by Leyton, Bisi
“Why would you do that? He hates you and will kill you,” Enric noted.
“I can reach him,” Aleix continued. “I am his father, but you will not understand having a child.”
“You’d be surprised,” she retorted.
“But he’s got a point. There’s no one who’s going to provoke Coia more than her ex,” Garfield remarked.
“No, you said you have people who can fight the Dy’obeths, where are they?” she asked Enric. “How long will it take to organize the attack on the Palace?”
“I can have ten thousand sentinels here in days,” Aleix answered.
“We do not have days. How many people can we get in one hour?” she inquired.
“A hundred at the most. Once I have contacted Yordi, he will mobilize them. Give me a far-eye.” He reached out to Enric.
“I do not have one. It was damaged after Bach and I—spoke,” Enric replied.
“Take this.” Garfield handed one to Aleix. “Robinia gave it to me.”
She snatched it before Aleix could touch it. “You won’t be able to reach your son. He’s dead. A Dy’obeth—”
“You are not sure about that.” Aleix reached for the far-eye.
“I was there,” she continued. “I’m sorry.”
Aleix unrolled the artifact. “Find Yordi,” he commanded to it.
A man hurried to the end of the hall and signaled for them to move. “It is clear, let’s go.”
They ran quietly through the corridor, passing several unconscious Drones.
*****
Bach leapt up into the air, landing on the balcony overlooking the great hall. He’d joined his mother and Malcolm who stood facing a cracked threshold.
Passing a window, he saw the streets were deserted and the only sign of life was the odd blood drenched reaper. The airways once filled with overlands were empty.
“Why are High Father Anab, Beraz and the rest downstairs?” Felip entered. “After everything, they should see this place burn.”
“He will be here once Bach opens the threshold to the Hall of Ages,” his mother said calmly
“Me? I cannot. We will need Wisteria for that, but I have lost her,” Bach admitted in pain. We were robbed of our first blood. The darkness growled angrily.
“No, we have you,” Felip retorted.
“Bach, once in the Hall of Ages, I will find your Beloved in minutes.” She pulled him back
Just then, the floor beneath then rumbled and Karvas, Maniko and another Dy’obeth broke through.
“Lady Coia, why are they not frozen?” Malcolm gaped. “The Galahad talisman is supposed to guarantee they cannot move and will obey you.”
“You will all die.” Karvas stepped toward Malcolm.
Bach struck Karvas across the face and threw him across the room as he spotted Maniko approaching his mother.
Malcolm grabbed Maniko’s face and threw her off the balcony. “Hurry, Bach,” he called impatiently as he watched Bach and Karvas fight. “I find this irritating. Open the threshold.”
High Father broke through the ground.. “Your trinkets and toys can’t stop me? I am Anab, High Father of the Dy’obeths. I am the morning star and I shall do what I will.”
“No, you will stop,” his mother commanded. “And obey me.”
“I do not obey anyone,” High Father advanced. “Whatever magic you were playing with has failed you.”
Through the window Bach saw, the Dy’obeths his mother had sent out racing back through the streets to the Palace. Some were even climbing up the side of the building to get to them.
“Bach, open the threshold now,” his mother ordered backing away from her father. “I said stop.”
“I swear I will enjoy this.” High Father reached for her.
Malcolm struck him in the face.
High Father staggered back. “You will pay for that.”
“Why is the artifact not working?” Malcolm demanded. “They should obey you.”
His mother examined the stone and shot Felip an angry stare. “What is this?”
“Yes, about that. I kind of switched it.” Felip shrugged and revealed the real talisman tied around his wrist. “Okay everyone stop moving for a few minutes.”
They all froze.
He is right you should have killed him. Bach then found he couldn’t move.
“You were controlling them the whole time?” his mother exclaimed.
“The Dog?” High Father squinted.
“No, I am a Dy’obeth,” Felip smirked as his eyes turned a deep yellow and his voice deepened. “Remember Coia is my ancestor too.”
