by Kyle West
“We’re not there, yet,” Anna said. “Maybe we’ll have to follow the shore.”
“Askala might live in there,” I said. “In that ichor.”
Anna looked at me. “You think so?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Just an idea.”
“If that’s true, what do we do when we get there? Swim?”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
We walked across the plateau, descending on its opposite side. Thankfully, the canyon below was clear of ichor. We continued traveling, and after a few more twists and turns, we met the ichor that submerged the rest of the chasm, forcing us to climb once again. We soon found ourselves on top of a long plateau heading in the direction of the sea. We followed it toward its end, still about half a mile away.
“What do we do when we get there?” Anna asked.
I honestly didn’t know. We were close enough now to the sea that I could make out its finer details. It even had waves. To the left and right, the sea came to an end in either direction after a few miles each way, curving around again to meet the glowing horizon. I supposed this technically made it a large lake. A miasma of light hung over its surface, reflecting off the dazzling ceiling perhaps a quarter of a mile above. The shoreline was hidden by craggy cliffs, where the plateaus dropped off and met the sea.
Maybe we would have to swim, in the end, but I was afraid that the Radaskim ichor would be hostile, and would maybe even lead us far from where we wanted to go.
Anna’s hand stiffened, and she pulled me to the ground. Before I could ask, she pointed ahead.
I squinted my eyes against the wavy lines of the sea. I saw nothing at first. But after a moment, the shadow of wings materialized in the distance. It was a large dragon, flying straight toward us.
We crawled away from the edge, trying to find a safe place to descend and hide in the chasms. Glancing back one more time, I realized we didn’t need to hide.
Quietus?
I watched her approach over the cliffs, the ones above the sea. Anna came to stand by me, touching my arm. All was silent as Quietus flew the last of the distance to the plateau. She glided downward, extending her legs and landing in front of us lightly.
I had no idea how she had gotten down here, but what she said was even more unexpected.
Your friends fight for their lives beyond the Sea of Destruction.
Anna and I looked at each other. There was no time to stand here and ask for details.
It was only after Anna and I were mounted and Quietus taking to the air that I started to ask questions.
What’s happening? Where are they?
She knows you are here, but she is looking in the wrong place, Quietus said. She thinks you are with your friends. Askal is there, too, fighting with them.
Then there’s no time to lose, I said.
***
We flew over the Sea of Destruction, as Quietus had called it, leaving the black cliffs far behind. The waves danced and crashed a couple of hundred feet below us. A warm updraft rose from the surface – Quietus barely had to flap her wings to keep aloft. It felt as if we were floating.
Soon, we were miles from the mainland, and the cliffs and chasms were far behind. I focused intently on the distance, keeping my eye out for any sign of land.
“We came a long way,” Anna said. “Much farther than I would have ever guessed.”
“They must have been going the opposite way,” I said.
I could only hope that we weren’t too late.
As we flew farther away, a dark line materialized on the horizon. The opposite shore wasn’t far away. The dark line spread in the distance, its boundary with the sea squiggly. If that was land, it was like no land I’d seen before.
Behold, Quietus said. The Sea of Destruction.
I thought we were over the Sea of Destruction, I thought.
No. This is the Sea of Creation. The black sea is the Sea of Destruction. They meet in the middle, forming the Point of Origin. That is where Askala lairs. You will see it, soon. That is not our destination for now. There is land on the other side of the Sea of Destruction, and that is where your friends are. It’s also where the worst of Askala’s monsters are.
As Quietus spoke, I looked at the meeting of the two seas in the distance. While the Sea of Creation was pink and bright, the Sea of Destruction was dark as night. Very little light reflected from its dull surface, but I could see it roiling far in the distance, much more violently than the pink Sea of Creation. Right in the center of the two seas was a molten, brilliant line, and in the middle of that line, a colossal whirlpool of interweaving pink and black swirling downward to a single point of light as bright as the sun. As we neared, the whirlpool became larger. We were far from it, but high enough that I could look down into its funnel. I couldn’t see the bottom – not only because it was too deep, but it was so bright that I had to avert my gaze.
She’s in there?
Yes, Quietus said.
I tried not to think about entering that whirlpool. But wasn’t that what Quietus had said? We would find Askala where the Two Seas joined, at the Point of Origin.
We left the whirlpool behind, and now we flew fully over the black Sea of Destruction. On the horizon, I could see the beginnings of dry land, made of wicked, jagged spires wreathed in black smoke. Fiery rivers descended from the heights, meeting the Sea in streams of molten red. That area looked far more inhospitable than where we had left.
As we neared, I could see three dragons swirling above a ridgeline not far from the black ichor. Two Radaskim dragons were fighting against one Elekai. I knew immediately that Elekai dragon was Askal.
Hurry, I said.
I’m flying as fast as I can, Elekim. We will be there soon.
True to her word, Quietus seemed to fly more swiftly. The cliffs fast approached, and as they got nearer, I saw human forms fighting among the rocks, while horrible, twisted monsters closed in from the periphery. Horrifying screams filled the air, but thankfully none of them were human. Gunshots echoed off the rocks.
