by Renee Travis
Between the four of us we made a three inch thick line circling the Asylum and checked the whole clearing, getting rid of anything magical that might hinder the casting. Then we went out into the woods to gather all of the ingredients for the spell. I didn’t know exactly because there wasn’t a set potion or incantation for what I was going to attempt. But I knew what I may or may not need.
Now it was just a waiting game. Hopefully Ibbi and her sisters showed up soon, the Asylum seemed to get larger and more menacing as I watched it.
Daughter, we wanted to make sure and tell you we will provide help. Zalm’s power filled me as her message came through loud and clear. Some of the anxiety I was holding onto released as I realized the Great Three were going to be assisting me. I knew I was supposed to try and bring them back mainstream, but they’d been rather vacant from my life the past few days.
“Good, I need the encouragement; I am worried I’m not up to this.” I murmured.
“Talking to yourself is a sure sign of insanity, didn’t you know that Princess?” Ibbi said from behind me. I turned, not quite happy to see her; the Death Nymph was pretty odd honestly. But I was close to happy, which is what counted.
Her glowing deep purple eyes were not looking at me but at the P.O.T. behind me, “mmmmm, death first thing in the morning.” She waved a hand and I saw all her sisters’ step forward as one. I tried to count them and was very pleased. Nam had been correct, counting Ibbi there were nine of them.
“I want to erect a Bubble Charm around it. Do you think you and your sisters are up to the task?” I asked her. She took a moment to think about it, one hand twirled a lock of her wild milk white hair around a finger. It matched the color of her dress and I was a little surprised that while the gown was tattered and ruined it was also clean. I began to understand that Death Nymphs looked crazy on purpose. Ibbi’s skin was a dark purple as well, in stark contrast to her hair and dress. As I watched her sisters, I realized while they all seemed to look similar, Ibbi was the only one who truly stood out.
“I believe we can. Bubble Charms are not difficult; the hard part will be to create one so big and strong enough to cut off the Asylum from everything.” The smile she gave me showed a mouth full of rather pointed teeth.
“I think we’ll need an herb and salt circle on top of the one you’ve carved out,” Ibbi suggested.
“I was thinking the same thing. I gathered several protective plants, but I have nothing to grind them with.” I felt kind of stupid when I said that last part. What kind of Queen could I possibly be?
A fallible one. The best kind; do not doubt yourself. It felt like Syb sighed into my ear and I became composed again.
“We are used to doing much with very little,” With a snap of her fingers two of Ibbi’s band walked over and collected the herbs I had piled up on my bed and strode off with them further into the shadows of the woods.
“I only need the added back up to make sure I can hold the spell. I thank you for coming on such short notice,” I bowed my head in respect.
“It is a pleasure to be asked, besides we were bored.” Gracefully she and the rest of her ensemble followed where the other two had gone.
While they were gone I walked the circle, making sure there were no breaks; I had Nergal, Nam and Ekur mark out where everyone should stand. I was going to straddle the line of magic linking the P.O.T. to Lilu so that I would know when the shield came down, that it had worked and cut off her power supply. I only prayed this would also undo the curse at Bet Pagri.
When the Death Nymphs got back, they sprinkled the herb mixture onto the circle I had already made and we all got into position. My heart was racing, it felt like it was in my throat, panic was almost flooding my brain.
“You can do this,” I told myself. I could only see Nergal, Ibbi and a couple of her sisters from where I stood, I just had to have faith the others wouldn’t need to see me to hold on.
Straddling the magic line I could feel its wicked madness, so potent underneath me, part of me wanted to tap it and become a force to be reckoned with, but I also knew it would eat me alive at the same time, until I ceased to be Ereshkigal.
Centering myself, I allowed my magic to flow through me; red and black, sharp it soared up and out of me, connecting me with the twelve other people in the circle. I felt each of them in my mind; tiny, but secure, helping to anchor me to the ground.
I was trying to combine a Bubble Charm with a Shield Spell, to create a strong bubble around the Asylum, cutting off Lilu’s magic and locking the Asylum in place. It would no longer be able to feed off new victims and should settle into a hibernation-like state and give Ahhazu enough time to work.
I pictured the Asylum in my mind covered by a translucent film, shimmering and strong, used my will to project this image to the rest of my circle so that they could hold onto the visual as we did the magic to make it work.
I could feel the resentment and resistance from the P.O.T. and the power it had accumulated. It was struggling against my power as I tried to hold onto the spell and create the shield in real time. I pushed my magic at the building and it pushed back, hard. I knew I would need more strength. I could not draw off my friends; I needed them just to keep everything in place.
Opening my eyes I saw the world through my magic. The Asylum loomed above us, shaded, cracked, pulsating with malice. The windows stared at me, eyes in the darkness, soulless but almost more aware than I’d realized. The front door had grown sharp rusted, jagged teeth and the sounds coming from the building were inhuman.
I had to shut this down and fast, it could not be allowed to continue, I felt cold inside as all its hate and anger was directed at me. My circle burned bright orange in the ground and I forced myself not to concentrate on any one, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see them this way.
