Monsters live inside all of us, no matter how right one thinks, a monster is inside oneself. No matter how good your deeds are, the monster will always wait.
When emotions rule over the mind, the monster will surface, turning you into something away from the person you once was.
Do not let your emotions cloud your way of thinking or else one may destroy something he thought was an enemy.
I.
Inside a solid house of a citizen of Kish, a terrible scream can be heard. It was loud enough to make every other citizen surrounding the house get up from bed and be scared from the scream of their neighbor.
"Another one has been taken," a woman said holding her children, inside their home.
"Isn't there anything we can do?!" a man said, angrily.
"Doesn't the queen care if all her citizen gets taken?!" a man yelled as he looked at the palace of Kish.
"What can you expect from a alewife such as her to do anything?" an old woman commented.
Inside the palace throne room, the Queen Kubaba sat, the news of the capturing has reached her, he was beautiful, perfectly sculpted face, innocent and almost goddess-like beauty, her skin tanned but just the enough color of it, her black hair waved like the waved of sand surrounding Kish. She was wearing a night gown because she was asleep when her handmaid told her the news.
"We must do something about this," she muttered under her breath. "I must do something or else my people would be taken by these creatures! Whatever they are!" she slammed her fists into the arm rests of her throne. Her eyes were now filling up with tears, she felt useless as her people be taken by the unknown assailants. She blames the late king for entrusting her this position.
"I'm just a barmaid! What do I know about ruling?!" she remembered as the late king Marduk of the Aspula.
"You shall be a great queen, for you are a humble and kind woman," the king has said.
"If it is your wish, my King," she surrendered. King Marduk was known for being stubborn, once he has decided there is no turning back from it.
When she was crowned queen of the Kish, rumors surrounded her for being the mistress of the king, the bastard daughter or manipulated the king to crown her as queen. She lived with these rumors as long as she has been queen. She was just about to turn her image as the queen with a kind heart but then the disappearances started to happen last couple of moons ago. It was a merchant in Kish, then a father of two, then a wife to a husband, then a guard of her royal charge and now, this, a cripple who went missing.
With no explanations to offer the citizens, she locked herself inside the palace, she didn't know what to do, what to make of it. Why was this happening to her? Did she do something wrong?!
Suddenly, the throne room doors started to open. She wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, rearranged herself.
It was two of her guards, they were carrying, arm in arm, a old man with graying hair wearing a weathered travelling cloak.
"Don't carry me! I can walk you know!" the old man said struggling but it was clear that he was loosing. Her guards were sculpted like statues, they were in shape for battles or for war, if it comes.
"Queen, we have seen this suspicious man loitering around the house of the cripple," the guard from the left said.
"Suspicious! I was just passing by that house!" the old man protested.
"What were you doing there?" Kubaba asked.
"I was--- Wow! A queen! Now this is something, this is brilliant! I never knew you Sumerians to have a queen! I knew there were queens before but a queen who rules! This is brilliant!" the old man exclaimed excitedly. "Would you please let me go?" he asked the guards.
Kubaba was taken aback by this man. It was the first time she heard this type of speaking to her, all of her people always talked with respect but this old man, he seems to talk like a child seeing a new toy. She motioned for her guards to let the man go and she dismissed them, leaving her with the old man.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Oh! Just a stranger. Just a passerby," he said smiling after he dusted off his cloak which looked nothing different before he dusted it.
II.
"A stranger?" Kubaba asked.
"Oh yes! I am a stranger, the Stranger," the Stranger said walking up to the queen. "I believe that you are experiencing some problem around here."
"What made you say that?"
"First, the scream that became silent as soon as everyone heard it and second why would be a queen wear something like that when she's talking to a stranger?" the Stranger remarked.
Kubaba didn't become flustered, she was used to people staring at her and think of lewd things about her.
"You look too old for such clothing," the Stranger remarked, this made the queen react.
"How dare you call me 'old'! Guards! Ge---"
"Stop. Don't. I can help you," the Stranger said that got the Kubaba's attention.
"How?"
