Chapter 7
Sweet Innocence
Metallia's upper lip curled into a dreadful sneer as she watched the Lunarian Queen's fervent prayers for protection. And all the while, the Promise Child is slumbering behind Selene's shrine, she thought, savoring the delicious irony of it all. Poor, silly girl. Even after all those terrible nightmares, you do not see the danger in protecting that child? The goddess smirked, and licked a bit of blood from her second finger. Of course you don't. Because I planned it that way. Poor, poor girl...
...Beryl shifted restlessly from foot to foot, biting back one complaint after another as Metallia feasted upon the blood of yet another dark god. Over the past few months, Beryl had overcome any ill effects she had once suffered from watching her mistress feed. What once had been an utterly horrifying display was now merely dull.
Metallia's cold eyes watched Beryl carefully over the rim of her goblet. The girl blinked groggily, obviously trying her best not to doze off where she stood, which made the goddess thankful for the chalice that hid her smile. She had never doubted that her subordinate would overcome her violent reaction to blood long before the Promise Child could be weaned from the ewe Fauna's milk. Why, besides her connections to the Terran throne, Lady Beryl's strong will had been among the greatest reasons why Metallia had chosen her to be her henchwoman.
Although Lady Beryl had been but ten years of age when Metallia first appeared to her, it had been quite a trick to undo the damage that years of schooling by her parents had wrought upon the innocent child's mind. Even when Metallia disguised herself as a tutor, and was hired by Beryl's parents, Beryl was suspicious of her teachings. Every truth that the goddess bestowed upon the girl was met with the bored reply that Mother and Father had taught her differently. If she had not been such a strong potential ally, Metallia would have given up on the girl long ago. But she had recognized Lady Beryl's potential, and doggedly kept to teaching her. And slowly, her seeds began to bear fruit. Before long, Metallia had seen it fit to reveal her true identity to Lady Beryl--and Beryl had accepted the truth. From that day forward, Lady Beryl was Metallia's loyal and eager follower.
And now she nearly slumbers where she stands, thought the dark one, baring her teeth is a wicked grin.
"Lady Beryl!" she said sharply. The noblewoman snapped to attention, flushing guilty.
"Y-yes, Mistress?" she stammered, trying in vain to look innocent. Realizing that she had been caught dozing, she hung her coppery head in shame. "I am sorry, my Mistress." A look of confusion crossed the goddess' face as she tilted her head quizzically.
"Why, whatever are you sorry for, my pet?" Beryl was startled. Had Metallia truly not noticed her dozing? The Terran noblewoman eyed her mistress carefully. The dark one gazed steadily back at her. Beryl could not forget the first time she had been called to Metallia's lair. Metallia had only been playing gentle then, but she had played the role quite convincingly, and Beryl had let her guard down. The blisters on her thumb and forefinger still stung when she pressed upon them, and it had been quite a trick to convince her parents that she had burned them trying to retrieve a hair ribbon that had fallen into the hearth in her chambers-- even though she had charred her favorite one beforehand to prove it.
"I.I was.not.paying attention.to.you," Beryl stammered, wringing her hands, and trying to make herself appear even more ashamed than she already was. Perhaps if she looked properly ashamed, her punishment would not be so harsh. But Metallia only chuckled lightly. As Beryl eyed her mistress carefully, Metallia put her hand into the god's corpse. When she withdrew it, she cupped several drops of his blood in her palm. Smiling, she stretched her hand invitingly towards her subordinate.
"Would you care to try some?" she asked sweetly. Beryl felt as if her own blood had turned to ice. Metallia was inviting her to taste of the dark god's blood? After she had shown her such disrespect? What was the goddess hiding? Would the god's blood harm her? Metallia's smile deepened.
"Why have you never told me of your desire to taste my brother's blood?"
"I was certain you would be put off by my effrontery," Beryl whispered. She did not bother to question how Metallia had known that her tongue had itched to taste a god's blood since she stopped being so revolted by it. She was a goddess, after all.
"You are my only follower right now, Lady Beryl," Metallia said seriously. "But even when we have gathered an army, you will still be my closest and most trusted adherent. And when the time comes to tear Serenity from her throne, both of us must be at our most powerful. It will be your duty to eliminate the Sailor Soldiers. As you are, you cannot harm Serenity's protectors, for they descend from the gods of light themselves. But the blood of my brother can foster within you the dark power necessary to bring even the Sailor Soldiers to their knees. But, of course, you must drink of it first. Come forward." Meekly, Beryl obeyed, kneeling before the goddess as was asked of her. Metallia's dusky eyes bore into the Terran noblewoman's very soul as the divine hand bearing her brother's divine blood hovered beneath her nose. Beryl drew in a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent that arose from the god's blood in thick clouds.
"Drink!" Metallia ordered, her voice rich and deep. "Drink!" Obediently, Beryl closed her eyes, and lowered her lips to the bright red pool. A smile curved the dark one's wine-red lips as her subordinate drew the drops into her mouth slowly, savoring its rich flavor.