Looking at my magic, I could tell it was dwindling, fighting against the P.O.T. was draining me faster than I expected it to, and sweat was beading across my brow. I grabbed for my magic and leaned in, throwing every inch of myself into the spell.
“We are here daughter.”
Glancing to my left I saw Zalm, Syb and Pesu standing next to me. Syb practically glowed with silver light, while Pesu was so golden it almost hurt my eyes, too much sun in the night.
Zalm was the only one who appeared in perfect detail. She smiled at me, I knew it was supposed to reassure me, but she was a death goddess and the smile looked a bit mean.
“I told you we would provide help, and I have kept my word,” she said.
“It does not want to die either, Ereshkigal. I will try and tame it so you are not fighting so hard.” Pesu’s sing-song voice was almost too pleasant. Gold light streaked across the clearing, attaching to the P.O.T. Within minutes I breathed a little bit easier, not by a lot, but whatever she had done was allowing me a little leeway, so that it wasn’t resisting me as much.
“Can my friends see you?” I asked through gritted teeth as I formed the magic and began working the more delicate parts of the spell. I sent more power through the circle, briefly tapping the other twelve to make sure they were keeping the magic flowing and the circle together. They felt stressed, but fine.
“Yes, not as you see us, but they see us,” Pesu answered me.
“Enough chit chat Zalm, tell her what we came down here for,” Syb demanded. Zalm gave her a rather dirty look.
“I cannot lend you my power or I would, to do so would burn you brighter than a flame, but you would fizzle and go out just as fast. I cannot predict the side effects,” She seemed a little sad.
“Then how can I do this? I am at my limit. I can put the spell on the Asylum but it won’t hold, not nearly long enough to do any good.”
“You could just destroy it. That would work just as well.” The Goddess was hesitant to tell me something. I could read it in her expression, and it worried me.
“No. I gave my word that I would try and help the people in there; I can’t destroy the Asylum unless it is a last resort.
”
“You need more power then,” she paused, “You will need deaths to create the power you are looking for. Perhaps if there was more time to gather other Kassaptu it would work without sacrifice.”
“I can’t just use my own blood?”
“No. This spell will require a life.”
“A person.” I had never had the chance to do real death magic before. The thought of it excited me. I had always had the ability to drain life and put it into my magic, but living in a castle there wasn’t much use for that. Plus I had always been afraid of how people would look at me, how I would look at myself if I did something so…so…Aduran.
“No, an animal will work.” Zalm sighed and leaned in, she brushed lips across my cheek, she smelled like graveyard dirt and the kiss felt cool and disturbing. Death Goddesses did not give affection.
“Okay.”
“We must go. It is not good for us to stay too long in this realm.” Syb touched her sister’s arm and they winked out of my sight. I blinked my eyes and the world came back into normal focus.
I could see Nergal staring at me and he looked worried. I tried to smile reassuringly at him, but it was difficult, I was concentrating so hard, desperate to keep my magic from collapsing.
I sent death off to seek a victim. Shadows climbed up from the ground and the forest until my peripheral vision was clouded with spirits and shades drawn by the smell and feel of my influence. The cold hand of fatality found several creatures living in the forest and it hungered for each of them. My body was tingling with pleasure as my spectral hands cupped each of their life forces, rolling in them like a cat with catnip.
I tried to pull back. I only needed one death, just a small one, but it was too late. As I jerked back into myself, bringing my magic back into place I stole the life from at least five creatures, swamping me with extra power. Raising my hands above my head, I screamed, releasing the spell finally. It rushed towards the P.O.T. and buried it, creating the perfect cage and cutting off the fuel for Lilu’s curse.
I needed to sit down, or fall over, whichever one came first, but I couldn’t until someone held on to the last remnants of the spell and put the finishing touches on it. I held myself up as Nam, Nergal, Ekur and Ibbi grabbed the combined shield/charm and closed the circle.
Sagging to the ground, I heard my name being called. My eyes were closed and my heartbeat slow as my body got used to the low levels of energy and magic in my system. Too much had run through me at one time and I could barely make out coherent words as Nergal picked me up and took me back to our camp.
“I smell death in the forest. She truly is going to be a great queen.” Ibbi said, proudly, as they laid me down on my temporary bed.
“Go and find the dead animals. She would want us to harvest their fur and meat in thanks,” Nergal commanded. I wasn’t sure who he was speaking to.
“We saw the Great Three here today. My sisters and I must leave, but I will be sure to spread the word.” Ibbi’s corpse cold lips pressed against my forehead, I chuckled, low, second time death had kissed me today.
“That sounds like a good sign,” I heard Nam say.
“We should get her back to Bet Pagri as soon as possible. I am anxious to see if the curse is broken, and I know my parents will want to thank Ereshkigal,” Nergal said.
As they discussed how best to transport me or if they should just wait for me to feel a little better I felt some familiar presences nearing us.
Leave it to you to get into trouble without us around.
I was so happy to hear Puabi and a minute later a disgustingly wet tongue licked my hand, Lahar. I felt better just to have them near me.
We were told to get to you almost two days ago. I would have been here sooner but I had to wait for the…dog.
I tried to open my eyes to look at them but my eyelids were so heavy.