“Why?” Coia demanded.
“Why would I give it to you or anyone? I love you great-great-great-grandmother or whatever, but I am not an idiot. This can give me a lot of—” Felip peered out the window at the Dy’obeths racing toward them. “Power.”
“Qwaynide, I never trusted you,” Bach glowered.
“You were dumb not to have killed me when you had the chance.” Felip laughed.
Felip signaled to the Dy’obeths. “Karvas rip Bach apart. I literally want to see clumps of his flesh and his bones in your hands.”
A threshold appeared on the window and Wisteria emerged alone. “Hello, Felip.”
“Perfect timing.” Felip gestured to Wisteria. “Come here to me.”
She glanced around the room. “No.”
“Or I will make Bach jump to his death.” Felip showed her the talisman. “This means I can make him do whatever I want. For example, Bach, bash your head against that wall.”
Bach felt his legs dragging his body to the wall. He felt helpless to stop it. He thrust his head violently at the stone structure.
“I could make you come here, but I want Bach to see you willingly submit to me.” Felip slipped his hands in his pockets. “After all, I am not a monster.”
“You want me to submit to you.” She stepped forward, brandishing a short sword.
“And drop the toy.” Felip pointed to it.
The building started to shake violently under her feet as massive cracks ran up and down the walls.
“This building’s foundation is going to give way and we’re all going to be crushed to death,” Wisteria warned. “Give me Galahad’s Talisman or you will die here Felip,”
“We both know, you are not going to kill anyone Peeka.” Felip held out his hand to her.
The ground beneath Felip split into two.
“Give her what she wants before she kills us all,” Malcolm screamed.
“Come and get it.” Felip dangled the amethyst out to her. “Because your bluff is meaningless.”
The Galahad Talisman broke off his wrist and flew into Wisteria’s hand.
“How did you do that?” Felip expressed.
Wisteria appeared as bewildered as he was.
“She can control the artifacts better than anyone else ever could.” Bach’s mother looked enraged. “Which is why I told you to take her back to Terra and leave her there until this was done.”
Bach dropped to the ground as Felip’s hold broke.
“All of you go to the main hall and line up on your hands and knees,” Wisteria commanded. “Wait—Coia and Felip you stay where you are, but away from the threshold.”
When the others left, Bach didn’t feel compelled to move. The darkness urged him to act as if under her control.
Wisteria walked over to Bach. “Are you hurt?”
“You have come to gloat?” Bach’s darkness seethed. “Or to display your superior understanding of everything?”
“No.” She stroked his hair. “You and your bloodline are too powerful to remain here.”
“There is nothing you can do,” Bach replied.
“I’m sending you, Felip, Malcolm and Coia into the Deep.” Wisteria kissed his forehead. “It’ll be better that way.”
“You expect me to beg?” The darkness hissed.
She placed her hand on his chest. “The darkness in you has grown since the las
t time we were together. You’ve killed and if I let you stay, you will kill many more.”
“What right have you to judge us?” Bach screamed. “Who gave you the authority?”
“You did. When you became my Mosroc.” Backing away, she opened a black threshold on her right.
“No, wait. Wisteria, please we can work something out?” Felip pleaded. “I can teach you how to control—”
“Enough.” Wisteria waved at him. “No more lies.”
****
Not bearing to look at Bach, Wisteria watched the threshold grow. She didn’t want to trap anyone in the Deep least of all Bach, but there was so little of him left now. “If the Family decide they want to judge you, you’ll be released then.”
The Dy’obeths around her yelled and swore in protest, but with the Galahad Talisman safety in her possession, she’d very little to fear from them.
“Wisteria do not send me to the Deep,” Felip begged as a black threshold hovered over him. “Please at least give me a beacon, so you can find me if you change your mind.”
“Sorry, Felip. I need to make sure I can sleep at night.” Closing her eyes, Wisteria couldn’t stand seeing the start of his torture.