Something like the shock of a lightning bolt shot through Beryl, raising every hair upon her body. For a moment, she was unable to move. She knelt before her mistress, trembling stiffly, her lungs burning for air. Above her, Metallia's leering face began to ripple as shadows washed over it. Breathe. She had to breathe! But how was she to breathe when her heart and lungs were being squeezed together by an invisible, burning hand? All at once, the unbearable tension behind her breasts was eased. Crisp, clean air rushed into her lungs in a deliciously cold stream. At the same moment, white-hot pain lanced through her belly, and she fell forward into blackness.
"Oh dear!" Metallia cackled, gazing at Beryl's crumpled form. "I guess she was not ready for so much of my brother's blood." Well, no matter. Next time, she would give her less. They would build the girl's capacity for divine blood slowly. There was plenty of time.
Sinking gracefully to her knees, Metallia gathered her subordinate's limp form into her arms, and covered the mortal's mouth with her own. To the casual observer, it would appear that the goddess was kissing the noblewoman in the most businesslike manner. They could not see Metallia's tongue eagerly searching Beryl's mouth for any blood that she had not swallowed. There was no sense in wasting powerful blood, after all. Both of them needed all the power they could get.
When she was certain that every drop of divine blood had trickled safely down a throat, Metallia gently lay the girl on the floor again and sat back on her heels. An almost gentle expression settled upon the goddess' face as she clasped both Beryl's hands in her own.
"Now, rest, my pet," she whispered. "Return to your bed. You need not witness this display." Glittering dark fire flowed from Metallia's hands to surround Lady Beryl, and the noblewoman vanished in a cloud of shimmering black dust. Metallia got to her feet.
The "display" that Metallia was referring to began with little more than a whisper of power, echoing eerily off the cave walls. Thick, dark lashes slid together, bringing delicate lids down over wild black eyes. The whispers grew in number, becoming increasingly louder until they at last fell silent. Metallia's worldly body began to tremble. Behind her lids, the goddess' eyes rolled back in her head, and she slumped to the stone. For a moment, that seemed to be the end of it. Then, a shadow arose from the dark one's body, a curl of smoke that twisted and paled until it had taken on the shape of its worldly form. Metallia's spirit opened ebony eyes. Nonexistent lips curved into a smirk. Long had she been deprived of the joy that came with casting off her flesh. Sighing with pleasure, Metallia stretched out a hand. Five tendrils of power slid from her fingertips, braiding themselves into a thick, shimmering rope. The goddess' very soul trembled with anticipation as her power snaked across the cosmos toward her target. In her minds eye, she could see her clearly: a baby mortal girl with dark hair sleeping peacefully in her cradle. Her keeper, a silver- haired mortal woman of unsurpassable beauty, prayed quietly before a shrine dedicated to the Queen of the Gods of Light. Metallia waited with uncharacteristic patience, her rope of power hovering above the dark-haired child, until Queen Serenity finished her prayer and retreated to her bed. A new thought crossed the dark one's mind. I wonder, she thought. Do I have enough power for such a venture? Searching her reserves, she found herself sufficiently supplied, and it could hardly hurt her mission to act with caution. The babe within the cradle whimpered as the shimmering rope withdrew from above her, and drifted after the Queen.
Serenity did not notice the sudden warmth that surrounded her as she descended the Crystal Stair. All she noticed was that she was suddenly far calmer than she had been coming into her prayer. Perhaps Selene has heard my prayers after all, she thought, opening the door and stepping outside. The guards bowed to their Queen and bid her goodnight. Serenity, stifling a yawn, replied in kind. As she slipped away, long silver tails trailing behind her, the guards shivered. They could not see the rope of dark power wrapped around the High Queen's throat, but they could feel its chill as plain as day.
Serenity felt herself growing wearier with every step. Several times, she had to stop and lean against a tree or a wall.
"I fear I have not been giving my soul's vessel it's proper due," she muttered, more to keep herself awake than anything else. "Come now, old girl. You have not been alive long enough to have begun weakening." Muttering words of encouragement to herself, Serenity doggedly made her way to her chambers, carefully placing one foot in front of the other. She was asleep well before she collapsed across her great bed, still wrapped in her gown with her hair done up in tails. Back in her dark dwelling, Metallia smiled. Yes, she thought toward the beautiful woman on the bed. Sleep. And a smile curved Serenity's lips as Metallia filled her head with warm and lovely thoughts.
Now, the goddess thought, the Promise Child is mine. The High Queen released a soft, happy sigh as the goddess' rope unwound from her throat. She did not hear when, within the Crystal Tower, Hotaru began to cry.
But Metallia heard. On the other side of the cosmos, the goddess' spirit frowned.
"What ails you, my dearest?" she purred at the child, speaking through the braid stretched between them. Of course, Hotaru could not reply. She merely increased the volume of her cries. Metallia smiled. Gently, she trailed the silky fringe of her magic cord along the babe's cheek, soothing her fears. When the child had quieted, Metallia slipped silently into her target's mind.
Once within the Promise Child's mind, Metallia found herself bombarded with questions. Not word questions, of course. One as young as Hotaru could not speak in words. Oh, well. They could change that. Calmly, the goddess secured her influence upon the girl's mind, and suddenly, she could understand her questions. First on Hotaru's mind was, "Who are you?" Metallia snorted. Typical of a mortal. Not content simply to trust, always suspicious. They acquired that trait from the gods of light.
