Ahri Arete
"Unhand me now or suffer the consequences." I only snorted. Pretentious and pathetic. I had never before met a royal family that didn't share those particular traits. Even the Pendragons had a tendency to take themselves much too seriously.
"You don't even know the meaning of suffering, yet you dare to threaten me? I expected more of you, even though you've fallen far from grace." In the velvety, starless dusk my voice reverberated with the strength of an immortal and for the first time the king of the elves gained a glimpse of what I truly was. Not a beautiful, exotic sorceress whose aspiration was to educate and guide his son, but a creature of eternal flames, born before time, bowing to nothing and no one. Well, almost no one. There was one being I'd have willingly followed, but he wasn't her.
"Suffer the consequences," I echoed scathingly. "How so? Even if your entire army was here, it wouldn't change a thing. Ever since Cassy has decided to step into the light your days as a ruler have been numbered and now your time is finally up. Do us all a favour and try to accept it with some dignity at least. I know how little that means nowadays, but if you don't shut up, I will silence you." To emphasise my point I simply let go of his waist. Gravity did its job and he was dangling far above the ground by his outstretched hands, his joints creaking audibly in the twilight. A stifled groan escaped him when I pulled him back up, but he kept his mouth shut tightly. "Better," I harrumphed, my thoughts already elsewhere. Try as I might, I just couldn't seem to get past my last conversation with Cassandra.
The stupid vixen had had a point when it came to our future. It actually was pretty likely that she'd find her end alone in some godforsaken corner of the universe, an occupational hazard when most of the immortals regarded you as public enemy number one, but until she had stated it plainly I had always managed to shove the thought to the back of my mind. Not anymore, though. Without ever realising I had found a pretty solid solution, curtesy of the tattoos Lucifer had left us, but I knew without an inkling of a doubt that the stupid, arrogant angel would never go for it.
Simply put I was decently sure that I would be able to intensify our connection even more until our very lives would become as one. Unless someone managed to kill us both at the same time, she'd survive. Unfortunately it'd also mean that someone truly powerful, like… I don't know, maybe one of our siblings, would be able to kill two flies with one stone, so to speak. And since my own powers wouldn't be overly relevant if she was already beaten, I somehow didn't see her agreeing. Which meant I had to do it in secret. Which in turn meant I'd have to keep it from a creature who was older than me, more powerful and connected to the very core of my being. And for what? To have a guarantee that I wouldn't be walking the universe in regret and sorrow for all eternity. Was it selfish? Yes. Was it pathetic? Also yes. Did I give a damn? No. For years and years the Lightbringer had been an integral part of my life, he had been my courage, my strength, but she was so much more, so much that I couldn't even begin to put it into words. I simply didn't want to live in a world without her. It would be a night without dawn and that I didn't want to experience. The worst part? I didn't even know when or why my feelings had changed from love to a burning obsession I just couldn't get rid off.
True, I had felt guilty for what I had done in our last life, but guilt didn't explain the all encompassing, silver flames that consumed my thoughts every few minutes. When I wasn't with her I could barely concentrate and when I was with her… honestly, it felt even worse. Fear, love and guilt always churned underneath the surface like the world's deepest maelstrom and I had a hard time even stopping her from feeling how utterly messed up I was. And that was without the bouts of jealousy I constantly had to deal with and the overwhelming desire her mere presence ignited in my chest. A hero she had called me. If only… I was acting more like a spoiled femme fatale who'd sooner or later pull her lover down, whether she wanted to or not.
And now I got to see her again after… gods, just thinking about what she had had to go through made me tear up. To make matters worse, I had actually expected something along those lines. Not that Gabriel had been imprisoned on Gaya, mind you, but that Amazeroth was a part of Cassandra hadn't been as much of a revelation as conformation to me. I mean, two creatures shunned, but yet feared or even revered by their own kin, just happened to have identical goals and entirely different means? If this had been a story, I would have expected them to be brothers, twins even, separated after birth. Considering what we were, as a metaphor it even fit properly.
Maybe that was it. Maybe I was afraid of being left behind. Literally. I didn't even know if I'd be able to face one of our siblings once I'd have matured, but Cassy had actually killed one. Before her final evolution. She… no, I was just too weak. We all were. And there was no real way of changing that. As long as we remained on Gaya it didn't matter, but once we'd have to face our siblings Cassandra would be the one to fight and we… we were going to have to watch from the sidelines. Plans and tricks were nice and all, but Mephisto had said it once before. When you're dealing with immortals parlour tricks are worth nothing. To remain by Cassy's side, even Reia and I would have to change, to evolve.
