by Mike Truk
“Emma,” I said again, feeling awed, lost for words. “What is… how?”
“I… I can’t hold this for much longer,” she said, turning toward the others. “It’s too much, it’s slipping…”
I leaped to my feet, sliding an arm around her waist. “How can I - what can I do?”
“Before it leaves me, before I… one last pulse…”
She raised her hand, and from her fingertips flared a white light that washed over us all - over Neveah trapped under her rock, over Brielle curled up on her side, over Little Meow face-down in the dirt, Imogen where I’d dropped her by the cavern entrance.
Then Emma collapsed into my arms.
The white fire vanished from her eyes; the nimbus of pearlescent light disappeared from around her body. Victor’s blade slipped from her fingers, and I carefully lowered her to the ground, studying her face, heart in my throat, fearing the worst until I realized that she was still breathing.
Movement sounded, with groans from the others.
Little Meow levered herself upright, hand going to her mask, adjusting it. Brielle coughed, spat, and also sat up.
I heard a grunt from Neveah, and the boulder which pinned her shattered as she blasted it apart with an explosion of black fire.
“What… happened?” Brielle forced herself to rise, wiping blood from her chin with the back of her wrist. “Emma?”
“She’s all right,” I said, holding her close. “I think.”
Neveah flew up onto her feet, Morghothilim appearing from nowhere in her hand, all six feet of its wickedly curved length gleaming blackly. “Where is he?”
“Dead.” I motioned with a thumb to where a pair of legs lay in the loam. “If you mean Asmodeus. Emma took him out.”
Brielle hurried over, dropped to her knees beside me, then froze. “Emma took him out?”
I laughed weakly, feeling half-crazed. “You shoulda seen it. She took him down like she was some avenging angel.”
“But…” Brielle reached out to curl a lock from her face. “Her hair - it’s turned white.”
And I realized she was right. Emma’s curls had always been such a light blond that at times it had almost appeared silver, but now it was white - white like campfire ash, white like ivory and bone.
Neveah had stalked over to the twin legs, and with a cry of intense rage slashed her blade through one of them, severing it with surgical precision below the knee. This she followed up with a kick that sent the thigh bounding over the battered mushrooms.
“You OK?” I asked, looking back to where she stood, knowing that nothing was, but not wanting to ignore her outburst either.
She took a deep breath, held it, closed her eyes. Exhaled slowly, then scowled. “I’m not used to being so… easily taken down.”
“It wasn’t easy,” I said, nodding up to the crater high in the cavern wall. “It took a blast that would have leveled a castle wall to bring you down.”
Neveah gazed up, her expression sobering, and then down at the jagged detritus that had near buried her. “Then how did Emma defeat him?”
“I don’t know,” I said, turning back to Emma in my lap. “But she tapped into something that made her seem invincible. He was…” I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around Asmodeus’s power. “He was on another level. He moved faster than I could follow. Knew just how to collapse my ward. How to break me down with just his hands. I didn’t stand a chance. None of us did.”
Little Meow moved to stand behind Brielle, resting a slender hand on her shoulder. “I’ve heard of Asmodeus. The Dread Emperor, they call him. Called him. He took one of the betheliim as his bride, and it’s said where he marched an ocean of skulls followed in his wake.” She shuddered. “That was… I mean, if Emma just killed…?”
“She sure did.” I gently caressed her cheek. “She lit up with heavenfire and took him apart. Just like he was trying to do to me.”
Little Meow sank into a crouch beside Brielle. “Then perhaps that’s what gave her the power. Seeing you in such danger.”
I studied Emma’s face. So familiar, so strange. She’d grown, changed since we’d arrived in Bastion, and with her hair now chalk white, she seemed almost a stranger. A woman that had blossomed before my eyes without me really noticing. In sleep, her expression was one of dignity and strength. I felt my heart thrill at the thought that this was my Emma, the same girl I’d loved all those years back in Ruddock, the same wonderful, wry, brilliant, artistic, unstoppable Emma whom I’d longed for, and now found something so pure, so true, so amazing that the sight of my being hurt could propel her to new and heavenly heights.
