by M. M. Perry
She held tightly to the hilt of her sword as she crept toward the temples. As they got closer, the serenity of the place fell away. Great pools of drying blood soaked everything around them. A horrific massacre had occurred in those beautiful gardens. She could hear raised voices coming from inside.
“Just as I suspected, mother, the dragons have turned on us. Keeping you alive was worth nothing! Are you sure there are no more left? Answer now, be of some use, or I will be done with you!”
“Issa!” Cass hissed, recognizing her half-sister’s voice.
She moved forward quietly, wanting to scout the situation before she decided her next move.
“I told you. Both out parents are liars. Even if they say there are no other gods left, we can’t trust them. Let’s bathe in their blood together, you and I. It will be glorious and we will be the only two left to see to all of Tanavia. I’m already itching with the need to celebrate.”
Cass’ face immediately soured at the intoxicating sounds of Oshia’s voice. Something new had become of them both. Their voices were oozing with seduction and strength. It was difficult to move slowly. A part of her, small as it was, wanted to run forward and prostrate herself to them. Gunnarr didn’t have the strength a god’s parentage to keep him from being overwhelmed by it. She felt him start to move forward toward them. She grabbed him just in time and planted him on the ground. She stared into his ice blue eyes and gripped his face in her hands. His eyes were glassy, a look she had seen before. She didn’t know if it would work, but she concentrated and summoned the power she had absorbed from Chort.
“You, are with me,” she hissed.
The first time nothing changed in his eyes. Cass decided to try once more, this time speaking slowly like a chant.
“You are with me.”
His eyes cleared and focused on her. She looked at him and said it again.
“You, are with me,” her voice came out strange to her, it sounded hypnotic. “All the way to the end, Gunnarr. You are with me.” She felt terrible doing this to Gunnarr, but she feared for his life otherwise. He nodded, his gaze steady, and she decided they could keep going.
They continued along, the voices getting clearer as they closed in on the temple.
“Maybe he’s right. He hasn’t been right about much, but maybe he’s right this time,” Issa said.
Cass had reached the edge of the temple and could see four figures inside. Timta was kneeling, her hands bloody and behind her back. If they were bound, Cass could not see by what. Natan, at least she guessed it was Natan from the reptilian head, was similarly positioned. Oshia lounged on a pillow in front of them. Issa was pacing, her eyes wild. Around her neck she bore the sunstone, its amber matching her eyes. All around her were fresh bodies. Parts of gods were strewn like confetti around the room. The blood was so thick Timta and Natan were in a six-inch pool of it. It was clear that as each of the gods returned to the River to escape the dragons, Issa had slaughtered them. Perhaps even Oshia had as well.
Oshia leaned forward suddenly.
“I want more. They’ve both got oodles. I saw both of them kill twenty or so all on their own. Not to mention any others I didn’t see. They have so much power within them now, it might even double our own. Come, my sweet, let’s take them. I’ll let you pick which one you want.”
“Why?” Timta cried out, her face was cut badly. “Why have you betrayed me, daughter? I kept you by my side. We hunted the traitors together. I would never have done this to you.”
“You were coming at me with the dagger, mother. I’m not a fool. I saw how you used it once before, remember? Poor Kepsos didn’t even see it coming.”
Issa clutched the dagger at her side. Timta began weeping.
“Your weeping won’t change my mind mother,” Issa said stepping toward Timta menacingly.
Cass turned to Gunnarr and spoke quietly.
“I have to get in there now. I don’t think I’ll be able to talk any sense into them if she’s killed Timta and absorbed all that power. Stay here.”
“Cass,” Gunnarr began to protest.
“Come if there is no other choice, if all seems lost. You come in there, and you be with me to the end, just like we promised. But right now, if they take you and use you like… Please, Gunnarr, just stay here.”
Gunnarr nodded.
Cass stood and walked into the dome.
Chapter 17
Cass did not brandish the sword as she walked into view. She hoped it wouldn’t be obvious what she had with her. She hoped she could at least have one last element of surprise. Oshia was the first to spot her when she came in. His face twisted in anger, and for the first time she found him utterly unattractive.
“You!” he cried out. It was also the first time she’d seen him without something to say.
“Yep,” she said as all eyes turned toward her. Both Timta and Natan seemed hopeful at the new visitor.
“Cass,” Timta cried out.
“Not now,” Cass said, realizing siding with those tied up would not be the best way to approach Issa. Instead she turned to Issa.
“Sister,” she said simply.
Issa seemed stuck in a trance. She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
“How did you get here,” Issa asked.
“Flew,” was all Cass replied with.
“Dragons can’t come here,” Issa said looking around fearfully.
“No, I didn’t come on dragon. Look, that doesn’t matter. I’ve come here for your help.”
“KILL HER NOW,” Oshia screamed and rushed her. Issa simply raised her hand and Oshia stopped in his tracks. To Cass, it didn’t look like he stopped on his own power. Issa was the strongest in the room. Cass silently congratulated herself for choosing correctly.