Which brings us to the second secret I've been keeping. Hekate's essence in Cassy's ring. I wanted it. I just wasn't so sure if that was my pride talking or if I was right. Usually I'd have simply asked her, but in that particular instance it didn't strike me as a good idea. I could already hear her reply: "no. Not until we know what would happen to you." A sweet sentiment, but who would become our test subject? Reia? As if I was going to allow that. As if Cassy was going to allow that. Sarai? What she was going through might have been similar, her instability an indicator of how my core might react, but… I had already seen her, had already talked to her. And here's what struck me as odd: Sarai had taken in a mortal soul and as a consequence her core had become stuck in her current incarnation. According to Cassy because she lacked a demonic part to counterbalance her essence. Which made sense, considering Cassandra had done the same without an issue and since she actually had a demonic half, albeit a severed one, it made sense that she had still been able to reincarnate. But… so had I. I had done the very same thing, so why had I been able to be reborn on Gaya?
From where I stood there were two possibilities. One, it had something to do with my connection to the Arete family. A question I'd soon be able to pose to my grandmother. Two, I was part demon as well. Which made me wonder… what if we all were? What if there were just as many angels as there were demons only because we truly were one people? In every sense of the word. Normally I'd have brushed it off because it didn't really matter either way, but since I was actively looking for ways to increase my strength the idea held some appeal. Unfortunately there wasn't much I could do. At least not until I had returned home and faced my family. My grandmother had to have some answers. See what I mean? I could barely concentrate. With an unwilling shrug I disciplined my meandering thoughts and focused back on the present. Or at least I tried to.
Just as I breathed in the faint scents of the mountains, snow and ice and gnarly trees on unending slopes, and wove my way into the jagged foothills a peculiar sensation came over me. One I hadn't felt for quite a while. A memory was stirring, a memory that had been locked before for whatever reason and now it demanded my attention. It was a short scene, but it still left me reeling.
With a thought I left the Void, guilt, anger and desperation gnawing at my heart. What had I done? What had we done? Burning tears streamed down my face and I didn't even realise that my wings had carried me to Earth until the colours of a beautiful dawn over emerald waves broke me from my stupor. Venice. I had run to Venice, to a small rooftop where Lucifer and I had watched the sun rise more often than I could remember. Another surge of pain assaulted me and I fell to my knees, the cold, hard tiles my only support as I once again saw my flames spread across his body and felt his powers thunder against mine. He could have killed me, but he hadn't and I simply didn't know why. Why? Why hadn't I listened? Why hadn't I trusted him? Why…
"Magnificent, isn't it," an old, quiet, but undeniable powerful voice spoke behind me. My flames roared to life, burning death dripped form my wings as I whirled around only to falter a moment later. As distraught as I was I hadn't realised that I wasn't alone. Far from it. Nine people were huddled together on the other side of the roof, the eight women were pushed up against the bricked railing while the only man, a wizened, stooped Buddhist monk in their typical orange attire had taken a few tottering steps and was watching me through pale, cataract filled eyes. "It always struck me as odd that the darkest night brings the most breathtaking dawn. Then again, maybe it isn't surprising. Darkness and light… one can't exist without the other." My flames petered out and I felt empty, detached. I couldn't even muster the strength to care about this little trap. They had been waiting for me, but it didn't matter. There was nothing they could do or say that would make me…
"Lucifer knew you'd come here," he continued warmly while he slowly felt his way across the roof and to my side. "He mainly wanted me to tell you that he has already forgiven you, but I imagine you've already figured out as much by yourself. Still, I promised so here I am. And what a trip it has been. Let me tell you, once you're pushing 150 as a human flying coach isn't the most desirable way to travel." With a gentle, blind smile he added: "I'm sure it'd be worth all the trouble if I was able to see, but alas… you're his wife, aren't you? I think I've seen you from afar in my youth, but he's never introduced us. You can call me the nameless monk… since the last person who remembered my name just died. It's a pleasure to meet you, Aurora. I've heard so much about you, it's almost as if I had already met you in person."
