BLOOD OF THE IMMORTAL,
Chapter 9: "Ashes To Ashes"
By Bill K.
The universe was her playground. Every time she loosened her
spirit form from her corporeal and sent it wafting around the heavens,
Ctesias learned something new. She'd seen new worlds born and old
worlds die. She'd seen simple carbon and oxygen spark and form cells,
though the reason why still eluded her. She'd seen miracles galore.
She'd even performed her share. Every time she traveled the universe,
bathing in stars and floating through the mystic ley lines that ran
through reality, she felt the power and longed for it.
And realized, from time to time, a truth that turned every heart
fluttering sensation into ashes. No matter how much she knew, how much
power she gained and how many things she learned, she was still
insignificant in the scope of the universe. Her teeth clenched and her
eyes burned as she entered her body.
"Rrrrrr," the moab in her lap said. Ctesias stroked the feline's
back.
"You need not worry," Ctesias smiled. "I shall not punish you.
You know just how to make me feel good." Her eyes narrowed. "It is the
universe I will one day humble. One day I will hold it in my palm and
it will dance to my whim."
"RRRRRRRR!" screeched the moab. Ctesias noticed she was squeezing
the back of the feline's neck. She released her grip and the animal
bounded away.
"I'm sure it didn't hurt that much," smirked the sorceress.
"It was quite painful," pouted the feline, "and I gave you no
cause!" The moab eyed her suspiciously.
"Very well, if you insist on being aggrieved," and she waggled her
finger.
On the other side of the room, a small rodent from outside
appeared. Instantly smelling the moab even as the feline crouched to
attack, the rodent streaked off across the floor in search of cover. As
he felt the thunderous pursuit of the moab behind him, the rodent
wondered if he would ever see his mate or litter again - - or the
strange god he'd met who called herself Sailor Pallas.
Ctesias watched, anticipating the slaughter with calm
satisfaction. Then the tower spoke to her, informing her of something
happening in another part of the building she was psychically attuned
to. Frowning petulantly, Ctesias allowed her form to fade to nothing.
* * * *
Grasping the hand of Sailor Pallas, Sailor Juno and Sailor Ceres
passed effortlessly through the wall and into the interior of the tower.
Sailor Vesta, who had hopped a ride on the senshi's shoulder, flew off.
"That was . . ." gasped Juno quietly. "Pallas, how do you do
that?"
Pallas shrugged blankly.
"This part is even creepier than where we met that sorceress,"
Ceres remarked uneasily.
"It's probably loaded with potential danger, too," Juno said.
"Everybody needs to stay close, understand? Pallas, I need you to
listen for stray thoughts. Maybe we can get an early warning of
approaching danger or some clue where Sailor Moon and the others are."
"But when Pallas tries to listen for them, the thoughts don't
come," Pallas explained, disappointed in letting her sister down.
"I know, honey," Juno told her, kneeling down to her. "I didn't
mean try to pick up a thought. I want you to really concentrate on
hearing any thoughts that might come. I don't want you to let your mind
wander and maybe miss one. Can you do that for me?"
Pallas nodded earnestly. "Pallas will really concentrate. She
promises."
"So where do we go now?" Ceres asked.
"If 'fly-girl' were stronger up there, I'd let her track them.
But I don't want to risk it. She's still probably too weak to walk."
Juno looked around in frustration. "I guess we just search and try not
to let anybody know we're here." Ceres looked at her dubiously. "You
have a better plan?"
"Yeah, but it ends up with me back in the palace with my head
under the covers," Ceres scowled. "Somehow I don't think you're going
to go for it."
Juno motioned them ahead. The three girls eased down the darkened
corridor, their senses alert to any possible sign of danger. Vesta flew
ahead to scout. The darkness seemed to loom around them, crouching like
a thing alive. Juno knew Ceres and Pallas were scared. She was scared,
too, but she didn't have the luxury of displaying it as they did. They
depended on her to be their rock of strength, their leader by example,
almost their surrogate parent. It was a burden she accepted without
complaint, for nothing meant more to her than her sisters and nothing
got her ire up faster than seeing one of them threatened or mistreated.
