Author Games: Ragnarok

Semifinals Entries: Jade

I’ve never felt so alone.

Now, I know I shouldn’t, but I do. The metropolis is teeming with people, but I stand above them. Three others stand with me. Persephone Pluton, Yemaya, and Balder. The four of us, the strongest of the strong. Almost unbeatable. But even we are pawns in the chess game the Fates play, and they can see moves ahead of us. And I know, in the end, three of us will fall, until only one is standing. Only one can become all. And I know that Khepri dare not reveal himself until there is a winner. And once there is, the fallen will live again through a new form. The winner can change the world. And I plan to reshape the world, and to reshape it in such a way that the gods will never be forgotten again. Old ways will become new again, and the true power of the gods and goddesses will come again. This is to be an age of rebirth. And I plan to be there to see it. No, I plan to cause it.

As I look around this great city, I realize how many things have changed since when I was in power. Now, I still have power. But not true power like I did. I am not feared, like I used to be. The faith in me has shriveled up and is all but dead. Most have never heard my name. But soon, they will know. All of them will come to love the Jade Queen. And now that I am so close to this goal, there is no stopping me.

But just as I think this, I feel a little flickering inside of me, like some of my former might has returned. The power that only comes with believers. And since there are so very few of those these days, I am shocked to feel the twinge at all. I’m surprised that these humans believe in anything these days, if I’m to be completely honest. Sure, you see all types of churches. But none of them have ever seen proof of gods. They haven’t seen the absolute power a nation or army can have if they are favored. They’ve never seen magic. They don’t know what a god can do. And soon, I aim to show them.

There it is again. It’s like the flickering of a solitary candle in miles of darkness. Somebody has faith in me. Somebody believes. And I feel strangely drawn to them. This connection between deity and believer has been around since the beginning of time, but I never thought I would feel its effects again. And now that I do, it is like I am bathed in a cold spring, completely refreshed. How did I not realize this was missing? Only one person makes me feel so much more powerful, like I could do anything. And I know, in that moment, that I need to meet this strength-giver. For they may very well sustain me long enough for victory.

I can’t pinpoint their exact location, so I race through the streets, trying to find their general area. It’s like playing a game of hot-or-cold, I feel stronger the closer I am to the person. Eventually, I think I have found the building he or she is in. I’m so close. Only a minute away. And then I step in.

The building is full of people. Everywhere, spilling out of every door. It’s a hotel, and the lobby is so tightly packed that you could probably faint and still stay standing. Except for a little roped-off area by the elevator, where there is nobody. It’s almost like the people are waiting for someone. Who that would be, I don’t know. All I can tell is that it’s going to be nearly impossible to find the believer in all of this mess.

And that’s when the elevator doors open. You know how earlier I said you could probably faint and stay standing? Well, I almost do just that. The boy who walks out is almost identical to Wen.

The crowd surges forward, but I stay back. I feel lightheaded for a second, and then the power surges through me even more. It’s like I’ve been electrified. I look up, and the boy and I make eye contact. And in that second, I know. It’s him. He believes. I don’t know why, but I intend to find out. And I think he knows too.

He steps back into the elevator, away from all the wild fans reaching their arms out to touch him. I step back too, and just before the doors close, I see him jerk his head backwards at me. And I know he wants me to meet him out back. So I run out of the hotel, away from the fans. My hair flies back, some getting stuck in my mouth. I brush it out and keep running. Around the side, which seems to be endless. And then I finally make it to the back.