by SC Huggins
The Matriarch stared at her Mother. “Is that the real reason you want the stone destroyed?”
“You are worrying too much—”
“Have you always known you will need Dejis?” the Matriarch shook her head. “How did you use the great black stone? Why do you need another life form?”
The creator sat back, interested to see how the Matriarch would respond. That was the advantage in removing her power of foreknowledge. The Dejis could surprise her with their decisions.
They certainly hadn’t disappointed her as far as surprises went, she thought in renewed pain as she recalled Yas’ action.
“The powers of the—”
“A dump for powers of dead witches,” the Matriarch interrupted, “that might go out of control and destroy Uwan. How do we destroy an object that has grown so powerful?”
“Only a new life form—
“Apart from you, Mother—”
“Half-khorn,” The Ancestral Mother continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “half mortal can destroy the stone—”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Just destroy it yourself so Yas won’t get his hand on it—”
The Ancestral Mother vaulted up, her body shook with barely restrained anger. The Matriarch flinched. Gust of gold left her creator’s mouth and nostrils in big puffs as she attempted to bring her anger under control.
“I have answered your questions as patiently as I can,” she began tightly, “do not question my decision. My going up against Yas, my own creation,” she spat, “is an insult to me.”
She sat down calmly.
“I will create another life form. Half khorn, half mortal,” she continued, “ancestral creatures feed on mortal blood but a half mortal half ancestral blood will be poisonous—”
“Why?”
The Ancestral Mother hesitated; she didn’t need to answer this one. And she hadn’t needed to push the Matriarch before the others for their ridicule. Reading their reaction to the prophecy had been entertaining.
“I created it that way,” the words held a slight reprimand.
The Matriarch drew up sharply. She stared at her Mother, hard.
“Did—”
“What?”
She looked away uncomfortably. “Did you plan all these from the beginning? I mean, you already know how you want to destroy—”
“It’s the reason I am seated on the throne why you float and bow before me,” she said tightly.
The Matriarch bowed low. “I am worrying too much. My apologies Mother.”
“So, we need a half mortal, half khorn creature to destroy the black stone.” the Matriarch whispered.
“Where do we find such a person?”
“We will create one,” the creator said.
“A half mortal to destroy the black stone?” The Matriarch’s tone was heavily laced with skepticism. “But he still needs power.”
“Isn’t a Deji stronger than a half-mortal half-khorn creature will ever hope to be?” she asked.
“More reason why Yas and his Yasre will come to regret their actions and the rest of you will believe in me,” she said fiercely. “I will imbue him with power to execute this assignment.” The Ancestral Mother leveled her gaze on the now pacing Matriarch. “What is it about this arrangement that bothers you?”
The Matriarch paused. “I don’t know. You gave Yas the key, and now we need a different life form, one lower than a Deji to destroy the black stone?”
The Ancestral Mother studied her Deji closely. “You are questioning my judgment.” It was a statement.
“No—”
“This part-khorn, part-mortal creature is a risk.” Mother smiled coldly. “Victory through it will be uncertain, though the abilities be there, the creature must develop and harness the power on its own; power to rival the Dejis’ and put Yas to shame.”
The Matriarch’s shock was palpable. The last time Mother saw such an expression was a Sypa growing into her wings. And even then, the emotion was one of surprised wonderment.
“You-you...” she sputtered.
The Ancestral Mother leaned forward. “Don’t give it too much thought,” she soothed. “I created you; there will be no mistake with th—
“Even the survival of this new creature is as uncertain as ours,” the Matriarch snapped.
Tense silence followed her words and she dropped her eyes from her creator’s too knowing ones. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You were once mortal,” The Ancestral Mother began dryly, you should know very well life is uncertain.”
“Why not a Deji?” the Matriarch interrupted a tad harshly. “Why not just destroy it? You can.”
Mother’s eyes narrowed on her harried-looking Deji. "Only a powerful half-mortal half-khorn creature can destroy the black stone," she drew out her reply. “Do you have these features Matriarch?” Her words rang with censure.
“No,” the Matriarch lowered her eyes in contrition.
“Your second suggestion is too easy. I am going to allow every part of this rebellion play out fully, without interfering.”
The Matriarch was unsure of the creature’s ability to handle such power. If it couldn’t, the power would destroy it. The Matriarch expressed her concern, “The power could prove too much for this life form.”
“It could,” The Ancestral Mother agreed with great calm.
“A Deji cannot wield such power,” the Matriarch prodded about as subtly as a mortal entering the ancestral realm for the first time. She needed to know just how powerful the creature would be.
The Ancestral Mother reclined on her legless throne. It swayed as it floated through the innermost ancestral holies.
At her hesitation, the Matriarch felt a twinge of shame and struggled to keep her eye on Mother. She knew The Ancestral Mother loved her perhaps more than all others, and the feeling was mutual. It was also true she was taking The Ancestral Mother’s feelings for her for granted. It was not in her nature to take undue liberties when she should not.
She retreated.
But to her surprise, Mother quietly answered, “Yes.”