Neveah sheathed Morghothilim behind her back, reached out her hand, and then closed it into a fist. “We’re alone. They must have thought Asmodeus sufficient to hold the cathedral.”
“They’d have been right, most days of the week,” I said. “But what are we to do now? Imogen and Emma are out for the count.”
“We have to press on,” said Brielle. “We’ve no choice.”
“How are you feeling?” I reached out to take her hand. She’d wiped most of the blood from her chin, but it was still smeared pink.
“All right.” Seriously said, and I could tell she wasn’t trying to be brave. “I remember a lot of pain. But then… this cool, gentle healing, like being lowered into a pool filled with… love, I suppose. And the pain went away. I’m weak, but I’m capable of continuing.”
“As am I,” said Little Meow. “Weak, but ready to move on.”
“Emma was losing her grip on her power,” I said. “Right toward the very end. She healed you all at once before passing out.”
Little Meow sat back on her heels. “All of us? At once? That’s not possible.”
“Yeah, maybe, but she still did it.” I caressed Emma’s cheek once more. “I’ll believe it if you say it was a miracle. Sure seemed like one to me.”
“That’s beyond what Anahata can do,” said Little Meow quietly. “Or, well, what I’ve always understood to be… ah, never mind.” She adjusted her mask. “Who am I to say what’s possible or what’s not? Maybe it’s time I started learning from her.”
“Maybe. But first, we have to get to the chasm.” I elevated myself with Manipura, Emma still in my arms, and then lowered back down to my feet. “We’ll have to carry them for now. Unless you think you can wake her up, Little Meow?”
Little Meow put her hand on Emma’s brow, focused, and shook her head. “Same thing as Imogen. They’re in a state of shock from pushing themselves too hard. This isn’t a physical ailment I can cure. This is a question of the soul.”
“Right. Then we’ll move forward carefully and set them down when we need to.” I hitched Emma higher up my chest. “Neveah, can you take Imogen?”
“Yes.” She strode to where Imogen lay curled up on her side, and without effort lifted and draped her over a shoulder. “Ready.”
“Then let’s go.” I led the way through the forest of mushrooms, the air turning cool and silty beneath their caps, the ground thick with soft mud and moss. We lost sight of the cavern walls and ceiling, and for a time simply moved through an endless maze of stalks. Each was as thick as a man but stretching fifty, sixty yards above us to their distant, shadowy caps.
No movement, no signs of life. Neveah was clearly focusing, her eyes narrowed, pausing occasionally to double-check but never giving us a warning. On we marched, Emma warm and still against my chest, Brielle and Little Meow in the center, Neveah taking point.
I tried not to be concerned about our loss of strength. Valeria, taken. Imogen and Emma, unconscious. Brielle and Little Meow, wounded and weak. Neveah seemed indomitable as ever, and I felt utterly restored by Emma’s miraculous healing, but still.
How were we supposed to go up against the Nithing-Lord when we were already so depleted?
The cathedral cavern narrowed at last, the walls pressing in on both sides, the mushrooms rapidly growing shorter so that it felt as if we emerged from the edge of a for
est, and then there was the tunnel that led into the Wending Labyrinth.
We didn’t speak, didn’t pause, didn’t prevaricate.
Simply followed Neveah as she led us into that dark, narrow tunnel, and quickly discovered why it was so named.
The way branched within twenty yards of entering. Neveah paused, hesitating for a moment, then chose the left passage. After another couple of minutes of marching, it split into three different tunnels. Again, Neveah hesitated, then picked the center path.
“How do you know where to go?” asked Brielle.
“Geomancy,” said Neveah, not even bothering to look back as she spoke. “Coupled with Sahaswara. A combination of deduction, educated guesses, and the ability to see several hundred yards ahead.”
Brielle could only shake her head.
With Neveah’s powers, we were able to cut a straight path through the labyrinth, always picking the correct route to lead us on. Occasionally we stepped into hidden tunnels that lay behind cunning screens of inch-thick rock, or taking counter-intuitive paths that seemed to double back, only to twist again and lead on in the direction we desired.
