by Matt Gross
In the commotion Brianna grabbed a knife from the tray next to the table and held it to Codex's throat. “Stop!” Brianna screamed. “One more move and I'll slit her throat.”
Tao walked over and picked up Kira's bag. She opened the bag and dumped its contents. The shirt-wrapped dagger clunked onto the floor. Tao cocked her head to the side. She bent down, picking up the bundle and unwrapping it. Her eyes widened as her hand gripped the handle and she held it out in front of her.
Kira, bloody and battered, stood in the middle of the room. To her right she saw Tao with 'The God Killer' and in front, she saw Brianna hovering over Codex. Khayin was behind her. She was breathing heavily and her face was streaked with blood and tears. Her pain would have been excruciating, but the combination of adrenaline and magic made her numb.
“Wait!” came a strained but clearly audible voice from behind Kira. Kira turned to see Khayin sit up.
“Oh, we're all here,” Brianna purred. “Now the party can begin.”
Kira was conflicted. She wanted to run to Khayin, but she didn't want Brianna to kill Codex. She looked from Khayin to her sister, then to Tao and back. Tao was examining the dagger. Khayin struggled to stay sitting up. What did she do to him?
“I've got an idea,” said Brianna. “I want you to slit Khayin's throat, or I will slit your friend's.” She smiled that same sadistic smile she used to when they were kids; it had always meant something sinister. Kira shivered. “But with that knife.” She pointed with the knife in her hand at the dagger in Tao's.
Panic seized Kira. Her muscles tensed and her eyes went as wide as saucers. The God Killer? Will that actually kill him? What if it does? No, I can't. Tao walked over to Kira with a smile and tossed the dagger at her feet.
“Don't get any smart ideas,” Brianna said, the knife at Codex's throat again. Kira saw a flicker standing next to her sister.
I'm too weak to take on both; one of them would kill Codex. Shit! I'm screwed.
Tao backed away before Kira could pick up the ancient dagger. Kira hesitantly picked up the blade then looked at Khayin, back to the dagger, and again at Khayin. Her palms began to sweat and the dagger became slick. She looked at her sister and saw that Tao had moved over to stand next to her.
“You kill Khayin and I'll let Codex go.” The light in the room reflected off the blackened blade. “I promise. If you don't believe me just ask Khayin; he'll tell you I keep my promises.” She giggled.
Kira walked over to Khayin, dreading every step. She knelt down beside him and looked into his eyes, pleading and hoping that this was all part of an elaborate plan he had neglected to tell her about.
“I want to apologize,” Khayin said.
“For what?”
“This was a really stupid plan.” He tried to laugh but just wound up coughing. “You've been clouding up my head from the day I met you. I haven't been able to make a rational decision since. Don't take this as me blaming you for our situation, really. This is all on me.” He laughed some more and his body nearly went into convulsions. Kira maneuvered behind him, cradling him.
Kira looked at Khayin. “I can't,” she whispered. “What if it really kills you? I can't lose you.”
Khayin smiled and she felt a warmth wash over her. “I've lived a long life and I wouldn't be able to live another day of it if it cost me Codex.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “It's OK. I accept this. I'm tired of watching my friends die. I just never had the strength to do it myself.”
“I'm waiting,” Brianna said with a higher inflection. She dug the tip of the knife into Codex's throat, drawing a small trickle of blood.
“I can't do it. I just can't.” The tears fell more freely now, and she could hear her sister laughing, which brought in the memory of Quinn. Her sister laughed then, too. She gripped the dagger tighter.
Maybe he will heal faster than bleeding out. Maybe he can survive this. Then all I'd have to do is stall for time.
The memory of her childhood trauma flashed back and the idea of slitting Khayin's throat became nearly impossible. “I...can't. I think...I...am...in love with...you.” Her words were a whisper.
Khayin flashed that smile again. “I love...”
“Oh, for the love of the goddess, do it already.” Brianna plunged the knife into Codex's shoulder. Kira winced as Codex twitched with the pain, even in her state. “C'mon, big sister. I know you can do this; you've done it before. Don't make me hurt this little bitch.” She twisted the knife and blood began to pool beneath Codex.
