Dark Rain: Book 1 of The Aetherium Saga

by Jilly MacKenzie

  The sparks of a flame long extinguished began to ignite within him as he remembered his unceremonious rise from his imprisonment of slumber. He was angry. Why wake me? Why am I here?

  Marduk abruptly rose to his feet and pocketed the shell. He recalled his awakening more than a millennium ago, and the familiar voice of an old friend which pulled him from his hibernation. Why did you wake me? I didn't want it.

  ‘Nanaya! Why did you wake me?’ he bellowed to the sky. He took a few steps and gazed out upon the roiling sea. It mirrored the indignation and determination brewing beneath his surface, and he roared to sky again, but in his mother tongue.

  ‘Nanaya, inim-gi!’

  Nanaya, answer me!

  Marduk could feel his ego returning with each ignored wail. He recalled his pure magnificence and power. He was a king. And son of the royal line. He glowered with egoism and pretension as he rumbled out one final command, remembering who he was.

  ‘Šeg.’

  Obey.

  A gust of warm air engulfed him, and Marduk’s physical form rapidly de-materialised in a flash of white light, as the aroma of geosmin and benzene filled his nostrils.

  He spread his arms wide, surrendering himself with a grin as he was instantly propelled through the fabric of space to a large, curved room. He was facing out of a huge glazed surface to a view of blackness, dotted with glowing orbs. Earth's solar system.

  Marduk knew exactly where he was, and he smirked as he turned from the window to face seven ethereally beautiful and ornately garbed beings. Their awestruck faces studied him for a moment, then all at once they knelt and bowed their heads in unison before the newcomer. The royal bow of submission.

  Marduk's level gaze scanned the seven faces, all of them familiar. He saw relief, pride, confusion, and only one of pure joy. Nanaya.

  That day had changed his life. With one small shell, Victoria had fanned the embers of his will, and echoes of his former self had clawed their way to the surface.

  Marduk’s aether was currently only a fraction of what it used to be, before his Fall. But with the help of Victoria’s electrotherapy in recent years, and the unlimited access to Anunnaki food on the Uruv, he had managed to store a moderate amount of the precious cosmic energy.

  Marduk looked upon her now, in her Drakestoke room, like an observant ghost within her mind. Gentle, feather-light, and undetectable. He felt her usual loneliness, melancholy, and complacent surrender to the current setting of her life. It was the essence of somebody with nothing more to lose.

  He clenched his fists as he recalled the times he had viewed her abuse during the years before her incarceration. There was nothing I could do. I never had enough aether to intervene. I was powerless until...

  A particular Earth night sprang to the forefront of his mind, and his thoughts filled with the sound of her broken shrieking, and the sight of her quivering over the body of her dead son. He could feel her despair and loss. He knew that feeling. He had wanted to aetherate to her, and comfort her. To hold her close and protect her from the demon which had haunted her adult life.

  Her devastation had fueled Marduk's desperation, and he had begged Nanaya for an aether transference. She had refused him, thinking it dangerous for him to reveal himself to humans.

  He saw in his mind’s eye that Victoria had now turned her burning rage into physical attacks upon her demon. Marduk knew the ways of her world, and the punishments for such behaviour. I cannot allow this! She will surely be executed!

  Refusing to accept the projected future consequences of Victoria’s actions, Marduk forcibly grasped Nanaya, begging her for a transfer. His anguish clear to see, and Nanaya warily obliged. She held his distressed face to hers, firmly with both hands. Her long finger nails pressing into his flesh, as she relished touching him. She parted her lips lustfully and brought her grinning mouth down onto his, holding him to a forceful, passionate kiss.

  Marduk’s face hardened as he stared at her through lowered brows. She opened her large jade eyes and met his intense blue gaze, making her smile again while she slowly pulled her mouth away from his, pouring out a steady blue stream of aether essence into his open mouth. Their eyes began to glow electric blue, matching the colour of the aether between them.

  The flow of her energy filling him, sent a wave of relief through his body caused him to momentarily close his eyes, savouring the feeling. Nanaya watched him closely, monitoring her aether output, and finally closing her mouth, ending the transfer.