"Why little one!" Metallia cooed with false brightness. "I am your aunt! Your own mother's dear sister!"
"My mother?" Hotaru whimpered, trembling. "Where is she?"
"Dead, the poor woman," Metallia told the child with mock sympathy.
"Dead? What is dead?"
"She is gone. She is gone away from you, and can never, ever come back. Oh, but I am here. I will be your mother from now on. Do you know what that means, little love?"
"N-no." Hotaru admitted. Even her mental voice trembled with tears.
"It means that I am the one who loves you more than anyone else in the world. It means that you must love me back. And that means that you must trust me, and let me do whatever I wish with you, because whatever I do with you will be for your own good. Do you understand?" For a moment, Hotaru lay silently in her cradle, sucking desperately on her fingers and trying to wrap her little mind around this situation. Her mother was dead? Gone away from her never to return? What would Hotaru do without her mother? Well, there was this voice. This voice that loved her. This voice that had to have a body somewhere. This voice that was clearly her only option.
"All right," the babe agreed. Metallia smiled to herself.
"Good girl."
***
There was silence in the Realm of Gods. Its immortal residents had lapsed into their meditations. They sat upon their separate thrones, each bathed in a separate, powerful glow as they searched the mortal worlds for the minds of their chosen ones, assessing their separate situations and acting accordingly. To the untrained eye, it would seem as if each god and goddess was keeping to his or her own thoughts, completely separate from their brothers and sisters. Not so. The minds of all the gods were linked together, and the others heard every thought held by one god or goddess. As their separate powers flowed from their bodies into the air surrounding them, they blended together, creating a pleasant, gentle breeze that tugged at their robes and played with the long, soft hair of the goddesses, bringing it to tickle the faces of the gods. All was peaceful and calm. Then, a pain like the stab of a knife dug into Selene's mind and traveled along the mental chain to touch her brothers and sisters. Darkness was threatening the Promise Child.
A ripple of alarm followed the Queen's announcement along the mental chain, but Selene was quick to calm her kin. Nay, she told them. Worry not. I shall deal with this. Rising from her throne, she moved to stand in the center of their circle, and shut her eyes, closing her mind to all mortals save the Promise Child. Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she called upon her power.
***
The air inside the Crystal Tower seemed to get colder with every word the strange Voice spoke. Hotaru shivered as she stared into the empty air, listening to the voice of her new mother.
"You poor dear," the Voice cooed. "You are so weak and helpless. An innocent child, forsaken by the gods, left to rely upon others to keep her alive. How pathetic." Hotaru blinked her wide violet eyes shamefully.
"Am I pathetic?" she asked, knowing already what the answer would be.
"You certainly are," answered the Voice. "But you do not have to be."
"I do not?" Hotaru whimpered. There was hope in her violet eyes. She was not quite sure what it meant to be pathetic, but she knew it was bad, and if it was true, if she was pathetic, then she wanted to change it as quickly as possible.
"No, of course not! You can change so that you will never be pathetic again. Of course, you have to want it enough first. Do you want to change?"
"Yes!" Hotaru cried, meaning it with all her heart. "Yes, I want to not be pathetic! How do I not be pathetic?"
"There is another person inside you," said the Voice. "A strong person. Her name is the Promise Child. She is not pathetic. Would you like to meet her?" Hotaru hesitated. The cold was biting at her worse than ever, and she felt terribly lonesome without her mother's arms to keep her warm. She wished desperately that her mother would stop being just a voice.
"Will you let me see you?" she asked softly.
"All in good time, my little love," the Voice purred. "But, first, there is the Promise Child to think of. You want to meet her, do you not?"
"Yes," Hotaru said slowly. "How do I meet her?"
"Be at peace, my little one, and listen to my words." Hotaru timidly expressed her consent, and Metallia's spirit smiled. Dancing gracefully through the air, a dark thread of power, barely visible, slid around the child's throat. "Just listen to my words." And as her dark power probed the babe's mind, Metallia felt the child relax.
"There is a great race of gods," Metallia began, "known as the dark gods. It is made up of all the gods who oppose the gods of light. You may know some of their names. Urien is the most famous. He is the god who protects the souls of the dead that were cast out by Lady Pluto. He is protecting your mother, in fact."
"Urien has my mother?"
"That's right," Metallia said. "She was an innocent, whom Lady Pluto, the light goddess of the dead, cast into Urien's realm out of spite."
"Why?" Hotaru asked, feeling frightened. "Did she not like my mother?"
"She hated your mother! And for no reason except the fact that she had fallen in love! Your mother had fallen in love, and Lady Pluto was jealous. But it gets worse. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Urien's realm is a place of suffering, a place of exile. Souls who are cast there are kept in terrible pain. Urien does his best to protect them, but he cannot always succeed. But it is not his fault. He does not wish for the souls he protects to suffer."
"Then.why do they?"
