by SC Huggins
The Ancestral Mother closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Within the darkness of her closed lids, she saw white light- the Matriarch floated, almost ready.
She’d loved the great witch as a mortal. As her new creations lived, grew and died under her watchful gaze, she became convinced destruction of their predecessors had been the right choice. The Matriarch, a mortal witch, now immortal, would spend eternal life with her creator.
The Ancestral Mother cocked her head to the side, the golden plates of her skull shone in the white clouds that made up the ancestral realm. She listened intently and willed her energy to complete the final transition process into Sypa, the life form between mortals and Dejis. She took another deep breath as excitement bubbled through her. The transition was complete.
The first mortal to become immortal in the new world would soon cross to the ancestral realm. At first, she’d thought to use the power of the black stone for the ascension and transition of her Deji, but the thought of laying her eyes on the ancient stone- a reminder of her failure, almost rendered her weak. She came up with a new plan. The mortals rose from the dead into invisible airless forms. Their ascension began soon after resurrection. As they ascended, every trace of flesh and blooded was eroded and replaced with the white silvery ancestral khorn. Outside the ancestral realm, just on the opposite side of the seal, the transition to a Sypa would begin.
Excitedly, she broke the seal with a silent command. The glittering white boundary between Uwan and the ancestral realm caved in, and the Matriarch took her first step as a Sypa- a still maturing Deji not fully formed. She floated towards her Mother, the creator, and bowed. Her wet, hazy form flowed and shone as the seven-day maturation began. In exactly seven days, the Matriarch would be a full-fledged Deji.
Neck bared, the Sypa threw her head back to meet her creator’s eyes.
The Ancestral Mother stared into her white eyes and saw love shining through them. She studied the white shiny form with the spikes across the shoulders that would grow into wings upon maturation, and sighed happily.
Heart swelling in appreciation, her golden hands moved of their volition towards her chest and stayed there.
The Rebellion
The Ancestral Realm, 9925 AME.
“If we don’t do something now, the whole of Uwan would be destroyed,” the Matriarch said to the gathered Dejis and their creator.
It rarely ever happened that the Dejis are gathered before The Ancestral Mother in her ancestral holies, but these were extenuating circumstances. Uwan was at war.
“The whole Uwan has twelve clans and Wakay is only one of them. Uwan can hardly be destroyed because one of its clan Wakay chose to go to war,” Divina replied.
As Utay to The Ancestral Mother, she spoke for their creator and kept the ancestral holies private. Her word held much sway and the Matriarch knew if the others didn’t speak up, she might as well stand down.
“Rami’s greed knows no bounds. The man would do anything for power,” Yas added into the silence left by Divina’s words. “We kill him and the Holocaust ends.”
“Wereu’s father shouldn’t have trusted him,” one of the Dejis said.
“They were friends,” Ager replied sharply.
“So, what should we do?” Divina asked. “Give it time, the war would wear itself out.”
“It’s been on for years,” Yas snapped, nostrils blowing of white steam, “and at this rate my lineage would be wiped off as the war shows no sign of stopping.”
“Calm down,” Divina said with a quick glance in their Mother’s direction. Still and silent on her legless throne, she listened.
“We only need to stop a war that has gone on for too long. Thousands have died already, the population of the Wakay clan has gone from over a million to thousand because of a greedy man’s actions.” The Matriarch took a deep breath. “Yas is right. We kill Rami and the war is over.”
The Ancestral Mother leaned forward and the Dejis fell silent. “We have a policy—we do not, under no circumstances do we interfere in the lives of mortals. If we interfere now, then I am a liar and the free will I freely gave is no free will.”
Yas swallowed. “Please, I understand mother. But I will have no one to carry my name in worship in Wakay. My descendants are almost gone and would all die off if the war isn’t stopped.”
“You are concerned about your descendants,” The Ancestral Mother said quietly.
“And all of Uwan,” Yas added hurriedly.
“After conquering Wakay, what will stop Rami looking elsewhere? Greed for power never really ends,” the Matriarch said.
“Even now you’re enjoying my gift of free will,” The Ancestral Mother said. “I can’t read your minds or control your actions. You’re telling me you want that gift withdrawn?”
“No!” their answer was unequivocal.
Divina glanced around and nodded. “We only want Rami killed.”
“And if another greedy mortal comes along? I withdraw my gift of non-interference again? No.”
Anger and sorrow danced down Yas’ spine and stiffened his wings. “I understand Mother.”
“And Wereu, the last Deji?” the Matriarch asked.
“She will survive,” The Ancestral Mother replied.
“Will you help her survive?” Yas asked bitterly.
“Yas!” Divina hissed.
“Sorry, Mother. I didn’t really mean—”
“It’s alright Yas.”
The Matriarch floated agitatedly, the sharp edges of her fifth wing twitching with every movement. “So, we do nothing.”
The Ancestral Mother inclined her head. “We do nothing.”
The Matriarch nodded. “After Wereu’s ascension–”
“Which will take place after she dies and not a moment before,” the creator reminded her Dejis softly.
“After Wereu the ancestral realm will be sealed for the final time?” Ager asked.
