Darken awoke with a start. Phoenix lay on top of him, still asleep. His mind remembered the night before, how wonderful it had it had been. He took a deep breath, letting her sleep. He was hungry--he could feel it. He pondered whether to get up and fix them both something to eat, but there was something so beautiful about this, about seeing Phoenix sleeping on his chest, her brown hair framing her angel's face, her eyes closed tightly in concentration, in dreams, who knew?
Yes, he thought, I'll stay here a little while longer.
* * *
Vertigo found him on the bow of the ship, crouched like a gargoyle on a cathedral. His silver wings, ragged but razor sharp, were folded behind him. His tail thrashed idly, like a snake slithering through tall grass.
Vertigo brushed her silver-white hair from her face. The wind was hot--it was always hot and arid here, or so Kirone had told her. She walked towards him, admiring how beautiful he was. . .a perfect expression of the need to destroy.
"Vertigo," Lanicrus buzzed. He did not turn around. "Does lady Kirone have need of me?"
"No," Vertigo said coldly, bitter because he recalled Kirone before him. "I . . .I wanted to see you."
Lanicrus growled something unintelligible and looked at her. His red targeting eye sent a beam of laser light at her chest.
"What do you want?" He asked, after what seemed an eternity.
"Lanicrus," she said, her voice betraying her vulnerability. "I . . .I'm in love with you."
Lanicrus breathed heavily. "Love?"
Vertigo wrapped her arms around his back, ignoring the small nicks his wings made on her skin. "You're what I always wanted--can't you see? You're what I've tried to create--chaos, death, and destruction. You personify all that I've ever wanted. Let me worship you. . .let me love you."
Lanicrus turned and stood up in one smooth motion. He made no move to free himself from her embrace. "I know nothing of love," he said flatly. "I know only what I must to succeed, to honor my lady Kirone."
"Is that all you can think about?"
"It's the way of things," Lanicrus said. The distortion in his voice had subsided--he almost sounded human.
"Kirone will use you--all you are to her is a slave," Vertigo said, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. "Do you want to give up what we have--what we could be--for the 'way of things'? Is that what your life is worth to you?"
Lanicrus looked at her. He moved his hand towards her. Razor sharp talons that could rend the hardest stone and the strongest steel caressed her face like the hand of a lover long missed. His eyes, red and baleful, shone a glint of regret.
"It is not my life to give away Vertigo--it never was."
* * *
Kael put the book away. He turned the seal on it and locked it. There, he thought. The last book has been written. All Darken will ever need to know is here for him now, whatever shall happen to me.
He put the book on a nearby shelf and left the library, nothing that his footsteps seemed to echo in the temple. He looked up, up to the only shaft of light from the outside and sighed wearily. No one but he was there. Liandra had gone to the mountains, to be trained by a dear friend of his. Before that, Darken had left in a hurry.
He rested his weight on his walking staff and let his mind drift. How long ago had it been?
How long since Tabris and Dhuron had come to him, seeking his aid and his knowledge of the Vampires to beat back a cadre of assassins from the Vampires home sphere?
How long since Darken had been born, under his guidance? How long since Dhuron and Tabris were murdered by the Vampires they had thwarted?
Too long, he thought. Too long for Kael, savior of the Seven Spheres. He had lived too long, seen and done too much. He made his way to his quarters, desiring nothing but rest.
* * *
Darken woke with Phoenix, who rolled off his chest and threw the covers over her head. He began to carefully and quietly shuffle off to find something to eat for the both of them. He carefully stepped out the door, and walked down to the kitchen, which was now on the same level as the bedroom.
Romanova must have changed the house again while she was dreaming, he thought, making his way into the kitchen. He paused and realized he had gotten used to this--to a lot of her quirks, not least of them being her propensity to alter her surroundings.
How odd, he thought.
He began to look in the cupboards, finding them completely bare, and realizing, with a burning sort of embarrassment that the kitchen was merely cosmetic--being a goddess, Phoenix didn't have to eat.
