Queen of the Immortals

by T. R. Hamby

She raised an eyebrow, but she was smiling. “Let’s not argue about that.”

  She continued, “They’ve been watching you all your life. They saw you fight your addiction, and They just saw you save that girl’s life, by giving your own. They know the job God’s given your friends, so They’re offering to make you Immortal, so you can help them. And They’ll be giving you a Talent to make it easier.”

  Barry took this in quietly. It was almost too much information to grasp. “What kind of Talent?”

  Mum looked hesitant. “I can’t tell you that either,” she sighed. “They’ve never given anyone a Talent before. They’re a little unsure how it’ll work. But it’ll be unique--beautiful, even.”

  He nodded vaguely. “You’ll come with me?” he asked hopefully, but she shook her head sadly.

  “No, love. I have to go back.”

  “Then I’ll never see you again,” he said, and tears filled his eyes once more.

  She held him, kissed his cheek. “They’re beginning something They’ve never done before,” she murmured soothingly. “So I think, one day, we’ll be together again.”

  “They’re not….like God, are they?”

  He couldn’t help but ask.

  Mum pulled away, shaking her head firmly. “No. They’re the opposite.”

  She sighed. “But now that you’re going back, God will notice that there’s another Power out there, that he has a rival now. He won’t be happy. So….be careful. We don’t know what he’ll do.”

  Barry nodded firmly.

  “It’s time to go.”

  “No,” he moaned, and she held him again.

  She kissed his cheek. “Go fly away, baby.”

  And then he was gasping, his eyes snapping open.

  He was looking up at the ceiling of the penthouse. He smelled blood, tasted it thick in his mouth. Nora was hovering over him, a look of joy on her face.

  “Fucking hell; thank god, Barry!” she cried, and she threw her arms around him.

  He held her, still bewildered. It took him a long moment to realize he wasn’t dead anymore. His mother had sent him back. They had sent him back.…

  Nora drew away. “Come on; let’s sit you up….”

  She and Katie helped him sit, and he checked himself over. His fingers were back, and the hole in his throat was gone. His lungs were full of fresh air, and he felt so alive, so energized. He grinned, and Nora laughed, hugging him again.

  “Thank god, Barry.”

  He was happy for a small moment. Then his heart raced, and he looked around wildly.

  “You all right?” he asked Katie, taking her arm.

  She nodded, and he said, “Where’s Ceres? Persephone? Gabriel; is Gabriel okay?”

  As he said this the others began to approach them. Gabriel arrived, nearly bowling Michael over, and slid to his knees, grasping his arms and looking him over.

  “Fuck,” he moaned, looking at all the blood.

  “He’s okay, Gabriel,” Nora said soothingly. “He’s alive again.”

  “Again?”

  “Look, love, I’m Immortal,” Barry said, holding out his healed hand for Gabriel to inspect. “My fingers are back.”

  Gabriel took his hand, which was still slick with blood. He looked bewildered, and terrified.

  “You died?” he breathed, and his voice broke.

  “It’s all right,” Barry said firmly, holding his face in his hand. “I’m back, Gabriel. I’m back.”

  Gabriel still looked pained, but seemed to decide his emotions could wait until later. He pulled Barry into his arms, moaning, and Barry held him, smelling blood and scorched hair.

  They were okay. Gabriel was okay.

  They broke apart, and Barry looked around. Everyone was watching him worriedly, which was ironic, given the state they were in. Mel was a mess, shirtless, with the remains of scorched fabric hanging from his waist. Gabriel was bleeding from a laceration to his chest, and he and Michael’s faces were splattered with blood.

  Gilla stood at the edge of the group, looking almost….serene. Her shirt was soaked with blood, and she was holding a knife dripping with the red liquid. But otherwise she appeared untouched.

  She did seem to snap out of her daze, and rushed to Michael to see that he was all right. Everyone began to move then; Nora threw herself into Mel’s arms; Michael looked Gilla over; Gabriel and Barry held and consoled a bewildered Katie.