At last, we left the blackened sea behind and made straight for the ridgeline. Now, I was close enough to make out the finer details. One of the figures – Samuel, I think – turned in our direction, pointing and shouting. All of them had gathered together, their backs to us, firing into the mass of monsters. Among them were crawlers, but also other horrible creatures I’d never seen before. There was a giant centipede that might have been forty feet long with thousands of tiny legs, which might have been a smaller version of the giant worm that had attacked the army. Its chitin was completely black, and its wide mouth opened to reveal rows of needle-like teeth. Another monster, standing as tall as a Behemoth, made its way on six legs, reptilian in nature. It had two scythed arms jutting from its torso, opening and closing like a pair of pincers. Its many white eyes glowed from its face, where a large mouth snapped open and shut.
Everyone was running out of room to maneuver, and they were being pushed toward the cliff. It was easily a five-hundred-foot drop to the sea below. Askal let out a high shriek, changing course to free himself from fighting the Radaskim dragons.
“Quietus...”
Hold on, Elekim, she said. We’re going to pick them up.
Just as soon as I’d tightened my grip, Quietus went into a short dive, fanning out her wings. The two dragons that had been fighting Askal went straight for Quietus. Their white eyes burned with hatred, and they opened their wide jaws and let out twin, horrible shrieks.
Meanwhile, Askal maneuvered closer to the cliff. Everyone had run out of room to back up. The monsters closed in, forming a ring, ready to drive the final nail in the coffin.
Askal hovered at the edge of the cliff. Everyone rushed to get on – Ruth first, followed by Michael.
Samuel and Makara continued to fight while Michael and Ruth held tightly to Askal.
Quietus gave a sudden turn, narrowly dodging the dive of a dragon. Makara and Samuel were waving for Askal to
fly away. Michael and Ruth were shouting something, but that didn’t stop Askal from spreading his wings, gliding down toward the Sea of Destruction.
“No!” I said.
Quietus then went into a dive. At the same time, the frontrunners of the monsters lurched at Makara and Samuel. Quietus drew even with the cliff, just feet away from the precipice. She spread her wings, slowing down. Though she was slowing, Quietus was still going incredibly fast.
But it would be Samuel’s and Makara’s only chance of rescue. Without hesitating, they both turned and sprinted for the cliff, jumping into the air, the monsters charging into the vacated space. Makara and Samuel seemed to fly through the air in slow motion.
It wasn’t far enough. With horror, I watched as they both dropped.
“No!” Anna screamed.
And then, Quietus tilted to the left, so that both Makara and Samuel landed in the center of her left wing. Quietus tightened the wing, causing Makara and Samuel to both roll down it, toward us.
Anna and I braced ourselves to catch them. Makara rolled right into me, but my back pushed against the lower part of one of Quietus’s spikes. Quietus screamed in pain when the spike bent slightly. But she had come to a stop, and was now safe.
Samuel ran into Anna, and pushed her toward the other side of the dragon. Anna screamed, grabbing on the bottom of a spike with one hand.
I reached out with my other hand, grabbing Anna by the hand. She caught herself with her feet on Quietus’s side. Her hand was so sweaty that I was terrified it would slip. But Samuel grabbed Anna by the other arm, and together we pulled her up until she was behind me. She held on to me tight, her entire body shaking.
Quietus was still dropping in elevation. She shrieked as she spread her wings, stopping our mad descent right before we crashed into the black sea, the waves of which stretched upward, as if trying to reach us.
As Quietus flapped her wings, rising above the surface of the sea, we sat there, panting, shaken, but safe. Quietus wheeled away from the cliffs, gaining altitude above the Sea of Destruction. I sat there in silence, disbelieving what had just happened. Everyone was alive.
Askal joined us at our side. Ruth and Michael were both sitting safely on his back, holding on tightly. They both looked over at us with wide eyes.
“Everyone alright?” I asked.
Neither of them answered, and I didn’t blame them. We were heading for the meeting of the two seas: the Point of Origin. With dread, I realized our time was near.
By some miracle, all of us had survived and had been reunited. We’d made it through the Warrens, the monsters, and every other obstacle we had to face in getting here.
Askala was waiting.
Chapter 23
We didn’t make immediately for the Point of Origin. There was nothing between us and Askala, and I thought it would best if we could recoup a bit and get our bearings.
A jagged island rose from the Sea of Destruction, perhaps halfway from the shoreline to the Point of Origin.
Go there, I said to Quietus.
Quietus complied, switching her course toward the island.
Makara’s eyes were closed – both she and Samuel were uninjured, but both were utterly exhausted. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they hadn’t gotten any sleep last night, which would have made for two nights in a row. Anna gave them the rest of the water from her canteen, but even that did little to revive them.
At last, both dragons glided toward the black rock rising above the ichor. There was only one flat area – at the very top – that was large enough for both dragons to land on. Even then, they landed gingerly, not having much room to maneuver.
Once they landed, I was the first one off. Soon, everyone followed me, immediately lying down on the black rock, closing their eyes. They were past the point of exhaustion.
“Um...should we wake them?” Anna asked.