  Marduk's eyes flashed open. Lines of glowing blue symbols and cuneiform became visible down the sides of his neck, and along his arms. I have to be quick, there’s not much time. She has almost killed him.

  Despite the increase of aether, he could still feel that is was not quite enough for a return aetheration journey, to and from Earth. And running out of time, Marduk did the only thing he could think of. The only thing that might have a shot at stopping her, and also keep himself safely on the Ùruv.

  I've never done this before.

  He began to take position. Keeping the pointer and middle fingers together on both hands, he reached up with his right arm, and down with his left. Palms facing out before him. He pulled his aether out of himself and to his hands, and his cryptic tattoos shone brilliantly.

  His right arm tensed and his fingers stretched out, as if holding up the sky. As above.

  His left arm strained, and he knelt down, spreading the fingers out onto the floor. So below.

  A rush of warm air enveloped Marduk, causing his black and gold hair to toss about wildly, and his eyes were an intense azure glare. He secured the current conscious connection between himself and Victoria. Then released with a burst of energy, causing to almost buckle under an unforeseen weight. Consumed in blinding light, and intense energy, he groaned as he strained against the force of his aether racing out of him and through the fabric of space, to her. Then, all faded, and the luminosity he emitted just moments ago was extinguished without a trace.

  I did it! He could feel Victoria’s essence within him. I wasn’t like the brief glimpses he had occasionally seen of her life. But stronger. And constant. She was now part of him. Newly burnt to his soul, and residing somewhere in the deep recesses of his being. She has stopped her attack. I did it. She will live.

  Nanaya was the sole witness to what had transpired, and she looked upon Marduk with shock, and muttered one word in their native Sumerian tongue.

  ‘Ankida...’

  The Heaven-Earth Joining. The tethering of aether between an Anuna and a human.

  Marduk would never forget those two days, for as long as he lived. The day she gifted him with purpose, a shell born from the sea. And the day she was connected to him, for eternity.

  He now had a good amount of aether within him. Enough for a return aetheration journey. And he couldn’t wait to finally reveal himself to her.

  Chapter 9

  Masquerade

  It's that time again, I guess.

  A splendid blue formal gown had been left on Anubis’ bed for her by the orderlies. As they always did that time of year. Yet, Anubis had always ever attended the masquerade in her usual Drakestoke attire. She did not care for meaningless show.

  However, there was portion of the masquerade dress code that she could not refuse. Her unnervingly, ominous mask. Not that I'm ever without it anyway. I'll never allow it to be removed. I will carry his memory on me forever. I am the embodiment of what I've lost.

  She noted the new glyph on the ceiling above her bed. This one was bigger and darker than all the others, and she could sense that whatever entity haunted her, was getting stronger. Her ghost, or shadow. Whatever he is, what does he want with me?

  Anubis was curious of him, but more than that, she looked forward to every interaction she had with him. Whether he was a shadow in a storm, a symbol on her wall, or an obscured visitor in her dreams. She knew there was an indescribable connection between them. But why me?

  ***

 
The snowfall had been a relentless flurry for the last two days, and today seemed to be continuing with the trend. Lenore inhaled the comforting scent of her hot chocolate, holding it firmly between her hands as she gazed outside at the white landscape. It glistened in through the great latticed windows of the recreation room, that she, Cat, and Axel had claimed as their own. It had become a kind of clubhouse for the unlikely trio.

  Lenore had originally wanted to expand her horizons and befriend as many people as she could during her time here. But she had quickly found a promising suspect in Anubis, and made fast friends with Cat and Axel, who both knew as much, if not more about the goings on at Drakestoke.

  Unexpectedly, Lenore had become comfortable in her institution lifestyle, and had created her own comfort zone within the grand old walls of the chateau. She frequently forgot her mission and her true purpose for being at Drakestoke. And she certainly was not looking forward to having to leave Cat and Axel.

  I will miss them, she thought as she glanced over to Cat and Axel using the orange glow from the fireplace to throw their finger shadows onto the walls opposite.

