Ray took the rifle and peeked. The tornado formed by thousands and thousands of flying creatures heaped together as the tail of the phenomenon reached the ground, amassing to a single, naked humanoid female. From this distance, she looked ageless. Her pale white eyes glowed infinitely. Her face was expressionless. None of that terrified Ray as much as the fact that she was looking straight at him. He shivered.
“She feels you, Brother.” Serhmana reached Ray’s thoughts.
“What’s she doing?” Ray asked the Arinar. He hadn’t talked much with the stones since the battle of Earth, and he realized he felt a longing in his heart for their company. It confused him. A lot of things confused Ray.
“She is waiting for you to step up. If you do not show yourself, the hunt will start.”
“She gives the Lohil the first move,” K’ta joined the discussion.
“Why?”
“We do not know. The Destroyer of Worlds has her own thoughts and will. She, in all her devotion to her cause, is not a mindless tool.”
“I thought She was a senseless monster.”
“No. She is like you, Lohil, a sentient, powerful being above others. She is the other side of the mirror.”
“Can I survive the hunt? Can I protect my daughter and the others?”
“We cannot predict the outcome of the hunt. She is formidable. If need be, we can try and help but—”
“I know, no Mara’tthane, no closure.”
“Yes.”
Ray licked his lips, not moving his eyes of Her, standing still at the town square. “What about this temple thing?”
“Temple of Amasshan is where we were born,” it was Ijjok speaking.
“So, it’s real. Is it possible to find a way to defeat Her there?”
“We cannot comment on that. Temple of Amasshan is a powerful beacon and possesses many wonders and artifacts.”
“Ray,” Sarah shook Ray from his shoulder. “Wake up!”
“Huh, what?” Ray blinked. Whenever he talked with the stones, he lost his connection with the outside world. “I was talking to the stones, sorry.”
“If I didn’t see that thing hovering above us, I would’ve thought you finally lost it, Dad.” Elaine winced. “But there it is.” She looked better accustomed to this new magical reality—or a nightmare depending on one’s perspective—than she was a few hours ago. “Whatever it is, we need to move.” Elaine helped the old priest stand up.
“All right,” Ray nodded. “Sarah, take the team and go to the superdreadnought. Fetch everything we might use, then get Captain Samir and Sim’Ra—”
Sarah was already shaking her head in protest, but Ray held her shoulders and pulled her toward him.
“I’ll be all right. I can’t risk that freak show attacking the town. I’ll buy us some time. You’ll come and pick me up, all right? We need to drive her away from the people.” He kissed Sarah’s lips gently and whispered. “I’ll be okay… It’ll be okay.”
Sarah nodded unwillingly, pushing away her tears, and gave him Brother Cavil’s pack, containing the stones. “You’ll probably need these.”
Ray smiled, moving his attention to Elaine. “Honey…”
Elaine put the finger on his lips, shutting him up. “It’s been years since I last had a father. I now see what all this is about, or maybe not, but if you don’t come back, I’ll kill you myself.” She let her hand drop and stared into Ray’s eyes for another long moment. “I love you, Dad, no matter what.” She turned without waiting for Ray’s response, running to catch up with Sarah and the old man.
“I love you too, kiddo,” Ray whispered, watching the trio hurry down the path. “I’m sorry.”
***
Ray watched the huge tornado spin over him in silence. They were not birds, but flying creatures: some big, some small. Some had wings, some had tentacles. It was like a xenobiology lesson with a particular focus on entomology.
“Interesting.”
Ray lowered his stare and looked at the female figure standing before him. “I thought that would be my cue.”
She, the Devourer, the Destroyer of Worlds, walked around Ray lazily, inspecting him. If she had any emotion or expression, Ray would’ve guessed it was curiosity. Her movements were fluid, royal. She indeed looked ageless and overwhelming. Ray would’ve believed if someone told him that this woman was the ruler of the universe. She fit the part.
“You do not fear me.”
“Are you kidding? I’m terrified.”
“No,” the Devourer contradicted. “That is superficial. Deep inside, I feel… closure, not fear.”
