There are of course the Nymphs and Satyrs, also very ancient races who we have always interbred with. They came in large numbers as the War destroyed the Mediterranean. We have interbred with Gods, Angels and even the Naga in the past, though not in a long time. The Gods are dead or imprisoned, the Naga extinct. The Angels, for the most part, are our enemies, except for the small group of Watchers that sought our protection.
Our races have developed and evolved over countless years, the Elementals gained form, the spirits too. New races and old races became subject to the Seelie Court and its Queen. In the shadow of the Angels, we have grown strong, mixing our bloodlines.
In fact, the only ancient race that didn’t develop their powers here is the Royal Guard, though the land recognised their powers easily enough.”
“Where did they come from then?”
“Atlantis. They were refugees who sought sanctuary. They were fleeing the destruction wrought by their warring Gods and wanted to be as far away as possible. Sanctuary was granted and in their gratitude, they became the Royal Guard swearing to protect the Fae with their lives. They are the magical, technological and physical might of the Fae.”
“You expect me to believe they came from Atlantis?” She chuckled.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Oh come on, Atlantis is just a myth” how gullible did he think she was? He was clearly pulling her leg, then again she had never heard him make any kind of joke.
“Up until a few days ago Victoria you believed Fairies, Angels and Gods to be myths. You have seen all three. Science rejects Atlantis because it does not take into account magic. To science, continents do not suddenly sink, that takes millions of years. Magic, however, changes everything.”
“So Atlantis really existed? Do you know what it was like, why it was destroyed?” her eyes were the brightest he had seen them in days. He truly had her undivided attention.
“Atlantis, like Lemuria and Mu, were islands where ancient civilisations lived with technology that excelled even the technology of today. Their magic rivalled the strength of the Angels today. They were incredible races and fantastical places created by several Gods or pantheons. When several pantheons work together, the results are phenomenal. Those ancient empires flourished while the primitive colonies at the time were still learning agriculture and metallurgy. For thousands of years, the three empires existed, trading with each other and even expanding their colonies onto the continents. They found the other races interesting, just as the Gods found them interesting.
But the Gods are fickle creatures, and it is sad to say that they were not the first or last civilisation to be destroyed by the Gods’ fighting. Mu was completely obliterated, all traces destroyed. Its only remains are the volcanic activity that birthed Hawaii. Lemuria was much the same, though some of its inhabitants survived and settled in modern day India. It used to stand where the Maldives are today. It seems sad that the Naga survived the destruction of their civilisation by the Gods, to once again flourish, admittedly in much more primitive society, to then be eradicated by the Angels.”
“But Atlantis was different?”
“Yes, it survived a lot longer, in part due to the presence of the Primordial Gods protecting it. It flourished long after Lemuria and Mu had been destroyed, even up until Classical Times. It was a centre of learning for all races, some of our ancestors went there to learn, as did the ancestors of many other races.
But all good things come to an end. The Primordial Gods while unbelievably powerful, and the reason the Gods of Atlantis stayed in line, were ancient and slowly they desired to return to the Lifestream. They craved to return their powers to the planet, and so Atlantis found itself without its greatest protectors.
Thus, the balance was tipped, and Poseidon claimed it for himself. The people accepted, for what choice did they have, they were an island nation. He was worshipped as the High God of Atlantis, but this did not sit well with the other Gods who had helped create and shape Atlantis over the millennia. War broke out between the Gods.
In the Cataclysm that ensued, Atlantis was destroyed, but Atlantis had spread far and wide, it had colonies throughout the Mediterranean and along the North African Coast. Knowing their days were numbered they fled to lands beyond the scope of their Gods. A land insignificant to most of the world, a small set of islands they remembered from the strange Fae they had educated over the centuries. Not all came to us, but most of the survivors did, even many who had fled the Cataclysm before it destroyed their homes.
It was then that the peaceful Atlanteans became warriors, never would they have to flee their homelands. They sought sanctuary from us, and it was granted. We hid them away from the Gods until they lost interest and returned to their empire building. For our part, the Atlanteans swore a blood oath to serve and protect us. They have been with us ever since, a unique and separate class in the scheme of things but always loyal to us. Their numbers have boomed under our protection, and now Avalon is as much their home as ours.”
“Are they willing to return to the Gods? Is it wise to throw ourselves in with the Gods? They seem to cause so much destruction.”
“They have always caused destruction, it is part of their nature. Just as it is a part of fire’s nature. They cannot change what they are, for they are forces of nature and aspects of the world. However the Angels are no better, the Gods may have destroyed civilisations, but they rebuilt new ones, the Angels have eradicated entire species.
If they had their wish, only two mortal species would be left standing.”
“Why only two?”
“Because only Humans and the Jinn are willing to accept them as their masters. No other species have, or will unless the Angels make new species. But it is more complex than that, we need the Gods, they are necessary.”
That was surprising. “Why?”
