by Leyton, Bisi
Beraz twisted Didan’s head sharply, breaking his neck.
Maniko doubled over laughing as Didan’s lifeless body slid to the ground.
“That was a joke?” Bach gaped.
Beraz chuckled. “Sure.”
“Why else do you think we would bring him to you?” Stepping over Didan, she strode to Bach. “We haven’t had a good laugh in a while. We didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Do you have something to hide?” Beraz cocked an eyebrow.
“You did not scare me, but you can search my chambers if you want. If you are wrong, I will be happy to take either one of your lives in exchange,” Bach replied.
“You can have mine.” Clinching his forearms, Maniko licked her lips suggestively. “If you are strong enough to take it.”
“Maniko, do not.” Bach stepped back.
“Don’t what?” She whispered.
“Do not touch me.” Bach shrugged her off.
“Where?” She teased.
“Maniko enough.” Beraz yanked her away. “Stop humiliating yourself. He clearly doesn’t want you.”
“Perhaps he really does have a thing for Terrans?” Maniko joked, but didn’t release Bach.
Not answering her, Bach stormed away.
“Didan was just a Dog and was wrong to accuse a Dy’obeth.” Beraz dashed in front of Bach. “But there’s no smoke without fire. There’s something different about you.”
“True, I was not tricked into being imprisoned in Ajana for fifteen hundred years,” Bach quipped, hoping to take the focus off his relationship and interest in the humans.
“How dare you?” Finally stepping back, her eyes turned cold. “Trust me, Ajana is not something to joke about.”
“You would not survive one day in there. Your whole bloodline would’ve been obliterated.” Beraz grabbed Bach’s shirt.
“If I’d been around, the humans wouldn’t have sent my bloodline into that hell realm,” Bach retorted coldly.
“It was not like that. It was a war.” Maniko gasped.
“At war with who—humans? I thought no one was more powerful than Dy’obeths,” Bach reminded them.
Beraz squinted down at Bach. “It’ll never happen again.”
“Oh, it will not because I will not let it when I take my seat as one of the Seven.” Bach grinned.
“You are threatening to take my seat and my mate?” Beraz scoffed and glanced at Maniko.
“I want your seat.” Bach smirked. “Unless you want to give it up now and pledge your loyalty to me. Do that and I will allow you to live—as a nursemaid to my horses.”
Beraz turned red. “The first time you attacked me, I was weakened from the return. Speak like that to me again and I’ll end you. Then I’ll find your Terran and teach her new kinds of pain.”
“You are not powerful enough to touch me. Consider yourself lucky I want to spare your life today,” Bach stormed off. Stab him in the neck. Get him out of the way, the darkness begged. He didn’t notice when he’d picked up the dagger, but Bach knew in three minutes all that was going to be left of Beraz was a bloody stain.
“Do it.” Maniko whispered in his ear. “Kill him and I am yours.”
Bach couldn’t stand the sound of her voice.
Karvas approached through the trees. “Brethren, sorry to interrupt your games, but there has been a revolt on Sable Mountain.”
“What?” Beraz seethed.
“Three hundred Dogs tried to attack us,” Karvas reported.
“How did that happen? I left Kalti in charge.” Beraz growled.
“High Father demands you explain to him why you were in Jarthan playing with your mate and not on Sable Mountain controlling the Dogs he gave you. After you and Bach get things back under control.”
Beraz grimaced at Bach. “Why him?”
“Maybe, he is preparing him to take over from you when Bach kills you after your rabja,” Karvas replied.
Beraz stormed off.
“Make it a glorious death.” Maniko kissed Bach’s cheek, biting him a little. “Beloved, once Beraz is at full strength, he’ll be almost as strong as High Father. Wait too long to take him down and you’ll never be able to.”
“Maniko come,” Beraz screamed from the trees.
“Do it.” She slinked away after Beraz.
*****
By the time Bach got to Sable Mountains, reapers were finishing off what was left of the protestors.
