Eye of the Tempest (Jane True)

by Nicole Peeler

  [Jane?] asked the creature, politely. [Would you like your body back?]

  Yes, please, I thought. While it was fun watching Phaedra getting her ass kicked, I wanted to be doing the kicking, and not just my body.

  [You have a plan,] the creature said, as my consciousness floated back down into my skin.

  Yes, I thought. It had been obvious, really, once I was floating well above the action.

  As soon as I was back in my body—which was panting for breath despite the creature having done the mental lifting—I struck while Phaedra was still vulnerable.

  There was water dripping everywhere, and I let the ax dangle at my side as I reached for it. Not as a power source, but as it was—lovely, dripping H2O.

  “What are you doing?” Phaedra asked, trying to build back her shields. But already there was a thin film of water between her feet and the cavern floor. I pulled harder, and the water that had been trickling from the cave walls now gushed, covering the floor. That said, I was careful to keep all of that water’s power for myself. It swirled under Phaedra’s feet, but just as if she were a magical-Tantalus, it would never quench her power’s thirst.

  My plan was elegant, and a bit cruel. Unfortunately, it would also take forever to fill the whole space of the cavern, and I didn’t know if the creature liked getting its eye wet, so I wove a basket of power around Phaedra.

  [Lovely,] the creature complimented me, as I began carefully neutralizing and then funneling all that water in the room, in torrents, into the prison I’d built around Phaedra. Nearly empty as she was of all other elements, and being surrounded only by water magic I wouldn’t let her touch, she could only put up a token struggle.

  When she cobbled together enough strength that she managed to reach through the water at her feet toward the earth, I lifted the whole orb off the ground. The labrys helped me, cheerfully spitting power at me as I raised it—and the orb—high into the air. Phaedra sloshed about, up to her neck in water, like a goldfish won at a carnival.

  “You know who taught me this trick?” I called to her, raising my voice so she could hear me over the sloshing. “You did,” I answered when she didn’t respond. “In Boston, on that pier, after you let your minions rape and kill those innocent women.”

  Phaedra glared at me, clearly unrepentant.

  “I should kill you,” I whispered, thinking of all the atrocities she’d committed or commanded or allowed.

  [You should kill her,] the creature agreed.

  “But I won’t,” I said and sighed, lowering the orb so it hovered inches off the floor. She was contained, helpless. I’d wait till Blondie found us, and then we’d figure out how to deal with the Alfar.

  [You won’t dispose of her?] the creature asked.

  No, I thought. I’m no killer. Then I thought back to the men who’d lost their lives attacking Anyan and me. Well, at least not this kind of killer. Not an executioner.

  The creature’s mind was warm in mine as it scanned my feelings.

  [You really are kind, Jane True,] it murmured, as I felt its power shift. The next thing I knew my shields surrounding Phaedra had burst, spilling water everywhere. The Alfar was free.

  But she wasn’t going anywhere.

  Her expression was frozen in horror, gazing down through lifeless eyes at the tentacle speared through her torso.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered, as the tentacle shook Phaedra free. The bald little Alfar fell to the wet floor with a splat. There was no reason to check whether she was alive or dead, not with the hole in her chest so big I could have stuck my head through it.

  For a second I envisioned myself wearing Phaedra as a necklace, and I shuddered.

  [No,] it said, in my mind. [I didn’t. But it made things easier.]

  I looked at the Alfar’s huddled form. “I had her contained.”

  [Yes, you did. But I’ve seen inside her thoughts. She would never have stopped coming for you. Or for me, for that matter.]

  I understand that, I thought. But to kill her—

  [Was something I took upon myself, so that your people did not have to. There is no place that could guarantee her captivity, and she cannot be allowed free at this juncture. As I said, I saw into her mind…] With these words the creature’s thoughts trailed off.

  “And?” I prompted.

  [And you must believe me when I tell you that I am by no means the most dangerous thing either hidden or hiding out there. My prison’s crumbling might destroy a corner of the world… but there are things out there that will gladly take the whole planet with them.]

