time, much patience, much skill, much talent, but mostly, acquiring the grasp of tremendous amounts of spiritualism. And because of this, the mastery of them, only few achieved. “Did he leave trouble behind when he left that empire?”

  Serena hesitated, studying her sister.

  “Rena,” Elena prompted impatiently.

  “He did, of a sort,” she confided. “For he did so fleeing the assassins his mother had set upon him and two of his brothers to assure the stability of the future rule of his elder brother, the firstborn prince.”

  Elena blinked. “Chu is a prince?”

  Serena again nodded.

  “And his mother tried to have him killed?”

  Serena continued to nod.

  “Good goddess,” Ellie whispered.

  And then Serena confided again, not hiding the thread of fear in her tone.

  “They must know he survived, Ellie, and they come to kill him.”

  Concern suffused her features as Elena moved closer and took her hand. “Are you sure?”

  “I can think of no other reason they are here. I move about, even outside the Citadel, I don’t sense them. Not ever. But if I am with Chu, anywhere outside the Citadel, in the Bay, by the sea, in the forest, they are always there.”

  “Is Chu a master of the Mystic Arts?”

  Serena shook her head. “He began his study, but he didn’t finish before he was forced to escape.”

  “When did you first sense them?”

  “Before we moved into Dunlyn.”

  Elena’s head twitched. “That was weeks ago, Rena.”

  “Yes,” Serena confirmed.

  “If they wish to do as you think, would they not have done it?”

  This question gave Serena pause.

  “What do you wish to do?” Elena asked.

  “Cast for them.”

  Elena’s hand spasmed around hers.

  “Rena,” she whispered. “That would take great magic. And we must build. We must conserve.”

  “Yes, but I have much left from our ritual at The Cauldron. Even with my activities in Dunlyn, Ellie,” Serena replied.

  “They slaughtered five entire families, sister,” Ellie reminded her. “They’ve stolen clothes. As such, we are led to believe they’ve taken human shape. And we have lost their trail. We have no idea where they are, what they look like, save one. Nor what they intend to do. Melisse and Lena are depleted. It will take months for them to cast a spell, even if they cast to form naught but a butterfly. We’ve lost the magic of Rebecca and Nandra. We need all the power we can get, my sister.”

  “And if some unknown was following Cassius, with the possible intent to do him harm, what would you do?” Serena asked.

  Serena should not have been surprised, but she was when happiness flooded Elena’s eyes.

  “It is love between the two of you?”

  “Yes,” Serena forced out.

  She jumped when Elena pulled her in a tight embrace.

  And in her ear, her sister whispered, “Then you must cast.” She pulled slightly away, though did not take her arms from about Serena, to ask, “Would you like some help?”

  “I only wish to bring one forward. Talk to him. And when I do so, I would request Hera and Mac.”

  Elena let her go then, querying, “Hera and Mac?”

  “Mac, for he is gifted with a sword. I have not seen reflexes like his in any warrior. Hera, for I would wish her skills and magic at my side.”

  “Not Heloise? Genia? Darma?”

  “They are trying, but I feel those who understand what it is like to love will be more…committed to the effort.”

  “This is wise,” Elena murmured before she queried, “Do you wish me to talk to them?”

  “Would you?”

  Elena smiled at her. “Of course.”

  “You have my thanks,” Serena muttered.

  Elena took hold of her, linking their arms and starting them down the hall that would lead them to Cassius’s study.

  She did this inquiring, “Do I need to plan another wedding?”

  Her mind filled with visions of Elena’s wedding.

  “Oh goddess, please no,” Serena replied.

  Elena chuckled through her promise of, “I will not use so much pink.”

  Serena made a choking noise and Elena’s laughter grew.

  “When that time comes, we will wed where he desires in his home. Firenze,” she informed her sister.

  Elena’s arm in hers contracted.

  “I will look forward to this with great relish,” she whispered.

  Surprisingly, Serena felt the same.

  They entered Cass’s study t
o have all eyes turn to them.

  Serena’s gaze went direct to Chu, who was openly pleased to see the two sisters arriving in such a manner.

  Thus, he shot her an audacious grin.

  She purposefully ignored it and held her sister strong for a moment before she let her go and turned her attention to the large table that occupied the space opposite Cassius’s desk, at the same time she did a quick inventory of the room.

