Lupa's eyes narrowed. "And how's your mother, if I may ask?"
"Just fine, thanks, but she may take a turn for the worse before long."
"We can hope," Lupa responded with a feral smile. "Or perhaps we can do more."
"So, what did happen to Rabid?" Feldspar asked. She wished she was surprised to learn he'd been on the other side. She almost held him blameless... almost. Lust had betrayed them as much as Rabid. They should have known.
"He's alive and comatose right now," Ishtar answered. "Albright vamped him." A straight answer, more or less. She hadn't expected one. The Circlet's effect? No, not on Ishtar. "Albright's untrained, but I figure as vampires go, she's probably about third-order. No evil in her, by the way, just a shitload of vanity, but one can't rightfully dispatch a sentient for that particular sin. But speaking of sins that can prove fatal," she continued, moving to in front of Larry. "How about you? You want to fuck?" She captured Larry's crotch with her hand. "Wonderful... you do."
"The quest isn't over, Ishtar. The interdiction still holds."
Ishtar sighed as she released Larry. "I'm fully aware of that. Let's get your ass headed home so mine can get pumping."
"You're not coming?"
"Always with the straight lines... I kind of like Terra--think I'll hang around. Besides, it's not like you won't have company going back. Other than for your wolf, Hilldweller figures it's time for her to return and from the looks of it, prying Susan off her won't be any easy task."
"Belinda will try to stop us," Lupa put in.
"No kidding? Well, I figure one or the other of you can handle her. Afraid I've got to leave her to someone else--killing your mommy carries a heavy psychic burden."
"I'll try for her if you'll not return the favour with regard to my father," Lupa answered.
"Damn, I knew there was a reason I let him go. But now, since I'm not going with you guys, mind if I check those things out?" She took the towel that held the two smaller Adornments from Feldspar, put it on the table and gently unwrapped the Chain and Circlet.
"Beautifully crafted. These shouldn't be hidden away. They should be out where they can be admired." Ishtar took the Chain in her hands. "Here. I don't care what you think--this bauble suits you."
"Ishtar, don't..."
"Oh piss off, I'll do what I damn well please." She reached up and draped the Chain around Feldspar's neck, then picked up the Circlet. "This too. Gold brings out your eyes. Hey, mind giving me a break? You're too damn tall for me to fit this on you properly."
Feldspar knelt beside Ishtar.
"You could have sat, but this'll do. Damn, it's an almost perfect fit. Thought it would be. Give me a second and I'll adjust it. There... all hail, Glory." Said with her usual irony.
"All hail, Glory." Said without any. The walls resounded with the chorused refrain.
Damn Ishtar and her sense of humour--becoming the Prophesied hadn't changed that about her.
Feldspar stood. Everyone else in the Bent-Arm was already on their feet, eyes fixed on her. Waiting for her to say something? Waiting for her to ascend to the heavens?
"By all the gods, Ishtar, why did you do that?"
"Well someone had to proclaim your damn name. You're not the Prophesied anymore so you've got to be someone."
"I'm Feldspar, just Feldspar."
"You wish, soul-sister, you wish. In case you didn't get it, I hereby proclaim you Glory reborn."
"All hail, Glory..."
"Everyone sit, shut up and forget what Ishtar just did," Feldspar said. "She's Ishtar, by the way," she added in case anyone in the bar was is doubt.
By the time she finished, speaking only Ishtar, Hilldweller and Lupa remained on their feet.
* * * * *
Sian sensed a slice of time missing from her life. She'd been in the group surrounding Feldspar and Lupa when they arrived triumphant, then next thing she knew, sitting at the table. When in doubt, blame arcane mind-science.
"Does one of the Adornments have a mind-clouding function?"
The shamed look on Feldspar's face and the smirk on Lupa's gave her all the answer she needed. "I'm not sure I appreciate having my memory played with? Was it necessary?"
"Only for Feldspar's overweening modesty," Lupa responded adding a snicker to her smirk.
"We know you're by and large Glory, Feldspar."
The guilt on Feldspar's face developed a puzzled aspect. "Hilda says the residual is pretty much in Lupa," Sian added.
Judging from her face, that addition only increased Feldspar's bewilderment. Lupa, however, nodded. "Fragmented immortality. Makes sense to me."
"Never heard it called that before," Ishtar said.
"Probably not. Far as I know I just made it up. 'Split soul' has always sounded somewhat mechanistic to me. Misses out on the glittering aspect of life."
"Whew!" Ishtar wiped her brow. "You two are going to be an interesting team--mysticism meets sensuality."
"You think those are mutually exclusive qualities?" Lupa asked.
"I think I'm out of here," Ishtar answered. "Belinda knows where we are and soon as we leave she'll guess we got the Adornments." She turned to Feldspar. "I suppose to get back to Diluvia you'll need to return to where we came in."
Feldspar nodded. "Far as I know. That's where Twink will be trying to sense us. You're sure you're not coming?"
"Nah, like I said, I like this planet, sort of. Besides if we split our forces the bitch will have to split hers too. Figure she'll want someone to keep an eye on me, just in case. After all, I'm the damn Prophesied."