He sighed. Going back to bed was looking a bit better.
* * *
Yrouel let his wings gently glide him along the tops of the trees of Deianyra, heading towards the imposing Temple of the Fennec. From behind his mask, his face was itself a mask of concentration. He never let his own personal feelings interfere with his missions, and in this case, unfortunately for Darken, that meant he could not allow what he felt about Sandalphon's plans interfere with his mission to kill Darken.
Though Yrouel had to follow the orders of Sandalphon, in truth her served the King of all Angels. Yrouel was the 17th of his line. Each Yrouel was christened in the name of the Angel of Fear. Their assignments were to enforce the will of their King, no matter the cost. Yrouel was very good at what he did.
He quietly reached the top of the temple, his leathery bat wings folding close to him. He made his way in through a disused aqueduct, moving slowly, so as not draw attention. He knew not what Sandalphon's plans were--and Yrouel never asked, merely obeyed--but he had observed Darken while they had both been at court in Imperial City, and he had found him to be an honorable man indeed.
He followed the aqueduct until it opened into the library. He quietly moved over it, quiet as a shadow, until he found a dark corner. He wrapped himself in his wings and stilled his mind, concentrating.
The outer skin of his wings began to shift in color, blending with the surrounding area. His mind fell into a meditative state, still, but alert. If anything happened, or his prey was near, he would be awakened.
* * *
Sandalphon bowed deeply to Matariel and Sachiel, the both of them regarding him with respect. He did his best to restrain the urge to tip his hand now, but no, that would not be the proper time. Things were too delicate, too fragile to give into a outburst of temper.
"Rise Sandalphon," Matariel said. "Please, give us your report."
"Yes Majesty," he said humbly. "Our forces stand at 50,000 Seraphim angels, with another 10,000 in the Royal Guard. This makes us the most powerful standing army in the Seven Spheres. But I have since decreed we are to diversify our forces."
"Diversify?" Sachiel said. "If we have a standing army that strong, coupled with the assistance our allies have promised, why must we add even more? Our people are over-burdened with taxes as it is."
"We must make ready," Sandalphon said calmly. "Our intelligence has reported acts of aggression against the Mermen and the Dragons by Vampire raiding parties. Unlike their previous incursions, these seem to be more like battalion raids. One of my lieutenants, Bardiel, was killed in a recent raid."
"I see," Matariel said. "And what do you propose as a deterring measure?"
Sandalphon straightened, warming to his topic. "I have ordered four new Skyships built, far beyond what most of the other Spheres are commanding. These Warlock-grade ships will more readily deter the Vampires, should they dare to attempt an assault on Nycheladra."
"But we can fly already," Sachiel said. "We have no need of Skyships. And besides, with the Eternal Sun, Vampires will die after only a short time here."
"With respect my prince," Sandalphon began. "A swarm of Angels are capable warriors, but they do not, I think, strike as much fear in the hearts of an enemy as much as a very large Skyship, heavily armed and manned by a swarm of Angels."
"I agree with you Sandalphon," Matariel said. "We must guard against Kirone's return, and this is as good a way as any. How soon before the ships are ready?"
"The Warlock is nearly completed, my lord," Sandalphon said. "The other four flagships, the Sorcerer, Necromancer, and the Enchantress, are still under construction."
"I'll grant tentative approval, Sandalphon," Matariel said. "But tomorrow, I would like to see this ship."
"With pleasure, my Lord." Sandalphon said. "I will take you there myself."
* * *
Darken finally woke Phoenix at midday. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful lying there, that he almost hated to do it. She awoke with a slight groan.
"Mmmm," she said. "Do I have to get up?"
Darken shook his head. "Not really," he said. "But I have to leave for awhile."
Phoenix looked upset. He knew this wouldn't be easy, and in truth, he hated to leave her even when it was necessary. "But. . .why?"
"I have some thing I have to take care of, Romanova," he said, genuinely hurt. "I . . .want my family's blessings before we marry."
"You told me your family was dead."
