Gone Batty II: Eclipsed
Chapter 10: One Hundred Hearts
As the horizon began to glow with the rising sun, Marina and the others decided to settle down and rest for the day. With the law no longer in place, the bats watched peacefully from their tree as the sun steadily rose above the ocean.
"It is so beautiful," Marina sighed happily as she watched the clouds change color- and with it, the water. Ariel hummed in agreement as she groomed the brightwing's long blonde hair. Marina's smile fell slowly as she stared out to the dawn. "I wish Shade was here to see it," she gave a self-scornful laugh, "can you actually believe it? Not once since I stayed with your colony, I have never watched the sunrise with him."
Ariel looked at Marina calmly, "don't be too hard on yourself, dear. It's very easy to take ones you love for granted." She resumed brushing the tangles out of Marina's locks. "It's easy to believe that they will always be there no matter what. I know I certainly did."
At first, Marina blushed when Ariel mentioned the word 'love.' But when she continued talking, Marina's embarrassment melted into sympathy. "You are talking about your husband…"
Ariel nodded, her eyes seemingly to be looking at something far away. Something that no one else could see. "Shade is a lot like Cassiel. Both are hard-headed, righteous, and daring. I should have known that Cassiel would never stay put. He was always itching for an adventure, even after we married."
"What happened?" Marina asked softly.
"He was out scouting one night, making sure that it was safe from the owls. He never came back."
"But you believe that he's still out there, alive."
Ariel smiled, "I like to believe so. My heart says that he is alive, even though my mind doubts it sometimes." She began to comb through Marina's brown mane.
Marina looked away, her eyes reflecting the glimmer of the ocean. "Shade is alive. I know he is."
"Chinook has been trying to court you," Ariel said lightly after a moment of silence, changing the subject into more of a girl-talk. "What do you think of the boy?"
Marina blinked. She did not anticipate the sudden change of conversational direction. "Chinook? I guess…" she wrinkled her nose in thought. "I mean he's handsome, fun and all but...he's not my type."
"Oh?" Ariel raised an eyebrow and grinned teasingly, "and who is your type?"
Marina turned pink. "Well, umm… good gracious, I'm starving! I think I'll have an early morning snack."
Ariel giggled knowingly as she watched Marina take off like there was a bee swarm after her.
"Where are we going?" Shade shouted over the storm, his wings beating fiercely.
"A refuge for us northern bats," Caliban answered back over his shoulder. "There have been survivors before you, after all."
"Is it far?" Barnabe asked, "it's going to be dangerous if the storm grows any stronger."
"It's close enough. We're almost there. Hang in there, kids."
Shade noticed something that moment. For once, he wasn't falling behind. He looked at Barnabe and then at Chinook, realizing that he was keeping up despite the wind trying to throw him out of course. 'I'm stronger…'
A loud explosion sounded behind them and Shade turned his head to see a flame cloud rise miles away from where they were. It grew like a giant tree before it started to die from the rain. His eyes widened at the terrible sight.
"Don't look at it," Caliban warned- not wanting panicking bats on his back.
"What was that?!" Chinook exclaimed.
"An owl. Most are lucky enough to free themselves from their bombs. Others are not so fortunate."
"But we've seen the explosions that those bombs created before. They were never that huge," said Shade.
"Bigger the bomb - bigger the boom," Caliban explained shortly.
"Sweet Nocturna," Barnabe shook his head, "I hope Orestes is alright."
Shade blanched. He really hoped that wasn't Orestes…
"We are here!" Caliban shouted.
Shade looked to see that they were approaching a giant lone human statue. It had its arms spread wide open, as if in welcome. The stone was eroding and camouflaged in the jungle thanks to the vegetation creeping over it. Its eyes were blank like all statues but the smile was kind.
The young silverwing smiled. It was a nice reminder that there were people out there who were just like Melody and Elliot, kind and good.
