An Angel’s Road to Hell

Erya of the Silent Glade

Drenched in sweat I opened my eyes, my heart hammering in my chest. The last echos of a nightmare, filled with angels and demons, still held me in their clutches until the soft breath of my granddaughter chased them away like the sun banished the darkness. Disoriented and shivering I sat up, the soft grass and the smells of herbs, cherries and life something real I could cling on to.

“Took you long enough,” a melodious voice complained. I knew that voice but for the moment I couldn’t place it. Every time I tried to remember a towering, foreboding figure with wings of steel rose form the depths of my mind and I recoiled.

“Who…what,” I stammered, blinking in the dim, flickering light. A cavern, I was in a living cavern underneath a tree and that voice…

“Don’t tell me Cassy has scrambled your brains. That’d be a nuisance.” Long, slender legs came into view, covered by a threadbare robe of an ugly brown. Slowly I raised my gaze, past a slim waist and an ample bosom until it came to rest on burning, violet eyes that twinkled with mockery and just a hint of concern. “Doesn’t look like it, though. How are you feeling, Erya?”

“I…,” and suddenly it all came back in a rush. The last weeks, Greta, Morgan’s transformation and my promise. I jolted upright, reaching for my granddaughter’s arm but she was only asleep, a serene smile tugging on the corners of her mouth while she snuggled deeper into the translucent wings she rested on. I released the breath I hadn’t realised I had been holding but before I could do more than caress her soft, vibrant skin, the old dryad continued:

“If you’re strong enough to fuss over her, you must be alright.” She shuffled closer, her eyes covered in a haze of magic. “Gods damned immortals,” she cursed a heartbeat later, “I can’t see a thing. What has the girl done to you, I wonder. No matter. Are you well enough to talk? I’ll get you something to drink. You’ve been out of it for hours, you must be thirsty.” Now that she mentioned it, I truly was. And famished like I hadn’t eaten in years, even though fey didn’t really need sustenance. “Don’t get used to it, that’s an exception because I promised to look after the lot of you. Next time, you can get your own bloody drink.” I could barely hear her last words over the soothing song of dripping water and the creaking of living wood, since she had already marched past eerily glowing plants and shimmering veins of rock, seemingly growing from the roots of the gargantuan cherry tree. Close to the sparkling pond she lowered herself to the ground and conjured an earthen goblet from thin air, which she filled to the brink. Barely a handful of seconds later she was at my side again and pressed it onto me.

“Drink,” she ordered. “You’ll feel better and afterwards we can talk. I have a few questions and I’m sure you have even more. To get the most important bits out of the way: your kid is fine, exhausted and knocked out from the sheer amount of magic in her system but she’s perfectly healthy. Same as the others. I can’t believe I’d ever get the chance to say it but our angel didn’t mess it up, at least not this time.” She blabbered on but I was only listening halfheartedly while I gulped down mouthful after mouthful. The liquid looked like softly scintillating water but it tasted different, almost like something to eat. Nourishing and invigorating at the same time and I could practically feel my strength return with every passing moment. When I had emptied the goblet I put it down gently and grinned lopsidedly.

“You were saying?” She rolled her eyes.

“Your magic. Does it work? Do you feel any pain when you reach for it?”

“Don’t know yet, but,” I began while I already marshalled my will to conjure a small flame into my hand. It worked. Sort of. With a few minor setbacks. One, it wasn’t a small flame but rather a glaring fireball the size of me, two, it wasn’t orange or even red but a bright silver, and lastly it didn’t radiate heat but a chilling cold that seemed to actively suck the life out of its surroundings. The smaller plants close by withered away within a heartbeat and with a curse I released the spell.

“I guess it does,” I finished my sentence haltingly.

“You don’t say,” Greta mumbled, staring at the now empty space where my magic had reigned. “Did you mean to do that?”

“No. I don’t even know what “that” was.”

“A primordial flame, I think. Hot enough that it transcends the meaning of heat. Oh, crap, or rather congratulations. It surely seems like your new mistress has taken your oath to heart and rewarded you for it. You magic hasn’t changed, it has evolved. If I’m not mistaken you carry your own transcendent spark by now, or at least can access Cassy’s stores. Try something else. Something you’re good at.” She was trying to sound unconcerned but she was nervous, I could smell it. I, on the other hand, wasn’t. I knew where it had come from and that was good enough for me.