"I shall tell you. It is all because of one light goddess. Her name is-"
"No." Metallia's spirit gasped. All at once, she felt as though someone had her by the wrist, and was squeezing tightly enough to force back her power. Metallia's spirit raised its eyes, and locked them with the defiant silver gaze of Selene, Queen of the Gods of Light.
"No," the silver goddess repeated. "I will not allow you to poison this child's mind. Release her. Release her and be gone." Growling softly, Metallia slowly opened nonexistent fingers, releasing the dark thread that still encircled the child's throat. The dark one smiled sweetly.
"All right, sister," she cooed. "I have released her. Now you must release me, that I may be gone from here." Selene only tightened her grip, her silver eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do not play me for a fool, Metallia!" she barked. "Release her fully." Metallia's smile faded, giving way to defiant hatred.
"You ask me to pretend you are not what you are," she snarled. "You are a fool, sister, to think that you can defeat destiny."
"Destiny is not the enemy here," Selene declared. "You are. And you are a far greater fool than I to think that you could claim one of my chosen for your own. I am bound to protect this child. I will not allow you to turn her head with your lies."
"I tell no lie," Metallia hissed. "I embellish only upon truth. Destiny is on my side, sister dear. I will drink of your child's blood, and this girl will help me."
Through the goddesses' verbal power struggle, Hotaru lay in her cradle, suckling desperately on her fingers, growing colder and colder with every word spoken.
"Please," the child whimpered. "Who are you?" Suddenly, she felt as if the cold imprisoning her was dissipating.
"Hotaru, dear firefly," said the new voice, a voice that was softer and gentler than her new mother's, "I am your protector." There was a cry of fury from Metallia.
"No!" the dark one bellowed, calling upon her power, "Do not believe her! She lies!" And the cold returned to take Hotaru in its embrace, stabbing her small body with a million icy needles. Hotaru screamed, and Selene screamed, for all it once, it felt as though her blood had turned to liquid fire within her veins. Her spirit writhed in pain as her sister's power pushed against her own. Serenity. Where was Serenity? Why had she not answered the child's cries? Very carefully, so as not to lose the fight against her dark sister, Selene's spirit stretched out a hand, searching the world of men for her descendant. Her heart twisted painfully behind her breast as her searching fingers brushed Serenity's bewitched mind. Anger boiled hot within her. Crying out in her rage, she shoved against Metallia's power with her own, taking grim satisfaction in the horrified surprise in the other goddess' eyes.
"What have you done to my child?" Selene screamed. Hotaru whimpered within her cradle. The painful cold was gone, but the heat of Selene's anger was stifling. Metallia bared her teeth in a catty grin.
"Please, sister," she hissed with false concern. "You are hurting the child!" Selene's breath caught in her throat. The dark one was right! Selene withdrew a bit of her power. It was just enough to ease Hotaru's discomfort, but it gave Metallia an advantage. Pain flared within Selene again, pulling a long, tortured scream from her lips.
"She!" the dark one bellowed at the child, pushing back on Selene's power with all that she possessed. "She is the reason your mother suffers! Her name is Selene, and she is the Queen of the Gods of Light! She sent the Dark Gods into exile, turning Urien's realm into a place of pain and suffering!" Metallia grinned madly, locking her wild dark eyes with Selene's tormented silver gaze.
"You weak fool," she hissed at her light sister. "You will never achieve your purpose if you cannot learn to tolerate a bit of pain." And, grinning triumphantly, she shoved her power into Hotaru's young mind.
"Come forth, Promise Child! Come forth, and you can defeat the one who caused your mother's pain!" A cry arose from Hotaru, soft and weak at first, but gaining strength and volume as the pain rapidly increased. The child howled in sheer agony as her limbs stretched, muscle, bone, and everything else becoming larger and longer far too early. Her infant's clothing tightened about her body and burst, becoming little more than frayed pieces of cloth. The cradle collapsed under her new weight, spilling the screaming girl to the floor. Metallia's eyes widened in horror. No! Not yet! This was not meant to happen yet! The dark one realized she had no choice. Hastily, she withdrew her power from the child. Weakly, Serenity opened her eyes.
"No!" Metallia snarled, turning upon her sister. "I will not be defeated!" Her power was enhanced by her rage. Mercilessly, she shoved the power that she had just taken from Hotaru into the light goddess, laughing as the tears spilled from her eyes. Selene knew she was weakening rapidly. She barely had the strength to cry out in pain. If she kept up the struggle, she would never be able to reenter the world of men, and Hotaru would surely be lost. She had one choice: to slip quietly back into the Realm of Gods. But before that, she had one last trick up her sleeve.
Metallia laughed gleefully as Selene's spirit began to retreat. Her triumph was ephemeral, however, for just before the goddess returned to the Realm of Gods, Metallia caught it: the hint of a sly smile on her sister's soft lips. Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you planning, sister?" she snarled through grinding teeth. Selene did not reply, but threw back her head, crying out with all her strength and power.
"SERENITY!" And then, the goddess was gone, back to her home. The dark thread between Metallia and Hotaru snapped as the dark one hastily retreated. Within her darkened chambers, Serenity awoke with a cry.
**************************************************************************** ** Sooooooo sorry I took so long with this chapter! ;_; Don't eat my head!