"Oh no!" gasped Pallas suddenly. Juno moved to shush her, but she
saw the wide-eyed look of dismay on the girl's face.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Me's in trouble!" she wailed. "Pallas has to help him!"
With that, the girl took off in a dead run down the hall. Juno
tried to grab her and pull her back, but missed.
"Pallas!" Juno hissed, not wanting to call too loudly. Pallas
ignored her and kept running, disappearing through a door. "Come on!"
Juno and Ceres ran after her, recklessly pursuing the girl down
the dark hall. They could hear Vesta buzzing overhead, trying to keep
up. Unmindful of the possible danger, Juno crashed through the door,
Ceres and Vesta hot on her heels.
Towering over them was a twenty-foot tall dragon. It looked down
at Juno and Ceres and emitted an indignant roar.
* * * *
Helios watched his love, Sailor Moon, with concern. His
concentration on her outward signs was total, completely ignoring the
throbbing of his broken right hind leg. She sat there, still fettered
to the wall, her legs pulled to her chest. The girl stared down at the
ground, seeing but not noticing anything around her. He wanted to call
out to her again, but knew it was pointless.
There was nothing else he could do but be there for her. Evionne
had entered Sailor Moon's mind, once that mind had reached the
semi-conscious dream-state. She was the only one who could do anything
now, beyond Sailor Moon herself. Helios trusted Evionne. She knew her
way around the dream-state. Her experience would aid Sailor Moon in
returning to reality. He had faith in Evionne's innate goodness to put
aside her dislike for Sailor Moon long enough to rescue her. He had
faith in Sailor Moon's inner strength and courage which, given the
chance, would allow her to return from the terrible shock she'd endured.
All Helios could be right now was a beacon, a shining light for
Evionne to use to find her way back. He would not fail them, either
Evionne or his beloved Maiden. His mind used what little power he could
muster to be that beacon and lead them home.
And at once Sailor Moon began to stir. Her eyes began to glow
with a golden energy. Through that energy, Evionne emerged, growing and
reforming before them both. Her wings spread out to their furthest
length as she crossed her breast with her arms and ever so delicately
set foot onto the cold stone floor. Evionne's wings folded back into
her and disappeared. She took a deep breath and brought her head up,
eyes opening to the dim light of the room.
"Maiden?" Helios asked of Sailor Moon. She continued to look
down, her pink bangs dangling in her eyes. Her chest heaved. For
several tense moments she didn't speak. Evionne turned curiously to
her, fearing her charge had lost herself along the way or perhaps had at
the last moment retreated again.
"I'm back," Sailor Moon whispered. "I'm sorry for letting you
both down. Sorry for being such a coward."
"The specter of imminent death can make cowards of us all,"
Evionne replied kindly. She moved to Helios, her intent to free him
from his chains. "So, too, can the type of death we face." She turned
to Sailor Moon. "You must have more faith in yourself, Princess. You
are far greater than you seem to think." Helios smiled proudly at
Evionne - - as much as a Pegasus could smile, anyway.
"Thanks," Sailor Moon said contritely. "You know, I'm always
jumping everybody else about not having any faith in me. I may be the
worst offender of them all." She watched Evionne struggle with the lock
on the collar around Helios' neck. "Why'd you do it, Evionne? I mean
I'm grateful, but I know I'm not your most favorite person.
Evionne wouldn't look at her. "Because it was the right thing to
do. To my shame, it had to be pointed out to me." She fiddled with the
collar some more. "And I misjudged you, Princess. I was blinded to
many of your good qualities by my hurt and anger. I," and she faltered.
"It would do me great honor if - - if one day I could name you as - -
well, as friend." She flashed Sailor Moon a timid smile. "Perhaps not
this very moment, but some day." Sailor Moon returned the smile with
one of her own.
