Hymn of the Elder Gods

Revelations

Eve watched Tamar for a long time, with such absolute stillness it seemed almost sacred. In that dense silence, none dared to breathe, some delicate balance woven through the air wavering, once, twice until finally Eve let out a cry and dashed towards the other woman.

Tamar smiled, bittersweet, but remained still as Eve's reaching hands passed through her body as they would through air. Struck off-balance, Eve stumbled, then fell, collapsing at the foot of the couch. There was so much pressure in her chest she worried it may burst, magic shimmering in a thin veil along every limb: joy, confusion, and terror that this might all be a dream. Tamar's expression remained calm. Her ghostly limbs trailed along velvet fabric, pulling in until she could cross her legs in a more compact posture. One hand lifted, the pale woman looked for a moment as though she might stroke Eve's hair. Instead, with some unidentified venom, she drew further away.

Eve trembled, eyes stinging. "I don't understand." A blotchy red color spread across her cheeks and down her neck. "Why are you like this?"

"I'm dead. Can't you see?"

"You can't be," Eve whispered. "You're here."

"I am," Tamar agreed, and this time, when she reached for Eve and cupped her cheek, her touch was firm. It lasted a handful of seconds. Then her body flickered, and one leg phased straight through the couch. "And I am not. It is hard to understand, even for myself. There is a disturbance, in the world, on both sides of the barrier. Someone has interfered with the flow of things. I am not supposed to be here. That much is clear."

"Hedeon," Eve whispered, and Tamar's eyes hardened.

"Do not say his name, not in this sacred place. It is only by virtue of being what we are - withered as we are - that we have been able to escape his notice for so long. If he were to discover us now, it would force us into a fight we could not possibly win."

"That's not quite what Han told us earlier." Samir had come close, a curious light in his eyes. "You look familiar."

Tamar startled at Samir's approach. Then her lips split into a broad, genuine smile, her laughter shaking the room. "Do I now? And how do I look to you?"

"Well," Samir's hand was resting on his holster. "You have too many eyes, for one thing. Four of them. And that's just on your face." Eve frowned. The appearance he was describing, was that of Mira's true form - one the seer of prophecies only revealed when threatened.

"You're certainly an interesting one," Tamar waved her hand, her image wavering slightly with the rush of magic that seeped out. "But you must learn to see beyond the veil consistently, if you're hoping to be of any use." Samir's posture relaxed as the spell fell over him, the effects of Tamar's presence fading.

"What are you?"

Tamar's head tipped, as though deciding whether to indulge the man's curiosity. "I am that which you are afraid of. I dare say, you must be the owner of an interesting prophecy, if you saw Mira's form in mine. A word of advice - some questions are not meant to be answered."

"I'll keep that in mind," Samir said dryly. "In the meantime, would you mind?" His eyes strayed meaningfully towards Arman, who had gone pale and begun to shake. Tamar smiled, and with another wave of her hand, released the man from his terror.

"You'll forgive a simple test. Not very hardy that one, is he?"

"He is not for you to judge," Samir replied. Arman snarled as he came to, posture prepared for a lunge. Only Samir's raised arm stopped the man. "I would appreciate it if you refrained from any future tests. Next time, I will not allow them to slide."

"Allow them?" Tamar's expression turned sickly sweet. "You must have the confidence to back those words up, then?"

"Stop, Tamar." Eve's voice had gone flat, otherworldly. An untraceable danger laced her words, enough so that Tamar flinched backwards. Han, who had remained silent all this time, colored a dark and furious red.