by T. R. Hamby
“I don’t know how well I could heal it. She’s much more accomplished than Andreas. Maybe even more powerful.”
And there was fear in her voice.
“You’ll have to kill her too,” Theresa’s voice replied.
Lilith sounded anguished. “I should have killed her when I had the chance. I was too afraid.”
Barry opened his eyes. His breathing was steadying. The pain in his leg was now a dull ache, which worried him.
“I want to walk,” he said.
Some others were rushing over--a few Valkyries, who checked Lilith over for injuries; Michael, and Roone.
“I told you not to be a hero,” Michael said, as Lilith and Theresa helped Barry sit up.
“He wasn’t,” Theresa said. “Calypso attacked him. He had to fight her on his own.”
Michael looked sheepish, and grabbed Barry’s arm, helping him stand. “What happened?”
“She broke my leg,” Barry said, wincing as he put pressure on his leg.
It hurt, but wasn’t unbearable. He walked a few paces, and his heart sank. He couldn’t manage not to limp.
“Fuck,” Michael hissed.
Barry’s heart raced. If he couldn’t walk properly, he couldn’t fight.
He looked at Lilith, who still looked anguished. “You can’t try again?”
“I did all I could,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Barry.”
Barry swore and looked away.
Fuck. His partner was missing, possibly dead; Calypso had escaped, and now his leg was fucked up. What else?
Michael grasped his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. This isn’t the end. Mel will think of something.”
“What can he possibly think of that will keep me from limping?” Barry growled, anger making his insides boil.
Michael sighed, looking resigned.
Gilla arrived then, and Mel. They seemed to have borne the brunt of the fighting. Blood was splattered on their faces, and they looked tired.
Gilla threw her arms around Michael. Roone took the opportunity to kiss Theresa, and check her over for injuries.
Barry watched, jealous.
“We could make a brace,” Mel said once he was told about Barry’s leg. “Something to stabilize it.”
“Will that keep me from limping?” Barry asked, though he knew what the answer would be.
Mel hesitated, which was answer enough. Barry turned away, grinding his teeth.
“We all lived,” Mel said quietly. “That’s something.”
Barry sighed. He knew he should be grateful to even be alive. Calypso could have easily killed him, if she hadn’t wanted to play with him first.
He frowned, suddenly remembering Mel’s voice calling above the din earlier.
He turned to him. “What were you shouting?”
Mel shrugged. “I was trying to get them to join us. Defect. No one took the offer.”
He looked around at the bloodstained snow. “Shame. It’s a waste.”
“They don’t understand Father’s true nature like we do,” Michael said darkly. “They think they’re doing the right thing.”
Barry felt a horrible surge of guilt. It was easier to think of these Angels as evil monsters--not as well-intentioned, innocent people.
No one deserved to die here. It was all fucked up.
“Some of them must have reservations,” he said.
“Then they’re too afraid of what Father would do to them,” Mel replied, “if they left. I don’t blame them.”
They were quiet.
When no one spoke, they began to help with the clean-up. The fires were put out, the tents dismantled. Weapons and armor were collected and taken back to camp.
Barry limped with the others. Now he had to be careful, stepping over roots and rocks, easing around trees and up hills. His leg ached, and he felt a mixture of fury and despair.
They got back to camp. Nora burst out of the house and flung herself into Mel’s arms. Then she was in Michael’s arms, and then Gilla’s. She halted at Roone, flushed, and turned away. Roone reddened too, and turned his attention to Theresa, who looked soothing.
Nora turned to Barry and saw the look on his face. She frowned, slipping her arms around his neck and holding him.
“Not good?” she murmured.
He heaved a sigh. “At least I’m alive, eh?”
She chuckled. “That’s the spirit.”
Barry managed a smile. Nora knew, at least slightly, how to make him feel better.
They met Diana and Lilith, as well as Veronica and Perdita, in the Big Tent. Everyone looked healthy, just bloodstained and dirty. No one was injured except for Barry.
“Any losses?” Diana asked.
They shook their heads.
She nodded. “No survivors either, except for the Angels who Traveled away. We’re in the dark about his next move.”
“Send more, probably,” Barry said.
“But will he come down, I wonder,” Nora said quietly. “He keeps sending down Calypso instead. And so far she’s doing a pretty shitty job.”
“He’s scared to come down himself,” Mel said. “He doesn’t want to face you.”
And he looked at Lilith, who went pale.
“He’ll have to come down now,” Michael said darkly. “Calypso isn’t working, and his entire army was just decimated. He doesn’t have a choice.”
“We have to prepare, then,” Diana said.
She looked at Michael. “No sign of your son yet?”
Michael looked away, and Barry felt a sharp pang. “No.”
“We do have one good thing,” Nora said. “Hudson’s contact dropped off some packages. Explosives, detonators. They don’t look big, but it’s better than nothing.”
Diana nodded. “Good. So we’ll continue training….the 7th and 8th regiments will plant the explosives….we’ll go over formations….”
She trailed off, a little lamely, and they all looked at each other.