Kira raised the dagger and put the blade against his throat. She was sweating and her heart beat rapidly. Please, Lilith, or whoever, please... She slowly slid the razor edge across the bare flesh of Khayin’s neck. Blood poured and Khayin's body slumped to the floor.
Chapter 36 The Mother
Kira dropped the dagger and Khayin's lifeless body lay in her arms. Her whole world crashed in around her as she heard her sister's laughter in the distance, but she felt no more rage and the only red she saw was blood. All her hope was gone. The light flicked out of Khayin's eyes too fast, and Kira knew he was dead. Kira sobbed and her body shook.
A pair of hands grabbed and lifted Kira from the floor. She took a moment from her grieving to look over her shoulder. It was Lucy, who brought Kira before Tao and firmly held Kira's arms to her sides. It wasn’t hard; Kira didn't have any fight left in her. She dared a peek at Khayin and immediately wished she hadn't. There was so much blood and he looked so pale.
Kira slowly lifted her head to face her sister and Tao. She caught a glimpse of Codex lying still, blood slowly dripped. Brianna was smiling and Tao's face remained calm. Kira could sense an air of satisfaction from her. Kira decided to focus her attention on Tao and tried to block her sister out.
Tao’s face softened and her cheeks blossomed into a rose color as a wide smile spread on her lips. Her face started to elongate and all of her Asian features faded away. She grew another six inches and her black hair turned a sandy brown. She wore a cross on a chain around her neck.
“We were never properly introduced.” She stuck out her hand in the customary American greeting. Kira didn't take it. The Mother shrugged. “My name is Eve.”
Kira was flummoxed. Eve? Who the fuck is Eve? “Is that name supposed to mean something?”
There was a minute flash of anger, but Eve recovered. “The mother of creation? Adam and Eve?” Kira just looked at her. “Second wife of Adam?” Kira still said nothing. “Your Lilith was the first wife of Adam.” Finally, a light-bulb.
“You know Lilith, the Dragon-Mother,” Kira said.
Eve grimaced. “Yes, yes I do. I've been hunting her for a while.”
“Why? What did she ever do to you?” Kira wondered.
“She exists,” she spat. “She thinks she is better than me, than Adam, than our god. My god commanded that she was to die.”
“Your god?” Kira was starting to feel all of her injuries. She tried not to show any physical signs of discomfort, but was failing miserably. Her courage started to seep back. “Aren't you a god?”
“Technically yes, but I was created just like everyone else--by the one true god.”
“What? This isn't making sense. Who is this “one true god”?
“There is one god that created everything. The world, people, animals, everything.”
“And why am I just now hearing about this? You're delusional.” Kira looked at Brianna. “You bought this bullshit?” Her sister just glared at her.
“Enough. You will not disrespect my god. You are truly a daughter of Lilith.” Eve spat on the floor. “My god demands retribution and it will be paid.”
“Well, guess what. She isn't here. She's already dead. And you caused the death of everything I loved.” Kira's hands balled up into fists and her tattoos began to swirl chaotically, glowing brightly. She was weak, but her anger started to give her strength.
Eve smiled.
“What?” Kira demanded. “What could possibly be so funny?”
>
Eve chuckled a little. “Darling, Lilith is here.”
“What?” Kira was thoroughly confused.
“You.” Eve shoved a perfectly manicured nail into Kira's chest. “Right there. Don't you feel it? You are Lilith. I felt it the moment I stepped into my office. I was waiting for Brianna before I did anything.”
Kira shook her head. It can't be, but yet...I feel it. I feel her. I feel them all.
Every tattoo felt like a presence, as though she carried the souls of her ancestors and they were represented by her glowing marks. She could hear them speak to her--not voices, more like intuition--like they were guiding her, fueling her, giving her more power. Something about meeting Eve and killing Khayin with the God Killer woke her up. Kira felt alive.
