by Maya Daniels
*Anzu is a giant bird with a lion’s head. It is so huge that whirlwinds and storms are caused when it flaps its wings* it says in the book. I’m happy I don’t have to come across it.
As I continue reading, I come across the part that changes everything I’ve ever thought or believed. The Tablets of Destiny are Enlil’s tablets. It is he who wrote the fate of everything on Earth in them, but they were stolen by Anzu, and Enlil’s quest to retrieve them started then and has lasted to this day. Well fuck! Now what? My mind starts swirling with the implications of this little revelation. Does he know what I was doing, and if so, why didn’t he grab the potions when we were on the boat? Is he aware I just killed his only chance of finding those tablets? Is that why he came for me, taking human form and showing up in my realm? Millions of questions are coming and going, and I feel dizzy as I notice I’m also hyperventilating. I need to calm down. He can’t know or I would’ve been dead by now, right? I read everything again, and it’s all there in black and white. I didn’t imagine it. I close the book. I need to get out, I need fresh air, or I’m about to faint.
“I see you found my book, my love.” His voice sends dread creeping into my heart. I look at him and smile, trying to breathe, hoping he will not notice my panic. “Are you still not feeling well?” He frowns and walks up to me, touching my forehead like I’m his child.
“Um, no. I’m still a little faint. It comes and goes, lately.”
I want to start fidgeting, but if I move a muscle, he will know something is up. I lean my forehead on his chest. At least he won’t see my face, which I’m assuming is as pale as the shirt he is wearing. He sighs as if I’ve done him a great favor, and he hugs my shoulders, kissing the top of my head.
“It’s okay. We have a lifetime together, my love, and I’ll make sure nothing takes you away from me now that you are finally here.” I shiver at his words, but he mistakes it for me not feeling well.
“Come. I’ll walk you to your room and sit with you for a while.” Before I can say a word, he bends down, picks me up and starts walking, with the cyborgs following behind us. I don’t say anything, just concentrate on my breathing: inhale slowly, exhale even more slowly. I send my energy out to feel his a little, keeping it subtle so he doesn’t notice. Even like this, his power almost takes my breath away completely. The book was not lying. He is the most powerful god. Not even Sin had this much power, and I realize I’m screwed. No matter what I do or don’t do, he’ll find out and I will die, probably a very slow, painful death, so I had better come to terms with it. With that realization another came, too. I want to live, I want to live so much that I will do everything I possibly can to get away from him. I just need to be a better player in his game, that’s all. It all comes down to that, doesn’t it? To be one step ahead of your opponent, regardless if they are friend or foe. It’s called the game of life. What a paradox. We reach my room while I’m lost in my musings, and he walks in, telling the cyborgs to wait outside.
“They can come in, I’m used to them now,” I tell him, hoping we aren’t alone. He looks down at me and closes the door in their faces with his foot.
“I don’t need an audience when I spend time with you, my love, you are for my eyes only.” His eyes are burning into mine and I shiver again. I guess my luck has run out. Don’t get me wrong, he is one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen, with his tall, lean figure and angelic face. The silverish hair gives him so much character and it looks so soft that one would wish to spend a lifetime running their fingers through it. But it’s those eyes. They are beautiful, bright blue, but when I look at them, they freeze me on the spot like icebergs. It feels like they can make me sink and drown. They feel merciless, and I’m not a fool. I know he’ll be merciless, too, if it comes to that. After reading that book, I can bet my life it’ll come to that. The only question is when. He puts me down on the bed and I try my best not to curl into a ball with closed eyes, hoping that he’ll disappear. I sit very still and watch him eying me very closely. I feel that he knows something is up, so I think of Inanna’s words, that to entice a man, a woman doesn’t need to lay with him. Then I think about the story I read on how she got her hands on the rules of the Universe. I’m not Inanna, vessel or not, but I can play ignorant with the best of them. I pat the bed next to me, and raising an eyebrow, he sits.
“That book I was reading is absolutely amazing,” I tell him, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“Is it, now?” he says, putting his head on top of mine.
“Mhm, I love how it describes you as the most powerful god in existence.” And, of course, what every god wants to hear, “I feel so safe knowing you’ll always protect me.” I curl up my arms around his.
“Of that, my love, you can be sure,” he says proudly. Yup, you guessed it. It works like a charm. Here comes the tricky part, and I’d better play it right. I can feel he is anticipating something.
“I got a little frustrated, to be honest, when I read one section,” I say casually.
“Oh?”
“Well, yes. I mean, you’re the most powerful, but I read that thing Anezy, Azezy...whatever it’s called, stole some tablets from you. I mean, how that’s even possible is beyond me.”
Act dumb, Al, just act dumb, I tell myself. The temperature in the room drops and you could cut the tension with a knife. Here goes nothing, I say to myself. Lifting my head, I look at him all wide-eyed.
“Oh, darling, I’m sorry, I didn’t think it’d anger you so much.” I kiss him gently on the lips. “I shouldn’t have read that book, it only got me upset, too.” I’m not looking away. I stare into his glacier eyes that are studying my face.
