Desire (Legends of the Kilanor Book 3)
Page 2
“Where is this place of which the goddess spoke?” he asked Phoibe, leaning against the tree to aid him in sitting on the ground. “I was told that there would be a temple somewhere around here!”
“Mmmmmuuuhhhhh” Phoibe sympathized.
Argos sighed. “Maybe there was never any temple after all,” he said in despair. “Perhaps I was simply played for a fool by the gods….”
Before Argos’ pessimism could carry him away any further, there appeared before him a blinding flash of bright light. Argos closed his eyes and turned his head away for a moment, then looked back to see what had occurred. Standing there before him was the brown bird which had initially sent him on his mission.
“Argos,” the voice of the goddess Hera once again echoed through the surrounding hills. “You have fulfilled your duty admirably. For this, I thank you.”
Argos stood up slowly, still leaning against the tree. “I…, I do not believe that I actually have,” he stated regretfully. “I did not find the temple of which you spoke. Phoibe is not yet safe, and we have not yet found any priestess.”
The bird stared directly at the boy. “I did not say to find a temple,” it clarified. “I instructed you to reach a site at which you would discover a priestess who would establish my temple. This is the site upon which you shall build my temple, Argos.”
Argos looked around him, perplexed. “But, where is this priestess?” he asked the bird. “And why was Phoibe sent with me?”
Without answering, the bird unfurled its great wings in another burst of light. Argos shielded his eyes yet again, silently wishing that the bird would stop doing that. But, when he could actually see again, he beheld a gorgeous brunette woman in a white robe where Phoibe had once stood.
“The heifer, in fact, was the priestess,” the bird revealed. “Her name is Io, daughter of Inachus. I had disguised her so that her passage through this land would not be noticed by certain interested parties. She has you to thank, Argos, for her protection and safe guidance.”
Argos was absolutely awestruck. He stared at the beautiful woman with his mouth gaping open.
“H-Hello…,” he finally mumbled aloud.
“Hello,” Io said with a faint smile and a delicate nod of her head. “I thank you for your valiant efforts on our journey, Argos. You are truly a great guardian.”
Argos blushed but remained speechless.
“Indeed,” the bird cut in. “In deep appreciation, this land upon which you stand shall forever be known as Argos. In addition,….”
With this, the bird’s tail feathers shot into the air in a flurry of sparkling light, creating a great semicircular arch of brilliant blue and green plumage. At the top of each feather, green and blue spots seemed to form the shape of a hundred eyes staring back at Argos.
“Your ever-watchful gaze shall be immortalized on the feathers of my most sacred birds,” Hera’s voice promised, “and tales of your stalwart guardianship shall be passed on for generations.”
Argos was overwhelmed. He honestly didn’t feel that his miniscule contributions warranted such a display of gratitude, but he was also not about to protest. He did, however, have in the back of his mind that he would have preferred a feast instead.
“I am truly honored,” he responded with a bow of gratitude. “I must admit that I surprised even myself, for I do not know from where that miraculous power came….”
The bird lowered its head and brought down its tail feathers. “There is much that you still do not know, Argos,” the voice of Hera stated cryptically. “Much shall be revealed to you in time.”
The bird then turned to the brunette priestess. “Io, the moment is now upon us,” it said. “Establish my temple upon this spot so that mortals shall know the beneficence of their queen!”
Io nodded. “Yes, Queen Mother,” she said dutifully.
The bird turned back to Argos. “Argos, your task has been fulfilled. Return home to your family and tend to your flock.”
Argos swallowed nervously and took a step forward. “Actually, Great Goddess,” he countered timidly, “I believe that I would prefer to stay here. With Io. For…, for her continued protection.”
The bird silently stared at the boy for a long time, and Argos could feel each second creep by like an hour under the animal’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Very well,” it finally announced. “I shall permit you to stay here and protect my temple. But, be warned! My priestesses have sworn oaths of fealty and chastity to their Queen Goddess. Their purity must remain safeguarded at all costs. Do you understand?”
Argos thought he understood the goddess’ thinly-veiled point. “I do,” he stated.
“Then go!” the bird commanded, stretching out its wings in a final flash of light before disappearing altogether. “Go and shape the destinies of all living beings!”
After the echoing of the great voice had fully diminished in their ears, Argos turned to look at Io. She stood there in the late afternoon sunlight like a goddess descended from Olympus itself. She smiled coyly at him, and he found himself almost short of breath.
“So…, what should we do now?” Argos asked the priestess clumsily, unable to take his eyes off of her.
“Well,” she began, lifting her left hand to brush silky curls of dark brown hair back over her shoulder. “Now we shall build a temple….”
1 - Continuity
Sunday, December 21st
The flames atop the countless purple candles lining the subterranean chamber flickered and jumped, their orange light darting across the bare stone walls with a chaotic energy that seemed more to dance united with the darkness than drive it away. The cavernous room was otherwise empty, with the exception of three individuals who stood on an elevated platform at the end farthest from the stairway to the exit.
