“So you propose we wait here, until Alyxa loses her mind and we grow even more ancient than we are?” Morpheus demanded.
-Not exactly. Enyo says that there is movement in the real world.-
“Does that line go both ways?” Alyxa asked, looking at the caged goddess with bright eyes, “I mean, you could send a message to my parents?”
“Your parents are dead, little one,” Morpheus murmured.
-Anyways,- Bast interrupted before Alyxa could go on, -Enyo says that the wait will not be long now.-
“Lemme get this straight before you say anything more,” Alyxa said, suddenly completely lucid, “we wait here. Someone rocks up. Presumeably this person is mortal. We’re still going to sacrifice another human being? Kill another human being.”
-It might be a dog,- Bast offered, -we might sacrifice a dog? That wouldn’t be hard right?-
Alyxa gave her a weird look.
“I believe Alyxa’s point is, are you willing to sacrifice anyone to let little darling Enyo here work her magic,” Lucifer’s voice said and they all started.
The Prince of Darkness, Lord of Evil, etc. etc. was lounging quite comfortably in his throne between the two cages. He had not been there a moment before.
“Lucifer – ” Morpheus started.
“Oh tut, tut, darling,” the Morning Star chided, waving a hand in the Dream-King’s general direction, “you don’t think you can scheme here without me knowing it? I practically raised betrayal to an artform, remember? I am very familiar with it.”
-It’s not betrayal if you’re plotting against the Enemy,- Bast pointed out, her mental voice sickly sweet.
“Rub that in, why don’t you, kitty,” Lucifer pouted.
Bast hissed at him.
“He does have a point though,” Alyxa whispered, “can we kill anyone?”
“You could always take me up on my offer,” Luficer reminded them.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
LIX: Viable
-You see, Enyo cannot break herself free, but given the right amount of power, she can free me. I would like to see that glittering poofball of a fallen Arc deal with me without these bars!- Bast explained as Enyo beckoned them closer.
“I…I know some of where Enyo’s power comes from,” Morpheus said, hesistantly, “just how much blood is it going to take?”
Enyo glanced at Bast and their communication took place again; Bast didn’t reply and sat instead in silence.
“That bad, huh?” Alyxa murmured, “well…if it’s going to take that much blood you might as well kill me and be done with it. If I stay here any longer I’m going to lose it all anyways.”
Morpheus tightened his grip on her.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he snapped.
-She’s making you more human isn’t she?- Bast observed, looking up from her paws, -if you had spent less time in the real world you’d have agreed that her sacrifice would have been the most pragmatic option, were it a viable option to start with.-
“What do you mean?”
Enyo gestured shortly, her sweet smile aimed somewhere between Bast and Morpheus.
-Alyxa’s blood is here because she was sent here, against her will. As a result any sacrifice she makes is against her will.-
“Do you have any idea how illogical that sounds?” the Dream-King demanded and Alyxa rolled her eyes.
“Oh, pretty,” she whispered, realizing that there were bright blues and reds glimmering on the high ceiling.
-She’s not herself,- Bast pointed out, -how can you expect her to make a decision she would make otherwise?-
Morpheus slumped his shoulders.
“Then what? There are no other mortals here with blood to give.”
Enyo laughed then, and it was an eerie laugh bereft of amusement, soundless, cold and yet… lonely.
“I…I know some of where Enyo’s power comes from,” Morpheus said, hesistantly, “just how much blood is it going to take?”
Enyo glanced at Bast and their communication took place again; Bast didn’t reply and sat instead in silence.
“That bad, huh?” Alyxa murmured, “well…if it’s going to take that much blood you might as well kill me and be done with it. If I stay here any longer I’m going to lose it all anyways.”
Morpheus tightened his grip on her.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he snapped.
-She’s making you more human isn’t she?- Bast observed, looking up from her paws, -if you had spent less time in the real world you’d have agreed that her sacrifice would have been the most pragmatic option, were it a viable option to start with.-
“What do you mean?”
Enyo gestured shortly, her sweet smile aimed somewhere between Bast and Morpheus.
-Alyxa’s blood is here because she was sent here, against her will. As a result any sacrifice she makes is against her will.-
“Do you have any idea how illogical that sounds?” the Dream-King demanded and Alyxa rolled her eyes.
“Oh, pretty,” she whispered, realizing that there were bright blues and reds glimmering on the high ceiling.
