Determination

by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo

  Roxie could’ve sworn she’s sensed a part of Nexus eager to give up to preserve his life, but that eagerness buried itself under agony and desperation. Maybe she just had to stoke the flames to that eagerness. “This is your last chance. You die and Baku and Kara lose their son. But if you call off your prophecy, I can let you live.”

  “Die, Aigis,” he said weakly.

  Roxie felt a twinge of pain in her chest but it stopped when Nexus grunted. “Think about it,” she said. “There’ll be no prophecy for you to enjoy if you die.”

  Once again, that face appeared for a fraction of a second. Nexus shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. “I swear my prophecy is my own want. How can you expect me to give up on it after all this time?”

  The first bit was an odd thing to say. Of course this prophecy was his own want. He’s the one who’d orchestrated it. Why would she think it was someone else’s? That aside, Nexus was making it painfully clear that he was leaving her with no choice, but she wasn’t quite ready yet. “Because your life is more valuable than your own selfish wants. What’s the point of being obstinate if you won’t be alive to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work?”

  He tried willing her to die again but his bodily injuries made it too agonizing to hold his concentration.

  Time to throw in one last bit of leverage. “I know where your icon is, Nexus. I could’ve beaten you already.”

  Nexus’s eyes flew open as he held his breath, staring at her with sheer terror and wracking his brain for a solution to his dilemma.

  In order to move his icon, he had to become one with it first. Icons were part of a god’s soul. They weren’t mere ornaments that could be picked up and put down on a whim. If Nexus absorbed his icon, he’d have zero chance of surviving a fatal blow.

  So that’s why he’d refused to give up all this time...

  “Call off the prophecy.” Roxie poured her will into her words.

  Nexus’s mouth moved but no sound came out. He swallowed. “No.”

  Closing her eyes, Roxie took a deep breath. “Fine.” Aiming for his heart, she thrust her sword.

  Nexus’s body morphed, moving flesh and bone out of the strike’s path. Her sword passed through a gaping hold in his chest. She swung horizontally and his ribcage split in two, creating what looked like a sideways keyhole in his torso. His larynx looked like it was melting. Roxie reflexively recoiled, repulsed by the gooey flesh encasing her fist, and his body shrank. He was getting tired. Like Roxie, it took less energy sustaining his natural size.

  He retreated to the plateau and stood defensively in front of the gnarled tree, his icon.

  Seeing the opportunity to conserve her own energy, Roxie shrunk back to her normal height as well, ready to go all-out. She was done trying to give Nexus chances to live. Sword and shield held ready, Roxie flew at him, intending to end this fight quickly.

  Nexus’s body morphed again, building in height and muscle mass, and his hair receded back into his scull. Roxie’s throat constricted as Aerigo’s figure stood in Nexus’s place. It was a perfect replica of his sculpted chest, broad shoulders, handsome blue eyes--everything. The replica smiled but it was Nexus’s grin of superiority on Aerigo’s features.

  What a cruel, desperate move.

  Nexus launched into the offensive, his desire to kill her coming off in waves. Roxie let him come to her. She was done with him, so damn done. He’d thought wearing Aerigo’s guise would sap the fight from her, but it only made her want to kill him even more.

  They fought midair, fast and savagely. Tears tried to blur Roxie’s vision but she wiped them away as needed between attacks on the replica of the man she loved. Part of her wanted to stop attacking because that was Aerigo and she didn’t want to hurt him, but the rational part of her refused to relent. Nexus hadn’t been able to mask the cut to his chest, bullet wound to his shoulder, crushed wrist, and the mangled hand dripping blood. She added more cuts and gashes as they fought, and took many hits, too, but she was numb to physical pain. Her heart ached with loss. She had no room for physical pain.

  Roxie drifted closer to the tree as they fought. Nexus tried to block and steer her away, but that made his movements all that much easier to anticipate. The gods yelled at Nexus or cheered Roxie on. Their voices made her fight all-out, as did Nexus. He scrambled to keep her away from the plateau but she methodically forced him to give ground.

  She touched down on the plateau and he willed that section of rock to crumble. Flapping her wings, she flung Nexus away with her will but he rebounded as if tied to her with a bungee cord. She swung her sword and he stopped short.

