A handsome young man dressed in exquisite steel mail nodded politely to the head of the college as he too took a turn staring solemnly at the sleeping youths resting amongst the nurturing roots of the sparkling tree.
Twilight smiled. He recognized the golden-haired prince as none other than the young man who had gazed with such care at a recuperating Jess who had beaten him quite soundly during their martial contest, so many weeks ago. To say nothing of a certain impromptu visit in the capital but days before when Jess and friends had been picnicking under her newly gifted gardens, so close to the king's own.
“Do we perchance see love's first bloom?” teased a gentle voice that had not been there moments before, and Twilight turned his gaze to the young man before him. Little more than a boy, really. He appeared perhaps twelve summers old, though Twilight knew he was far older.
Twilight gazed at the smiling figure with such knowing eyes. “Who can say? It has been some time, David.”
The boy nodded. “Indeed it has, dear one. How is our beloved Jezabelle doing?”
Twilight shrugged, feline shoulders oddly graceful with the movement. "It appears the tree has embraced her, and is renewing her anchor to this realm. Her soul is not yet ready to slip free into a new life. Not yet, it seems."
Twilight sighed. "Were it up to me, were things different, she would be allowed a time of gentlest peace, after how close she has come to darkest temptations, Lilith of endless machinations having unleashed a most diabolical gambit to reclaim her daughter, body and soul."
A thoughtful swish of tail. “Perhaps a lifetime or five of peaceful innocence, free from the stress and care of darker tidings.” The ebony cat flashed a toothy smile. “There are far worse things than raising a kitchen full of happy little children while orchestrating the creation of tasty culinary dishes worthy of a king's dining hall. Particularly entrees of the fishy sort.”
The young man nodded solemnly. "Indeed you are right, Midnight. The tree anchors her in this life both for love, and out of necessity. For love, as there are many dreams our dear Jezabelle has left unfulfilled in this life. But sadly, necessity also dictates that our beloved one must remain in play, for the deadliest of games has just begun."
The boy sighed, gazing tenderly at Jessica's sleeping form. "Dark times are coming, my friend, as you have no doubt sensed. This world is entering a time of uncertainty, and we need our vanguard ready to meet it, to serve as our shining light in a time of encroaching darkness."
Twilight frowned. "Except your beloved shining light came very close to losing herself within the mantle of a demon queen, and devouring this world utterly before consigning its shattered remnants to the Void." He twitched his tail. "And how would I ever get a decent salmon steak then, I ask you?"
David gave a reflective nod. “There is that.” His smile was hopeful. “Still, even though she was forced to confront the temptation, she chose life over power, and we must never forget that. Much as she had in an earlier age, to all our benefit.”
The young man breathed deep, closing his eyes, enjoying the rich loamy fragrance of the tree. “She has resisted the very temptations of Hell and her darkest nature, and shows herself once more worthy of the title of Paladin.”
Twilight sighed, his paw idly slapping the silvery water of the small pool nestled between roots that was, like all bodies of water he came across, full of the flickering silvery forms of many a curious fish. "That may be, David. But all things being the same, it would be best for my mistress if she were allowed to live peacefully, to know the contentment and joy of a kitten safe by its mother's side, and leave the madness of politics, intrigue, and desperate struggles for power to others. She did her duty creating this realm, and she maintains it every time she consents to embrace mortality, to leave all her dreams and memories behind and be reborn anew. A peaceful existence is a small boon to allow her in turn."
The being known as David nodded solemnly. “Such is true, beloved Midnight. And would that it be so. Still, the stirrings from above and below point to dangerous times coming.” His smile was brilliant as he gazed at the sleeping figures with infinite love and care. “Still, I will do what I can to minimize the brunt of dark influence, as I always do. If fate allows for a peaceful existence, our dear Jezabelle will be allowed that.”
He turned to gaze sadly at Twilight, stroking his fur gently. Much to Twilight's own surprise, he found himself purring. David smiled. “Fear not, dear Midnight, or should I say Twilight, in this time and place? For a time, at least, Jess will know peace. And let me also share my humble thanks with you as well. You have served as a brave and stalwart guardian at her side for all these many lifetimes. Truly, immortal spirit, you must acknowledge you are more angel than creature of darkness by now.”
Twilight grinned like a cat who had snuck all the cream. “You are a funny one, David. We made an agreement, as valid today as it was endless millennium ago. You can play the hero. I'm in it for the fishies.”
David smiled. “And all the fishies you desire, you shall have.” At which point a beautiful perch popped out of the tiny pool by Twilight's paws, and the happy cat tore into it with relish. “And a cool spring breeze to rustle your fur as you rest your paws in rich green grass, while the gentle sun high above warms your glossy coat. Not such a bad life you live, is it, dear Twilight?”
Twilight shrugged as he tore into his perch. “I have no complaints.”
“And there is Jess too, of course.”
Twilight looked up from his still flapping lunch, fresh and tasty as a cat could possibly desire, and gazed longingly at his beloved master. “There is always Jess.”
David nodded in satisfaction. “You are far more than the ancient god of a dying realm that you once were, beloved Twilight. Jezabelle prospers under your care.”
The cat grinned. “My Purpose had already come to fruition, this universe blossoming as it does upon the ashes of the old.” And for just a moment, something fey and terrible gazed back at the humbly dressed young man so gently stroking Twilight's fur, as much the final glimmering death-knells of stars violently ruptured amongst the endless blackness of a universe long since consigned to oblivion as it was the bemused stare of a cat.
"In truth, David, I had quite relished our epic battle as this reality swirled into existence; you and all your countless brethren against me and mine." He spared an oddly gentle glance for the great sleeping hound before turning once more to David. "Now there is only the fishies. And the mistress who saved us from the oblivion that by rights we should have embraced, epochs ago." Twilight flashed a very self-satisfied grin. "It was only because we cats, even gods of death shaped like cats, so rarely do what Fate compels that I stuck around for so long, forcing my brother to as well, and thus was able to discover the joy of scratches."
The ancient god once known as Endless Night sighed happily. “Jess has a way with rubbing behind the ears no other being can duplicate. Besides, half the time I can convince her to take up the life of a master chef. Or at least, hire one.”
Twilight closed his eyes and shivered with ecstatic memory. “Those were good lives indeed. So very many ways to prepare fish.”
The boy's gaze turned solemn. "And were you ever again to take up the mantle of Endless Night, or your brother to awaken fully once more, Jezabelle's garden would rupture under the weight of a dead universe's sorrows, just as surely as if Lilith herself had struck the blow."
Twilight's stare was equally grim. “And then there would be no more fishies, sunlight, or scratches. Only the endless, sad-eyed gaze of our mistress, she who had given years of her eternal existence to rescue two ancient relics too stubborn to die, only to have her paradise shattered by fools she had dared to love.”
David's smile was tender. “Be well, dear Twilight. Look after our Jess.”
“Don't I always?” murmured Twilight as he dug once more into his perch, but David was already gone.
Thank You
I hope you enjoyed reading Oblivion’s
Queen. If you wouldn’t mind, please consider leaving a review, even just a quick sentence or two. They have a huge impact on a book’s discoverability, and are the lifeblood of new authors.
Jess and Twilight have many more adventures to share. Books 4 - 7 will all be released later this year.
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Oblivion's Queen Page 47