“My plan worked. Lilith gave you her essence--gave you her immortality. You are the Dragon-Mother. And you walked right into my domain. I could have stopped you when you and Khayin needed to get to Panama, but I needed Lilith. You were the key. Lilith wouldn't give herself to Brianna, so I hoped she would either give it to you or come out of hiding altogether.” Her smile widened.
Kira scanned the room, but tried to make it look like she was confused. She counted four others, aside from Khayin, Codex and herself. Eve, Brianna, Lucy and the lone battlemage. I've got to do something. They’re not going to let me walk out and Codex is already as good as dead. I killed Khayin for nothing. Her body wanted to hyperventilate. She needed to suppress the growing panic. If I'm to die, I'm taking as many as I can with me.
She channeled her fear and anxiety and converted it to rage. She looked at Eve. Kira's eyes glowed a brilliant blue and her tattoos flared and shifted chaotically. She Pulled and sent Eve crashing against the far wall. Kira felt a sharp pain in her back. She spun to face Lucy with a knife in her hand, looking wide eyed at what she had just done. Her mouth dropped open as her body was flattened to the floor, like a giant thumb squashing a grape.
Kira briefly saw a flicker, but couldn't respond to it before she felt a slash of claws on her lower back. The cuts were deep and Kira had already lost a lot of blood. She could feel her energy flowing out from her wounds and she nearly dropped to her knees when the battlemage made a mistake. The mage materialized in front of her to cast a spell. Kira smiled and chuckled.
Eve stood up and marched toward Kira. With a look, the battlemage disintegrated in a cloud of dust. Eve turned her eyes to Kira, who could feel Eve’s power. It took every bit of willpower Kira had to stop it. She started to sweat and her muscles tensed. Eve looked just as stressed. Kira felt Eve's power intensify. Kira's nose began to bleed as the two women became locked in a magic wrestling match.
Kira was fueled by revenge as she thought of her sisters, of Codex, and finally of Khayin. She reached down within her for something more, she could feel the power of her ancestors wane. She thought of Khayin.
Did he say he loved me, too?
Her love for Khayin and the love he had for her gave her the strength she needed. She Pulled and she could see Eve's facade crack. The Mother's shins broke and she fell to her knees.
Kira felt a sharp pain in her back, but this time it hurt much more. Her eyes went wide and all magic ceased. She felt a twisting in her and then a bursting pain through her chest. She looked down to a hand protruding through her rib cage and holding her heart. She coughed up blood, along with her last breath.
Chapter 37 The Dagger
Eve watched as Brianna plunged her hand through Kira's torso, her sharp talons gripping Kira’s still-beating heart. She counted the last few beats and let out a loud breath. Brie pulled her hand back, still clutching the bloody mass. Kira slumped to the floor, lifeless, as blood started to pool beneath her. Eve reset her own broken bones with a loud snap and massaged them while weaving healing magic into her legs. After a moment she stood up and brushed herself off.
“Well,” Eve began, “that could have gone better.”
“We only faced my sister.” Brianna stared at her sister’s heart. “I had no idea how powerful she had become.” She looked at Eve. “We're lucky the drugs and that dagger worked on Khayin.”
“Lucky indeed, but no worries. What's done is done.” Eve looked around the room. “We'll either have to clean up or move.” She was quite proud of herself. She had been planning the confrontation with Lilith for millennia. She was happy it was finally over. Now if she could only get rid of Brianna.
Brianna dropped her sister's heart with a splat. She turned and looked at Codex. “What do we do with her?” Brie asked.
“I like her,” Eve said. “Maybe she can see reason. She could be a valuable asset.”
“I highly doubt that. She loved Khayin. The way you talked about the two of them I could swear they were related in some way.” She tapped her index finger on her ruby lips. “No, I think we should probably kill her too.”
Eve didn't like the thought of that. She had grown rather fond of Codex and there was so much more she didn't know about the woman. She looked at her unconscious body lying on the table. Codex was an enigma and Eve knew there was still more she could learn from her, like who her mother was.
“Let me think on it for a few,” Eve said.
“If we don't let her wake up soon we'll have to feed her through a tube or something.” Brie said in an unhappy tone.