Shock rendered the great Matri arch speechless for a moment. Forgetting her place, she gave a short laugh. “It can never handle it,” she said with confidence. The power would be overwhelming regardless of how special he was. A selected mortal witch found it a challenge to control its powers, and already this new life form had two things against it- it was not a Deji and the powers would be too much for it to handle.
The Ancestral Mother raised a cynical eyebrow. Calmly, all she said in reply was, “Let’s watch and see. Isn’t that the greater part of what we do?”
“Yes,” the Matriarch said, “but wouldn’t Wereu have been a better choice?” The madwoman Wereu was the strongest earthling witch to descend from the Matriarch’s lineage. Now a Sypa, she was the closest to a half-mortal half-khorn life form. Not that she was jealous, but with its half-khorn part, the possibility of controlling its powers would rise a bit. Well, maybe a little. But still, no one except The Ancestral Mother could handle such power and not buckle under its weight.
She eyed The Ancestral Mother with speculation.
The Matriarch shrugged. “Never would even she be able to handle it, and neither can this life form,” she couldn’t resist adding.
Not giving anything away, The Ancestral Mother returned the speculative gaze of the Matriarch with a steady one of her own. “At least be honored he will be from your lineage and give him the prayers he will need to survive the responsibility,” she chided.
The Matriarch bowed in homage to the great Mother - a formality the creator had never demanded from her - and walked away wracked by renewed doubts about Mother’s decision.
Well, she could have been chosen.
YAS DECIDED THAT WEREU, the new Sypa would not join the meeting. Neither would Divina nor the Matriarch; they were just too close to The Ancestral Mother. There must be no mistake selecting the conspirators since they would become the rul
ers of the new order.
“No, they will not be joining us,” Yas informed the seven.
Ager rose and floated towards Yas. He stopped before the seated Deji and met his eyes. Reminding Yas why they had never been friends; not as mortals and certainly not as Dejis.
“Then why are we here ‘friend’?” Ager’s lips twisted contemptuously on the last bit.
Yasre sat back to meet Ager's eyes. He bore the weight of that stare as the Dejis followed their exchange with interest. Selecting Ager was a big risk, perhaps a mistake even. He would soon know, but he knew picking Ager, a powerful witch in their time was a genius move on his part. Ager was not too close to The Ancestral Mother; he was a ‘more’- an influencer, a Deji who could bend people to his will. He was just too cunning not to be a part of his scheme. For if left out, Ager would surely have discovered on his own and reported to The Ancestral Mother, foiling it. Yes, he had done right picking him. Now, all he had to do was convince him. They had never been friends, but Yas was hoping they set aside their differences for now.
“We are here to change the order of power,” he announced softly, white eyes still holding on to Ager’s.
“You want to rearrange The Ancestral Mother-Deji-Sypa-Mortal order to something else?” A Deji asked, each word heavily laced with skepticism.
“Yes.”
It was Ager’s turn to lean back. He studied Yas with his head thrown back slightly. Yas waited, the other five waited.
“Ah!” Ager breathed out softly, but a light of grudging admiration grew in the white of his eyes.
Yas felt a frisson of hope. As their eyes held, something passed between them. Something that caused Yas to wonder if, perhaps Ager already knew of his scheme, or had even thought of it himself. Ager turned away.
Yas turned to the five. “We will change the order of the universe,” he announced confidently. This time, his voice rang true. The statement was neither a suggestion nor a question; it was an affirmation. Yas smiled.
He allowed the group their look of amazement and some of fear before he continued. “Why are we here? What are we doing here in the ancestral realm?” He asked in a challenging tone.
“Nothing,” he answered. Yas met each of their gazes. He watched a ripple run through them and smiled with satisfaction. They were listening, and thinking. He hadn’t thought he would get this far.
“Why did you pick this time to ... rebel?” Ager asked with a smirk.
Yas turned towards Ager, knowing his plan would die or live on his next words.
“Yes.” He ignored the gasps around him and addressed Ager. If he could draw him to his side, the others would follow. From nowhere, a feeling of envy threatened to overwhelm him, but he tamped it down ruthlessly. He shouldn’t be jealous of Ager’s influence. There was nothing he could do about it, anyway; it had been like this even during their time as mortal witches.
“Yes,” he repeated even more sharply. “Don’t mistake it for anything else. This is a rebellion and not a move to make life better for mortals,” he spat. “How have they helped me that I will incur Mother’s wrath on their behalf?”
Shocked, some rose in protest. Speechless, others opened and closed their mouths soundlessly. While it had been exciting to watch Yas challenge Mother, they had not questioned his motives for doing so.
“We serve no purpose here; we do nothing.” Yas continued in a fierce voice ripe with conviction. “Are you not tired of floating around the ancestral realm, aimlessly? The only time something happens here in the ancestral realm is when a new Sypa crosses,” he sneered the last words.
“But we all dreamed and looked forward to dwelling in the ancestral realm as mortals,” a voice said.
The others absorbed this for a moment. And as the impact sank in, another pointed out, “Now we are here, warmly cocooned in our gift of immortality, living a life without struggle in the ancestral realm and you want to leave?”
“No, no, not leave.” Yas immediately moved to put those thoughts far from their minds. “We will subdue it,” he said.
