Wayward Gods, page 8
part #3 of The Wayward Gods Series
Once she was confident that I could continue walking without leaving a trail of blood, she held out her hand to me. As a siekewa, she was more used to darkness and gloom than I was, so I took it and let her lead me quietly through the maze.
Chester pushed past Drekvic to walk directly behind me and his closeness was stifling. I could feel the heat of him on my back, ready to catch me if I fell, or perhaps snatch me out of this reality at the first sign of trouble. I was ready to drop him if he tried.
Rakshina left a couple more energy signatures at different points. There was one opening that we had to squeeze through, and we all thought Chester wouldn’t make it, but he managed, despite being larger than the rest of us. That was the last change of direction before Rakshina stopped in front of a stairwell. She pulled out her map and motioned to one of the “unnatural” spaces. This was one of them.
I looked down into the darkness, frowning. I couldn’t see anything. Trying to make as little sound as possible I unzipped my backpack and unwrapped my flashlight. I’d wrapped everything in towels to keep them from clinking together, but even so, the click of the flashlight turning on was so loud I stopped to look around, expecting to see a ghoulish form appear in my view.
That was when I noticed the carving above the stairwell, and it sent chills down my spine.
Journey to Below at Your Own Risk, I read and swallowed the lump in my throat. Rakshina motioned for me to step aside so she could go first but I shook my head. She hadn’t explored here. There was no reason for her to risk herself exploring this dark area when I had the light.
I moved to take the lead, swiftly side-stepping Chester’s hand as he tried to grab me, and started heading down the stairs. The flashlight barely pierced the darkness, but it illuminated the steps enough to find my way.
Rakshina stepped in behind me, effectively blocking Chester from a second attempt at trying to stop me. He’d be fuming, but if this was the only way for us to figure out how to keep him alive, then he’d have to deal with it.
The stairwell curved slightly as we descended, and I put a hand out to touch the wall. The stone was warm and dry underneath my fingertips, feeling like it’d been left to bake in the sun for an afternoon. There was no guard rail, but both sides of the stairwell had thick stone walls and only a few of the steps were broken. I skipped those, my hand braced on the wall as I did so, making sure I didn’t break my neck in a tumble. I had no idea how far down the hole went, and the idea of finding out by falling wasn’t appealing.
The others were silent behind me, and only a quick glance back every now and then assured me that we were all together.
I was ready to call for a rest when we came out onto a balcony of some sorts. My legs were trembling as I walked to the delicately carved railing. I didn’t trust my weight to it, but I wanted to look over.
What I saw stole the heat from my blood and the color from my cheeks. The magic boiling at the bottom of the pit was familiar for only one reason. I looked over at Drekvic, and he nodded. He could see the similarities too, but here was a well that was thirty or more times what was contained within our bond. Touching this magic just might kill us.
I backed away from the edge of the balcony, looking for an alternate path down, hoping I could get closer to find answers. I didn’t see anything at first glance, so I went back to the stairwell to start a methodical search. The faint glow of the magic was too far below to light up the space.
It was Drekvic that found the dumb waiter. The small pulley elevator would hold only one of us at a time, and we had no idea if the ropes were still in working condition. I shook my head at him, but he climbed on top of it anyways and jumped. The soft thud of his feet hitting the wood made me look around nervously.
When the thing didn’t come crashing down, he hopped out and motioned that he was going to go to the bottom. I shook my head vehemently, grabbing his arm and pointing at myself.
He gave me a look that asked if I was kidding, and I realized the battle was already lost. Chester wouldn’t let me go down first, and neither would Drekvic. Rakshina would also protest so I squeezed his arm, hoping he’d be careful. Knowing him, it was unlikely.
He climbed inside and motioned for us to lower him down. Chester stepped forward, his muscles working to send Drekvic into the darkness. The wheels squeaked, and I cringed, unable to calm my nerves. I scanned the area, searching for any hint of a shade. Rakshina did the same, two sentinels guarding Chester’s back.