Ray sighed. “To be fair, I knew how you looked. The stones had shown me some time ago. Still,” he whistled, looking at the sky, “it’s magnificent, I must admit.”
“Size and appearance are lesser species’ concerns. Lohil touches beyond those things.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that, frankly.”
“It was not a query.” She came full circle and stopped before him. “You will be accompanied to the temple of creation where your soul will be devoured.”
“You know,” Ray scratched his beard, “why should I give up? I can fight you, I can escape you.” Talk more. Lie more.
The Devourer looked at Ray in silence, then turned to look where Deviator stood. “The words and thoughts differ. A human behavior, perhaps. Conflict of ideas.”
Oh, no. “What? Look at me when you’re talking to me.”
“You have a child in that human construction.” She turned her stare on Ray. “A female. You care for her.”
Ray closed his eyes and sighed. Ray, you dimwit! Go ahead, fool divine creatures with your pitiful brain.
“Now, it is fear you feel. The fear of your child perishing.”
He opened his eyes. “Will you leave them alone if I surrender?”
“I do not care for lesser beings. My only purpose is to find and claim you, Lohil. Your essence will be forced back into the rivers of creation until such time comes that I reclaim it.”
“And then what?”
“We do not belong to this realm. It hurts my children. Every being I touched will return to their original selves, and I will sleep until you are reborn.”
Ray considered his options. This nightmare was happening because of him. Even the Baeal invasion was connected with who he was. What he was. If She could be trusted—and Ray thought she was sincere; after all, she looked like she could’ve crushed the planet if she wanted to—he simply had to give up.
“What do you think?” he asked the stones.
“It is your destiny, Lohil. We will support our brother’s decision. If you want to fight, we will fight. If you want to sleep, so shall we,” Serhmana replied. “How will I know you’ll keep your word?” Ray asked the celestial being before him.
The Devourer inclined her head as if puzzled. “I do not understand this concept.”
“How will I know you’re not lying and go crazy and kill everyone after I’m gone?”
She straightened her posture. Did she look offended? “I am not a lesser being, Lohil. Deceit is a trait of lesser creations because of their lust and of their desires. I am eternal. If I lie, that lie would also exist with me in infinity and would be a great burden.”
“Holy hell, you’re a wise one.” Ray stood in silence for a minute, and Devourer waited for him in patience. I’m sorry, kiddo. “All right, you’ll leave the others…”
A massive explosion hit the tornado about a kilometer above them, followed by several other small ones. Ray saw Avatar fighters and bombers circling the thing, firing whatever they had onto the swirling creatures.
“No!”
The Devourer lowered her stare slowly, fixing it on Ray. “Your choice is to battle.”
“No, I didn’t do this!” He waved madly at the aircraft circling the tornado. “It wasn’t me. Take me!”
“This is how deceit feels. Interesting.” The Devourer looked as if she stopped for a moment to absorb the idea. �
�You kill my children. I will kill yours, Lohil.” She sat on the ground, crossing her legs as if meditating. “I had sincerely hoped to resolve the eternal battle in peace.” And she closed her eyes.
The most terrifying storm Ray had ever seen descended on the city like a tormenting nightmare, hungry for prey.
UNHOLY ALLIANCE
“Elaine, help me with those crates. Take the lifter and haul as many as you can.” Sarah was carrying four more supply crates into Fox's hangar with the help of an automated lifter. “We need to get as many as we can!”
Brother Cavil appeared near the gunship a moment later with Captain Samir and two marines, escorting their Baeal prisoner. The guards pushed Sim’Ra inside, taking him to the mess hall.
“Tie him twice and tie him well, folks,” Captain Samir called behind their backs, getting the affirmative nods of the soldiers. “You ladies are set to go? I can’t tell how much longer that woman outside will wait for Ray to talk his way.”
Sarah wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her blond hair looked wet, falling to block her green eyes. “This one was the last. Elaine,” she looked at the girl, “let’s go.”
“Done!” Elaine ran into Fox last, boarding the gunship.
The two escorts saluted Captain Samir and the rest and left the gunship, dashing at their designated posts.