Caliban flew into one of the sleeves of the statue and the boys followed. Inside the statue, there were approximately twenty five other bats of different kinds. All of them had signs of scarring from burns and cuts, no thanks to the bombs and perhaps even the cruelty of the jungle. A few had it worse than others. Shade winced when he saw two bats with badly damaged wings, burnt heavily. There was no chance for them to fly ever again…
Shade, Barnabe and Chinook roosted side by side, dripping wet while Caliban called a greenwing over.
She handed him a leaf-full of healing berries and Caliban started off with spreading them over Chinook's stomach. Chinook whimpered but didn't move away. Trying to ignore the pain, he asked, "so… what kind of bat are you?"
"I am a mastiff," Caliban answered patiently. "Better known as a tailwing."
"How long have you been stuck down here?" Shade wondered.
Caliban glanced over to Shade before moving to heal him next. "I am one of the first to be dropped into this jungle. You see, at first, the bombs were more experimental, therefore more dysfunctional. Mine was a complete dud." He frowned, "there was more of us at first, but the jungle has a way of depleting our numbers. Back home, the worst you had to worry about were the owls. Now we have all sorts of dangers. Giant fish can jump out the river and drag you down into the depths with them when you try to have a drink. Carnivorous bats would tear you apart in seconds. Snakes that pretend to be vines would suffocate you. Even some plants would be more than happy to digest you."
"Plants?" Chinook gaped at him.
Caliban moved onto Barnabe, "plantraps, I like to call them. But you know, if it wasn't for our leader, none of us would have survived. He was the one who discovered Statue Haven. He was the one who would go out and learn about the dangers. It was his idea to go looking for more survivors when the bombings start again."
"That is incredible," Barnabe said.
"Yes, he was…" Caliban sighed, his eyes saddening, "a great silverwing. A great bat. The vampyrum bats got him."
Shade's head snapped up. "A silverwing?" He dreaded asking the next question. "What… was his name?"
Caliban's eyes met with Shade's. His eyes widened for a moment, as if noticing something for the first time- taking in Shade's appearance. He paused before answering, "Cassiel."
Shade shut his eyes tightly and hung his head. He gripped his hands tightly into fists. He looked defeated.
Caliban took in the worried looks that Barnabe and Chinook were giving their friend. "You knew him." It wasn't a question.
"He was my father…" Shade croaked, barely over a whisper.
Caliban's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, kid."
Shade sniffed and opened his eyes, tears struggling to escape. "Yeah… me too."
Ariel slowly walked along the beach, watching the waves gently sweep against the sand. The wind blew cooly, fluttering her wings. "I'll be your sunlight on the water. My love for you will always burn." She stared off into the sunrise longingly as she sang, "I know you're lost and drifting, but the clouds are lifting. Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn."
Meanwhile ways off, Marina was flying over the golden glittering ocean, as if daring to cross it. Her heart was calling out for Shade. She knew it now, she was in love with him. She had been denying it, not even acknowledging it for a while now. Marina missed Shade. She missed his mischievous laughter and his excitement when he saw her. "I'll be your sunlight on the water. 'Till every wave is warm and bright." She flew close to the water. "My soul is there beside you," she looked into her reflection in the water, and her imagination formed Shade's image behind hers, smiling at her over her shoulder. "Let this sunlight guide you. Soon you'll see a golden stream of light."
A tidal wave formed and Marina bravely flew at it. She grazed her wing into it as the wave curled over her, sending a spray into the air behind her like glittering crystals. "A cold and friendless tide has found you. Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down!" Marina escaped the wave in time, sending it crashing back into the rest of the ocean.
"I'll paint a ray of hope around you," Ariel picked up two pieces of a heart-shaped seashell that she found. One piece she saw her reflection. On the other half… was Cassiel. Slowly she brought the two pieces together, making it whole again. "Circling in the air, lighted by a prayer."
She held the pieces close to her heart.
Marina hung from a tree branch that hovered over the ocean, her hair swaying in the wind. "I'll be your sunlight on the water." She hugged herself tightly, "this flame inside me will grow." She closed her eyes, impassioned as she sang. "Keep holding on, you'll make it."