“Lahar? What are you doing here boy?” Nam asked, he seemed very close to me.
“Let him and the little bat near her,” Nergal advised.
I groaned, internally, as Lahar jumped up next to me and laid down. I was able to move my hand a bit to pet him, then Puabi settled on top of me and I knew that if I could look at her, her tiny inquisitive face would be staring at me.
I began to feel better almost at once, strength flooded back into my limbs and I opened my eyes to see a relieved Nam and Nergal watching me.
“Oof, get off me you guys. You’re heavy and warm,” I grumbled, much to the laughter of everyone.
Sitting up slowly I took a deep breath, Lahar bounded off, sitting silently. “We should get back to Bet Pagri, I am worried about the fallout from the spell.”
“Fall out?” Nergal looked clueless, but on him it was adorable. Eeek, had I really just thought that, dark goddess, it must be love after all.
“Yeah, a bunch of your people are about to drop dead,” Nam said, the voice of tact, as always. At that moment Ekur showed up carrying several skins and slabs of meat.
“What were they?” I asked.
“Three rabbits, a deer and a squirrel, I buried the squirrel, they do not taste good.” Ekur’s face stayed straight and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.
“Well, get a Stay Fresh and a Non-Rotting spell on that shit and let’s get out of here,” I was ready, ready to deal with more death and see if the charm had worked on the Asylum.
We packed up and began the walk back to Bet Pagri. As we past the Asylum it seemed quieter and I could see the shimmer of the Bubble surrounding it and I hoped Ahhazu would be able to make the antidote. The spell would last about six months and then I would either have to redo it, which I wasn’t looking forward to, or he’d be lost to the P.O.T. like everyone else.
It didn’t take us more than two and a half hours to get back to Bet Pagri and the sounds coming from within met us just as soon as it came into view. I could hear cheers and sobbing. And the place reeked of sickness and death. The magic I had done had worked. I could tell, and hope sprang up inside of me. Maybe I really could be Adura’s queen, especially if I could help others like I had done Nergal’s people.
“You have saved us my Best Beloved One,” Nergal’s hand crept around my waist and he kissed my cheek. There was happiness glimmering in his green eyes, “thank you.”
“I am just glad I could help.” Which was the truth, I was very proud of myself and of everyone, actually. As we made our way through the gates I could smell Funeral Oil being created and I watched as many males were taking wood down a narrow corridor underneath the courtyard.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“There is a crypt underneath our home. We burn Alus and then place their ashes in urns and they line the walls.” Ekur explained.
“Where does the smoke go” Nam asked.
“There are pipes that come up from the crematory; the smoke is released high above the compound,” Ekur sounded very pleased.
I also saw what looked like the starting of a celebration, “you celebrate death as well?” This excited me, I had always thought death should be respected and celebrated. In the old days they had been called Death Wakes; parties to celebrate the cycle of life. My parents had been traditional doom and gloom funeral people. Blah.
“Yes and now we can, thanks to you.”
Chapter 17
Adad was leaning against the inside of the wall just feet from us, I curtseyed. I genuinely liked Nergal’s dad, even if I felt he’d let things go on too long before seeking aid.
“We have much to celebrate and mourn and we are grateful to you, Princess Ereshkigal,”he said, coming forward, and taking my hands, he kissed the palm of each one and tears were shining in his eyes.
“Like I’ve said, I’m just glad that I could help you,” I repeated.
“Geshti and I would like to hold a party in your honor; however it will take at least a week or two to get through the funerals and the Death Wakes,” offering me his arm. As he escorted us back into the main castle, many Alus praised my name, some came
to thank me personally.
“I have to ask you to leave as soon as possible, though.” Adad stopped walking as we reached the throne room where Geshti sat, looking as cool as she had the first time I’d met her.
“What? After all she just did for you? There are still sick here!” Nam exclaimed. I was a little worried they wouldn’t take his outburst well, but I agreed with him and I was a little hurt.
“Yes. Which is why with your Princess’ permission, we would like to ask you to stay Namtar and help with some of the diseases that have remained. And to see if with your gift you could possibly help Lilu,” Adad said, releasing my arm and going to sit in his throne.
“You cannot ask her to leave and request her best friend to stay.” Nergal was trying to back me up, it was so cute.
“You know the laws, Nergal. She is not one of us or mated to one of us, she cannot stay during the funerals,” Geshti said firmly.
“Then neither can Nam. If you are going to invoke the Healer Law, then Ereshkigal should qualify,” Nergal argued. I placed a hand on his shoulder. I didn’t understand all that was going on but I was tired and I did want to go home, even if my feelings were hurt.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll go. But I expect to have supplies provided for me since I cannot shadow walk back,” I conceded.
“But Eshie…” Nam tried to butt in.
“No. You stay here and help. I have things to attend to at home.” My voice turned frosty as I addressed Adad and Geshti, “thank you for the hospitality while I stayed here.”
I stomped off, pissed and weary, walking out the doors and into the hallway, letting the large wooden door slam behind me. I rested against the wall for a moment fighting back tears. Princesses so did NOT cry. Or at least, I thought as I dashed away tears, they tried really hard not to.
