2
Olympia – Zeus' Chosen
Marin hates her. So much she knows. For some obscure reason she holds something against her. I'm not doing anything odd. Why is she looking at me as if I was crazy? It's because of the bus… "Ok, let's move on…" she told her as soon as they got to the village. Shaina looked at her puzzled. Then Marin asked her. "You're still able to move at sound speed, right?" Shaina had wanted to disappear. "I don't know. It's been a long time…" Marin brought a hand to her brow, theatrically showing despair. She kept quiet for some eternal moments, then looked at her in a way Shaina will never forget. "We'll take a bus, then." Shaina wanted to propose her to take the car Hyoga rent. Then she let her do as she said. She's afraid of starting a war. Because Marin has it in with her. A hundred and fifty kilometres on the bus in the company of tourists. Tourists that will see nothing but a few stones. And an arena reconstructed to pander to their taste. Why Olympia? She's listening to music with a headset. So as not to hear Marin's complains. About the road, the waste of time, the Saints who shirk from cultivating their power. Shaina doesn't feel a moral obligation to justify herself. She had other things to look after. Life in a ranch doesn't include the necessity to burn your Cosmo. Music undertones her thoughts. You can't understand me, Marin. You never will… Athena, my Goddess. I will always be at her service. Always. But you can't expect the foolhardy teen I was to exist still. You should grow up, too… Why can't I explain it to you? I only think of him… You don't know what it means. The way he smiles at me… It makes me feel so important… You don't know what it means to fall asleep in his arms… knowing that he will still be there the morning after… I was going to lose him, chasing a dream that belongs to you… It will not happen again, Marin. Even if Saori should return to life I will not leave him go… Saori… gave her life for him… It's an infestation that will not leave… Perhaps, should she be back… then we'll fight on the same ground… I will not have to fight a ghost…
On the same ground… Shaina knows that this is blasphemy. A Goddess must be revered, not fought. Even when she wants to take your only reason of being away. And she knows that this time Seiya would not resist. He owes her too much. He owes her his life. Athena, dressed in purple. Athena walking to her death… without talking to anyone. Pray, Saints, pray. So that the Underworld will give us Seiya back. And pray they did. Everyone. Without knowing. Without suspecting. Without imagining that she wasn't to return. What a selfish monster I am… She gave me back my Seiya… I owe her everything… but I can't avoid being afraid of her…
Shaina leans on the window and closes her eyes. Billy Joel is still singing, inviting her not to change trying to be more of his liking… Telling her that he loves her as she is… "It's your song," Seiya told her. "Because you'll never stop being afraid. God only knows of what. Because I would never change anything of you…"
"Wakey wakey…" Marin's mood is worsening. A hallucinating trip. And she dared falling asleep. Leaving her rummaging. Depriving her of civil conversation. She shakes her, not too gentle. Shaina opens her eyes. "Running the gamut at night? Thank you for the company…"
"What happened?" she asks.
"We have arrived. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to jump off this damned bus!"
Shaina gets up slowly. It seems that she's got all the time in the world. The woods in the sacred enclosure of Zeus in the valley of river Alpheus lost ant trace of holiness. As they reach the site where once the God's temple stood a pretty blonde guide is talking to a group of tourists. "Phidias started sculpting on the statue of Zeus in 440 b.C. He was the only man in Greece, indeed in the whole world, to have the means and technique to build an immense work in ivory and gold…"
Boring, Marin thinks. Stones and desolation. It takes a lot of imagination. Or, think of it, boundless faith in the Gods. They are desecrating this place. How can Zeus allow it? Speak to me… Give me a sign… I'm here… as you wanted… But nobody answers. The only audible voice is the guide's, who is telling the tourists that they're going to visit Phidias' workshop…
"Will you now tell me why are we here? I don't wish to see museums…" Shaina complains.
You don't wish to do anything. Except behaving brainlessly. Marin drags her away by an arm. "Listen to me now, Shaina… I have to do a thing. And I need your help. The help of a Silver Saint's Cosmo. So, concentrate. Do your level best. Because I can't fail. Clear?"
"And what exactly am I supposed to do?" Shaina asks. Marin is glad to hear genuine interest in her voice.
"We must shred the veil. And penetrate the barrier separating this place from the rest of the world…" Marin is not sure that she understood well. But she doesn't care. She will guide her and channel her power. Because this is what the Gods want.