"Here's my hand, so take it." Ariel stretched her wing out to the horizon. "Look for me, reaching out to show. As sure as rivers flow…" Tears began to well up in her eyes and one gently trickled down her cheek. "I'll never let you go. I'll never let you go."
"I'll never let … you go." Marina opened her eyes, her own tears escaping as her heart squeezed painfully.
The sun shone brightly, completely risen from the ocean's horizon.
Goth was aggravated but his face was twisted in a triumphant grin- inadvertently experiencing contradicting emotions. It was such a strange feeling that he couldn't help but let out a deep chuckle, confusing the two vampyrum soldiers, Balthazar and Azul, who were escorting him to the royal chambers.
He had both won and lost against Melody. Lost because that bothersome girl had made friends with his sister, Itzel and her good-for-nothing husband. Goth couldn't touch a hair on Melody's head now thanks to that accursed royal debt. However, the new king took pleasure in that he had managed to twist the terms. Melody was safe for as long as she didn't leave his premises. One step out of bound and Goth wouldn't hesitate to hunt her down- and he was counting on her to try. Melody seemed to have the habit of trying to escape when given the opportunity. He knew that Itzel would probably attempt to aid her, but he didn't worry about that. Goth had eyes everywhere, and he would be the first to know if something happened behind his back.
Either way, Goth had Melody where he wanted her. He had the advantage.
Flying into the royal chamber, Goth landed behind Voxzaco- who was clutching at his head in irritation. The old bat was staring intensely at the sacrificial stone while muttering inaudibly to himself, not at all aware that the moonlight had been replaced with dark storm clouds. The longer he stood there, the more agitated the priest became. Goth tilted his head in interest. He had never seen Voxzaco so upset before.
"Voxzaco," Goth called to him.
The priest lifted his head and turned to face Goth, his eyes bloodshot from whatever strain he was putting on himself. "Your Majesty," he bowed slightly.
"What seems to be the problem?"
Voxzaco stroked his beard in a nervous manner, "it's nothing too serious, my lord. Just a little delay in the translation of the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Goth was intrigued and he turned to look at the writing on the stone. He had never once wondered what the words on the stone said. "What is the prophecy?"
Goth listened as Voxzaco explained that on the night of the upcoming total solar eclipse- Zotz will rise again. That with the destruction of the sun, their dark god would finally return. With every word, the vampyrum king grew more enthralled. "And how do we manage such a feat?" he demanded. "What must be done?"
Voxzaco fidgeted and swayed his head back and forth. "That is the trouble," he turned around and placed both hands on the stone and leaned heavily against it. "I have been trying to seek answers from Cama Zotz, but he will not answer."
Itzel hid behind the corner of the doorway- having followed after her brother. She had meant to have a word with Goth, but seeing that he was in deep conversation with Voxzaco, she did not wish to interrupt. She peeked from behind the stone wall, her ears alert to catch whatever they were saying.
"Then I shall summon him," Goth announced boldly.
The old bat whirled around with a speed that should not have been attempted at his age. "Only the high priest is capable of speaking Zotz," Voxzaco growled, not at all amused by Goth's words.
"Zotz has spoken to me once before, he shall do it again." Goth marched up to the stone.
Voxzaco sputtered as Goth walked around him, "this is an outrage! Foolishness! You maybe the King, but I will not stand for this! You risk the ire of the dark lord!"
Itzel straightened in alarm. What was Goth doing?!
Goth scoffed, "for attempting to find a way to free him? Your logic is flawed." He grasped the stone and raised his head before shouting to the sky, "Cama Zotz! I call upon you! Speak with me!"
Lightning flashed.
Silence filled the giant room. Nothing happened. Not even the rumble of thunder that was supposed to follow. Balthazar and Azul glanced at each other with uncertainty and shrugged. Itzel grasped the corner of the wall tightly, staring at Goth who closed his eyes and heaved a sigh, his head hung low. Itzel's fur began to rise, feeling a chill that no one else seemed to notice.