Lilith gazed up into Samael’s eyes from her place strapped to the stone slab used in the summoning ceremony only minutes before. Samael stared back at her through the golden mask he wore over his face, betraying a familiarity and guarded intimacy. He slowly slid his gloved hand down from her cheek and motioned to Ini-herit beside him.
“Release her,” Samael commanded in Lí'ísedón, taking a few steps back from the woman.
With a nod, the Egyptian priest strode over and began unfastening the straps which restrained the newly resurrected Lady of the Night. Lilith smiled at Ini-herit coyly as he loosened each strap. Then, with her wrists and ankles once again free, she confidently approached Samael and laid her small hands upon his cloaked chest.
“Samael…,” she cooed seductively, standing on her toes and holding her face as close to his masked lips as their difference in height allowed. “I have yearned for you so. Have you also yearned for me? For the passion we once possessed together?”
Samael glanced down at her with what could only be described as a conflicting mixture of reluctant desire and disdain within his hazel eyes. “Of course,” he mumbled.
Lilith pulled away from Samael slightly, keeping her hands flat upon his pectoral muscles as she did so. “You always were a reserved one,” she stated sourly, eyeing the man before her like some disappointed teenage girl dumped at the prom. “And I see that has not changed over these thousands of years. Tell me, my love: do you still harbor your misguided notions of redemption and liberation through pacifism and concern for the pathetic beings of this realm?”
Samael’s eyes narrowed. “I do,” he stated curtly.
“Well, then I fear I shall have little fun with you any longer,” she replied, breaking her connection with his body and stepping away. She reached up and stuck a finger into her curly red hair, twisting it around the digit while she surveyed the man before her. “Unless I am able to release you from your moral prison once again.” A smirk escaped across her supple red lips as she said this, and she continued to run her eyes over Samael’s robed form.
There was a moment of silence following this, until Lilith curiously tilted her head. “Is Harmísen aware that he is missing a mask
?” she inquired.
Samael shook his head slowly. “This mask had been lost to the gods for some time,” he clarified. “It was not I who originally stole it, and I am confident that he shall not miss it. The gods have plenty of trinkets with which to trifle. So much so that they cannot keep track of them all. Even if they could, I would not willingly forfeit it; this mask has proven quite useful in communicating with Our Lord between the realms.”
Lilith shrugged, clearly bored with the present topic of conversation. “Do as you wish. It matters not to me,” she said to Samael blithely. “But tell me, my dear: what plans do you have for me? For us?”
Samael took a hesitant step back and turned away, walking to the other side of the raised platform upon which they stood. “We require your power to aid us in freeing Lósófán from His prison,” he explained. “With His power once again unleashed, we shall finally be able to create a paradise for us. For all. A paradise in which you and I may rule over all beings by His side. A paradise where we shall finally be free from our suffering….”
Lilith smiled mischievously. “You know how much I love absolute power,” she stated playfully. “As well as standing at your side. What role am I to play in your aspirations?”
Samael briefly closed his eyes behind his golden mask. “That shall come in time,” he stated. “For now, all I shall say is that breaking the seal which binds Lósófán requires the combined efforts of a human and a divine being, and I can think of no more powerful human than you, Lilith. As the very origin of your species, you possess a power unlike any other: a power which shall become very useful to me in the near future.”
He then turned to the woman behind him. “However, until that moment has arrived, take some time to rest and gather your strength. You have been through much tonight, and it shall be days before your power has fully consolidated in this realm once again.”
Lilith let out a disgruntled huff at these words. “I need no rest!” she countered forcefully. “And I do not require your pity! All I have done for thousands of years is rest! Idly biding my time. Yearning for freedom. I want nothing more now than to take action and seize that which is rightfully mine!”
Samael sighed, as if he was already exhausted by the woman’s temperament. “Well, at the very least, take a few minutes to freshen up,” he offered. “Your new body has been through much tonight, and I imagine that you would at least wish to wash off the blood and change your clothes.”
He turned to the priest beside him. “Ini-herit, please show Lilith to the restroom and instruct her in its operation,” Samael requested.
“Yes, Lord Samael,” Ini-herit obediently responded.
“I need no man to show me how to bathe,” Lilith retorted, holding up her hand. “Nor to do anything else, for that matter! I have fared perfectly well since the dawn of humankind without the aid of mortal guidance.”
Ini-herit paused in his approach toward the woman and glanced at Samael uncertainly. The two men exchanged a brief expression of exasperation.
“Technology has advanced significantly since you were last free, my dear,” Samael then stated, seeming to add on the last part of the sentence solely in an attempt to appease. “Believe me when I say that there are few mortal contraptions more confounding than a shower knob. I beseech you to accept my guidance on this particular matter.”
Lilith stayed silent for a moment, glaring at Samael stubbornly. “Fine!” she suddenly exclaimed, turning and striding down the platform in a huff. “Come and show me this contraption, priest,” she commanded as she stormed off.
