Erya of the Silent Glade
"Are you finally going to tell me what's gotten into you or do you need even more of this… whatever this is." My nails produced a sound like cracking glass when I tipped against the almost empty ceramic bottle. The clear liquid inside tasted like a mix of soap and gasoline, but it served its purpose. Drunken hot and with a pinch of some spice or the other it seemed to entirely bypass the stomach and rose to the head like magic.
"Sometimes ignorance truly is bliss," the angel mumbled darkly and wriggled her tails deeper into the cushions she was resting on. Then she reached for the bottle, ignored the glasses and downed the rest in one generous gulp. "Damn it, even if I want to, I don't feel a thing." And she had tried. Believe you me. Ever since we had arrived in some, admittedly fancy, restaurant or the other she had been busy downing every form of alcohol she had managed to get her hands on. From cocktails to the high octane rice wine, nothing had been safe. At first I had thought she was simply trying to blow off some steam, but when she had practically begun a race to see how many bottles she could get through I had become suspicious. Superficially Cassandra seemed just fine. She had responded to questions and had asked about my family, whom I had admittedly given a wide berth up until now, but her smile had never reached her eyes. Even when the waiters had been complimented out the door of the séparée and the beast kin had finally been able to show their tails she hadn't relaxed. Something was up and considering how closely Ahri clung to her and how affectionate she acted it was probably something bad. Really bad.
I was torn from my musings when the angel's glowing eyes focused on me steadily. Without the slightest slur she said: "if you really want to know, I'll tell you. But trust me, you actually don't." Absentmindedly I reached for the last crumbs of a succulent, red and yellow dish I had never even heard of before and listened to the foreign music that was playing from what I now knew to be a speaker. The melodies were strange and simple, but surprisingly pleasing. Sour and sweet the breaded meat slid down my throat. If the circumstances had been different, I would have thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
The planet… Earth, didn't lack in amenities at all and, from food to drinks, everything had been delectable. Not to mention how well mannered everyone was. And clean. I might not have been cursed with a nose like a kitsune or a dragon, but even I could tell that the people here didn't smell. In general. Of course there were some exceptions to the rule, but considering how many people we had seen, those had been few and in between. And then there were the drinks. Serving alcohol had been elevated to an art form around here and every single cocktail I had tried, I had fallen in love with. I was particularly partial to anything including rum.
"You know me," I finally replied, "not in the biblical sense, unfortunately, not yet that is, but you should still know that I'm more curious than clever. Curiosity killed the fey, isn't it?"
"The cat, curiosity killed the cat." She turned away with a forced smile. The dim, orange light of a handful of flowing lanterns on the ceiling danced in her eyes when her gaze travelled over the merry group around our low, polished table. Aside from Ahri and Mephisto everyone seemed to be having a great time, if the bouts of laughter and the incoherent mixture of languages were anything to go by.
"I think I have to leave for a while," she continued quietly. "Not for long, I hope, but I also don't think anyone should come with me. Ahri, maybe, but even there I'm not sure. I just don't know… it doesn't matter. Can't we just talk about something nice for a change? You've been avoiding anything concerning your kids. What's the story there?" I gaped at her. Did she really think I would let that slide? Not to mention that I wasn't particularly eager to discuss my family. What was there to say? I loved my children, I truly did, but I didn't even know them anymore and some of their choices… better to deal with that once I had come to terms with who they were, who they had become.
"Nothing half as interesting as you leaving," I retorted sharply. "Aside from the obvious why and where… are you bloody insane? You can't seriously want…"
"Want," she hissed in a low voice so nobody else would hear, "this has nothing to do with "want". I don't even remember the last time I've done anything because I wanted to." Somewhere in the distance a bell tower rang, the crisp sound cutting through the noise of a full dining room on the other side of the door and the honking of cars outside like a hot knife through butter.
"Fine, then," I relented, "why do you have to leave?"
"The usual. The end of days, Armageddon, Ragnarok, take your pick," she chuckled humourlessly. "I've made a mistake and it's time to own up. I just don't know how."