"And they are," Darken said. His hand went to his Eagle Clasp. "These clasps contain the essence of their user's personality, even after they're gone. The old Clasp--the one I used to cleanse the Mother Machine--that was my mother's. Now it's in the Shrine of the Fallen. I want to go there, talk to her."
Phoenix felt a pang of jealousy. But she understood, or made an effort to, at least.
"I'll be back," Darken said. He leaned over and kissed her gently. "You know I can't be away from you for very long."
"You better not be able to," Phoenix said, smiling mischievously. "You have a lot of hard work to do when you get back."
Darken smiled as he opened the windows, poised to fly. He turned to her and winked knowingly.
"Romanova," he deadpanned. "I don't consider that work."
* * *
"Glad you two finally made it," Kirone said. She reclined in the center seat of the Skyshadow's bridge, wrecked though it was. Behind her stood Monstructor, and around them all were his mechanical beasts, crawling over the walls and machinery like carrion insects. Vertigo felt a touch of phobia, having them around.
Lanicrus stood at attention, awaiting his orders. He found his thoughts turning to Vertigo, though he knew not why. He could not care for her--he knew that, he was totally unable to, Kirone had seen to that. But what then was this unnamable feeling he had for her?
It was maddening. He knew nothing of love or beauty, and without them, his feelings were confused, conflicted. He felt like his mind was assembling a complex puzzle, only there were pieces missing.
Kirone held up a nearby book. "See this?" She said to no one in particular. "I stole this from the library of the Fennec, Kael, one year ago. Actually, I stole a lot of them from him. Books of spells, histories of the previous races, even details of the ancient technologies."
Vertigo shifted her feet and sighed. "And . . .so?" She gestured with her hands impatiently.
Kirone's eyes narrowed on Vertigo. If only I didn't need you, she thought. I'd so enjoy torturing you.
"The trouble is, I didn't get them all, Vertigo," Kirone said coolly, standing up and moving her cloak off her shoulders. "Chief among them is a volume on the Skyshadow's Sphere Jump machine."
"How do you know he even has it?" Vertigo sneered. "You said yourself you've been stuck here for six months. And even if it is there, how do you propose to get to it?"
Kirone threw her head back and laughed. It was a mocking trill, lacking even the illusion of humor. "I'm so glad you asked, Vertigo," she said. "You see, we can't jump Spheres--we don't have the power--but Lanicrus does. You two will go to Deianyra, and find the book. Take any books you find like this and bring them back here."
Vertigo smiled despite herself. Kirone's arrogance was insufferable, but getting away would be good, would give her a chance to talk to Lanicrus. "We'll leave at once."
Lanicrus nodded and genuflected before Kirone. Kirone looked at Vertigo expectantly, who silently grit her teeth, swallowed her pride and bowed.
* * *
Sandalphon returned to his Pagoda just as Dusk began to turn the skies of Nycheladra. As he crossed the main meeting hall, Alecto rushed into his arms. Sandalphon, surprised, caught her and smiled widely. He felt his uniform moistening, and realized she had been crying. Worse than that, he knew why.
"Father," she sobbed. "I just heard . . .about Bardiel . . ."
Sandalphon comforted her as best he knew how. He loved her very much, but he found words of comfort stuck in his throat, often drowned out, he suspected, by a lifetime of shouting orders.
"He died bravely, Alecto," Sandalphon said, trying to sound warm and sympathetic. He regretted the necessity of what he had done, especially given Alecto's reaction. "There would be no finer way for him to end his life. Truly, Phoenix will welcome him into the Land of Light."
"But there was so much I wanted to say," Alecto said, slowly quieting her sobs. "I . . .never got a chance to say goodbye. And after all the years he taught me, after all the years he'd been with us. I . . ."
Sandalphon held her close. "It's all right," He said. "After all, according to what he said before he left, your training was near complete. He was very proud that you'd come so far in such a short time."
"He said that?"
Sandalphon smiled. "Even before a battle, his thoughts were of you. As are mine, always."