  The players were all there.

  Aramus and Ha-Lah. True and Farah. Mars and Silence. Cass. Melisse. Fern. Lena. The couples from across the Green Sea. Mac. Hera. Bram. Tint.

  And of course, Chu.

  Also, for some reason, her mother’s physician, Liam.

  And last, an elderly man Serena had never seen before wearing Go’Doan robes and appearing struck with melancholy.

  He stood at the table, beside Cass.

  A table covered in, upon quick calculations, approximately fifteen large and small—but all old, and some dusty—tomes.

  “Elena, Serena,” Liam called. “Greetings.”

  “Liam,” Serena murmured as she moved to stand by Chu where he was close to the table, Elena offering her own greeting.

  “This is G’Ry,” True introduced. “A Go’Nix of the Go’Doan.”

  The elderly gentleman dipped his chin to the both of them.

  Go’Nix were priests who recorded history.

  And no doubt they were very busy as of late.

  “Shall we start?” Mars inquired impatiently, his words a barely veiled order to do just that.

  “Yes,” G’Ry said. He then cleared his throat. “Of course.” He moved to the table and put his hand atop a stack of books. “And I shall do so by stating I am honored to be here today, in service to you in this most troubling time.”

  “We are most sorry, Ry, for the loss of your Marian,” Farah said gently.

  “I am too, I am…we are…” Ry glanced at Liam.

  “There is much discussion in the Dome City regarding acolytes,” Liam reported. “The situation with Marian is both sad at the same time it’s disconcerting, for it seems clear she consorted with the Beast, perhaps even played a part in rising him. However, her loss is having some measure of an optimistic affect. For our own have been in deep discussions about a variety of topics, as I’m sure does not surprise you. And there is a sway toward rather significant changes. Including with the acolytes. And Marian…” He hesitated, glancing at Ry before he went on, “going astray has only strengthened the argument of those who wish the role of our women to be more…inclusive.”

  Serena exchanged a glance with Elena, but neither said a word.

  “I do believe my Marian would wish this,” Ry said quietly, then he shook his shoulders and glanced about. “But in the now, far more pertinent matters need discussing. For, since news came of what occurred at the henge, all of our Go’Nix and Go’Tec have been scouring the tomes. I am here to report our findings and bring those to you that have notations of these creatures.”

  Go’Tec were their scholars.

  Serena never had any use for those in the Dome City, but it could not be argued the Go’Tec, to earn that distinction, were rather learned men.

  Finally, these priests were serving at least one of the purposes that had started that religion.

  “It is pieced together,” Ry went on. “And there has been much discussion about what actually was, and what is fable. I myself have read all the notations, repeatedly, and should any of you wish a thorough briefing, I would be at your service. However, I feel at the moment, that which we all could agree on is where we should start.”

  “Then do it,” Mars prompted.

  Serena caught Silence brushing the backs of her fingers against those of her husband, an indication that he might wish to be more patient, or perhaps less rude.

  His expression as he scowled at Ry, however, did not change.

  Then again, Mars had never had any use for these priests, and one had murdered his father.

  Ry clearly took no offense, for he nodded and began.

  “It is agreed they are creations direct of the gods,” he stated. “It is agreed they have powers that are awesome and terrible. It is agreed that they abused these powers and the gods then banished them to the stones. It is agreed one found his way free, and wrought havoc and destruction on the land before he was captured and contained by the Mer. Thus, now, it is agreed he has risen, and in doing so, he sought and freed his siblings.”

  “We figured this much out ourselves,” Aramus told him.

  Ry nodded. “We are also agreed they have a name. They are demons.”

  “Fuck,” Cass bit off.

  Serena agreed with Cass’s sentiment, for they had all heard of the evil of demons, beings who were of the earth so long ago, they were not even lore. They were myth.

  Or, obviously, not.

  They were creatures of the gods run amuck. And why not? When your makers gave you extraordinary powers and made you nearly impossible to kill.

  “I have good news,” Ry shared.

  “Then tell us that,” Mars demanded.

  “It is clear from the tomes there were only five. Now, with the heroic efforts of the Great Coven, there are only four. Thus, they are not seeking others to be released,” Ry said.