It wasn't unusual for her to act like that, but normally she didn't appear half as dispirited. Gently I placed my hand on her leg and tried for a reassuring squeeze. I even managed to block out the subtle, but firm feeling under my fingertips. "John's appearance," I asked urgently. She replied with a tired smile and even placed her hand on mine.
"In a way, but I guess it's only a symptom. This place," she gesticulated vaguely, indicating the entire planet, "has always been connected to… well, most parts of creation. The portal John came through… it's old and not the problem. Admittedly, I'd still love to know why it activated now, but your guess is as good as mine. No, that a human who's been reduced to ashes, body, spirit and soul, has found his way here is the real crux. You know magic… you know the rules. Tell me, how can he have returned?" I don't mean to insinuate that I actually understood immortal magic, but this I could answer.
"Time. He must have been picked up at the moment of his death or shortly beforehand. There is no other way. Is there?" She shook her magnificent head and leaned deeper into the cushions.
"Not that I'm aware of. Also I would have felt it, if anyone had interfered back then, but I didn't. Which means it happened naturally. Sort of. Can you see where I am going with this?" I nodded and wetted my lips, the scope of what she was hinting at slowly getting through to me.
"The natural order on our world is crumbling. But why… oh. Gabriel. Your fight. But I thought the realms…?"
"That's only part of it, apparently. Mephisto told me, so I'm only parroting him, but essentially what Gabriel and I unleashed can't be contained by a realm, as we've seen… are seeing, but it can neither be contained by an entire world. Our powers are poisoning Gaya and somehow I need to cleanse her. The demon even told me how, but… honestly, you know how much I'm against throwing in the towel, but I just don't see it. I don't see how I can… do what needs to be done." I was starting to feel anxious. I had seen her angry and sad, bloody and bruised, but I had never seen her… desperate.
"Even with all of us helping out," I mumbled, even though I already knew the answer. She bit her lips hard enough to draw a drop of silver blood before the cut sealed itself again.
"I wish it would make a difference, I truly do, but the reason why Ahri is the only… it's my own magic. She can control it to a certain degree, so she might be able to help, but other than that… even Viyara would be ground to dust in an instant and she's carrying a spark of my magic with her. But that's just it. It's just a spark. And what we have to deal with is a bloody wildfire, an ocean, a galaxy of raw power. I couldn't even tell you how much transcendent energy Gabriel and I unleashed and I was there for every bloody, agonising moment." I was getting nauseous and the sublime aftertaste of our meal had withered in my throat.
"But… Mephisto, Sarai… Lilith? Can't they…" for the first time a flicker of pride ignited in her eyes, but it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Gabriel… she was stronger than them. On par with a knight of Hell, yet she faltered and broke. What do you think would happen to them if they were to face the very same onslaught? And they would have to. Every last bit of it. That's also why... I've told you because you're old enough to realise when it's time to sheath your sword. There's nothing for you to do and there's nothing for the others to do. That's why I haven't told anyone, yet. It'll be easier that way. Because I have to try. I… I just don't think I'll make it."
"But it's your power," I blurted out. "Yours and that of an angel you've already beaten! You can't…" to my surprise she leaned into me and rested her head on my shoulder. Her skin felt cool and her body almost weightless, as if… as if she was already gone.
"Maybe. Maybe I can just… wish upon a star. Maybe. There's always a chance. But even if I can contain what I've unleashed, I can't take back what isn't mine. It has to go somewhere and apparently there's only one place." Her next word was barely a whisper, but I still caught it, close as we were. "Hell. Erya… I think I have to go to hell and I'm… I'm scared. Scared of not making it there… scared of making it and of what I might find. I…" She fell silent, her eyes smouldering close to my cheek. On impulse I brushed one of her raven black tresses from her face and sought her gaze.
"Don't worry. You'll be just fine. I know you will," I whispered with as much conviction as I could muster. Which was a lot. Surprisingly, it wasn't even a lie. I believed every word. I had seen her accomplish the impossible one too many times. "Maybe I should tag along only to have a chance for an I told you so. From a safe distance, of course. I still plan on spending the next few centuries at your side. Maybe millennia. Will have to see how it goes. But one thing I know, our journey, your journey won't end, just yet. I'm certain of it. So, enough of that. Instead you could tell me what us mere mortals could do in the meantime. Is there something you need? Can we maybe try to give you more time? Maybe we can slow the decay from our side of reality?"