“You don’t remember what happened?” he narrows his eyes, but I’m
still looking at him with as much worry about his stress as I can manage in my eyes.
“Remember? I should remember something about that?”
I lean back like he has slapped me. I think it worked because his shoulders relax. He was strung like a bow, as I’ve now noticed. Looking thoughtful, he leans back on his arms.
“I thought you remembered all your past lives after the initiation, my love. Was I mistaken?”
“I only remember the places and times with little bits and pieces coming at certain times, but that’s all. I was told it’ll take some time for it all to be available to my memory.” That’s the truth. I don’t have to lie about it. I wish it wasn’t, it would’ve saved me a lot of trouble.
“I guess I was mistaken, then.”
He looks off into the distance and I see the wheels turning behind his eyes. We sit like that for a while. I let him daydream—or contemplate my demise, I don’t care as long as he’s not studying me. It’s unnerving.
“I see no harm in telling you about it, my love,” he says out of nowhere, and it makes me jump a little. “I was drunk and sleeping when those tablets were taken. By the time I realized what happened, it was too late. They were hidden in a different realm, but I have time. I will find them.” There’s a promise in his voice, a promise and a threat.
“I have no doubt you will,” I tell him, smiling at him like I can never doubt what he is capable of. Well, to be honest, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Not for me, at least. He smiles sweetly at me, and
I’m on high alert again.
“You’re different this lifetime, my love. I think I love you more like this.” He rubs my thigh and I try not to flinch.
“What? Am I more pretty this time?” I wink at him. Just play the role, Al, and you’ll be okay, I tell myself.
“Oh, no, you are always the most beautiful thing I own,” he says proudly, and my stomach twists. I’m not a fucking object. He throws his head back and laughs, and I look at him, confused. Did I just say that out loud?
“Oh, how I love your temper. I knew I’d see the fire in your eyes when I said that.” He keeps laughing and I do my best to smile at him. “You still have that fire in you like always, but you’re more
obedient in this life.” He smiles brightly and I want to slap him, but I sit still, not moving a muscle. “I see there is more color in your cheeks now. Maybe my being near is good for your health,” he adds, and pulls me down next to him. I lift myself up and he frowns.
“It’s better when I sit up. Laying down makes me feel sick.” I put my hand on my stomach like I’m about to vomit. He twists his lips in distaste on that and stands up.
“We need to get a healer or someone to look at that. I am a patient man, but even I don’t have that much patience,” he says seriously, and I feel the dread coming back. “I’ll let you rest today, but tomorrow you sleep in my bed,” he says sternly.
I nod my head like an idiot. What else can I do? There’s a commotion in front of my door and he frowns, taking long strides, flinging the door open. There is nothing, just the cyborgs standing guard in front of it and one of the women that brings me tea in the afternoon, but I think it’s too early for that. She is covered from head to toe like all the others that serve around here. She bows almost to the ground to him and I look at the guards. They look strange, like the armor they wear is not perfect like it always is, and the silver masks they wear on their faces are not right. Everyone around me is covered. Goddess forbid I see another living being. No one moves or talks. He turns towards me.
“I will go, my love. I have things to do, but I will see you tomorrow night.” He stares at me. I look at him with as much warmth as I can pretend I have.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I smile.
“I sure hope so.” His eyes are burning the dress off me, but I sit still. “I’ll tell you the rest of the story then,” he adds.
“What story?” I frown. I have no idea what he means.
“The story about the tablets,” he says and starts walking out. As I was about to take a deep breath because he was leaving, he stops without turning. “And how you helped Anzu steal them from me.”
The breath stops in my throat, and with that he closes the door behind him. I am one dead witch tomorrow night. I know it as well as I know my own name. Fuck!!!
15
The door opens and the serving lady walks in slowly, like she’s trying to do her best not to be seen. I know the feeling too well. She walks up to the small table, setting down the cup and pot gently.
“Thank you,” I say through numb lips.
She turns around, and instead of looking at me, she scans the room and starts walking out. They never talk to me. Maybe they think I’m as evil as their master. Tears start rolling down my face as I see the end of me in front of my eyes. The door opens, and as she is walking out, the guards come in to take their places. Now I know why I have guards. The serving lady is still at the door when two more walk in, and I frown at them. I guess I’ll have more people watching me until tomorrow. He wants to make sure I don’t try to run. The door closes and we all stand still for a second until one guard removes his mask and there in front of me is Derik, standing like an avenging angel with swords strapped to his back. I’m hallucinating. The ladies pull their coverings off and step aside from behind him, and I see Meda and Remi, with determined faces, and Jezzinta, from behind them, running to me, flinging herself on the bed.
“We need to go. Now!” says Derik, and I finally realize they really are here.
“Oh, dear Goddess, what are you guys doing here?” I raise my voice, then slap my hand on my mouth. The last thing I need is for someone to see them. “You have to go, or we’re all dead!”