"Well, I am extremely brilliant. I just need to see the house of the crippled old man," the Stranger said.
"That could be arranged," the Queen replied.
"And I would like something to drink," the Stranger said while thinking. "Pineapple juice would be nice."
"Also can be arranged," the Queen said. "How can you help and how can I trust you to be able to deliver what you say you will do?"
"Well, you are not only figure piece but with a brain," the Stranger smiled. "I do not ask for your trust but I am the only one who can help you."
"Then, my palace is at your disposal," Kubaba said, she was intrigued by this character. A stranger that said he would help the city that was entrusted to her.
"Gladly, Kubaba," the Stranger said, turning away from the queen who sat their surprised.
"H--how?"
"I told you. I'm clever," the Stranger said, smiling which was familiar to the queen but before she could react, the Stranger has walked outside the throne room.
III.
Inside the house of the cripple who was the current victim of the disappearances, the Stranger studied the place with a keen eye, as he sipped from a cup of pineapple juice which he threw at the window of the house.
"I hate pineapple," he muttered.
He continued pacing around the small room. Inside of the room was a bed, a stove, a table for eating and mirror. On the floor was a mess of things, broken plates, spoons and a broken drinking glass.
The Stranger suddenly peered at the window to ask the guards something, "Was there any significant artifact that the victims had?" the guard looked at the Stranger.
"I -- I don't know," he answered which made the Stranger annoyed.
"Can you bring me to the other houses of the victims?" the guards complied to the request.
After hours of observing and searching the houses of the other victims in silence which was making the Stranger more irritable. He peeked again from the window and said to the guards, "Can one of you come inside? Its hard to be brilliant if there's nobody inside to marvel on how brilliant I am."
The guard with a bald head entered the house. "That's better. Now, I found out is this that everyone got taken was living alone, right?" the guard nodded.
"Now, have they been acting weird before they were taken?"
The guard shrugged.
"If they did, they maybe were under something."
The guard raised his shoulders to signal he has no idea.
"Is there anything that anyone saw or noticed that was out of the ordinary?"
Shoulder raised.
"Can't you talk?!" the Stranger raised his voice in annoyance. The guard seemed scared from the look of the Stranger made. "So sorry. I like to see the queen. I'll go back to the palace for awhile," he said as he walked out from the room.
"But before that, speak to all the guards available and tell them to speak to the neighbors to tell you if they saw something out of the ordinary. Report back to me after as the moon reached its peak," the Stranger ordered.
As he walked back to the palace, he drew a small Mudduk and it flapped its wings then landed on his head. "Mudduk, I just snapped at a guard because he didn't even react."
"Stranger, you shouldn't do that. I know that sometimes being alone is too much but stay grounded into who you are," Mudduk said.
"I know I know. I just miss having Aishir," the Stranger.
"Don't worry, Stranger, you'll find someone to join your adventures," Mudduk said.
"Yes until then I must see to it that this people would be safe," the Stranger said.
III.
"Queen Kubaba!" the Stranger said bursting inside the throne room.
"Stranger, how are your searches? Have you found out anything?" Kubaba asked.
"Yes! I have found the most glorious discovery!"
"Is this true?! Speak!"
"I found out that your guards here are all idiots!" the Stranger declared. "They are just walking pieces of meat!"
"How dare you talk to my guards that way! Walk carefully, Stranger, or else it would be the last words you say."
"Aha! But I know that something is off and I tasked your walking meats to gather enough information for me to work with!" the Stranger pointed it out at Kubaba.
"Tell me," the Queen said. "What are you thinking that did this? Are the gods angry for this city having a queen? or is this just a random attack by some hooligan?"
"The gods won't do that. They love something entertaining and a queen ruling this land is the most entertaining they would have, and no this is not a work of a hooligan."
"Then what is it?"
"Something humans won't understand."
"You talk as if you are not human."
"I am far from it," the Stranger said.
The doors of the throne room burst open and a handmaid entered. "Queen! Some was taken again!"
"What?! Who is it?!" the Queen said taken aback by the new information.
