Jewel of the Fae

by Tom Keller

  "This is not your concern, Robert," Circe said, spitting out the words. The blade moved closer. "This is my quest. The jewel is mine!"

  "I don’t think she shares your opinion," I said as the Techno-Fae clenched her fist even tighter."

  "She'll give it to me or she'll die," Circe said, now circling the blade over the girl's body. "Her choice, or yours."

  "It doesn’t have to be this way," I said, taking a step closer. She pushed the blade up against the girl's belly.

  That’s the problem with facing off with someone like her. Even if she was an evil bitch, she was still a Goddess in her own right. Which meant she was every bit as powerful as I was and there was no way to predict what she'd do next. Unfortunately, I couldn’t let her take the jewel. So this was going to go down badly for one of us, if not both, and the Techno- Fae was going to bear the brunt of my decision as well. I tightened the grip on my sword and took another step toward her. That's when the Lilin came in through the doorway.

  "You mother…!" Kitlyn screamed as the trailer's door flew open. "You killed Angela!" She raised the Walther and began to fire at Circe. As the bullets hit the Witch, she was thrown back, but not before her sword sliced through the Techno-Fae's stomach. I stooped to pick up the jewel that fell from her hand and turned to face Circe. She raised a blood-stained hand, staring at it as she muttered some words in an unknown tongue. Then she smiled and disappeared.

  "You can stop now," I said to Kitlyn, who was still pulling the trigger on the empty gun.

  "Sorry," she replied. "I guess I got carried away."

  I bent down and rolled the Techno-Fae over. Blood was oozing from the deep cut but at least she was still breathing. I reached up and grabbed one of Kitlyn's hands, telling her to apply pressure to the wound. That's when I noticed the change. Triggered by the battle, the Lilin inside her had changed her appearance. Her muscles had grown larger and her features were chiseled. She was also covered in blood.

  "Where's Charlie?" I asked, nervously.

  "He's outside," she replied, covering the girls stomach with her hands. "Don't worry, he fought well."

  "What about the beast?"

  "I broke its neck," she said, grinning. "With Charlie's help, of course. It's been a long time since I let the Lilin take over. I forgot how good it feels."

  There was a sound at the door and Charlie hobbled in, looking a little worse for wear.

  "You all right?" I asked, looking him over but seeing no open wounds.

  "I will live," he replied. "Unlike our adversary."

  I sent out a command to Sendy. When she appeared I told her to let Michael and Nikki know what happened. Circe may not have gone far, and the trailer might still hold information of value. If nothing else, we'd need a clean up team to tidy up. Then I pocketed the jewel and willed forth my bident, picking up the wounded girl as I opened a portal and took the four of us to Fae. Moments later, a few feet from Nikki's empty throne, I called out for a healer. Askel, one that I was more than familiar with, ran up to see what she could do. I gently laid the girl down at her feet.

  "I'm not sure I recognize her kind," she said, examining her as she knelt.

  "Is that going to be a problem?" I asked, watching her work.

  "No," she replied. "But it would helpful to know when she wakes up."

  "She might be a new breed. Some kind of Techno-Fae. Although I can’t say for sure."

  "A Techno-Fae" Askel replied, glancing up at me as she probed the wound. "I have never heard of such a thing. Are there more of her kind?"

  "I don’t know," I said, looking over to see that Charlie was being treated by one of the other healers. "Do what you can for her. She's been through a lot"

  "What is this place? " Kitlyn asked, doing a double take as I turned my attention to her. "And what happened to you?"

  "I brought us to the home of the Dryad," I said. "This is my daughter's kingdom."

  "Oh," she said, staring at me. "But what about you? You're young again."

  "And your features have changed too." I said, meaning that the power the Lilin inside her that had given her strength in battle had subsided and she looked normal again. "This is what I look like as a Fae."

  "I like it," she replied. "You're kind of cute."

  "Well, thank you," I said with a smile, then I glanced at where Askel, now joined by others, was working on the girl. "And for coming in when you did. You probably saved her life."