"I don't get it. Why can't this Twink just pick you up from here, or wherever?" Roger asked.
Ishtar shrugged "It's how the portals work. Our new resident intellectual might be able to explain it," she added, punching Lupa lightly on the arm.
Lupa smiled. "Think of the portals as an inter-dimensional lobster trap. It's fairly easy to slip into Terra, but hard to get out."
"Although from what you say, Belinda and Delarone seem to manage it just fine," Roger commented.
"Maybe a fairy's decided to aid them, although I can't see that." Lupa shrugged. "But I suppose it could be. Anyway, fairies have such great power as teleports, they can pull people through the portals backwards. So either it's one of them or someone else with an equivalent talent. No other explanation fits." Lupa smiled at Roger, then looked around at the others. "What did I just say? Feldspar? Ishtar? Why are you both looking at me that way?"
"Because you just redeemed anything bad you've ever done, wolf sister," Ishtar answered. "Bless you. Been good meeting you. I may see you around. Larry... you're coming with me."
"Yes ma'am."
"If that's okay with you, Glory."
"Just fine." "No problem." Feldspar and Lupa answered.
"Good. Then give us a couple of minutes lead and head back to where you came in."
* * * * *
Damn elf was going to get what was coming to him. More to the point, she was going to get what she'd wanted since she'd seen him. No one had wanted her to go off by herself, but she was pissed at whoever had put the damn curse of a vow on her head and was not going to put up with it any longer. They could do their damn worse. She intended to get it on, big time. And there was the whole vampire thing to check out, too. If Albright could do what she'd done to Rabid, what could the Prophesied manage?
Better for no one she cared for to be around though, just in case. Besides, none of them wanted to miss the showdown between Belinda bitch and Glory... pardon me, soul-sister... the showdown between Belinda and Feldspar... and Feldspar's new wolf squeeze.
So she'd brought the block of meat named Larry along to watch her back. Seemed more interested in her front. And her bottom. If Rabid didn't revive, Larry was her fall back plan. From what she heard, the cosmos wouldn't be poorer for missing him either.
Things at Maxine Albright's house were exactly as before with Albright taped into a chair and Rabid flat on the floor, bigger flaccid than most
males could hope to be erect. So doing him before the Adornments buggered off back to Diluvia might kill her... so what? Was there a better way to go than with the biggest member that would fit, rammed in you to the hilt? Not damn likely.
Rabid responded to encouragement, his eyes flickering open as he swelled in her hands. "Damn right, elf boy--you're going out with a bang, one way or the other." The fear in his eyes didn't stunt his growth in the least.
"Want I should do somethin' with the woman, boss?" She had to hand it to Larry--he knew how to toady.
"Nah, she can watch. Might prove instructive for her. She thinks she's hot stuff."
"I wouldn't boot her out the sack for eating crackers."
"You wouldn't? Here hold this." Ishtar pulled her top over her head and handed it to Larry. All eyes were on her breasts: his, Albright's and very much Rabid's. His tower leaned towards her, twitching. No wonder the elf had proven stupid enough to side with Belinda... when he got it up properly there wasn't much blood left for his brain.
She stripped off her pants and straddled Rabid. So much for foreplay. She impaled herself and almost got blown off when Rabid shot into her. This prematurely ejaculating buffoon was the great damn lover of song and legend? Pathetic. Well, the poets were always mouthing off about how sex happened in the grey matter upstairs, not the body so... she shot tendrils from her mind deep into what passed for the elf's brain and sucked in everything he had to give. His body heaved again. Her head exploded with golden bliss. Loudmouth balladeers had it right for once. Damn. Damn. Damn. Was that her screaming? Damned if it wasn't. Gods be praised... if this bliss was death then life had been worth living.
She opened her eyes. Still in Albright's hallway, still alive... her anyway; she didn't need to look down to know Rabid was gone. His life was hers, all of it Albright had left, which was most.
"Shit boss, youse even more gorgeous than you was." There was a damp patch at Larry's crotch. Still taped in her chair, Albright's eyes had gone heavy-lidded and sated.
"Was it good for you?" Ishtar asked. "I'm so happy. Next victim, please."
"Okay, how's about that guy at the window?"
"Guy at the window. Damn, I was wrong--it can get better." Bitch Belinda had sent Spinecracker to keep tabs on her. Ishtar beckoned to him with one crooked finger. If that didn't work, she'd run him down. But hold it... she didn't need to--eyes closed, she sent mind-tentacles out into Spinecracker's brain, wormed them between his lobes and squeezed. Her body spasmed as his psychogenic juices filled her to overflowing and she burst into ecstatic light. Damn and again damn, the universe trembled with rapture. She was the damn Prophesied and damn the damn gods, she was one. She looked down and saw her former body crumpled on the floor in the midst of destruction. Larry was untying Albright. Looked like he had plans. Sorry, but no... she flickered a thought that circled his head and squeezed. Bye Larry. Hmmm... sort of a nice after-spasm but damn dull. Oh well, onward and upward... or wherever.