There seemed nothing more to say. They didn’t know anything about God’s movements now. All they could do was plan and train.
Barry limped off to the house for a shower. The hot water did his sore leg some good. He leaned against the tile and swore. All this seemed easier to endure with Gabriel beside him. Now he was god knows where.
After he showered he went to his tent to lie down. The rest of his unit was resting too, so--despite the chatter of the neighboring units--things were relatively quiet.
He slept for a while, before waking to someone’s Presence outside his tent.
He sat up, and found Lilith peeking at him from the opening. “Hello.”
He managed a smile. “Hi.”
“Can I come in?”
He made some space, which was a feat in the tiny tent. She sat beside him, and they were quiet for a moment.
She studied his leg. “No change?” she asked sadly.
He sighed and shook his head. “It’s bearable.”
“Barry, I’m so, so sorry.”
“Isn’t your fault,” he replied soothingly. “Would’ve still been broken if you hadn’t fixed it.”
She shook her head. “I’m weaker than him.”
Barry studied her quietly. There were tears in her eyes, and she was fidgeting with her sleeve. She didn’t have her hair in braids today, but was letting it flow freely past her shoulders. She was beautiful in all her sadness.
He took her hand. “You’re stronger. I know it.”
“I bet he could heal you fully,” she said, brushing at her eyes. “If I try to fight him, he’ll destroy me, and you’ll all be alone.”
“He’s weak now,” Barry insisted. “Look at all the people he’s killed. All the evil he’s done. All the power he’s taken away from himself. You’ve never done that; all you’ve done is good. If there’s such a thing as good and evil, then you would come out stronger than him.”
She looked at him. “Have I really done good?”
It was a strange ques
tion to hear coming from her.
Barry frowned and cocked his head. “You serious?”
She shrugged, wiping tears off her cheeks with her free hand.
Barry sighed. “I don’t know where you get this guilt from. All you’ve done for us is good. You don’t lie, you don’t cheat, you don’t steal. You’re kind, you’re fair. You’re not even leading the army. You act like you’re just another soldier. Don’t you see how your people revere you?”
“I never meant to become a goddess,” she whispered. “I never meant to have….subjects. I’m just a woman. The First Woman.”
And there was bitterness in her voice.
Barry didn’t know what to say. He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her head in his shoulder.
“Don’t think like that,” he finally said. “You rescue people after death, give them a new life. They adore you for a reason. And….you’re a good friend.”
She looked up at him. “Do you think I can kill him?”
“Yes.”
“If I kill him, I’ll absorb his power. I’ll be even worse than I am now.”
“You’re not ‘worse’ anything,” Barry replied patiently. “And….well….you don’t have a choice, Lilith. There’s no other option.”
She was quiet for a long time. Barry could sense her fear, could hear her thoughts….but I can’t do it….no, I can; I have to….it’s the only way….I have to try at least….they need me….why can’t I be stronger….
He didn’t argue, just let her think. After some time she straightened, brushing at her eyes again.
She managed a smile. “What do you want to do when this is over?”
Barry smiled too, thinking. “Well….Gabriel wants to live in a cottage somewhere. Somewhere to go hiking. We could have a garden. What do you think?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Maybe you could visit.”
She smiled. “I would be a strange visitor.”
Barry gave her a look, and she giggled. “Don’t be silly.”
He paused, before saying, “Maybe things will be different after this.”
He didn’t say, “when you’re all-powerful,” but Lilith heard it anyway.
She sighed. “We’ll see. I don’t know.”
“Well,” Barry said, “we’re here, and--we’re happy to know you. Even Mel--now that he knows who you are.”
He felt her sudden worry. “He’s all right with me then?”
Barry frowned. “You two talked, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but….I worry….it’s been so long and….so much has happened since then.”
And he sensed a flash of her anger, saw her struggling as Mel screamed for her.
He studied her again. “Do you still love him?”
She thought for a moment, frowning. “In some ways. I love what we were….those precious days in the forest. It would’ve been more if I had been allowed to live. I ache for that some days.”
She paused, then continued, “But we’re different now. Very different. And he’s happy with Nora--I knew he would be, the first time they met. I just knew. It doesn’t hurt….I’m happy with my family. I’m not alone when I’m with them.”
“You’ll never be alone,” Barry said firmly. “Even if all you have is me….and Gabriel.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Do you….feel better?”
She nodded. “A little.”
“Good.”
“He’ll come back,” she said.
Barry felt an ache. He hoped she was right.
Another week passed by, each day filled with training and flying. Barry’s leg grew a little stronger, but he still walked with a pronounced limp, and his leg still ached where the bone had been broken.
Everyone was busy. Nora trained and ran patrols with her unit, running a tight ship. Michael led his regiment, and Mel, Gilla, and Roone trained in their respective units. Roone’s unit was part of the regiments tasked with wiring parts of the forest with explosives. They spent a lot of time on the eastern and western sides of the property.
Mel helped another Valkyrie make a mesh splint for Barry’s leg. It was tight, and lessened the pain somewhat as he walked. But he still limped.
