The Godling Chronicles:Book 05 - Madness of the Fallen

by Brian D. Anderson

  “Impressive, yes?” asked Melek. He surveyed the carnage, clearly pleased with himself. “And that is just the beginning.”

  Gewey felt himself being released. He drifted to the ground well beyond the dead soldiers. The fury that he thought banished in Shagharath had now returned tenfold.

  Melek landed a few yards away. “I know you are angry,” he said. “I can feel it. Though I confess, I don’t understand why. But I will give you time to quell your rage before we go on.”

  Gewey glared at him. “You’re a monster.”

  “And you still look at me with mortal eyes,” countered Melek. “But I am no more a monster than the Creator who allows such pain to exist.” He shook his head, grinning. “I can see in your eyes that you think you can challenge me. And if you had knowledge of your power, perhaps you could. But as it stands you have no hope. In your heart, you know that to be true. Even if you could find a way, you would still fall in the end. Your enemy has in his possession four of the god stones. He has stolen their power, just as he did with the Sword of Truth. You cannot defeat him without my help.” He rose up and spread his arms wide. “You can have all that you desire if only you join me. I give you until tomorrow to decide.”

  Gewey watched as he disappeared into the night, his mind filled with impossible choices. What if Melek was telling the truth? What if the Dark Knight was as strong as he said? What if the only way to save the world was to join with a creature equally as evil?

  The journey back seemed to take an eternity, though in truth there were still several hours before the sun would break the horizon. Althetas was still glowing as he approached, the celebrating and mirth yet to cease. He landed just outside the king’s manor where he knew he wouldn’t be seen. But just as he was passing through the main gates he felt a sudden spasm of fear shooting through his bond with Kaylia.

  Melek was with her!

  He broke into a dead run.

  The doors to the manor were closed, but that was never going to slow him down. He sent a blast of air ahead that had them flying open with such force that they almost came away from their hinges. The guards nearby were thrown from their feet, landing in the flower bushes that surrounded the base of the manor. Not that Gewey gave them even a glance. He navigated the halls with such speed that he was nothing more than a blur to passers-by. As he threw open the door to his room and reached for his sword, he realized that he did not have it with him.

  Kaylia was sitting at the edge of the bed, staring intensely into the far corner of the room where Melek was leaning casually against the wall. He was staring right back at her with a look of deep contemplation in his eyes. Gewey quickly placed himself between them, poised to attack.

  He reached back and touched Kaylia’s arm. “Are you alright?”

  “I am unhurt,” she replied.

  Gewey returned his attention to Melek. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Trying to understand you,” he replied calmly. “You have mated with this creature. You care for her. I am trying to understand why.”

  “Get out!” he shouted. “Now!”

  “I mean her no harm,” said Melek. “But tell me, do you care for her because she bears your offspring? If so, why are you allowing her to continue carrying it inside her? Why not simply speed up the process and be done with her?” He took a step forward and used the flow of the spirit to penetrate Kaylia’s body and enter her womb.

  She gasped and fell back, clutching at her stomach.

  Gewey’s rage exploded. He leapt at Melek with enormous speed, landing a fist solidly on his jaw. Melek’s head twisted with a loud crack. He stumbled back, slamming against the wall. Gewey tried to land another blow, but this time Melek caught his wrist and spun him around.

  Melek’s physical strength rivaled his own, and his speed was far greater. Melek landed three solid punches to the abdomen that took Gewey’s breath away. This should have been enough to cripple him, or at least slow him down, but the thought of what Melek might be doing to Kaylia and their child was enough to overcome the pain and drive him on.

  Gewey’s fist crushed into Melek’s nose. Blood splattered, covering them both. Another blow landed on Melek’s temple, this one hard enough to send him tumbling to the floor. The flow he was directing at Kaylia had ceased, but Gewey’s fury was far from over. Seizing hold of Melek’s collar, he continued to rain punches down on him.