“I’m not sure. I was thinking of having an even number of twenty Dejis, then the ancestral realm can be sealed for the final time.” The Ancestral Mother studied her Dejis in turn, waiting until they nodded in agreement.
WITH HER FOREHEAD LOWERED as far as her wings would allow, the Matriarch let her eyes drift closed as the familiar words flowed from her lips.
“Mitra de fila dina.” In the mortal language of her people the Chaldis, it would be translated. ‘we have one god and creator.’
The words were strong and true. She owed the immortality she enjoyed to The Ancestral Mother, so why the feeling of discontent gnawing at her insides. It was the screams of the mortals down below in the Wakay clan and Rami’s insufferable arrogance. He would win the war, and at great cost.
She rose and a quick glance around the slatra of worship revealed every Deji in a worshipful bow to their creator. Yes, the Matriarch would trust the creator. When the worship session was over, the eighteen Dejis made their way out of the slatra of worship. With the slatra tucked into an elevation of clouds in the southern part of the ancestral realm, it was rarely visited except on worship days. The Matriarch noticed The Ancestral Mother’s throne was overturned. She moved to adjust it.
“Go on,” Yas urged, “I will do it since I’m closer.”
Yas floated up to the highest point of the slatra, adjusted the throne and paused at the sight of The Ancestral Mother on her knees. Fear lit his insides and he walked past the throne towards the corner where she knelt.
“...wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important. I need to locate the Blackstone,” The Ancestral Mother was saying.
“But you created it,” a quiet and silky voice replied.
“Yes, but I lost control when I granted my creations the gift of foreknowledge, I only need a little power to locate it and maintain control.”
Yas froze. Why would their creator need power from someone? She was the most powerful and creative force in the universe. Who could be greater than her?
“My answer’s still no.” The
voice turned crooning, almost pitying. “Come home, you’ve proved your point.”
The Ancestral Mother laughed bitterly. “I should return to a home where I’m regarded as nothing? An inferior?”
“You are both my children—”
“You pushed me away!”
“Come home and I will give you all the power you need,” the silky voice turned entreating.
“No, mother,” The Ancestral Mother’s reply reached Yas’ ears clearly. “I will find another way.”
“How long do you think you can continue living this farce of being a creator? I tell you, your Dejis will not remain imprisoned within these clouds willingly for immortality—”
“They love me and won’t betray me,” The Ancestral Mother said.
“How long do you think that untested seal and a need to feed on life outside this realm would keep them tied to you before they figure things out?”
“They won’t betray me,” The Ancestral Mother repeated doggedly.
“Your first mistake started long before now with the blackstone, and you compounded it by gifting your creations a gift of choice and switching off your ability to foreknow them.”
“I trust them Mother and that’s more than you ever gave me!”
“Listen,” the voice turned urgent, “they might be betraying you even now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Yas retreated. Blindly, he floated down and nearly collided into the Matriarch. The powerful Deji caught him by the shoulders, staying his forward momentum.
“There are no enemies in the ancestral realm, just endless peace.” She laughed. “No need to run.”
“No enemies?” Yas shook his head. “Are you sure?”
“I know Mother’s decision was painful—”
“Painful? It was devastating.”
“That a decision is painful doesn’t make it wrong.”
“No,” Yas agreed. “What did you see when you stepped into the ancestral realm for the first time?”
The Matriarch frowned. “What do you mean and where’s this question coming from?”
“Humor me.”
They stepped out of the slatra and the Matriarch stopped to see Yas’ face better. “I saw Mother waiting to welcome me to a new life.”
“Nothing else?” Yas prodded. “Not even the Blackstone?”
She stepped closer. “What’s bringing this questions on?”
“We’ve always wondered about the Blackstone,” he said with a light shrug. “We aren’t even sure it exists, I’m only wondering if you met it here upon ascension.”
The Matriarch took a step back. “No, I didn’t see it.”
“Does that mean it existed before you?”
“Don’t be silly Yas, I’m the first Deji—”
“Yes, but what’s the position of the Blackstone?”
“I’m not sure it exists,” the Matriarch added reluctantly. “I only—” she broke off abruptly.
“You only what?”
“I have seen the key to the Blackstone.”
THE ANCESTRAL REALM, 9950 AME.
When the ancestral realm is at war, what can mere mortals do?
With a sidelong glance at The Ancestral Mother, the Matriarch decided she could give away her gift of immortality to be privy to the creator’s thoughts right now. The rebellion was only proving one thing, one she had always known and tried to warn her creator of- Dejis were mortals first and would stay mortals at heart, regardless of their transition into Dejis.
“Who will better rule mortals than one who was once a mortal and understand their desires and thinking?” Yas argued.
The Matriarch looked around the assembled Dejis and noticed they were actually considering Yas’ argument. Unthinkable, she thought. Still, The Ancestral Mother, the creator, and giver of immortality remained silent. The Matriarch shook her glistening head in a jerky movement, causing her wings to twitch behind her and confronted Yas.