"I doubt you have that much time left," came a voice. Evionne
whirled and saw Ctesias materialize in the room. "Once more you abuse
my hospitality. I see sterner measures are in order."
Left with no other option, Evionne lunged at the sorceress. Her
wings spread out and her fingers reached for the woman's throat in a
kamikaze attack. Ctesias, though, was quicker. Her hand came up, all
fingers extended.
An invisible force struck Evionne. She had time to cry out once
before all the flesh was stripped from her body. Her muscles and organs
evaporating quickly followed. Finally her bones seemed to mutate into
ash and collapsed to the floor from there own weight. It took all of a
single second.
"NO!" wailed Sailor Moon. Helios flinched as if knifed, his head
lurching away and his eyes averted. When he looked back at her, he was
grief-stricken.
"Do no grieve for her, little Princess," Ctesias spat out. "She
is the lucky one. I can do nothing more to her. She is beyond even my
reach now."
A burning rage smoldered in the eyes of the young Sailor Moon.
She glared daggers at her tormentor, this specimen of pure evil. Her
mouth was pulled into a thin line. Her arms were drawn taut against her
shackles. She was oblivious to all that surrounded her, all save the
smug and haughty Ctesias.
And, appearing from a warp in space directly over Sailor Moon's
chest, came a many-faceted crystal that glowed with a stunning pink
brilliance.
* * * *
The rodent dubbed "Me" by Sailor Pallas frantically ran along the
wall of the corridor. He felt the vibrations of the vicious moab behind
him. The scent of the great feline overwhelmed his nostrils. Twice
he'd narrowly escaped the swing of a paw or a lunge. His little heart
pounded in his chest. He searched in vain for some place that would
offer protection from the great feline. There was nothing.
A blow from a swung paw struck his hindquarters and knocked Me off
his feet. Desperately the rodent tried to get up and run, but the
feline was upon him in moments. The great killer's weight held him
down. Me had seconds, if that, to live before the feline's jaws snapped
down on his head and ended his life. Struggling to live, the rodent
tried to squirm out from under the paws that held him.
"Beautiful Incantation!" Me heard, like a clarion call of
deliverance from heaven.
A force struck the moab, driving the wind from its body while
whipping it roughly from atop the rodent. Me heard the feline land
hard, then looked up and saw Sailor Pallas running up.
"BAD KITTY!" snapped Pallas. She sank to her knees before Me.
"Mr. Me Sir, please don't be dead!"
"Goddess Pallas," wheezed the rodent, struggling to his feet.
"You have saved me from the great killer! I . . ." and Me seemed to
reel. "I have no words . . .!"
"It's all right," Pallas smiled, gently stroking the rodent.
"You're supposed to help people when they're in trouble. That's what
Queen Serenity always tells Pallas. And Pallas just knows she meant
mousies, too."
A shift in scent and a flash of movement told Me that the moab was
up. He turned, Pallas following his line of sight. Sure enough, the
moab was crouched about sixteen feet from them. The beast seemed unsure
whether to run or attack.
"Pallas doesn't like you!" Pallas roared at the moab. "You better
not hurt Mr. Me Sir or Pallas will make you sorry!"
The tone seemed to make the feline decide. It sprang forward,
bounding twice along the floor and then leaping up at them, fangs and
claws bared.
"Beautiful Incantation!" Pallas yelled, pointing at the moab. An
invisible force swatted the beast like a racket striking a tennis ball.
The moab struck the hard floor and skidded, coming to a stop only when
it struck the molding with terrible force. The beast didn't move.
Pallas gently gathered Me up in her hands and brought the rodent
to her breast.
"Pallas will help you get home, Me. She promises," Pallas told
him. "Only Pallas has to find the Princess first." Pallas began to
look forlorn. "Only thing is, Pallas doesn't know where to look."
