‘In every way possible,’ he confirmed.
She smiled and nodded, ‘I did not think you were capable of love.’
He chuckled, and lay back against the hard dark granite of the temple, ‘That’s Sarpanit's words,’ he mused.
‘I know,’ she grinned, and regarded his beautiful form as he lay stretched out upon their granite perch. She had always considered him the handsomest Anuna of all. Studying his perfection was not helping her heartache, or her nagging fear of losing him. His helpless Chosen, as breakable and mortal as any human, could easily perish, taking Marduk with her. It is what makes the Ankida Joining so dangerous for Anuna. So foolish of you, Marduk.
‘Is your Chosen safe?’ she asked softly, trying to dowse her rising fear.
‘Yes, she is,’ he answered sullenly.
‘Okay… what is it?’ she groaned.
‘She… rejected my help. And sent me away from her.’
Laughter burst from Nanaya, ‘Your Chosen,’ she began between breaths, ‘A human! Is angry at you?’
He looked at her sideways, frowning with subtle irritation.
‘You?’ she gawked in disbelief. ‘Bel-Marduk, King of Babylon, Son of Enki, Liberator of Nibiru!’ she mocked, sarcastically mentioning his new title. He rolled his eyes.
‘Enough Inanna,’ he jested, using her other Sumerian name, which he knew she disliked, and she snorted in protest.
Over time, as human tribes spread out over the Earth, and there cultures and languages changed, so did their gods. And as Anunnaki presence on Earth diminished, humans began to forget. They misinterpreted and mistook the older stories, rewriting them, and many details were lost in translation. Many times, humans scribed entirely new gods, or confused one or more existing gods for others. In Nanaya's case, she eventually became Inanna by her own people, a mixture of both her and her sister, Sarpanit.
‘Tell me of my other names again, my modern ones,’ she requested, attempting to pull his mind away from the situation with his Chosen.
‘Well, my Babylonian people called you Ishtar, and you were Aphrodite to the Greeks, and Astarte in the Levant,’ he explained, recalling his millennium of travelling and learning.
‘I like the name Astarte,’ she affirmed.
Nanaya had always treasured her time with Marduk, in every age. She had watched him grow from an adventurous young Anuna, dragging her along on explorations in the gardens. And she had been beside him when he was a frivolous adolescent. They had been each other’s firsts. In every respect. A whirling adulthood of pleasure and combat. And she had watched him become an ambitious king, and an arrogant rebel.
The Anuna she now looked upon, was a world-weary, and pragmatic leader of the new resistance. Although his true character is almost unchanged, she noted with glee, he is still arrogant and pugnacious at heart.
Nanaya considered this as just another phase in Marduk's long life. She was witnessing him rise again, though not entirely how she imagined. He will be great again. My undying love will make it so.
‘And your names?’ she probed.
He snorted, ‘I have too many to mention. And that’s not including my divine-given Fifty Names.’
‘Maybe you'll be given another fifty, after you defeat Tiamat a second time,’ she grinned slyly.
Marduk scoffed, ‘You're lucky I don't have Imhullu right at this moment,’ and he rose to his feet, summoning and stretching out his great black wings.
She marvelled at the sight with pleasure and pride, and followed him as he flew back to the revelling Anuzi in Eden.
***
Cat had woken up once, weak and dizzy, but had soon fallen back into a death-like sleep, which Finn assured was the best thing. She was alive and healing well, and that was all that mattered.
Anubis had started a fire in an adjoining reception room. Being in such close quarters with people was an uncomfortable feeling she wanted to ease into slowly. Lenore entered Anubis’ room, leaving Emile and Finn to keep vigil over Cat, and tend to her fire.
Lenore settled beside Anubis, eyeing her warily, assessing her facial wounds. Anubis was staring into the flames, seemingly far away, and the light illuminated the six lines of skinned flesh, marring her pale face.
‘I don't know what he is,’ muttered a low voice from Anubis.
She spoke! Lenore was momentarily shocked, bringing up a wetted cloth to her wounds, and clumsily dabbed, making Anubis hiss loudly in pain, ‘Bloody hell...’ she gasped, looking accusingly at Lenore, and took the cloth from her.
‘He?’ Lenore quizzed, unsure if Anubis was referring to her tethered Anuna, her torturer, or Cat's recent attack.