He kissed her forehead and told her to lay on the couch while he took care of some things. He opened the gold doors of his office and went to the desk, the doors closing behind him. He stiffened a bit.
His eyes narrowed, looking for something. "You're here, aren't you?"
"Yes," a voice called, like the whispers of the dead.
"I did as you asked," Sandalphon said. "Everything is nearly ready. Matariel is coming to see the ships tomorrow. I suggest you have your people gone--it could raise questions, and I'm not sure how I'd answer them."
"He will not see us," the voice said. "We will prepare things, and he will be pleased at your work to protect your people."
"You say that with remarkable assurance," Sandalphon said. "I've taken an awful risk, seeking you out. If the situation weren't so grave . . ."
"He will be pleased," the voice said. "And if you have any reservations, remember--you sought us. You awakened us. And now there is commerce between us. Breaking that pact, or even thinking of breaking it would be a much more . . .awful . . .risk."
Sandalphon stiffened. "There's no need for threats," he said. "We both need one another. I need your support to turn my people back to a path to glory. You need me to help you fulfill your purpose . . .whatever it is."
"You will know in time."
* * *
Darken looked at the twin statues before him and tried very hard not to laugh. Phoenix--or at least the Angel's perception of her--framed the arch leading to the Crystal Forever, the holiest place in all of Nycheladra.
These robes, that headpiece, he thought. The woman I love wouldn't be caught dead in that. That's why she clothes herself so commonly when she's in the Spheres. He smiled, a bit bitterly, and was missing her already.
He walked inside the halls. The Crystal Forever was where the Angels interred their dead--after a fashion. The Eagle Clasps were kept instead of the bodies, which were burned. The crystals that housed the essence of their personalities were kept here. Thanks to the construction of the temple, the crystals' power was amplified, so it was possible to actually speak with your ancestors or anyone long since left the earth.
All around him, he saw the white-robed clerics; all of who shared a name. The Armisael, or life-angels, were the highest orders of Angel cleric. They kept their wings folded about them like cloaks, to demonstrate their humility. Seeing an Armisael in flight was a very bad omen.
He walked into one of the many small gardens, this one bearing the seal of his mother. His mother had been Royal Emissary once, and as such, was afforded a site here. Darken had also persuaded the Armisael to enter Maryna's crystal here. Thanks to his position with the Imperial Court, they had relented.
As he stepped by the crystal pillars framing the small garden, the two crystals shimmered. Two ghostly images appeared before him. His mother stood before him, wings snow-white, her usually stern face broke into a smile.
"My son," she sighed.
Maryna also had appeared, her purple robes immaculate. Darken found it hard to believe she was gone, she seemed so delicate, so alive. But he knew she wasn't--he had seen it with his own eyes, and daily cursed fate that he ever had.
"Darken!" She exclaimed.
"Mother, Maryna," he breathed. This seemed so much harder now than when he'd practiced it in his mind. "I came here because I want your blessing. I've . . .met someone. And I love her very much. I've come for your blessing--for both of your blessing."
* * *
Kael heard it--as scraping noise, like a sword on stone. He stealthily rose from his bed, his ears tracking the sound. His hand went to his cane, his senses clearing from the fog of sleep. He stealthily moved from his bedroom, still tracking the sound. . .following it down. . .down through the floors, through the anterooms--there.
The library.
He silently but speedily made his way to the entrance. He looked down the stairs and found two unfamiliar faces rummaging through his books. One was a woman, a strange one to be sure of it. Her hair was a shock of silver, her white armor cracked and scarred with the evidence of many battles.
The other was abominable to his eyes, like a skeleton of a hateful beat. Kael didn't need senses honed over time to feel the loathsome evil that permeated every atom of its form.
Worse than that, they were tearing though his books, though his collection of knowledge. Kirone? No, she was locked behind the gates. This was someone else, and they could not be permitted to take anything.
"STOP!" Kael cried, leaping down to meet them. He landed hard on his feet, but gave no evidence of the pain he felt creeping through his body. "This is not for you--whoever you are. Leave this place."