  It was a long time before they began to move. Gabriel helped Barry and Katie to their feet. Barry kept an arm around Katie, who was shaking, and together they surveyed the penthouse.

  Puddles of blood were everywhere, and there were scorch marks on the floor. A couple swords lay abandoned on the marble. The bodies of the dead had vanished.

  “Barry,” Katie whispered, and he looked at her. “What are you?”

  He rubbed her arm soothingly. “Superheroes,” he said, and she rolled her eyes, actually cracking a smile.

  “Don’t be a wanker,” she replied.

  “You’re really all right?”

  Her face darkened, and she looked over her shoulder into the room behind them. Barry followed her gaze--the bodies of two women were in there, dismembered and stacked like logs.

  He guided her away, squeezing her. His heart pounded, and he looked around furiously. “Where’s Ceres?”

  “Gone,” Nora said bitterly.

  Gone. Great.

  Mel went to the middle of the flat, and plucked what must have been Persephone’s cell phone off the floor.

  “I’m dialing 999,” he said. “We have to go home.”

  Hands were clasped, and they tipped backward, falling, racing, and rushing back to Westminster.

  Gilla

  Everyone was checked over for injuries, once they landed on the creaky wood flooring of the Westminster house’s living room. Everyone was bloody; everyone was confused, asking questions.

  They sat down, not caring if they stained the sofas. Katie began to cry, and Nora went to fetch a Xanax and a cup of tea for her. She curled into Barry’s arms, and Gilla felt a pang. She longed to comfort her too, but knew it was better that Barry do it alone.

  It took Katie some time to calm down. Everyone waited patiently for the Xanax to work, though Gilla was sure they were all itching to speak.

  Once she was calmly sipping her tea, Barry’s arm wrapped tightly around her, they began. One by one they told their tales: Mel talked about fighting Raziel, shielding them all from his fire; Nora spoke about dueling with Ceres, who was trying to kill Katie.

  She came to Barry’s death, and everyone studied him, even Katie, who--despite the Xanax--looked almost rapt.

  He was quiet for a long time, frowning at the floor. He looked a mixture of serious and hesitant.

  Finally he looked up, and said gravely, “There’s another….um….another Being.”

  There was a silence.

  Then Mel cried, “What?”

  “That’s not possible,” Michael said, though he was pale. “There’s only ever been our Father.”

  Barry shrugged. “When I died, I showed up in my old flat. My mum was there, and she told me about….Them.”

  He went on for a while, detailing his conversation with his mother, while everyone listened intently.

  Gilla was disturbed. All this time she had believed it was only God out there. Now there was someone else, with the power to make people Immortal. What else could They do?

  Gabriel seemed to be wondering the same thing. “If They’re good enough to bring you back, why can’t They fix some of the shit going on down here?” he demanded.

  Barry shrugged calmly. “It sounded like They haven’t….meddled with things before,” he replied. “Almost like They’re just learning.”

  So you’re the first They’ve done something to? Gilla signed, and Nora translated.

  Barry nodded. “S’pose so.”

  He looked around. “Mum said God will be angry now that I’m back; that he’ll notice there’s something else
out there, changing things.”

  “No shit,” Mel hissed, his head twitching.

  “This can’t be real,” Nora whispered. “I mean, one God is enough.”

  “Mum said They’re the opposite of God,” Barry said, shrugging. “They might be better than him. They choose heroes and the lowly to come to Their Place….you know. Nicer.”

  Everyone looked weary, especially Mel, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, his head twitching.

  “Sounds a little like Father,” Michael said darkly. “Giving you a Talent without telling you what it is.”

  Barry sighed and shrugged. “Again, it sounds like They’re still learning. That’s all I know.”

  They decided to move on, though it was clear they were all disturbed by the unbelievable news.

  Michael and Gabriel told their stories. They got to the end--when Gilla killed Horus--and it was her turn to be stared at.

