Melek, understanding what she was doing, charged in and lashed out with a barrage of blows. But Maybell was unaffected. It was as if she was made from granite, and Melek glass. He withdrew after only a few seconds, his fists bleeding and bruised.
“Release me,” Gewey commanded. The sight of the injured Melek fueled his anger.
“As you wish,” whispered Maybell.
She opened her arms, allowing Gewey to crumble to the ground. He tried to stand, but a pain instantly shot through his gullet. He doubled over as wave after wave of searing hot spasms caused him to cry out in agony. Then, a final great wave rose up, forcing him to begin emptying his stomach. The air was immediately filled with the sickly sweet smell of wine. But the moment any of this touched the grass, it instantly turned thick and black. Again and again the poison within him spewed forth until Gewey could no longer hold himself upright. He toppled over, the putrid bile still flowing from his mouth.
Maybell turned to face Melek. “And when he is himself again, I will show him what you really are.”
“Know this, mortal,” he hissed back at her. “When I am free from this place I will send your spirit to the depths of oblivion. But not before I strip you of your reason and force you to experience terrors such as your limited mind can scarcely conceive.”
Maybell laughed tauntingly. “Were you this boorish and crude before you betrayed your children and your maker?”
Melek sneered. “Again you speak of things of which you know nothing.”
“I know that you showed Gewey his father,” she retorted. “But I also know that you showed him only a part of the story. But understand this: I can see everything that you see. You cannot hide what you are from me.”
Gewey had at last stopped vomiting and was struggling back to his feet. The thick ooze covered his shirt and trousers, and was smeared across his face. Maybell pointed to a spot behind him where a tiny stream had suddenly blinked into existence.
“Clean yourself,” she said. “Melek has shown you what he wanted you to see. Now I will show you the rest.”
With glazed eyes and skin devoid of color, Gewey did as instructed. Maybell waited patiently while Melek paced back and forth, seething and sulking. When Gewey returned he looked much recovered and more like himself.
He managed a weary smile and embraced Maybell fondly. “You shouldn’t have come here. I don’t think I can get us out.”
“You needn’t worry about that,” she replied. “It is I who will get you out. But first there are things to do.”
“What things?” he asked.
“Do not listen to her, Darshan,” said Melek. “She is not who she says she is.”
“Your lies no longer work, Melek,” said Maybell, waving her hand dismissively. “Gewey knows who I am.”
Gewey scrutinized Maybell for a short time, then turned to Melek. “This is Maybell. I have no doubt of that. But I don’t understand. Why would you show me all those things if they weren’t true? What was there to gain?”
Maybell cut in before Melek could respond. “He showed you the truth, Gewey. But only a part of it.”
“And you can see these things too?” he asked.
“Yes,” she affirmed. “And were you to spend enough time here, you would learn to see them as well. All beings carry within them every memory, from the moment of their birth, right through to their final breath. It lives deep inside us where few can see or touch. But here, these memories are a part of what we are. Over time your perceptions would change and you would see them as I do now.”
“So Gerath really did hate me?” asked Gewey. Without Melek’s poison coursing through him, his anger was now mild. “That’s what my memories are still telling me.”
“Of course not,” she replied, smiling.
The meadow faded and Gewey found himself inside a spacious tent. Standing in the center were three people that he recognized at once: Gerath, Ayliazarah, and Basanti. In Gerath’s arms was an infant bundled in a soft cotton blanket. He was smiling fondly at the baby, but with a profoundly mournful look in his eyes.
“You will see that Darshan is delivered safely,” he said, not taking his eyes off his son.
Basanti bowed. “He will come to no harm. I will send for Felsafell and have him escort my maid to Hazrah.”
“No,” said Ayliazarah. “He must be taken immediately. We cannot wait for the hermit.”
“Then I will escort her myself,” offered Basanti.
Ayliazarah shook her head “It would be better if you stayed. There must be as little attention as possible drawn to the child, and your absence would be noticed. Send only a few trusted followers. And only those who will remain silent. No one must know that we were here, or that you ever had contact with this child.”
“I will see it done,” she replied.
“I should take him myself,” said Gerath.
“You know that is not possible,” objected Ayliazarah. “You must return right away.”
Gerath tore his eyes away from his son and looked hard at Basanti. “The half-man, Lee Starfinder, son of Saraf. He will be my son’s protector?”
“As you commanded,” replied Basanti, dropping her chin to her chest. “I cannot tell you the details. But know that I have arranged for him to be well cared for…and well loved.”
Basanti’s words struck Gerath. He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. “I would speak to Ayliazarah alone.”
Basanti bowed low and hurried out.
“I do not trust her,” said Gerath. “She speaks to Pósix.”
“You should have included Pósix in your plan,” said Ayliazarah. “She would have supported you if only you had confided in her.”
“No,” said Gerath. “Only you can know of my true intentions. My mistreatment of my son has kept the others from becoming suspicious, but I cannot risk betrayal.”
His words pierced Gewey. He glared furiously at Melek. “You knew this? You knew that the way he treated me was all an act, yet you still let me believe he hated me?”
Melek met Gewey’s anger with calm silence.
