Patrol 4: Storm & Calm

Chapter 34

Vania stood, looking out over the ravaged city. It was hard to pick out details in the darkness between lightning flashes; most of the streetlamps had gone out, leaving only light glimpsed from windows to combat the storm's gnawing darkness. The sound of waves crashing, tossing about the debris of broken ships and buildings, was a background tempo against the fierce growling of the thunder.

She could see Buccareth House, still tall, a handful of windows lit against the encroaching dark. Looking farther out, she could barely make out the place where Eddin's and her house stood, hastily abandoned after the lightning strike. In the darkness, there was no evidence of any repair work being attempted. Further down, her old home had long since been lost to the waves.

Rising from the dark waters stood the temple, its main spire brilliantly flashing golden in the lightning. All its windows were lit, warmly glowing against the city's sullen, soggy ruins. The wet cobblestones of the road leading to the temple reflected the light, making the route appear to be a golden road, the waves of water lining the edges glinting darkly in the light.

As lightning flashed, arcing over the temple, Vania glared, eyes squinting against the momentary brilliance followed by deep darkness and the rumbling thunder that almost sounded like laughter.

"Calliastra, you hateful bitch," Vania said. After a moment, she corrected, "No. Caylis. You pathetic, whiny parasite. To make yourself feel strong, you crippled the city. To make yourself feel loved, you tried to force everyone to their knees in worship of you. Well, no more. Your reign ends here. You will die alone, but for me, since you're living off my life."

She stepped closer to the edge of the cliff, the wind buffeting her, whipping her cloak tight against her back, then snapping it out away from her as the wind changed direction. The edges of her hood slapped her cheeks until the wind wrestled it entirely from her head to flap in smaller mimicry of the cloak.

"Caylis. In my duties as an Elite Enforcer, I am your judge and jury. For the crimes of murder, terrorism, wanton destruction, and general havoc across the entirety of Astrence, I find you guilty and sentence you to death. As the one who holds your life intertwined with mine, I am your executioner. You get no appeal, and no final words." She spat over the edge of the cliff, refusing to recall the panic of falling as she dove to catch Eddin from this very same precipice. She murmured, "I hope your death is agonizingly slow and painful, in recompense of all the lives you've ruined." After taking a slow, deep breath, she stepped closer to the edge, toes protruding into the air. Her feet dislodged pebbles that fell, their clattering unheard over the chuckling thunder.

A hand gripped her shoulder, an oddly accented voice commanding, "Do not. She has... laid waste... to enough lives. Don't add yours."

"But it's our only option left!" Vania protested as the hand pulled her back, away from the edge. "And this is our last chance; if this pendant wears off before I die, she won't be trapped and die with me. We can't let her win and keep hurting people! She deserves to die. She must. And this is the only way!" She spun around to face the owner of the voice. She faltered as her eyes locked gazes with, not green and brown eyes, but grey-ish silver ones. She blinked a few times, brain slowly placing the odd accent, pale skin, white hair, and silver eyes that almost seemed to glow in the darkness. The headache his looming power induced. "Sylvern?"

He let his hand drop from her shoulder. "Your... partner... called out to me. He said you have my wife's... murderer." His gaze seemed to look through her, to where the other resided, trapped. "I see. She used Lineia's powers to... possess... you. And almost destroy this city. I see she is trapped within you. How did you manage that? I know your kind are wily and resourceful, but with the differences between your... inherited powers... and her stolen power... it shouldn't be possible."