13. Fate
It was like walking in a dream.
She could be fourteen years old and considered herself, in many aspects, already a woman, but truth be told, she was still a child. Children rarely doubt their parents, they trust them, believe in their words. She wasn't different at all and the ties that bound her to Lara and Kurtis were even tighter, as she'd been instructed to trust, to obey, to act fast, both alone and as a team, because her safety depended on it when traveling with them around the world.
But to have before her eyes the realization of what they had told her was real, that it actually happened, even though she'd believed them blindly regardless of whether she saw it or not, was a rewarding, euphoric sensation.
There was Loanna's tomb, and it was just as they had described it. The circular, large chamber, with traces of soot and scorched stone where Karel's powers had impacted. The beautiful white sarcophagus in the centre, with the reclining lady, delicate, beautiful.
"Omnia vulnerant, ultima necat." She recited as she approached, even before she even read the inscription under the figure, since she knew it by heart. "All of them hurt, but the last one kill."
And there, next to the inscribed plate, were still the remains of dried blood. Her father's blood, who'd hit his head after the Nephilim crashed him into the sarcophagus. All that had happened long before she was born, long before she was conceived, or she was even a mere possibility. But there was, in short, the proof. Everything was true.
What now? She thought, looking at the beautiful sculpted face. Am I supposed to say something? She felt a bit silly standing there. Better to say some nonsense.
"Well, uhm, hi, Lady Loanna." She murmured, and then she slapped her forehead. Lame, so lame...
Welcome, Anna Heissturm.
The girl winced and turned sharply. There was no one. Suddenly she felt her legs tremble. I'm not scared. I'm not scared.
Don't be. The voice was warm, soft, tender as a mother's - well, anyone's mother but hers, of course. Still trembling, but caught with curiosity, Anna walked around the sarcophagus. I won't hurt you, the voice insisted.
There was something sitting on the steps that gave access to the back of the sarcophagus. A fog, a disruption in the air, hard to say. It seemed like a woman. Long hair, long dress.
"A ghost!" Anna exclaimed involuntarily, gaping at the apparition.
The figure raised her face, and for a split second the girl thought she was going to see a skull, a zombie, a monster, anything really – but it was a young woman. Young, beautiful and sad, who smiled at her with a melancholy smile.
Greetings, daughter of my benefactor, daughter of the heiress of my legacy. She tilted her head again and Anna saw a long dagger in her lap. Thank you for coming.
Anna clicked her tongue and looked around, feeling very weird suddenly. There she was, talking to walking skeletons and ghosts of the past. She thought about asking her own questions, but the one being the first Amazon interrupted her. There will be time for that, little one - but now you must listen.
"I… I'm listening." She stammered.
Do you remember your grandfather's message?
A cold sweat ran down her back. She stared, gasping, at Loanna's ethereal silhouette.
"Huh, well, yes... the... grandpa's skull... it... spoke." She shifted her weight to the other leg. "But Dad said not to tell anyone."
It seemed to her that the lady smiled sweetly. And what did Konstantin Heissturm tell you, Daughter of Light? Repeat it.
The girl's face darkened. Suddenly, her legs weighed as if she'd run miles. She sat slowly on the stairs, in front of the apparition, although keeping the distances - just in case. "He told me to beware the long night." She murmured, shuddering. "He told me to beware the prince of demons."
You know what that means?
"How could I!" Anna looked at her dumbfounded. "Well, huh... I guess it means that... I'm in danger. You gonna explain to me?"
Beware of the long night. Beware of the prince of demons.
"Really?" Anna rolled her eyes.
Listen, little one. Now that you are here, I have very little time. What the warrior Heissturm, your grandfather, told you, is only part of what you should know, but it's the most important part. I've been sent back to help you understand, but I don't have all the answers, because the future isn't written, and the result will depend only on the decisions you make and the actions you take.
"That's a contradiction." Anna twisted her lower lip, thoughtful. "You warn me that I'm in danger, that Satan is chasing me or else, and then you tell me that I can change things. Either I can change them, or I can't change them. Either I am predestined, or I am not."
You're predestined, but you weren't until being conceived. Do you know how it happened?
Anna blushed involuntarily. "I know how kids are made."
It seemed to her that Loanna was smiling again. What I mean is that you might not have existed. Do you know what happened here? The Seal's story?
"Of course!" Was that ghost testing her? "I know everything, I'm not stupid! My father was the last Lux Veritatis and he faced Karel, who was the last Nephilim. They had to kill each other and disappear, to balance Good and Evil again."
But there was someone appointed to intervene.
"My mother." Anna nodded. "The Amazon."