  “Is this what you saw in Phaedra’s mind?”

  [She was but a minion; she knew only her own mission. But she had heard rumors, and knew where others had been sent.]

  “Are they looking for other creatures? Other artifacts?”

  [Both. But this is not a conversation we should have in private…]

  I felt the creature’s power swirl about me, and then I heard a pop as Blondie apparated in front of us.

  “What the fuck?” she said, throwing up shields and peering madly about. When she saw me, she sprinted over and nearly knocked me down with her hug.

  “Hey, girl,” I said, laughing and trying to figure out where to put my arm. It was tough holding someone while also holding an ax. Or a labrys. Whatever.

  “Are you all right?” she said, rearing back to scan my face as she held tightly to my upper arms.

  “I’m great. Better than Phaedra,” I said, gesturing with my non-ax hand.

  “Ugh,” she said. “Holey-moley.” Then she saw what I was carrying.

  “Jane,” she said, her eyes shining. “You accepted!”

  I looked at the labrys. I looked at Blondie. I looked at the labrys again. And then I put two and two together.

  “You conned me!” I shouted, turning around to confront the giant eyeball.

  Its presence in my mind was smug, amused, and entirely unrepentant.

  “I’m your champion now, aren’t I?” I asked.

  [Yes,] it said. [By accepting the labrys, you’ve accepted my power.]

  “I don’t suppose I can exchange it for a pair of socks?”

  [No,] it said. [Now let me see my child,] it insisted, and I realized I was standing between the eyeball and Blondie. So I moved out of the way, my brain struggling to compute that I’d just unwittingly made myself the creature’s little pet.

  [Hello, child,] came the creature’s voice in my mind. I saw Blondie gulp, go pale, then turn to the great eyeball. To my surprise, she fell to her knees.

  “Sire,” she whispered, tears choking her throat. “I’m so sorry…”

  [No need, my child. We are past apologies. It is good to see you with my real sight,] it said.

  She sniffled, and then turned to me.

  “I’m proud of you, Jane. You did what you had to do.”

  “I found the creature,” I said, trying to figure out if I might actually deserve the creature’s confidence. “And I did pass the Alfar tests. Well, sort of.”

  “And you defeated your Rival,” she said. I frowned.

  “Did you let Phaedra get to me?” I demanded.

  Blondie looked guilty.

  “I knew it. I knew you could have just kicked her ass. Why did you let her get through to me?”

  [Do not blame my child, my child,] the creature said. It needed to expand his pet name vocabulary, for sure. [You had to face your Rival, to earn my power. The Alfar set certain rules. I was not able to do away with them, only alter them. One of the Alfar rules was that you had to face a Rival. My child only did as commanded, facilitating your duel.]

  “I’m sorry, Jane,” Blondie said. “I hated keeping all those secrets. Now, however, my mission is complete, so no more lies?”

  “There better not be,” I said, admittedly rather petulantly.

  “So, why was I brought here?” Blondie asked, uncomfortably.

  [I was telling Jane news you
must know. What I saw in Phaedra’s mind—there is much to fear, and her people have been busy.]

  “Did you see where they’re searching? And which things they’re looking for?” Blondie asked.

  [They are gathering their forces behind two creatures of evil—of darkness. These beings would destroy everyone merely for the joy of creating chaos. Jane must stand in their way.]

  “Me?” I squeaked. Blondie gave me a sympathetic look.

  [With the weapon you now possess, yes. You must fight, Jane. And you must lead.]

  “But what if I can’t? What if I’m not good enough?”

  [You shall not be coerced, child. I do not write your destiny. I am giving you a choice. But the rebellion needs a leader—someone who can be as much figurehead as warrior.]

  “A figurehead? Like what… Joan of Arc?”

  The creature thought over my question. [Yes, that is an adequate analogy.]

  “She got burned at the stake,” I reminded it.

  [Perhaps not entirely adequate.]