Beraz and Maniko concerned themselves with beating down the empirics who, in Beraz’s words, let this happen.
Rather than spending any more time with those two, Bach moved quickly through the mountain roads ensuring there was no sign of trouble. Once done, he returned to his chambers, his clothes completely covered in mud. Entering the room, he took of his top, but froze as someone moved in the dark.
“Maniko, do not—” he started.
“Sorry to disappoint you.” Lluc stepped out of the darkness.
“Why are you here?” Bach marched in.
“I found Wisteria.”
Bach pretended he didn’t hear. He wanted desperately to go after her. It would be a bad idea, he told himself, Get her and take our first blood, the darkness implored.
“I said I found Wisteria,” Lluc repeated.
“Why tell me this unless you want me to react?”
“I thought you were in full control of the darkness?”
“I almost killed Beraz because he suspected I have a human mate. I would have done it if Karvas had not arrived. Even though I was aware it will affect the plan, I almost did it. If I see her again before I am ready—she might be my first blood. Why do I want to hurt her?”
“The same reason you want to hurt Aleix, your bloodlust is for those you hate or love. Listen, I am going to retrieve her. I got a message. Your old friend has her and wants to be perfected into a Dy’obeth in exchange for her.” Taking out a far-eye, Lluc showed it to Bach. “Do you want to come?”
“She is in the Hall of Ages. Impossible.” Bach scanned the artifact.
“Because she is First Pillar. He said she is looking for something to use to destroy us. It will be funny to see her try to kill you though.” Lluc chuckled. “She will never be able to.”
“And you want me to come this time?” Bach worried the darkness in him would finally take over and do something to Wisteria he’d never be able to fix.
“There is a sand storm coming, so we will get in and out unseen.”
“No, you get her and take her to the stronghold. I will go to her there.”
“And miss your chance to thank Felip for all his help so far?”
“I am not to hurt him, remember?”
“You cannot kill him, beyond that you are free to do what you like. Besides, do you really want to leave her with him?”
*****
Sleep felt good. Lying down, Wisteria stretched out, not remembering the last time she’d enjoyed such a good night sleep. The mattress felt soft, the covers silky and the air temperately cold, just the way she loved it. Wait? Opening her eyes, she sprang up and found she was in an indoor garden. The plants and trees were full of vivid colors and fruit. What struck Wisteria immediately was how well maintained the place looked. The grass was freshly cut and no rotting fruit on the ground.
She sat next to a small running stream and she could see multicolored fish swimming under the water.
A few meters away, Garfield stood explaining something to the stone avatar, Robinia.
“I don’t understand what you mean by Dy’obeth,” Robinia stated frankly.
“They’re supposed to be yellow eyed beings who enslaved the Family.” Garfield was getting frustrated.
“I have searched all the records of the discovered realms. There is no mention of Dy’obeths. Maybe you are confused.”
“You’ve got to have something that tells us who they are and how the First Pillar got rid of them,” he went on.
“Getting rid of them implies genocide.” Robinia shook he
r head. “The First Pillar, like the Orien before them, believes all life is sacred, so they would never annihilate.”
“I’m not saying the First Pillar killed them.” Exasperated, he pulled at his curly hair. “They sealed them in Ajana or somewhere for thousands of years.”
“No people called Dy’obeth’s were sealed in Ajana.” Robinia remained oblivious to Garfield’s frustration.
“They aren’t people. They’re aliens.”
“Aliens imply people from a different planet. Neither the First Pillar nor the rest of the Orien have ever encountered aliens, just people different realms or dimensions if that is easier for you to understand,” Robinia informed him.
“Where are we?” Rubbing her head, Wisteria rose to her feet. “What is this place?”
“We’re underneath the main archive.” Walking over, he squatted by her. “You good?”
“How did I get here?” Wisteria asked.
“You passed out again,” he replied. “We brought you here to lie down. Away from them.”
“Them?” Wisteria echoed.
