Lifelight: Calypso Returns

12.

She was making a valiant effort at silence. Half a bottle of mulled wine had gone down like a dream and with it came the idea to explore.There was no one outside her room so she just started walking. Her drunken stagger felt like a stealthy creep and her occasional giggling was really a laugh that echoed through the halls.

She found a stone staircase and followed it up through a corridor that ended at a long balcony. The view was incredible, clouds drifted below her and under them the sun shone on the steep, rocky slopes.She was entranced and leaned back to stare. Then she fell into a room.

"Oops, so sorry. I was just leaning for a second, the wall gave way. Why is your door a wall?" Hera said. 

"I see you finally arrived."

The room was dark , a shadow in the corner was given definition by the light coming through the door. It looked like a person crouching over something.

"I think I'm lost."

"You have been lost for three centuries."

"Why do people keep saying things like that? Who are you?"

"I think you know."

She giggled for a long time, "If you mean the one I share a soul with knows you, I think I found a way to mute her so you will have to help me out."

"Call me Zaad."

"Mr. Zaad, could you please point towards wherever Iso might be. She owes me an explanation." Hera said.

He remained in shadow and Hera started to feel a little uncomfortable then he rattled off directions and moved further into the darkness.

In the end, the queen found her. Hera had found herself in a tomb like room with smooth stone walls and decided to just sit for a bit. Abu found her half asleep and took her arm. The royal chambers were about a mile away by her estimation.

Their feet hit plush carpet as Abu guided her down a golden carpet. Wood walls gleamed in the light and warmth seeped into her as they walked.These halls were alive with activity, voices spoke and feet shuffled behind the doors making Hera wonder how many people lived in the palace.

Abu knocked on the door, nudged it open and then walked back the way they had come. There was no way to prepare for the king and queen. Hera knew who they were as soon as she saw them. He sat behind a massive block of wood, his desk, and she stood by a window facing her. They fit the profile, looked like they should be in charge of a kingdom.

They were tall, so tall she felt like a child. He looked like Kairu but his hair was violet, skin a dark olive. He seemed to be the standard for Saira but taller and more refined. She had olive skin and dark hair held in a bun. If she was not taller than some pro-basketball players she could have been Mediterranean.

No one spoke. Her buzz was gone and she remembered that she had been looking for Iso. Broaching the subject required finesse, they were royalty after all.

"Hello. First, I do not appreciate being all but kidnapped from earth.Second, I will not leave this room without an explanation. Third, the Potts fair people... my friend was outraged. I'm not sure but keeping an animal of that size and rarity must be illegal. The owners should be arrested and their licenses or whatever must be revoked."Hera said.

Hera held her chin up and felt some of the flames lick inside. Her soulmate approved. The king stood then. He was a whipcord giant just shy of Yuli's height. Suspicion flared in his eyes.

"Hawa confirms it, you are Sithera. Why did you allow yourself to be brought here?" He said.

"Well, I was attacked by a demon. Pretty sure it wanted to eat me. Then came the hellcats. Oh and there is the voice. However, you make a good point, I have no business here other than that which you need me for.I'll be leaving then, your highness?" She said.

"Gelife, stop. Please, we've been waiting for you. I'm so glad you are here." The queen said.

Hera stepped further into the room as Iso walked towards her. She stopped by her husband and gave him a stern look. It was impossible not to watch her, she was beautiful and looked happy. Hera had always been suspicious of happy people.

"I'm sorry. It has been a long couple of weeks." Hera said.

"We know and we are sorry. Please sit." Iso said, "I am Iso of the Wraith planes and this is Daeran Gelife, King of Saira, Leader of the High Council, and Commander of the Guard."

"It is very nice to meet you. Back to the question of just who I am, to you I mean, I know who I am."

Iso took her time to start the story, because that is what it turned to be, a fantastical horror story. She sat them on a sofa by the window.She ordered tea but Hera had more wine.

It began with the pantheon.In eons past, Saira had been a lifeless wasteland. It existed only as a conduit between earth and the demon plane. To curb the spreading power of demons on earth, the gods decided to conquer Saira. This led to the first great war, the demons lost.

As a reward for her roles in the war and separating the planes with her oceans, the goddess Calypso was given reign over Saira. The demons were no longer allowed free passage across the planes. Like those of earth, Saira's beings evolved and grew numerous under her protection.

The second great war was unexpected. The nymphs chose a queen and she ruled by the grace of Calypso. The kingdom was peaceful and bountiful. Three families that considered themselves noble allied themselves with the demons. They created half-breeds that could cross the planes undetected and built an army in the demon planes. Calypso did not know until it was too late.

They overrun the kingdom, in days, they were at the foot of Azmythica. Millions of Saires died, the nymphs could not allow anymore.

The ritual was as old as the gods themselves. The fall of Azmythica would mean the defeat of Calypso, the barriers would open and the demons would rule Saira and earth. If Calypso lived, at any time and place in the universe, Azmythica's power would exist still and the barriers between the planes would remain. So they sent her weakened though she was to the future. It was the power left of her and the sacrifice of the nymphs and witches that saved her. On earth, she fused herself to a soul. The other half of that soul was the Sithera, keeper of the life light of Calypso.

"Azmythica sank to the ocean. A single water nymph was spared and sent to earth.There she waited. She had a family, daughters who carried the mission on. The Balarios family protected and kept you these many years.After Gelife's victory, we received a message from Khatya. There have been disturbances and the king decided it was time you came home."Iso said.

Hera said nothing when Iso paused in her narration. There was more to the story and she nodded for Iso to go on.

"The life light that is in you is the soul of the goddess. She must be restored Hera. The goddess must come back to full power and reign over Saira once more. Half-breeds still stalk some parts of Saira and the greedy and ambitious lurk under the surface, waiting for another chance." Iso said.

"And how will this... restoration work?" Hera asked.

"When the time is right, your souls will be separated." Iso said.

Hera recoiled from Iso. The revulsion she felt at the words nearly made her gag but her mouth was dry.

"That sounds painful."

"You must not think about it now. Now, you should enjoy Saira, the capital in particular." The king said.

Hera felt woozy when she left the king and queen and it had nothing to do with the wine. The word separated echoed in her mind and filled her with fear. The flames were gone.