  “Help me!” he cried to the gods.

  Sympathy flowed towards Nexus but none of the spectating gods moved.

  “Please! To the underworld with the terms! Are all of you really willing to give up like this?”

  His allies wanted to help but they held back. They had all concluded that staying out of this fight was the wisest course.

  Nexus morphed back into himself and resumed fighting Roxie, yet kept backing towards the tree. Tears welled in his eyes and his attacks became more desperate. Roxie countered most and took the occasional hit as she fought to within striking range of the tree.

  She focused on the glow emanating from her sword and sent it at Nexus. He tried to dodge but it wrapped around his torso several times, like a rope, pinning his arms to his sides. Two more lengths of light wrapped around his legs, forcing him to his knees and pinning his shins to the ground.

  “Help me!”

  Roxie pressed the tip of her sword to the tree trunk and fixed Nexus with a cold glare.

  “Mother! Please!”

  Kara bowed her head and remained next to Baku. He took her in his arms and she hid her face in his bare chest.

  “Anyone!”

  ‘We have all weighed each choice we could possibly make in this moment,’ Leviathan said from his perch low in the sky. ‘The wisest course is to allow you and the Aigis decide the universe’s next direction.’

  “How can you believe that?”

  “It’s for the greater good,” a god aligned with Nexus said. “If you were a Creator, maybe you’d understand.”

  “But I am a Creator and I don’t understand.”

  “Stealing ownership of worlds doesn’t make you a Creator,” Din snapped.

  “Oh, but I am.” Nexus tried to smile through his tears but the expression died when he finished his sentence. He turned his gaze back to Baku and Kara. “Please, Mother. I don’t want to die.”

  She looked up, tears streaming down her face, but she stayed quiet as she held onto Baku.

  Roxie pressed her sword harder against the trunk. Nexus gasped and snapped his gaze back on her. “Call off the prophecy or die,” she said, her voice flat and cold. “Your choice.”

  More tears welled in his eyes. “I...” That creepy face flashed over his and he shook his head. “I...” He looked at Roxie again. “I can’t... I refuse... All that hard work.” He turned his gaze back in Kara’s direction. “Please, Mother.”

  Roxie looked at Kara. The goddess met her gaze, full of sorrow, and nodded once. Roxie swallowed and buried her sword in the trunk. Nexus went wide-eyed, gasped, and his body went rigid. His skin turned stony greys as his body petrified.

  The mortal battlefield fell silent. Every last fighter collapsed, unconscious. No more fighting. No more war. No more dying. No more prophecy.

  She’d done it.

  Even so, she felt no joy and hardly any relief. Roxie willed the other half of the realm back over, guiding it with her shield hand.

  Kara and Baku joined Roxie on the plateau. Kara ran over and hugged the statue that was her son, crying. Baku followed her, wrapping both his wife and son in his arms. He gently shushed her. “He’s only petrified. We can collect his soul from Thanatos and reincarnate him.”

  “It won’t be the same,” Kara said in a thick voice.

  “I know,” Baku said sadly, “but it’s better
than nothing.”

  Kara took a deep, shaky breath, nodded, and continued crying on Nexus’s stone chest.

  Roxie took her own deep breath and let go of her anger. The coldheartedness left her and she felt more like herself again. She felt more human, instead of some warrior ready to kill at a moment’s notice. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

  Both gods looked up, as if shocked to see her standing there. Baku gazed softened into a sad smile. He walked over and gave her a hug. “Don’t apologize, Roxie. I owe you so many apologies for putting you through all that.”

  Letting go of her sword, she hugged back. “You don’t have to apologize. I’d fight every last god I’d have to for the sake of the greater good.”

  “And such a heavy price we’ve all paid for it. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

  Roxie’s throat constricted as she felt tears coming on. She swallowed. “I saw Aerigo in the Realm of the Dead. He’s gonna be my spirit guardian once he finishes his soul’s journey.”

  Baku squeezed her tighter and Kara came over, hugging them both. “I wish I could reverse that moment, Roxie. I’m so sorry.”