"Perhaps I can help?" offered the rodent. "I detect several
scents, none of whom are either the Evil One or moabs. They can only be
your friends, for I know of no others who have come to the towers and
smell this way. Clearly since you are a god, such things are beneath
your notice. I will lead you to them if you wish."
"You'd do that for Pallas?" Sailor Pallas asked, surprised and
happy.
"After what you have done for me?" Me replied, stunned by her
attitude. "Need you even ask?"
Pallas beamed proudly at him. Following the rodent's directions,
Pallas headed off down the dark corridor. However, she gave one last
glance back at the moab. It still lay where it landed.
"Pallas hopes she didn't hit the kitty too hard," Pallas grimaced.
* * * *
"Is that the dragon we saw her create?" Juno wondered aloud. The
dragon glared at them, as if wondering why they were still there.
"Who cares, Juno!" hissed Ceres. "That thing's going to barbecue
us inside of two seconds! Now would be a really good time to do
something!"
"I don't feel any water present," Juno replied, her eyes on the
dragon the entire time. "And I don't see any plants, so I'm open to
suggestions."
Before Ceres could respond, Vesta's fly form began to enlarge. As
the dragon looked on curiously, her body elongated, filled out, and grew
leathery wings and a long, spine-studded tail. When she finished
changing, there were two dragons in the room.
"Go on!" Vesta roared down to them. "I'll hold this guy off!
Find the Princess!"
"But Vesta!" gasped Juno. "Are you well enough to handle that
thing?"
"Not much of a choice!" Vesta called back. The dragon, in a fit
of territoriality, lunged at her and their smaller forearms locked
together in a contest of strength.
"Vesta, that thing could kill you!" cried Ceres.
"Didn't know you cared," grunted Vesta, struggling to hold off the
healthier foe. Each dragon's tail swung, trying to wound the other,
while his or her wings flapped at the other's face.
"I DON'T!" spat Ceres. "But if you die, Pallas and Juno are going
to be really hurt!"
"Well," Vesta gasped out as she strained to fend off her opponent,
"a lot more people are going to be upset if the Princess dies! It's a
fair trade! Now get going!"
The pair started to leave, but stopped when a wicked tail shot
caught Vesta across the back haunch. Off balance, she was easy prey and
the dragon flung her to the floor. His fangs were bared instantly as he
leaped onto the fallen Vesta. The face of the dragon lunged forward,
but Vesta managed to catch the dragon by the throat with both forelegs.
This left her vulnerable to all the other weapons at the dragon's
command, but his teeth were aimed at her throat and that took
precedence. Juno lingered, torn between her mission and her desire to
protect her "family". Ceres tugged on her arm.
"Come on!" Ceres cried. "She's right, damn her! We have to find
the Princess! Come on, Juno!"
With a sound akin to a woeful sob, Juno allowed herself to be
dragged from the room.
* * * *
"You - - murdered her!" Sailor Moon said, her voice quavering with
seething anger and righteous indignation. "You - - cowardly . . .!"
"Maiden!" Helios thought sharply, a tone of warning in his mental
voice. "Calm yourself, I beseech you. This is not the way."
"Helios!" Sailor Moon fumed. "Evionne was just - - she just
killed Evionne right before our eyes! Doesn't that mean anything to
you?"
"More than you can know, my Maiden. But you must beware! You
must not surrender to the righteous hatred you now feel! To do so will
lay you bare before Ctesias! You will fall into her trap!"
With the speed of a cobra, Ctesias struck. Her hand shot out and
a bubble of mystic energy closed around the pink jewel that hovered in
front of Sailor Moon's chest. Sailor Moon cried out as if the hand of
the sorceress were closing around her heart. A deep, numbing cold
spread through her entire body. It was a cold that threatened to engulf
her, to suck the life from her and leave her an empty husk.
"So," trumpeted Ctesias, mad with lust for power, "this is the
source of your power, little Princess! GIVE IT TO ME!"
continued in Chapter 10
Chapter 9: "Ashes To Ashes"
By Bill K.