-She’s not herself,- Bast pointed out, -how can you expect her to make a decision she would make otherwise?-
Morpheus slumped his shoulders.
“Then what? There are no other mortals here with blood to give.”
Enyo laughed then, and it was an eerie laugh bereft of amusement, soundless, cold and yet… lonely.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
LVIII: Theology
“So you want to make the child swim down into Hell through the Sibyl’s lake, talk to the devil, and convince him to let the Dreamer and the others go?”
It was the way that Medea said it, the scoffing tone, that made it sound ridiculous.
“Yes,” Jessica said.
“Better to send one of the pretty boys, at least they might have something to offer the Morning Star,” the Witch-Queen stated, and Jessica sensed her sitting down, one knee drawn over the other.
“No smoking inside please, Miss Medea,” Amy’s young voice piped in. A crackle of power, a grumbled response, and the smell of smoke vanished.
“You do realize no mortal child has done this before,” Achilles pointed out as an aside from his conversation with Hector on the phone.
“It’s what she Saw,” Michael said.
“Why don’t you go? You’ve fought him before and won,” Medea pointed out, “if I recall the stories correctly, you’re the reason why he’s down there in the first place.”
Jessica felt Michael tense.
“My Father is not entirely…interested in these affairs. He sent the Arcs to Earth to be caretakers.”
“Typical, absentee parents, what more could you base religion on?” Medea sneered. Jessica could almost see her beautiful lips curving upwards in a sardonic smile.
“Better an absentee Father who loves than none at all,” Michael countered.
“Better a set of parents that can admit when they’ve blundered,” the Witch retorted.
“Will you two please grow the fuck up?” Achilles demanded, stepping back into the room again.
“You said a bad word, Mr. ‘chilles,” Amy chided softly.
“For which I apologize profusely, my dear,” he turned to the others in the room, “that was Hector. So unless someone comes up with another plan it’s wheel’s up in two hours. We’re goin’ swimming!”
It was the way that Medea said it, the scoffing tone, that made it sound ridiculous.
“Yes,” Jessica said.
“Better to send one of the pretty boys, at least they might have something to offer the Morning Star,” the Witch-Queen stated, and Jessica sensed her sitting down, one knee drawn over the other.
“No smoking inside please, Miss Medea,” Amy’s young voice piped in. A crackle of power, a grumbled response, and the smell of smoke vanished.
“You do realize no mortal child has done this before,” Achilles pointed out as an aside from his conversation with Hector on the phone.
“It’s what she Saw,” Michael said.
“Why don’t you go? You’ve fought him before and won,” Medea pointed out, “if I recall the stories correctly, you’re the reason why he’s down there in the first place.”
Jessica felt Michael tense.
“My Father is not entirely…interested in these affairs. He sent the Arcs to Earth to be caretakers.”
“Typical, absentee parents, what more could you base religion on?” Medea sneered. Jessica could almost see her beautiful lips curving upwards in a sardonic smile.
“Better an absentee Father who loves than none at all,” Michael countered.
“Better a set of parents that can admit when they’ve blundered,” the Witch retorted.
“Will you two please grow the fuck up?” Achilles demanded, stepping back into the room again.
“You said a bad word, Mr. ‘chilles,” Amy chided softly.
“For which I apologize profusely, my dear,” he turned to the others in the room, “that was Hector. So unless someone comes up with another plan it’s wheel’s up in two hours. We’re goin’ swimming!”
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
LVII: Frightened
Alyxa couldn’t sleep. It was, quite literally, driving her insane, and all Morpheus could do was watch her. More often than not, afraid to leave her alone, he carried her around in his arms, letting her talk at him or simply be silent as he wandered the halls of Hell. He had come here rarely when it had still been under Hades’ rule, and he had to admit – quietly – that Lucifer had a flair for the dramatic. The lofty ceilings and great pillars were swarming with golds and silvers, deep velvet blues and blacks. Everywhere you turned there were paintings and portraits; it was very much like wandering through a museum or palace of the ages. Lucifer left them to their own devices for the most part, dropping in every now and then to see if Morpheus had had enough time to think. This place wore on you; people did not sleep here, or dream, as most of them were dead. For Dreamers then, it was agonizing, and for the Dream-King himself? He knew he was fading in power.
Alyxa tugged on his sleeve and he glanced down at her.