... because there was a man behind Athena… He had a hand over the statue of the Goddess' shoulder… She was talking… and he was looking lovingly at her… This is not the way I had imagined him. Generally he's thought as a some sort of grouchy old man… Instead he chose to show himself looking like a young warrior. His hair had the colour of the sky. As smooth as silk. And eyes glinting like his lightings. He was terrifying and wonderful. I couldn't take my eyes off of him, while Athena was talking to me. The Father of all Gods… when he finally spoke as well, his voice cracked like thunder. Olympia…
They are hand in hand. Like two little girls. Marin can feel Shaina's Cosmo pervade her cells with its painful venom. It's stronger than she had expected. She didn't lose her faculties. They were merely sleeping, waiting for a voice to call them back. Marin channels her own Cosmo, letting it merge with Shaina's one. Then she throws it forward. Air vibrates in front of her like in a torrid day. She knows that soon there will be no trace of them to mortal eyes. They will seemingly vanish. Instead, they will be in Olympia. Again Olympia. The true Olympia. The one that only who was blessed by the Gods could see. The temple awaits them. She has the impression of hearing the hoofs of horses and the wheels of chariots resound. Pelopes' victory… She had expected a marble building, akin to the Sanctuary. But Zeus is the God of Creation. And that place is the triumph of Nature's law. Libon of Elis chose a strange aggregation of stones and fossil shells for the building. So that the unending bustling of the world could embrace the simulacrum of the God. There's an altar out there. Marin is unable to see it. But she feels the smell of burning flesh, hears the cries of oxen brought to slaughter on days of competition. Ash accumulates, mixed with animal fat, as the cloudy river reaches the Sky and the Eternal Ones. When he appears Marin withholds her breath. Immense, imposing, magnificent… He's waiting for her. Here I am, in your sancta sanctorum… Accept me into your arms, my Lord…
Don't leave me alone, Shaina… I'm afraid… She's planting her nails into her flesh. She needs to cling to her. Ophiucus tries vainly to get free of her painful hold. Don't leave me alone… I need help… She had never felt such a tangible terror until now. She feels tiny and helpless. Why me? She wonders. Why does it have to be me? You wanted us here for a reason, isn't it so…? Now I know what do you want from me… But I can't be your Voice… I can't be your middle man… I don't have the strength for it, my Lord… Let me kneel at your feet…
Marin can't move. She would like to lay in front of the statue but something prevents her from doing it. The God's throne is alive. Marin hears it breathe and move… Its legs vibrate under the fluttering little Victories… the Sphinx asks a sacrifice in blood, the boys of Thebes cry between her jaws… The beast looks up… her mouth is bloodied… I crave you… I'll swallow your heart… wait for me… Marin draws back, although she knows that this menace is not for her but for her companion… She wants to tell Shaina not to worry about it, but cannot speak… How can you let that hideous creature uphold your arm, my Lord? Why so much death…? And Artemis and Apollo strike to death Niobe and her children, for her hubris, in the name of Leto… And Heracles slaughters the Amazons… A strange picture… he's not the powerful son of Zeus draped in the skin of the lion of Nemea… He's a boy with black hair and strange grey eyes… of godlike beauty, as young as spring, dressed in a Gold Cloth… Zeus watches her silently. Athena's sacred olive tree on his head, winged Nike in his right hand, the sceptre in his left… and on the sceptre a waiting eagle… The bird of prey observes her with living eyes. Welcome, sister… The animal's voice screeches in her head. Give me a sign! screams Phidias, searching for the God's approval. Give me a sign… Marin echoes him… and a lightning bolt crosses the air, coming to ground before her, raising her hair with its electrostatic charge. A black, steaming hole into the white floor. Bless me, my Lord… The surface of the statue seems to become shinier. Tears? Sweat? Blood? Marin knows that smell. The stinging smell of oil, Goddess Athena's nectar… It's dripping from the statue, flowing in her direction, cleansing the burnt floor like a balm heals a wound. Marin squats down to touch it with the tip of her fingers. She barely notices to have dragged Shaina along, still holding her hand… Then she rises again before the statue and brings the tip of her fingers to her own mouth. The oil tastes strong and fragrant. I'm waiting for you, my Lord… The eagle opens its wings. Its powerful body leaves God's sceptre. It's a crazed arrow, her beak opens, its voice calls her. She comes straight at her, with all its fierceness. Marin remains still. The impact is momentous. The animal's head hits her in the sternum dragging her to the temple wall. The blow shatters her bones. Marin cries, letting go of Shaina's hand, then falls to the ground. Through veiled eyes she sees Ophiucus Saint senseless. Then, overtaken by a strange warmth, her pain is gone. The touch of Zeus is as sweet as a lover's fondling… Let me be your Voice… Marin begs, focusing her thoughts to the statue, unmoving and lifeless.
