Chapter 6: Follow the Music
Hi Ma,
Sorry about being late with this message. I'm sorry about a lot of things but please don't worry about me. I am well cared for here on Themyscira. However, I could go for some of your mac and cheese. If I never have lamb again I will be ok with that. But on a seriously I'm doing ok Ma. I feel as if I'm breathe breathing for the first time. It's a good feeling.
Diana's sisters have made me feel welcome which I found shocking at first. I think Diana told them to be nice to me. Ha! One of them, Alexa, showed me how to use a spear the other day. Ma I've never fallen so much on my ass in my life. Pretty sure she enjoyed knocking me on my ass repeatedly.
She said, 'You are a natural warrior Superman, if only you were a woman you might actually be good at it'.
I laughed and almost got knocked on my ass, but I caught her fist. I think I impressed her. She keeps me company while Diana is out. No doubt she's my nanny while I'm here. Probably giving Diana reports too, but I don't mind. A part of wants her to see me. the real me I'm trying to be.
But over the past few days the Alexa and the other Amazons have been acting off. Its like they are hiding something. I'm sure it's nothing. Alexa said it was festival for the gods. The no men allowed kind.
I hope to see you soon Ma, I promise.
Love,
Clark
Clark's Villa on Themyscira
Knock, knock
"Superman…"
I closed the lid on my laptop as I heard Alexa's voice at my door. The sun was setting, and I barely even noticed the sun dipping behind the horizon.
"Come in," I replied. "What can I do for you this evening Alexa?"
I greeted her with my usual smile as I rose from my seat to greet her. Sadly, I found my smile was met with a stone-cold stare. Something was up.
"You must remain here for the remained of the night," she said.
The coldness laced within her tone got perked up my reporter instincts.
"Yup," I thought to myself. "Something was up."
"Is that an order or a suggestion Alexa?" I asked light heartily.
Alex didn't reply, she just stood there her face as cold as the walls of the Fortress.
"You ladies must take this festival's no men rule very seriously…" I continued. "I swear to Rao you all won't even notice I'm there…"
Alexa took a step closer to me, her eyes never left mine as she moved like a predator about to claim her prey.
"This an order from the Princess herself," Alexa growled. "You remember Superman, the only reason you are allowed to even be here…"
I lifted my hands up in surrender.
"I was just joking with you Alexa," I laughed.
She folded her arms across her chest for she wasn't amused at my laughter.
"Just remain here until the morning Superman," she replied. "I'll have someone let you know when you are free to leave his room."
I just nodded at her words. Like with Diana I could tell when adding a joke wasn't needed in the situation. Whatever this festival was she didn't want me there for someone. She left me to see what they would be doing. Alex left me without out saying goodbye. She merely slammed the door. Finally allow for a moment I let down my guard and I heard Alexa sigh hard from outside my door.
"In sure he doesn't leave this room," I heard Alexa's voice from outside my chambers.
"Yes ma'am," two Amazonian voices replied in unison.
As I heard the two Amazons answer Alexa I could heard my door lock. I looked through the door and watched Alexa let out a sigh.
"…She going to regret not telling him the truth…"
"Not telling me the truth, Diana?" I thought to myself.
A part of me know I should just follow the orders the orders I was given. Maybe this was a fertility festival or maybe a rite of passage thing for young Amazons that Diana just didn't want me to see. Maybe it's just…
"Diana doesn't lie," I muttered.
The thought of Diana hiding something from me, I just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and I didn't like the feeling. Bruce and I both lie but Diana. She had the whole island trying to keep it from me.
"Clark," I thought to myself. "Just do as your told…"
As I spoke a faint chanting sound come from outside my room. I walked towards the open balcony and place my hand on one of the columns. I closed my eyes and focused on the chanting. My Themyscrian wasn't the best but what I could understand...
"Diana, War made flesh…"
"War made flesh," I mouthed as I opened my eyes.
