Chapter 406: Abyssal Training III
Altair could only remember a single time he had shrunk beneath his mother's stare. He couldn't remember the location, but he knew it was in a city where he had run off without telling her. Every hair on his body lanced up, and a strange sensation crept along his legs.
That feeling had returned now under Medusa's stare. It was a mother's stare, one so disapproving it made his stomach wrench. He tried to apologize, though he felt he had nothing to apologize over.
Tasha was his. And he could do whatever he wanted with her.
'Still, you would think I killed a puppy.' He tried ignoring the look, but could one ignore a cobra when it was rattling its tail?
He groaned inwardly, thinking back to what Tasha had told him. He had been furious when she told him of her decree from Gremory. More furious than he had been in a while. It seemed almost childish in hindsight. It was childish, throwing a tantrum when he realized what he thought was his needed to be shared.
'I don't like sharing,' he muttered begrudgingly.
When he could no longer ignore Medusa's stare, he glared back at her, "What?" he nearly cringed. He even sounded like a child snapping back.
"Nothing…" Medusa said lightly as if not aware of his tone. Her arms were around Tasha's waist, holding the reigns, balancing the Lilm, where she lay unconscious.
"You're glaring," Altair said.
"Am I?" Medusa said airily but gave no sign she would stop.
He cringed even harder, unsure what to do. He could command Medusa to stop, but he had a striking feeling she wouldn't listen. She was stubborn that way. Shy yet incredibly stubborn. It almost seemed a crime. How stubborn she was.
"My Lord," Therion shouted overhead. "We are close. Akrim is in reach."
He ignored the Forsaken, continuing his glare at his Sword Maid. He had done nothing wrong. He hadn't been the one serving two Masters and would not apologize for it.
'And if Medusa can't see that. The… A pox on her house!'
No one said anything through the blistering streets of Akim. Altair only stared at the various men and women out there. Some were dark skin and pale as snow, some green and yellow, and everything in between, talking and yelling along the flowing throng. A few recognized him, waving, offering pies. Apple pie by the taste; A few he accepted and shared them with Forsaken.
Even Medusa, despite how infuriated he was with her.
Compared to a month ago, the streets of Akrim were ever more radiant. Raven especially enjoyed it, hurrying to fly over large spires and dome-shaped buildings while they slowly made their way toward the Dutchy.
They arrived by twilight, fording the nearly impossibly long forest yard to arrive before a familiar manner. Altair breathed a sigh of relief. A little homesick himself. He missed Tera. Missed the Serpents Outreach.
Commanding no one be woken by his arrival, he made for his room with Tasha in his arms. Stay connected with empire
"Are you just going to follow me?" Altair asked, glancing at Medusa.
She nodded, staring.
A twitch ran across the corner of his eye. "Your… something. You know that? Whatever, come along. I could use a bath."
Pushing open his door, Altair nearly dropped Tasha, staring at the woman in his bed asleep. He recognized her almost immediately. Recognized those sharp features and silvery hair that lay tangled across her head. Half naked, with a thick stench of liquor emanating from her lips.
"Iliana," Medusa breathed. "She Who Whields Calamity."
"You know her?"
"No, though I've heard she is the Strongest Abyssal, Second Strongest, depending on who you ask. Hades believes that she Personifies Calamity, that it's her existence that brings about destruction across the Heavens. Unlike her Brothers and Sisters, she was one of the few who didn't receive a noble title when the Abyssal was coming together.
She chose to seek the Battlefields, challenging the strongest on the Omnis Rankings. Shiva."
"Shiva is the strongest?"
Medusa hesitated. " He—
"Under the right conditions," Iliana's voice stretched out. The lids of her eyes trembled and opened to reveal scarlet rubies that seemed to glow brighter than any sun. "not excluding us Abyssals. Michael and Lucifer are the strongest without preparation. Though a lot of time, these types of battles are won through wit alone rather than power or skill. That's a lesson I just taught Jin."