“The Famila.” Robinia glided toward them. “Do you feel better, Mistress?”
“Yes.” Wisteria tried to get to her feet, but felt dizzy again. “I’m sick of this feeling.”
“Do not fear. This will pass in a few more weeks or if you decide to conceive,” Robinia said.
“What you’re talking about?” She snapped at Robinia, but immediately felt like she’d hurt the avatar’s feelings. “I mean, I was bitten by a flesh eater and was given a blood serum. How I feel is a side effect of that.” She couldn’t handle knowing all of this could be some manifestation of her attraction to Bach.
“If you were simply unwell, your shana spots would fade, but they are now turning red,” Robinia pointed out.
Checking her reflection in the stream, she saw her vibrant black shana spots with tiny speckles of red.
“Have you considered mating—?” Robinia started.
“Is there no mention of Dy’obeth in anything in this place?” Wisteria changed the subject immediately. “Not even a word?”
“Not a word.” Robinia shook her head.
“Anything about Ajana?” Wisteria inquired. “Is anyone else was imprisoned there?”
“Yes, Ajana is one of the lesser hell dimensions. High Father Anab and his Pillar were sealed there for their genocide.”
“High Father is the leader of the Dy’obeths.” Garfield gasped.
“No, you said those people were aliens. High Father and his bloodline are Famila,” Robinia explained.
“No way,” Wisteria disagreed. “They’re stronger, yellow-eyed—evil.”
“I am confused how you want me to answer,” Robinia pondered. “All I can say is the Family and the people you call Dy’obeths are the same. The Dy’obeths were simply exposed to the meteorite six thousand years ago.”
“What?” Forcing herself up, Wisteria nodded. “Let’s find a way to stop them.”
Garfield gave her an uncertain look. “This is the first place in ages we’re not being hunted. Let’s rest for a bit.”
“I can’t. They’re hunting humans. We need to find a way to stop them and get the humans to safety.”
He helped her up.
“This way…” Robinia moved toward the water.
“Where are we going?” Wisteria asked.
“This is one of my shortcuts.” Walking into the stream, the water parted around Robinia and a path appeared.
“You’ve got to show me how you do that,” Garfield quipped.
“I will not show you the inner workings of the archive,” Robinia’s stone head turned completely around to face him as she walked away.
“That doesn’t hurt?” He gasped.
“This avatar feels no pain.” Robinia turned her head fully around to face her front. As she entered the stream, steps appeared below her feet.
Walking up on the bank, Wisteria saw the steps leading deep underground. “Where are you taking us?”
“The vaults,” Robinia said. She led them down the damp stairwell and through a maze of immaculate stone tunnels and doors.
After what felt like hours, they came into an immaculate room with a shiny metallic blue vault built into the wall.
“What is this place?” Wisteria wondered.
“This is where high value artifacts are stored.” Robinia led them down rows of unnumbered identical vaults with blue doors. “In there is what you want. Behind door eighty-four.” She stopped
“And what exactly do I want?” She stared at the door.
“The prax was what your people used to drive High Father and his Pillar into Ajana,” Robinia explained.
“Great, get it out and explain how it works.” Garfield tugged on the handle of the vault door.
“Do not touch that,” Robinia warned.
“Ahh,” Screaming, he fell to the ground.
“Garfield.” Wisteria dashed over to him and inspected his bright red hand.
“I’m fine.” He groaned
“What happened to him?” Wisteria asked.
“The metal burnt him,” Robinia answered calmly. “Only the Mistress can handle the prax ore or try to open the vault. Even one of my avatars would be destroyed for trying to.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Garfield demanded. “You’re supposed to be helping us!”
“You did not ask,” Robinia replied in that calm tone again. “If you had, I would have informed you any life form that touches these vaults would die. I was able to prevent Garfield from dying since he is your friend. But if you prefer, I can have him extinguished.”
“No,” Wisteria exclaimed. “Don’t you even try it.”