I lost track of time. With Manipura gently burning through my body, Emma was no burden, but I could tell that Brielle was wearying. She pressed her left arm to her side, and the few times I caught sight of her face in profile, illuminated by her lantern, I saw a thick sheen of sweat across her brow.
After the third time she stumbled, I spoke up. “Let’s take a break. Ten minutes. Water, rest, and Little Meow, if you’re up to it, perhaps you could check on everyone, see how they’re doing?”
Brielle pressed her back against the wall and slid down into a crouch with a grateful sigh. Little Meow, picking up on my intent, moved to her side and sat with her, placing a hand on her shoulder and closing her eyes.
We waited in silence. Neveah lay Imogen on the ground and moved ahead a distance, her form fading into the shadows.
I was filled with resolve and energy, such that I didn’t want to rest; but for Brielle’s sake, I sat down as well, holding Emma in my lap. I waited, watching.
Brielle hissed as Little Meow expended some healing on her, then sat a little straighter.
“I’m sorry I can’t do more,” said Little Meow. “I’m running low on reserves. And, ah, feel like I should save something for what lies ahead.”
“You have my thanks,” said Brielle imperiously. “I feel much better.”
“No need to lie,” said Little Meow with humor. “I just checked out your body, and I know how much you’re hurting. Whatever Asmodeus hit you with, it was nearly fatal. Emma pulled you back from the brink, but you have to be careful. Push yourself and you’ll collapse.”
Brielle bit back her retort and settled for a curt nod.
“Here, Little Meow, give us a moment?” I set Emma carefully on the ground and then moved over.
“Sure,” said Little Meow, moving to check on Imogen.
“I’m fine,” said Brielle, tone rich with annoyance.
“Nah,” I said. “None of us are. No need to pretend.” I sat back against the wall beside her, arms around my knees. “This whole situation is fucked. Like the pain we were supposed to feel across weeks of trekking the various realms Morgana had planned for us compressed into one day, you know?”
Brielle pursed her lips and frowned.
“So, none of us are fine. But we need to play this smart. You need to stay on your feet. Help where you can, when you can, but not put yourself in any more danger.”
“Right.” Her lips curled up at the corner. “Coming from you, that is the height of hypocrisy.”
“No kidding. But Imogen and Emma are already down. Valeria’s gone. It’s just you, Neveah, and myself now.”
“You discount Little Meow?”
“Not at all. But she’s not part of our inner group. As much as I care for her. She’s not represented in my reservoir, she’s not, ah, sanctified by the Source. One of us in that way.”
Brielle nodded reluctantly.
“I need you to play this smart.”
Brielle grimaced then seemed to relent, letting out a sigh. “I hate to say this, but I’m starting to understand how Valeria must have felt. Even with my fire attack and martial training, I’m being left behind. Especially now that Emma can… whatever it is she can do.”
I followed her gaze to where Emma lay, curled up and still.
“Remember your advice to Valeria,” I said softly. “You -”
“I don’t need to be lectured, Noah.” Her voice was tight, severely controlled. “I’m not some callow girl intent on proving herself to her beau. I understand my role and will play it accordingly. I’m simply saying I wish I could contribute more. Watching Neveah, watching you, I’m feeling more and more like dead weight.”
“You’re not.”
“Oh, trust me, I know I’m not. I’m just ready for my breakthrough. Imogen and Emma seem to have managed to elevate their powers. When they awaken, who knows what they’ll be capable of? So now it’s my turn. And I won’t be able to shatter my current limits by playing it smart and staying back.”
I wanted to argue, to tell her now wasn’t the time to take such risks but knew I couldn’t.
“For too long I’ve been coasting on my previous accomplishments,” said Brielle quietly. She drew her blade and lay it across her laps. “This was my grandmother’s blade. Did I ever tell you that? It was awarded to me at my goodbye ceremony. I was so honored. But now I see it as a crutch. I shouldn’t need it to cast my magic. I need to move beyond it. To connect with new sanskaras, to contribute more than just minor flame blasts.”