“Captain…”
“Samir’s enough, Sarah.”
“Samir,” Sarah smiled in courtesy, “You and Brother Cavil keep an eye on that cold-hearted freak.” She didn’t wait for their response and turned to face Elaine. “You know how to fly a ship? Did they teach you that in school, girl?”
“Not as good as you, but I know my way around the cockpit if you need a hand.”
“I do. I’m good at this, but I’m not Ray. I need you to help me with weapons and communications while I try not to hit anything.”
Their words were interrupted by an intermittent siren filling the hangar of the dormant superdreadnought.
“Samir? Is it what I think it is?”
The veteran soldier looked from the doorframe of the mess hall in equal confusion. And fear. “Battle stations,” he sighed. “So much for Ray’s parlay.”
The alarm stopped, and a harsh, heavy male voice repeated the announcement: “Brave soldiers of Deviator. It is time for battle. Prepare for combat and embrace true death. Glory to those who fall.”
“Was that…”
“Ga’an, yes.” Captain Samir shrugged, “He wanted to re-record the ship announcements. Said they were not entirely clear enough.”
Sarah shook her head in disbelief and took a heavy breath. “All right, buckle up. I’m guessing this will be very bumpy,” and she made her way into the cockpit with haste, Elaine following close behind. “Elaine, just connect to the flight control and open that hangar bay doors at the opposite end.”
“Number three?”
“No, two. Three’s buried under some rocks. Ditch the flight check. If they’ve panicked enough to press an alarm, I’m guessing your dad’s way over his head with that hag.”
Elaine activated the copilot panel without a word. Her movements were steady but quick, leaving no room for hesitation, and before Sarah could even launch the ship, the bay doors were open. “Ugh!” she said, looking at the display before them.
Sarah couldn’t have put it better herself. It was like a swarm of flies filling the sky, circling over New Eden and Deviator. The bay doors faced away from Ray and the Devourer, but it didn’t look good from here. “Well, here we go.” Sarah pushed the throttle, and Fox jolted from its spot. “Forgot to mention, it’s been a while since I last flew a ship,” she yelled over the engine noise.
“Figures!” Elaine fastened her seatbelt. “Where’s the weapons console?” Then her eyes bulged. “Sarah, look out!”
“Damn it! Reverse thrusters. Reverse thrusters!”
“Maybe you should punch them rather than talking to them.” Elaine winced, “That’s not the bay doors, Sarah. It’s the damn wall!”
“Shut up, girl. Don’t stress me!”
Elaine covered her eyes with her hands. “You suck at this, Sarah.”
“There.” Sarah pushed the side and reverse thrusters just in time to rotate the gunship, making it through the opening. Barely. “Yes!” she screamed with joy. Then her smile froze. “Elaine, love, now would be a good time to fire anything we’ve got.”
“At what? They’re everywhere.”
“Then fire everywhere!”
***
“Why did you lie to me, Lohil?”
“I didn’t! They’re afraid of you and acted without thinking. I’m standing right before you. They’re bombing me as well!”
“But you are unhurt. The stones are with you,” the Devourer lowered her stare at Ray’s pack. “I already sense Yrrha working on you. Hear its voice.”
“Brother,” Yrrha talked through the bond. “She is attuned to our voice. She will hear us talk like you do.”
“But I hear you in my head.”
“I am in your head as well, Lohil,” the Devourer’s thoughts echoed inside Ray’s head. “But I will not intrude on your tiny mind and risk my children become contaminated with your tainted lies and dishonesty.”
“Woman,” Ray raised his head to look at the darkened, organic sky, now attacking at New Eden, “or whatever you are. For the last time, I didn’t attack you or deceive you.”
“I cannot risk my children with placing naive trust in your words, Lohil,” the Devourer spoke out loud, leaving Ray’s mind as she announced.
“Gods, you’re as thick as a brick.” Ray had a few more hurtful comments—not that he thought his words hurt Her—but he stopped, his shoulders drooping. “Great…” he mumbled, closing his eyes as mechanical hissing sounds behind Ray joined in the carnival before him. “Just my luck.”
