Dark Rain: Book 1 of The Aetherium Saga
Page 33
‘No!’ Sin screamed as the last of Marduk’s atoms disappeared through the trees, and he turned in anger to Nanaya.
‘I am meant to take his head back to Tiamat!’ he roared, dragging her up roughly to her feet, ‘You knew where his weapons were, but not about his Ankida?’ Nanaya remained silent as he shook her, she was empty of thoughts, and numb of feeling. She only felt sorry for what Anubis was soon to experience on Earth. He threw Nanaya backwards into the water, and the cool wetness on her skin brought her to back to her senses, and she slowly stood.
‘I knew,’ she mumbled, ‘I knew all along. You cannot have his body. You never will.’ Sins eyes glowed blue in fury, and he pointed the bloodied blade of Imhullu at her face. She could smell Marduk’s blood. The only tell-tale remnant left of his death.
‘You fool! You will die for this,’ he growled at her, ‘Why? Why Nanaya?’
She managed a small knowing smile, ‘Resurrection…’ she hissed with intensity, and Sin roared in anger, thrusting Imhullu into her throat, then back out.
Crimson blood poured from her gaping wound, and trickled from the corners of her mouth, as she backed further out into the water. She could feel the aether in the pool swelling around her feet, but it was useless against the wound. It could not heal, and she did not wish it to. Blood was quickly drenching her white gown and she removed it. Letting it fall around her, into the water. She dropped to her knees smiling at Sin, revealing the gold painted symbols of an archaic spell on her chest, abdomen, and along her arms.
‘What is all that?’ Sin bellowed, waving Imhullu at the scribblings upon her blood soaked body. Then she felt herself falling backwards into the shallow water, and her sight faded to black. The last thing she heard was her own breath. One last exhale.
***
Beatrice had left to go and spend some time with Cormoran and his team to cheer herself up. They had ceased working in the snowy conditions, and sought shelter in Beatrice's house in the old village. Meanwhile, with Anubis packing her things upstairs, Finn and Lenore had resorted to watching the snow from the library window seat. They were lay comfortably together, with Lenore snuggled on his chest, gazing out at the Lundy snowfall.
A dark shape appeared in the frosty distance, approaching fast. Finn strained his eyes, and made out a figure racing towards them on a black horse. He sat up suddenly, startling Lenore.
‘What’s wrong?’ she puzzled.
‘Only one of them...’ Finn mumbled, staring out of the window with concern. Lenore peered out too, and upon seeing Emily’s distraught face, and her hasty, clumsy dismount, Lenore jumped off the window seat and raced outside to meet her. Emily was wailing, and stumbling in distress. Finn rushed to her and caught her, and Lenore knelt at her side.
‘Emile! What is it? Where’s Johnny?’ Lenore quizzed, concern rising in her mind.
‘We have to get inside!’ Emile urged, between heavy pants and cries, ‘They’re here!’
A piercing scream suddenly sounded from nearby, and they all turned to see Anubis dropping to her knees, in overwhelming despair. She had heard Emile’s shrieks and had made her way outside to investigate when she was suddenly overcome with the feeling of crushing loss. The sky darkened above her, creating a swirling black vortex in the clouds, which then opened, creating a hole in the snowy cloud cover. It revealed the beautifully bright core of the Milky Way. Orange and pink dusty chaos. The hole in the sky was directly above Anubis, as she wept on her knees below. And then, almost as fast as the hole was created, it began to release a strange rain. Falling upon Anubis’ wailing form was dark rain. Drops as black as soot painted ebony streaks down her pale skin.
Lenore ran to comfort her devastated friend, sliding into the circle of soggy black ground and embracing Anubis who sat at the centre of it, weeping and holding her heart, barely able to breathe. Holding Anubis firmly, to steady her, Lenore had a vague idea of what was happening. She had heard of this phenomenon before. But only once. From the fragmented remains of a Mesopotamian tablet.