The universe was her playground. Every time she loosened her
spirit form from her corporeal and sent it wafting around the heavens,
Ctesias learned something new. She'd seen new worlds born and old
worlds die. She'd seen simple carbon and oxygen spark and form cells,
though the reason why still eluded her. She'd seen miracles galore.
She'd even performed her share. Every time she traveled the universe,
bathing in stars and floating through the mystic ley lines that ran
through reality, she felt the power and longed for it.
And realized, from time to time, a truth that turned every heart
fluttering sensation into ashes. No matter how much she knew, how much
power she gained and how many things she learned, she was still
insignificant in the scope of the universe. Her teeth clenched and her
eyes burned as she entered her body.
"Rrrrrr," the moab in her lap said. Ctesias stroked the feline's
back.
"You need not worry," Ctesias smiled. "I shall not punish you.
You know just how to make me feel good." Her eyes narrowed. "It is the
universe I will one day humble. One day I will hold it in my palm and
it will dance to my whim."
"RRRRRRRR!" screeched the moab. Ctesias noticed she was squeezing
the back of the feline's neck. She released her grip and the animal
bounded away.
"I'm sure it didn't hurt that much," smirked the sorceress.
"It was quite painful," pouted the feline, "and I gave you no
cause!" The moab eyed her suspiciously.
"Very well, if you insist on being aggrieved," and she waggled her
finger.
On the other side of the room, a small rodent from outside
appeared. Instantly smelling the moab even as the feline crouched to
attack, the rodent streaked off across the floor in search of cover. As
he felt the thunderous pursuit of the moab behind him, the rodent
wondered if he would ever see his mate or litter again - - or the
strange god he'd met who called herself Sailor Pallas.
Ctesias watched, anticipating the slaughter with calm
satisfaction. Then the tower spoke to her, informing her of something
happening in another part of the building she was psychically attuned
to. Frowning petulantly, Ctesias allowed her form to fade to nothing.
* * * *
Grasping the hand of Sailor Pallas, Sailor Juno and Sailor Ceres
passed effortlessly through the wall and into the interior of the tower.
Sailor Vesta, who had hopped a ride on the senshi's shoulder, flew off.
"That was . . ." gasped Juno quietly. "Pallas, how do you do
that?"
Pallas shrugged blankly.
"This part is even creepier than where we met that sorceress,"
Ceres remarked uneasily.
"It's probably loaded with potential danger, too," Juno said.
"Everybody needs to stay close, understand? Pallas, I need you to
listen for stray thoughts. Maybe we can get an early warning of
approaching danger or some clue where Sailor Moon and the others are."
"But when Pallas tries to listen for them, the thoughts don't
come," Pallas explained, disappointed in letting her sister down.
"I know, honey," Juno told her, kneeling down to her. "I didn't
mean try to pick up a thought. I want you to really concentrate on
hearing any thoughts that might come. I don't want you to let your mind
wander and maybe miss one. Can you do that for me?"
Pallas nodded earnestly. "Pallas will really concentrate. She
promises."
"So where do we go now?" Ceres asked.
"If 'fly-girl' were stronger up there, I'd let her track them.
But I don't want to risk it. She's still probably too weak to walk."
Juno looked around in frustration. "I guess we just search and try not
to let anybody know we're here." Ceres looked at her dubiously. "You
have a better plan?"
"Yeah, but it ends up with me back in the palace with my head
under the covers," Ceres scowled. "Somehow I don't think you're going
to go for it."
Juno motioned them ahead. The three girls eased down the darkened
corridor, their senses alert to any possible sign of danger. Vesta flew
ahead to scout. The darkness seemed to loom around them, crouching like
a thing alive. Juno knew Ceres and Pallas were scared. She was scared,
too, but she didn't have the luxury of displaying it as they did. They
depended on her to be their rock of strength, their leader by example,
almost their surrogate parent. It was a burden she accepted without
complaint, for nothing meant more to her than her sisters and nothing
got her ire up faster than seeing one of them threatened or mistreated.