Metallia's upper lip curled into a dreadful sneer as she watched the Lunarian Queen's fervent prayers for protection. And all the while, the Promise Child is slumbering behind Selene's shrine, she thought, savoring the delicious irony of it all. Poor, silly girl. Even after all those terrible nightmares, you do not see the danger in protecting that child? The goddess smirked, and licked a bit of blood from her second finger. Of course you don't. Because I planned it that way. Poor, poor girl...
...Beryl shifted restlessly from foot to foot, biting back one complaint after another as Metallia feasted upon the blood of yet another dark god. Over the past few months, Beryl had overcome any ill effects she had once suffered from watching her mistress feed. What once had been an utterly horrifying display was now merely dull.
Metallia's cold eyes watched Beryl carefully over the rim of her goblet. The girl blinked groggily, obviously trying her best not to doze off where she stood, which made the goddess thankful for the chalice that hid her smile. She had never doubted that her subordinate would overcome her violent reaction to blood long before the Promise Child could be weaned from the ewe Fauna's milk. Why, besides her connections to the Terran throne, Lady Beryl's strong will had been among the greatest reasons why Metallia had chosen her to be her henchwoman.
Although Lady Beryl had been but ten years of age when Metallia first appeared to her, it had been quite a trick to undo the damage that years of schooling by her parents had wrought upon the innocent child's mind. Even when Metallia disguised herself as a tutor, and was hired by Beryl's parents, Beryl was suspicious of her teachings. Every truth that the goddess bestowed upon the girl was met with the bored reply that Mother and Father had taught her differently. If she had not been such a strong potential ally, Metallia would have given up on the girl long ago. But she had recognized Lady Beryl's potential, and doggedly kept to teaching her. And slowly, her seeds began to bear fruit. Before long, Metallia had seen it fit to reveal her true identity to Lady Beryl--and Beryl had accepted the truth. From that day forward, Lady Beryl was Metallia's loyal and eager follower.
And now she nearly slumbers where she stands, thought the dark one, baring her teeth is a wicked grin.
"Lady Beryl!" she said sharply. The noblewoman snapped to attention, flushing guilty.
"Y-yes, Mistress?" she stammered, trying in vain to look innocent. Realizing that she had been caught dozing, she hung her coppery head in shame. "I am sorry, my Mistress." A look of confusion crossed the goddess' face as she tilted her head quizzically.
"Why, whatever are you sorry for, my pet?" Beryl was startled. Had Metallia truly not noticed her dozing? The Terran noblewoman eyed her mistress carefully. The dark one gazed steadily back at her. Beryl could not forget the first time she had been called to Metallia's lair. Metallia had only been playing gentle then, but she had played the role quite convincingly, and Beryl had let her guard down. The blisters on her thumb and forefinger still stung when she pressed upon them, and it had been quite a trick to convince her parents that she had burned them trying to retrieve a hair ribbon that had fallen into the hearth in her chambers-- even though she had charred her favorite one beforehand to prove it.
"I.I was.not.paying attention.to.you," Beryl stammered, wringing her hands, and trying to make herself appear even more ashamed than she already was. Perhaps if she looked properly ashamed, her punishment would not be so harsh. But Metallia only chuckled lightly. As Beryl eyed her mistress carefully, Metallia put her hand into the god's corpse. When she withdrew it, she cupped several drops of his blood in her palm. Smiling, she stretched her hand invitingly towards her subordinate.
"Would you care to try some?" she asked sweetly. Beryl felt as if her own blood had turned to ice. Metallia was inviting her to taste of the dark god's blood? After she had shown her such disrespect? What was the goddess hiding? Would the god's blood harm her? Metallia's smile deepened.
"Why have you never told me of your desire to taste my brother's blood?"
"I was certain you would be put off by my effrontery," Beryl whispered. She did not bother to question how Metallia had known that her tongue had itched to taste a god's blood since she stopped being so revolted by it. She was a goddess, after all.
"You are my only follower right now, Lady Beryl," Metallia said seriously. "But even when we have gathered an army, you will still be my closest and most trusted adherent. And when the time comes to tear Serenity from her throne, both of us must be at our most powerful. It will be your duty to eliminate the Sailor Soldiers. As you are, you cannot harm Serenity's protectors, for they descend from the gods of light themselves. But the blood of my brother can foster within you the dark power necessary to bring even the Sailor Soldiers to their knees. But, of course, you must drink of it first. Come forward." Meekly, Beryl obeyed, kneeling before the goddess as was asked of her. Metallia's dusky eyes bore into the Terran noblewoman's very soul as the divine hand bearing her brother's divine blood hovered beneath her nose. Beryl drew in a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent that arose from the god's blood in thick clouds.
"Drink!" Metallia ordered, her voice rich and deep. "Drink!" Obediently, Beryl closed her eyes, and lowered her lips to the bright red pool. A smile curved the dark one's wine-red lips as her subordinate drew the drops into her mouth slowly, savoring its rich flavor.