“Wisteria—” Felip’s screams echoed though the room as the blackness consumed him.
“Felip,” Coia screamed. “What have you done, you stupid Matula? He was all that was left of John Walter. Even Bach cannot protect you now.”
Opening her eyes, she noticed Bach was gone. How did he move if he’d been under the control of the Galahad Talisman? Turning back, she saw him standing behind her.
“You see we are in many ways the same person.” In seconds, he lifted the talisman from her neck. “You cannot control me.”
“Give it back to me.” Wisteria reached for it.
“Never.” Grinning coldly, he pushed her back. “Thank you.”
“No.” Wisteria grabbed at the pendant, but Bach moved away quickly.
“By bonding with you, he has in a way become First Pillar,” Coia sneered. “Why do you think it was so important for me that you two get together? Give it to me.”
“Actually, I will hold onto this.” He pocketed the talisman. “Until we are done.”
“Fine,” his mother muttered. “Command the Dy’obeths to destroy the Family and open the threshold to Gunori to release the draug. To open the threshold, focus on what needs to appear. You can do this—courtesy of Wisteria.”
“Bach, do not listen to her,” Wisteria yelled, but doubted she’d reached him.
Bach walked away from her. Nodding, he started to create a threshold on the glass window through which Wisteria had entered. “Do not worry. It will soon be over and then I can deal with you.”
“She murdered Oleander,” Wisteria called out. “Your mother killed our daughter.”
Bach paused.
“Lies. Those are lies Bach,” Coia smoothly defended. “Finish the Family. It is the only way for you to be with her.”
“No, no, you know me,” Wisteria cried. “Bach. You were right that I wanted you so badly before, even though I knew you were—not yourself. So, you must sense I wouldn’t lie about this, not about Oleander. Coia murdered Oleander for no reason.”
Bach grabbed the sides of Wisteria’s face. His yellow eyes bore into hers and there was no trace of kindness left in them. “You are telling the truth. Mother, you are right. I do need to finish what we have started. Humans, Family and Dy’obeth are all the same and we will never have peace in their realms, not until everyone is dead.” He pulled away.
“Good, Beloved.” His mother approached him.
“Then the draug will finish off what is left of Earth.” Bach backed away from Wisteria.
“Yes, let us—” His mother placed her hands on his cheeks.
“Do not touch me. Never touch me again.” He yanked her hands away. “You deceived me! You are no longer part of my life.”
“You listen to her lies?” his mother asked in despair.
Placing his hand around her neck, he choked her.
“Bach, don’t.” Wisteria rushed over to him. “She’s your mother. Let me send her to the Deep, don’t kill her.”
“No, she will die by my hands. Everything we went through has been because of her.” The pupils and the whites of his eyes became black. “Oleander, Felip and Yordi. Coia did this.”
“No, you’re not going to do anything. Send her to the Deep.” Wisteria tried to insert herself between the pair.
“No.” He tossed her aside.
“Bach—” Coia rasped out his name.
“This ends now. Without her manipulation, Dy’obeths, the Family, or the humans—no one will ever come between us. Finally, it will be over.” He tightened his stranglehold on Coia.
“You can’t kill everyone.” Wisteria got to her feet.
“Watch me.” He smirked.
Stopping, she took a deep breath. Overhead she saw the threshold to the Deep the one which sucked Felip in. If she moved the threshold over him, she could easily send them off to the Deep now when Bach seemed distracted.
“Love is the greatest death of all.” Wisteria bit at her bottom lip as tears welled in her eyes. “There is no greater passion for a Dy’obeth than to kill their loved one.” The threshold to the Deep flew past Bach and Coia toward Wisteria. “Goodbye.”
*****
Bach stopped. Something felt deathly wrong. Where was he? He felt like he’d woken from a very weird and horrific nightmare. A shadow tore out of him. Dropping down, he felt like he had a massive headache.