"Oh no!" gasped Pallas suddenly. Juno moved to shush her, but she
saw the wide-eyed look of dismay on the girl's face.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Me's in trouble!" she wailed. "Pallas has to help him!"
With that, the girl took off in a dead run down the hall. Juno
tried to grab her and pull her back, but missed.
"Pallas!" Juno hissed, not wanting to call too loudly. Pallas
ignored her and kept running, disappearing through a door. "Come on!"
Juno and Ceres ran after her, recklessly pursuing the girl down
the dark hall. They could hear Vesta buzzing overhead, trying to keep
up. Unmindful of the possible danger, Juno crashed through the door,
Ceres and Vesta hot on her heels.
Towering over them was a twenty-foot tall dragon. It looked down
at Juno and Ceres and emitted an indignant roar.
* * * *
Helios watched his love, Sailor Moon, with concern. His
concentration on her outward signs was total, completely ignoring the
throbbing of his broken right hind leg. She sat there, still fettered
to the wall, her legs pulled to her chest. The girl stared down at the
ground, seeing but not noticing anything around her. He wanted to call
out to her again, but knew it was pointless.
There was nothing else he could do but be there for her. Evionne
had entered Sailor Moon's mind, once that mind had reached the
semi-conscious dream-state. She was the only one who could do anything
now, beyond Sailor Moon herself. Helios trusted Evionne. She knew her
way around the dream-state. Her experience would aid Sailor Moon in
returning to reality. He had faith in Evionne's innate goodness to put
aside her dislike for Sailor Moon long enough to rescue her. He had
faith in Sailor Moon's inner strength and courage which, given the
chance, would allow her to return from the terrible shock she'd endured.
All Helios could be right now was a beacon, a shining light for
Evionne to use to find her way back. He would not fail them, either
Evionne or his beloved Maiden. His mind used what little power he could
muster to be that beacon and lead them home.
And at once Sailor Moon began to stir. Her eyes began to glow
with a golden energy. Through that energy, Evionne emerged, growing and
reforming before them both. Her wings spread out to their furthest
length as she crossed her breast with her arms and ever so delicately
set foot onto the cold stone floor. Evionne's wings folded back into
her and disappeared. She took a deep breath and brought her head up,
eyes opening to the dim light of the room.
"Maiden?" Helios asked of Sailor Moon. She continued to look
down, her pink bangs dangling in her eyes. Her chest heaved. For
several tense moments she didn't speak. Evionne turned curiously to
her, fearing her charge had lost herself along the way or perhaps had at
the last moment retreated again.
"I'm back," Sailor Moon whispered. "I'm sorry for letting you
both down. Sorry for being such a coward."
"The specter of imminent death can make cowards of us all,"
Evionne replied kindly. She moved to Helios, her intent to free him
from his chains. "So, too, can the type of death we face." She turned
to Sailor Moon. "You must have more faith in yourself, Princess. You
are far greater than you seem to think." Helios smiled proudly at
Evionne - - as much as a Pegasus could smile, anyway.
"Thanks," Sailor Moon said contritely. "You know, I'm always
jumping everybody else about not having any faith in me. I may be the
worst offender of them all." She watched Evionne struggle with the lock
on the collar around Helios' neck. "Why'd you do it, Evionne? I mean
I'm grateful, but I know I'm not your most favorite person.
Evionne wouldn't look at her. "Because it was the right thing to
do. To my shame, it had to be pointed out to me." She fiddled with the
collar some more. "And I misjudged you, Princess. I was blinded to
many of your good qualities by my hurt and anger. I," and she faltered.
"It would do me great honor if - - if one day I could name you as - -
well, as friend." She flashed Sailor Moon a timid smile. "Perhaps not
this very moment, but some day." Sailor Moon returned the smile with
one of her own.