The other guard removes his mask too, and Philip smiles at me. They’re crazy. We’re all doomed now.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” Derik says.
“You’ve lost your mind. He knows about the potions, I can bet my life on it, and I was just told the tablets got stolen because I helped. You all need to leave!!” I start pushing Jezzinta towards the others. I need to make them leave. “How did you even get here?” No one can pass through the portal if he doesn’t allow it.
“We’ll tell you on the way. Now let’s move it! We don’t have much time!” Derik grabs my arm, and after a second of hesitation, I follow. They’re here anyway, and I know I’ll die tomorrow, so I might as well try to escape.
“Meda figured out how to open a new portal in this realm. It’s not really steady, but it does the job,” Jezzinta whispers next to me.
“I can’t believe all of you are stupid enough to risk your lives to come here,” I whisper back, but I feel like crying from happiness. They came for me.
“Do you even know where we’re going?” I ask Derik, who just looks at me and grins. He looks different—like he’s lost a little weight, maybe, it’s hard to tell. He’s a large man with his wide shoulders and tall physique. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still the same, with his long hair tied with a leather strap at the base of his head, the five o’clock shadow in place, but there’s an intensity in his eyes that wasn’t there before, like something has awakened in him while I was gone, and there’s an energy around him that feels like the sort of danger that makes me shiver, but in a nice way.
Remi is walking first and raises her hand for us to stop when we reach a corner in the hallway, like we are a marine squad. It makes me want to laugh, but I’m trying not to breathe. Philip slides from behind us and stands behind Remi, I guess to protect her, and I’m wondering if this is the end of our escape. We stand there too long for my liking. A guard comes from around the corner, and as I open my mouth to scream—don’t ask me why I thought that was a good idea—Derik grabs my mouth and Philip whacks the guard with the hilt of his dagger that I hadn’t seen until just now. He grabs the guard’s unconscious body and drags him behind the velvet curtain of the window across from us. I pull Derik’s hand from my mouth and he’s looking at me like he is expecting me to scream again. I hit him on his chest with the back of my hand and he smirks. I’ll tell him about smirking later, if we live.
We continue on our way, twisting left and right until we reach the hall with tapestries hanging on every free inch of the walls. I don’t like this hall. I’ve avoided it the entire time. Halfway through it, Remi stops and pulls one tapestry away to uncover a small arched wooden door. Now I feel stupid for not looking for a way out. She opens it and we all walk through it one by one, with Philip holding guard. He walks through it last and closes it behind him. I finally take a deep breath.
“Are we safe here?” I whisper, and Remi just shakes her head. I guess I’m too optimistic. Quietly we walk for who knows how long through moldy-smelling halls and my feet are squishing through mud in my sandals, but I don’t care as long as we get out of here. I hold my hand on Derik’s back so I know where I’m going. It’s getting darker the deeper we go. We come to a point where you can’t see anything, so I lift one palm up and call a small flame to at least let us see a little. Jezzinta is behind me, so as soon as the flame comes up, everyone in front of me turns around with round eyes and Jezzinta grabs my hand, pushing it against the wall to extinguish it. That’s when I hear an angry thunderous scream echoing so loudly that you can hear it through the entire realm, and Meda for the first time says out loud, “FUCK!” My entire body goes cold. What have I done?
“We need to hurry!!”
Derik grabs my hand and starts running, dragging me behind him as I’m tripping over my own feet, with everyone else following as fast as they can. The air feels much colder now, and I don’t know if it’s because we’re very deep underground or because the god whose realm this is is mad as hell and will kill us all slowly and painfully. We’re running literally for our lives for what seems like forever. Finally we reach an open cave-like area in all these twisting tunnels. As we walk in, I see a small lake of still water that glows like it has a thousand stars in it. The light reflects on the walls, making them look like hundreds of portals and I can’t help but admire them.
“Meda, hurry, open the damn portal,” says Remi.
Meda stands in front of the water, waving her arms. After a few seconds, a porta
l starts opening, and I feel excitement growing in me. We’re going to get away! Thundering footsteps of a lot of feet can be heard in the distance, and my heart feels like it’s going to fly out of my chest. We’re so close, please, Goddess, let us get away. Please, I’m begging in my mind. As the footsteps get closer, the portal gets wider. The ground starts shaking, and I look around, wild-eyed, thinking Zack would show up any second, but instead, lots of rocks crumble, sealing the doorway to this cave, and I see Jezzinta smiling.
“That should hold them back a little,” she says, and I smile at her. Smart thinking.
Finally the portal is wide enough, so we all start walking to get through it. Remi looks at me and goes first with Philip right behind her. I push Jezzinta through it before me and wait for Derik to walk through, but he pushes me first. I wanted to wait for Meda. I have one leg through the portal when there is a large boom! and the rocks blocking the entrance explode everywhere. As Derik throws his body into mine, I grab Meda’s hand and all three of us fly through the portal together, but before it closes, I hear Zack’s roar of fury.