‘You called him… Anuna?’ Anubis recalled, closing her blue eyes tight in pain, as she dabbed her weeping gouges. Lenore nodded, finally understanding.
‘Yes, that is what his kind are called. So it's a he? Do you know his name?’
‘No,’ Anubis softly replied, ‘We have never introduced ourselves.’ She felt suddenly foolish for having such strong feelings towards an inhuman being with an unknown name. I danced with him, and been saved by him, twice... she mused.
‘Can you remember any cuneiform… glyphs? They may reveal his name,’ Lenore urged.
Anubis shook her head. ‘They all look the same to me. Jagged scratches.’
Lenore, chuckled resignedly, ‘Yes, they a do a little. How about his appearance then? Can you describe him?’
‘Bull horned helmet. Black and gold hair. Blue eyes,’ Anubis looked slyly at Lenore and managed a pained smile, ‘Impossibly handsome.’
Lenore let out a quick laugh of agreement, ‘Yes, he would be. All Anuna are.’
Lenore pondered Anubis’ description of the Anuna. Not much to go on. Horns could allude to the Bull-Horned ones. Nannar, or Utu. Both are depicted with bull horns. I'll have to contact Deacon as soon as I can.
‘Thank you, by the way. For what you did back at Drakestoke. None of us would be here without you,’ Lenore affirmed with gratitude, but Anubis continued gazing into the fire, nodding slowly.
‘He healed you, didn't he?’ Lenore probed, gesturing to the burnt holes in Anubis’ clothing.
‘Yes. But in the long run… he didn’t help one bit,’ Anubis jested, gesturing to her own face. Lenore frowned. Why didn't he abduct her? He healed her, and then left her to suffer again. Strange. It doesn't seem that this Anuna is at full power. He is playing a very risky game, with Anubis, and himself.
Sensing Lenore's deepening thought within the silence, Anubis changed the subject.
‘My name is Victoria Morwenstow. Although, that name seems strange and unfamiliar to me now,’ she huffed.
‘I'm Lenore Falkirk.’
Anubis nodded, ‘You've known my secret all along haven't you, Lenore? Even about... my past.’
‘I have,’ Lenore admitted softly, ‘I'm an agent for ECIT, and you were my mission.’
Anubis let out a smiling sigh. ‘What a mission it’s turned out to be…’ Anubis mocked, hanging the cloth up to dry.
‘Yes indeed,’ Lenore agreed exasperated. ‘So, what happened to Cat?’
Anubis shrugged, ‘I just found her out there, in the snow. Although... I heard an animal out in the forest,’ she explained, ‘like a wolf.’
I knew her bite was from a human mouth, but I dared not believe it. Axel, what have you done? Lenore sadly pondered, her heart aching in sympathy for Cat. Their love torn apart, physically.
‘Thank you for bringing her back, Anubis. She is dear friend to me.’ Anubis shifted uncomfortably, and nodded, stoking the flames with an iron poker.
Through the night, Lenore and Anubis watched the fire together and spoke at length, finding the other to be a wealth of information. It was a cathartic experience for both of them, and Anubis was especially glad for the chance to use her voice once again.
Chapter 22
Cirrus
He felt Anubis' contented waves of rest and relaxation. She is safe, wherever she is, Marduk conclu
ded with an aching heart, and he managed to force himself to enjoy a fourth day of Eden celebrations.
How much longer is this going to go on for?
The centre of the partying was the North Pyramid, the eš-dam drinkeries had opened up their doors, allowing tables and beer kegs to spill out into the plazas, merging with the street festivities. Dances, music, and performances were on every corner. The entire city was alive with fiery displays, music, feasting, and hundreds of joyous voices.
More Anunnaki were returning to Nibiru every day. The Rogues, rebellious Anuna of free will, had avoided the oppression of the Tiamatians. And they were returning, ship by ship, to the spaceport of Eden, after hearing of Marduk's return and liberation of Nibiru.
Each ship that arrived and docked at Eden, Marduk hoped his son, Horus, would be among them. But, like Isimud had told him many times before, his whereabouts were unknown.
