by Erik Weir
“I’m…almost…there,” Cassandra moaned.
The tempo increased and Victor lost all control. Hips pushing hard, her thighs spread to allow him full reign of her valley, ready to be conquered. The crescendo of moans rose up. White touched the edges of Victor’s gaze as Cassandra’s back arched up, driving her large breasts into his face. The outside world seemed to fall away to two glowing dots in the abyss who found each other. Nails dug into Victor’s ass just as Cassandra’s eyes flashed open. Victor continued his invasion until his world opened up. Energy exploded as Cassandra’s eyes rolled into her head and Victor grunted with one big thrust. Come spurted as wetness flooded. Heat boiled against burning nerves as bodies arched and cried out in loving triumph. Bliss slammed into nerves as they continued to ride the wave. Moans carried on and come spurt again and again. Cassandra lost all control, body trembling and shuddering to a string of orgasms, one after the other. The world grew smaller as Victor and Cassandra were lost to an ocean of love.
Victor’s eyes closed, relishing in bliss. When he opened his eyes, he stood in a vast chamber stretching out as far as he could see. Thick white pillars spanned outward, holding up a white ceiling two hundred feet above him. The Blade looked around, unable to see any walls in the distance.
“What the…,” Victor began.
A cloaked figure moved into view from behind a pillar. Hood up, shadows covered her eyes as she slowly made her way closer. Victor kept his eyes on Vala as she approached him. He stared at her perfect lips and pale skin, the heat still there from his embrace with Cassandra.
Victor was about to say something when Vala turned and began walking. The Blade followed, glancing down to see he was fully clothed. Eyebrow rising, he often appeared naked before her so what was different now? He didn’t recognize this place as he looked around. Energy touched his skin, causing goosebumps and hair standing on end. The vast room seemed to go on forever.
“Vala?” Victor said as she continued to walk.
After a moment, the goddess stopped and simply stood. Victor moved to her side and looked on to where he thought she was looking at. Eyes widened in disbelief as Baaldir stood with two other beings. The horned god of the hunt crossed his thick arms as a woman with red skin, bat-like wings and black horns stood. She wore what looked like a thong and the smallest black bikini top he had ever seen. It barely covered her nipples and seemed to leave nothing to imagination. A red tail with a triangular tip swished behind her as she looked to Baaldir with bored eyes. Beside her was a mass of tentacles to a blob-ish body. Dozens of strange eyes looked in many directions but two of them turned their gaze from Baaldir to the demon woman.
“We must increase the number of our Champions as soon as possible,” Baaldir’s eyes burned like hot coals.
“Not this again,” the demon woman said in a sultry voice. “She’s been dead long enough. You barely survived your ill-conceived attack on her realm and now you want to repeat what we did ages ago. Maybe it’s time we take a step back and allow her Champion to complete his crusade.”
“I have to agree with Hexnia,” the tentacle blob said even though it appeared to Victor it did not have a mouth, “We two were the only ones to arrive when summoned for this gathering. The hatred we felt before has cooled. The indignation and rage we once knew is long gone. The realms have suffered from Vala’s loss and clearly the others want nothing further from this futile grudge you have against your former lover.”
Baaldir’s expression slipped into an annoyed grimace. “She cannot be allowed to return from the dead. If she does, everything we have worked for will be undone.”
The tentacle blob shifted, most of its eyes turning to the horned god. “It is already unraveling. The Valis realm was first to suffer the consequences of Vala’s death. By my projections, in another ten thousand years, the other five realms will suffer the same fate.”
“Luhorr speaks the truth,” Hexnia said as she looked at her black nails, “The rest of the pantheon knows this and that is why the other four are not here. I’ll admit my jealousy for Vala burned bright at one time, but even that has cooled. She was not only the goddess of lust and love, but her secrets bound the six realms into perfect harmony. A harmony we lost and are now feeling its effects.”