Something like the shock of a lightning bolt shot through Beryl, raising every hair upon her body. For a moment, she was unable to move. She knelt before her mistress, trembling stiffly, her lungs burning for air. Above her, Metallia's leering face began to ripple as shadows washed over it. Breathe. She had to breathe! But how was she to breathe when her heart and lungs were being squeezed together by an invisible, burning hand? All at once, the unbearable tension behind her breasts was eased. Crisp, clean air rushed into her lungs in a deliciously cold stream. At the same moment, white-hot pain lanced through her belly, and she fell forward into blackness.
"Oh dear!" Metallia cackled, gazing at Beryl's crumpled form. "I guess she was not ready for so much of my brother's blood." Well, no matter. Next time, she would give her less. They would build the girl's capacity for divine blood slowly. There was plenty of time.
Sinking gracefully to her knees, Metallia gathered her subordinate's limp form into her arms, and covered the mortal's mouth with her own. To the casual observer, it would appear that the goddess was kissing the noblewoman in the most businesslike manner. They could not see Metallia's tongue eagerly searching Beryl's mouth for any blood that she had not swallowed. There was no sense in wasting powerful blood, after all. Both of them needed all the power they could get.
When she was certain that every drop of divine blood had trickled safely down a throat, Metallia gently lay the girl on the floor again and sat back on her heels. An almost gentle expression settled upon the goddess' face as she clasped both Beryl's hands in her own.
"Now, rest, my pet," she whispered. "Return to your bed. You need not witness this display." Glittering dark fire flowed from Metallia's hands to surround Lady Beryl, and the noblewoman vanished in a cloud of shimmering black dust. Metallia got to her feet.
The "display" that Metallia was referring to began with little more than a whisper of power, echoing eerily off the cave walls. Thick, dark lashes slid together, bringing delicate lids down over wild black eyes. The whispers grew in number, becoming increasingly louder until they at last fell silent. Metallia's worldly body began to tremble. Behind her lids, the goddess' eyes rolled back in her head, and she slumped to the stone. For a moment, that seemed to be the end of it. Then, a shadow arose from the dark one's body, a curl of smoke that twisted and paled until it had taken on the shape of its worldly form. Metallia's spirit opened ebony eyes. Nonexistent lips curved into a smirk. Long had she been deprived of the joy that came with casting off her flesh. Sighing with pleasure, Metallia stretched out a hand. Five tendrils of power slid from her fingertips, braiding themselves into a thick, shimmering rope. The goddess' very soul trembled with anticipation as her power snaked across the cosmos toward her target. In her minds eye, she could see her clearly: a baby mortal girl with dark hair sleeping peacefully in her cradle. Her keeper, a silver- haired mortal woman of unsurpassable beauty, prayed quietly before a shrine dedicated to the Queen of the Gods of Light. Metallia waited with uncharacteristic patience, her rope of power hovering above the dark-haired child, until Queen Serenity finished her prayer and retreated to her bed. A new thought crossed the dark one's mind. I wonder, she thought. Do I have enough power for such a venture? Searching her reserves, she found herself sufficiently supplied, and it could hardly hurt her mission to act with caution. The babe within the cradle whimpered as the shimmering rope withdrew from above her, and drifted after the Queen.
Serenity did not notice the sudden warmth that surrounded her as she descended the Crystal Stair. All she noticed was that she was suddenly far calmer than she had been coming into her prayer. Perhaps Selene has heard my prayers after all, she thought, opening the door and stepping outside. The guards bowed to their Queen and bid her goodnight. Serenity, stifling a yawn, replied in kind. As she slipped away, long silver tails trailing behind her, the guards shivered. They could not see the rope of dark power wrapped around the High Queen's throat, but they could feel its chill as plain as day.
Serenity felt herself growing wearier with every step. Several times, she had to stop and lean against a tree or a wall.
"I fear I have not been giving my soul's vessel it's proper due," she muttered, more to keep herself awake than anything else. "Come now, old girl. You have not been alive long enough to have begun weakening." Muttering words of encouragement to herself, Serenity doggedly made her way to her chambers, carefully placing one foot in front of the other. She was asleep well before she collapsed across her great bed, still wrapped in her gown with her hair done up in tails. Back in her dark dwelling, Metallia smiled. Yes, she thought toward the beautiful woman on the bed. Sleep. And a smile curved Serenity's lips as Metallia filled her head with warm and lovely thoughts.
Now, the goddess thought, the Promise Child is mine. The High Queen released a soft, happy sigh as the goddess' rope unwound from her throat. She did not hear when, within the Crystal Tower, Hotaru began to cry.
But Metallia heard. On the other side of the cosmos, the goddess' spirit frowned.
"What ails you, my dearest?" she purred at the child, speaking through the braid stretched between them. Of course, Hotaru could not reply. She merely increased the volume of her cries. Metallia smiled. Gently, she trailed the silky fringe of her magic cord along the babe's cheek, soothing her fears. When the child had quieted, Metallia slipped silently into her target's mind.
Once within the Promise Child's mind, Metallia found herself bombarded with questions. Not word questions, of course. One as young as Hotaru could not speak in words. Oh, well. They could change that. Calmly, the goddess secured her influence upon the girl's mind, and suddenly, she could understand her questions. First on Hotaru's mind was, "Who are you?" Metallia snorted. Typical of a mortal. Not content simply to trust, always suspicious. They acquired that trait from the gods of light.