“Not all of them but we do need the Mother Goddesses and Nature Gods. Their presence and magic quickens the Lifestream, bringing life to the Surface. Without them, the planet’s Surface has slowly been dying.”
“The planet is dying?”
“Yes, but slowly. Remember the world and Gods work in hundreds and thousands of years. The planet has been dying for centuries. World weather patterns have been getting increasingly erratic, once fertile land is now barren. One only has to look at the world to see it is crying out for help.
Mortals and Angels are not powerful enough to draw on the power the Gods can. Even our vast numbers cannot compensate for what one Nature God can do for the land.
The Lifestream has been sinking from the Surface ever since the War. We have all felt its presence fading, though Humans have not. Your magic wielders were culled in the Middle Ages. With Brigid’s return, Britain and Ireland are already starting to flourish. In the spring, it will hardly be recognisable. This will be the best year for farmers in a long time, even mineral wealth will have grown. Once you are crowned and Brigid reinstated as the Goddess, your country will have the greatest wealth it has seen in decades.”
“So the Mother Goddesses are particularly essential?”
“Yes...especially now the Great Mother is trapped in her sleep. If she could awaken then the Lifestream would not slow, she is the essence of the planet and life. Without her awake it is only the Mother Goddesses that can stop the planet slowly failing.”
“Who is the Great Mother Goddess?”
“Gaia, oldest of all the Primordial Gods and first born of Chaos. If she had not been slumbering, the Angels could never have overthrown Heaven. But they timed it well.”
“Why doesn’t anyone wake her up?”
“She is trapped by the Underworld Curse, it is only if Lucifer’s Curse is broken that she will be able to awake. However the Curse can only be broken by an Arch Angel or if the Angels are destroyed.”
Silence fell as she sorted through all the information she had learned. It was so much more complex than she had first thought.
She was still mulling over the informatio
n when the car stopped. He slid out in one elegant movement, then had her door open before she realised. He offered his hand to her. She couldn’t help but smile, she felt as though some of his walls had come down.
“Well, now I must leave you to get your affairs in order. Do what is essential then remove yourself to your Scottish estates, you need to escape this world for a little while. I have very much enjoyed our talk and look forward to future discussions.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek before striding off.
She watched him go, one hand clasped to the cheek he had kissed, smiling. She didn’t know what this meant, but she was beginning to think she actually liked him. She allowed herself to appreciate his retreating form before shaking her head and heading inside. She had a lot to do if she was going to hide in the countryside for a while.
Anjali stared blankly out the window. As she had done ever since she had been taken to the Seelie Court. She didn’t know these people, didn’t know their language. They were stranger than she was, and she hadn’t thought that possible.
“They told me you’d be moping in her. If you’re going to stare out the window all day, the least you can do is go out and enjoy it. The Otherworld truly is beautiful.”
She turned around hearing someone speak in what she guessed was English. He was white, white people spoke English. But she wasn’t sure, she didn’t speak English.
She studied him with interest. He was Human, or at least appeared to be. He was of average height, pale skin and had brown hair. Though it looked as though he had died parts of it green. His eyes were bright above his charming smile. He was dressed in the skimpy clothes of half of these beings. He had mischief written all over him.
She stared at him blankly while he spoke.
He stopped his talking to focus on her. He did not show revulsion or horror, only fascination. This was followed by understanding.
James left at a slight jog looking for one of the Nobles, surely they would be able to help.
As luck would have it, he ran in front of the Queen and some of her advisors.
He hurried to bow to her while trying to stop himself at the same time. The result was him toppling over into the bushes.
Her rich musical laugh filled the air before one of the advisors helped him up. It was a very old Satyr.
“Tell me, James, what is so urgent as to have you running through our corridors. The Seelie Court is a place of rest.” She asked him.
“It’s about the Naga. I think I’ve figured out why she won’t talk to anyone?”
She arched her delicate eyebrows high. He could tell what she was thinking, did he really think he had figured out what they could not? But she humoured him “And why will she not speak to any of us?”
“She doesn’t know English. She must only speak Pakistani or whatever language it is they speak. What do they speak?”
She looked at him with surprise. They hadn’t thought of that. The others the Goddess had given to them had all spoken English so they hadn’t thought that an issue.
“Come. Let us test your theory.” She took his hand, then they reappeared in the Naga’s room, startling the poor woman.
Sorcha walked towards Anjali, her hands held out before her facing upwards. She stopped before her waiting for her to take her hand. After some hesitation, Anjali reached forward and took the Queen’s hand.
“I believe you should be able to understand me now, we have dealt with the issue of language.”
Anjali jerked “Yes I can understand you now. Where am I? Who are you?”
“So many questions and yet there is not enough time for them all. Anjali this is James, he is new here also. Ask him all the questions you wish. I have other duties to attend to.” Then she promptly disappeared.
“Don’t worry she’s always doing that. Queen Sorcha is a very busy woman.”
She looked up at the boy “That was a Queen? Of where?”