“My help? Are you insane? The dragons have become hostile. We had to escape them. We are all that is left of our people. That includes you, by the way, sister,” Issa said.
Cass decided to go with it.
“I know. That’s why I’m here.”
Issa looked at Cass, her expression was one of utter confusion.
“What do you mean?”
Cass put on her most earnest face as she spoke.
“The dragons. They want to restart everything. They don’t care about anything anymore. They are tired of all of us. They’ll tear it all down, including us. It’s only a matter of time.”
“They tried to kill you? Why on earth would they do that? You’re a half breed. You have no power.”
“Because I have this,” Cass said, holding up the walking stick that had once belonged to Chort. In the River, it glowed with an energy she hadn’t seen before now.
“Chort’s cane?” scoffed Oshia.
Natan, not understanding what Cass’ game was, thought now a good time to spread a little discord in the hopes it might give him an opportunity to escape.
“You young know nothing. In Chort’s hand, that is indeed only a cane. The occasional lightning burst is all he could ever manage from it. But in capable hands… that is the staff of Apsos.”
“It is the companion to the sunstone,” Timta added trying her own hand at causing turmoil to delay what she felt was the inevitable.
Cass really didn’t have any idea what they were talking about, but it was keeping them busy so she remained silent while they talked.
“How do you have it? Did you steal it?” Issa demanded.
“No, Issa. It is like the sunstone. It belongs to her. Either she was given it or…” Timta trailed off, a new admiration for Cass entering her eyes.
Issa felt no such admiration, at least that she was willing to show.
“Well then, sister, now you can give it to me,” Issa said.
“I said I needed some help. I’d be glad to trade it for help,” Cass said, trying to remain innocent sounding.
Issa stood still, as if trying to figure Cass out.
“I don’t think you need help at all, sister. I think you are here to do as the dragon
s wish, to end all gods for all time. Yes, I know about that. Every time you were near the dragons I watched you. We are sisters. You think I can’t follow you around wherever you go if I wish. You are an idiot for thinking I didn’t know everything.”
Cass knew that Issa was bluffing to some extent. She was clearly surprised to see Cass at the River. But Issa must have been watching the dragons closely, worried they’d ruin whatever plans she made for domination. Cass only hoped Issa hadn’t paid too close attention when she was in the Wet Desert.
“Now… the staff, I know what the staff can do.” Issa began pacing, her feet making a sucking sound every time they lifted out of the drying blood. “I remember now. It can transform things into something new. Creation, but more importantly, destruction. Like mother’s stone with light. The dragons would use it to be rid of us, yes? Perhaps even with that staff. I know they can’t just kill us and do what they want.”
Cass remained quiet, hoping she still had a shot at her plan.
“First of all,” Issa continued, “that will never happen. I am not going to sacrifice myself, not to you, not to anyone. Second of all, I’m not afraid of you wielding that staff. You may have killed Chort for it, but he was nothing. If you had the power to wield the staff against me, you would have already.”
Issa’s amber eyes flashed at Cass while she spoke.
“You’ve long been a thorn in my side. I’m glad I’m finally going to put you down. But first, mother will watch me take from you the only small accomplishment you’ve ever done on your own. Oshia will be the weapon I wield against you. I know how that will pain you, to do his bidding. You won’t find yourself so immune to him now that he has the strength of fifty gods within him. Oshia, tell her to give me the staff.”
“Do it yourself,” Oshia said disgusted.
“You know I cannot. Do it or I will crush you where you stand. Tell her to give me the staff.”
Oshia turned to Cass and suddenly became irresistible. His hair floated around his head like wisps of smoke on the breeze. His eyes were pools of desire Cass wanted to swim in all day. She felt her insides blaze with heat.
“Cass, you hideous bitch, be a dear and give Issa the staff.”
It did not matter the words. It only mattered that she please him. It was one of two thoughts running through her head, and it was the strongest by far. She stepped forward in a haze of happiness. She held out the staff to Issa.
“Please, Issa, take this,” she said.
Oshia snorted and plopped himself back down on a pillow. A plate of fruit appeared behind him and he began munching away happily as he watched the show. It was probably this that saved Cass’ life. If Oshia had been paying attention carefully, he would have seen Cass’ eyes become clear as soon as she had performed his request. He would have seen her reach down for her blade and swing it upward. He might have heard Cass’ inner thoughts as she walked across the dome, first his command, give Issa the staff, but then her own, afterthought, kill Issa. In Cass’ head once the first command had been done, she focused all her strength on the second thought.
Oshia would have been fast enough to stop her, to change the outcome of all of Tanavia, had he for one moment not been his self-obsessed self. He might have seen it coming. He was however incapable of, unfortunately for him and all the gods, being anything other than Oshia. So with a piece of fruit halfway to his mouth he watched Issa’s eyes glow over her new acquisition. Then he saw the blade slice the back of her skull off. Then he saw her eyes cloud over and her body fall to the ground, her hands still clutching the staff.
Gunnarr saw all of this from his hiding spot. He had almost come out when Cass moved to give Issa the staff. She had not been fully in control of herself, that was clear, but in the end it didn’t matter. There were still three gods out there though, so he decided it wasn’t time yet to make himself known.