Good and Evil are self-regulating, Anna. It's the only way in which the invisible forces of this world can work. You already know the story. The Lux Veritatis and the Nephili, the Children of Lilith, in continuous battle while She defied the King of Heaven. But that balance is readjusted from time to time. It happened once. I was the Amazon and Drakul had to father a child from me. If I had wanted him to confront the Lux Veritatis who chose to protect me, he wouldn't have died tortured in his dungeons - but I didn't choose the path of the True Option. I fled, abandoning him to his fate and, when the time came, I disposed of my life.
"I know. I'm sorry." Anna murmured, feeling silly. What that mattered, at that point?
The centuries passed, and the equation was repeated. Your father became the new chosen one, and this time, in addition, the last Lux Veritatis. The same happened to Karel. They were meant to face each other, and the Nephilim, clairvoyant, saw in Lara Croft the new Amazon. But she was willing to follow the path of the True Option. She did want to decipher the mystery. She chose.
Anna smiled slightly and glanced sideways at Loanna. "Because she was in love with my father." She giggled. "Although here between you and me, she took long to admit it."
Again, it seemed to her that the misty lady was smiling. You think so? That it was for the sake of love?
"Of course!" Anna stood up, offended. "Had not been she in love with my father, why would she choose him?"
Out of love for justice?
This time it was Anna who laughed. "I can tell you don't know my mother." She moved her hand. "Karel offered her the supreme wisdom, immortality. My father had nothing..."
Except for love. Except for loyalty. Yes, Daughter of Light, love undoubtedly eased the choice. Love moves this world - but the story could have been different. She chose, and in doing so, you entered the plans of infinity. You were meant to exist from that moment, not before. Because, in choosing your father, your mother involuntarily unbalanced the balance. By making the Good triumph, she laid the foundations so that this choice, eventually, must be repeated once more.
Suddenly, Anna felt like a knot in her stomach.
"That... doesn't sound good at all."
No, little Anna. It's not good news that I bring you today. You must prepare for it.
"But... if my mother had chosen Karel, the same thing would've happened!"
The same, yes. In the infinite plan, Good and Evil are irrelevant. The balance between them is what matters.
"Well, shit."
The story would've been different - but there's no point in speculating about it, since the Amazon chose the Good and you entered the plans of infinity. That's why the cycle continued.
"The only way to have closed that cycle, then, is that both my father and Karel would've died!"
Indeed. Your mother should've given up the choice and let both destroy each other.
"I'm not buying that this would've been the best ending!"
But it was, my little Anna. It was.
"You're saying that I should not have existed!"
It seemed to her that the ethereal ghost stared at her.
Hence the bad news, my little Anna.
With methodical calm, the assassin began to prepare his arsenal.
He'd almost had her. Almost. The bitch should've died that day - but he'd failed. Fucking bazaar and fucking people filling everything. The pressure led him to a mistake he didn't use to make - a crucial mistake.
He would've loved that slut, that monster, to die in the operating room - but fate loved to make fun of him and his efforts. She'd survived - and when he decided to follow her trail again, she'd vanished.
Damn his fucking luck, really. It was his fault, of course – the godsdamned Trent.
"Shoulda killed you too." He mumbled, as he finished assembling the last cables of the device, with a cigar between his teeth. "Why the hell I had to leave you alive. Fuck honour."
It was almost ready. He cast a sidelong glance at one of the invitations he'd collected from the archaeology faculty two days ago. The announcement of the event in Göreme, in Cappadocia's excavation. That Turkish brat, the archaeologist, was finally going to chant, to present her personal work where she aired what should've never been aired.
But what did he care now? All those who could've bothered, or be harmed by the verbiage of the Turkish, were dead. He'd only one thing left to do.
He was convinced that she would appear there. She wouldn't resist. The event wasn't going to be televised, thus she'd no choice but to attend. And apparently, despite the bullet, she was strong enough to leave the hospital and disappear.
Yes, without a doubt she would be there - but he wasn't stupid enough to entrust the whole plan to a mere hunch. First, he would confirm her presence in the area. Then he could act freely.
And if the middle of the process that Turkish bitch and all her friends fell, the better.
Satisfied, he finished assembling the device and leaned back in the plastic chair, taking a long drag on the cigar. On television, a sensationalist news bulletin reported the disappearance of the victim of the Grand Bazaar after being discharged from the hospital.
The funniest thing of all - and it was hilarious! - was that Trent seemed to be protecting her now.