Out in the central plaza, Nanaya was fluttering about the merchant stalls, and grand tables, dancing and flirting with the reveling Anuzi and Nibiran humans. She had drawn a large appreciative crowd. She swayed and twirled hypnotically to the rhythm of lyres, drums, and duduks. Her fabulous dancing, always her form of enticement, he mused, even I've fallen prey to her snare, more than once. He chuckled into his drink as he saw Nanaya sit upon the lap of strong young human male, much to the amusement of his cheering companions. Her eyes met Marduk's briefly, before she and pulled her new toy up to join her in her lustful movements.
The erotic display made him shift uneasily and he groaned in frustration as his thoughts once again filled with Anubis, and her biting rejection of him.
I wish I could tell her everything. Just a chance to explain myself, and why I have done what I've done. Or couldn't do, for that matter.
Nergal noticed his friend’s low mood, and isolation from the party, and sidled over, mildly inebriated.
‘It’s meant to be a celebration, brother,’ he exclaimed, flopping into the chair beside Marduk with a beaming smile. Marduk could not help but laugh at Nergal’s swaying head and ridiculously childish, drunken, grin. Nergal playfully thumped the table with a fist, ‘That's the Marduk I want to see!’ he exclaimed, pouring more barley wine into Marduk's almost untouched chalice.
‘Driiiiink,’ Nergal drawled, pouting like an infant.
Marduk snorted. ‘You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were the god of wine, not the god of war,’ Marduk stated, downing his cup and showing Nergal its empty contents exaggeratedly.
Nergal, pleased with the sight, rose to his feet and dragged Marduk up with him.
‘Come, forget your human for one night, and let's see how you still fare at Twenty Squares!’
Marduk chuckled, ‘Much better than you, as usual!’ and they aetherated clumsily to the gaming tables inside a bustling eš-dam.
***
Cat's eyes slowly opened, and flickered a few moments before they focused on Lenore's intensely smiling face.
‘Lenore…’ she choked out before coughing violently. Her rested voice was dry, and husky from disuse for three days.
‘Easy… drink this,’ Lenore soothed, handing Cat a small cup of warmed water.
Cat drank it, and allowed it to moisten her raw throat before attempting to speak once more.
‘Lenore,’ she began, her eyes filling with tears. Lenore's hand grasped Cat's, comforting her, understanding what she did not have the strength to say. Give the thoughts a voice. Bringing them out into the world and making them real.
Lenore gently voiced it for her, ‘Axel. Wasn't it?’
A shaky sob burst from Cat as she nodded violently, quivering and grasping her blanket as her heart visibly broke before everybody's eyes. Emile covered her own mouth as she too began sobbing with sympathy in the far corner. Finn settled down in a nearby chair, preparing himself better for any more shocking revelations.
‘He wasn't himself...he...,’ Cat uttered between sobs, ‘He's struggling without the meds. I shouldn't have bothered him... I shouldn't have bothered him.’
Everybody is capable of turning on those they love, Anubis stood behind Lenore, silently judging.
Cat took a few moments to quieten, aided by Lenore's comforting words and hugs, and Cat eventually managed a teary-eyed glance about the room.
Her eyes landed on a stranger’s unmoving form a few steps behind Lenore, and she slowly concluded from the Drakestoke attire, wild brown hair, and strong, straight stance, that the stranger was in fact, Anubis. Unmasked. She glanced at Lenore wide-eyed, and received an answer she was not expecting.
‘Anubis found you. She brought you back to us,’ Lenore explained, turning round to meet Anubis' raised eyebrow and nonchalant gaze. She will have to get used to gratitude, eventually, Lenore mused.
Cat flew from her bed of blankets and heaved herself onto Anubis, enveloping her in a tight, weeping embrace. Lenore and Finn chuckled as Anubis stiffened and looked down at Cat, confused and uncomfortable.
‘Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you!’ Cat squeaked, oblivious to her victims discomfort.
‘It's alright,’ Anubis assured, prying herself out of Cat's grip, and stepping back, when suddenly a low rumble came into earshot, and the house began to vibrate. Finn and Lenore shot up from their seated positions, instinctively defensive.
‘The robots?’ Emilie squeaked, cowering in her corner.
‘No...’ Finn replied, looking about, cautiously, ‘way too loud for an AI.’
Anubis poked her head out of the room and into the dark hallway. ‘And too big…’ she muttered, watching snow billowing in violently under the main house door, and from between the wooden window boards.