Gewey started to move toward Melek, but Maybell stopped him.
“Be careful,” she warned. “He may not be a match for me in this place, but he has been here for a very long time. Do not underestimate him. Leave such things to me.”
She gave Gewey a sinister smile.
Gewey nodded and returned his attention to the scene.
“Perhaps I will betray you,” said Ayliazarah. “You know how I feel about your plan.”
Gerath managed a small laugh. “If you were going to betray me, you would have done so already.” He looked at his son. “No. I’m afraid that my love for Darshan is rivaled only by your own. And you know this is the only way.”
“Yes. I know.” She touched Gerath’s cheek with the tips of her slender fingers and traced his aspect. “I never thought you capable of such devotion, brother.”
“Nor did I. Though I have had mortal children, I never fully understood the bond that mortals share with their offspring,” said Gerath. “But then the Creator called on me to be a father. To give life to my own kind.” He looked at Ayliazarah in obvious agony. “How could she do this to me? She must have known. How could she not? Why would she ask of me the one thing that would tear my heart to pieces? Does she test me? Or does she simply not care?”
Ayliazarah slipped her arm around Gerath’s waist. “I understand. For the first time, I too have questioned her wisdom and compassion. But we must remain steadfast and strong. Though we cannot see her design, I must stay true to my maker and believe that she loves us.”
Gerath nodded. “I know you are right.”
In spite of his words, there was a glint of defiance in his eyes as he continued. “But should harm come to my son, I will tear down creation to have my vengeance. Only banishment to Shagharath will stop me.”
“And I will be by your side. But we must not dwell on such evil thoughts. Events have been set in motion and we must see this thr
ough.”
“I am grateful for your friendship,” said Gerath. “I have often wondered why you were not chosen to parent this child.”
Ayliazarah laughed. “Because you are far stronger than me. I would never have been able to give him up, and all would turn against me.”
Gerath stared at Darshan with loving eyes for several more minutes. Finally, he called for Basanti and handed over his son.
“I know you are Pósix’s creature,” he said. “And I do not expect your loyalty. But if you can find love in your heart for this child, you will not speak of where he has been taken to Pósix, should she ever ask.”
“I will not speak of it,” she assured him. “If Pósix ever learns of where the child is, it will not be because I have told her. You have my promise.”
Gerath scrutinized Basanti for a long moment before nodding his acceptance of her word.
“Come,” said Ayliazarah. “There is little time. We must go.”
Gerath touched the face of his son, then leaned down and kissed his brow. Darshan cooed and shifted in his blanket. A second later, in a flash of blue light, he and Ayliazarah vanished.
Basanti held Darshan close and sat down on a pillow. “Pósix already knows,” she whispered, tickling Darshan’s tiny chin. “And she is the reason you will succeed.”
Gewey was smiling, his eyes wet with tears ready to flow.
“So now you see,” said Maybell. “You have never been unloved or unwanted.”
“Yes,” said Gewey. “Thank you. Thank you for showing me this.”
“You needed to understand that you are not merely a tool of the gods,” Maybell told him. “Or a means to an end. And I suspect there is more yet to discover once you have returned.”
She took his hand. “Now for the last. To banish any doubt, you shall witness the fall of Melek and the depths of his madness.”
“I don’t need to see that,” said Gewey. “I believe you.”
“Yes,” said Maybell. “But you will one day be faced with a decision. And you need to know how to decide wisely.”
“And this will help?”
Maybell shrugged. “I’m not sure. Perhaps. This was not a part of the plan when I arrived. But my instincts tell me it will be important later.” She grinned impishly, her young body contrasting with the wisdom in her eyes. “Call it an old woman’s intuition.”
The world changed again. This time Gewey found himself standing at the base of an immense marble statue that he recognized immediately to be of Gerath. A few yards away stood Melek and a breathtakingly beautiful woman with bronze skin and auburn hair. He knew that this must be Melek’s wife, Ustrea. Gewey was reminded of Kaylia for a moment, and the pain of her absence shot through him.
“A good likeness,” Ustrea remarked approvingly.
Melek twisted his mouth in a frown and huffed. “It is a blight on the world. A testament to Gerath’s bloated sense of self-worth. What purpose is served from such mindless worship?”
“The people of this world love him,” she said. “And he loves them in return. They worship him because he has earned their adoration. He spends a great deal of time amongst them, guiding their future.”
“He has placed himself above the Creator,” countered Melek. “And now I find out that he is actually mating with them.” The thought clearly disgusted him.
Ustrea laughed. “And you find that distasteful?”
Melek raised an eyebrow. “Of course. How could I not? And you? Would you have us breed with these animals?”
“I must admit that I find the males to be fair,” she replied, smiling playfully.
Melek stared at his wife with a mixture of outrage and jealousy. “So you would–”
“No,” she said, before he could complete his sentence. “I would never consider such an act. At least, not with them.” Her tone took on a distinctly seductive quality. “Though have you not wondered what it would be like for us?”
“Absolutely not!” he replied.
Surprised and displeased by his reaction, Ustrea turned her back. “So you do not find my physical form pleasing?”