  “Enough!” shouted Melek. A massive burst of air sent Gewey reeling back. The room darkened and Melek slowly rose to his feet. “It is clear you cannot be reasoned with. Perhaps I have been looking to the wrong source for an ally. Perhaps your enemy will see my wisdom.”

  Gewey regained his footing, his temper still boiling. He wanted to continue with the thrashing, but couldn’t risk Melek unleashing the flow once again. Not with Kaylia so close by. He glanced over his shoulder and panic gripped his heart. She was writhing in pain, her arms still wrapped tightly around her stomach.

  “What did you do to her?” he demanded.

  Melek was busy healing his own wounds, the blood already fading from his flesh and clothing. His angry expression turned to disgust and contempt. “Spend what time you have left contemplating your folly. Come sundown tomorrow you will join me. If not, I will kill every living soul within the walls of this pathetic city.”

  “What did you do?” Gewey cried desperately.

  Melek simply sneered and strolled casually from the room. Gewey gave chase, but Kaylia’s cry of agony stopped him short and he rushed back to her side.

  He reached within her, trying to see what Melek had done, and immediately felt his unborn child. The light of his spirit was pulsating rapidly. Little by little he was growing larger. But something was aiding this growth – something unnatural. He could feel that his son was aware of this…aware and afraid.

  ‘Help me!’ he cried out to Aaliyah. He was doing his best to calm Kaylia, but her breathing was rapid and he knew that she was terrified.

  Barely a minute had passed when the door flew open and Aaliyah sprinted into the room. Without hesitation she pushed Gewey aside and set about examining Kaylia. Each second seemed like an eternity to him as she tried to determine the reason for Kaylia's pain and the sudden growth of their child.

  “The baby will come soon,” she said finally, taking a long deep breath.

  “Will he live?” gasped Kaylia, her face soaked in tears.

  Aaliyah pursed her lips tight. “I don’t know. As far as I can tell he is healthy, but his growth has accelerated beyond anything I have ever seen.”

  “And what about Kaylia?” asked Gewey. He was afraid to hear the answer. He could feel the baby sending waves of panic through his mother as the growth stretched her to the limits of endurance.

  “That will depend on how strong she is,” Aaliyah replied, grim faced.

  Kaylia reached out and clutched hold of Gewey’s hand. “Protect him," she pleaded. "Whatever happens to me, protect our son.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to you,” said Gewey, desperation bleeding through his tone. “I swear it. You and our child will both live.” He looked to Aaliyah. “Watch over her.”

  Aaliyah nodded. “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “To find Melek,” he replied, a deep and menacing tone now in his voice.

  Kaylia squeezed his hand. She gave a fragile smile. “I’ll be here when you return.”

  Gewey leaned down and kissed her. He wanted to believe it. He truly did. Fear gripped him, but he forced it back.

  Now was not the time for weakness.

  Chapter 28

  Gewey stretched out with his spirit, furiously searching for Melek but finding only a void staring back at him. He left the manor and scoured the city for a time, but to no avail. His heart sank. Melek could literally be anywhere, and he had no idea where to start.

  The celebrations had finally withered to a halt, though the streets were still filled with streamers, trash, and drunken men incapable of making it ba
ck to their homes. Gewey had considered taking to the air in order to expand his search, but at present was unwilling to put too much distance between himself and Kaylia. Through their bond he could feel her pain, but took comfort that her life force remained strong. Aaliyah was still watching over her, even though there was little she could do other than share her own strength. Whatever Melek had done, it was unstoppable.

  As he entered the temple district he saw that a new temple was in the process of being built. Muttered curses slipped from his mouth when he realized that this latest addition was dedicated to Darshan. The other temples were as yet undamaged, which was mildly surprising considering Melek’s all-consuming hatred of the nine gods.

  By mid-afternoon, Gewey was forced to accept that Melek would only reappear at a time of his own choosing – at sundown if he meant to keep his word, though the place of their meeting was unclear. Gewey thought that it should be away from the city. Far enough away so that, should they do battle, others would not be hurt.