His mother lay a few feet away from him. “Mother, I thought you were dead. No, we rescued you and—we—returned to the Home Realm.” Confused, he struggled to piece together what had been real and what was a dream. “D’cara what did I do. Wisteria, I—?” Checking around for her, he didn’t find her.
Instead, he saw the threshold to the Deep closing up right where she’d stood.
“She went into the Deep.” His mother croaked while grasping her neck. “I suppose it was her way of a love-death. She was a confused girl.”
Bach rose and approached the portal.
“Do not dare. You go into the Deep and you will be lost forever. Bach, there is no one from the First Pillar left to bring you out,” his mother rasped. “Do not let her sacrifice be in vain. We must finish what we have started.” She reached for the talisman.
Digging into his pocket, he took out Galahad’s Talisman. Staring at it, he now knew exactly what Wisteria wanted to do. Even though he could feel his Dy’obeth strength draining from him, he still had enough in him to fend his mother off.
She staggered back and her hands started turning yellow. “I have come too far to let even you stop me.”
“Vadda.” Malcolm muttered. “Bach, right? Mother? Wait—did I fall I asleep?” He scratched his head. “Or was I sleepwalking because I had a crazy dream that I—what the hell did I do?”
“I have freed all Thayns and Drones.” Bach crushed the talisman in his palm. “You are done here.”
His mother slapped him across the face, sending him careening across the room. “You are like your useless father. I should have drowned you and your worthless brothers the moment you were ripped out of my womb. You have cost me my vengeance, and that will cost you everything.” Grabbing his neck with her hands, that had now turned red, she pulsed him with her red light.
He screamed.
“Whoa Mother, calm down.” Malcolm rushed over to her and pulled her back. “Whatever is going on here, we can talk it out. Clearly, we have all been under the influence of some powerful white magic.”
“She was the white magic,” Bach responded.
“No, that would not make sense, right?” Malcolm shrieked as his mother pulsed him with her red light. He collapsed, unconscious or possibly dead.
This made her angrier.
“Did you ever care about me or did you just need someone who could control Wisteria?” Bach asked.
; “What do you want me to say?” Raising her hands, she pulsed Malcolm again. Her yellow eyes darkened to black.
Bach could feel the room heat as his mother’s body began to charge with a red energy he’d never seen before.
“Coia stop.” The door opened and Bach’s father appeared. “Sentinels are here and will take down those crazy people who think they were Dy’obeths. How did you get involved with those degenerates?”
“You stupid, stupid man, they were Dy’obeths. You could touch them because they have been infected,” Coia scoffed. “I hope you enjoy watching your son die.”
“Why the boy? Are you afraid to take on a real man?” he taunted. “If you are going to kill someone, then kill me. After all, it was my father who executed your Terran lover.”
“Father, do not,” Bach shouted.
“Oh Aleix, I was saving you for last.” She shot at him with daggers of pure red light.
His father ducked, but was too slow. Her pulse burned through his left arm completely disintegrating it.
“I can open thresholds like my mate since our Mosroc exists and I need to send you the hell away.” Bach hadn’t a clue on how to make a threshold appear, but one appeared.
This wasn’t a round dark like the one Wisteria tried to force his mother into. It was red and asymmetrical.
“Ajana? You would send me there? Bach, you—?” Before his mother could finish, the threshold consumed her and closed.
“Bach, thank you.” His father groaned clutching onto what was left of his upper left arm.
Wordlessly, Bach approached the black threshold Wisteria had gone through. He could sense she hadn’t yet made it to the other side. Placing one hand on the edge, he peered in. Instantly, he felt himself being sucked in, but he didn’t let go of the edge.
“Wisteria,” he yelled through the raging wind. He moved in further and the draw became even stronger. Struggling to see through the wind, he spotted her.
She’d dug her sword into the side of the wind tunnel and was clinging to it.
Stretching as far as he could, he reached out to her. “Wisteria.”
“Bach?” She looked up at him.
“Take my hand.”
“No, I have to do this. Things should change for you now. This should break Coia’s hold over you.”
