by Amy Sumida
“Wait. Where are you going?” Sin chased after me.
“To the throne room to await my guests.”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat self-consciously. “Yes. Of course. I'll collect our visitors and escort them to you.”
“Thank you, General. And be sure to strut a bit.” I winked at him. “You chose the winning horse, remember?”
“The winning star, you mean.” He smirked at me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Star had carried the dragon theme into the throne room. I sat on a golden dragon throne; its body bent to form a seat, forearms lifted for armrests with talons hanging down in deadly lines, ferocious dragon head arched menacingly above me, tail wrapped around the base of the throne to serve as a footrest, and wings spread wide behind me. It was very impressive; more so than I was. In fact, I felt enveloped by that throne; a little woman sitting on a dragon's lap. I guess that wasn't so bad. Better to be on the dragon's lap than in his belly.
My eight commanders stood, four to either side of me, on my amethyst dais. Viper took the position at my right hand. And I do mean amethyst, by the way. The stepped dais, which filled a corner alcove at one end of the wedge-shaped room, was made from a solid chunk of the jewel. Not a single imperfection marred it; I could see straight down to the basalt foundation.
Behind me, black silk draped the walls, extending from one wall to the other to give the corner a more curved appearance. This sloping line of fabric kept curving along the wall to my right, the true shape of the keep showing itself there, but the curtains ended at the edge of the dais. As we were on the bottom floor of the castle, no windows graced that outer wall. Instead, a line of onyx dragon statues stretched up the impressive height, spaced about thirty feet apart from each other. Their wings spread to follow the curve of the wall and connect them to each other, bodies at rest with all claws planted on the basalt floor beneath them, and long necks arching across the ceiling to hang their heads downward at the center, mouths open to emit glowing light as if they were breathing fire.
The straight wall to my left gave the best, unobstructed view of a mural of the Universe that was painted across all of the walls as well as the ceiling. This unencumbered stretch led to the second inner, straight wall, where a pair of double doors stood open. Think of the tower as a pie and this room as a quarter of it. A giant slice with me sitting in the corner, right over the flaky crust. A deep purple runner swept out from my crusty corner to arch through the slice and land in the middle of one fruit-oozing side; the doorway I mentioned earlier. Great; now I want peach pie.
It made for an unusual space but it—like everything else in the castle—had its purpose. The odd curve would disorient my guests as well as any future invaders, giving us the upper hand as well as a few precious seconds to look them over before they got too close to the throne.
I took those seconds gladly when Sin led three men into the room. They did indeed flounder under the magnificence of the ambiance and that odd curve. The fact that dragon warriors lined the aisle also helped to keep the attention off me. My visitors made their way through the dragon gauntlet, keeping their eyes on the nearest threat until they reached the base of my dais.
Two of my guests had the swarthy look of the region; dark hair and deep tans. Out of those two, one man seemed to be from another time; an ancient time. His ebony hair hung to mid-back in tight waves that almost looked crimped. A golden band held that thick hair down; a perfect match to the thick belt cinching his cotton tunic. But it wasn't the crown or hair or even the tunic that made him seem ancient, those were just frosting. It was the look in his dark eyes and the way he held himself; as if he had just stepped off a throne in another time and had come here to take mine.
To either side of the crowned man strode two very different deities. To the right was the second dark-haired god, but his hair was cut in a modern style, short and wavy, and although his skin was nearly as dark as the ancient man's, his eyes shone like the shallows of the Pacific under a midday sun. His full lips were set into a soft line, nearly a smile.
The last man was the first fair-skinned Mesopotamian god I'd yet to meet. This man was dressed as modernly as the god with the blue eyes and had a hairstyle to match, if a little on the longish side. His hair was spun sunlight; that golden blond so pale that it shines all on its own. Just a step below platinum. Despite his coloring, his features matched the other two; wide brow, large eyes, strong nose, and full lips. But his eyes made me shiver. A pale gray, nearly white, they gave the illusion that he was blind. But when he focused that stare on me, the gray darkened and shifted, reminding me of Whirlwind. A storm god then.
“Dark Star, these are the most respected gods of the Mesopotamian Pantheon,” Sin declared when they reached the dais steps. “Anu,” he waved at the ancient one. “Enki,” a flick toward the one with the blue eyes. “And Enlil,” a final gesture toward the Storm God.
“Welcome and thank you for trusting me enough to enter my stronghold.” I nodded to them. “I expect that you have questions for me.”
“Questions?” Anu made a sound of disbelief. “We've come to demand that you leave Bahrain at once. This is our land and our people. We won't allow you to abuse them.”
Viper and Snake hissed at Anu while Beast and Hound growled then Storm and Whirlwind buffeted the room with a blast of frigid air as thunder boomed above us. Sea and Scorpion only grinned at the visiting gods but theirs were the most intimidating reactions of all. The gleeful menace and utter inhumanity in their eyes were even more frightening than the sharp teeth showcased by their smiles. Enlil and Enki went still, exchanging wary looks, but Anu only got angrier.