“You do not deserve ruler-ship; you have done nothing to deserve it. Be grateful for the gift of immortality and beg her forgiveness. Our creator,” she pointed a shaky finger with its liquid tipped talons towards the silent but magnificent figure of The Ancestral Mother seated on her throne as she observed and listened without expression, “as our creator, the basis of our, your existence, she does not just deserve ruler-ship, she owns it.”
The Matriarch looked around the seated Dejis and saw she was getting through to them; they might see reason. “If—”
“The father of a child does not always make the best parent,” Yas interjected with a quiet smile. The Matriarch understood what the smile meant- he had his audience back. Her expression turned sour when she recalled how much his oratory skills amused her and Mother as they watched his antics from the ancestral realm when he was a mortal.
There was certainly nothing amusing about it now.
Did this sudden request have anything to do with their conversation years ago?
Yas spread his arms, causing his wings to tip upward behind him. “Look, I want more. I want more out of my immortal existence than just roaming the ancestral realm observing mortals live their lives. I’m sorry for disturbing the order as it stands, I only want more.”
“I am your creator,” The Ancestral Mother finally addressed them. Her voice silky and nuanced with power but colored with a spattering of something indescribable.
The Matriarch turned to her in relief. It was high time their creator put an end to this farce. A rebellion was unheard of, all Dejis since the first ascension and transition existed and lived in gratitude to The Ancestral Mother for their eternal life. She willed their creation as mortals and ascension into the ancestral realm as Dejis. For all she’d given them, Mother owed her Dejis nothing, while they were indebted to her for everything.
To seek ruler-ship? Mitchia! Right from the pivotal moment she knelt before her creator after her ascension, it never crossed her mind. If she were the creator...the Matriarch shook her head to dispel it of the image of a very dead Yas and listened to him continue the argument in favor of his mad proposal.
“No one is disputing that we owe our existence and presence in the ancestral realm to you,” he said, acknowledging The Ancestral Mother. “You decided a long time ago, even long before you considered my creation, that the most remarkable mortal witches will join you in immortal life here in the ancestral realm.” He paused and somehow, the air around them froze too, almost as if it was also eager to hear what Yas had to say next.
“But that was after you destroyed our predecessors.”
They froze in shock and the announcement rendered most of the Dejis slack-jawed. They all swiveled in their positions to stare at their creator. The Matriarch stifled a groan of dismay. “And so what?” she demanded.
“You destroyed a whole world before our time?” Ager asked in surprise.
“Just because Mother is humble enough to hear us doesn’t give us the right to question her,” Divina retorted.
Ager bowed in worship.
The Matriarch would give Ager that, he was certainly more respectful than Yas—
“Mother, the giver of immortality.” Ager tipped his head up, and The Matriarch frowned at the blank expression in his light orbs, “please, if you wish to, can you tell us why you destroyed our predecessors?” He shook his head. “I never even knew we had predecessors.”
Murmurs of agreement trailed his statement and the Matriarch knew this rebellion might not be easily squashed.
The Ancestral Mother leaned forward, the question hung in the air, tautening the already strained atmosphere. It was an awkward position to be in because she never gave it too much thought that her Dejis would seek answers someday. When the Matriarch asked, it was easy enough to satisfy her curiosity because her question was borne out of genuine curiosity. But these, not so much.
“I hadn’t done well in creating them,” she admitted quietly. “Most were out of control, powerful and hideous monsters, creatures of instinct, lac
king emotions and will. I decided to create a new world filled with creatures with stable bodies who could appreciate my existence and power,” she added pointedly. “And I made sure to create few of them, so I didn’t have to destroy a ‘whole world’.”
All Dejis bowed in renewed appreciation. The Matriarch couldn’t hold back a sigh of relief. To think an off hand comment to Yas about the predecessors precipitated this meeting was difficult to contemplate. He’d been persistent. First had come the question about the Blackstone and she’d admitted to the existence of the key. Next had followed thorough questions that led to her divulging private conversations with her creator. Her big mouth caused all these. Thanks to The Ancestral Mother all was—
“And when you deem us, ‘unstable, unappreciative monsters?” Yas asked suddenly, tipping the atmosphere to the strained one it was before, what then?” He glanced around at his fellow Dejis. “Do you banish us into non-existence forever just like you did our predecessors?”
“Yas—” Divina began.
“And how are we sure our predecessors do not have a predecessor?” Yas continued in a hard tone.
“I am sure there is nothing of the sort!” Divina snapped.
“Yes,” Tosa, one of the Dejis added, “how can we be sure there’s nothing of the sort?”
“Is there not, really?” Ager asked quietly.
Again, all heads swiveled to The Ancestral Mother and The Matriarch marveled at her cool, almost bored expression.
“Yes.”
Her reply shocked the Dejis. They stared.
“Two creations wiped out?” the murmur rose from the back.
“What I am saying is,” Yas’ voice dropped, dripping with such reasonableness, that the Matriarch’s wings twitched with the urge to strike him, “being the most powerful doesn’t make you the most fitting ruler for mankind. And I apologize from the depth of my heart, but knowing you have created two worlds and destroyed them makes me very uncomfortable.”
