Seasons in the Abyss (Book 4 EptaBorromean Realms)

Chapter 4.21

Within the Vortex, Angeline sat still as a stone. She had not moved in nearly two days as she sat circulating the vast memories and energies of countless lifetimes. How many times had she lived and died in torment? How many times had she suffered at the hands of those meant to protect her?

"How much longer will it take?" Melichios asked, still holding the woman in his arms.

"As long as she needs," the beast responded.

"And then what happens?"

"She must embrace her path or she will die."

"How many times must she suffer through this?" Melichios asked, tucking an errant strand of hair behind the woman's ear.

"It is not a matter of frequency, but a test of will."

Melichios snorted in derision, but said nothing further.

Suddenly, Angeline gasped as if overcome by great sorrow. Her eyes, black as the abyss itself, stared out into the great cosmos as if seeing something.

"Zo."

"Are you okay?" Melichios asked, looking down at her.

"No. No. This is not okay!" She cried, as tears trickled down her cheeks.

Melichios, still not certain what she had murmured when she first came out of the trance, thought she spoke of the trials. "You must endure this," he encouraged her.

"He's hurting!" she whimpered against his chest.

"Who is hurting?"

As suddenly as she had awakened, Angeline jumped to her feet, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Enough! No more. No more trials, no more bloodshed. No more!" She growled, marching across the desert toward the small house.

Inside, Elias and Jun had barely completed their work when the door burst open. A woman with long dark hair and pitch black eyes entered, cloaked in miasma. Without a second thought, both men dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

"My Lord," they both called out reverently.

The woman paid them no mind, and marched to the pile of weapons stored neatly beside Jun. Her eyes scanned them appreciatively before snatching a pair of kukri from the wall. As she turned to leave, a small dagger caught her attention. The memories of her past lives flooded her mind, as she tried to remember where she had seen that particular blade.

"It's time," she whispered in a growl, snatching the blade and tucking it into her waist band.

"Yes, my Lord!" Elias and Jun stood obediently, and with a wave of their hands the arsenal of weapons disappeared into a worn duffel bag.

Gaius stood still as a statue as the last of his father's blood disappeared into the array. With his oath, he understood what his father had done and why, but his mind had not yet grasped the finality of it. Zo was gone.

It started as a growl, deep in his gut, but built until a tremendous roar bellowed out of him. He grabbed his chest, punching at the ache in his heart.

The few Nephilim left behind in the great cavern were unable to intervene, as they were equally affected by the sacrifice of Zo for their own lives. They dropped to their knees around Gaius to mourn the loss of one king, as they pledged allegiance to his successor.

Small tendrils of black smoke crept into the great cavern. Whisps crawled along the floors and walls toward the unfocused fighters, like snakes slithering undetected through the dark.

"My king!" A minotaur shouted as the miasma stretched to touch Gaius.

Gaius's unfocused eyes looked up in time to see the miasma wrap itself around his legs. Coiling up his body, it wound around his waist and arms. "Girl?" He whispered into the dark, as the miasma flooded into the great cavern and covered them entirely.