“Your pets don't scare me, bitch,” Anu sneered. “How dare you come here and wreck the peace we have with the humans! This has been our home for thousands of years, and you think you can saunter in and snatch it up in a day? No, no, no, little girl, that won't work here. This is our land, find somewhere else to play.”
I started to laugh, and everyone went still, even Anu. Because in my laughter was power. Even I could feel it echoing out of my throat and coasting through the room; vibrating over god flesh in warning. All of the Star Gods began to smile at the sound, smirk actually, and the dragon warriors made snickering chuckles.
“Little girl, am I?” I asked Anu as I lounged in my throne. “Should I have dressed up for this conversation as you have? Thrown on a crown and pretty clothes so you'd take me seriously? Look around, Anu, I don't need to play dress up. Yes, I swept in and took this place in a single day, and I formed this castle in mere moments. Instead of sneering at that, a smart man would realize what it means. That you stand before a true goddess. Not an impostor like you and your friends. Not a charlatan who must trick humans into giving up their energy to fuel my immortality.” I stood up and glared at them, my voice going low, strong, and very hot. “I am the Dark Star!” I stretched my arms out as my body burst into shimmering amethyst light. “Forged by the Void and Faerie herself. The Triple Trinity. Witch, Goddess, and Faerie. Wolf, Lion, and Dragon. Love, Lions, and Luna. This land is mine. All land and sea and sky are mine! And I am fucking tired of putting up with pathetic gods like you taking up space in my world. Strutting around, acting as if you've helped the human race when all you do is take. Take! Take! Take!” I moved down a step with each word and the castle trembled with my footfalls.
Enki and Enlil backed away, but Anu stood firm, his eyes starting to glow with magic.
“I don't want to start a war with you. I've come to bring peace. Not just to Bahrain but the entire world. This island will become a legend; the Garden of Eden reborn. From here, I will change life on this planet for the better. I will use my magic to truly help the humans who you've stolen from for so long. No more wars. No more hatred. No more abuse and manipulations. I will bring Heaven to Earth.”
“And you intend to rule it,” Anu sneered.
“Someone must.” I spread my hands affably. “I've been given this gift, and I intend to u
se it to launch a final war. I'm tired of fighting all of you in tiny skirmishes. I'm getting nowhere while the human race suffers. That ends now. I will protect the humans from the influence of Gods and from the harm they do each other. I could simply wish it to happen, but I know that some of you are good people.” I glanced at Enki. “Some of you honestly respect humans and care for them. So, I'm giving you a chance to come forward. Join me and help to bring everlasting peace to this planet.”
“Or?” Anu asked as he narrowed his eyes at me.
“Or die.” I shrugged as if it were obvious.
“Fuck y—”
Before Anu could finish his insult, I absorbed him. There one second and ash the next. Starlight encompassed the god and sucked up his magic as it burned away his body in the blink of an eye. Power jolted through me, and I sighed as it settled into my star. Its heart—my heart—was nearly black now and that purple darkness was seeping out to the glowing points, but I wasn't worried. This was the process that would free me and a true goddess isn't afraid of the dark.
“Holy fuck,” Sin whispered as the other two men backed away from the sooty snowflakes that had once been their friend.
“Be at ease.” I held my hand up to the other men. “Offer me no insult, and I offer you no harm.”
Enlil nodded crisply, but Enki stared pensively at me.
“You intend to make Bahrain the capital of the new world?” Enki asked.
“For now.” I nodded. “When peace has been established, I will likely retire to the God Realm.”
“That sounds fair,” Enki noted.
“Fair?” Enlil gaped at the other god.
“Life has grown stagnant,” Enki said to Enlil. “It's time for a change and this goddess can bring it.”
“She just killed Anu,” Enlil growled. “And what about your son?”
“Your son?” I asked Enki.
“Marduk,” Enki said. “I believe you know him.”
“You're Marduk's father?” I asked in surprise.
“I know”—Enki grinned—“he didn't inherit my winning personality. Still, my son is a good man; overprotective of his pantheon but good. If I join you, will you promise to spare Marduk, even if he fights against you?”
“I will spare him if possible,” I countered. “If it comes down to him or me, I will choose myself.”
“Of course.” Enki bowed to me then turned to Enlil. “Return to the others and tell them what has happened here. Tell them that I'm safe, and I believe that Sin has chosen the best path. It's better to stand beside the Star than be burned by her light.”
Enlil glared at me with his stormy eyes then spun on his heels and strode out of the throne room. A unit of dragon soldiers marched after him to see him out.
“You have my allegiance, Dark Star,” Enki declared and then bowed.
“Welcome to the Star Squad!” Sin slapped Enki's back.
“Star Squad,” I whispered as images of another squad filled my head.
The God Squad should be there with me. They should be a part of this. We had fought in the God War for years and now, I was ending the war. They should be with me to enjoy our victory.