Melek grumbled and shook his head. “I did not say that. But you cannot truly wish for us to engage in…”
He could not bring himself to say the words. Instead, he demanded: “Are you not happy with the love we share in heaven?”
She turned to him and smiled. “Of course I am. But I would share my love with you in all its forms. It seems to bring such joy to the people here. Not to mention to our sons and daughters.”
Melek’s slumped his shoulders in defeat. “If you desire it, I will comply.”
Ustrea frowned. “I am not asking you to do so here and now. Only to give the idea consideration. These people bear the spark of the Creator. So perhaps we should understand how they express their feelings.”
“But what of the offspring?” countered Melek. “Should we explore that as well? Should we make children with these people?”
“Perhaps,” she replied. “If it is possible. Would that be so wrong?”
Melek’s face turned red and his fist clenched. “I will not allow such abominations to exist. If Gerath desires a child then he should choose a wife from his own kind.”
“But he does not love them in such a way,” she pointed out, unmoved by Melek’s anger.
“What does love have to do with anything? One does not need love to father offspring.” His eyes turned to the statue. “And this must stop.”
The ground shook violently. In seconds the marble base of the statue turned to dust. The statue fell, smashing to pieces as it hit the ground.
Ustrea groaned with frustration. “Are you satisfied?”
Melek smiled. “I am.”
“This is how it began,” said Maybell. “Melek’s hatred and jealousy. His unbending nature began to assert itself. Even his wife could see it.”
“Ustrea did not understand,” snapped Melek. “Such worship was wrong. As was breeding with lesser beings.”
“Perhaps,” said Maybell. “But it did not end there, did it?”
The scene faded. When Melek and Ustrea returned they were walking on the shore of a vast ocean. Gewey thought it might be the Western Abyss, but there was no way to be certain.
From out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the ground a few feet in front of the couple. Gerath appeared, his eyes burning with fury. He was brandishing a sword.
“Father!” His voice boomed. “You killed her, didn’t you?”
Melek’s expression was blank as he nodded.
“What did you do, husband?” asked Ustrea.
“He killed my daughter,” roared Gerath.
“Yes,” Melek admitted flatly. “I warned you not to mate with the people here. Your defiance caused this. The child should never have been born.”
“You killed his child?” said Ustrea in horror. “How could you?”
“Did I not warn him?” he shot back. “Did I not say that there would be consequences?”
“But to kill a child…” Her voice trailed off.
“You are a monster,” said Gerath. “A blight on the face of creation.” His grip tightened on his sword. “One that I will now erase.”
With a primal yell Gerath charged in, his sword slashing at Melek’s exposed neck. Melek made no effort to avoid the blow. The blade struck home, but shattered into a thousand tiny shards on impact. Undeterred, Gerath struck his father squarely on the jaw. Once again Melek made no attempt to move, and once again the blow had no effect. Melek’s palm then shot out and thudded into the center of Gerath’s chest. The strike sent him flying through the air for several yards before landing with bone-crunching force on his back. Snarling, Melek moved forward.
“Enough!” shouted Ustrea, seizing her husband’s shoulder and jerking him back with surprising ease. “You will not harm him.”
“Let him come, mother,” thundered Gerath.
“You fool,” scoffed Melek. “Do you think you can harm me? I made you. And I
can end you as well.”
Ustrea moved between the two. “You did not make me,” she challenged. “And I will tell you only once more. Do not harm our son or I will show you the full meaning of consequences.”
Melek and Ustrea stood nose to nose for several seconds. Eventually, Melek stepped back in reluctant submission.
“As you wish, my dear wife,” he said. “But I will tolerate no further defiance from him.”
Ustrea looked over her shoulder. “Leave, Gerath. We will speak later.”
Apparently no more willing to defy his mother than Melek, Gerath vanished.
“I would not have harmed him,” Melek said soothingly. “At least, not permanently.”
“Why did you kill his daughter?” she demanded, ignoring his attempt to quell her rage. “What gave you the right?”
“She did not suffer,” said Melek.
“That does not change what you did.”
“I did what needed to be done.” His tone bore the certainty of absolute conviction. “I have every right to determine the paths our children take. The Creator gave me that right.”
“Then she has told this only to you,” Ustrea countered. “I have heard no such edict.”
“I know the mind of my maker,” he said proudly. “She has given me the power to guide and protect. And to destroy if needs be.”
Melek turned and walked away. His wife could do nothing but stand and watch with dread growing in her eyes.
“You killed your own kin?” said Gewey accusingly. “How could you be so heartless?”
“I do not answer to you, Darshan,” said Melek. “I did what I had to do. My children acted recklessly and without concern for anything but their own lustful desires.”
“You acted out of envy,” said Maybell. “You couldn’t understand their love so you sought to destroy it. And it didn’t end with the death of one child, did it? You slaughtered the offspring of every one of your children. And not in the quick, painless way you told Ustrea. You didn’t kill them in the womb or the cradle. No. You waited until they were older. Then you tortured them, breaking their bodies and minds until they begged for death. It was for that reason more than any other that your wife turned against you.”
The Godling Chronicles:Book 05 - Madness of the Fallen Page 14