Voxzaco giggled and it graduated to a full blown laughter. "You see? Only I have the gift!" he chortled.
Goth's eyes opened, pupiless and glowing yellow like an inferno. He straightened back up and turned around slowly. Itzel covered her mouth before she could make a sound. The two soldiers staggered away fearfully. Only Voxzaco didn't notice.
That… wasn't Goth.
Zotz waited patiently as the priest laughed. When Voxzaco finally looked up again, he gave a startled gasp- completely horrified.
A smirk formed on Goth's mouth, "do I amuse you, Voxzaco?"
That was certainly not Goth. While it was his voice, the words certainly weren't. The way he spoke and drawled out each syllable was of another being entirely.
Voxzaco fell to his knees and bowed before his possessed king. "Cama Zotz! My lord…"
"What a good boy you are," Zotz spoke condescendingly, as if to a pet, "recognizing your master."
"F-forgive my impudence, but I do not understand…" Voxzaco raised his head, but kept his eyes below his god's eye-level, too frightened to look directly into them. "I have been praying for hours. I am your high priest!"
"Yes… your voice has been grating in my head like a starving maggot," Zotz rolled Goth's neck, making a series of loud cracks as he adjusted to his vessel.
"Then...why-?"
"I simply desired to speak through a body that is befitting of my image," Zotz drawled as he flexed Goth's arms, feeling the muscles tighten in satisfaction. Yes, this certainly was much better. "It's nothing personal. You're just old."
Voxzaco's jaw dropped.
"Don't want you disintegrating into a pile of ash," the dark god topped it off with a sneer.
The priest didn't have anything to say to that. After all, what could he possibly say? If it was Goth he was talking to, he would have had a few nasty words, but this was a god.
"Well then," Zotz relaxed, finally acquainted with Goth's body. "Down to business. What is it you wanted to ask of me?"
Voxzaco opened his mouth to speak, but Zotz interrupted him.
"Ah- yes…" he grinned. "The eclipse…"
Voxzaco realized that Zotz was pulling the information out of Goth's head, and frowned. Again, the god didn't choose to pick him. The old bat glared at Zotz's vessel, feeling bitter envy rise up against Goth. He couldn't believe that Zotz would find anything relatively special in a bat that once hung diseased, rotted carcasses from Voxzaco's roost and deliberately snuck away from his schooling lectures to terrorize the wildlife.
"When the solar eclipse begins, you must sacrifice one hundred hearts to me right at this alter. Be warned, the eclipse lasts no longer than seven minutes. If you are short by even one heart, you will fail." Zotz spread Goth's wings and shouted, "free me! Free me and you- Goth… will be the one to lead my armies to vanquish humankind! The earth and skies will be yours to rule at your leisure. The north, south, east and west will be your domain!"
With that, Zotz let go of his hold over Goth.
Goth stumbled and grabbed the stone to steady himself, feeling strangely both empty and relieved. He closed his green eyes and shook his head, trying to rid of the ache that was building inside it. Goth was conscious during the whole thing when Zotz compressed him to the sub corners of his mind. It was suffocating but the power he felt was marvelous.
"My king?" he heard Voxzaco call out tentatively.
Goth opened his eyes and asked breathlessly, "how many?" He looked to his soldiers.
"Sire?" Azul, the vampyrum with the blue hair asked, not certain what Goth was asking.
"How many prisoners do we have in the dungeons?"
"Well… there was one small northern bat, but he had escaped-"
"Then find him and recapture him!" Goth roared angrily, causing the two to flinch. "Send out a hunting party! Bring back bats, birds- anything that has blood coursing through their veins! We need one hundred before the eclipse arrives."
"But… sire… that only gives us three weeks," Balthazar protested. "Game is scarce as it is. Most animals have fled from this part of the jungle due to the fires-"
"If you come short of the number that is required, you yourselves will be lying on this stone," Goth growled. "Do whatever is necessary even if you have to go hungry!"
"Y-yes, your majesty!" Azul and Balthazar bowed their heads and flew out of the chamber in a hurry.