Again, I had nothing to say.
“So, thank you, Noah. I appreciate your concern -”
“Love.”
“Well - yes. Love. But I won’t hold back. When the time comes, I’ll do what I must, and if I succeed in breaking through to the next level of my powers, then excellent. And if not…”
“And if not?”
Brielle couldn’t only shrug. “Then I don’t.”
I reached out and took her hand in mine. Brought it to my lap. Her knuckles were raw, and dirt was ingrained into the whorls of her fingertips. But the calluses were there, that fierce strength. That sense of tenacity.
I knew better than to argue with Brielle. If anything, arguing would just make her dig her heels in harder. I sighed and brought her palm to my lips.
“I understand.”
She pursed her lips as she watched me, and then her jaw trembled.
I raised an eyebrow, prompting her wordlessly.
“It’s just that we’re so close. We’ve been through so much.” Her voice was rigid with control. “We’ve survived so much, and to be hurt, to be weak, just when we need to be strong… it galls me. These next few hours will determine the fate of the universe. We’ve the Nithing-Lord to confront, and then we pass into Malkuth. And who knows what horrors will await us there?”
“No idea,” I said softly.
“Those moments by the pool, the last time you made love to me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, nearly inaudible. “They seem so far away.”
“Tell me about it.” I squeezed her slender hand again. “But I’m here. I’m with you.”
“I know.” She looked down, eyes searching an invisible vista that lay somewhere beyond this world. “And I just want to say…”
She trailed off.
I held her hand, waited.
She took a brisk breath and looked up to meet my eyes. “That I love you, Noah Kilmartin. No matter what comes, or whether I make it. That it’s been a singular honor to fight by your side, be one of your companions, and to have reached this far with you.”
“Hey,” I said, alarm rising within me. “You’re going to make it to Malkuth. We’re going all the way.”
“Perhaps.” Her smile was dark, private, bitter. “But if I don’t. I want you to know that. That I regret nothing. That these past few months have been the hardest and yet
the best of my life. I’ve never felt so… myself. So free of my own past. My own demons. And that’s because of you. Your strength, your patience, your love, your support. The hell that we’ve been through has made me a better person. Where it could have broken me, I instead have been healed, and you were there every step of the way. I will never, ever forget that, Noah. I will love you always, with my heart and soul.”
Goosebumps rushed over my arms. “Stop. Brielle. This sounds like a goodbye.”
“It might be. I don’t know what awaits us in the Chasm. But I want you to never doubt us, or my desire to be here, with you, now.”
She leaned forward to kiss me, to press those perfect lips against my own. And for a brief second the world narrowed down to that contact, our lips joined together, a moment that was eternal while it lasted.
Then she pulled back, raked a curl of crimson hair from her face, and gave me a self-conscious smile. “Not that I doubt in the slightest that we shall crush every single obstacle that dares step into our way.”
I laughed huskily. “Right, right. Of course.”
“We ready?” Neveah had appeared at the farthest limits of Brielle’s lantern light. “Time to go.”
“Time to go,” I said, using a touch of Manipura to lift to my feet, then turning to give Brielle a hand.
She rose sinuously, pressing her body against mine and squeezing me tightly before sheathing her blade and stepping on down the tunnel.
Neveah slung Imogen over one shoulder, and I took up Emma again. Holding her to my chest, I was struck again by how different she seemed, how ethereal, mysterious, yet dignified. The Emma I knew and loved, but also now something else.
Unknown.
Neveah led the way as before, and soon we returned to that interminable sequence of passages, forks, and hidden routes.
My thoughts spun, whirling like dry leaves, and I found it hard to focus on the moment at hand. Instead, I found that Brielle’s words had set my mind on an erratic trajectory through the past.
I found myself remembering the bus station back on Earth, pleading with Emma not to go to New York, her pained refusal. That moment when everything seemed to be swirling down the drain hole, a solitary life in Ruddock without her, working at my dad’s accountancy, a half-life deprived of color and meaning.