  "What happens to me now?" she asked.

  "I need you to stay here with Charlie," I said, standing and grasping the bident. "Just for a little while. Once they heal him up he can show you around. But I've got one more thing I have to take care of. Then I can take you back." Without waiting for a reply, I opened a portal to Hades and stepped through.

  Chapter 16

  I appeared in front of Persephone's palace just as Diantha was getting off her horse. She seemed surprised at my sudden appearance, then I held up the jewel.

  "You found it!" she exclaimed, running up to me.

  "Yes I did," I replied, holding it out for her to admire. She took it in her hands and clutched it tightly.

  "Nothing's happening," she said, lifting it to her eyes.

  "It's not going to work exactly as the last one did," I said as she handed it back. "Apollo never gave this one to you so we'll need to figure out how it works. I'm hoping one of the Cyclopes can help."

  "That won’t be necessary," a voice said, and then we were somewhere else. It was an office, and Diantha and I were seated in leather chairs.

  I'd seen the young woman behind the desk before. The business suit was different, but the auburn hair and glasses were the same. You'd think she could come up with something more original. Not that it mattered. It was Gaea, and I had no doubt she was about to make my life difficult again.

  "I'm afraid I'm going to have to take that," she said, removing her glasses. "You weren't even supposed to know of its existence. I blame the Imp, of course. His kind are much too curious. Perhaps I'll change him into a cat and he can learn what that means the hard way. Now, hand it over please."

  "I don’t think so," I said, tightening my grip on the jewel. "You said I could save her. This is the only way."

  "Don’t be ridiculous, dear boy," she said, pinching her lips together. "She's alive, isn’t she? She's still young and beautiful. Isn’t that what you wanted?"

  "But only in Hades," I replied, pointing back toward Diantha. "That wasn't the deal."

  "You never specified the terms," she said. "I've never lied to you, Hero. But that isn’t how things work. The only reason the other jewel made her immortal was that Hephaestus tuned it to her at Apollo's direction. Never could keep the fools out of my business. Especially when they had the hots for some piece of tail. Which, I might add, they frequently did."

  "What?" Diantha gasped, jumping up.

  "Sit down," Gaea said, waving her hand as a wall of force pushed Diantha back into the chair. "That's right Missy. It was never meant for you. So be happy for the 3,000 years you did get." She threw her hands in the air. "One of the most powerful talismans in the universe and Apollo uses it to get 20 minutes in the sack with an Oracle. I'm surprised he could even last that long. But he was always a problem. He was only four days old when he slew Python and took the Eyes. Plucked them right out of her head when she died. Did you know that? I had plans for that Dragon. She was to be the mother of something new. But I should have known better.

  "But it was really Hephaestus' fault. He was just as bad. Too smart for his own good, that one. Just like the others, and therein lies the problem. That jewel, in its present state, is corrupted. He cursed it when he used its power to make Harmonia's necklace. You wonder where the old Gods went? Couldn’t keep their hands to themselves so I destroyed them. Just like I do to any of my children that get in my way." She stood back up and leaned over the desk. "Now, unless you want to join them. Give me what is mine."

  "Yet you left it out there," I said, rolling the jew
el in my hands. "You must have done that for a reason."

  "I don’t owe you any explanations," Gaea replied, meeting my gaze. "You're just another of my creations. That's one thing you need to remember, Hero. But you make me laugh, so I'll tell you. I left it out there just to see what it would do. Wasn't exactly the way I planned to use it, but it did spawn some interesting creatures. None of them really panned out. But so what? I can always do it again. Won’t be the first time one of my creations didn’t work out. That's the thing when you’re the mother of all beings. One line goes extinct, another one rises. Welcome to the real world, Robert."

  I probably should have just done what she asked. I knew it was a losing proposition to argue, but I owed her that much. Diantha, I mean. Tough as she was, Gaea's words had stunned her. There were tears in her eyes and you know how I get when that happens. Besides, I'd made her a promise, and if nothing else, I was at least going to try to keep it.