“We have time. First I think we need to get this place cleaned up. We'll probably have to promote some people as well.” Eve made her way over to Khayin's body.
“Not just promote, but we'll have to recruit.” Brie countered. “Let's get more women this time; there was way too much testosterone in the building.”
Eve stood over Khayin's body, breathed in deep and puffed out her chest. Both Lilith and Kira'Tal were dead. She hated the idea that Brianna had had to save her from Kira, Eve had totally underestimated her. She saw the dagger lying on the floor near Khayin's lifeless hand. Eve squatted down and reached for it. Just as her fingertips touched the blade, Khayin sprung, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the dagger that was now in his hand. It sank deep and pierced her heart from under her rib cage.
“I'm back,” he said in a little sing-song. Khayin gave the dagger another push, sinking it deeper.
Eve spit up blood. The pain was like nothing she had ever felt before. It was...pleasurable, an actual kiss of death and in her ecstasy she was nearly overwhelmed and forgot where she was. She hacked up more blood, which brought her back to reality. She was dying. Eve looked into Khayin's eyes.
“I curse you, Khayin. Your...” His head slammed into her face, cutting off her words.
“I don't think so, bitch. I ain't falling for that again.”
She went into a coughing fit. She felt her life pour out of her, onto Khayin and the floor beneath them. She felt at peace. Everything around her started to fade and the last thing she saw was a pale horse with a figure dressed in black sitting upon it.
Chapter 38 The Eye
The blood in his veins felt like fire. He didn't take time to inspect the room. He only had a second, he knew, before Brianna would attack. He pushed Eve's body off him and pulled the dagger from her with a wet slurping sound. Brianna stood wide-eyed in momentary shock. He threw the dagger with all his strength.
The bone blade sank deeply into Brie's shoulder, knocking her off balance. Khayin quickly got to his feet and charged.
Brianna wasn't prepared for Khayin's naked bloody form tackling her to the ground. She tried to lash out with her talons, but he pinned her arms under his knees. Khayin straddled her. He jerked the dagger free and held it to her throat. His heart raced and his resurrected body protested every movement.
“Don't say a word.” Khayin growled. He refused to allow her to speak any magic.
He took stock of the room. To say it was a mess would have been an understatement. He started to count the bodies when he finally saw Kira's lifeless form. He saw the hole in her back and could feel his face turn red. He hadn't felt such rage since...since...
A m
ultitude of images flooded his mind. His body jerked, but he controlled himself enough to keep Brianna pinned to the floor with his knees and dagger. Images of his long dead wife Rebekah, his daughter Adelaide, the brutal attack on his home and on them began to flash through his mind. He started to sweat and his eyes welled up with tears. The anxiety was almost too much and it took everything for him to remain in control. He screamed at the top of his lungs. He was so loud that Brie cringed and tried to back away.
Khayin hadn't seen his family's faces in millennia. They had been blocked. By the curse? Suddenly, he was seeing images of their deaths and the men who caused them. He saw himself kill every man. Khayin saw the bearded man. He remembered the bearded man. He remembered what he did. He remembered his name...Molek.
“I killed you,” he seethed.
“Wh...what?” Brie managed to say.
Khayin, pulled from his reverie, looked at Brianna. Her face was smeared with make-up, blood, and tears. Her eyes were bloodshot and panicked. Tears ran down the sides of her face. Khayin could see the terror. She was breathing heavily and erratically. He stared at Brie. She looked helpless and he wondered if he should feel pity for her.
“What happened here? Who killed Kira?” He barely recognized his own voice as he asked the question. He felt as though he was possessed. He pushed the blade harder against her skin, drawing a small line of blood.
“It's what it looks like.” She sniffed a couple times and choked back some sobs. “After Kira slit your throat...we...talked. Then Kira fought.” She paused, probably waiting for a reaction, but Khayin didn't give any. “She managed to kill everyone in the room, except Eve and me.” She drew in a long breath and released it. “She threw Eve clear across the room, she took out the apprentice Lucy, and then she and Eve had a magic sparring match. That's when I struck.”