"Master," he bowed. "I did not think to see you so soon. Have you been enjoying the Dutchy?"
"Good wine. Though a little too orderly for my liking." Iliana gestured him over, and he came. "Nothing like the hells. I ought to take up Lucifer's invite one day."
Altair could say nothing as he fell to his knees and was made to kneel. He growled. She had not needed to do as such, for he was willing already. She was his master, he recognized.
"How does the madness taste?" She glanced at Tasha in his arms and smiled. "You seem to have acquired a taste for it already. I envy you. Madness and Pride are simply too strong in me. I couldn't find a lover to have that release. A curse, really.
Perhaps I should have snatched… pre-ordered Vesyrn like Izalith did. Sneaky bitch. Maybe I'll take Mephisto. He's cute."
"You make it sound like he doesn't have a choice."Iliana looked at him as if to say the man didn't. No man did. "He does have a choice, you know."
"Sure he does," she said in a tone as if to pacify a pet: Soothing and warm. "So!" She clasped her hands. " How are you feeling? Ready to train? You look a little… empty."
"He was screwing that woman for a week straight. He went at it so hard his meridians ruptured. He'll need another day for them to heal."
"It was worth it," Altair admitted, and he believed it, too. He hadn't had that much fun in a long time.
"Be that as it may," Medusa said sharply. "He seems to be sinking into that devilish side of his."
"That is a problem," He was surprised to hear Iliana remarked. She fixed her eyes on him and grinned. He didn't like that smile. The hairs on his neck rose as his instincts saw him take a few steps back. He shuddered. "Oh, my sweet disciple.
There are so many things you need to learn. The Seven Schools of Magic, Blood Laws, Chaos Theory, and so much more."
"You're actually going to teach me?"
"Of course. But more than that, I'm going to teach you how to use your Omniscience. I don't have the ability, but we know someone who had it. He—"
"Who?"
Iliana grinned. "Mephisto, of course. He gave it up to Fall with the other Angels. A foolish thing. Though I believe there is reason for that… A very interesting reason.' Her smile did not meet her eyes as she peered into Altair's eyes, measuring his depths.
"Uncle said something along those lines. But why?"
"A bout of madness, or so he claims. I can never tell if Mephisto is lying. No. I doubt he ever lies. He is hiding something, and I have an idea what."
Altair leaned closer. "What is it?"
"Secrets," she flicked him on the forehead and laughed when he winced. "I keep his secret, and he tells me what I need to know. I'm not that interested in the man."
"So you blackmailed him."
"I politely asked, and he set the guidelines, which I accepted. Nothing more, nothing less. He seemed more than willing, despite how busy he is." She eyed Altair to see how he had taken the news; Altair looked annoyed. "Don't like secrets, do you? Well, there isn't a reason to be so cautious. Mephisto won't kill you.
He rarely kills anyone."
"I don't get it. Why would he fall like the others? Isn't Heaven absolute? I don't get it. You've been there, right?"
"All he said was that it was done out of madness, with that typical smile. The rat bastard. But we are not here to talk about Mephisto." she sprung to her feet, outstretching her arms till her toes stretched out, too. "Get some rest. And you better hope you're alright. I've already laid down an expensive formation.
So tomorrow, before first light. You and me."
And she left, vanishing behind the door.
Altair groaned, suddenly breaking out in a sweat. He was not alone; Medusa and even Tasha, who lay unconscious, were sweating. He gulped, throwing a hand through his matted, unsure why there was such an oppressive sensation rising within him. Iliana hadn't done anything yet he felt like he had lifted a mountain and had been forced to do squats.
"My Master… how strong is she?"
Medusa did not answer. Could not answer, though her silence was all the answer Altair needed.
He would be certain his father and uncle would probably give him the same response.
"Is she stronger than my Father?"
Medusa shuddered. "Your Father… "She shook her head and glanced at Tasha, scowling. "I can't say for sure. Not since he appeared. You'll have to ask your uncle. He would know."