Luhorr’s tentacles writhed, one of them reaching over and caressing Hexnia’s thigh while eyes centered on Baaldir, “We all have had time to reflect on our actions after pulling Vala to pieces.”
Baaldir looked away, nose and chin in the air, “We all know what she is capable of. If I didn’t stop it, can you say without a doubt we would still be here. I led the charge and I stand by my convictions. She needed to die so we would all remain in power. The three of us are the last shred of reason to keep the realms whole.”
Hexnia gave a high-pitched laugh. “You called us here to lead another rage war against Vala? Have you gone mad again? Vala was smart enough to cheat death and you posture like your trying to save the realms. We know what this is truly about and many of us will not go down that path again. The balance is broken. It has been broken for a long time.”
Luhorr’s eyes blinked, “Our pawns, Champions, and priests all speak to us, telling us how Vala’s Champion is giving hope back to the people across all realms. They feel it deep in their spirit, the empty loss needing to be filled once again.”
Baaldir eyed the tentacle monster with glowing, hate filled eyes. “You know how it was before. Peace and love were symptoms to a foul disease. Vala calmed the people and they in turn fell away from conflict and war. Our power diminished as she grew stronger. If the people have everything they want, we would fade into the universe. The people and realms need us.”
“You never told us what set off that fateful time,” Hexnia said with a razor grin. “You discovered her hidden power, but I find it hard to believe that was the only motivating factor on killing love.”
Baaldir grew silent.
“Hexnia my dear, we all have our secrets and Baaldir has his. I doubt such knowledge would have changed anything. Best to move forward to a new age,” Luhorr sighed.
The demon goddess let a sultry exhale, “I’ll admit, we all loved and hated her. When she would come to the gatherings and business was concluded, she would entice us to share our forms. Very few of us could say no to her. By definition, she was an impulse to bask in warmth and lust.”
Baaldir’s eyes narrowed, “And if she returns, it will be like it once was, with the added knowledge she could replace all of us.”
Hexnia eyed Baaldir, “You know we all go through cycles of death and rebirth and yet you continue to fight our very nature.”
“The universe is our playground, but I will keep my toys where they are,” Baaldir growled.
Hexnia crossed her crimson arms, tail trembling in an agitated shudder. “I have already placed too much energy into this sad endeavor.”
Baaldir’s expression twisted into a warm leer. “Now now my dear Hexnia, we wouldn’t want to jeopardize our love, do you?”
The demon goddess’s expression shifted into a blank slate, her eyes looking off.
Baaldir stepped closer, taking her hands into one of his, using his other hand to touch her chin and making sure she looked into his eyes. “Our love is across the Night Sun and Tempest realms. I have allowed many of your people to stay in Tempest, mating with the tribes and allowing their children to grow and blend with all. Their strength has added to the might of chaos. I would hate to see the half-breeds and your people perish under mysterious circumstances.”
Hexnia was silent, looking at Baaldir with resigned love.
The horned god turned his attention to the tentacle blob, eyeing a tentacle as it invaded Hexnia’s goddesshood.
“Luhorr, how pleased would you be if I forbade you from seeing Hexnia from time to time?”
“I can find another lover,” Luhorr said indifferently.
“You could…but what will happen when Hexnia’s people stop sending those books to Dark Spire? Th
e Kurggoth cannot stop their addiction for books from Night Sun. it could lead to war after enough time has passed.”
Luhorr’s many eyes narrowed. “You dare disrupt the accord!”
Baaldir grinned, “I dare.”
The horned god let go of Hexnia’s hands and turned his back to his fellow goddess and god. “You two are the only ones I can count on during this crisis. Vala cannot return and we will do everything we can to stop it. If you do not increase the number of Champions to fight Vala’s Blade and Shields, our alliance will come to an end.”
Baaldir turned and gave Hexnia and Luhorr a sinister smile, “And then I will start a hunt the likes none have seen in the universe. Your beloved pawns, priests, and Champions will be cut down and ripped apart. Then your peoples will be hunted like the vermin they are and when they are all gone, I will hunt you both.”
