Mortals & Deities

by Maxwell Alexander Drake

  Knowing he dare not stall any longer, Delmith walked down the hallway toward the Chamber of the Chi’utlan.

  By the time he reached the set of large Ratave doors decorated with the inlay of the Chandril’chi tree, they stood open. Stepping into the oval chamber, he descended the few stairs and joined his Prince. The Human Shaper still had the hood tied over his head, though he had stopped whimpering. Instead, he stood shivering, as if he knew this was his final destination.

  As it always did, the Chi’utlan filled Delmith with such wonder he almost forgot his troubles. A large round dais surrounded by connected stalactite-stalagmite columns sat in the center of the room. The flat surface of the raised platform was covered in a thin sheen of Liquid Essence. The concaved bowl of a ceiling directly above the platform sat full. A bead of Liquid Essence had formed on the dais. Its weight became too much to keep it down, and it fell up into the pool. Small ripples radiated out when it struck. Though he had seen the same happen thousands of times now, the sight still amazed him.

  “You feel it, do you not, Delmith?” Aritian’s words pulled Delmith from his wonder.

  Glancing at the face of Aritian, Delmith noted his Prince stared at the pool much the same as Delmith had his first time in the chamber. “Feel what, my Prince?”

  “The Chi’utlan…it seems…different. Pulsating. Calling out. Yes! This is something new.” Spinning, the Prince grabbed Delmith by the arm. “You can feel it, yes? Feel the pull?”

  Delmith felt nothing more now than on any other occasion he had been in this room. Yet, the look in his Prince’s eyes told him he should not admit this. “Of…course, my Prince.” The look in those deep, black eyes was madness.

  A gleam filled Aritian’s expression at Delmith’s words. “Yes!” He turned his face back to the pool. “The Chi’utlan is ready. I know it! This time, Delmith. This time we shall succeed!”

  Glancing at the Human captive cowering in his hood, Delmith’s heart felt as if it would rip in twain. Could he let this happen again? Could he just stand by and do nothing? A protest budded on his lips. Yet, what could he do?

  My Prince has gone insane. There is no pulse, no pull. The Chi’utlan is as it always was.

  With a wave of the hand, Aritian gestured to the Human and the Gralet’nar took hold of him again. “Take the Human to the edge of the pool and cast him in.” The Warrior Servant nodded and turned toward the dais. When he reached the stairs, Aritian called out to it. “Careful! Do not cross the edge of the pool yourself, however. I am not sure what it will do to one of your kind.”

  The Prince’s words gave the hulking creature pause. It almost looked frightened, and hesitated at the bottom of the steps leading to the platform.

  Impatience filled Aritian’s demeanor, and he stepped forward. “What are you—”

  “Delmith!” The scream from behind startled his Prince. The two turned as one, yet Delmith did not think Aritian could have been more shocked than he was. Standing at the top of the stairs stood Melisian. Her thin chest rising and falling rapidly, as if she had been running. “Delmith, what is this place?” She stared at the Chi’utlan, her mouth open in awe.

  “It was you!”

  Stars filled Delmith’s vision as pain laced through his head. He pitched forward, stumbling, yet keeping his feet. Something struck him a second time and forced him to the ground. Rolling to his back, he looked up into the hate-filled eyes of his Prince.

  “You are my Tak’ju’nar!” Aritian shook his fist at him.

  Delmith could not believe Aritian had struck him. Never before had he heard of one Elmorr’Antien physically striking another. Yet, Prince Aritian stood there with his three fingers balled into a fist. A fist that showed bright blue blood smeared across its knuckles. Delmith opened his mouth to speak, then scrambled back toward the wall as Aritian stepped forward.

  His Prince was stopped short by Melisian rushing forward to hover over Delmith. Kneeling down, she put her hand on the back of his head, causing him to wince in pain.

  Aritian looked from Melisian to Delmith, his jaw clenching and unclenching, his eyes full of hate. “I thought the two of you acted strange during my visit. I was wise to force you to follow me.” He narrowed his eyes, accentuating the deadly glint in them. “It seems you two are not as wise. Gralet! Leave the Human.” Raising a hand, he pointed at the pair. “Kill these Tak’ju’nars!”