  "Yeah," I said, drawing out the word. "Which reminds me. Circe said finding the jewel was her quest. I'm sure you offered her something for its return. What about me? Why wasn't I offered the same deal?"

  "You want to bargain with me!" she yelled, her nostrils flaring. Her body swelled, and she grew in size until she towered over me. I thought I was a goner, but suddenly, she returned to normal size and sat back down.

  "All right, my Hero," she said, opening a drawer and pulling something out. It was only a nail file. She leaned back and crossed her legs, then used it on her left hand. Filing her nails as she continued. "You've been dependable, I'll give you that. Circe's old school, but she's been hiding on her island for far too long. Just getting back out there, as the humans would say. Hadn't really studied the lay of the land. I told her not to underestimate you, should you discover what she was doing. But what the hell, I gave her a chance. She was already immortal so I made her an offer. I knew she wanted what she didn’t get the first time. Power. The power to rule over others. Just as Zeus had. Since she failed where you succeeded, I'll bargain. What is it that you want in return? I'll grant you the same if that will make you happy. Just name it."

  "Turn Diantha young and beautiful again," I said, nodding at her in the other chair. "So she can return to the human world. That's all I ask. You can have the jewel back if you do that."

  She began to laugh. Hard. So hard, in fact, that the room shook, and I would have sworn the place was going to collapse in on itself.

  "That's it?" she said as her laugh faded. She pounded her hands on the desk and then pointed the nail file at me. "I offer you anything in the universe and all you want is to bring your little bed buddy back to what she was before? You're something else, you know that?"

  "You already made me a God," I explained. "What more do I need?"

  "The God of Hades," she said, laughing again. "There's the garden spot of the universe!" She caught her breath and stopped laughing, then put the nail file down and leaned toward me. "You're hilarious. I knew there was a reason I chose you. Fine. If that's what you want, that's what you'll get." She began counting on her fingers, pantomiming doing calculations in her head.

  "Let's see now… The original spell was for what? 5,000 years? That leaves 1,824 years, 115 days, 6 hours, 32 minutes and… oh… 15 seconds left. I'll even be generous. I'll make it an even seven hours. Granted, and she gets to know the time of her death. Call it a bonus. Now give me the jewel."

  Gods, she could be such a bitch. Mother of all creations she might be, but I swear that any humanity within her had withered away and died a long time ago. But a bargain was a bargain. I put my hand on the desk, letting the jewel fall onto the polished wood surface.

  Like a shot from a cannon, Diantha jumped out of the chair and snatched the jewel in her hand before Gaea had a chance to retrieve it.

  "I don’t think so," she said, pulling a short sword from her back that she had hidden there. She put the blade up against the jewel and started at Gaea. "This weapon is made from adamantine. Just like the scythe you used to castrate Ouranos. I imagine it would work just as well on one of Python's eyes."

  "Don’t be a fool, girl," Gaea said, standing up and glaring at her. "I didn't tell you everything before. The magic is linked. You destroy the jewel that was Python's eye and you destroy yourself with it. Best hand it over if you know what's good for you."

  "And I suppose you think you know what's good for me, don’t you?" she said, stepping back. "You call what I was doing living? I spent the majority of those 3,000 years being hunted down or in hiding. I can’t tell you how many times I was raped and beaten over that time. Thank the Gods I couldn't have children. Although that's another thing stolen from me that I can never get back. I can't imagine what it would be like to live another… what? 1,824 years by your reckoning. No thank you, mother of all monsters."

  "Talk to her, Robert," Gaea said, her anger clearly written on her face.

  "She's right, Diantha," I pleaded. "Don’t do this. I don't agree with what she said, but at least you can have your life back."

  "Oh, Robert," she said, as tears filled her eyes. "You already gave me that once. I can’t let her take it again. That's what she'll do, you know. She'll find another way to destroy me tomorrow. Just like she has so many times in the past. I'm sorry, but I'm tired of being her toy, as should you." Then she dropped the jewel on the ground and struck it with the blade, cleaving it in two.