"It was a child!"
"A child?!"
"Now, this is interesting. Lead to me to the house of the child!" the Stranger said.
"I am coming with you!" the Queen said.
"I highly advise you, Kubaba, to stay here and stay calm," the Stranger said.
"No! I am the queen of these people and I would not stand here and wait for any---"
"I said don't. If you go there, chaos will break lose and if you go there, do you think that the people you rule will shower you with praises?"
"But--"
"No. They are scared. Fear is an emotion one cannot control. They might do something to you, if you share the same idea as your citizen, of gods punishing the city for having you as a queen, then you are in great danger. Now, sit there at your throne and wait, I will save your city," the Stranger said smiling as the doors of the throne room closes.
IV.
Inside of the house of the taken child was in chaos, the parents were screaming at the guards of the queen.
"What is your queen doing?! My son was taken and she's up there safe!" the father yelled at the silent guard.
"My son... the gods are punishing us... the queen is the reason..." the mother was a mess at the dinning table.
The Stranger saw this and it gave his heart a tug. As the Stranger approached the angry father, he saw a mirror again that hanged to the wall, he dismissed this and walked towards the father, "Now, pointing fingers won't do anything good so shut up and tell me everything."
"Who are you?!"
"I'm the one who will save your son. If you don't cooperate then your son will be gone forever," the Stranger said then the father calmed down and sat. "Now, tell me. What happened?"
"We were sleeping but then my son.. my son stood up from between me and my wife," he said pointing at their bed. "When he stood up and walked towards the mirror. He was like he was enchanted because I saw him stood there for a moment and something grabbed him! He started screaming! My wife woke up and I tried to ran towards my son but it was too late. He got sucked into the mirror!" the father broke into tears with his wife.
The Stranger stood and walked over the mirror. He studied it for a second and he drew something on a piece of paper, a hammer. He smashed the mirror to bits. With a scream of pain coming from the mirror, it shattered to a million of pieces.
"What are you doing?! How is my so--"
"Shut up. This is the natural gate of the race of Speculus," the Stranger said. "Guards! Smash all the mirrors all around town! I need to get back to the palace." the guards followed the Stranger's instructions and they all went around the city to smash every mirror they can find.
"H--how about our son?!" the father of the child said.
"Oh! Don't get your emotions get anywhere! You're son is not the only one that was taken! Do not worry I'll get him and the others. Even if I need to storm the mirror to get him back," the Stranger said smiling confidently at the couple.
V.
"Stranger! What is this what I'm hearing that you ordered my men in destroying all the mirrors in the city?! Explain!" Kubaba yelled in irritation.
"Speculus," the Stranger said. "The ancient race of Mirror dwellers called the Speculus invaded your city! Now! I need to find out how."
"Mirror dwellers? Speculus? What are you saying?" the Queen walked with the Stranger.
"Speculi are spirits that has been sucked into the mirror world, a world that is like yours but also the opposite, like a mirror is." the Stranger said.
"But why would they take my people?" the Queen asked.
"Like every lost spirit, they need a vessel, a body to take over to be able to move around this plane," the Stranger explained. "Speculi has the ability to entrance its victim with their ideal selves and if you are under their control, they will take your body."
"That's horrible!" the Queen gasped.
"Yes but it is their way to survive but if they touch another human. They will feel my wrath," the Stranger said, his face cast a shadow over him that made the queen stop in her tracks. "Now, has there been any treasure that merchants found recently?" the Stranger asked.
"Yes, there was and they sent me--"
"A gift! You have a mirror from those merchants. I need to see it," the Stranger said which the Queen nodded to.
Inside her bed chamber, the silver framed mirror stood. "This is the mirror," Kubaba said.
"Very good. I need the reports from the guards if they smashed the mirrors of this city," the Stranger said.
"I'll get to them now and--"
"No, I have my own system," the Stranger interrupted. He produced a parchment from his pack and started drawing, he drew ten birds, with a drop of blood, they all became real.