  He returned to their room. Kaylia was sleeping, though not restfully. Aaliyah was sitting dutifully by her bed, holding her hand.

  “The king was here earlier,” said Aaliyah. “He wanted to say that Kaylia is in his prayers.”

  Gewey sighed. “Considering the entire city is praying to me, I don’t think that will do much good.”

  Aaliyah gave no reaction. “So you go to face him?”

  Gewey nodded. “I must.”

  “He will kill you,” she stated flatly. “Unless you join him.”

  Gewey could still feel the touch of Melek’s influence within her. “And would you mourn me if he did?”

  “Of course,” she replied, though without conviction. “But this is all unnecessary. He has already told you that the Reborn King possesses four of the god stones. How can you hope to win without his help? All he wants is to return to heaven. He will leave the earth to you.”

  “And that is where he and I are truly different,” said Gewey. He looked down at his suffering wife. “I want only a small piece of the world. Not the whole thing.” He leaned down and kissed Kaylia’s forehead. Through the blankets he could see that her belly had now tripled in size. “Regardless of where your allegiance lies, I hope that you will continue to watch over her until this is done.”

  Aaliyah bowed her head. “You have my word.”

  Gewey glanced at the window. The sun would be going down very soon; he should leave the confines of the city immediately. With a final loving look at Kaylia, he hurried from the room.

  Once outside the city gates he walked for a few miles along the road heading south, then entered the forest to the east. After a short time he came to a small clearing where he sat on the soft turf and waited.

  As the sun sank over the horizon a few stars penetrated the twilight. Gewey remembered what Melek had said about knowing what the stars really were. I should have asked him, he thought.

  Barely had this passed through his mind when the wind picked up and he could hear soft footfalls approaching from the south. A minute later Melek appeared from the brush. His countenance was grim and his posture aggressive.

  “So, have you made your choice?”

  “I have,” Gewey affirmed. He rose to his feet. “I cannot allow you to spread your evil here or in heaven. And I will not join you in destroying the gods…or the Creator. I have to stop you, whatever the cost to myself.”

  Melek shook his head and scowled. “You will only succeed in dying. I really did not want to turn to your mortal foe for aid, but it would seem you are leaving me with little choice.”

  Gewey drew his sword. The steel sang its deadly song.

  A look of vast amusement showed on Melek’s face. “You think this is the battle you have come to fight? One with clumsy mortal weapons and brute strength?”

  The world gradually turned darker until only the figures of the two gods were visible. Gewey could sense the strength of Melek’s spirit growing to unimaginable heights. A ghostly mist rose from his opponent’s back, rising and expanding until it was seven feet tall and twice the width of a man. Light flashed within the mist and began to solidify into the form of a massive warrior. Its armor gleamed with an unnatural light, while in each hand was a massive blade. The warrior’s long, ghostly hair blew carelessly about, as if facing an ocean wind. Its face looked somewhat like Melek’s human form, but was far more intimidating and powerful.

  “Now do you see?” Melek’s voice thundered in Gewey’s ears. “You cannot win.”

  Gewey allowed his own spirit to rise up, but he was without armor or weapon. Looking down, he was no longer able to see his own body.

  “You can’t even find a way to fight me,” Melek scoffed. “I think I will enjoy killing the son of Gerath.”

  He leapt forward with both swords raised to strike. Gewey jumped left, narrowly avoiding the blades splitting him in two. Melek laughed wickedly and gave chase. Again and again Gewey was forced to dodge Melek’s attacks. He thought to counter with his bare hands, but could see no openings that would not expose him to almost certain death.

  Gewey sent a ball of fire at his adversary, but this passed through him as if he was without substance. Melek smiled and charged in again, now with even greater speed. A sword grazed Gewey’s shoulder, sending him flying back. Though the ground was nothing but blackness, it jarred him to the bone as he landed. He touched the wound. No blood, but the spot where the blade had struck looked distorted and pain burned from deep inside.