"You're… you've travelled with him," I stammered. "Did he…"
"Know what would happen? Yes, more or less. I was there when he found out. No need to look so glum, though. Behind his posturing I think he's been looking forward to his next incarnation. He was getting a bit long in the tooth, if I do say so myself." A strange sound, somewhere between a sob and a chuckle, escaped me.
"He was, wasn't he?" I exhaled long and deep before I scampered back to my feet. In a way it was like Lucifer was reaching out from beyond the veil and I wouldn't waste this chance only because I felt like shit. With a jerk of my head towards the nervous group in the background I asked: "and who are they? Somehow I doubt they're your harem." He laughed from his belly, his open mouth revealing quite a few missing teeth.
"What gave it away? No, if anything…" he bit his lip and hesitated mid sentence, looking almost like a schoolboy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"What," I prompted.
"I was about to make a pretty insensitive joke before I remembered who you are." I felt my expression change and flames reignite in my eyes as my gaze darted to them. Had he… "that's exactly why I paused," the old monk explained exasperatedly. "I've only met them a few hours ago, but they learned from him. That's it, though, and there's…"
"I didn't," a tall, green eyed woman somewhere in her twenties huffed. With a considerable effort she pushed down her nervousness and took a few confident steps in my direction, hand extended. "I'm Jane, Jane of Montrose and the only times I've met your lover were, when he stole from me. There's no need to bare your fangs."
"Then why are you even here," I asked, albeit much more gently, as I took her proffered hand. Which isn't to say that the quick jolt of panic on the others' faces didn't register. There had been something there, but judging from the almost defeated look in their eyes it had been decidedly one sided. Which was a pity, in a way. Right about now I wouldn't have minded a reason to vent.
She shrugged. "When the devil himself tells you to be somewhere at a specific time us mortals don't ask questions. We smile and obey. As to why… beats me. Maybe the peanut gallery over there has an idea. We've only just been told that Lucifer might… that he's… is he?"
"Far less than our siblings would like," I sighed, "but yes, he's gone. For a good while, at least." With a forced smile I focused on the coven behind her. From their smell alone I could tell that they had been educated in the higher arts. Thoroughly educated. When I imagined Lucifer's teaching methods my smile widened and I felt placated. For the moment, at least. "You're his students," I still demanded to know.
Two of them, one most likely with a supernatural heritage judging from her exaggeratedly youthful appearance and golden hair, exchanged a glance before the taller, black haired one replied: "if you can even call him a teacher. Honestly, most of the time he simply made us bash our heads against a variety of walls until they broke. He did patch us up afterwards, though, and we survived, so there's that." I chuckled genuinely.
"Well, he always said that he wouldn't mind teaching mortals as long as they had the grain to see it through. Apparently the seven of you have more courage than common sense. How else could you have fallen for an immortal?" They swallowed dryly, their eyes darting from one to the other, willing their companions to speak up. "Don't fret," I continued, "it's not the first time and it won't be the last, but I thought you should know that it is written plainly across your faces. I assume he's already told you that his life hasn't ended… won't end… whatever. Do you know where he is? Has he told you what he expects us… or rather me to do?"
"In a way," the monk replied and ushered me gently towards the balustrade just as the glaring light of the sun finally touched our roof. A vast expanse of sparkling green water continued on into the distance and I breathed in the smell of salt and gasoline while the sound of the awakening city wafted around my ears. "He left a message for you. Gaya. That's the place where he'll be reborn. He… he said that you'd most likely recognise the name and that you're to make whatever you wish of the information. He doesn't expect you to follow, but he wanted you to know that he'd very much like to see you again. One way or the other." I focused on the rising sun and the infinite ocean while my frothing thoughts slowly calmed down. Gaya… indeed I knew that name.
When an Amazon delivery guy stumbled on the steps below us and dropped his load into the channels a stereotypical Italian commotion erupted. Over the loud laughter and even louder curses, accompanying the poor blighter trying to fish his cargo from the sickly green waters, the first smells of breakfast hit me, sizzling sausages and boiling eggs alongside freshly ground coffee. How often had Lucifer and I strolled through this city, looking for another place to enjoy the sunrise. Fortunately… it surely seemed like it wasn't over. Not by a long shot. Now I only had to figure out how to get from here to there without losing myself.