  “You don’t have to apologize either. It’s not your fault.”

  “I still feel partially responsible. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

  “There’s a lot of cleaning up to do,” Baku said, “but that can wait a bit.”

  The two halves of the realm fused back together and gods began collecting their mortals, alive and dead, and they began to vanish, one army at a time.

  The three of them watched somberly, Baku standing between Roxie and Kara, an arm around each of them. Baku said, “I should probably go join them.” He removed his arms. “By the way, Roxie, Aerigo’s body is on my realm. I can take you there if you want to see him one last time.”

  Recalling the goodbye exchange, Roxie closed her eyes and shook her head. “Thank you though.”

  Baku nodded and, taking a few steps, flew off.

  Unable to take the sight of so many corpses anymore, Roxie turned back to Nexus. It still felt surreal. After all she’d been through, it was hard to absorb that Nexus was finally defeated and the prophecy no longer in effect. Part of her wondered if she’d really done that, or if this was all just a dream.

  A black, wispy cloud formed next to the statue. It bubbled and expanded, growing bigger and thicker, solidifying into a seven-foot-tall humanoid covered in auburn fur and standing on cloven hooves. Roxie went wide-eyed. That was the face she’d seen flash over Nexus’s.

  “Vancor!” Kara said in disbelief. “What are--?”

  Roaring, Vancor made a fist with both hands and hammered off the stone head. “No!” He slashed a shoulder with claws, breaking off an arm. “After all that hard work!” He slashed a chunk of torso off. “Such a weak coward!”

  “No!” Kara dived at Vancor. He backhanded her, sending her flying, but her black hair elongated past her feet and wrapped around his arm like ropes. She pivoted midair, grabbed her hair, and yanked Vancor off his hooves. She sent him overhead and bashed him down on the other side of the plateau.

  Roxie reached for her sword and stopped. The tree was disintegrating as if it was turning to sand from top to bottom. All the twigs and branches dribbled to the ground in thin grey lines, pouring like an hourglass. The three suspended leaves dissolved like burning ash. Roxie pulled her sword free and the statue started dissolving like the tree.

  So that was it. Nexus wasn’t coming back for a surprise round of fighting, and she had a feeling, judging by Kara’s reaction, that he couldn’t be reincarnated now.

  “You destroyed my son!” Kara yanked Vancor to her and punched him in the jaw, sending him flying again.

  “Kara!” Roxie yelled, slipping back into her emotionally detached state. “Stop fighting. I’ll take care of him.”

  Baku darted back to the plateau, eyes watering and face reddened with fury, but he only gave Vancor a look of death before alighting next to the pile of sand that was now his son. He sank to his knees and plunged his hands in the sand.

  Kara held Vancor captive in her hair and Roxie pressed her sword to his throat, right under his chin. “I saw your face while fighting Nexus. Tell me why.”

  He closed his eyes and turned his horned head.

  “Tell me!” The ground shook.

  Vancor flinched as if struck. “I had my hold over him. I made him do things for me.”

  “Like what?”

  When he resisted answering, Kara said, “Baku and I believe he’s the one who orchestrated the war and prophecy.”

  “Why would he do such a thing?”

  Kara’s hair tightened on Vancor. “Because he’s been coveting me from afar. I believe there’s more to it, although I don’t know what.”

  “Tell me why,” Roxie said to Vancor, digging her sword enough to draw a bead of blood.

  Vancor grimaced as he tried to resist answering, but Roxie threw her will at him until he started talking. “Because it was safer than trying to form a prophecy myself.”

  “So you just killed Nexus for nothing... You’re the one who deserves to die.”

  Vancor smiled. “We will never cross swords, child. I’m not fool enough to fight an Aigis.”

  Roxie thrust her sword but stabbed only air.

  Vancor was gone, both in mind and body. He’d fled the realm. Roxie scanned her surroundings just in case, but sensed him nowhere. “Any idea where he went?”

  “No,” Kara said. “He could be hiding on any of his worlds, his own realm, or any dark corner of the universe. I have no idea where his realm or worlds are.”

  “Should I start hunting so he can’t cause any more problems?”