  Delmith watched in horror as the hulking warrior shoved the Human to the ground beside the dais. Pulling its large curved blade from its scabbard, it advanced. Melisian clutched Delmith’s shoulders, reminding him that she was there. Turning, he pushed her hands from him. “Go, my one. Run.” Standing, he turned to face the Gralet’nar. He felt his mate still behind him. Without turning his head, he pleaded with her. “Please, my one. This is my doing. At least let my death save you. Please, run.” He wanted to yell the last words, yet with the large warrior advancing on him, his voice failed. He heard her feet shuffle backward. Trembling, he stood his ground. He had never raised a hand in anger, and had no idea how to even stand and defend himself. He only hoped he would live long enough to give his mate time to escape.

  The Gralet’nar raised the thick blade into the air. Its chest muscles flexing, it took one last step to close the distance. When the weapon reached its apex, the creature paused, looking past Delmith.

  “What are you waiting for? Kill that Tak’ju’nar!” Spittle flew from Aritian’s mouth as he screamed.

  “He is waiting for me, little brother.” Sarshia glided up next to Delmith and held out her hand. “As Princess, only our brother and father outrank me where the Gralet’nars are concerned.” She tilted her head to look at Aritian. “Or, have you lost the knowledge of our laws along with your sanity?”

  Aritian backed away from his sister as he would a bestial monster come to life. “How…? Where…?” He glanced between all three as he sputtered.

  Sarshia no longer looked at him. Instead, her gaze fell on the Chi’utlan. “So this is it? The place where the Essence flows onto our Plane. Amazing.”

  Only then did Delmith realize he was not going to die. Looking back, he stared at his mate in wonder.

  With a coy smile, Melisian strode forward. “I went to her as soon as the two of you left. I did the right thing, yes?”

  Glancing over to their Princess, he nodded. “Yes, my one. You have done better than I ever have.”

  She beamed at his praise. Reaching out, she took his hand. “Everything will be—”

  “You think you can dismiss me!” Aritian’s screech echoed through the chamber, causing them both to jump. “This is not over!” Their Prince took a step toward the dais.

  Sarshia pivoted her head in her brother’s direction. “It is over, Aritian. And when our Father learns what you have done…Well, I hope for your sake that he is lenient with you.”

  With a feral hiss, Aritian took another step closer to the Chi’utlan. “No, sister! This is far from over.” Spinning on his heels, he ran for the stairs leading to the pool of Essence and the Human Shaper who had managed to get up on his knees.

  Delmith’s heart leapt. “He is going for the Human!” He could not stomach witnessing this event once more and looked over at Sarshia, hoping she would order her Gralet into action.

  She did not, however. Instead, she stood watching her brother—as if waiting for him to perform a trick.

  Returning his attention to his Prince, Delmith was relieved to see that he had been wrong. Aritian did not even glance at the Human as he ran up the stairs. He paused once he reached the top, spinning back to face the group. “You do not know what it is like, sister!” He made the last word sound like a curse. “Being the third child. Having no responsibilities. No Purpose!” He pointed at Sarshia with a long, thin finger. “You have your duties, as does our brother. Yet, what have I? Nothing!”

  Their Princess let out a snort. “R
eally, Aritian? This old argument again? When are you going to mature and accept your place in our society?”

  “My place?” His face contorted with rage. “My place! I have no place. There is no place for a second son in the royal family. Always, there is one Prince and one Princess. Each has their duties. What are mine? To sit quietly to the side. To not interrupt. It is an insult! I should never have been born!”

  Twisting his head, Aritian gazed into the pool. “Yet this! This gives me purpose!” He shifted his body so that he stood with his back toward the group again and held out his hands. “With the power of the Mah’Sukai, I will no longer be pushed aside. Forgotten. Unwanted! I will be the savior of our people!”