  Melek didn’t give Gewey time to recover his feet, coming at him once again with both blades held high. All Gewey could do was raise an arm defensively, while at the same time bracing himself for the deadly impact. But just as the blows were falling, from seemingly nowhere, a shield appeared on his forearm. The swords crashed into this with dull thumps. With shock waves of pain shooting through his arm, Gewey scampered to his feet.

  “You learn quickly,” remarked Melek with approval. “A pity it will be your final lesson.”

  Gewey concentrated on envisioning a weapon, but was disrupted by yet another attack. Again and again both blades collided into the shield. He could feel it weakening, and knew that in moments it would splinter.

  One final blow exploded the shield into a million shards of sparkling light, throwing Gewey hard onto the ground once more. Melek moved in for the kill. As Gewey desperately rolled away from the fatal strike, the sword in Melek’s right hand buried itself deep into the ground a mere inch away from his head. He sought to regain his footing, but Melek kicked him in the chest.

  Snarling, Melek ripped his sword free from the earth. The tiny clumps of soil that came up with it were set aflame as they scattered. In this briefest of breathing spaces, Gewey managed to scramble to his feet. As he did so, he once again tried to manifest a weapon. This time a sword appeared in his hand.

  “Good,” said Melek. “I was beginning to think this would be no challenge at all.” Tauntingly, he waved Gewey in.

  He was a fearsome sight. Confronted with such obvious power, the sword in Gewey’s hand suddenly felt small and useless. Forcing this notion aside and steeling his nerves, he gripped the handle tightly and moved forward. In response, Melek relaxed his stance, lowered his weapons and shot Gewey a knowing smirk.

  Gewey hesitated, momentarily confused, but then recovered to swing his blade at Melek’s neck with astonishing speed and precision. There was a blinding flash of light and a ring of clashing steel. As the light faded and vision returned, Gewey’s heart chilled at the sight of his own blade now firmly in the grip of Melek’s gauntlet.

  “Farewell, Darshan,” Melek hissed.

  He tossed the captured sword into the air, where it immediately exploded into a million tiny sparks. An instant later Melek’s own sword reappeared back in his hand. The hilt of this crashed into Gewey’s jaw. His second sword swung at Gewey’s chest, its blade digging two inches into his spiritual flesh. Searing pain screamed its way through every fiber of his being as he fell to the gro
und yet again.

  Clutching at his chest, Gewey let out a blood-curdling cry. But through all the agony, a single thought still prevailed. Now there was nothing to stop Melek - or the Reborn King.

  The world around him became visible once again as his spirit receded back into his body. Melek in his earthly form was only a few feet away, laughing triumphantly, a small dagger in his hand. Gewey wanted to move but was completely paralyzed.

  “You are beaten,” Melek chided. “There is nothing left for you but death. Continuing to struggle is useless and embarrassing.” He strolled up beside Gewey as if he hadn’t a care, knelt beside him, and held the dagger above his throat. “I could shred your spirit while it is still clinging to this disgusting mortal form if I so chose. But as I am merciful, I will end your earthly life first. It is less… distressing that way.”

  Gewey glared at Melek with unfathomable contempt and defiance. He wanted to speak, but his voice had abandoned him. He closed his eyes and sent Kaylia a final wave of love through their bond.

  The words I’m sorry would be the last thing she would hear from him.

  * * * * *

  Basanti crept through the forest with as much speed as she dared. She prayed that her information was accurate. Everything depended on it.

  The open air felt good on her face - the scent of grass and trees a refreshing change. She was now only a few hundred yards away from the clearing. If she ran she could be there in an instant, but that would risk showing herself prematurely. She listened carefully for the others. They were there and in position. Melek had arrived too and was speaking to Gewey, so all she could do was wait and hope.

  Her wait was soon over as the two gods clashed. Basanti immediately picked up her pace, striving to time her arrival as planned. But the suspicion that Melek was aware of her presence refused to go away. It was only with a tremendous effort that she was able to push aside her fear. Melek could easily end her life in an instant.