Deep in the Void

Chapter 30: Blades of Blood and Water

Arabella

Arabella tilted her head back slightly as she ascended the stairs, Ceris's hand clasped in her own. Her senses had never been dull, but with her new capabilities as a Siren, a hitherto invisible spectrum was opened, rendering her previous senses akin to blindness.
She could smell the blood that still lingered on herself and Ceris, the blank, almost lack of smell that accompanied the zombies roaming the deck of the Great Orchid. Her ears twitched. She could hear many things - shuffling footsteps, gently lapping waves, Ceris's gentle breaths - but she filtered out all that, reducing it to a background hum as she focused on two voices in heated argument.
'It doesn't matter.' Pontus's voice spoke first, cold, dripping and arrogant, the voice of someone completely assured of his own importance.
Pearl replied, clipped and angry, but with the merest trace of uncertainty.
'Doesn't matter? Our prisoners are gone. All 142 loyalists, not to mention Arabella and that End Queen. I told you we should have posted guards, never mind how indestructible the cells are supposed to be.'
Pontus laughed. It was a high, oily sound.
'So? They cannot stop us. We have strength in numbers, and as you know, there are my own, ah, unusual capabilities. The End Queen may be strong, but we are undead. And what is Arabella? A 'leader' who didn't even see the mutiny coming? An all-powerful witch, and yet she is nothing without her precious Necrominium, and the loyalty of the forces it gives her? No, we will find her, and I will make an example of her.'
'My brother-'
'Is a traitor, and you should be glad when he is put to death.'
Arabella tuned out. She was surprised to find she wasn't angry. She was contemptuous. The sheer arrogance of Pontus. Did he really think he was all-powerful? That he was smarter than her, or else had a capability she could not hope to overcome?
No, murmured Lilith, and for once Arabella was in complete agreement. They would crush Pontus, and they would enjoy it.

Arabella rustled her wings as Ceris and herself walked out onto the deck. They were aching to spread, and feel their first use, and she had already shed her cloak in anticipation.
'What now?' asked Ceris. 'I don't remember you telling Nikiti where to gather the crew.'
Arabella smiled.
'Oh, don't you mind that. Just hold on.'
She grabbed Ceris under the arms and spread out her dark wings to their fullest extent. A single beat, more back than down, propelled the both of them over the side. Resting her hands on Ceris's chest, Arabella waited until she felt the beat of the former queen's heart quicken, before spreading her wings to slow their fall. They halted for a breathless moment, an inch above the surface of the water. Then another stroke of black feathers sent them hurtling around the ships, close to the water as they made for the second ship to the right of the Great Orchid.

Arabella dropped Ceris unceremoniously on the deck for the second time that day.
It wasn't deliberate this time. She'd dropped her because her arms had briefly grown fur.
Arabella stared at her arms. They now looked smooth, pale and normal.
Ceris, not having noticed, stood up, brushing herself off.
Arabella shrugged and turned towards the stairwell.
'Come on.'
Ceris followed, and they walked down. The torches were unlit, and they quickly passed into darkness, the setting sun doing little to illuminate the passage.

Arabella could hear voices ahead, but she halted, Ceris coming to a halt behind her.
She turned to look at the former queen. She looked beautiful in the half-light...her newly wakened and voracious Siren side stirred with desire, urges to do things with Ceris there in the dark...
Arabella moistened her lips.
'I have something for you. I don't know if you'll find it much use, but I'd feel better for you having it.'

She held out her hand. A shadow formed on her hand, pushing it down ever so slightly with its weight.
It lengthened, stretching out into a segmented blade and an ornate silver guard, light glinting off the obsidian alloy.
Ceris's eyes widened ever so slightly.
'Is that...?'
Arabella nodded.
'Aiko's sword. Forged with the breath of dragons, tempered with the darkness of the void.'
She turned it so that she held the blade by its sides. Ceris stared at the proffered hilt, and her eyes glistened, wetted by the memories she and Arabella now shared as one.
After an eternity, she spoke.
'This is...a great show of trust. I will put it to good use. For your sake and mine, and. . .and for the memory of Aiko.'
Arabella's throat clenched, as a barrier was battered down, and the memory of Aiko, of her smile, her face, forced itself to the forefront of her mind.
'Thank you. Come, the crew are waiting.'