  There was flash of green flame, and then a mist the same color surrounded her. I shot forward and grabbed Diantha as she swooned and started to fall. But this time, there was nothing I could do. Her eyes began to close, her lips parted, but no words came. Then her skin began sag. Then, as if years of time had been compressed into a single second, she disintegrated into dust in my arms.

  "Oh, my," Gaea said, dropping the nail file into a drawer and slamming it shut. "That was unexpected. I didn’t think she had it in her. Oh, well. I'll just have to start over. What’s done is done. But don’t worry, my Hero. I don’t blame you. She always was unpredictable."

  "That was cold blooded," I declared, as the dust slipped between my fingers and fell to the floor. "Even for you. Why did you have to let her die?"

  She came out from behind the desk and started for the door. She began to walk past me, but stopped, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet.

  "Everyone dies here," she said, touching her palm to my face. "Why do you think they hold life so precious? But you should know that already. Don't forget. You are the God of Hades. Perhaps you should start acting like it." Then she turned and walked out the door, closing it gently as the room disappeared and I was back where we had started.

  "You're such a bitch!" I yelled.

  Diantha's horse whinnied when she heard me scream. I kicked at the dirt at my feet, angry at the way Gaea had manipulated me once again. Then I remembered something she said. Two somethings, actually. By the Gods! Why does everyone have to make things so difficult? I turned and ran into the palace that Diantha had made into her home.

  "Where does your mistress keep the water of memory?" I yelled at her handmaiden as I threw open the door and stepped inside.

  "In the gynaikon," she said trembling, pointing up the stairs to the woman's room on the second floor. "In a cabinet on the far wall."

  I ran into the room and opened the cabinet, finding a leather water bottle clearly labeled by her. I took it and grabbed a few obols that sat loose on the shelf. I'd probably need those as well. Then I opened a portal to the Gates of Hades to find the ferryman.

  "I need a ride, Charon," I said, jumping onto the boat. It would have been easier to just transport myself there. But like I said before, the Stygian Marshes weren't technically part of my domain. My magic tended not to work well there. Although I had no doubt I could fight past any of the Souls that got in my way, it would slow me down too much, and I was in a bit of a rush.

  "Across the river?" he asked. "All goes well, if that is what you wish to know. The army has control of the other bank."

&nb
sp; "No," I replied, joining him at the helm. "We need to travel up the river Styx. To the place Souls first come to when they arrive in the Underworld."

  "That will take time," he said, moving the boat away from the dock. "We will be sailing upstream, against the Nymph of the river's wishes. She will fight us along the way. Most likely send storms to bring large waves to slow us down."

  "I thought she was dead," I said, remembering what Meredith had told me the first time she'd brought me here.

  "Then we may have a problem," he remarked, pushing hard on the tiller.

  "Can you handle it?" I asked as we sailed outside the cavern.

  "Of course," he said with a grin. "But it will not be a pleasant journey."

  "So what else is new?" I replied.

  "What are you up to?" Meg, the Fury, asked as she came up from below.

  "Long story," I said, moving to the front of the boat as the first waves began to form. I'd dealt with this kind of problem before. Not on the Styx. The last time I'd come this way with Meredith had been downstream. But when I first tried to reach the Blessed Isles. The river that surrounded it had been a bitch to cross and fought us every step of the way. If this was going to be anything like that, we were in for a rough ride. "We need to get to the place where Souls first enter the Underworld. I'm hoping that's where Diantha will be."

  "Diantha?" Meg asked, looking confused. "What would the Oracle be doing out there?"

  "That's where she's headed," I replied as the ship lurched. I tightened my grip on the railing. "Or at least I hope she is. Like I said, long story." I would have asked the Fury to take me there, if that would have even been possible. But I knew that they, like the Keres, brought the Souls that they collected to a different entrance. Closer to the Gate than a normal Soul would appear.