Chapter 39 - 40

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Chapter 39

Astraea sat upon a golden throne where pale faces watched her closely.

"Your highness, our empire stands ready to meet the empire of Ithaca." An elderly minister bowed almost to the ground.

"Bring the prisoner forward."

A fallen general, whose wrists were chained together and uniform covered in blood, collapsed to the ground before her.

"Tell me of your empress, tell me of Sorceress Nala." The soldier hesitated. Arethusa leaned forward, "I will learn what I desire; make this easy on yourself."

The man looked away. Through wicked sorcery, Arethusa made him speak.

"Sorceress Nala has a gift of prophecy." The prisoner said in between gasps for air, his body racked with pain. "She can see into events, into people, and predict as clearly as you can look around you now the fortunes and misfortunes of fate." The general paused, "It is because of her perspicacity that we have flourished in war."

Arethusa said, "If she is a prodigy why does she parley with me?"

The general looked away from the apparition when the doors were flung open, and a messenger hurried in.

"What is it?" Arethusa scolded.

The messenger whispered something into her ear. "Enter."

A woman wearing magnificent jewels crossed the threshold to the throne room. Her body slowly undulated beneath her robes. She possessed such gravitas that all who watched her, were eager to learn who she was, and what she had come to say.

Arethusa glared at her.

The unknown bowed, and said, "I come seeking a diplomatic resolution to the terrible conflict that has already torn this world apart." Her sonorous voice enchanted all the ears it reached, save one. "If the empires of Ithaca and Arcadia collide, an apocalyptic battle will ensue. I have seen this - in my visions."

"Coward," Arethusa snarled, "Your general," she pointed at him on his knees and chained. Sorceress Nala could only gasp at his mortal condition. "He tells me of your gift of foresight. I know why you negotiate; it's not because of your pretended nobility. You whose empire has been built upon the dead bodies of countless innocents." Arethusa stood shaking with rage.

"No, I know you have seen your death," Nala covered her gasp with a slender hand. "You have foreseen that I will destroy you, and so you come seeking terms." The hall was silent.

"A duel--"

"No," Nala flung herself to the floor before Arethusa, knowing that she couldn't prevail because her adversary was too strong. "Mercy," she cried, "Mercy."

When Nala seized Arethusa's hand, endeavouring to kiss the emerald ring that sat upon her finger, Arethusa was overcome by such fury that she uttered a curse. Nala gasped for air, her veins overflowed with poison. Arethusa cast three bolts of ice that pierced her chest. Nala fell lifeless to the ground. Arethusa had ended the war.

***

Astraea awoke, her skin glistened from perspiration. She sat up in her cabin, and, after a brief pause, she alighted, heading out on deck. Thanatos stood on the small ship with his hands behind his back, looking out at the vast ocean.

"Was it the demons again?" He said.

"It was a thing worse than any demon."

Thanatos turned to look at Astraea, who was dreadfully pale.

"It will soon be over."

"You know don't you?" Astraea sensed Thanatos still had his secrets.

"Tell me what it's all about." She rested a hand upon his chest, appealingly, she looked into his eyes, but Thanatos merely turned back to the sea.

"When I killed that awful god something happened to me Astraea. I have become stronger. We shall soon have the third stone, and when we do, you shall have your answers." He turned back to her, passed his hand through her hair, and said, "I promise."

Astraea smiled, but she knew he was lying.

Chapter 40

Waves broke on the ocean surface where the Colossus and destroyers sailed, opposed only by a small schooner that bobbed upon the waves. Aegis, from the bridge, thought about what had become of the coastguard and destroyer sent to investigate.

"Orders sir?" The officers looked to the admiral who still thought with a spyglass held against her eye.

"What's the ship doing?" Eros said.

"I only see a man," Aegis replied, "He's holding a stone. He's talking to someone. I can't see who. He's seen us, and--" Aegis's lips moved, but the words didn't come out. She turned to Eros and said, "He's moving to attack us?"

Eros settled upon the truth instantly, though he didn't know how it was possible. He grabbed the admiral's arm and said, "It's Thanatos."

"He's dead - you buried him."

Eros looked at her straight in the eyes, "Hell has resuscitated him."

The deck was silent.

"Attack formations, bring all guns to bear."

The column of ships sailed, but with an unfavourable wind, it was the schooner that raced towards them. Aegis relied upon superior firepower, and waited patiently to move the ship horizontal, unleashing all 150 cannon.