  This was good news for they had all wondered, and worried, in the time between their release, and now, when not much had happened, that they were about the business of just that.

  “We know they have the power to transform,” Ry continued. “And we know they have great might. We also know they are not mindless. They are not but animals who act on instinct, for survival or dominion or their pack. They have reason. And last, in also closely studying the lore after the Beast freed himself previously, we feel confident in sharing this is all they are.”

  “All?” Farah asked.

  Ry tipped his chin to her.

  “All. Poison spewing from their mouths that could freeze a being?” He shook his head. “We feel that is myth. We do not know for certain the ability of their quickness, but in examining the time it took for them to leave the stones and find the homesteads in proximity to them in order to commit the atrocities against those five families, it would seem their speed is not beyond a normal human. These we feel, albeit strongly, were exaggerations. Manifestations of the lore passing along the centuries, heightened for the teller to keep the hearer in their grip.”

  “You feel this, but you do not know this,” Aramus pressed.

  Ry nodded.

  No one spoke.

  Thus, Ry continued.

  “There is, I’m afraid, some bad news.”

  “We’re used to that,” Ha-Lah murmured.

  “What is it?” Cass asked.

  Ry looked to Liam who returned a nonverbal indication he should spit it out.

  And he did.

  “We feel it is not coincidence, that Rebecca and Nandra were lost.”

  That earned the attention of all.

  “We feel,” Ry carried on, “it was foretold, that the power of the Great Coven, created after the last time the Beast walked the earth, would rise up to do exactly what it did. Eradicate one of them. And do it at the henge, where the Coven met, and where a witch could garner more power.”

  It took a moment for him to speak on, and it did this for it seemed like he wished not to do such, and then he did.

  “And we feel there is a reason there are four,” he stated. “Four Beasts. Four couples prophesied. We feel, the way forward, is not that you act as one. We feel it is likely they will not move as a pack. We believe that each prophesied couple will need to strike out on their own to…”

  He hesitated.

  Everyone listened closely.

  And then he finished.

  “Hunt.”

  Well…

  Shite.

  Queen Elena

  Red Room, Sky Citadel, Sky Bay

  AIREN

  “I don’t give a fuck what he suggests,” my
husband declared. “It’s lunacy for us to separate.”

  I had to agree.

  “I do not know,” True murmured.

  “True, it took the four mightiest witches in our realms to kill one of them, and it was vulnerable when they did, and two of them perished in the doing of it,” Cassius reminded him.

  “I’m aware of that, Cass,” True said patiently.

  “And you wish to separate?” Cass asked.

  “I wish to divide and conquer,” True answered. “But to do so, I feel we must not be hunters.”

  “And how do you suggest doing this? For I do not wish to be following in their path, ten steps behind as they slaughter more families, entire villages, leaving panic, mayhem and anarchy in their wake,” Mars put in.

  “I feel we should become the hunted,” True declared.

  No one spoke.

  “What is the most magical place on Triton?” True queried.

  “The Enchantments, of course, True, but obviously, although I don’t want them anywhere, I have grave issue leading them there,” I said.

  “If we could take them to the place where the Green King and the Sky King and the Fire King drove their magic into the earth, the sky?” True inquired. “Break them from each other, make them chase us. Not realizing their brethren are being led to the same place. And when we get them there, surround them and do…whatever it is we’re meant to do.”

  “I don’t like it,” I said.

  “I don’t either,” Serena said.

  “This is not the most magical place in Triton,” Aramus said.

  Everyone looked to him.

  “We must drive them to Mar-el,” he declared.

  “Husband,” Ha-Lah said softly.

  “Why?” Mars asked.

  Aramus looked to Jorie and stated, “I know how the Mer captured him.”

  “Aramus,” Jorie rumbled warningly.

  “I see there’s something going on between you two,” Cass remarked. “But I feel it’s important to note we don’t want to capture them. We want to kill them.”

  “I do not know much about this, but isn’t what’s important, in the now, that we first find them?” Farah asked.

  “We need to speak,” Jorie said to Aramus.

  “Perhaps we can go to The Cauldron?” Silence suggested, her gaze moving between her sisters. “To, maybe, perform another ritual, seek where they are?”