"Why little one!" Metallia cooed with false brightness. "I am your aunt! Your own mother's dear sister!"
"My mother?" Hotaru whimpered, trembling. "Where is she?"
"Dead, the poor woman," Metallia told the child with mock sympathy.
"Dead? What is dead?"
"She is gone. She is gone away from you, and can never, ever come back. Oh, but I am here. I will be your mother from now on. Do you know what that means, little love?"
"N-no." Hotaru admitted. Even her mental voice trembled with tears.
"It means that I am the one who loves you more than anyone else in the world. It means that you must love me back. And that means that you must trust me, and let me do whatever I wish with you, because whatever I do with you will be for your own good. Do you understand?" For a moment, Hotaru lay silently in her cradle, sucking desperately on her fingers and trying to wrap her little mind around this situation. Her mother was dead? Gone away from her never to return? What would Hotaru do without her mother? Well, there was this voice. This voice that loved her. This voice that had to have a body somewhere. This voice that was clearly her only option.
"All right," the babe agreed. Metallia smiled to herself.
"Good girl."
***
There was silence in the Realm of Gods. Its immortal residents had lapsed into their meditations. They sat upon their separate thrones, each bathed in a separate, powerful glow as they searched the mortal worlds for the minds of their chosen ones, assessing their separate situations and acting accordingly. To the untrained eye, it would seem as if each god and goddess was keeping to his or her own thoughts, completely separate from their brothers and sisters. Not so. The minds of all the gods were linked together, and the others heard every thought held by one god or goddess. As their separate powers flowed from their bodies into the air surrounding them, they blended together, creating a pleasant, gentle breeze that tugged at their robes and played with the long, soft hair of the goddesses, bringing it to tickle the faces of the gods. All was peaceful and calm. Then, a pain like the stab of a knife dug into Selene's mind and traveled along the mental chain to touch her brothers and sisters. Darkness was threatening the Promise Child.
A ripple of alarm followed the Queen's announcement along the mental chain, but Selene was quick to calm her kin. Nay, she told them. Worry not. I shall deal with this. Rising from her throne, she moved to stand in the center of their circle, and shut her eyes, closing her mind to all mortals save the Promise Child. Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she called upon her power.
***
The air inside the Crystal Tower seemed to get colder with every word the strange Voice spoke. Hotaru shivered as she stared into the empty air, listening to the voice of her new mother.
"You poor dear," the Voice cooed. "You are so weak and helpless. An innocent child, forsaken by the gods, left to rely upon others to keep her alive. How pathetic." Hotaru blinked her wide violet eyes shamefully.
"Am I pathetic?" she asked, knowing already what the answer would be.
"You certainly are," answered the Voice. "But you do not have to be."
"I do not?" Hotaru whimpered. There was hope in her violet eyes. She was not quite sure what it meant to be pathetic, but she knew it was bad, and if it was true, if she was pathetic, then she wanted to change it as quickly as possible.
"No, of course not! You can change so that you will never be pathetic again. Of course, you have to want it enough first. Do you want to change?"
"Yes!" Hotaru cried, meaning it with all her heart. "Yes, I want to not be pathetic! How do I not be pathetic?"
"There is another person inside you," said the Voice. "A strong person. Her name is the Promise Child. She is not pathetic. Would you like to meet her?" Hotaru hesitated. The cold was biting at her worse than ever, and she felt terribly lonesome without her mother's arms to keep her warm. She wished desperately that her mother would stop being just a voice.
"Will you let me see you?" she asked softly.
"All in good time, my little love," the Voice purred. "But, first, there is the Promise Child to think of. You want to meet her, do you not?"
"Yes," Hotaru said slowly. "How do I meet her?"
"Be at peace, my little one, and listen to my words." Hotaru timidly expressed her consent, and Metallia's spirit smiled. Dancing gracefully through the air, a dark thread of power, barely visible, slid around the child's throat. "Just listen to my words." And as her dark power probed the babe's mind, Metallia felt the child relax.
"There is a great race of gods," Metallia began, "known as the dark gods. It is made up of all the gods who oppose the gods of light. You may know some of their names. Urien is the most famous. He is the god who protects the souls of the dead that were cast out by Lady Pluto. He is protecting your mother, in fact."
"Urien has my mother?"
"That's right," Metallia said. "She was an innocent, whom Lady Pluto, the light goddess of the dead, cast into Urien's realm out of spite."
"Why?" Hotaru asked, feeling frightened. "Did she not like my mother?"
"She hated your mother! And for no reason except the fact that she had fallen in love! Your mother had fallen in love, and Lady Pluto was jealous. But it gets worse. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Urien's realm is a place of suffering, a place of exile. Souls who are cast there are kept in terrible pain. Urien does his best to protect them, but he cannot always succeed. But it is not his fault. He does not wish for the souls he protects to suffer."
"Then.why do they?"