Vertigo and Lanicrus turned to look at him. Lanicrus' beam from his laser eye swept over Kael's chest.
"And what are YOU supposed to be, old man?" Vertigo sneered. Her hand went to her sword. Old or not, this green freak looked like he had seen his share of battle, and won.
"I am Kael, of the Fennec," he said, bringing his staff to the ready. "I am the keeper of the ancient knowledge. I cannot let you take these books."
"Old man," Vertigo said. "You can't stop us."
* * *
"So that's how it came to pass, I guess," Darken said, sitting on a nearby bench. "I don't know--I mean, I know how it sounds, love at first sight and all, but ever since I met her, ever since she touched my soul like she did, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Was it like that for you and my father?"
Tabris smiled, laughed quietly. "No," she said. "I thought he was a lumbering oaf of a Dragon who was too concerned with his precious Wardragons to notice me. But . . .something about him captured me. Phoenix knows, I've certainly never regretted it."
"So you understand, right?" Darken asked. "This doesn't sound crazy?"
"Of course I do," Tabris said. "Love is a river with strange currents. What took me to the mouth of the river is not what will take you there. So yes, I understand, and yes, I give you my blessing."
Darken sighed in relief. He had lied to them, of course, or rather withheld the truth--It wasn't a good idea, he reasoned, to tell you're mother (or even the spirit of her) that you were going to marry her god.
"What do you think, Maryna?" Darken asked, and immediately wished he hadn't.
Maryna was crying, despite being a ghost. "I don't know," she said. "I mean, I understand . . .things happen after you die . . .but . . .I . . .wish it could have been me, Darken."
* * *
Kael easily met Vertigo's sword thrust, ducking and feinting and blocking her with his cane. With a powerful kick, he sent her against a stone pillar. Vertigo let her sword fall to the floor, glaring with rage at him.
"I'll kill you, old man, do you hear me? I'LL KILL YOU!" She summoned her chaos fire and blasted bolt after bolt at Kael, who managed, though with difficulty, to dodge them all.
"I've heard that before," Kael said, landing in a ready position. "And I . . .have triumphed over them all."
"You never met me, before," Vertigo said. She summoned her power into a single fireball and hurled it at him.
He vaulted on his cane, somersaulting in mid-air. He pressed a button on his cane. He swept the crooked end of his cane, into the direction of her fireball. The device on the cane scooped the fireball up. Kael whirled it around in a circle and released it back at Vertigo. It struck her with ten times the force she had thrown it.
Vertigo dropped to the floor, unconscious. Lanicrus moved between her and Kael. He wanted to . . .to hurt Kael, but he couldn't tell why.
His red eyes narrowed on Kael.
* * *
"I know . . .I'm being selfish," Maryna said. "But . . .I never knew . . .I'd miss life so much."
"Maryna, I wish there was something I could say," Darken said, his heart heavy with sadness. "I grieved for you for a long time . . .but . . .but eventually I had to move on."
Maryna was still crying. "I know that Darken . . .It doesn't make it any easier, though."
"No," Darken said. "I guess it doesn't."
"But what I want most . . .is for you to be happy," she said. "So . . .I give you my blessing too."
Darken looked at the ground. "I know what that meant. And thank you, both of you."
* * *
Kael was tired, too tired to move. He felt his legs get heavier, feeling like stone. His breath was ragged, and he could barely stand. The girl had been no trouble, but this . . .creature . . .was too fast, too strong.
He stumbled, and felt the cane slip from his fingers. Lanicrus snagged it in his hands, breaking it like a toothpick.
Kael couldn't move. He felt exhausted. Then, suddenly, he knew this was the end. He looked up into Lanicrus burning laser eye and waited for what he knew was coming.
A red pulse traced the laser's path into Kael's head. Kael fell dead on the stone floor. Lanicrus searched for the book, and woke up Vertigo. In less than a minute, they were gone, and the sun came up, gently shedding a light on Kael, who had found rest at last.