  Delmith, so caught up in his Prince’s actions, had not noticed Sarshia creeping forward toward the dais. “Brother, come down from there. You do not know all there is to know about what it does. The Chi’utlan, the power it bestows to the Humans, this is not for us.” Taking another step forward, Sarshia held out one of her hands. “Come. Do not do what you are about to do. We shall go to our father together. He will understand.” After lowering her hands, she took another step. “All shall be forgiven.”

  “Forgiven?” Aritian hissed at Sarshia, though he did not turn to look at her. “You wish me to ask forgiveness for trying to save our people?”

  A tinkling laugh escaped their Princess. “Save our people from what, Aritian? The War of Power? That will not begin for thousands of turns of the seasons.” She now stood at the base of the stairs that led up to Aritian. “We both will have expired long before then. Even our offspring will have as well. Come…” She held out her hand once more. “Stop all this foolishness.” Her voice took on a harder tone. “It looks bad in front of the Grays.”

  Her words gained his attention at last and he glanced over his shoulder. “Foolishness?” A wicked grin sprang to his lips. “We shall see who the fool is.” And with that, he stepped out onto the thin sheet of Liquid Essence and vanished.

  A gasp came from both females, and Sarshia backed away from the dais. “Delmith! Tell me what has happened to my brother.” Fear skirted the corners of her words.

  “He has stepped between Planes, my Princess. Or, that is what I have gathered happens when someone enters an active Chi’utlan.” Delmith noticed Melisian shivering and he pulled her close to him. She spared him a small smile before looking back to the platform.

  Within moments, the layer of Essence covering the floor gathered itself into one spot. Delmith knew this was the spot were Aritian stopped when he stepped into the pool. Moving forward, he gained both of the females’ attention. “If this continues as the others—” A wail of pain ripped through the chamber before he finished his statement, causing the other two to flinch. Delmith raised his voice to be heard over their Prince’s shrieks of agony. “If this continues as the others, our Prince will start screaming in pain!” Turning, he watched as the Liquid Essence worked its way up, forming the shape of Aritian, who stood thrashing about as if on fire. “The screaming will stop as soon as the Liquid Essence covers his head!”

  True to his word, once the silvery liquid washed over Aritian’s mouth, the Prince’s shrieks of pain were silenced. An eerie stillness fell upon them all as they watched the silver form of Aritian thrash about in silence. Without warning, their Prince fell up into the pool above. The impact created no splash, just a few weak ripples radiating out to the edges of the pool.

  Remembering what came next, Delmith turned back to the others. “Cover your eyes. There is about to be a blinding flash.” Following his own instructions, he closed both his shaded inner eyelids and his clear outer protective lids. He then covered his eyes with his hands. The pulse of light flashed so bright, he felt it. Lowering his hands, he found that the room had gone black. Once the Chi’utlan began casting its silvery light once more, he reached out and pulled his mate’s hands down. “It is over.” Turning, he edged toward the dais.

  The pool overhead stood empty. The black and gnarled roots of the Chandril’chi tree laced across the dome-like area. In the center of the lower platform lay…

  Delmith covered his mouth with a palm and stepped back in horror.

  Where he expected to see his Prince on the dais, he saw something else. It had the same blue-gray tinged skin that all Blues had, though this creature’s hide looked more like leather than skin. It had the same basic body structure, as well. Although, whatever this monster was, it was not an Elmorr’Antien. Its chest looked bloated, with a ribcage pushed out two or three times further than normal. The creature’s legs, curled up beneath it as it lay in a fetal position, appeared more akin to those of a dog or horse, though bare of any fur. Grotesque, elongated arms, easily twice as long as any animal Delmith had ever seen, snaked away from its body, ending in sharp, claw-like hands. Boney black spikes ran the length of the creature’s hunched spine. And the thing’s head…The thing’s head looked as if someone had grafted a reptilian jaw onto an Elmorr’Antien’s face. A long black tongue lolled from between interlocking rows of jagged teeth and drooled onto the platform.

  A twitch. A jerk. The creature stirred. With terrifying slowness, it rose up and looked around. Opening its jaws, it let out a hiss-like ratcheting noise that reverberated off the limestone walls.

  In an instant, Sarshia stood next to Delmith and his mate. “What…is that? What happened to Aritian?”