"I shall tell you. It is all because of one light goddess. Her name is-"
"No." Metallia's spirit gasped. All at once, she felt as though someone had her by the wrist, and was squeezing tightly enough to force back her power. Metallia's spirit raised its eyes, and locked them with the defiant silver gaze of Selene, Queen of the Gods of Light.
"No," the silver goddess repeated. "I will not allow you to poison this child's mind. Release her. Release her and be gone." Growling softly, Metallia slowly opened nonexistent fingers, releasing the dark thread that still encircled the child's throat. The dark one smiled sweetly.
"All right, sister," she cooed. "I have released her. Now you must release me, that I may be gone from here." Selene only tightened her grip, her silver eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do not play me for a fool, Metallia!" she barked. "Release her fully." Metallia's smile faded, giving way to defiant hatred.
"You ask me to pretend you are not what you are," she snarled. "You are a fool, sister, to think that you can defeat destiny."
"Destiny is not the enemy here," Selene declared. "You are. And you are a far greater fool than I to think that you could claim one of my chosen for your own. I am bound to protect this child. I will not allow you to turn her head with your lies."
"I tell no lie," Metallia hissed. "I embellish only upon truth. Destiny is on my side, sister dear. I will drink of your child's blood, and this girl will help me."
Through the goddesses' verbal power struggle, Hotaru lay in her cradle, suckling desperately on her fingers, growing colder and colder with every word spoken.
"Please," the child whimpered. "Who are you?" Suddenly, she felt as if the cold imprisoning her was dissipating.
"Hotaru, dear firefly," said the new voice, a voice that was softer and gentler than her new mother's, "I am your protector." There was a cry of fury from Metallia.
"No!" the dark one bellowed, calling upon her power, "Do not believe her! She lies!" And the cold returned to take Hotaru in its embrace, stabbing her small body with a million icy needles. Hotaru screamed, and Selene screamed, for all it once, it felt as though her blood had turned to liquid fire within her veins. Her spirit writhed in pain as her sister's power pushed against her own. Serenity. Where was Serenity? Why had she not answered the child's cries? Very carefully, so as not to lose the fight against her dark sister, Selene's spirit stretched out a hand, searching the world of men for her descendant. Her heart twisted painfully behind her breast as her searching fingers brushed Serenity's bewitched mind. Anger boiled hot within her. Crying out in her rage, she shoved against Metallia's power with her own, taking grim satisfaction in the horrified surprise in the other goddess' eyes.
"What have you done to my child?" Selene screamed. Hotaru whimpered within her cradle. The painful cold was gone, but the heat of Selene's anger was stifling. Metallia bared her teeth in a catty grin.
"Please, sister," she hissed with false concern. "You are hurting the child!" Selene's breath caught in her throat. The dark one was right! Selene withdrew a bit of her power. It was just enough to ease Hotaru's discomfort, but it gave Metallia an advantage. Pain flared within Selene again, pulling a long, tortured scream from her lips.
"She!" the dark one bellowed at the child, pushing back on Selene's power with all that she possessed. "She is the reason your mother suffers! Her name is Selene, and she is the Queen of the Gods of Light! She sent the Dark Gods into exile, turning Urien's realm into a place of pain and suffering!" Metallia grinned madly, locking her wild dark eyes with Selene's tormented silver gaze.
"You weak fool," she hissed at her light sister. "You will never achieve your purpose if you cannot learn to tolerate a bit of pain." And, grinning triumphantly, she shoved her power into Hotaru's young mind.
"Come forth, Promise Child! Come forth, and you can defeat the one who caused your mother's pain!" A cry arose from Hotaru, soft and weak at first, but gaining strength and volume as the pain rapidly increased. The child howled in sheer agony as her limbs stretched, muscle, bone, and everything else becoming larger and longer far too early. Her infant's clothing tightened about her body and burst, becoming little more than frayed pieces of cloth. The cradle collapsed under her new weight, spilling the screaming girl to the floor. Metallia's eyes widened in horror. No! Not yet! This was not meant to happen yet! The dark one realized she had no choice. Hastily, she withdrew her power from the child. Weakly, Serenity opened her eyes.
"No!" Metallia snarled, turning upon her sister. "I will not be defeated!" Her power was enhanced by her rage. Mercilessly, she shoved the power that she had just taken from Hotaru into the light goddess, laughing as the tears spilled from her eyes. Selene knew she was weakening rapidly. She barely had the strength to cry out in pain. If she kept up the struggle, she would never be able to reenter the world of men, and Hotaru would surely be lost. She had one choice: to slip quietly back into the Realm of Gods. But before that, she had one last trick up her sleeve.
Metallia laughed gleefully as Selene's spirit began to retreat. Her triumph was ephemeral, however, for just before the goddess returned to the Realm of Gods, Metallia caught it: the hint of a sly smile on her sister's soft lips. Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What are you planning, sister?" she snarled through grinding teeth. Selene did not reply, but threw back her head, crying out with all her strength and power.
"SERENITY!" And then, the goddess was gone, back to her home. The dark thread between Metallia and Hotaru snapped as the dark one hastily retreated. Within her darkened chambers, Serenity awoke with a cry.
**************************************************************************** ** Sooooooo sorry I took so long with this chapter! ;_; Don't eat my head!