  Nora was gray now. She mentioned that she had seen Gilla survive the fatal blow Persephone had given her, and everyone went pale. Michael was horrified, and Gabriel was somber. Mel was frowning, as if thoughtful, studying her calmly.

  To her surprise, Gilla wasn’t flustered. She didn’t shy away, didn’t blush and avoid their eyes. She felt almost….stoic. Unembarrassed.

  She carefully signed, I must absorb every Angel’s power when I kill them.

  “It’s not just that,” Michael breathed. “Gilla….you can’t be killed.”

  The statement hung in the air, and everyone absorbed it. Nora looked at Mel, who was still studying Gilla.

  “How do you feel?” he finally asked.

  Gilla frowned. She hadn’t been expecting that question.

  She thought for a long moment, studying her hands, which had just killed two Angels less than an hour ago.

  How did she feel about it?

  Her heart beat slowly, and she felt a surge of energy.

  She felt powerful.

  She gave a little nod. No one looked reassured except for Mel, who nodded too.

  Gilla studied him. She realized that they were taking up the same mantle now--Mel also couldn’t be killed, and they both bore amazing powers.

  God had made her special, but she didn’t care about that anymore. She was there for two things: to protect her family, and to kill evil Angels. That was all, and she knew Mel felt the same.

  They all felt the same. God be damned.

  Michael

  A new Being. No, it didn’t make any sense.

  Michael descended the steps to the kitchen. It was the middle of the night--everyone had gone to bed hours ago, exhausted and disturbed. Katie had been taken home by Gabriel and Barry, bundled in a blanket. Gilla had passed out right as her head hit the pillow, but Michael had lain awake, thinking.

  All he had ever known was his Father. From the day of his Creation, for millennium upon millennium. He had been kind, and he had been cruel. But he had only ever been the only.

  And now there was something else. Who? And how long had They been around? Why were They changing things now? Could they trust Them?

  It was overwhelming.

  He went to the kitchen, craving a drink, only to find Mel at the counter, beer in hand. They looked at each other, and at the same time shook their heads.

  “Fucking insane,” Mel said as Michael went to the fridge and grabbed a beer.

  “Yeah.”

  Mel studied him while he flicked the cap off the bottle. “What do you think?”

  Michael sighed, sitting across from him. “I don’t know.”

  “Are you pissed?”

  “I think you’re pissed enough for the both of us.”

  Mel looked as if he was about to retort, but then shrugged. “Yeah.”

  They were quiet a moment, sipping their drinks.

  “Strange,” Michael finally said, “that all those stories about another Realm turned out to be true. Where did we get those, anyway?”

  Mel frowned and shrugged. “I don’t know. It wasn’t from you and me.”

  “Maybe They’re one of us,” he said slowly. “One of us who died in the War.”

  Mel’s head twitched at the mention of the War. But he asked, “How is that possible, though? They died and suddenly, just, became a god?”

  Michael shrugged. “How did Father become Father? There must have been something before him.”

  Mel pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning. “There has to be something we never noticed.”

  Michael rolled the bottle between his hands. He couldn’t think of a single thing. It had, again, always been Father.

  “It’s not the worst thing,” he finally said, quietly. “If we can trust Them.”

  “How can we possibly trust Them?” Mel said. “They’ve been hiding Their Existence for who knows how long, and now They’re just starting to fuck around with things. And why? What’s Their motivation now?”

  “Could be us,” Michael replied. “We’re hunting evil Angels. There have never been Angels like these. And it’s kicking our asses.”

  “Why didn’t They talk to Barry, instead of sending his mother?”

  “Maybe They knew his mother misses him. If they live in that Realm together, then they probably talk a lot. They aren’t separated like Father and the people in Heaven.”

  Mel swore under his breath, leaning back in his chair. “You’re making too much sense.”

  Michael felt his lips twitch. “Just guessing.”

  They were quiet. The clock on the wall ticked, and the two sipped their drinks, lost in their own thoughts.

