The Purple River

by Shane Cogan

  ‘I was recalling father’s tales of the war and the destruction. And what we learned in our education at school,’ Samarth said. Fareth merely nodded at this brother. I need to act fast. He looked at Fareth. ‘Stop analysing me, brother. I am aware you need to know where I was last night. I was in the forest. But it is not what you think. These Kelpie you told me about…,’ he paused and looked around in the room. ‘They and my trip in the forest are not related. Trust me. I will tell you in good time, but first we need to be prepared tonight, as those creatures will return. We need to find her, Fareth, and fast,’ Samarth said. The King immediately shook his head. ‘No way. I cannot allow the old magic into the palace,’ Fareth said. His voice began to stutter. ‘They are the ones who are causing this mess. On our kingdom. On our lands. We re-built this planet,’ Fareth said. He pointed north with his right arm, while shaking his head and stuttering words at Samarth.

  ‘Do you want what we have left on this planet to turn like that place over there in the far west?’, Fareth said pointing with both hands. ‘Of course not brother, but we have no choice. We need her. And I think you realise that deep down. Even tucked away at the back of your great mind,’ Samarth said to his brother before adding, ‘the very part of your brain that freed me,’ and pointing down below at everyone in the courtyard, ‘everyone down there whom you saved. And with that part of your brain that is the most powerful. Use it. And use it now to defend us from those things. Otherwise we will end up like the…,’ as Samarth paused, while pointing westwards before adding: ‘the Dead Zone.’ Fareth raised both his hands and lay them on his brother’s shoulder, one on each side, and looked straight into his King’s eyes. Below them, some staff had stopped work as they looked up and heard the brother’s words. Others merely carried on with their work. One worker covered in a white robe was picking up a large stone pot. His back arched from its weight, but it was too late as its contents split and turned his white robe brown and wet. He shouted some words out and the other workers stopped looking at the brothers above and focused on the broken pot and the male covered in dirt. Everyone started to laugh. The laughing grew louder. Even the workers who had not seen the incident joined in the laugher.

  ‘Atisian humour can be very odd at times,’ Fareth said as he looked at the people below laughing. ‘You’ve lost your sense of grief brother. That is not humour. That display was a cry for help. Your people often struggle to show sorrow. Deep emotions are often repressed, especially among our own tribe. That display below is one of fear. The laugher was merely a cloak. Most have never encountered this feeling before, until now. Some for the very first time are experiencing real and genuine fear. That was a call to arms. Sorry, I meant to defend,’ Samarth said his breath panting and heart beat increasing. Fareth remained silent as he walked away from the balcony. He felt the eyes below leave his presence and moved inside. He motioned his brother to follow and close the terrace doors.

  Samarth was wearing his favourite doval robe. He ran his hands along its texture. He held the golden rope that held its silk cloth together in the middle of his body. His feet were bare. His hair was bouncing off the rope as he moved to a seat. He placed his liquid on a table beside him, before he sat down. Fareth’s head followed his brother. I must allow my brother some space and time to reflect. Samarth tapped a finger on the table and grabbed the glass as it sprung from its position into this right hand. ‘Nice trick, brother,’ he said. He drank the liquid, clearer than the blue glass. Fareth was speaking. ‘Fine. We shall use her. But I need to be in every meeting. There shall be no secret meetings. And I do not want that Wormblack creature in on this. I do not trust him, despite our recent warm discussions in the basement. Nor do I trust anyone else from the vanguard. Not even her…yet! Go find her and bring her to me immediately,’ Fareth said. Samarth did not reply. Finally, my brother is listening to me. Samarth was halfway through the hanging beads at the door to the large room when Fareth shouted out: ‘And yes you were right about the Manith man. You were one step ahead of me and of everyone else. I just hope he is alive and carrying out his mission.’ ‘Oh he is, trust me,’ Samarth shouted back to his brother but was already through the beads as he was saying the words. Fareth caught his brother’s words, just as the beads chimed and whistled their movement, as they swung and smashed against each other.