"I doubt you have that much time left," came a voice. Evionne
whirled and saw Ctesias materialize in the room. "Once more you abuse
my hospitality. I see sterner measures are in order."
Left with no other option, Evionne lunged at the sorceress. Her
wings spread out and her fingers reached for the woman's throat in a
kamikaze attack. Ctesias, though, was quicker. Her hand came up, all
fingers extended.
An invisible force struck Evionne. She had time to cry out once
before all the flesh was stripped from her body. Her muscles and organs
evaporating quickly followed. Finally her bones seemed to mutate into
ash and collapsed to the floor from there own weight. It took all of a
single second.
"NO!" wailed Sailor Moon. Helios flinched as if knifed, his head
lurching away and his eyes averted. When he looked back at her, he was
grief-stricken.
"Do no grieve for her, little Princess," Ctesias spat out. "She
is the lucky one. I can do nothing more to her. She is beyond even my
reach now."
A burning rage smoldered in the eyes of the young Sailor Moon.
She glared daggers at her tormentor, this specimen of pure evil. Her
mouth was pulled into a thin line. Her arms were drawn taut against her
shackles. She was oblivious to all that surrounded her, all save the
smug and haughty Ctesias.
And, appearing from a warp in space directly over Sailor Moon's
chest, came a many-faceted crystal that glowed with a stunning pink
brilliance.
* * * *
The rodent dubbed "Me" by Sailor Pallas frantically ran along the
wall of the corridor. He felt the vibrations of the vicious moab behind
him. The scent of the great feline overwhelmed his nostrils. Twice
he'd narrowly escaped the swing of a paw or a lunge. His little heart
pounded in his chest. He searched in vain for some place that would
offer protection from the great feline. There was nothing.
A blow from a swung paw struck his hindquarters and knocked Me off
his feet. Desperately the rodent tried to get up and run, but the
feline was upon him in moments. The great killer's weight held him
down. Me had seconds, if that, to live before the feline's jaws snapped
down on his head and ended his life. Struggling to live, the rodent
tried to squirm out from under the paws that held him.
"Beautiful Incantation!" Me heard, like a clarion call of
deliverance from heaven.
A force struck the moab, driving the wind from its body while
whipping it roughly from atop the rodent. Me heard the feline land
hard, then looked up and saw Sailor Pallas running up.
"BAD KITTY!" snapped Pallas. She sank to her knees before Me.
"Mr. Me Sir, please don't be dead!"
"Goddess Pallas," wheezed the rodent, struggling to his feet.
"You have saved me from the great killer! I . . ." and Me seemed to
reel. "I have no words . . .!"
"It's all right," Pallas smiled, gently stroking the rodent.
"You're supposed to help people when they're in trouble. That's what
Queen Serenity always tells Pallas. And Pallas just knows she meant
mousies, too."
A shift in scent and a flash of movement told Me that the moab was
up. He turned, Pallas following his line of sight. Sure enough, the
moab was crouched about sixteen feet from them. The beast seemed unsure
whether to run or attack.
"Pallas doesn't like you!" Pallas roared at the moab. "You better
not hurt Mr. Me Sir or Pallas will make you sorry!"
The tone seemed to make the feline decide. It sprang forward,
bounding twice along the floor and then leaping up at them, fangs and
claws bared.
"Beautiful Incantation!" Pallas yelled, pointing at the moab. An
invisible force swatted the beast like a racket striking a tennis ball.
The moab struck the hard floor and skidded, coming to a stop only when
it struck the molding with terrible force. The beast didn't move.
Pallas gently gathered Me up in her hands and brought the rodent
to her breast.
"Pallas will help you get home, Me. She promises," Pallas told
him. "Only Pallas has to find the Princess first." Pallas began to
look forlorn. "Only thing is, Pallas doesn't know where to look."