  Cat tried to make a shadow crocodile eat Lenore, and she snorted a laugh into her hot chocolate, splashing a number of rich brown droplets onto her face. Cat and Axel burst out laughing simultaneously.

  This place really is a safe haven and refuge for people like them. They wouldn’t be accepted anywhere else. And I’m so thankful that everybody is here, and not euthanised. It’s a place of healing for broken souls, and I understand now how it can even be considered a home. I can feel it.

  Throughout her stay at Drakestoke, Lenore had encountered nothing but tranquility and benevolence within its labyrinthine passages and countless rooms. Both staff and residents went about their daily lives with comfortable contentedness, able to seek satisfaction from friendships and relationships, and fulfilment from pursuing hobbies and passions.

  Lenore had found herself, at times, completely engulfed in the warm bubble that Drakestoke provided, that she had been angry and appalled at herself for momentarily losing focus of her real purpose for being here. The rogue Anuna.

  I have been waiting for a chance like this one. Tonight. Christmas Eve night. The masquerade. I will attempt to interact with the elusive Anubis.

  Lenore glanced at the large gilded wall clock above the stone fireplace. 4:45pm, and already dark outside, she noted.

  The intermittent sound of excited voices and hurried feet passing the room, marked the beginning of the masquerade excitement. Cat stood, announcing over the low babble of the television that she was going to get ready for the masquerade, and Axel too was hastily stolen away.

  Lenore was suddenly eerily aware of her sudden solitude, and it bothered her that the short absence of company affected her so much. I've always been a social person, but has this place, and these friendships I've formed, really affected me this strongly?

  The dying fire of the hearth seemed to urge her to leave, and she switched the television off and exited the room. She moved among chattering groups of orderlies, and the faces of concentration as residents hurried to and from their friends rooms.

  Somebody’s decorative Pantalone mask caught her attention. Are people really wearing masks to this thing? I didn’t think that was a necessity! I don't have a mask. She mentally scolded herself for overlooking such an obvious issue, and stopped outside of Cats room, and rapped lightly on her door.

  ‘Cat? It's me,’ she announced through the solid steel-core wood. The door swung open revealing a small girl in a beautiful cat half-mask, and draped in a brilliant lilac gown. The satin ruffles swept the floor around her, as she pulled Lenore inside. The dress seemed to embody Cats very personality; light and bubbly. The venetian-style half-mask was delicately painted with swirling patterns, gilded around the edges, complete with small pointed ears. Her beaming pink-lipped grin was clearly visible on the exposed lower portion of her little face.

  ‘What do you think? I've never had a girl's opinion before,’ she bounced up and down expectantly.

  ‘You look lovely, Cat,’ Lenore breathed in amazement. Cat squealed approvingly, then composed herself, ‘Sorry, what did you want?’ she asked.

  ‘I don't have a mask,’ Lenore admitted with a frown, ‘Please say you have a spare?’

  Cats face morphed into something mischievous and she skipped over to a large chest of drawers, pulled open the bottom drawer and lifted something out. She turned around to face Lenore with a shy grin, revealing an exquisite red venetian Colombina mask. It was small and minimal, but luxurious in quality. Ruby red velvet, covered in floral shaped sweeps of black beading.

  ‘I made it a few days ago,’ Cat trilled, ‘I just knew you didn’t have one,’ she giggled.

  ‘Cat…’ Lenore was astonished.

  ‘It will suit your hair perfectly I think,’ Cat tilted her head. Lenore gently took the mask, speechless.

  ‘I made Axel one too, he broke his last one,’ Cat continued as she took another mask from out of the drawer. Lenore looked up from her own beautiful gift to see an incredible wolf half-mask. The delicate brown and grey brush strokes were so precise and fur-like, that Lenore wanted to reach out and touch it to make sure. And the ears were so fantastically crafted, they looked like they would swivel in animalistic response to the slightest sound.

  ‘These are beautiful Cat,’ Lenore breathed out, somewhat lost for words, ‘thank you so much!’ and she brought Cat in for a quick hug before once again staring at her new mask, completely bewitched by its craftsmanship and the generosity it embodied.