  ******

  Droplets of water were forming new paths as water reached the ground. Steam was moving from the ground onto the mirrors, fading the face that was staring into it. A naked body stretched its arms out as the room filled with steam. She moved her hands between her legs, and dug her fingers in deep. Her flat chest morphed into two large new shapes, each with the exact same shape and a nipple on each. Her fingers went in deeper. The water continued to form new shapes all around her. She moved her feet to a swooshing sound and kicked around. She fell into the tub and more water splashed on the ground. She screamed out as her inner bodily liquids hit the hot water on her body. Mixing. Screaming. Sweating. Shouting. Slapping around. More water fell from its contents. A body submerged into its deep heat. Her face went under its surface. She opened her eyes and held her breath. Her body froze. And her panting stopped immediately. There is a presence, and it is nearby.

  Leaping from the bathtub, naked, her newly form breasts were gone again. Standing before her was a shadow. I can make out a shape in the steam. She made no attempt to cover herself. The presence, or whatever it is, was not like the previous night. There was no evil in its stance. She clicked her fingers and the running water stopped. She walked to the presence. The steam around her started to disappear. It was a male. A tall presence. Not one of my lovers. She moved closer to it and moved her hands to his waist. He was clothed. ‘You better have come with some equipment for me. Only a royal member would have the courage to come in here,’ she said, her body still naked, dripping with water. He handed her a robe. ‘Come with me, Kassobra. We have much work to do. We need your help,’ Samarth said as he handed her the doval and began to walk out of the door with a smile on his face.

  C H A P T E R 29

  The Naiads

  A green canopy was holding his body above the surface of the water. Naked and erect, yet he could see that the canopy was holding firm. His hands dangled by his sides and his fingertips touched the top of the water. Each time he pulled his fingers away as his hands felt its teeth - visible but firm were its jaws. Small splashes occurred each time his hand touched the water. The fish retreated with each splash. Not red. Or not the water. Its greyness coloured the clear water around him. It dropped below. The fish retreated, its odour causing them to disperse. His hands were safe. The grey clay dropped from his free hands. He inspected his entire body and noted the same colour and his nose its odour. He moved his hands and his head. Nothing was holding me down, yet I feel heavy. My body cannot move. ‘A drug of magic,’ he shouted out. Where am I?’ he shouted. No words just a splash of water as the canopy bobbled in the water. A small current splashed its sides. The ripples rocked the makeshift frame under his body. He pulled himself up and tried to stand. The craft rocked. Cracks sounded in the thin air on his ears. He sat back down as his ears heard the crack again. It stopped as he returned to his seated position.

  He remained still in the boat and inspected his surroundings. There is nothing. But I can see everything clearly. The water area is large and clear. Yet he could view the banks and trees that surrounded the lake. His mind wandered back in time. ‘The lights. The beauty. The Queen,’ he said. Another ripple appeared and soon covered the area were his boat was. Closer it came to him. Yet, Tiuus was looking northwards. The last encounter with the Queen of the Naiads. ‘They exist,’ he said. His last words, as they swung around, as arms caught his throat and his upper body and pulled him down into the water below. He felt his ears fill up as hit the water, and a face covered his ear and whispered: ‘Of course we exist. You came here without our invitation. For this, you must pay the extreme penalty.’ His ears were already under the water,
but Tiuus had heard the words clearly. Who was pulling me under the water? The water around him turned a deep grey, as it smashed with the water and body cleansed itself of the clay. He continued to splash, even as the grey clay came off. The arms around him held tight. He tried to turn his head. It would not budge. One arm was held firmly under his neck and throat while the other held his chest. He tried to kick his legs free. His mind raced to when he learned how to swim the Manith way. My legs are strong. He tried to kick free, but the body that was wrapped around his legs was wrapped around his lower body. Deeper they went. Deeper his mind raced. He continued to kick. At first, one foot caught some extra space and he landed a blow to the invader’s leg. It eased its lower grip, but only slightly. The invader wrapped its other leg tighter and with the other it jabbed its knee into Tiuus’s back twice. He plunged forward. He felt his kidneys keel as the force landed a blow on his internal organs. The pain shot to his head. He forced his eyes to close tighter. His teeth bit down on this tongue.