Two automated mechs climbed through rubble and rocks where they stood and targeted the Devourer’s avatar. Their rotary cannons rained death, and everything was covered in blinding flames and mini-explosions. If it wasn’t for Yrrha’s protective shield, Ray would’ve been toast already. If someone could stop bombing her whenever I say ‘I’m sincere,’ it would be nice.
The Devourer’s avatar stepped outside of the cloak of flame a second later, ignoring the two towering robots' barrage. She looked at Ray disapprovingly and turned her stare to the machines, slowly raising her finger. With her gesture, the ground trembled.
“What the hell is that?”
“My children are experiencing anger. You, mortals, are trying to hurt their mother.” The Devourer’s tone had no mockery or anger in it. She was simply stating the obvious.
The ground split a few meters away from Ray, and a creature like an enormous earthworm emerged. It moved too fast for its size and shape and wrapped itself around the four-meter-long mech in mere seconds, crushing the metal husk under its weight as its slimy skin tightened its grip with every second. The second robot stepped back, creating room to fire, then targeted the worm. Its heated, explosive shells inflicted devastating damage, breaking away huge pieces of flesh and slime. A flying thing almost as big as the mech itself caught the metal warrior with its claws, gave a shriek of victory, and flew away at speed with its quarry. It dropped the robot at the far end of New Eden, behind some shacks. Ray saw hundreds of small creatures resembling jungle rodents jump on the struggling machine.
Ray’s vision was clear as a cold night’s sky. Time slowed around him. He wasn’t sure if his consciousness was heightened with the Arinar’s help or if he was simply experiencing that serene feeling soldiers had on the battlefield when the fighting was at its most challenging. People were in misery. Most were running for their lives and toward the safety of the superdreadnought overlooking the town. They were soldiers, all right—except for the newcomers from transport Bacchus—but rusty and out of shape after months of civil life. Some had bellies.
Wherever a human ran, dozens of creatures of all sizes and shapes—a hundred varia
tions of insects—chased and hunted. Flying monsters clawed the fighters and drones the moment they reached their kill, their dark wings flapping all the while their bony heads and sharp teeth shone under the sick, brown light covering New Eden. Ray already knew they didn’t have enough aircraft to repel such an unrelenting force. Not even a fully armed and prepped Deviator could resist the Devourer’s forces.
Ray saw mechs in the distance—at least two dozen had formed a firing line. From where Ray stood, the colossal creature looked like a furless gorilla. Where eyes should be were two sharp horns. Another two horns, much bigger, mounted on each side of its head. The tail was long and thick, seemingly made from bones, tipped with a claw of four identical fingers.
Ray felt his temper rising. “Stop this madness.” He looked at Her.
“It is not of my creation, Lohil.”
Ray took a deep breath. “Stop. This. Madness.” He watched a giant worm, towering over the make-go buildings of the town, crawl out of the ground some hundred meters behind the Devourer, open its three-pieced maw and scream in a high pitched, angry voice. The worm dove into a two-story building, leveling it—Benning’s Tools. Ray hoped Benning and his pregnant wife were not inside.
“I said, stop.” Ray tried to keep calm, but everything faded into blurred grayscale. His eyes caught Fox maneuvering madly to escape the hold of a bat-like flying monstrosity. The gunship fired at anything that passed, friend or foe, but had no chance to take down the creature attached to its hull, sharp teeth gnawing the gunship.
“Brother, you are overwhelming us. I cannot maintain your shield when you hold onto this much power.”
“Drop the shield.”
“Brother…”
“DROP THE SHIELD!”
“You will die.
“Not today.” Ray focused his stare on the Devourer. His temples hurt from concentration. His muscles tensed, and he couldn’t keep his eyes open, so he shut them firmly.
The Devourer noticed the build of power as well. She leaned her head with a sharp move as if listening. “No.”
Suddenly, it all passed. The pain, the struggle. It was just serenity. Ray opened his eyes. Only madness lay behind them—madness and death.
Balance of Power: The Blackened Prophecy Book 2 Page 8