“I do not have to try. There are forty-three sentries in this hall alone and they will succeed in killing him,” Robinia stated.
“What?” Garfield shouted.
“I mean it, don’t kill him,” Wisteria clarified.
“Yes, Mistress. Perhaps you should open the vault and retrieve the prax?” Robinia suggested.
Wisteria glanced at the vault door. “How am I supposed to get in?” She noticed the door didn’t have a combination lock, keypad or anything. “What does the prax look like?”
“I cannot tell you, but it is recorded to be in that vault,” Robinia told her.
Slowly, Wisteria placed her hand over the handle, closed her eyes, prayed and turned the handle.
It felt warm.
Dragging the door back, a strong gust of cold wind blew against her. Peering into the icy room, she saw a solitary metal box on a table in the middle. Carefully, she walked toward the container and lifted up the lid.
Inside were vials of a clear liquid.
“What does it do?” Wisteria asked.
“Prax makes them sick.” Robinia stood at the entrance, but did not enter.
“And this got them into Ajana?” Wisteria stared at the vials.
“Yes, according to the records, High Father and his Pillar were infected. They were given a choice, succumb to prax or choose to go to Ajana and be tortured,” Robinia explained.
“High Father would rather face eternal torment than death?” Wisteria remarked.
“Ajana is a hell realm; he would prefer that to actually facing death. That would mean the real hell. You only have to infect one and the disease will spread in days,” Robinia explained.
“So, I’m supposed to make them sick and let them die or force them into a world where they’ll be tortured forever.” Wisteria understood something had to be done, but this didn’t sit well with her.
“Yes,” Robinia affirmed.
“My mother could do something like this, but I’m not sure I can.” Wisteria shook her head.
“You’re going to have to become a little more like her.” Garfield watched her from outside the door.
“Can’t we use the cantus to paralyze them?” Wisteria proposed in a weak attempt to convince herself. “Then we’ll imprison them.”
; “The cantus will not disable High Father’s Pillar forever. And no prison on this realm can contain them. I have records of 2,978 attempts by the First Pillar to subdue Dy’obeths through other means,” Robinia revealed. “It came down to poisoning them, so they would flee to.”
Clutching the vial of prax, Wisteria shook her head. “How do we use it?”
“Get the poison on their skin. That is all you need to do,” Robinia informed.
“What happens to Wisteria? Will the poison hurt her?” Garfield demanded.
“The prax harms High Father’s people. The rest of the Family and the humans will be fine,” Robinia disclosed. “Do you understand?”
Nodding, Wisteria walked out of the vault as she stared at the prax. What was she going to do? She could give Enric the poison, and he’d infect the Dy’obeths. That way she wouldn’t have to hurt anyone, but that was a load of rubbish. If she gave Enric the weapon, she’d be as guilty as he was.
Lost in thought, she wandered into a moldy and decaying water fountain…the first part of the archive that actually looked ancient.
The circular water fountain looked to be three times the size of the largest roundabout in Norton, with a deep hole in the center.
“Where does this go?” Garfield looked like he was about to enter the room.
Robinia held him back. “Step inside and you will be destroyed.”
“What is this place?” Looking up, Wisteria felt captured by the painting on the ceiling. A mural of this same room filled with hundreds of people dressed in purple. They stood around the fountain that now looked like a whirlpool. There were thresholds around the room with more people emerging. The people were dressed in a shade of purple, but the outfits were from different periods in history like ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, the Oyo Empire and possibly Feudal Japan.
Scanning the room, she saw the stone frames of thresholds like in the picture. She estimated there were over a hundred.
“The Nucleus,” Robinia replied, but still didn’t enter. “Once awoken, this controls all the thresholds. You can tap into this place wherever you are to open and close thresholds. You will be able to send High Father and his Pillar to any hell dimension you choose.”
“The Nucleus,” Wisteria echoed as she sat on the edge of the fountain. “Can I close the thresholds to Earth from here or is there a Nucleus on Earth?”