Goth snorted, glaring after the soldiers. How incompetent. They were the same guards that were supposed to keep watch before he and Throbb both were captured by humans. He was half-tempted to throw them both into the dungeons, but he needed every single tooth and claw that could serve him.
Feeling a roll of exhaustion rush over him, Goth took to the air, more than desiring a long sleep. After everything that was happening, one after another, even he had his limits.
"Goth!"
He paused in midair, grunting in annoyance. He turned to see his sister following after him. Goth rolled his eyes. Of course… just what he needed.
"We need to talk."
"The talk can wait," Goth said, ready to leave.
"Now, hermano," Itzel growled, her eyes flashing.
Goth sighed. Once Itzel had her mind set on something, she would not let up for anything. It was better if he just listened to her and it got it over with. They both hung from a wooden beam and Goth turned to Itzel expectantly.
"Goth," Itzel began, concern written all over her face. "I am worried about this whole prophecy. We need to think this through."
"Still haven't gotten over your habit of eavesdropping, I see." Goth raised an eyebrow but Itzel only scowled at him. "What is there to think about? Zotz desires it, so it must be done. Do you doubt him?"
Itzel looked uncomfortable. Just like Goth, she was raised to worship the dark god. Zotz was everything that every vampyrum strived to be. Being asked if she doubted Zotz was subconsciously like being rubbed the wrong way. It felt wrong… "I do not doubt him," she admitted, though she couldn't help but feel that it wasn't exactly true. "I am just...concerned."
"You need not be. As long as we do as Zotz asks, all will be well."
Itzel wasn't entirely convinced, but she let it slide. It was a touchy subject. "But that isn't why I came to speak with you. I came to talk about Melody."
Goth turned his head away, suddenly uninterested, "what about her?"
"You surely can't expect her to stay cooped up in here forever."
"I don't. I am expecting her to try and escape," Goth said coldly.
Itzel's eyes hardened. "So, this is all a game to you. Melody has done a great service to our family. What you have done is far from repaying a debt."
The lip over his teeth curled into a sneer. "She is still alive. That is payment enough."
"Not unless she starves while she is stuck inside. She needs to hunt too. She needs fresh air and water."
Goth frowned at her words and became thoughtful. He certainly didn't wish for Melody to die of starvation or dehydration. That would defeat the entire point of revenge. If she was to die, he wanted a bloody struggle, screaming, and pleading- not having her wither away quietly. He wanted it to be done by his own hand. Goth pictured himself standing over her body on the sacrificial stone, presenting her heart to Zotz in the palm of his hand. No. If he was to carry out his revenge perfectly, he would need to give Melody a bit more freedom.
"Very well...I will allow her to leave the pyramid as much as she requires, but only if she has a chaperone and stays within the perimeters of our territory."
Itzel gave a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. It wasn't complete freedom for Melody, but it was certainly a chance. "Thank you, Goth."
Goth snorted and shook his head. "Not too long ago, you wouldn't have thought twice about eating her."
"I almost did," Itzel admitted. "But I'm glad that I didn't."
Goth stared steadily at his sister, "you have changed, Itzel." Honestly, he didn't know if that was good thing.
She smiled and lightly traced the missing part of her eyebrow, "one of us had to."
Elliot's flight had been delayed- no thanks to the sudden storm that had struck Belize. Instead of arriving at midnight like had had originally planned, he stepped out of the plane at six in the morning. After the storm, the sun finally decided to peek its obnoxious bright head out of the clouds.
Dragging his luggage behind him, Elliot searched for Denise in the crowd of awaiting families. He blinked when he spotted her, holding up a large pink neon sign with his name written on it. It was rather difficult not notice it… especially with the giant hearts scribbled all over it. That and she was jumping up and down like a cheerleader and shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Elliot! It's me! Over here! Hey!"
Elliot sighed and walked towards her. He winced as he got a good look at Denise. She had dark purple circles around her eyes and her hair was more frizzled than usual. "How long have you been waiting here?" he asked.