The Dejis became silent as they absorbed the shock of his words.
“What of The Ancestral Mother?” The words were uttered in dazed whisper.
“You will destroy her with the black stone,” Ager answered.
Some gasped, some rose, others only fell silent, speechless. It had been on their minds, but they had been afraid to say it out loud; lest it became a reality.
“Impossible,” someone whispered.
“Unthinkable.”
“That’s the plan, isn’t it?” Ager taunted Yas.
“But the stone does not exist,” a Deji reminded them.
“You told The Ancestral Mother you will use the key, not the stone to rule. You never mentioned anything about destroying her.”
Yas laughed. “Why stop with the key when the stone exists,” he said, looking to Ager as he smiled slowly. “Tell them,” he commanded.
Ager looked back without a reply.
“I’m not sure I want to be a part of this,” the whispered declaration came to his left, but Yas was focused on Ager.
Yas held his breath, clenched his fist and waited tensely. He barely managed to hide his sigh of relief when Ager finally spoke. “The Matriarch has never made a mistake since I have known her.”
A Deji sighed loudly in the ensuing silence. “I don’t care how much you know her,” he laughed maniacally. “What you are suggesting is suicide,” he laughed shortly. “Immortal suicide, if such a thing exists. We Deji’s should not engage our creator in a battle—”
“A fight for power,” another inserted.
“Based on what? That the Matriarch, a creature of the creator never makes mistakes on powers gifted her by the same creator?”
Ager shrugged with a meaningful smile. “When you look at it that way...” he trailed off.
Yas clenched his fist and tried again. “What is a creature without dreams? If you are content to float about here for the next decade, a millennium, forever, you are welcome to it.” He paused. “I am not.”
Ager spoke to the skeptical Dejis, “The Ancestral Mother was too quiet. She never said the stone didn’t exist, she—”
“They said the stone didn’t exist,” A Deji interrupted.
Ager stiffened and turned to pin the Deji with a look. “Who?”
“Who what?”
“Who said it doesn’t exist?”
The Deji looked away.
“The stone exists for two reasons; the Matriarch never makes mistakes, not once, certainly not three times. Our creator never said the stone didn’t exist. If anything, we said so. We were too quick to condemn the Matriarch for her vision of a stone that just could possess enough power to destroy the creator,” he concluded.
“But why has Mother done nothing?” another asked.
“Yes,” Ager agreed softly, “Mother is yet to reply and she didn’t even banish you to Uwan or somewhere else, anything, you still do as you please.”
“She did say she will not interfere.”
“That is why we have a chance,” Yas said in a strong voice.
Silently, they studied each, both shocked and excited by what they were about to do.
“What are we to do now?” a Deji asked.
Yas leaned forward. “If we all agree we don’t want to spend our immortal lives keeping The Ancestral Mother company, I will outline our plan of action.”
He looked at Ager. The two dominant Dejis studied each other; then Yas rose to stand before Ager. “Can we do this together?”
Ager gave Yas a considering look. “I have hated you for so long that I don't know if we can work together.”
Yas went tense.
Ager rose and met the eyes of the agitated Deji. “But I believe we can fight together,” he finished.
He turned to the others. “Before you make this decision, you must remember the consequences and decide for yourself. If we fail,” he smiled, “The Ancestral Mother will banish us from the an
cestral realm and cast us to the dungeons below Uwan to suffer for eternity.”
His voice turned grim. “If we win, we will have changed the order of the universe as it stands and be part of the greatest victory ever; we will never witness another of its type. We will become not just Dejis, not only immortals but rulers in our own right, with the power to control everything. Perhaps even The Ancestral Mother will be in our control.”
“Why have I joined? I love a good fight,” he smiled wryly, “have been deprived of both for too long and learning that Mother have destroyed two worlds before ours makes me very uncomfortable. I’ve made my decision, and now you must make—” Ager looked over Yas’ downturned wings and suddenly burst into laughter.
“Unbelievable, look who’s about to join the rank of the rebellious,” he nodded over Yas’ wings.
The Matriarch stood on the threshold.
The assembly was shocked into silence. They stared at her, each struggling to come to terms with her presence, in their camp. Most of them grew fearful of her intentions, for now Mother would know they had chosen Yas.
Why had she come? Yas wondered. He stared into her eyes and waited, uncertainty gnawing at his insides. Was she here for them? Or the creator?
“Are you for your creator or us?” he asked aloud.
Everyone waited with bated breath for her answer. To have the Matriarch join their rank was an affirmation of power the likes of which none expected. While it was good to have Ager and Yas, the Matriarch was a steal.
“You will know soon enough,” she answered.
Yas turned to the remaining doubters. “You heard her.” He sat down and the Matriarch entered.
Ager smiled. “What a sight for my eyes. Before now, I would have said I am never surprised. How fitting you are the one to leave me thunderstruck.”
The Matriarch ignored him and turned to study the others; she was surprised at the Dejis who were on Yas’ side. As she studied them, she realized how shocked they equally were to see her here, with them. The Matriarch took a deep breath and spoke. “As surprised as you are to see me, recent events prompted my presence before you.” She paused. “I no longer trust Mother.”