"Wha---"
"I know. They look brilliant," the Stranger smiled. "See if there are no more mirrors in this city and go back here to tell me," the bird chirped in response and flew to the window, scattering under the night sky.
"Jus-- Just what are you?" Kubaba said, standing before a being she has no idea about.
"I told you. I'm just a stranger," the Stranger smiled at the Queen.
VI.
After an hour, a bird came back and told the Stranger of what he has planned. "Brilliant!"
"What is it?" Kubaba asked getting up from her bed.
"All the mirrors are broken and the only mirror of existence is---"
"My mirror!" Kubaba gasped.
"Don't interrupt me! You stole my thunder, but yes. Your mirror is our gateway to the Speculi," the Stranger said, as the moon shone at the lone mirror, a ripple begun at the surface of the mirror. The Queen gasped while the Stranger stayed unmoved.
From the surface of the mirror, an image appeared but it was contorted. It was changing from picture to another, from a plain to a garden to an island.
"Hard to pinpoint my desired view, am I right?" the Stranger said with a defiant smile. He moved closer to the mirror."I am man who saw everything and if you pinpoint what I want to see then I congratu---" the Stranger stopped suddenly.
"Wh--what is it, Stranger?" the Queen asked.
The Stranger stayed silent but he reached out at the mirror, Kubaba saw an image of a girl, young and beautiful. "Aishir.." the queen heard the Stranger whispered.
As the Stranger raised his hand to touch the mirror, Kubaba rushed to the Stranger, pushing him away from the mirror but Kubaba stared to the mirror. She saw her being a mother and being loved by her citizens. She reached for the mirror and disappeared.
Once the Stranger got back to his senses, he saw that he was alone inside the room of the Queen. He stood immediately and looked at the mirror.
"Kubaba?! Are you here?" he tried touching the mirror but it remained solid. The Stranger shouted in anger, he trashed the bedroom of the queen. Throwing things, screaming in anger with a hint of sadness.
"Pathetic! I'm pathetic! I boast that I could save them but I can't! I can't even save a friend from before!" he shouted. He got up and walked over the mirror.
"Show me. Show what you've done to the people from Kish," he said, his voice cold and angry but the mirror remained as it was. "If you don't I will find a way to go to your plane and I will destroy you. You have played with the emotion of the being close enough to be a god and I will stop at nothing until everyone of you Speculi are shattered under my feet."
As the moon shone once again, the silvery pool rippled, a being coated in silver surfaced and took the form of Kubaba.
"Stranger," Speculi Kubaba said, her voice was her own but it was mixed with a surreal tone.
"Release her," the Stranger said as a threat.
"Stranger, we are in need of vessels to be able to walk among the living."
"You have no right among st the living. You are all cursed from your civilization because of what you have done," the Stranger said.
"We didn't do anything!" the Speculi shouted. "You know nothing!"
"I know everything. You have played with dark magic and the gods tasked someone to seal you forever," the Stranger said.
"And we shall take revenge on that being! That Bloodlord will pay for what he has done to us!"
"Yes but that man or stranger will seal you once again if you don't release those you have taken."
The Speculi laughed with its shrill voice. "Seal us? By you? What gives you any idea of how to do that?!"
"Because I was the one who sealed you away," the Stranger said as he placed a paper onto the silvery stomach of the Speculi.
"Bloodlord!" the Speculi screeched.
"Hello and goodbye," he said as he touched the paper with his wounded hand, the seal dispelled the Speculi from Kubaba like water being blown by a high-powered blower. It splashed again to the mirror, solidifying it once again.
Kubaba laid on the arms of the Stranger, who carried her to her bed. The Stranger went in front of the mirror and canceled the seal, the mirror rippled and he jumped inside it.
VII.
Inside the Mirror Plane, it was exactly the same outside but at the same time, it wasn't. The left table of the queen from the outside was now at the right, simple arrangement of object were reflected from the material plane, like a mirror.
In front of the Stranger was the reflection of the Queen Kubaba. It stood up, her silvery body made its way towards the Stranger.
"You will pay for interfering at our plans, Bloodlord," the Mirrored Queen said.