"Since eleven last night," she squeed before pulling out a cup and chugging it down. From the strong warm smell, Elliot deducted that it was coffee.
"Didn't you get the memo that all flights were delayed?" Elliot raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I did," Denise waved her hand like it was no big deal. "But I was just so excited, that I had to show up early!" She giggled and flung her arms over his shoulders. "I'm SO happy to see you again, sugar-plum!"
Elliot stiffened and clenched his jaw as she hung off him. The scent of amber perfume tickled his nose. His eyes nearly popped out from behind his glasses when she gave him a huge kiss on the cheek.
Sensing that they had arrived, D.D. unzipped the luggage that he was hiding in and poked his head out. He smiled brightly and turned to look at Elliot when his jaw dropped, aghast. Who the hell was that strange girl?! And...she was KISSING Ellie! She clearly wasn't family… nor was she Melody- a family friend. So this left only one possibility left: a potential lover. A THREAT. Someone who would steal Ellie away- making him forget about his little robot creation! If Ellie got a girlfriend, he wouldn't need D.D. anymore!
Screeching angrily, D.D. grabbed the closest item in the luggage and threw it in Denise's face.
Denise yelped and backed away from Elliot. "What the-?!" She pulled the object away from her face and stared down at it in bewilderment. It was a pair of boxers with little pandas on them.
Elliot's face reddened and he snatched them away from Denise. He shoved them back into the luggage.
Spotting a fuming D.D. behind Elliot, Denise pointed at the penguin and exclaimed, "what is that?!"
The scientist looked in the direction that she was pointing to and sighed. "Oh." He stood up and motioned to D.D. with his hand. "That is D.D., my robot. D.D., this is Denise."
Denise squatted in front of D.D., eyes sparkling in wonder. "Oh, he is sooo cute!" She held her hand out to D.D. for a shake. "You can call me Neese," she cooed.
D.D. slapped her hand away and a rather offensive symbol of a middle finger appeared on his belly.
Elliot looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
Denise blinked once… then twice. Then any look of adoration that was there evaporated into irritation. "Oh! Oh!" She stood up, her fists clenched at her sides as she glared at the penguin. "Are you trying to start something, little man?!" The lack of sleep certainly wasn't helping with her mood.
Sensing that a disaster was about to happen, Elliot quickly intervened between the two of them, arms spread apart. "Please, don't mind him!" he glared down at D.D. "Spending hours inside the briefcase must have drained his batteries."
D.D.'s eye twitched.
Grabbing his luggage in one hand, Elliot began pushing Denise towards the exit with his other hand. "Let's go and call a taxi… or something…"
D.D. waddled after them, glaring daggers at the back of Denise's head.
After Denise called a taxi, all three of them sat in the backseat, with Elliot in the middle. It was quiet until there was the sound of crackling and Elliot felt something small hit him in the head. He narrowed his eyes and looked down. He saw D.D. holding a bag of trail mix, and attempting to toss the bits at Denise. Of course, with Elliot in the way, some of the pieces hit him instead.
Denise growled as an M&M got stuck in her hair and she swiped it away.
Before D.D. could throw anymore, Elliot grabbed the bag and shoved it into Denise's hands. Confiscating it.
After a minute, Denise reached her hand into the bag and pulled out a handful of mix - and chucked it at D.D.
Elliot flinched as he was covered in the snacks, the sound of them scattering everywhere. Without a word, he grit his teeth and snatched the bag away from Denise, rolled down D.D.'s window and threw it out. He glared at Denise.
She shrugged innocently, "he started it."
D.D. stuck out his tongue out at her.
A/N: Goodness, time flies doesn't it? It's been 3 years since Gone Batty was first posted, and a year since its sequel!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I wished I could have written Phoenix in … but that will just have to wait for chapter 11. At least I got a song in. ^_^ Oh and I changed the 3 days into 3 weeks… as to allow character development to happen. Romance certainly will not bloom in the span of 3 days. xD
Thanks for the comments and faves and watches! :)