Cass felt the surge immediately. She could feel every part that made up her body being charged. She could feel every part of each of those parts as well, and on and on. She would have said it was as if she had inhaled the universe into her being for one moment, then when she exhaled it all came rushing back out again. She would have said all these things to describe how she felt if she had the words for them, but instead she simply felt it. The feeling did not last enough for her liking. She bent down and picked up the staff. It was once hers again, as she had once again killed its owner. She looked from Timta to Natan, then to Oshia, who still held a piece of fruit halfway to his mouth. He soiled himself in that moment.
Timta, sensing she had to speak now or she’d lose her chance, rose, her hands still bound by the invisible force behind her.
“Daughter, do away with Oshia if you must, but then we need to talk. This power, you are unused to it. But you are truly all god now. You will need guidance.”
Cass barely looked at Timta as she spoke. Instead she moved with purpose toward Oshia who was frozen in place. For his part, he was intelligent enough not to speak up, not to beg, not to doubt the inevitable. He just watched it coming toward him. An odd thought occurred to him that made him smile despite his situation. For the first time this woman truly wanted him as much as he ever wanted her. Dead, yes, he thought, but details, details.
He was thinking this as the blade slid into his face.
Again, Cass felt the power surge into her. Again it was gone far too quickly. It seemed the effect diminished more quickly each time she’d done it. She turned to Natan who began gibbering at the sight of her. Timta did not speak up, her face calm as she watched her daughter slide her sword into another god. Timta watched the expression on her daughter’s face as the power surged then faded once again. She smiled as Cass came toward her, a ravenous look on her face.
“It won’t stop. Not with me. Not with anyone. You’ll always want more. If you just tried to…” Timta was unable to finish her thought.
Once the flash of power subsided, Cass looked around. They were on the ground, ground as black as coal. Gunnarr looked around him and saw the landscape of Xenor. There were no more gods aside from Cass, so the illusion of the River was gone, along with everything that had created it. Since she had no desire to sustain the place, it had disappeared. Now they stood upon the ground that the River was actually created from, a trick Apsos played on the djinn, stealing from them in order to create the gods haven. The life force of the women that had made up the river had been released. Cass knew that. She knew almost everything. She could not speak it to the djinn crowding around her now, nor she thought, would they understand, these primitive things. They spoke to her, but it seemed like the rustling of leaves in a tree. The sound had no meaning. These things in front of her were insignificant. She raised the staff and they were gone, turned to dust. The land around them erupted in green and blue. Life returned to Xenor in an instant. It pleased Cass to see it. But then she frowned. It was not significant, not even this.
She looked at the staff in her hand. She knew how it worked, what she could do with it. She could use it to mold the world to her liking, create things to amuse her. A beast stood before her. A dragon. That word she knew. She knew this thing. It was great and starry like the sky. Its voice came to her in her head, soft and gentle.
“Now is your choice. Do you go willingly? Or shall we start again?”
Cass felt herself spreading thin. Not the being, but the person Cass. The parts she could name, they were travelling far away, small in her power. It called to her, told her to remit. Take the staff it said, let the staff take the power from her. Let the staff make things right. But these thoughts were hard to understand. The power pulsed within her, demanding to be free, to be wild. To create when and where it wished, not to be meted out in an orderly fashion. These things around her, they were insignificant. She needed to create something significant.
A thing walked up to her. One of the creatures around her. This one had eyes she could not look away from. It said a name. Her name. All the way to the end, it said. To the end. The en
d of what? A feeling constricted around her. A feeling. It pulled and tore and ripped its way through the power, coalescing into a shape. Her shape. The power fought it, clawed at it, trying to break free of the shape, the confining, trapping shape.
Cass gripped the staff in one hand and Gunnarr’s hand in her other. The staff began to glow and absorb. Cass felt the power scream as it was pulled from her. She felt it tear at her insides, ripping as it went. The staff vibrated in hand. She held it out to the dragon.
“Take it, it’s yours,” she said and let go of it as she collapsed. The staff levitated in front of the dragon. The dragon took it into its mouth and flew into the air. Cass felt her head gently cradled in a lap, her hair soaking from sweat. Gunnarr brushed a damp strand from her brow.
“You did it.”
“You helped.”
They both looked up as a huge explosion erupted in the sky. Everywhere they could see it looked as if the stars were showering down onto the land.
“Did you feel that?” Gunnarr asked. “Something… something happened. I feel a little stronger. Revived.”
“I don’t reckon I’ll be able to feel anything like that for a very long time,” she said, then fell asleep.
They sat in a pub, Cass in a large wooden chair made for two bundled up in cloaks, her face thin, her smile weak. Nat and Viola were laughing together. Gunnarr was sitting next to Cass, his arm protectively around her. Callan and Melody were there. As was Julia, who was right next to Viola. Even Patch had made it, sitting grumpily at the end of the table. The pub was quiet for once. The king had asked to keep the event private.