The three ships of the line sailed in a crescent formation while the enemy vessel, not 200 metres away, headed directly for the Nunnehi flagship. Thanatos had assiduously collected his trinkets, and knew that Aegis's ships were no match for his stones. 150 metres out, he summoned Uroboros. Cries rang out amongst the Nunnehi sailors when the sea monster emerged. They fled from their posts at the sight of the scourge of the high seas.

Aegis turned pale, but only for moments. Soon she was walking the deck, barking out orders, getting the men back to their stations. Then the cannon fired, plumes of smoke billowed into the sky. The beast dove into the water. Aegis glanced across at the two other destroyers who followed her example, order restored, their cannons roared.

Masts shattered, men were killed.

"Seal the ship," cried Aegis. "Fire!"

The juggernaut was hit, diving beneath the waterline. Then it was back, attacking the ships in the midst of a man made meteor shower. Thanatos used the first stone; cosmic rock pounded the sea. Aegis kept her head. It was her leadership that caused the men to fight on.

Then it happened: a direct hit. Eros looked on in horror as the comet engulfed the vessel. A 120 gun first rate ship of the line vanished before his eyes. One moment it was there, the next it was not.

While fragments of wood landed in the sea about, Eros perceived the schooner nearby. In a fury he ran out on deck, and dove overboard.

"You have the ship," Aegis cried to the first mate while she followed Eros.

Uroboros reappeared, the Nunnehi Colossus and the surviving destroyer peeled away. More cannon fire, and screams.

*Thud*

Eros landed on deck, he glared at Thanatos.

"Not once but twice you've come back from the dead. A new pact?"

Thanatos said, "Yes. The devil dies, and I go free, that was the new deal."

Eros turned from his friend, "What have you done?"

Thanatos laughed.

"Why continue?"

"The vita obscura are a cursed order who murdered their queen, and seized her power. They permeate every kingdom, steering history as I do this ship," he gestured to the helm. "I will put an end to it. The queen must be restored. She will reign again."

Eros had never seen his friend so cold and resolute. It was in that moment Eros knew his friend was dead. He'd died 10 years ago. Looking at the man before him, he saw only evil, a wicked being on a hateful crusade. Thanatos had just murdered an entire crew; he would murder many more unless he stopped him.

The knight looked to the woman at Thanatos's side. He'd let her go, and she'd returned to her old ways. Astraea couldn't hold his eyes.

"She's loyal to me; she always has been."

Eros drew his sword, "I hate you."

Thanatos smirked, "And I you."

Swords clashed when Eros fought Thanatos. Their duel at Daoine's had been almost poetic, but their present fight was much more visceral. With limited room, and emotions overflowing, they hacked and slashed at each other.

The demi-god, meanwhile, unleashed a torrent of lightning which ripped through Aegis's thigh. Such was the ferocity of the blow that she fell to the floor in agony. Astraea pounced upon Aegis with daggers drawn. The admiral, with the aid of her sword, raised herself to one knee. She prepared to resist Astraea, but the sorceress had all the dexterity of an acrobat. Flurries rained down; the admiral lost her grip on her cutlass, and with it, any hopes of victory. She looked into her opponent's eyes with a dagger pressed against her ivory throat.

Eros saw the sorceress stand over Aegis's surrendered figure. He would go to aid her, but he was fighting Thanatos. Before that iron wrist and immortal power, the knight wavered. The devil danced, and, not long after, he passed his sword through his enemy's torso. Blood seeped between Eros's fingers. The absence of pain made him feel that the wound was serious. He saw Thanatos look at his abdomen, aware too that he had landed a decisive blow. Eros sunk to the floor, resting his dying eyes upon Astraea before they lulled shut.

*Clang*

He opened his eyes, a dagger had blocked the strike, Astraea stood between he and Thanatos. The wound bled more because his heart beat faster.

Thanatos cried, "How dare you!" He stomped on deck. "I descend into hell for you, for you I slay the devil."

Astraea said, "You came back changed, not as yourself."

"Weakness my name is woman!"

Thanatos was livid, "Don't!" Astraea wept. She held her arms out before her in protest, but Thanatos couldn't be soothed. He slashed at Astraea, but Eros had, with what strength remained in him, summoned Aavak's lady, who conveyed he, Astraea and Aegis to the Collosus.


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