  He opened his eyes. What are they? He squinted and saw that new creatures were all around him. Maybe four, or five them, with eight legs. The creatures all blinked simultaneously. Its eyes yellow and focused on him. Lights flickered from their dangling legs as they stared at the Manith man. They sense the fear from my eyes. The creatures started to send out electric shots. Tiuus could make out other fish moved away fast. He sensed there were more of the electric creatures behind him. He continued to kick. The invader’s teeth were on his earlobe. They tore into his clear skin. He kicked back, but his mouth remained open.

  Air bubbles developed around his ear. Tiuus could see that the invader’s mouth was opening and closing. Yet, its grip was not. Tiuus thought he heard it speak. ‘Underwater,’ he heard. His legs stopped to kick. He tried to slow his mind and body. They continued to go deeper below. Whatever the invader was, it was similar to him as he saw his arms and legs. Yet it had the strength the drag his large body down. ‘Stop analysing. Stop thinking. Join me,’ he heard its words fill his ears and his mind responded. My body is now still and in freefall at the control of the invader. ‘Join me. Join us, Manith man,’ it said. How does it know I am a Manith? Again it whispered more words into his ear. ‘If you can follow me freely and escape the army of the electric octopus, I will believe,’ the invader said, its grip still on the Manith. How can I escape those electric creatures and join you, while you hold me tight? You can read my mind, I know you can! It released him as its final words caught his ear: ‘If you are the one, then if it be true, then you can follow me easily…’

  Tiuus spun his naked body around. The eyes of the octopuses were on him. He caught sight of the invader, as its silver body and yellow hair touched his face as it plunged below. A nymph. Tiuus followed it. His sideways glance caught sight of the octopuses. There were many he not could see. Maybe a hundred. It’s a swarm. Yet they merely swam in circles as they watched him. He slowed his swimming to his heart beat. He marvelled at their display. Lighting works under water. Bright yellow. Bright blue. Bright white strikes, jagged and straight flew all around him. Each of the their legs sparkled the water around him. Yet no strike came his way. Almost a display of sorts. He left them to their underwater show. The strikes continued.

  Tiuus swam down. He caught sight of feet as its silver toes moved like flaps. Each the same size, each smaller than his own. So graceful. The silver female was swimming deeper and deeper until it reached the bottom. She glanced around at the Manith man. ‘His breath is strong. His heartbeat I can feel in the water,’ her words echoed back to him in the abyss. He slowed his strokes and opened his eyes wider to take in the surroundings. Deeper they went. She spun around as he reached her. She stood as if she was standing on a floor and parted her arms in parallel form, her full body in display for Tiuus. She is aroused, as her breasts stand firm in the dense water. He watched as her long yellow hair flowed of its own free will. Small fish swam between her legs. Some stopped and attached to her thighs. Their brown scales bodies the size of Tiuus’s hands. He looked at them in awe. More arrived. Yet she remained in the same motionless position. Tiuus tried to do the same, but had to flap around more. His body was clear in the water. The silver woman in front of him moaned. She moaned louder. Each moan attracted more fish. Tiuus stared at the woman, as his body became still. Less and less silver shone in front of him as brown scales covered its beam. The yellow fish slowed their pace. Her face closed in on him. Its blue glaze fell on him. It’s the first time I’ve noticed your eyes. Clear blue. Like the great Atisian lakes. Crystal clear. Almost like a gem stone. And then they vanished.

  Tiuus could not take his eyes off the sight in front of him. His body moving freely, with the least of flapping from his arms and legs. Her arms joined her body as the yellow hair disappeared under the fish’s new scales. A new breathing movement all over her body. This new evolving creature in front of him moved closer to Tiuus. He remained still. I feel at ease. And his face expressionless. His mouth opened and closed like hers and to the beat of the large brown scale that was within a whisker of his face. It touched him. His body jerked back slightly as its scales brushed his skin. They are not sharp. And no blood appeared. They moved in a circle as each one took over its new host. Tiuus did not struggle. His eyes locked on its every movement. They encircled him. I am being pulled into something. The light vanished. But air brushed his face. He breathed again, normally for the first time, yet felt he was still in water.

