Nezzar

Part Two: Shadows and Gold

"Would you not speak?" Marduk asked with a mocking sneer, hoping to get a reaction this time. There was something deeply unsettling about Ziba's silence.

After sitting before Marduk, folding her legs and resting her staff across her thighs, she had done nothing but stare at him. The vengeful fire that blazed in her eyes was no longer present, what remained was an unnatural stillness that clawed at every self-preservatory instinct Marduk possessed.

"Keep staring." Marduk grinned, hoping his rising disquiet was well hidden behind his bravado. "Once I converge my power, I will slay you where you sit."

Ziba blinked at him; still no crack in her expression. "Do that."

Marduk gulped. Blast it all to hell. Even as his body recovered, panic grew along with it and corrupted his fighting confidence. He was in trouble—massive trouble. And this sense of wrongness in the atmosphere. The blue spirit must have set up some shield. Escape would be near impossible.

"I want to thank you." The deadness with which Ziba spoke reminded Marduk of Abaddon. Gone was the spirit with a carefree and mischievous light in her eyes, what remained was a lethal placidity he was incapable of evaluating. Whether he would be able to fight long enough to find escape was a mystery.

"What you did to me..." She appeared in deep thought as her eyes grew unfocused. "I would not have seen my foolishness if your antics had not held up a mirror."

Marduk did not bother standing even though he had since recovered strength to his feet. What remained was gathering his power and he was halfway there.

"The price would have been unimaginable if your goal was achieved." She scowled and tightened her grip around her staff. "What you hoped I become. What you attempted to turn me to. But you do not own all the blame." She placed a hand on her chest, expression earnest. "If I had not opened the window, the flies would not have buzzed in."

Marduk willed his hair into a single plait. His rod appeared to his left, floating within arm's reach in the form of a spear. "Since your light fought and remained, show this mad fool mercy," Marduk said with a tight smile. "Let me go and I promise—"

"It seems you do not understand the gravity of what you and Apophis attempted." Holding her staff for support, Ziba stood to her feet. Though that unnatural stillness still encased her like a shell, her gaze burned with retributive promise. "I will send you to the very place you hoped to damn me. But before then, we will dance until your legs give out." Her smile was back but this time there was no carefree light in it, only dark assurance.

"What about Apophis?" Marduk yelled as he sprung to his feet as well. No, he could not consider the possibility of what she just said. Going back to the outer darkness. No. "Why come after me alone? Why not go after him as well?"

She gave him a blank stare. "I am not obliged to answer that question."

It began. Ziba's transformation. A tall athletic form. Deep blue skin. Flashing amber eyes. Curved horns. Her wooden staff turned golden and melted. The liquid metal multiplied, moving like living things as they curled around her neck, arms and limbs. Chaos was out of sight. Marduk did not know what to make of its absence. Was the dragon hiding in plain sight?

"You will pay, Marduk. With your limbs. With your eyes. With your very essence." Her voice was no longer childlike. It reverberated within the shield, not loud yet commanding. "You will pay for every pain I suffered. For that child you sacrificed in the fire and for the child who nearly died in my hands. You will pay."

"I owe you nothing," Marduk shouted. "Your foolishness led to your suffering." Grabbing his spear, he struck the earth and summoned his children. Cracks fanned out from the spot he struck, followed by the hiss of escaping sulphur and pummels of black smoke. "Ahhhh." Grinning big, Marduk sighed at the ground and spread his arms in welcome.