It felt like ages before Chester stopped lowering the elevator. He motioned that it was stuck and he frowned. Unsure as to whether or not Drekvic had reached the bottom, I leaned over the edge, feeling Chester grab my backpack to hold me steady.
When the wheels started squeaking the other way, Chester let go of the pulley. The whirring noise of an engine was quiet, but persistent. There must have been a way to turn it on at the bottom. It was only a few minutes before an empty elevator reappeared. Rakshina motioned for me to go inside, and I did. It didn’t seem safe, with two empty walls and only one guardrail on the inside. I crouched down, feeling nervous as it started swaying as it lowered me down.
Chester leaned over the edge, watching me descend into the faint light of the strange magic. I looked at my feet, focusing on not becoming car-sick with the gently swaying box.
When I reached the bottom, I climbed out quickly, legs trembling from nerves and previous exertion. I was never a fan of stairs and, after what we’d gone through, I didn’t want to see one again. Drekvic reached out to touch my arm, reassuring himself that I was there, before turning to a dimly lit control panel. The elevator started up again.
While we waited, I looked around at the room. We were at the same level as the magic now, but I didn’t approach it yet. I wanted to wait until the others were here before we explored. From what I could see, there was the faint outline of the balcony far above, and the magic seemed to be resting in a pool, protected by a thick stone wall that was about three feet high. I wondered how deep it went and how far it was recessed into the floor.
When Rakshina and Chester joined us, we stepped forward together, the four of us moving as a unified front. We scanned the area as we walked, looking for any other recesses or anything that might attack us. There was nothing aside from another engraving on the edge of the pool. When we reached it, I knelt down, trying to make out the words with my flashlight.
Annwn, Realm of Gods & Monsters
I frowned at the words, not understanding. Was there another place in the between?
“What does it say?” Rakshina asked. She didn’t look at me, but was watching the elevator as though someone else would come down.
“Ann wen? Realm of Gods and Monsters.” I wasn’t sure if I was pronouncing it right and bit my lip, feeling inadequate.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Drekvic said, kneeling down next to me. His shoulder brushed mine as he reached to touch the words.
When he did, the explosion rocked us backward, and my mind went blank. Reality seemed to stretch and then bounce as I flew backwards, or was I flying forwards? I couldn’t tell as the world spun and then mercifully went black.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Slowly, the world came back into focus. The moss beneath me was soft and warm, making me want to sink into the green smelling pillow and forget everything. There were birds chirping, a beautiful melody against the backdrop of the wind. I stretched out, enjoying the gentle sun on my face, and Drekvic’s arm fell across me. I rolled over into his chest, smelling ash and darkness.
His hazel eyes met mine, and I saw the same sleepiness and relaxation in his countenance that I felt. Peace permeated my limbs, and I felt my eyelids going heavy again. I heard Drekvic sigh, a soft, contented noise, and that’s when my brain started to ask questions.
My eyes snapped open, and I sat up abruptly. He flinched when I pulled away, blinking rapidly. The forest around us was beautiful, trees in full bloom and a brilliantly blue sky overhead. The smell of pine and dogwood tickled my nose, and I stood up quickly, turning in a circle, finding a small winding path heading off into the woods.
“Where are we?” I asked, looking around the small clearing again, not seeing Chester or Rakshina.
Slightly panicked, I pulled on the light to find my soul mate bond with Chester and found nothing.
“It’s gone,” I squeaked, my voice rising in pitch as I searched frantically for the golden tether that bound Chester to me. I only saw the connection between Drekvic and myself, and I froze, realizing that it was different now.
Gone were the dark bands and strange silvery light that had made me sick before. In it’s place was a beautiful string of energy, delicate, yet unbreakable. It was pure white, with a hint of violet around the edges of the chain, swirling in an intricate knot pattern. There were flowers woven into the… it’s a vine, I thought. It was alive, growing stronger with each passing moment. The flowers were not quite full-bloom, but waiting to blossom.