"Pay? Look at me. That line has been said to me before but as you can see, I am still here," the Stranger said. "If you're smart enough to stay away from the Material plane, I won't destroy you."
"Destroy us? You wouldn't dare!" the Mirrored Queen gasped.
"The Material plane is under my protection and once you disrupt it, my wrath would be upon you!" the Stranger has said, his fists clutched, his face angry. "Where are the people you have took? Answer me!"
"Took? Oh, the material dwellers? They are ours now. No matter what you do, they will never return," the Mirrored queen grinned.
"I will destroy you," the Stranger said behind gritted teeth.
"But, Stranger would you really destroy our world?" Aishir's voice can be heard beside him. The Stranger turned and the girl who he have met at Uruk with her missing brother was beside him. Young and silvery. Even though he knew that she isn't real, he felt his longing for his friend.
"No... no..." the Stranger muttered as his framed became lax and calm, as he came closer to his friend. "You monsters..." he said, biting his lip.
"Would you really destroy a world where your friend is now dwelling?" the mirrored queen said, smiling with confidence.
"You know," the Stranger said. "The difference with this mirrored version of this Aishir is and the real one is that she knows that she won't let herself die rather than make herself live. I found that out at the last moment but I know her more than you," the Stranger said as he turned towards the Mirrored Queen.
"No! I had you!" the Mirrored Queen shouted.
"Yes, you had but not now," the Stranger smiled at his opponent. "I should have done this before when I first met you but I was shackled by the gods but now," he said as he produced a parchment from his pack, dripped blood on it and a creature as small as a pillow appeared, with beetle like eyes, flabby exterior, plain expressions, it looked like a brick with hands.
"What is this?" the Mirrored Queen laughed. "Are you jesting, Bloodlord?"
"No, I am not. This is a Gastronous," he said while the creature is sniffing around the room.
"Gastronous? I was scared for a moment but you were only bluffing!" the Mirrored Queen laughed hard, her shrill voice filled the room. "I thought you wi--- aaarrrggghhh!" then the Mirrored Queen fell on her back as the Gastronous was eating her left leg. Her laugh that has full of mocking turned into bloodcurdling screams of pain.
"Gastronous are also called 'World Eaters'," the Stranger said, looking down at the Mirrored Queen. "Met them during my adventure in a remote village where they were eating away everything, living or not. I caged them and formed a contract with one them, now he is my pet. Once he has eaten, he will vomit," the Stranger explained as the creature vomited. "Oh, like that, its vomit will now turn into another Gastronous," as the Strange explained, the greenish goo of a vomit now took form of another Gastronous.
"Pl--please make it stop!" the Mirrored Queen begged.
"No. I won't, you have threatened the material plane, you took the lives of the people you captured and you have toyed with my emotions," the Stranger stared at the Speculi with cold eyes. "Toying with the emotions of a god is not something you must do."
"We are not the monsters! You are! You aaaaarrrrgghhhh!!!" the Mirrored Queen lastly screamed as her face was devoured by the Gastronous.
The Stranger turned from what remain of his opponent. The Gastronous now vomited to make more of them, as the Stranger walked towards the mirror, there were now a total of 30 Gastronous. By sun rise, the Mirror Plane will be nothing but a pile of vomit, when the Gastronous has ate all, they will disappear and back to the parchment of the Stranger.
From behind the Stranger, a mirrored copy of him stood, before it was devoured it said, "What have you become, my friend?"
VIII.
The mirror inside the bedroom of the Queen lay shattered at the floor, when the Queen stirred, she rubbed her eyes and awoke, the Stranger was nowhere to be found.
She went out of the bedroom and to the throne room, where a maid was waiting for her, the servant handed her a letter, written in careful cuneiform, it said that the Stranger has left and the problem has be solved, the people who were taken can never be taken back, he apologizes for it but there was nothing he could do. That was the end of the letter.
From outside of the city of Kish, the Stranger walked, beside him a camel, they both took slow strides while walking towards somewhere only the stars can know.