I needed to figure what was going on. Once more I glanced back at my chamber door. Alexa was gone but the two Amazon guards were posted on either side of the door. I waited for a few moments taking in the soothing chanting. I pen pointed the origin of the sound. It was coming from south of the island. Stepping on the balcony's edge I float upwards into the sky.
"… oh Diana hear our cries…"
I followed the Amazons chanting until I found myself flying off the main island to a smaller one to the south. Shrouded in mist this southern island was a densely forested with a opening in the middle.
"Where the hell am I?" I mouthed.
The Temple of Diana, the Southernmost point on Themyscira
Naked I stand in a side room of my temple. How many years had it been since I took my brother's mantel, five years? In all that time I still hadn't gotten used to referring to Ares's belongings as my own. I breathed in trying to calm the voices what were steadily growing louder in my head. Their voices burned like fire within me. I fought the urge to enjoy the feeling. It was … pleasing. No wonder Ares was drunk when this time of the month. One might give in and let the world burn in their name.
In front of me floated up my helmet. Bronze forged with a long red plume it was waiting for me. I slid my braces off my wrists and placed them on a table beside me. Reaching forwards to the helmet the cries of a million voices grew louder within me. A rush of pleasure rushed over me.
"Superman has been informed he must remain in his room…" I heard Alexa's voice in my mind.
I picked up the helmet I placed it upon my head.
"Good," I replied with a two-tone voice. "He shouldn't see me like this…"
No one should. I am a monster.
The Southernmost Spot on Themyscira
After flying for a few minutes over thick forest I land just outside the clearing. Walking through the trees a white marble of structure came into view. I looked about me to see if I was followed. I hide within the shadows as I approached the temple. A line of Amazons held bowls of fire lighting up the outer columns of the temple. Shrouded in crimson robes they chant.
I scooped out the temple before I blew past on the Amazons standing at the columns who was nodding off. Like the wind I ran so she barely even noticed I had ran past her and entered the temple.
Worship me, it called. Yet it sounded different than it did before. It was her voice laced within the other's chanting.
"Diana," I replied as I moved towards the inner walls of the temple.
There is was, Diana naked bathed in moonlight. A helmet on her head with a long crimson plume that reached the floor behind her. She was beautiful beyond words. She stood in front of a massive pool. An Amazon took Diana's hand and lead her forward towards the pool. As she stepped into the pool I saw something reach up towards her. It crawled up her calf and thighs leaving a red trail against her dark skin.
"Was that blood?" I thought.
Deeper into the pool she walked until the red substance reached her waist. Hands reached up through the liquid as she walked groping and touching her as she went. Diana winced in pain with every step she took. Two figures stepped out of the liquid in front of her. A red substance oozed off them. Darting to another column closer to the middle of the temple I noticed the two figures looks like men. They walked up to her and bowed. An unearthly sound emanated from them as the reached for her. Diana's flesh began to melt away at the points where they touched her. She hissed in pain. Through her screams I made out her saying no.
I couldn't take anymore. I rushed in from behind the column I was standing behind towards her. Several Amazons charged in at me, but I knocked them back. I stepped into the pool. The liquid was thick. I ran to Diana's side. She was riddled with bullets and her beautiful skin was burned. I took her in my arms blocking the two figures from continuing from touching her.
"Diana I've got you," I whispered as the two figures stopped touching her.
Lightning white seeped from her eyes as her them meet mine.
"No Kal," she weakly replied. "I've got you… I denied them their war…"
I look behind me to the two figures. They had become clearer they looked like the president and another world leader.
"War always demands a price," she continued as blood rand down her cheek.
My own words haunt me.
"…You have managed to survived thousands of year without a Superman to stop you from blowing yourselves to bits…"
"Even when it doesn't happen," she said as her voice cracked. "
The lightning white of Diana's eyes faded as her eyes closed. She felt limp in my arms. I looked up to the other Amazons surrounding us. Why weren't they coming to help. Diana's heart beat slowed until it came to a complete story.
This is isn't what I wanted.
"Help please…" I cried.
Tears ran down my face.
"Rao what have I done…"