Ini-herit glanced at Samael again. The masked man nodded his head once in affirmation, and the priest hurried down the platform steps after the woman who was marching away quite quickly in front of him.
Samael remained silent and still as he watched them ascend the stairway and exit the basement. He then turned around and spoke out into the darkness before him.
“It has been accomplished, My Lord,” Samael said, addressing some unseen presence. “The Lady of the Night once again walks this earth, and she is quite anxious to aid us in our aspirations. All still proceeds according to plan.”
Following this, the masked man paused. He tilted his head, as if listening to a response.
“No. Neither knows anything of our true intentions,” Samael then continued, “or they certainly would not go along so willingly. I have informed them that we intend to destroy the gods and rule over all beings ourselves, in paradise. Nothing more.”
Samael then listened to the response again.
“Understood,” he replied with a nod of his head. “Very soon, you shall be free, My Lord. We shall all be free….”
With this, Samael pivoted around, stepped down off the raised platform, and headed toward the exit to rejoin his accomplices.
* * *
Under the veil of darkness beneath the trees, two boys frantically raced down the hill behind the giant brick mansion. The cracking of branches and gasps of harried breaths were all that could be heard in the otherwise quiet night as Lucian and Blake put as much distance as quickly as possible between them and the horror they had just witnessed. Finally, far enough away and almost unable to run anymore, both of the boys ducked behind a thick trunk and sank to the ground.
“They… killed… her…,” Lucian gasped between his breaths. “Lilly. They killed her.”
“I know, man,” Blake said, turning around to glance back at the woods behind them. “But I think we lost them. I don’t see anything following us.”
Lucian wasn’t really paying any attention to what his roommate just said. His mind remained preoccupied with the girl he had just seen murdered before his eyes. A girl he had known. A girl he had considered a friend.
“They killed her,” the blonde boy repeated, as if trying to convince himself of the statement’s truth. “They just… killed her. And we couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
Blake looked back at Lucian in the dim light filtered through the trees. Lucian could see in Blake’s eyes the same fear and uncertainty he, too, felt at that moment – even if the dark haired boy was trying to play it cool.
“I know, man,” Blake said again. “But there was nothing we could’ve done. They’re so much more powerful than us. We’re just lucky we got outta there alive.”
Lucian remained silent for a moment, just shaking his head in prolonged disbelief. He had seen a lot of messed up stuff over the past few months, including witnessing his friend, Gus, killed in front of him by a demon. Yet the heartless, calculated murder of an innocent girl while he helplessly watched was still something for which he was not prepared.
“So…, now what?” Lucian finally asked Blake.
Blake shook his head somberly. “No clue, man,” he whispered.
* * *
Lucian and Blake eventually arrived back at their dorm room, with no particular reason or rationale for doing so, aside from complete and utter shock. Each felt as though he was in a daze, lost and disillusioned, and it seemed as if they returned there entirely on autopilot. Gus ran up to greet them excitedly as they entered, but neither boy was in the mood to share in the puppy’s naïve frivolity. As Lucian and Blake silently shut off the lights and lay down upon their beds in a kind of trance-like state, Gus eventually got the picture and went to go curl up in the corner somberly as well. Though they all stayed silent in the dark for what seemed like a very long time, Lucian, try as he might, realized that the merciful escape of sleep would not be awarded to him that night.
“Blake?” he whispered through the darkness of the room.
“Yeah, man?” he heard Blake whisper back.
“Are you asleep yet?” Lucian inquired, trying to be considerate.
There was a long pause. “Does it sound like I’m asleep?” Blake finally responded.
Lucian was silent for another minute after this, trying to put together what he wanted to say. Somehow, everything that was currently occupying his mind was making it difficult to formulate
new thoughts as well.
“Yeah, I’m not asleep either,” he finally stated.
“I figured,” Blake said.
Lucian suddenly sat up in his bed. “We need to go see Schuntz!” he blurted out. “He’ll know what to do!”
Blake picked up his phone, immediately unlocking it and illuminating the room with blinding brightness. “Dude, it’s, like, 4 AM,” he said. “On a Sunday. He’s definitely asleep right now.”
Lucian let out a disgruntled puff of air. “Well, I’ve gotta at least try,” he countered, reaching into his shirt and pulling out the clear crystal pendant which hung on his chest – the crystal which allowed Kílánór to communicate with one another. “Cuz there’s no way I’m getting any sleep this morning.”
Putting his thumb and forefinger on either side of the crystal, Lucian closed his eyes and brought an image of Professor Schuntz into his mind. He envisioned the tall, stern old man in one of the crisply-pressed suits he always wore, standing with unnaturally erect posture and staring down at him disapprovingly. As he held this image in his mind, he focused on trying to locate the professor’s position in space in relation to his own, eventually experiencing the sensation that some sort of connection had been established between the two.
There was a long period of nothing after this, and Lucian was concerned that he had lost his mental connection with the professor.