* * * * *
They were on the University of Noronto ground, just outside the quadrangle when the world started to dance. Roger held on to Sian more tightly. "Don't often get earthquakes in Noronto, not ones you can feel anyway." All over the campus, trees were swaying without any breeze. "Or is this an earthquake?"
"I think it's my soul-sister becoming soul." Feldspar answered with a smile. "I wondered at her wanting to stay on Terra. She hasn't. Should have known she'd go out with a bang."
"I'd say the Prophesied's been fulfilled," Lupa chimed in.
Sian laughed. "You two are sick."
"Why thank you," they answered.
"Ishtar is dead?" That's how it sounded to Roger.
"She's an Immortal... not that we all aren't, but she's more so than most," Lupa answered. "I'd say she transcended, and I seriously doubt her soul will fragment."
"And she was the Prophesied after all," Feldspar added. "I'm going to have to read over that foretelling when I get back."
"Don't bother." Hilda Weller waved a casual hand. Was he the only one who wasn't taking Ishtar's death casually? "The Prophecy of Sylvester the So-called Great is the usual drivel. '...will lead legions of the unknown...' We aren't much of a legion, but so it goes. I continue '...the world shall crumble...' And that's hyperbole, but like you said, Roger, that was some earthquake. '...the mighty shall lose their might, and the lesser be raised to heights...' Sian, care to comment?"
"As one of the 'lesser' you mean? I feel lucky. Not everyone gets to play a role in a major prophecy and live to tell the tale."
Even Sian didn't seem to care. "Ishtar's dead, damn it. Don't any of you damn people give a shit about that?"
"Such language." Hilda Weller put a gentle hand on his arm. "Roger, you're the one who doesn't understand. Ishtar's a god... always was... she's just shed her body now and become pure spirit."
"I think we're all part of one great soul, ultimately." Sian said. "In the meantime, get your hands off my man before I scratch your eyes out." She smiled to show she wasn't as serious about that as she sounded. Or at least, Roger hoped that's what her smile meant.
"Point taken." Hilldweller sighed. "Roger, I'm sure Feldspar's going to miss her friend, and mourn her. But remember, grief is about loss... your loss. You don't cry for the person who's gone. You cry for yourself. To be honest, Feldspar's the only one here who knew Ishtar well enough to truly grieve. You're acting out, putting on an emotion you've been told you should feel. You feel guilty you can't mourn her and you're taking it out on us."
"Piss off."
"Anger is good."
Roger settled for a meaningful glower as his answer to that.
They reached the arch into the quadrangle where he'd met Feldspar, Ishtar and Rabid. Where it'd begun, for him and where he was certain it would end. That certainty immediately became solidified by the sight of Belinda, flanked by her two dwarves, waiting for them in the centre. There wasn't much around she could throw at them with her mind. Just as well, since Ishtar wasn't around to save them like she had with the chandelier. Then the arch... no, all the buildings surrounding the quadrangle, started to shake.
"Give me what's mine." Belinda's shout was thunder.
The statue of the university's founder tore from its moorings with a mighty crack, rose in the air and floated towards them. "Give me what's mine or I'll crush you."
Feldspar raised the Sceptre with both hands. "What's yours is nothing." A bolt of lightning shot from the tip of the Sceptre and shattered the statue to dust.
The rattling of the stonework ended as abruptly as it had begun. Belinda stood tall as Feldspar approached, Lupa by her side. The dwarves fell to their knees, arms stretched out to Feldspar in supplication. Belinda didn't seem to notice them, or Lupa. Her eyes were only for Feldspar. "Give that to me, child. Now." She extended a hand.
Feldspar held out the Sceptre. Belinda took it. "Feldspar, I always knew you were weak. Now... die." Belinda raised the Sceptre. Nothing happened. "I said, die." Nothing. "Damn it, die." Belinda rammed the hilt of the Sceptre into the ground.
A globe of light grew from it, surrounding Lupa, Feldspar and Belinda.
"Close your eyes. Look away." Feldspar's voice in his head. Or was it Lupa's?
He did close his eyes, and covered them with his hands. It almost wasn't enough. A wave of heat bowled him over. Burning hair? His? No, Sian's. He rolled over and smothered it between his palms and the ground.
Lupa, Feldspar and the Sceptre remained standing. There was no sign of Belinda, or the dwarves.
"Anyone who's coming, come." That voice in his head again... their voice? He took a step forward. A hand clamped on his arm.
"I'm staying. You have to chose between me and Glory."
"No, you have to choose between me and the Known. I want you in my life, but not at the cost of having you control it."
Surprise on her face? No… shock. Then a smile. Sian took his hand as he walked towards Glory.
* * * * *
It wa
s early evening on Diluvia, just as it had been on Terra. Planetsinger and the four surviving members of Adepts Five were waiting for them by the portal. Feldspar planted the Sceptre in the ground and slowly walked towards Square. First things first. There wasn't an easy way to say it. "Grunt's gone. She ascended."
Was that a tear? It couldn't be.
She turned to Planetsinger and Twink. "I think she sent Spinecracker and Rabid on their way before she went. And the Sceptre destroyed Belinda when she tried to use it. I suspect she is no more."
Adornments of Glory Page 23