  Michael frowned, leaning back in his seat. For all this time, neither he nor Mel had ever questioned Father’s origins. Mel had always questioned Father’s motives, yes, but that was it. There had been no reason, when Father had always been absolute, the only.

  Now there was another. And it sounded like They were threatening Father’s very position in the universe. And that was either good, or bad.

  Very bad.

  Mel

  One Month Later

  For four weeks they kept an eye on Katie Pembleton, just in case Ceres returned to snatch her. But they all agreed she would most likely be far away from London, stalking innocent humans in some foreign place. Everyone was furious that she had gotten away--all except Nora, who was overwhelmed with guilt instead.

  Mel noticed right away that her mood had shifted. She was distant, sleeping longer and eating less. She had a phone session with her psychiatrist, and Mel picked up her adjusted meds from the chemist.

  It would take some time, though.

  “Sorry,” she sighed, when Mel found her wallowing in the bathtub again. “I’m getting out.”

  He got her a towel, and she stood on the bathmat and dried off. He felt a pang when she looked at him--she looked so drained, with circles under her eyes.

  But he managed a smile. “Bellissima.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Please.”

  He brushed her wet curls from her face, and she smiled, leaning her head into his palm. Then she drew into him, and he held her, savoring the feel of her against him.

  “Let’s go downstairs,” he said as she got dressed. “They’re watching a movie down there.”

  Nora looked at him. “Barry too?”

  His head twitched. That was another issue currently happening. Barry hadn’t shown any sign of a Talent yet, but for the past month had been having bouts of nearly incapacitating illness. He complained of itchy and prickly skin, sweats, and a horrible pain in his shoulders. He twitched, shifted, and grimaced.

  And even when he wasn’t ill, he was barely eating. He was very hungry, but food made him nauseous, and he could only get down a few bites before giving up.

  He said it felt like he was withdrawing, but he was still clean, still going strong. Mel and Nora secretly counted her Xanax, just to be safe, and it was always in order. Whatever was ailing Barry wasn’t dope.

  It made Mel angry. Furious. Now this new god was in the mix, and what good
were They doing? Sure, They had brought Barry back to life, but it didn’t look like it was a very comfortable life. His Talent hadn’t shown up, and all the while he suffered.

  This god was just as cruel as Father.

  He handed Nora her sweater. “He’s feeling good today.”

  “That makes one of us.”

  “You’re doing great,” Mel said soothingly, helping her with her sweater.

  When it was on he adjusted its hem, pretending to fuss, and she giggled and smacked his arm.

  “Ass.”

  He kissed her, and she sighed, slipping her arms around his neck. A good sign.

  They went downstairs, and found Barry and Gabriel lounging on one of the sofas, watching a football game.

  “I thought you were watching a movie,” Mel said as he and Nora sat down.

  “Spurs are winning,” Barry said.

  He too looked a little peaked, but he was in high spirits today.

  “Are your hopes and dreams caught up in this game?”

  Barry glanced at Nora. “No. You want to watch a movie, Nora?”

  “Don’t stop watching because of me,” Nora replied, elbowing Mel in the ribs.

  “I prefer Manchester anyway,” he said, and began to flip through the channels.

  He paused at a couple stations before flipping to the news. Not the best thing for Nora to be watching, but before Mel could speak, breaking news aired.

  “Everything he touches turns to gold: Breaking news in the Kellan ‘Midas’ Palmer case. The multimillionaire CEO of the tech company Epic Nation is under intense scrutiny after the woman alleging to have been assaulted by Palmer, Emily Stanton, has gone missing….”

  Barry changed the channel, but Nora sat up. “Hold on; go back,” she said.

  Barry frowned, but switched back to the news.

  “….found missing at around five in the morning, with no signs of forced entry. Stanton alleges that she attended one of many parties hosted by Palmer, when she woke up in his bedroom, disoriented.

  “Kellan ‘Midas’ Palmer is famous for building an entire tech company from the ground up in just two years. He faces no charges at this time, and police say he is cooperating with the investigation….”