I looked out at the Point of Origin, watching the Two Seas meld into one. A beam of light shot straight up, illuminating the ceiling far above. It was like a beacon, leading me to my final destination.
“They haven’t slept,” I said, turning to face Anna. “It’s a miracle they’re even alive.”
Anna looked at the light beaming upward. I saw it reflected in her eyes. I just watched her for a moment, completely taken by her beauty.
She looked at me. “I guess we have a chance to relax, too.”
“Relax,” I said. “Yeah, right.”
Makara stirred, forcing her eyes open. “We...we need to...”
“Go to sleep, Makara,” I said. “It’s alright. Really.”
She nodded slowly, closing her eyes.
Anna turned to face the land. It was far away, and I couldn’t see anything moving over there. The dragons hadn’t followed us out here.
Maybe even they were afraid of her.
For now, though, I felt like nothing was watching us. It was strange, to be this close and to not have to worry about anything attacking us.
“Alright,” Anna said. “We can keep watch. But we can’t stay too long.”
I looked over at everyone again. They were all so still. If I had come upon them like this, I would have thought they were dead.
Both of the dragons sat on their haunches quietly. Quietus fluttered her wings, giving a loud snort.
Are you alright? I asked.
I am well enough for a place as evil as this. She looked in the direction of the Point of Origin. She watches us, even now. She waits for you, Elekim.
How did you and Askal get down here, anyway? I asked.
I know every passage, every path in this labyrinth, Quietus said. It helped that most of them were empty. I knew, if you were ever to reach Askala, you would need our help. I thought that Askala would direct you to the Sea of Destruction, it being far more dangerous. So, that was where Askal and I began our search. We found everyone else, but you and Anna were nowhere to be found. We searched the Destruction shore, until Askal suggested I bring my search to the other side.
We saw you, I said. We saw you flying above us, yesterday, but we didn’t know it was you.
Yes, Quietus said. That was me, arriving for the first time. I searched, on my way to the Twin Seas, but I didn’t believe you were going to be there, so I didn’t stay long. Much time could have been saved.
It doesn’t matter, Anna said. We’re all safe now.
Elekim.
I looked at Askal.
I feared you were dead.
Yeah. Me too.
And now we are near the end.
I smiled grimly. Don’t remind me.
I want you to know...you won’t be fighting alone.
What do you mean?
We’ve decided, Elekim...we are coming with you, as far as we can. Even into the Point of Origin.
What?
We will follow you as far as we can, Askal said. There might be a time where we can no longer follow...but until that time, we will stand by your side.
There’s no need for everyone to die, just for my sake.
It has already been decided. We fight together. We Elekai live and die together.
Anna touched my hand. “We can help you. Remember with the writhe? Without me, you would have died. Can you imagine how much stronger Askala will be?”
Anna had a point, but I’d already set myself up as the sacrificial lamb. I didn’t want everyone else to die with me. At the same time, though, they had to watch me die. Why would they do this, when there was a still chance they could save themselves?
“There’s a chance we can defeat her, Alex,” Anna said. “But we all have to work together.”
“One thing’s for sure...when we enter the Point of Origin, there won’t be any coming back. We all die, not just me.”
“Askal is right,” Anna said. “This is how we do it. This is how we win.”
I remained silent. I didn’t want to be the one to tell them it was okay to die when it might serve no purpose.
“The Nameless One told me
what I have to do. I...have to join my consciousness to Askala. Such a thing would mean I’d become her, in a sense.”
I turned, looking at Anna. I wasn’t sure what was she was thinking, though I could tell she hadn’t expected that.
“Winning means immortality,” I said. “Forsaking my humanity. Dying would be so much easier, but my sacrifice will be more than that. I have to live forever.”
Anna didn’t speak for a long time – out of shock, more than anything.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I don’t know. Because I feel like there’s nothing we can do it about it. It’s the price I have to pay.”
“No, it’s not,” Anna said. “Is that what you want? You would live forever. Forever is a long, long time.”
“If you have another solution, I’d love to hear it,” I said. “This is all we have. Even the Wanderer said I had to sacrifice myself, and the Nameless One said the same thing.” I looked at Anna. “What greater sacrifice is there than to become your own enemy, to live forever and give up your humanity? I’d die in a second if that was all it was, and I know all of you would, too.”
“We have to fight back,” Anna said. “I won’t let you do this. I’ve said that, over and over. The others...we talked, before the battle, about how we were going to do it together. Either we all do this together, or not at all. That’s how it happens. Something tells me you’re not going to make it very far without us, even in there.” Anna pointed to the whirlpool, churning between the Two Seas.
She waited for me to respond, and suddenly, I knew Anna was right. We had to do this together. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt a sense of peace about it.
“You’re right,” I said, finally.
Anna grabbed my hands, pulling me to face her. “Of course I’m right. And I wouldn’t have cared what you said, yes or no. We were going to do this, anyway.”
I smiled. “Good thing I agreed, then.” Quickly, my smile went away. “What will it be like, though? Do we die, the minute we enter that whirlpool?”
Anna couldn’t answer that question, so I turned to Quietus and Askal. It was Quietus who provided an answer.