Shaina holds Marin's head up. She's badly wounded and her hair are soaked with blood. But she's alive. She's breathing regularly, despite the pained expression. Shaina couldn't tell what happened. They were standing before the statue of Zeus, the legendary statue of Zeus, evoked from a bygone era. Marin started to shake and clung to her. The palm of her hand, marked with the red signs of her fingernails, still aches. Then that wave of energy threw them back. She regained her senses first. Something happened to Marin. Because now her body is covered by an extraordinary Cloth. With her fingers Shaina grazes the golden decorations representing the feathers of a bird of prey. But it's not a Gold Cloth. Or a Silver one… Ivory… White and smooth ivory, wide ivory wings… the same material of the statue… This is the God Cloth of Zeus…
"Please, Marin, open your eyes…"
Marin's eyelids flutter, then open slightly. "Hi…"
"How do you feel?" Shaina asks, worrying for her paleness. She knows that her haemorrhage has to be stopped. And she fears that the blow might have done her some damage.
"My head hurts…" Marin raises an arm and watches the precious ivory surface covering it. "Shaina… there should be a mask… a mask for me…"
Shaina looks around and sees it very soon, not far from them. An ivory mask. She just have to reach out and take it. Marin sits up. "Be careful" Shaina pleads her.
She takes the mask from her hands. After a momentary hesitation she puts it on. "We can go now…"
"Don't be silly" Shaina rebukes her. "You need time to regain some strength…"
Then a strange sensation gives her the chills, as if something slimy had clung to her back. Shaina turns to the temple entrance and sees them. Two men in heavy black cloaks, their features hidden by the shadows created by the hoods.
"That's right. Don't be silly, Aquila Marin" the taller one says. "You're going nowhere… Sorry, gals, your trip is over…"
Evil is an abstract concept. So is justice. Evil doesn't exist per se. Hades himself was acting for his own good. The fact that it wasn't the same good of the human race didn't seem to matter to him. So, Saga's concept of good was even different. And Kanon's. To Athena's devoted Saints good has always been her. Following her around the world, saving her life, because she was a symbol. A flag to rally around. And those who opposed her will belonged to the evil category. Without a hint of doubt. Now she's dead. This probably means that evil doesn't exist anymore. Because she can't decide what's right and what's wrong anymore. But when Shaina sees the duo come towards the statue of Zeus her sixth sense tells her that this is evil. It's a sense of distress that takes hold of her stomach and causes her pulse to quicken. She doesn't know who they are, and is not inclined to discover it. She would just like to be someplace else. Because both she and Marin have been threatened. And this means that the shadow zone, the source of nameless fear, has reawaken. It doesn't matter in which guise. What matters is to face it. To survive. Despite the Goddess' death. Now what matters is to fight for their own lives. A simple affair of self-respect. And when Marin places herself before her she feels as useless as she'd never felt. Heavens… she can only think as the taller one takes off his hood. It's not a human being. That thing is not human. She had expected a face. Any kind of face. But the thing facing her is a beast. Or worse. His muzzle is a lion's, with pale green down. His mane seems to be ablaze. The smell of burning is penetrating. For just a moment Shaina wonders how could his cloak not have been reduced to ashes. He lifts a hand, a human hand, and points it at her. "You don't interest us, Eagle. We want her."
"What are you supposed to be?" asks Marin, taking a combat stance. She's still bleeding, her back has a red streak of blood flowing on.
"Come on. Step aside, my dear. I promise you that your friend will feel no pain…" the lion continues.
Only now Shaina starts to comprehend. They want me dead… Dead, ME! Why?
The other one steps forward, taking his mantle off. He's nothing like his companion. He's got the androgynous beauty of an angel, long green hair similar to willow branches and yellow eyes resembling those of cats. "Repshu" he says with a soft, mellifluous voice. "The redhead is mine. Take care of that damned Ophiucus…"
Well, here we go again…thinks Marin as the throbbing pain in her head subsides slightly. She knows that it's not a good sign. It means that she lost too much blood. The strange green-haired boy watches her circumspectly. He gets close to her, examining her like a cobra would examine a mongoose.
"Stay behind me, Shaina" Marin says. For obscure reasons she's the one they're after. And, without her Cloth, she's unable to protect herself. And Marin is not even sure that she could.
"You don't know how it hurts to be what I am…" the creature whispers. "I cannot find peace, do you see? Your friend was just interrogating herself about the existence of evil… Yes, my luscious Eagle, it exists. And I thirst for it. But I can never get enough. This is why I'm called 'the Unsatisfied'. I want to see the evil in you. Who knows, perhaps it could nourish me."