  “Not today,” Baku said, standing up. “He can’t manipulate our son any more, nor does he have the gall to form a prophecy himself. He’s just a selfish coward. Rest now.”

  Roxie looked around the realm. The three of them and Leviathan were the only ones left, along with Baku’s dead or unconscious mortals. The dragon’s gargantuan frame hovered over a pile of what looked like broken glass statues. A sorrow almost strong enough to make Roxie start crying emanated from him. “Do you think the gods will honor the outcome of my fight with Nexus? They won’t develop second thoughts, will they?”

  “If they do, it won’t be for a long, long time, well after your natural lifespan.”

  “Okay.” With the way humans always found an excuse to keep warring in one country or another back on Earth, maybe it was only natural that gods would never stay at peace either. This calm was the best anyone could do. It felt like enough. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.

  She took a calming breath and sheathed her sword. “If you can help me get home, that’d be great. I never learned how to world-hop.”

  “Let me go collect my mortals and we’ll go.”

  Roxie concentrated on her Frava and released it. A white light engulfed her and she closed her eyes. When the red against her lids turned back to black, she opened her eyes and staggered. “Whoa!” It felt awkward to no longer have to compensate her balance for a pair of wings. She braced her hands against her knees. Combat boots instead of greaves clothed her feet. She once again wore the Versaton pants with metal bands around her thighs, and a navy blue tank top. She was the female version of Aerigo.

  His dagger clanged on the ground by her feet. Tears stung her eyes.

  The desire to cry vanished as she noticed the ground starting to look funny. Crouching, she touched the ground and it turned to sand under her fingertips. Snatching the dagger, she shot upright. “Kara!” She pointed at the dissolving ground.

  Gasping, Kara threw an arm around Roxie’s waist. “The realm is dissolving. I’ll take you to my realm until Baku is ready to take you home.” She held out a hand like she was preparing to world-hop and two children with mismatching eyes appeared before them.

  Kara’s outstretched arm drooped. “Thanatos! Keres! What are you two doing here?”

  Keres stepped forward. �
�Please come to our realm a moment.”

  Thanatos stepped forward as well. “We wish to grant Roxie Lohr three mercies.”

  “Mercies?” Roxie said.

  Keres said, “Come. We’ll explain in a more stable location.”

  Chapter 29

  Three Mercies

  Roxie looked around nervously. She, Baku, Kara, and the two death gods stood in the chamber inside Chthonian Mountain’s summit. She hadn’t pictured herself returning here so soon.

  Baku and Kara stood on either side of her. Without Frava, she could no longer sense their thoughts. It was kind of relieving, having less stimuli to take in at any given moment. At the same time, she felt a bit blind. Part of her wanted to hear their thoughts so they couldn’t surprise her in any way, but she kept telling herself that she didn’t need to worry about that. The fighting was over. Maybe after bracing to defend herself for so long, she needed time to relax and calm down.

  Leviathan in his twelve-foot-tall form stood behind them, cradling a broken glass head of some beautiful woman with long hair, almond eyes, and sharp nose. The face was stuck in sad acceptance. The dragon’s silent tears dripped on her face. Roxie wanted to ask who the lady was but she respectfully kept the question to herself. She had a hunch it was one of his mortals who’d died in the war.

  Thanatos and Keres stood before their thrones, fixing everyone with their serious, mismatched eyes. Stepping forward, Keres treated Roxie with a small smile. “Roxie Lohr, we extend our gratitude for bringing Nexus down. His soul is scattered across the universe now, forever a part of all that is. It’s bittersweet, but he’ll forever be at peace.”

  Kara sniffed and Baku reached behind Roxie to clasp his wife’s hand. Roxie placed a hand on both of theirs, at a loss for how to console them, but not wanting stand there and do nothing.

  Thanatos said, “We would have gladly returned his soul to you, Kara and Baku, but Vancor destroyed that option.”

  “We’re sorry,” Keres said. “All life is precious. At least he’ll forever be with the both of you wherever you look. May you find comfort in that one day.”

  Kara nodded and wiped her tears. Leviathan placed a large hand on her shoulder and she touched it, her grip big enough to wrap around only two fingers.