Luhorr’s eyes looked down and his tentacles lowered.
Hexnia sucked in a short breath before smiling wide with sultry eyes, “You still make me wet when you talk like that.”
Baaldir smirked. “It is not talk when I have full conviction of following through. I have wiped out civilizations before and I won’t hesitate to do the same to you both.”
“The pantheon…,” Luhorr said meekly before trailing off.
Baaldir let out a hearty laugh. “The pantheon knows better than to stand up to my might. My knowledge can destroy the feeble…,” The God of the Hunt trailed off as something caught his attention.
Victor watched as Hexnia and Luhorr followed Baaldir’s gaze to a small figure walking from around a pillar. The three gods stood about twenty feet tall, but the figure in black was about five foot ten. Body turning as he looked around, the three gods looked down incredulously on the new comer. Victor glanced to Vala as her head tilted forward, shadows covering her entire face. Turning back to the gods and the newcomer, a spike of cold fear stabbed into Victor’s spirit.
“Is this a regular meeting place? It’s hard to tell how many times you three have been here,” said the man in black.
“How did you…,” Baaldir growled before his eyes went wide.
Hexnia and Luhorr moved to either side of Baaldir, their faces twisting into shock and a dash of fear.
“I’ll admit, my abilities are growing, but even I’m not sure how they all work. It’s…a feeling if you understand my meaning.”
Draygon stepped closer as the three gods stood their ground. “The three of you are trying to keep a dead goddess…erm…dead. Such wasted potential.”
“Baaldir, we must leave,” Luhorr said with urgency.
Draygon lifted his hands, “No, don’t go. I have so much to learn and you three are prefect. I have questions and I hope you can answer them.”
Draygon put his hands behind his back and paced from left to right before the gods. “I can sense…everything, but it is difficult to put it into such a mongrel language. Knowledge must be distilled into its purest form so I may understand before I can twist and bend it to my will.”
“Abomination, you were not invited here,” Baaldir said with a deep, commanding voice.
Draygon continued to pace, “I could say the same for all or you. None of you were meant to achieve this level of evolution. It would seem this corner of the universe has been lax on its duties.”
A golden spear appeared in Baaldir’s hand. “I will slay you where you stand!”
Draygon stopped pacing and faced Baaldir. “If you could, you would have done it already. I don’t wish to start our relationships on such a negative note. I have questions and you have answers. If we come to an understanding, you will be allowed to flee to other universes when the time comes.”
Baaldir lifted his spear in a blink of an eye. The next moment, it came down, point aimed at Draygon’s chest. Hexnia and Luhorr pulled back just as the spear was an inch from the smaller man’s chest. A hand blurred and caught the spear point, holding it at bay. Draygon and Baaldir’s arms trembled as energies sparked between them. The god of the hunt grunted as he threw his back and shoulders into driving the spear into the small man. Draygon’s boots slid back slightly, his dark eyes calm as frozen lakes.
“Your power is that of stars at various stages in their cycles. Some of you are stronger than others, but you share the same paths of being born, growing, fading and dying. You may be higher beings, but you can die just like the rest of the universe.”
Draygon’s hand twisted and the golden spear shattered into shards of light. Baaldir fell forward, leg snapping out and catching himself. With wide eyes, he stepped back.
Draygon waved away the shards of light like gnats and continued. “Stars at times consume each other if they are too close. The larger star will eat the smaller one, extending their lifespan and their power.”
Draygon eyed the three gods, a sinister smile forming. “You three have burned for a long time and would be hard to digest. I need a meal and Vala has discovered how to rejuvenate her power from death. When she is reborn, I can consume her power with little resistance. The only thing standing in my way is her…Champion as you call them.”
Luhorr’s tentacles writhed in anger, “You should have been slain the moment you touched the black sands. My followers will destroy you!”
Draygon’s smile remained. “They lost their chance and now I’m here. I think I would have found a nice moon somewhere and allowed the eons I needed to reach maturity, but that is no longer an option.”