Something about the noise compelled Lenore to follow Anubis out into the hallway, and it wasn't until the large unknown mechanical noise quietened, and steadied to a low hum, that she knew. My skycraft! The Cirrus! Lenore began to bolt towards the main door, when Anubis caught her in a strong grip, holding her back.
‘It's okay,’ Lenore reassured, smiling back at Anubis' wary expression, ‘It's my skycraft.’
Throwing open the door, and bursting outside into the soft flurry of snow, Lenore gazed upon the sight of her beloved Cirrus. The bright blue-white lights illuminated its sleek matte grey and black form, and Lenore began to cry tears of joy.
The others came out and joined her, gawking in surprise and awe at the titanium and graphene beast before them.
‘Guys, we're out of here,’ Lenore announced, walking forward to reclaim her craft.
Chapter 23
The Island
The skycraft was empty, and Lenore knew right away that the Cirrus had been sent to her on auto-pilot. Tracking her location via her ECIT implant.
Deacon, she assumed, thank you!
The others had quickly collected all their belongings, and brought them aboard.
‘We'll have to go soon, I spied movement a few streets over,’ Finn hurriedly informed, rubbing his frozen hands. ‘Drawn to the noise of this beautiful beast.’
‘Everybody take a seat!’ and she settled into the pilot seat, momentarily taking a moment to appreciate the feeling once again. The group followed suit, belting themselves into the numerous passenger seats behind her. Lenore activated the door lock, and engaged the lift-off jets, while simultaneously peddling the acceleration. The craft instantly began to rise from the ground, and shots were heard over the loud hum.
‘AI! incoming!’ Finn informed, peering through the window beside him, clocking the distant lights floating over the rooftops towards them. ‘Hurry, Norey.’
‘I'm trying,’ she sang through gritted teeth, as she pulled the craft more vigorously upwards, causing it to shudder with the sudden strain.
Lenore identified movement within the disturbance of snow below the nose of the Cirrus, and pulled the craft backwards, revealing Axel's bedraggled and pleading face.
She quickly turned around, meeting Finn and Anubis' surprised expressions. They've seen him too. Cat and Em
ile held each other, looking down, seemingly withdrawing from the stressful situation. Thankfully Cat hasn't. Finn stared back at Lenore, worriedly, and Anubis subtly shook her head.
Axel threw his arms out, gesturing for her to wait. Pleading for her to stop. Another laser shot hit the Cirrus' side.
‘They are almost upon us, Lenore!’ Finn urged.
She stared at Axel, and in torment she mouthed, ‘I'm sorry,’ and pulled the Cirrus up, blowing a torrent of snow around him as he yelled, begging, and fell to his knees in defeat.
A tear rolled down Lenore's cheek as she watched Axel become smaller and smaller below her, until she switched from lift-off, to freefly mode. She accelerated forwards, away from the city. Leaving Axel, her friend, weeping in the snow far behind them, in the abandoned city of Blois.
Once she had gradually ascended to 10,000 feet, Lenore left the Cirrus on cruise while she attempted to contact ECIT. Her hands were shaking from what she had just done, and Finn placed a comforting hand on her shoulder from behind.
‘Agent Falkirk reporting in. Does anybody read me?’ she spoke shakily into the Cirrus' comms system.
‘Affirmative, agent. Your number please?’ an unfamiliar male voice replied.
‘31377-23,’ Lenore obliged.
‘You are being handed over to the Administrator, Agent Falkirk. We are happy you're safe ma'am.’
Some static and a loud click was heard over the comms, then a voice which made Lenore instantly relax, and audibly sigh in relief, came in loud and clear, ‘Lenore? Are you safe?’
‘Deacon! I'm safe, I've got the Cirrus, thank you,’ she burst out all at once.
‘We found out about Drakestoke a day after the incident. IGS informants have been sniffing around our arses for days since. I couldn't send out the Cirrus until we had an empty flyzone, which finally occurred today. I'm positive it wasn't followed.’
Lenore looked out of the curved windows, the sky was a pale orange and clear of crafts, the radar screen was blank, ‘That’s good to hear,’ she affirmed.
‘Are you unharmed?’
‘Affirmative, but I have a civilian with a severe neck wound,’ she explained, turning round to look at Cat who was listening intently.
Dark Rain: Book 1 of The Aetherium Saga Page 14
