Ruins of Archahnia, Stelres, Year 205
I woke up screaming from the nightmare that plagued me, a thin sheen of sweat quoting my body, yet I could feel it cool rapidly, the cold seeping into my pores, leaping up what energy I had gathered from my fitful sleep.
I once more felt a wave of lethargy wash over me as I gave into the pull of darkness, letting it control me again as if it were a sentient being. Darkness clawed at me as I lost myself to its enthralls, nothing more than another one of its conquest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bridlebur, Artamia, Year 13
Ayvah's POV:
The onslaught of the memories brought a fresh wave of tears in my eyes, the moments spent together a reminder of all that I had lost, the rights stolen from me as a betrayal so ghastly, it shook my entire world.
The thought of all that I had lost and the ones that I was poised to retrieve was enough to dry up my tears.
Cohen eyed us, streaks of tears dried on his cheeks as he approached us like one would approach a sleeping lion. Good for him, for we were something much, much worse than a lion.
And just like that, the energy in the room changed to something more malevolent, an indication that the time spent on such vulnerabilities should not be repeated.
"Kraliçe" One word uttered by them as they fell to their knees, veneration clear in their eyes. Two fingers to their brows as they greeted me in the ancient ways, the ways of the fae and only then did I let the glamour fall, as it revealed what we were, identities which never should have been hidden, the panes of our faces revealing the power hidden underneath, restrained by the bonds placed long ago, the power to level entire cities with a mere thought, undefeatable foes even now but for the betrayal.
"These the light, these the bridge,
Let nought fall in despair's ridge
Here see now the curse broken,
The lives a mere token,
Where lives spring from fields of death,
Where mortals met, where fae,
The graves where they lay,
Hear now the queen sigh,
With a crown of shadows anigh,
The demons alive in folklore,
Here the curse lives no more..."
Each word led to a new crescendo, the symphonies alighting the finesse, alluring the blood magic to escape it's bonds, the runic words bringing the archaic powers back to life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California, North America, year 2020
"Ma'am, there's a woman outside the office. She said her name's Cressida and that you would be annoyed if we didn't let her in." Sheldon barely managed to speak without stammering, though sweat pooled at his nape, all the while he nervously glanced at the door, as if to make sure that it was truly only the two of us inside.
"Are you sure that's exactly what she said?" I asked all the while looking through the files scattered across my desk.
"No actually sh-she said that, and I quote...If you don't let me in right now, I will make sure that you will not be able to stop anyone in your life, and by that I mean that I will rip you off limb by limb. And -"
"It's fine, I understand. You may leave." I had no interest in hearing the entirety of the threat, very well aware of her violent ways. "Send her in."
"But ma'am-"
"Are you questioning me Mr. Wakes?"
The use of his last name was sufficient to send him scampering to obey my orders. I returned to my files, willing the numbers to stop swirling in front of my eyes, when another knock sounded on the door. Leaving the files for later contemplation, I turned towards the door and asked her to enter.
"Ayvah I am telling you, I will incinerate that imbecile. He tried to stop me, ME! I mean I understand that you need these mortals to do the drudgery but atleast keep them on a leash-"
Amusement washed over me as I saw the clear frustration on her face.
I tuned out her rant until after I finished reviewing the file in front of me before she abruptly stopped.
"Are you even listening?" As she uttered those words, a sense of deja vu washed over me. Shaking my head at these thoughts I turned towards her.
"Cressida, you do realise that I am still your kraliçe?" Before she could retort with another one of her smartass replies I continued," And about listening to the dozen ways that you plan to disember him, including choking him on his own intestine, yes I heard you."
She let a feral grin grace her lips before continuing, "Now coming to the point, the seeds of doubt that you had down in Gufynah's mind bore fruit. They are preparing for the war. This is the best opportunity." The amusement in her eyes was replaced with something much darker as vengeance burnt bright in them. It was finally time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time didn't exist in this place between life and death, the walls of the portal still gleamed with the same power as when it was created. It's existence now a mere myth. It was everywhere, yet no where, only drawn to those whom it had sworn fealty to, a sentient being, its power never once fading since the eons of its creation.
The familiar feeling of its conscious crept upon me, my mind an open book laid bare for it, giving it a glimpse of the truth.
I waited for a few heartbeats before the blood payment I had made was soaked up, as a feeling of warmth crept over me, a feelings of finally being home. I watched as the final bonds holding my powers in place finally released its hold on me, the remnants of its power struggling to maintain a grip on me. A flair of power rippled through the air as the bindings came undone, enough to send a signal of my return to all if not for the archaic magic of the portal holding it in place.
A flutter of warmth rushed through me, as my powers washed over, every detail of my surroundings laid bare. And along with my powers crept in the feeling of utter joy, which was not my own. I let a fond smile grace my lips at the feeling of happiness cascading out of waves of the portal washed over me.
Letting my thoughts bare once more, I spoke in the ancient language, all the while sending tendrils of my power to sooth the tension which rippled across its gleaming walls.
My task done, I zenoed away knowing fully well that what I had said could very well be my undoing.
My thoughts wondered to the first time that I had come across it, not knowing that I was accosted by the power which the highest beings of my realm sought.
Not wanting to alert the elders to the truth of my sanctuary, I had kept it's existence a secret.
It was this secret which would now allow me to wrought havoc in the lives of those who dared to betray me.
Wanting to test my powers once more, I reached the one place I knew would satisfy my thirst for blood, atleast for now. I landed without a sound, a soft whisper of wind the only indication of my arrival.
With a smirk, I let my glamour fall in place once more, letting my powers cocoon me, cloaking them so that I could watch the surprise on their faces as I made them kneel before me.
My smirk grew wider as I saw them approach me. They leered at my appearance, their probing gaze unabashed.
"It seems we are in luck,our Gods favour us for today we shall feast on this fool who dared enter the Ruvāh unaccompanied." The one whom I knew to be their leader bellowed out, drunk on his power and ego. Pathetic. It would be especially fun to make him kneel.
Turning towards me he stalked closer, trying to intimidate me, before he addressed me, " You fool, do you not know your life was forfeit the moment you entered the sacred enclosure. You wouldn't even know the difference between a sword and a dagger, let alone how to use them and you dare enter here. It would be better if you kneeled in front of us, it would spare you the misery of a painful death. And if you please me well, I may even allow you to remain a slave in my service for I am most merciful."
With his words, laughter echoed all across the hall as the men assembled leered at my "apparent" helplessness.
Let the games begin.
I played into their perception of my meekness as I walked upto the leader. I willed my hips into a sultry dance, my last attempt at staying alive. Amused at the thought, my gait slowed to depict my "weakness".
As soon as I reached the end of the aisle, he smirked and tried to drag me towards the podium. The key word being tried, for no sooner did he attempt to lay his filthy hands on me I side stepped and replied with a smirk of my own before launching myself at them.
......................
Kraliçe- The chosen one/ The leader
A title used to address ones supreme leader.
Ruvāh- The sacred fighting grounds of the dark Gods.
Note: The years denote the different timelines followed by the kingdoms.
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