While my grin widened I reached for the plants around us, trying to make them grow, carefully avoiding the roots and parts of the tree Greta was bound to. There was no resistance and before I knew it, a stalk of feverfew bloomed into a bush, at least as tall as the dryad herself. Its leafs rustled without a breeze and shimmered silvery in the dim light. A strong, almost overbearing smell wafted through the cavern and with a ominous creaking sound its roots dug deeper into the earth while the trunk quivered and widened. My jaw dropped to the ground and with a yelp I released my magic, staring at the glowing herb suspiciously.

“By the Great Fox,” Greta breathed. “That’s impressive, if I do say so myself. Was it taxing?” I shook my head. I had barely used any energy and the tiny bit I had channelled had already refilled.

“Not at all. I could probably do this all day.” Laughing softly, I added: “would you look at that. Here I was, thinking I’d do something for her for a change and that’s how it turned out? By the gods, by now I’m quite glad she didn’t accept my offer when first we met. I don’t think I’d have survived.” The dryad was studying the newest anomaly in her kingdom with professional interest, even plucking a leaf and grinding it between her fingers.

“What was that,” she asked distractedly.

“The first bargain Cassy ever struck with me. I actually asked for her first night but she shot me down. I’m pretty glad she has, don’t know if I’d be here otherwise.”

“I can tell you for a fact you wouldn’t be. I don’t even think you’d survive her touch. Not like that, at least, and not while she’s still struggling with her powers. Take it from someone who’s lived with them when they were fully grown. Some things are just not meant to be and some mistakes you can only make once.” A decidedly impish grin spread across her face as she tilted her head and studied me form underneath her bangs. “Just between the two of us, are you still trying to get in her pants, or rather theirs? Can’t have one without the other.”

“After that little revelation I’m not so sure anymore but on the whole… yes. Not right now, but if there’s a chance somewhere down the line… wouldn’t you? I mean they could reignite the loins of an eunuch, couldn’t they?” She shuddered visibly.

“They raised me. Maybe they wore different faces but it’s still them. Even the thought is… odd. Didn’t they tell you?” I shrugged.

“Half veiled innuendoes but nothing explicit. It’s enough to figure out you’ve known them in their last life and taught Cassy in this one. Enough to trust you with my granddaughter’s life and mine. How far I’ve come,” I added laconically while I was already returning to Morgan’s side. I lowered myself to the ground and took her warm hand into mine. The steady heartbeat I felt through her skin calmed me down and I asked contently: “Do you think her magic will be like mine?”

“We don’t even know what yours is like. Keep in mind I’m guessing as much as you are, but probably… maybe even worse. There’s a connection between Cassy and you and it flared to life when she accepted your oath. With them she took it a few steps further. Just… I’m not so sure if her subconsciousness might have provided more than her conscious will. We won’t know either way until they wake up. Shouldn’t take too long now, a few hours. But I fear you won’t be able to stand here in silent, useless vigil.” With an almost regretful expression she finally tore herself away from her newest toy and continued: “the world hasn’t stood still while you were sleeping. There’s much to do and I dare say we need your help.” With a nasty chuckle she added: “the best part, you don’t even have much of a choice, anymore. Cassy points and you march, that’s what you signed up for, isn’t it?” If she had been trying to provoke me, she’d have failed miserably but I was pretty convinced she was simply direct and honest to a fault. With not much of a filter in between her brain and mouth. A bit like me, really, as I went on to prove immediately after:

“That’s not much of a change, for none of us, is it? From what I’ve heard you sacrificed yourself for her willingly and without a second thought. If one of us has been whipped, I’d be you, my dear.” She grumbled something unintelligible under her breath before she replied:

“Be that as it may, the two of us have work to do. The targets of your unbound lust…”

“It’s less lust and more curiosity, maybe a bit of both, but do go on,” I interjected innocently. She glowered at me darkly but chose to ignore my quip.

“Of your base aspirations then, they have been busy. Look, they’ve decided to…” in the next few minutes she gave me a surprisingly detailed report of what I had missed. “So for tonight it’s all hands on deck, trying to keep a city filled with curious, egoistic and scared humans from turning a peaceful gathering into a massacre. Viyara and Aurelia I’ve already thrown out of bed and Sera is already out and about. Between them, the dwarfs, you and me we should be able to manage, even without our immortals and Helena. Alassara will probably return in time, she’s got a profound interest in the decisions made tonight.”

“And Cassy and Ahri don’t? They are going to live here as well, aren’t they, and anything anyone comes up with will be worth the dirt under their boots if they disagree.”