The strange man pointed at Luhorr with a flare of contained rage. “Your people have hunted and killed my brothers and sisters for far too long. I burrowed under the black sands, dreaming of your atrocities and watching as they slew every newborn without a drop of shame. I can no longer wait to reach the height of my power. I need fuel and Vala will be my meal.
“Tell me the name of her Champion so I may better understand him. Tell me his name so I can twist him to my will. Tell me so I can lure Vala from death and feast. Tell me so this universe may know its end and I can achieve cosmic justice for those slain for simply existing!”
Baaldir’s brow formed a sharp V, “You will need more than his name before you can think of destroying anything.”
Draygon gave a gentle nod, “His name is the first step in my designs. Tell me and you will live to see another universe.”
Baaldir, Hexnia and Luhorr remained silent before rifts appeared behind them. Collectively, they stepped or slid back, each filling a portal. When they passed the threshold, the portals closed and winked out of existence.
Draygon continued to look forward, his smile fading away. Turning, dark eyes searched as the glimmer of stars appeared in his long black hair. Dark eyes searched the great vast cosmic chamber, seeing and not seeing.
“I can sense you Vala. You are watching, but from a different point of time. A clever way to hide, but you now know my intentions. I will admit, I’m not good at keeping secrets, but in the scheme of the universe, it matters little. You and your Champion will not be able to stop me. I will be there when you awaken and I will consume every drop of your essence, quickening my ascension.”
Vala raised a hand and the dreamscape swirled away. Victor felt weightless until the dream pulsed back into being. The ruins of Vala’s temple rose up around them and Victor felt at home. Vala moved away from her Champion and sat on a stone bench. The goddess patted the seat next to her and placed her hands on her lap.
Victor stepped over and sat by the goddess, questions filling his mind.
Vala spoke first. “To learn what Draygon is, speak to Vonn. She will be able to share her knowledge to answer your questions.”
Victor nodded and looked down, elbows on knees.
Long shadows covered Vala’s face, her voice rising up again. “I wanted to take this moment to show what I’ve seen and to speak about your crisis of faith.”
The Blade lifted his head and looked to the darkness of her hood.
“No need to hide it. I can feel everything about you and many others. When I
spoke to you on why I chose you as my Champion, I knew it would not sit well. You’re positive nature hinges on honesty and faith. You have faith in others, but a sliver of doubt has touched you.”
“I know why you did it, but I feel you could have told me the truth and I would have still become your Champion. It feels like…you didn’t believe in me.”
Vala sighed. “Gods and goddess are higher beings, but even we are prone to doubt and dismay. Your choice must be in the moment of life and death for it to be true, otherwise…it becomes fantasy, a dream on faraway clouds. How different would it have been if I came to you, asked the question and slid the celestial dagger in your chest? It would have caused me to become your lover…and your enemy.”
Victor looked away, “You’re right, I don’t understand all the rules, but it doesn’t stop me from questioning everything. Why does Baaldir hate you so much? I can’t believe they killed you just because you brought peace and love to the realms. It sounds like some sick cosmic joke of trashy jealousy and betrayal.”
Vala lifted her head up, light of the crescent moon touching her smiling lips. “As my Champion, you are entitled to knowledge that cannot be shared in the realms. For that, I will answer your question as long as you keep it in your heart.”
“I will,” Victor said warmly.
Vala continued, “Higher beings do not appear out of thin air. We grow our power, suffer through trials and ascend to a higher plane. It is a long and terrible path to follow and most do not survive the transition. It is the reason why the universe is not flooded with higher beings and maintains the balance.
“When I was amid the pantheon, I followed my duties. I brought love and lust to all. I took on many lovers across the realms and in the higher realms. Gods and goddesses playfully fought for my affections but Baaldir loved me the most. He wanted to create new realms with our love, expanding the universe further. It was a noble desire, creating a garden to grow masterpieces of songs and art. Even I was caught in his designs, wanting to help make the realms paradises for all.”