  “So that’s all I have to do? Exist? Point at things and make speeches? Try not to get set aflame?”

  [No, Jane. You will have to fight. It’s why I gave you my weapon. I meant it when I said you were my champion. It couldn’t be the one you call Blondie—she’s the cause, in some ways, of all of this, although she can’t be blamed. At heart, this is my fault. My fault for interfering, my fault for being naïve. And so I have created this weapon, imbuing it with my own power, for one whom I deemed worthy in both heart and mind. It will give you what you need in body and strength.]

  I looked at the labrys, still glowing with power. I let it go ahead and cool off, so I could really see my so-called destiny. It wasn’t much, to be honest. It looked very plain, very rough-hewn. But when I applied my power again it glowed like it was made of crystal.

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted, my voice small.

  [I know. And that is why you were chosen. Your humanity will bring you victory. I knew you were a candidate when you were younger, but after being in your soul, when you were attacked… You are what the rebellion needs.]

  “Speaking of being attacked, do you know who did it?” Blondie interrupted.

  [Yes, I know who did it. They were humans, hired by the enemy months ago. That was the first chance they had to attack. And before you ask, it was not Jarl, but one very like him. They work for the same forces.] I felt the creature’s concentration again focus on me. [You must learn to think bigger than merely Jarl, Jane. Your enemies are not solitary, nor are they without resources beyond the physical.]

  So all of the conjecturing I did with Trill and Nell was correct. There is something bigger going on… and Jarl is just one face of our enemy.

  “Can you tell me who, exactly, ordered that attack?” asked Blondie.

  [I will brief you on what you need to know about what I found in Phaedra’s mind, including who hired the humans. I will also send you where you need to go for more information. Are you ready? We must move as swiftly as our enemies.]

  “Um, sure,” Blondie said. “How long will this take?”

  [Not long. I am sending you to a source that will have much to tell you. He will, however, need to be coerced.]

  “Coercion I can do,” she said. “Jane, take care. I guess I’ll see you soon.” Then Blondie turned and nodded at the great eye. “I’m rea-…” she said, only to be apparated away suddenly.

  “Will she be all right?” I asked.

  [Oh, yes. This mission will be easy for her.]

  And then I asked the question I was dreading, in my smallest mental voice. But the creature heard me.

  [Are you still unsure she can be trusted?] it demanded.

  “Yes,” I replied, my real voice equally small.

  [Yes, she can be. She is your ally, and your friend. My child cares for you very much, little Jane.]

  I blushed, and then I glanced again at Phaedra’s crumpled form. It was difficult to juggle my perception of the creature as wise and gentle with the Swiss-cheese corpse lying on the floor.

  It did what it felt was necessary, I told myself. Phaedra rarely left anyone with many choices…

  [And now,] the creature’s voice echoed in my head, [you must return to the surface.]

  I looked at the eye, watching me. “What will you do?” I asked.

  [I will remain here,] it replied. [Return to my slumbers. But first, you must destroy the glyph,] it said, as it rolled its eyeball upward toward the now-familiar carving. [I must never be freed.]

  “But that means you’ll be trapped!” I cried.

  [Yes, my physical form will remain here. But do not think me trapped, child.]

  Frowning, I stared up at the glyph. The thought of taking away the creature’s only form of release was terrifying.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “What if you survive an apocalypse, and we’re all toast, and it’s just you and the cockroaches, and you could be free again? But the sigil’s gone? I would feel awful.”

  [First of all, you’d be dead and would feel nothing. Second, we all must make our sacrifices. This is mine.]

  “But you’ve already given up so much,” I whispered, knowing its eons trapped under the earth and ocean…

  [I am the only surviving member of my race. I have been both blessed and cursed, living as I long as I have. And that life is my own, to give or to take. Besides, it’s really not so bad. I live among your people’s thoughts, experiencing far more in their minds than I ever could otherwise. You humans are fascinating creatures.]