“With the death of a god, dark rain paints the Chosen with ashes.” And that meant only one thing. Marduk was dead.
Lenore felt like crying along with Anubis. This cannot be. It is inconceivable. He was the hope and backbone of the resistance. But more than that, she thought, holding Anubis tight, he was the love of her life... her hero.
Anubis couldn’t believe what she was feeling, and she grasped at her heart. It was not painful now, but the sharp tug before had since left a feeling of gaping emptiness there. As if there was now a gaping vulnerable hole where her heart once was. Where the base of Marduk’s connection had been. Anubis had felt him die. Felt the last of his consciousness leave his body. Marduk… Marduk… she pitifully moaned, longing to hear his beautiful voice within her mind. She was drenched in the black rain, and she wiped a streak of the dark water across her white arm. Is this him? And she began to wail again, it all reminded her of the night she found Leo.
Am I to always suffer this way? Losing everybody I love? I’ve only had Marduk for a few weeks... properly had him. Shared time with him. Held him. Able to get a taste of the life we were to have together... I can’t imagine a world without him now. He means so much to his own people, but he means even more to me... so much more. He saved my life, and it was actually worth living when he was beside me... I am the cruel joke of the universe... Take me too whoever you are. Heart-breaker. God-killer. Take me too...
The low hum of skycrafts could be heard approaching, and three suddenly came into view from over the sea, followed by a larger carriercraft. Finn had already helped Emile inside and he was crouched in the open doorway, vigorously beckoning them to follow. But it was too late. The crafts were too fast, and within seconds they had surrounded Anubis and Lenore.
IGS footsoldiers jumped down, locked and loaded, aiming pistols at the black, sodden figures huddled within the pouring circle.
‘What the fuck?’ one exclaimed, looking up at the hole in the sky, and tentatively holding his hand out to catch a few drops of the black water.
Anubis could not hear Lenore’s cautioning words, and then all too suddenly Anubis felt herself moving. The IGS tore her from Lenore’s protective grip, and dragged her away, drenched, dazed, and weeping. The sky hole followed as Anubis as they pulled her along the ground, keeping its steady downpour upon her, and her captives.
Lenore was roughly lifted up to her feet, and swiftly ushered to the large carriercraft where she had restraints put on her hands and feet. The dark rain finally stopped, and Anubis watched the Milky Way hide itself away again, behind a curtain of grey snow clouds. Unable to stand from the shock, Anubis remained laying on her back while IGS footsoldiers fitted restraints to her limbs.
Marduk… Marduk… she lay still, in a circle of drenched black ground of Marduk’s atoms. And she ignored the world, staring up to the sky, defeated, letting the snowflakes waste their frozen kisses on her.
Ambassador Lenore’s Sumerian For Dummies
By Finnegan Cormack.
Amar-utuk Calf of the sun
Ankida Heaven-Earth Bond
Bappir Nibiran bread (tastes like a fruity, oaty dish-sponge)
Bel Lord
Buranun Euphrates river (one in Mesopotamia, one in Nibiru – Anunnaki like to recycles names apparently…)
Dingir God
É-kaš Nibiran drinking hall (a huge tavern, with games tables, and live entertainment)
Enûma Eliš Babylonian Creation Myth (basically, Marduk is the hero). Named after its opening line ‘when the sky above.’
Inim-gi Answer me
Isli-e The star Aldebaran (the location of old Nibiru)
Kašbir Nibiran sweet beer (tastes like perfumed drain cleaner)
Negeltu Awake
Šeg Obey
Šhilig Stop
Sukkal Messenger/Vizier
Ùruv Guard/protect (Name of the Anunnaki spacestation in our solar system, where the Watchers… watch)
Zàg Ch
osen (a human connected by cosmic energy to an Anuna – Anubis is Marduk’s Chosen)
Other phrases:
Sur-ba-ti ina ilani You are great among the gods
La-u parsuki Mighty is your command
Ngae erimmen-zu I am your servant
Silimma hemmen Welcome