“It’s… beautiful,” Drekvic said, awed.
“Yeah,” I replied faintly.
He stood up, brushing moss out of his hair and off his dark clothes.
“Where are we?”
“Annwn, Realm of Gods and Monsters.”
I jumped at the sound of a stranger’s voice, turning to the forested path and finding a man standing there. He was unlike any person I’d ever seen before, wearing a long white robe that was perfectly pressed in sharp angles. He was tall, at least seven feet, with long white hair that fell straight down his back in a loose ponytail. His skin was pale, almost colorless, and his knowing blue eyes looked washed out. His long fingers were folded in front of him, blocking the insignia on his sash. The way he said Annwn sounded like ah-new, and I tried to remember why it sounded familiar.
I tried to take it all in, his long face with the heavy creases around his mouth, the way he stood in the sun but cast no shadow. The birds sounded like a full orchestra now, breathtakingly beautiful, and beside me, the tether between Drekvic and me sang with magic that was making it hard to concentrate on anything else.
“Wh—who are you?” I managed to stutter, dropping the balance in hopes that the singing tether would stop distracting me, but I couldn’t let go of the magic. I couldn’t drop it any more than I could disconnect my head from my body, and I took a shaky breath, wondering if I’d ever be alone in my head again.
This must be what it’s always like for Drekvic, I realized. He was always connected, and the dark power ran through his veins because it was a part of him. I truly was the outsider, the broken link in our chain.
The stranger smiled then, and it transformed his entire face. Even though he stayed the same, I had a vision of flowers blooming in his hair, and the smell of damp soil and fresh growth tickled my nostrils. In an instant, the sensation was gone, although his smile remained.
“I think in your world, I am known as Spring,” he replied, his melodious voice sounding exactly like that.
I felt Drekvic’s unease through the balance, and he took a step closer to me. “Why are we here?”
“Mother needed you,” he replied. “If you follow me, I can take you to her.”
“Mother?” My voice was tentative, although I didn’t share Drekvic’s misgivings. I’d never felt so comfortable around a stranger.
He paused for a moment, thinking. “Your world would call her Gaia, but here, she is just the Mother.”
I blinked at that, unsure.
“If you stay here, the monsters of Annwn might come after you. I’ve held them back for awhile now. If you do not follow, they will not hesitate to come test you.”
He turned and started walking down the path.
Drekvic pulled me close to him so he could whisper, “Can you open a gate?”
I concentrated on pulling back the veil the way Rakshina had shown me, the way to side-step into a different reality. I hadn’t been able to open a true gate since Joy had disappeared.
“No,” I said, finding no veil to draw back.
“Then we should follow him for now. Let’s learn what we can and then get back to the others.”
I nodded, and we hurried after the stranger with no shadow.
The path wasn’t paved, but the dirt was worn, with only small sprouts of grass growing in places. Spring walked at an unhurried pace, and we were able to keep up with him without struggle. His back was perfectly straight as he walked, his robes barely shuffling as he moved.
We traveled through another meadow, this one full of tall grass that I thought might be wheat. It certainly smelled like it, but it looked different than the varieties I was used to.
The ground turned rockier as we traveled along a small stream, the sound a perfect counterpoint to the birds. The water was so clear I could see the fish swimming against the current and the sparkling river-stones at the bottom. I’d never seen anything quite like it, and my awe only grew when Spring led us back into the forest.
The trees were getting larger and larger, with roots taller than my head and trunks so wide I couldn’t see around them. I noticed an archway up ahead, made of wood with cloth dangling from the top in artful flutters. The wind was picking up, and the rustling of the leaves soothed the tension between my eyes. Everything about this realm seemed to be made for peace.