“True, but… they won’t. Unless it’s about legalising the slave trade again or sacrificing a few souls the angels won’t interfere. They’re… they’ve decided to take a step back. They won’t play by other’s rules, any rules, really, anyway, so why bother?”

“And since they’ll be the ones to drag the reluctant reprobates from their beds, it’ll seem like they’re handing over the reigns while they actually become the glue that holds everything together, the presence behind the throne,” I mused. “Was it on purpose?” Greta tilted her head.

“I don’t think so. For Cassy it’s mainly about returning to the shadows where she can act as she sees fit. The rest is just a bonus. Ahri might have understood the implications but she doesn’t really care, either.”

“Why are we even bothering with this charade at all, then? Wouldn’t it be much simpler to let dice fall as they will and cut off a head or two whenever it becomes necessary?”

“For now? Sure. For the next couple of years? Probably not. It’s a balancing act between what has to be done and what could maybe still come to be. In the end… I think it’s about Amon. I don’t know how much you have heard but I’ve been privy to a conversation Ahri and Cassy had with the Broken Wheel, you know, the stunted god who has caused you quite a bit of grief. Reia wasn’t around back then, but when Cassandra made my seed bloom, I caught glimpses of what I had missed. Anyways, as it stands, the Emperor seems to be manipulating the beliefs, or rather the dreams and aspirations of the people. To continue down a path of violence and duress would only serve to open the door for him. I…” she massaged the bridge of her nose, bringing order to her thoughts.

“Look, my roots are slowly spreading through the island and I’m pretty sure I can tell when someone uses magic to influence what’s happening around here, but I’m not sure I could detect the echos of dark whispers, implanted to poison minds. For that, the people themselves need to understand, need to know that they shouldn’t listen, which means they have to willingly protect the city they’re living in and that’s only going to happen if they truly think it’s their own home to begin with. Otherwise their desires are just… seeds that can be coaxed into sprouting deadly flowers.” I took a moment to digest what she had said while I busied myself with gently running my fingers over Morgan’s wings. They felt almost ethereal but even the surreal softness wasn’t enough to chase away the gnawing anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

“Let me get this straight. Amon can manipulate any and everyone through their dreams?”

“More or less. Most people don’t really listen to what they hear in the cold hours when the night is darkest, but if it’s a repeated message which might just align with what they already believe? That’s different. If they already see their home as a corrupt place where the strong prey upon the weak, it won’t be too difficult to simply… stoke the fires until they find the courage to act where they would otherwise have suffered in silence. If they feel protected and appreciated they’ll simply forget his message as soon as they wake up. Just imagine what it would take to make you turn against Cassandra in comparison to picking up arms against… say someone who’s threatened your family. The former is barely perceivable while the latter could be accomplished easily.”

“Doesn’t that mean we have to keep them unconditionally happy until this war ends?”

“No. Happiness and loyalty are by no means the same thing and also… Amon isn’t the only one who can play this game. For now, there is no patron who can keep watch over their dreams but I imagine that’s going to change. The Broken Wheel and Captain Nightshade haven’t been idle for the last day, either. They… nobody will be able to change what this city is over night, but given a bit of time, a fair, equal society and a functioning church… I’m pretty sure that’s going to rob Amon of his influence quickly enough.” I had nodded along.

“One step at a time. But isn’t he going to thwart us every chance he gets?”

“Of course, that’s what makes it interesting but I’m pretty sure we have a bit of time. For now, he’s probably busy trying to open a portal back to his homeland and won’t bother with any veiled machinations. Once it’s established, though… I’m sure he’ll not only strike with the forces he can muster but also try to sow chaos, fear and doubts in our ranks. If we aren’t able to defend what’s ours by then, we’ll be in for one hell of a fight and I know what that means. I have been there, once. To hell, that is.” I couldn’t help myself, I had to chuckle, even though the prospect was far from heartwarming.

“You’ve been to hell? How come?”

“An object lesson. If you think Cassy has a bit of a temper you should have met her a few hundred years ago. Let’s just say… there wouldn’t have been a war, nor would you have had to deal with any of it. The moment you would have tried to bargain with Lucifer he would have wrung you dry and taken what he needed. Provided he’d even have been there. I’m pretty sure he would have tried to fly across the ocean the very moment he’d have regained his wings, the consequences be damned. At least she isn’t that stubborn anymore.”