  Cat shrugged, giggling, ‘I've been interested in masks ever since I saw Anubis,’ she revealed, ‘I love making them.’

  Of course, Anubis has the perfect masquerade fixture permanently on her face. Is that why Drakestoke started holding masquerades two years ago, instead of a regular Christmas party? To include Anubis, without her frightening the others?

  ***

  Lenore kept stealing glances of herself, Cat, and Axel in ornate mirrors and other reflective surfaces. She had never felt so glamourous in all of her life. Passing eyes were drawn to enigmatic trio as they made their way to the ballroom.

  Lenore was a vision of rouge, with her splendid red mask, long crimson gown, and her long fiery hair was an auburn waterfall down her open back.

  Cat embodied a spirit of fairylike charm, with her angelic little mask, bouncy blonde ringlets and light and airy lilac dress. She hung lightly onto Axels arm, who had scrubbed up surprisingly well for the occasion. Lenore was unused to seeing him without his former rugged guise. His black formal jacket hugged his masculine form brilliantly, and his sweeping brown hair seamlessly blending into the brown hues of his mask. Very fitting for a real life wolfman, Lenore mused.

  The three of them turned into the arched hallway outside of the ballroom, and they were met with a joyous commotion of exquisitely masked people holding drinks and chatting. Busy with movement, the huge room, whirled as people moved about within.

  Upon entering, it was hard for Lenore to distinguish who was resident and who was staff. Everybody looked extraordinary, each donning their own fascinating theme and customised attire. The festively furnished ballroom consisted of people pondering food on display, and dancers gracefully and energetically twirling to the music.

  Old assimilated well with the new. The chandeliers above cast a amber glow upon the cavernous room, while lightscreens displayed beautiful shows of colours. Intermittent blasts of visually pleasing light hues, splashed their presence on the dancing figures.

  The celebratory din hushed suddenly, and Lenore felt a short burst of rapid taps on her arm as Cat excitedly tried to get her attention. Turning to Cat, Lenore followed her large awestruck eyes to an open doorway.

  Everybody had stopped to stare in that direction. Dancers had ceased, to take in the sight, and those mulling over the buffet paused mid-bite, because entering the ballroom, completely at ease despite the dozens of eyes on her, was Anu
bis.

  Chapter 10

  Dreamstate Tango

  The Ùruv was an unnecessarily large spacestation for the eight Anuna currently aboard it. The seven current Watchers, and Marduk. He had claimed a large section of unused rooms as his own private quarters. After millennia of reclusive seclusion, he now found it a hard habit to break.

  He had enjoyed some degree of isolation since his summoning, 19 years ago. It’s been that long already? Marduk pondered the amount of time that had passed. And the duration of timid inaction from the Watchers. Nineteen years since they hauled me here, seeking my help, he thought snidely to himself, yet what have they achieved in all this time? Nothing. They have to know I will not be of much use…

  Since Marduk's fall from the grace of the Anunnaki, he had been as human as an Anuna possibly could ever be. He will never forget the pain and humiliation of The Fall, performed on him by his own father. It has been more than four thousand years… I can still remember the pain of having my aether drained from me, and my connection to the universe severed. And the darkness. The endless darkness. Of burial, and slumber.

  Marduk can now only gain aether manually from super-conductive sources. Victoria's occasional electrical treatment had been a moderate help, and he had siphoned the energy from her, through their shared connection.

  She could feel his increased potency, he could sense her probing thoughts directed at him. Curious, and yearning. He yearned too. And he was compelled to visit her in her dreams every night.. The evidence of which, left visible cuneiform marks that scarred nearby surfaces around her. His Chosen.

  Leaning an arm on the tinted glass window, he rested his head on his forearm and gazed out at the distant Sun. He longed to feel the warmth of it on his skin again. And he longed to feel the warmth of it on hers. A yearning he had been feeling for years now, once again rose to the surface and constricted his heart. It was a feeling he believed he knew the word for, but could ever have hoped to possess the capacity for.