“Can we go home yet?” she asked softly, her internal battle clouding her eyes.
“Soon, my love,” he replied softly. She shifted in his grip.
“Let’s go see Bast?”
He nodded and turned, wandering in the direction of the throne room. Lucifer wasn’t there, but the two cages were. Bast looked up as they entered and stretched her panther-shape.
-Good, you’re here. Enyo, tell them.-
The goddess Kali – also known as Enyo in the Greek world – beckoned them closer. From what Morpheus understood, she had been one of the first that Lucifer had trapped, afraid of her. Who wouldn’t be? Goddess of Destruction, Ares’ lover and consort, Lady of Fire…
Alyxa tugged on his sleeve and he glanced down at her.
“Can we go home yet?” she asked softly, her internal battle clouding her eyes.
“Soon, my love,” he replied softly. She shifted in his grip.
“Let’s go see Bast?”
He nodded and turned, wandering in the direction of the throne room. Lucifer wasn’t there, but the two cages were. Bast looked up as they entered and stretched her panther-shape.
-Good, you’re here. Enyo, tell them.-
The goddess Kali – also known as Enyo in the Greek world – beckoned them closer. From what Morpheus understood, she had been one of the first that Lucifer had trapped, afraid of her. Who wouldn’t be? Goddess of Destruction, Ares’ lover and consort, Lady of Fire…
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
LVI: Swimming
There is a lake. A deep lake. So deep that it rivals any ocean. She can see a girl swimming in the water. It’s the little girl from the living room. She’s wearing a rather pink frilly dress.
Jessica can feel nothing save for Medea’s claw, wrapped around her throat in a somehow gentle grip.
Then...
The water is freezing. She sees through the child’s eyes.
Down, down. I mustn’t be afraid. Alyxa is down there. I’m the only one can go get her. The pretty girl said so. I have to rescue Alyxa and Mr. Morpheus, and Bast. I’m the only one. I can hold my breath forever! The scary witch lady told me so. I shouldn’t call her that, but she’s mean! Though she did let me have pasta for dinner. That was nice.
The stream of consciousness is punctuated here and there by spikes of suppressed terror at being unable to reach the bottom before she runs out of breath. If there even is a bottom to this vastness. Then, there it is, a brilliant glimmer of light, like a whirlpool deep beneath the waters.
Jessica blinked as the vision cleared itself from her eyes, restoring the chaos of colours.
“Well?”
“There’s a lake,” Jazzy said into the room, feeling Medea’s hand slip away, “and a whirlpool beneath it. The little Dreamer has to swim into it. She’s the only one who can bring them back.”
“Me?” the child’s voice squeaked, sounding for the first time.
“Yes, that’s what I Saw. Don’t be scared, you’ll be alright. Medea here will cast a spell on you so you won’t need to breath underwater or something. Can you swim?”
The girl nodded – relayed by Michael.
“What then?” Medea demanded.
“No idea.”
“Pit a child against the Devil?” Achilles suggested.
Jessica can feel nothing save for Medea’s claw, wrapped around her throat in a somehow gentle grip.
Then...
The water is freezing. She sees through the child’s eyes.
Down, down. I mustn’t be afraid. Alyxa is down there. I’m the only one can go get her. The pretty girl said so. I have to rescue Alyxa and Mr. Morpheus, and Bast. I’m the only one. I can hold my breath forever! The scary witch lady told me so. I shouldn’t call her that, but she’s mean! Though she did let me have pasta for dinner. That was nice.
The stream of consciousness is punctuated here and there by spikes of suppressed terror at being unable to reach the bottom before she runs out of breath. If there even is a bottom to this vastness. Then, there it is, a brilliant glimmer of light, like a whirlpool deep beneath the waters.
Jessica blinked as the vision cleared itself from her eyes, restoring the chaos of colours.
“Well?”
“There’s a lake,” Jazzy said into the room, feeling Medea’s hand slip away, “and a whirlpool beneath it. The little Dreamer has to swim into it. She’s the only one who can bring them back.”
“Me?” the child’s voice squeaked, sounding for the first time.
“Yes, that’s what I Saw. Don’t be scared, you’ll be alright. Medea here will cast a spell on you so you won’t need to breath underwater or something. Can you swim?”
The girl nodded – relayed by Michael.
“What then?” Medea demanded.
“No idea.”
“Pit a child against the Devil?” Achilles suggested.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)