Jacqui's POV
I hurried as fast as I could toward my tower. Wherever the storm had come from, it wasn't from the Underworld. The Underworld had no ozone. The storm was a purposeful use of magic. Passing by the fields I covered my mouth as the fires continued on their rampage. Many souls were fleeing the area and I watched as a young girl tripped on a twig. The fire was almost upon her. I teleported to her side, scooped her up, and teleported far from the flames. I set the girl down gently. I had to be cautious. The flames did not stop at my command. Could they kill souls?
"Are you alright?"
"Yes." She meekly replied.
"Do you know what your parents look like? I'll send you to them." I asked, hoping she would be safe with them, wherever they were.
"They live, Your Majesty." The young girl puffed up her chest in confidence and pride showed on her face.
"Oh." Where was I going to take her? Oh well, I don't have time now. I've got to get to that tower. I knelt beside her. "Hold onto me and keep your eyes closed." She nodded vigorously and shut her eyes tightly. I gripped her hand and teleported us as close to the tower as I could manage.
Good, I thought. We were right outside the door. I let go of the little girl's hand. "Hold my dress with both arms and don't let go unless I say so." I felt the little girl grab onto the back of my dress and I took a deep breath before entering my tower. My skin prickled and the magic throughout the room was hollow. "I wish to hear your favorite song." I took another step into the circular lounge. Quietly, the girl began to sing. I willed a shield around us and heard a minuscule flutter to my right. I willed to see the whole room through my mind and a dark red butterfly was flying from desk to bookshelf to book. Something seemed off about it and I took its soul instantly. A rush of wind then trapped itself into the lower room we were in. I came back to my body immediately. The young girl was still singing. Good.
I made my way to the wooden stairs and began to climb up them. The thing about towers is, they have a lot of stairs and not many rooms. From this particular tower of mine, you could see the majority of the Fields. I rarely came to my tower here as I enjoyed the peace the Oasis gives me. I mostly used this tower as my library and study. If there was something I was unsure about, I'd have Nikolai jot down some 'notes' for me and I'd read them on my own. I also kept a record of my own musings here. They mostly consisted of trivial matters, but during some of my early years as Goddess, I had formulated plans of my own power.
That must be what, whoever this is, is after! If they had that journal they might be able to duplicate my powers. But, that can't be right. I had found out very early on that my powers cannot be duplicated in any way. At least that's what Father told me. Just thinking about him made my blood boil. Another logical voice popped into my head. If that was the key to this Timeless War, then wouldn't it have been missing for nearly 50 years? It's true that I rarely come here, but I remember seeing it on the bookshelf 23 years ago. I should've checked when I was down there! Before I could thrust my mind into Over Seer mode again, a turbulent presence ignited my senses.
"AAAGH!" The young soul clinging onto me clutched my waist. "It burns!! It burns!" She screamed. I pushed the force back from the child and myself and readied my Reaper.
"Young one, continue singing and keep your eyes closed." I spoke with calm authority that must have reached her because she did as she was told. The air to my left shifted and I blocked an invisible dagger. It clanged to the floor and the young girl behind me jumped. I parried another invisible dagger from the left and felt a presence shift. I took the opportunity to swing my orange scythe and the presence was sliced in two. A slim part of the magic within my tower returned and I knew then the size of battalion we were approaching. I also knew what was happening.
Well, this can't be good. I was neither here nor there when it came to Demon Keepers. Mortals who wish to have demons as their 'companions' was fine by me. Interracial acceptance in my book. The problem that usually arises with Demon Keepers is that they think they become powerful themselves, even though it's simply the demon who becomes more powerful. The mortal makes a pact with a demon stating, 'you can use my strength to get stronger, but you have to live by my side and do what I tell you to.' Demons are usually alright with it, because they get stronger. Mortals are okay with it because their enemies are killed and they feel powerful. Usually, mortals will begin to discount their demons and the demons will take the 'necessary' strength they need. Which usually results in the mortals' souls coming to claim their place in my realm. What mortals don't know is that before they can make a pact with a demon they first have to find them.
Aggravation gnawed my mind. So many demon keepers at once? This can't be a coincidence. Someone is building an army of demons and they need the demons to get stronger? This has to be because Skye is threatening to them. If I can get rid of all of the Demon Keepers here, this may be a big blow to whomever is behind this! This might even save Skye.
"Forgive me." I breathed in preparation for what I was about to do. Their time isn't up yet! My power screamed at me. I'm in charge of who lives and who dies. Their time is up. I breached again into my Over Seer mode. I followed the massive presence ahead of me. This was nothing. I teleported in the middle of their small army and whipped out my scythe. The mob noticed me in time to try and jump me, but I jumped instead. I held my Reaper in one hand and lifted my other hand. Turquoise flames danced before my palm before a rune appeared beneath me. It encompassed the whole area and I said three words that activated it.
"Follow me, fools."
The rune erupted the area into my turquoise flame, summoning the souls from the minds trapped in my tower and each soul came unwillingly. Mortals don't accept Death, usually, so this was no surprise. My scythe turned into a lasso and I plucked each soul into my realm. Once all three hundred souls were chaotically running through the room did I finally drop to the ground. They instantly knelt before me.
"Goddess of Life and Death, Jacqueline."
"Hello, everyone." I said cheerily. They kept their eyes downcast. I shrugged.
"Anybody want to tell me who sent you all here?" The room stilled and stayed silent for a moment.
"Lady Jacqueline?" I heard a small voice behind me. Oh, I'd forgotten about the young girl clutching my waist. I turned around and knelt to speak with her face to face.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Is this why the fires started?" She asked shyly. I looked around the room. 300 mortals entering the Underworld within their minds all at the same time in search of demons to pact with? I nodded my head.
"Yes, all the magic that was used at once in order to enter the realm would have a storm like effect on the realm."
"Will they be punished?" Punished? Aside from taking their lives already? I shook my head no. The young soul smiled brightly at me and ran to a nearby Minotaur.
"Hello!" She exclaimed happily. "I'm Leslie Dekreid! Who are you?" She held out her hand to the young Minotaur. He was only 15 years old, just barely an adult in his tribe. Trying to figure out his place in the world I suppose. Now he has no place in the world. You killed him before his time. I shut the voice in my head off as I focused on the conversation in front of me.
"Asenu Greathoof." If his loud and proud snort gave Leslie a fright, she didn't show it.
"Well, it's nice to meet you!" She held out her hand again and the Minotaur roared, "Do you attempt to dishonor me when first we meet?" Leslie shook her head and frowned.
"Of course not! It's what humans do when we meet each other."
"DO I LOOK HUMAN, HUMAN?"
"N-no."
The Minotaur huffed as Leslie put her hand down. Leslie didn't back down though.
"What were you doing here?"
"Becoming Asenu GlorySkull."
"Huh?"
"His particular tribe names their Chieftan, "GlorySkull," and they fight the demons that they summon to their side in an effort to show strength and will." I answered the young girl. Useless deaths. Sort of like what you just did. I shook my head and opened a portal to the Mountain Gate.
"You must first pass through here. I'll judge you afterwards." And I watched as one by one, the three hundred would-be terrible foes inched into line at my Gate.
Unbeknownst to me, a stray tear fled from my eye.