The creature lunges at her. A strange green glow surrounds his hands. But before they could touch her Marin grabs them. Let's see what I'm capable of with this Cloth on… Energy flows through her, electric and powerful. It's the strength of a hurricane. Marin knows that she must direct it against her foe. Around her the air crackles. The creature's yellow eyes seem to become curious. Then their expression becomes pained as the lighting of Zeus crosses his body. The creature starts, his fine face contorted with pain. Marin does not let him go. She wants him to burn to the bone. For his desecration of a sacred place. The creature's flesh darkens, burns and breaks. When finally Marin lets go he's noting but a human shaped brand. She stops to catch her breath, bringing a hand to her head. Everything seems to spin around her. Now she's barely able to focus things out. And seeing Shaina advance against the strange green lion she would like to stop her, but she's spent. "Don't do it…" she prays her with a subtle voice. But probably the other one hasn't even heard.
"Stay behind me, Shaina…" she really told so. For two days Shaina has been listening. Without contradicting. Leaving her with her convictions. Leaving her free to treat her like a loser. Just because she's been away from the Sanctuary five years, just because now she's got other reasons to go on living. This doesn't make a failure of me, Marin… Whatever you may think… I only wanted some peace… But what do you know about it? Seiya asked me if I felt nostalgic about the scent of blood. This is not the case. I don't like to see you suffer. Battle wounds or not. Wounds that should make any Saint proud. And I don't feel like fighting at all. Not because I can't. Yes, Marin, I can. And I have to do it again, because now the matter of contention is my life, and I will never, never allow someone else to fight my fight. Because I don't need protection.
"It seems that we have a problem…" she says looking the beastly face straight in the eye.
He growls. It's such a loud noise that her tympanums hurt. The stench of his warm breath makes her stomach turn. Why the hell do you want to kill me? What do you have to do with me?
"That bitch killed Haflain!" the beast snarls.
"What a naughty lass, huh?" Shaina remarks.
"I'll rip your heart out, you filthy…"
"Can't you do anything beside cussing? What a pity… With such a menacing air I had expected something better." Quietly Shaina lets her purse down. Suddenly she wants him to attack her. She wants to feel the pain his blows could cause, and wants to give him them all back. She wants to be covered with welts, wants to hear his last throes. Perhaps she's really been missing the scent of blood. With a sudden jump the beast is upon her. Shaina finds herself pressed to the floor, unable to move, then the creature's fangs sink into her shoulder. She hardens her muscles from the pain but doesn't scream. She doesn't scream as she clings to his mane, ignoring the burns it causes to her hands. The Cosmo… I still have a Cosmo, damn it. I used it to enter this place. Now I must use it to leave it. She closes her eyes, trying to displace him. It's always been a matter of concentration. The mind must join with its patron stars. They are inside her. They have to wake up from their torpor. Energy grows slowly inside her, takes control of her molecules, melts with her spirit and explodes. The being draws away from her, taking bits of flesh and fabric with him. She doesn't feel pain. A strange golden aura surrounds her. Something that was never hers. A force transcending her control and overhanging her completely. The beast screams, then he is thrown back by the energy wave. He falls on the ground and stays there, whimpering. Shaina stands up and watches him. You wanted to kill me… I'd like to know why, but I don't feel like chatting. She's exhausted, but anger gives her some strength back. She's a fury. Because she was wounded, and because her jacket has been ruined. She liked that jacket. It was Seika's gift. Shaina jumps atop him, silent and nimble like a cobra. She doesn't stop to ponder while she sinks her nails into his heart, bellowing. The creature manages to spasm once again before falling still. Slowly adrenaline subsides inside her. Her legs are shaking, and she falls to the ground without the slightest resistance. Athena looks into her eyes. The little statue the old woman gave her has rolled out of her purse. Hello… thinks Shaina, allowing herself to smirk.
You've been fantastic…
Marin?
No.
Shaina knows this voice. Athena?
To the Sanctuary… Go retrieve what is yours. At the foot of the bed of the High Priest…
Shaina close her eyes. My God, I'm hallucinating… but why the hell does she have to speak to me with Saori's voice?
"Shaina…"
Shut up. I'm not hearing you.
"Shaina…?"
It's not Athena. It's Marin. Down. As spent as she is. Without her mask. Ominously pale. "Everything alright?"
"Where… where did you find that Cosmo?"
Shaina giggles. "I don't know. Are you trying to say that you don't think I'm a failure anymore?"
"Why did they want to get you?"
You are the know-it-all here, Marin… "We must reach a hospital now. I'll tell them that I was attacked by an angry dog…"
"And how should I explain the crater in my head?"
"The owner of the dog attacked you…"
They laugh. Like two madwomen. Despite their wounds. Because once again life courses through their veins.