"Perhaps I can help?" offered the rodent. "I detect several
scents, none of whom are either the Evil One or moabs. They can only be
your friends, for I know of no others who have come to the towers and
smell this way. Clearly since you are a god, such things are beneath
your notice. I will lead you to them if you wish."
"You'd do that for Pallas?" Sailor Pallas asked, surprised and
happy.
"After what you have done for me?" Me replied, stunned by her
attitude. "Need you even ask?"
Pallas beamed proudly at him. Following the rodent's directions,
Pallas headed off down the dark corridor. However, she gave one last
glance back at the moab. It still lay where it landed.
"Pallas hopes she didn't hit the kitty too hard," Pallas grimaced.
* * * *
"Is that the dragon we saw her create?" Juno wondered aloud. The
dragon glared at them, as if wondering why they were still there.
"Who cares, Juno!" hissed Ceres. "That thing's going to barbecue
us inside of two seconds! Now would be a really good time to do
something!"
"I don't feel any water present," Juno replied, her eyes on the
dragon the entire time. "And I don't see any plants, so I'm open to
suggestions."
Before Ceres could respond, Vesta's fly form began to enlarge. As
the dragon looked on curiously, her body elongated, filled out, and grew
leathery wings and a long, spine-studded tail. When she finished
changing, there were two dragons in the room.
"Go on!" Vesta roared down to them. "I'll hold this guy off!
Find the Princess!"
"But Vesta!" gasped Juno. "Are you well enough to handle that
thing?"
"Not much of a choice!" Vesta called back. The dragon, in a fit
of territoriality, lunged at her and their smaller forearms locked
together in a contest of strength.
"Vesta, that thing could kill you!" cried Ceres.
"Didn't know you cared," grunted Vesta, struggling to hold off the
healthier foe. Each dragon's tail swung, trying to wound the other,
while his or her wings flapped at the other's face.
"I DON'T!" spat Ceres. "But if you die, Pallas and Juno are going
to be really hurt!"
"Well," Vesta gasped out as she strained to fend off her opponent,
"a lot more people are going to be upset if the Princess dies! It's a
fair trade! Now get going!"
The pair started to leave, but stopped when a wicked tail shot
caught Vesta across the back haunch. Off balance, she was easy prey and
the dragon flung her to the floor. His fangs were bared instantly as he
leaped onto the fallen Vesta. The face of the dragon lunged forward,
but Vesta managed to catch the dragon by the throat with both forelegs.
This left her vulnerable to all the other weapons at the dragon's
command, but his teeth were aimed at her throat and that took
precedence. Juno lingered, torn between her mission and her desire to
protect her "family". Ceres tugged on her arm.
"Come on!" Ceres cried. "She's right, damn her! We have to find
the Princess! Come on, Juno!"
With a sound akin to a woeful sob, Juno allowed herself to be
dragged from the room.
* * * *
"You - - murdered her!" Sailor Moon said, her voice quavering with
seething anger and righteous indignation. "You - - cowardly . . .!"
"Maiden!" Helios thought sharply, a tone of warning in his mental
voice. "Calm yourself, I beseech you. This is not the way."
"Helios!" Sailor Moon fumed. "Evionne was just - - she just
killed Evionne right before our eyes! Doesn't that mean anything to
you?"
"More than you can know, my Maiden. But you must beware! You
must not surrender to the righteous hatred you now feel! To do so will
lay you bare before Ctesias! You will fall into her trap!"
With the speed of a cobra, Ctesias struck. Her hand shot out and
a bubble of mystic energy closed around the pink jewel that hovered in
front of Sailor Moon's chest. Sailor Moon cried out as if the hand of
the sorceress were closing around her heart. A deep, numbing cold
spread through her entire body. It was a cold that threatened to engulf
her, to suck the life from her and leave her an empty husk.
"So," trumpeted Ctesias, mad with lust for power, "this is the
source of your power, little Princess! GIVE IT TO ME!"
continued in Chapter 10