"Afraid not, but a place to return to would be lovely," she chuckled hoarsely. "Keep everyone from blowing up our home while I'm gone?"
"Isn't that Ahri's job?"
"She won't stay behind. And I can't make her, even though I don't like it. At the very least we'll be together… whatever good it'll do us." The scent of pine trees tickled my nose and when I turned to the side the white tailed kitsune was just making her way over with two more glasses, filled to the brim with an ember liquid.
"Plum wine," she explained when she slumped down next to Casandra and handed her one of the glasses. "It's pretty sweet. How did your confession go?" The raven haired angel straightened and kissed her cheek.
"You heard us?" Ahri shook her head while she caressed her lover's ears.
"No and I also didn't listen to your thoughts, but your expression was quite telling." She turned to me and added: "any bright ideas we haven't come up with?"
"That's not really fair," I pouted. "There are easier and less distasteful ways to show me up, if that's what you're after." She blinked and then her luscious lips spread into a warm smile.
"Sorry. That wasn't my intention. I'm genuinely curious. Maybe someone whose head isn't up in the clouds can see more clearly."
"In that case… have you considered that we're still on script?"
"You mean Amazeroth," Cassy interrupted. "That would be some poorly designed play. Up until now he has at least shown us a wall we could bash our heads against. This time…" I pretty much knew how well my next words would be received, but I still pressed ahead:
"Then why don't you ask him? I assume there are ways for immortals to communicate? Why not…" of course I was immediately shut down, but not in the way I had expected. The two exchanged a glance and then Cassandra asked quietly, darkly:
"Do you actually know what you're asking of us?"
"Of course not. You've mostly kept all your immortal problems close to your heart. Still seems worth a shot. Either he knows and then he'd be able to give you a hint, or he doesn't, in which case he should be inclined to help. He doesn't want you to die, does he? Neither does he want to endanger Gaya, as far as I've come to understand him. Bloodied and hurting, fine, even desired, but dead? Not so much. Same goes for you."
"Mephisto said the same thing," the exiled princess admitted. "But… I can't. I can't meet him, not yet. And who else…"
"You know I'd go," Ahri rumbled and downed her glass.
"Right… and then you'll once again get branded and brainwashed? No, thanks."
"I should never have told you that. But then again, he's already done it once, what would be the point of doing it again?" The aspiring redhead sounded tired, as if she was iterating an argument she had made plenty of times before. Cassandra already opened her mouth to, presumably, continue further down the same road, but I was a tad bit faster.
"I can go." The angels stared at me incredulously, Ahri was even on the verge of a sharp retort, but she never voiced it and I had a few moments to explain. "Think about it. I'm not a threat, but yet powerful enough to deal with mostly anything on the way, except for an immortal. I'm close to you, but not of your family. Not really. He would gain nothing from hurting me, so…"
"That's where you're wrong," Cassy interrupted me quietly. "One, you are family, if not by blood than by choice, and two, are you honestly going to try and understand what's going through a mind more twisted than Greta's roots? He could kill you out of spite or boredom and simply pretend like you've vanished into thin air."
"Judging from the mood you've been in all night, that'll be the outcome, if we do nothing."
"I thought you trusted me," the angel replied with a brave attempt at a pout. "Didn't you just recite an entire poem about how you came to believe in my ability to do the impossible? Were you lying?"
"No, not at all. But I also don't want to watch you acting like you're on your way to the gallows when I can still do something. It's not more of a risk than what you're trying to do, is it?"
The angel's dark tresses danced in the warm lantern light when she chuckled dryly and raised her glass: "to dumb situations and even dumber decisions." She emptied it and put it back on the table upside down. "I didn't think idiocy would be contagious. Only because I'm regularly gambling with my life it doesn't necessarily follow that it's a good idea. You know I have wings. Would you also follow me if I jumped off a roof?"
"Sure. I can fly myself, after all. Pointless metaphors aside, I'm serious. Why not give it a try?"
"And if it ends with you dead or a puppet." I shrugged. There were no safe paths for any of us.
"Then I hope you'll do everything in your power to either get me back or make him regret it."