You can bring them here after you've established your control, Star offered. For now, you need to handle this on your own, Vervain.
Another memory hit me; of standing behind Vainamoinen as he stole god magic. I felt that zap again and watched a man die. I had killed Anu in a second, but the process had been nearly identical to what Vainamoinen had done to that god. Was I becoming him?
You have turned something evil into a weapon for good, Star insisted. You are not like Vainamoinen. You offered them a chance. Vainamoinen killed ruthlessly. His people raped and murdered. You are not like them. You tried to show Anu your strength and convince him to join you, but he wouldn't listen. It was Anu who pushed you into killing him.
Maybe.
We knew there would be sacrifices.
Yes, but I didn't expect the power to come to me. I didn't expect to absorb god energy. Not collect it but absorb it. Consume it like Vainamoinen.
That's what happens with sacrifice, Vervain. Sacrifice is absorbed and used by the magic of the god.
Viper's hand slid onto my back, a subtle but reassuring presence.
Yes; of course. I straightened and took a deep breath then slid a soft look at Viper.
Viper nodded encouragingly at me, a proud and confident look on his face. There were no doubts in him. But then, that was how I'd made him.
If you don't stop questioning your Stars, I'll make you some idiot gods to give you some perspective.
I laughed under my breath and stepped forward to properly meet Enki. “I know I've just killed your friend and threatened your pantheon. Horrible things must be done to pave the way for good. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see this through, but to those who stand with me, I will be loyal and generous. You have nothing to fear, and I will keep my promise to you. If at all possible, Marduk will live.”
“So be it.” Enki held his hand out to me, and we shook. “I'm eager to see what you have planned for the world.”
“Then let's get out of this arrogant, dragon room and take our meeting upstairs.” I looked at the Star Gods and Sin. “We need to settle Bahrain and move our forces outward.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Dragon Army of the Dark Star awaited my signal. They stood at attention in the courtyard below. Ten of the dragon warriors had shifted into their full-dragon forms. The Star Gods, General Sin, and Enki sat in special saddles strapped to the backs of those dragons.
We were ready for our first battle.
The Mesopotamian Gods had been gathering on the shore of Saudi Arabia ever since the day I had killed Anu. They had revealed themselves to humans and joined forces with the Saudi Arabian army to oppose me. Humans all over the world were reeling under the revelation that Gods were real. All of them. Look at that; everyone was right. And not only were the Gods real, but they were also fighting each other on Earth. The Mesopotamians had convinced the Saudi Arabian Government that I was the evil one; the one to be stopped. I didn't blame the humans for listening to the lies; Gods have manipulated humans for so long that they've become experts at it. It wasn't the humans' fault, and I hoped to save as many of them as I could.
“I can take care of the humans,” Star offered.
“What do you mean?”
“You're fighting to give the Gods a chance to stand down, right? It has nothing to do with the humans. Otherwise, you could just wish yourself into power.”
“I suppose.”
“So, allow me to imprison the human soldiers before the battle begins,” she suggested. “They will be safe, and you can make an example of the Mesopotamian Gods so that, hopefully, the other pantheons will stand down.”
“I don't want the other pantheons to back down because they're afraid,” I protested. “I want them to see the wisdom of my plan. I want them to see—”
“You want that for the gods who don't hurt humans,” she cut me off. “But the gods who have been manipulating humans should be stopped, right? Isn't that the point?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“This is war, Vervain. There will be casualties. There must be casualties. If not, all will see you as weak, and you will never have peace.”
“Very well. See the humans to safety and then we'll handle the gods,” I gave in. “But spare Marduk; I promised his father.”
“As you wish.” She winked at me and disappeared, back into my mind.
I took a deep breath and let my silk robe fall from my shoulders to slither down to the stone balcony. A desert wind blew up the side of the stronghold, warming my skin, and I closed my eyes to enjoy the heat as I let my dragon rise. She came tearing out of my body; an uncaged beast eager for blood. I spread my massive wings and sunlight shone off my gleaming golden scales as I roared.
The army below roared back and spread their wings in one, coordinated movement as they crouched for
takeoff. I dove off the balcony, my wings catching the currents with a slap of air, and my dragon army leapt into the sky to join me. Elation surged through my veins like a drug; the feeling of freedom tumbling playfully with the anticipation of violence. In this form, it was easier for me to fight. Not just because of the strength of my body but also because of the mentality of my dragon. There was no hesitation within her. She was born to kill. Born to glory in gore and relish the taste of blood. And when I released her, her desires became my own. I could slaughter without regret. Burn and bite and rend without feeling an ounce of remorse. I could be the ultimate warrior.
I flew at the head of my army, ten dragons directly behind me. The rest of the dragon warriors remained in their vaguely-human form; the better to maneuver once they landed. But, if need be, they would shift and the world would tremble beneath the feet and flight of a dread of dragons.