“Why the Seelie Court. She rules over all the Fae and the Otherworld. With Brigid empowering more people and recreating lost species she now has to train vast amounts of us. Which is difficult seeing as we are not Fairies, so our magic does not behave as theirs.”
He smiled at her “Welcome to the Seelie Court, it truly is a fascinating place.” For some reason his cheerfulness was infectious. She suddenly wanted to know more, she had so many questions she wanted answered.
He smiled happily when she started asking. He had his own questions he wished to ask her.
“You would have us risk the Angels wrath when Hera is dead? Do you take us for fools Ariadne? We have no defence now?
Ariadne stopped herself from rolling her eyes at Valentine’s comments. Had he always been this stupid? Perhaps working with Hera had made her look down on the intellect of all mortals.
“Hera is not dead, we all would have felt it. We are her subjects, sworn to her in blood. We all would have felt her death, but not a single one of us did?” She looked around the assorted group “Did any of you sense her death?”
They shook their heads.
She calmed herself by looking out the window onto the statue of Hera that stood at the hospital’s entrance. Hera would be back, she was absolutely certain.
She turned back to face what she had to work with. Kyle sat watching quietly, he was her other pair of eyes and ears, watching the others and rooting out problems for her. Hera had gained his eternal gratitude for the healing of his AIDS, the powers he was less thankful of, but now he was mastering them he was starting to enjoy them. He was also enjoying the attraction it leant to him. Many of the magical races that wouldn’t look twice at a Human certainly stopped to look at the Arch-Sorcerer.
Next to him was Sarah, Matriarch of the Nymphs. Her support she did not have to worry about. Her loyalty was beyond reproach. She too believed Hera would be back and had continued on with her duties.
Standing silently behind her was Juan in the ghastly form he had decided suited the Broken. The Xenomorphs from the Alien movies had really appealed to him. They were perfect specimens of evolution, or so the movies suggested. The breeding cycle had been changed so that he could transform other Broken into them. Now they were fearful warriors, who needed no weapons, armed with stealth, speed, and strength. Never mind their fatal tails, claws, and strange mouths. It was unnerving sharing a room with the creatures. They had no eyes but somehow manage to look right through you. He too was continuing on as though nothing had happened.
Catherine and Samuel were no concern either. The Gorgons and Minotaurs were still capturing and transforming towns and cities all across the United States and Mexico. Their actions were alarming the police and governments in both countries. Their actions were even alarming the drug cartels, suddenly towns under their control were empty, and their own people were going missing.
No, it was the leaders that had been forced to kneel before Hera that were the ones trying to go back to ground and reclaim their authority. The pitiful fools, their people would not return to hiding with them. Bloodlust was spreading. People wanted to fight the Angels.
“As I have said Hera is not dead. She will be back, and I for one do not wish to explain my lack of action to her.” She slammed her hands down on the table “I don’t think you quite grasp who you are dealing with. This is Hera, perhaps the most naturally powerful Goddess the world has ever seen with a legendary wrath to match. Her own husband chained her up from fear. She laid waste to Troy for a slight their prince made. She has strung up greater leaders than us for the slightest insult or negligence. She will have no qualms about killing any of us, we are but pawns to her. Our lives are immaterial in her grand plans.”
She sat down, everyone watching her movements. Some of them had fear in their eyes, they were finally beginning to understand.
“She battled the Arch Angel Michael alone, besting him enough that he summoned a Greater Demon. He also called upon the other Arch Angels and Council of Elders to create a containment Weave so that she could not escape. She opened the ve
ry gates of Hell to remove the Demon.”
“Then she was sucked down into Hell. Our cause is lost.” How she wanted to smack King Roger. She wanted to smack all the Vampire Royals, why couldn’t they have a collective High King or Queen like the other races.
“Hera was not sucked down into Hell.”
She held up her hand to stop the protests “Many Mother Goddesses have the ability to fuse to the Lifestream, it is part of their nature, something unique to them. In doing so, they revitalise the land and the Lifestream. I have seen this happen before, and I feel sure this is what Hera has done to avoid the Angels’ Weave. I do not know how long she will remain in the Lifestream, but she will return.”
She stood up and walked to the door “I for one, will not be held accountable for sloth, the Goddess will find no fault in my actions to focus her anger on. And remember she will be angry when she returns.” Then she left, leaving the others to their own consciences. She would not drag them along if they wished to stop. Besides, Kyle was in there to hear their mutinous comments.
There were enough leaders loyal to Hera for her to return to a successful revolution waiting to happen. The United States of America would fall, the Angels would lose all that faith and Hera would gain it. The Empire would reach as far as the Goddess desired.
And Ariadne would be a Goddess once again.
Chapter 36
It was strangely ironic that Sariel entered the Seventh Circle of Hell in a blaze of dramatic violence. As she floated down the cliff face, her powers were already racing ahead of her, sweeping obstacles and Demons out of her way. She burned with anger, frustration, annoyance and impatience.
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