  “I...” Delmith, truly at a loss, hesitated. “I…”

  Bending low, the creature squatted, then leapt into the air, landing at the foot of the Chi’utlan. Glancing down the length of one of its arms, it bent it as if unsure how it worked. It flexed its claw-like fingers next. The expression on its face could only be described as…curious.

  “Gralet, to me!” Sarshia’s shout snapped both Delmith and the creature from their thoughts.

  Letting out another of its clicking hisses, it ran at the three of them. With a scream, Delmith pushed Melisian and his Princess out of the creature’s path. He had time to fling up his arms before the monster slammed into him, driving them both to the ground. Out of sheer desperation, he managed to keep his hands pressed to the creature’s neck and chest. Saliva drooled from the thing’s open mouth as it stared down at him with large black eyes filled with malice. Delmith felt the hate emanating from the beast. Its tongue lapped out. Licking Delmith’s face, it left a thick, gelatinous smear across his cheek. With a jerk, the monster bit down, snapping its jaws less than a hand span from Delmith’s terror-filled eyes. Again and again, it lunged for him, trying to rend flesh with each bite. Yet, each time its jaws found only empty air.

  Delmith’s arms grew weary under the strain of keeping the monster from landing a killing blow. He could not hold off this creature’s attacks for much longer. He knew that his panic was the only thing feeding his strength now.

  Suddenly, the monster pounced away. As it leapt, a large steel blade whisked through the spot where the creature had just been. Reaching down, the Gralet’nar grabbed Delmith by the shoulder and slid him away. The Warrior Servant kept its sword at the ready and advanced on the monster with a brute-like determination.

  Scrambling further back, Delmith regained his footing. He watched as the big warrior pivoted to get within striking range. The monster danced to the side, staying out of the sword’s reach. It maneuvered, and the Gralet followed. Without warning, it lunged at the hulking Warrior Servant. Yet, before it closed, it changed direction and headed once again for Delmith and his group. Reaching out a long thin arm, it raked its claws across Delmith’s chest. Thick blue blood flowed freely from the deep gashes left behind.

  Without pressing its advantage, the monster changed direction once more and ran for the door.

  That was all Delmith saw before he collapsed to the ground. Melisian fell to his side, cradling his head in her lap.

  Sarshia, only a moment behind his mate, also knelt beside him. She held the Sight of the Essen
ce and he felt her healing touch as she went to work on his wounds.

  Not stopping her ministrations on Delmith, Sarshia pointed out the door. “Get after whatever that was. Alert the entire command if you must. I want that monster found and killed!”

  Delmith heard the Warrior Servant shuffle out the door and down the hall. Pivoting his head, he smiled up at his mate. “I am glad you are safe and well, my one. I would not have survived had you expired.” Weakness gripped him as his strength fled. His vision strained.

  “I am unharmed, my one. As you will be soon. There is no better healer than our Princess.” She sounded calm, controlled. He wanted to believe her.

  “Stay with me, Delmith.” His Princess’ strong, commanding voice filled his ears. “You mentioned something about the Chi’utlan being a gateway to another Plane. Could that creature have come through when Aritian entered?”

  “Mayhaps, my Princess.” His tongue felt thick. The room dimmed around him. “I…am not…certain.”

  He lied, however. He knew that creature had not come from another Plane of existence. He knew the moment he looked into its hate-filled black eyes as it tried to rip out his throat.

  Aritian did not allow some creature into our Plane. That creature is Aritian.

  Blackness overtook him, and the last thing he saw was the concerned face of his mate.

  Stone columns, so covered by vines and moss that they were not recognizable as being man-made, jutted out from the mire surrounding the relatively flat stretch of land the small party had traversed for most of the morn. The jungle buzzed with the sounds of motion. Birds with brightly colored feathers, long-armed animals swinging from tree to tree, rodents…and bugs. Bugs crawling everywhere. Long thin ones, small fat ones, hard-shelled ones, and squishy ones. Yet, it was the flying ones that were the worst—some were as big as Alant Cor’s palm! He flinched each time one of these monstrosities flitted past his face, though none of the bigger ones had ever landed on anyone.