  C H A P T E R 30

  The Collective

  ‘It is too easy,’ she whispered. Zirva opened her eyes as she focused on the light that was glowing in the nearby hill. ‘The Collective are fools. Agnostics even. They know nothing of the ancient beliefs or of their magic. Nor of their absolute power,’ she said aloud. Her long black gown caught by a sudden breeze. A small slog dog on the floor opened its left eye, as she spoke, briefly but closed as she continued to speak. Thinking of her latest plan, Zirva smiled. The Collective were not in agreement. But I tried hard at the lodge to pacify them with ‘easy words’ and ‘token gestures of love.’ Her face coiled as she thought of the words. But it was the ointment and its powers in the forest that night that had persuaded them. She had maximised its powers to the fullest accord. He has promised its thirst would be fulfilled. She had heeded the words. Its lust. It was his entire long term goal. ‘These were merely short gifts for those fools to kill their thoughts and silence the doubts,’ she shouted. The slog dog took his exit and moved away. His small paws tapping on the surface floor. ‘The Balor will have his revenge. He will return,’ she said aloud.

  Zirva could see that the light on the adjacent peak was getting straighter. She fixed her eyes on its beam. I feel its light penetrating my body. She fell backwards, but remained on her feet. I feel its force. She glanced around to the south of the terrace, where she was standing. Its silver shadow hitting the mountains, as it rose from the sea. Zirva marvelled at its rising presence. As its shadow caught Atis, its colour was changing. She looked at the ground under her feet, and saw the soil changing from silver to yellow. The new moon’s shadow was covering her. The speed of the new moon is upon us. ‘Finally. After 200 lunar years, we will see our beloved new moon Zeius eclipse us,’ she whispered, with each word slower than the previous.

  Her shadow caught her own eye as she moved around the cabin. Her shadow grew, as she climbed from the first to the top floor of the cabin. She jumped over each two steps as she arrived swiftly on the second floor and noted the shadows flickering. Focus the mind. Faster. Her hands were moving frantically around her body and head. Her head looking to her left and right. Focus on the details. Faster. She glanced outside, at the imminent eclipse. The waiting of some 200 years would be a short one. If the astrologists are to be believed, its shadow on Atis would only last less than one hour. Glancing at one of the few items in the room she was in, she read the clock’s dial. Arrows and numbers were scattered on his face. Its metal base was liquefied. Zirva held a finger to the liquid and
touched its grey substance. Oh, my special mercury. The mercury shot up a tube and displaced the information she needed. ‘Less than one hour. So 37 dots until the moons shadows leaves us,’ she thought. She had reached the roof top of the cabin. Looking up at the sky, she could make out the shadow was close to the sun.

  Daylight is fading. She listened for any sounds. None. The birds and animals of the forest and Glow Mountain are quiet. They know a presence is coming. They needed no clocks or astrologist. They just knew. Standing on the top floor terrace, she listened carefully again for sounds. Nothing in the air. The entire planet was getting ready for the eclipse. Her body stopped its twitches and her head remained still. ‘Soon we shall have the darkness. Soon the time will come for his return. The prince of the dark shadows and the old world,’ Zirva called out loudly. Only the wind running through the trees greeting her ears. Total stillness. She moved away from the terrace and back towards the cabin structure. She laid out a matt in front of her. Grabbing a piece of chalk, she drew white lines to form a diagram on the matt. She took a few steps back to view the production. Smiling, she encircled it with an outer box of three straight lines to form a rectangle box around the diagram in it. It looks exactly like our large planet and her three moons, interconnected with hexagon shapes and sizes. She lifted the matt and placed it out in the sun. The time calendar was ticking, and fast. Zirva looked up at the sun. It was gaining on the planet’s shadow. The sun now getting ready to be covered in the new moons shadow. Zirva’s black dress flowed as a breeze picked up and the trees responded around her. The forest and the mountain peak would provide no more noises. It was preparing itself.