We passed through the curtains and entered into a clearing that was set up for a gathering. There was a fire pit in the center, and although not lit, the air had a hint of woodsmoke flavoring it. There were logs dragged around the fire, places where people could sit, and a couple stools and blankets were thrown around the area. Behind it all, stood the largest tree I’d ever seen. Looking up, I could barely see the pattern of the leaves, blocking almost all the light. The world down here was very dim and very green.
An image flashed through my mind, a memory of that Fate had once shared with me. It had been fast, a flicker of a thought as she flipped through her life to only show me what she wanted me to see, but I was certain that she’d stood here before, in front of this tree, and her mood had been raging.
Spring gestured to the trunk, and only then did I see the door recessed there. It was made of the same wood as the tree, a pale gray bark with mottling. I wondered if it hurt the tree to have a home carved into it, but noticing my frown, Spring explained.
“Mother just asked the tree for a home, and it gave it to her. This tree is called Moerna, and she was honored that Mother chose her. Please, go inside. Mother is waiting for you.
“Only one way in,” Drekvic said, standing close enough to brush my arm. His unease became my own, but his was because his experiences with a mother were almost all bad. He couldn’t trust Fate, but when I thought of my mom, all I knew was love and generosity.
I took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Together, we walked past the fire pit and seating area and up to the door in the tree. Knocking felt disrespectful, so I reached out and gently touched Moerna’s bark.
“It is nice to meet you, Great One. Could you please tell the mother that we have arrived?”
I felt a warmth flood through my fingertips, gentle and delicate, as Moerna acknowledged my request. We waited only a moment before the door swung open.
Light from inside fell on our feet and the scent of baking flooded into my nostrils. The melted butter and sugar were enough to make my mouth water, but I still paused before going inside. I had no thought that this was a trap. The only uncertainty I felt was from Drekvic.
We stepped inside, and instantly I felt like I was in a 1950’s farmhouse. The wooden floors led us right into the kitchen. The white and red plaid tablecloth was so familiar against the white cupboards and old-fashioned stove.
The only surprise was the woman herself. She didn’t look old, but the power radiating off of her was stronger than anything I’d ever felt. It made Fate’s magic look like a raindrop in an ocean, but unlike Fate’s overwhelming presence, this woman’s magic was subdued, kind, and full of creation.
She hadn’t turned to look at us yet, but I had stopped, almost mid-step, to stare at her in amazement. She had a crown of flowers resting gently in her dark green hair. It was cut in a short bob, accenting the graceful curve of her neck, which was the color of spring grass. Her flowered vine tattoo curled up the back of her neck and all along her right shoulder.
Her dress seemed to be made out of clouds, and it moved and swirled around her body as though there was wind rippling the fabric. It was strapless and tight around the bodice, but loose and rippling around her legs, ending around her knees with wisps of cloud fading into nothing. I couldn’t stop staring at the dress that was now exposing patches of blue sky among the clouds.
The Mother turned to face us, holding up a wooden spoon with batter on it. Her face was beatific, with a wide, open smile and a wide, flat nose. Her eyes were the dark brown of freshly turned soil. Her lashes were green and pink, complementing the freckles and flour smeared across her nose. Her slightly crooked teeth stood out with how brilliantly white they were.
I’d never loved someone more instantly than I loved this woman. When she opened her arms to me, I went without hesitation, and when she held me, I felt like I was coming home.
“Oh, my dear Ellie,” she whispered, her breath tickling the back of my neck. “How I’ve missed you.” I pulled away, confused. “I’ll tell you everything. Sit down.”
I sat at the kitchen table while she turned to Drekvic. I could sense his unease fading away, but he still didn’t understand. This woman seemed familiar to him, but also alien.
“It’s been so long since I was able to speak with you,” she said, her voice sounding extremely sad. “That woman has had you for too long. Come here, dear boy.”
He hesitated only a moment before allowing her to hug him. I saw the moment he relaxed, the tension in his lithe frame leaking out of him, and hope budding inside our bond. He believed in the answers this woman would give us, and I could only pray that we were able to use whatever she shared.