It took him some time to learn how to fight with his impairment, and even after a week he still wasn’t at his best. He was off-balance, easily shoved to the ground, and it was difficult to get up quickly with the brace on. He eventually shed it.
Diana finally called for him to meet her in the tent, and he had an idea as to why.
He limped in. Diana was standing at the table, which had a mess of papers and books strewn over it. Mel was there too, looking grave.
Barry was indignant. “You can’t stop me from fighting,” he said instantly.
“I agree,” Mel said, surprising Barry. “He should be allowed to fight.”
“Your skills are much weaker now,” Diana replied firmly. “Your footwork is nonexistent with your leg being injured. You’re a danger to everyone.”
“How am I a danger? If I die, I die.”
Mel looked pained, but Diana replied, “Others might try to save you from harm. You’ll attract more enemies if they see you limping like that. No,” she said, as Barry opened his mouth to protest further, “you’ll stay in the air. You can give me valuable information that way. You would still be doing your part,” she added, in what must have been her version of gentleness.
Barry seethed. He wanted to fight, not to fly. He wanted to help the others.
“She’s right,” Mel said quietly. “What you can gather from flying around will be essential to our movements.”
Barry sighed. Yeah….that was true.
“Continue to train,” Diana said, “but flying is most important. I want you up at dawn flying around. I want every inch of this place covered. Understand?”
Barry nodded soberly.
“Good,” Diana said briskly. “Now--”
But she was interrupted. Veronica stuck her head in the tent. “There’s a defector,” she said quickly. “By the creek. They’re taking her over now.”
Barry and Mel looked at each other, then followed Diana and Veronica out into the snow. A crowd was forming, and marching toward them was Roone, Michael, a couple Valkyries, and one blonde Angel. The Angel was crying.
Everyone drew their weapons, and she cried harder.
Lilith appeared, frowning, and signaled for them to lower their Blades. Barry followed reluctantly, eyeing the Angel, who was wiping her tears on her sleeve.
Lilith turned to her. “Why are you crying?”
“He’ll--he’ll kill me,” she wailed. “Oh god, what have I done?”
Lilith called for some tea, and the small group led the Angel into the tent. They sat her down in a chair. The two Valkyries stood near the entrance of the tent, Blades drawn, while the others--Diana, Veronica, Lilith, Mel, Michael, Barry and Roone--all sat at the table with her.
She hiccupped, and wiped at her eyes again.
“What’s your name?” Lilith asked gently.
She hesitated, then replied, “Eliza.”
“Eliza. I’m Them.”
Barry nodded. Good. She wasn’t telling her her real name yet.
Eliza trembled. “You’re Them. You’re the goddess. I can feel your power….it’s terrible.”
Lilith flushed, and Barry sensed her embarrassment.
“Why are you here?” he growled, and Eliza winced.
“I want to join you,” she said in a tiny voice. “Please….I have children….”
Now Barry felt a little sheepish. If she was telling the truth, then he felt sorry for her more than anything.
But if she was lying….
“What are their names?” Lilith asked, still in that gentle tone.
Eliza looked at her, surprised. “Alice and Marcus. They’re young, only eleven….I only joined because I thought it was the right thing….I thought I was fighting for them….”
She shivered,
and continued, “But Father….is so horrifying to behold. He’s furious, enraged. He considered killing me when I Traveled away from the battle, instead of staying and fighting. He only let me live because I told him how many of you I saw. I’m sorry,” she added in a rush, as there were hisses around the table, “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You’re afraid of him,” Lilith said. “Afraid enough to leave?”
She shook her head desperately. “He’ll kill me. He’ll kill my family. I know it….I have to….to change sides. I’m sorry….but my boy and my girl….they need you.”
Her voice was very quiet as she uttered the last three words, but everyone still heard.
Barry ground his teeth together. This woman was either in distress, or a very good actress.
“You’re willing to defect to a goddess you believe is evil?” Mel asked.
Eliza frowned. “I thought she wanted to overthrow Father,” she said thoughtfully. “To destroy him, and the rest of us.”
She looked at Lilith. “But Father rages about killing you--and you, Melkira. He talks about your whole family, how he wants to rid the universe of your Existence. And it’s so….vengeful. So hateful….I wondered….maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe we all were.”
There was a silence. A Valkyrie arrived with some tea, and Lilith poured a few cups. Eliza shakily sipped hers.
Finally Mel said, “What do you want?”
Eliza looked from him to Lilith. “Protection. I don’t care what happens to me--but my children need to be safe.”
“Where are they?” Lilith asked.
“With their father,” Eliza replied. “I told him to take them somewhere far away….maybe the north. They have no relations there.”
“The best way to protect your children is to destroy Father,” Michael said calmly.
Eliza looked chilled. The color drained from her face, and she nodded jerkily.
“Right. Right.”
Roone asked, “What are you offering us?”
Eliza looked eager. “Information. I’ve been watching for two weeks.”
“And?”
“He’s raising another army. A very large army….he has over three hundred now, and I don’t think he’s satisfied with that. He doesn’t tell us much, but the other Angels were talking….they think they’ll attack in two weeks.”