  “That’s kind of you to say, but still…”

  [Jane, trust me on this. You cannot spare guards to keep my lair safe. And while I have means of protecting myself, I do not want to have to be awake and alert all the time. Can you understand that by keeping that glyph in place, you’re also trapping me? I will always have to be awake and watchful. I would rather dream and play.]

  I remembered then the creature’s memories that I’d experienced while in my coma. They’d been so vivid, and so peaceful, for the most part. No wonder it wanted to return to its sleeping mind.

  “I think I understand,” I said.

  [So will you help me?] it asked.

  “Yes,” I replied. “How should I do it?”

  [Direct magic will not work. It will only set off a trap. Something physical must destroy it.]

  I frowned. “I’m afraid I forgot my chisel, and while this ax looks sharp, it’s magic.” Looking around, I tried to find something to use. All I could see was water.

  Well, I thought. Water does erode…

  I carefully laid my labrys on the floor and then approached the eye and the sigil lurking above it. “A little help, please?”

  One of the creature’s larger tentacles slid across the floor toward me. It wasn’t the one that had speared Phaedra, thank the gods. After an awkward few attempts, I managed to slide myself onto the sucker pad of the tentacle, and then the creature lofted me up in the air and toward the sigil.

  I meeped, clinging to the sucker, which helpfully clung back. When I was at eye level with the sigil, I called to the water floating on the cavern floor.

  It snaked up the tentacle like a living thing, till the tip of the thick cord of water rested in the palm of my hand. Then I directed it at the rock face of the sigil, increasing its force until it was successfully drilling at the stone.

  It took a long time, and a lot of power, but eventually the stone where the sigil had been was worn down to smooth, bare rock.

  “It’s done,” I said, sad for the creature even if this had been its choice.

  [Thank you,] it intoned. [I may sleep, now.]

  When the creature set me down on the floor, I swayed wearily on my feet. I pulled power into me from the water still lurking in the air, but it barely took the edge off my sudden exhaustion.

  This has been a long day, I thought.

  [And it’s time for you to go home,] the creature thought back at me. [You need your r
est. War is coming.]

  War? I thought, muzzily. Real war?

  [Yes. My child knows what to do. Trust her. Her thoughts for you are strong. She will take care of you.]

  War? was my only, disjointed, response as I bent, wearily, to pick up my new ax.

  [I will send you home now, Jane. And I want to thank you.]

  “Wait,” I asked, finally able to get my thoughts back on track. I knew there was something I wanted to ask. “What about Anyan? Can you turn him back from being a dog?”

  The voice chuckled. [Already done, child. He did not need to be out of the way anymore. Nor the gnome. They are both back to normal.]

  I breathed an audible sigh of relief. Anyan! I thought, thrilled to know he’d be waiting for me. And hopefully no longer applying his own mouth to his junk.

  As that is my job, snickered my libido. Both the creature and I ignored it.

  “Wait,” I said, suddenly realizing what the creature had just admitted. “Did you let them get changed on purpose?”

  [You needed to do this for yourself, Jane.]

  “No wonder Blondie kept telling me there were things I needed to do alone. You scared the shit out of me, changing Anyan and Nell like that. And do you know where Anyan’s mouth has now been?”

  [It was the only way to remove them from the picture, short of killing them. You inspire loyalty in your friends.]

  I blushed at that, not able to think of a better compliment.

  [Now, are you ready?] it asked.

  “Yes,” I said, laying a hand on the tentacle still next to me. “But will I see you again?”

  [I will always be there, in your dreams, should you wish to talk,] the creature responded, and I could feel pleasure suffusing its thoughts.

  “Good. Then I’m ready.”

  [Excellent. Oh, just one more thing…]

  “Yes?”

  [When we talked earlier, about feeling out of control…]

  “Yes,” I said, feeling embarrassed about my outburst.

  [Life is never in our control,] said the creature’s voice in its rich tones. [And it’s never easy. For most of us, survival is the only option. But it’s how we survive that counts. Does that make sense?]