"I'll be damned." He laughed, and the laughter was interrupted by a cough. "That bitch captures you, delivers you to us, watches idly while we fuck you up big time, then kills your beloved British slut and the brat you made to her… and now you help and protect her from me." He laughed again. "Holy shit, Trent. Either you're fucking Jesus reborn, or the biggest asshole in this world."
"The hell you mean!" The girl raised her hands, outraged. She seemed to have forgotten she was speaking to the spirit of a woman dead centuries ago. "How can you be like that?"
From the moment your mother chose your father, you were meant to be born. That's why you were born. You were necessary once the choice was made. But again, you entered the Evil's plans. You were meant to be the dark sacrifice for...
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Anna crossed her arms, sulking. "Lilith. The Vortex. The Scepter. I know well that story. But my father dispelled those plans! He saved us. He brought us back."
Again, the love variable. Truly, love moves the world, isn't it? Your mother didn't have the courage to destroy you in her womb, as I did with the Nephilim's bastard. For she loved your father, and she loved you too. Because your father loved your mother, and he loved you too, he again dispelled the plans of infinity. The cycle is still open.
"Dunno where's this going." Anna rubbed her eyes, tired. "Tell me at once what you want and leave me alone."
I'm doing it. You must understand how the infinite plan works. Balance is the goal - and, the closing of the cycle. For centuries, mankind has been exposed to the game of Good and Evil. Battles between demons and angels, struggles between Lux Veritatis and Nephili. Thousands of innocents who have died because of this imbalance. The triumph of Good, or Evil, is irrelevant and temporary. Sooner or later the cycle restarts. You've been chosen, Anna, to close the cycle. You've been chosen... for good and bad.
"Be honest. You're telling me that I must do what my parents, what Karel, what nobody has had the courage to do before."
A sacrifice of that category requires a great soul, a capacity well above good and evil, a love without limits. The warrior Heissturm, your grandfather, has acted out of love when warning you - but in the end, you won't elude the long night. It's your fate.
Anna remained silent for a moment, looking nowhere in particular. An immense cold seized her.
"You're telling me that I have to die."
There's only one way to close the cycle. The long night for you... and the eternal light for mankind. The end of the imbalance. I'm sorry, little one. You deserved better.
The trip from Istanbul to Göreme was too much for Barbara.
She'd tried to endure but could not. She was still too weak. Truth be told, the only thing that kept her on her feet was her pride, not completely broken despite the troubles she suffered. She refused to give an unfortunate show to Kurtis. Although, in the end, she couldn't help it.
She noticed a slight buzzing in the ear halfway, clinging to the back of her companion, shaken by the wind while the motorcycle roared from Istanbul to Göreme, crossing half the country, and she didn't complain. The buzz increased, her head began to ache, and the sensation persisted despite the stops to rest.
When they finally arrived at the hotel where she had to stay until the execution of the plan, her sight had become cloudy and she was barely aware of what was happening around her. Which was a shame, because this time Kurtis had had some consideration and the booked room was a charming cave of a hotel dug in Cappadocia's ancient rocks.
She just followed him mechanically and obeyed him without further ado. She hoped she could lie down to rest as soon as he left her there - and then she would recover. She would feel better. She could even check the stitches of the surgical suture - maybe it was time to remove them.
"... Selma's event is taking place in a week." Kurtis was saying, closing the door behind him, dropping the luggage and checking the room with his usual speed. "Until then I recommend you rest. I must arrange the last details, then I will give you precise instructions..." He stopped abruptly. "Hey, what's wrong with you? Are you OK?"
Planted in the middle of the room, her right hand still holding the purse, the woman was pale as a corpse, her lips violaceous. The dark bags under her eyes stood out against her pallor.
"Bathsheba." Kurtis frowned, involuntarily pronouncing her old name. "Your ear's bleeding."
She reached up and touched her ear, the healthy one. She noticed humidity - a trickle of blood ran down her neck. The buzzing intensified. Then she collapsed.
It was fortunate that he was so close. If she didn't hit her head against the bedside table, which was as stone and as old as the walls around her, it was because Kurtis held her in time, before falling to the ground.
"I feel bad." Anna murmured, getting up. Her legs were shaking. Her belly hurt. She stumbled forward, clinging to the edge of the sarcophagus. "I gotta go."
Be brave, little Anna.
"Fuck that!" The girl turned abruptly and faced again the extinct Amazon. "I'm not your little one! How dare you call me here to tell me that I must die! Who do you think you are!"
I am God's messenger...
"Then he's a stupid God!" She mumbled, furious, clenching her fists. "A stupid and cruel God! How do you dare! How dare you tell me that what my parents did was for nothing! My father fought, bled, suffered, died and came back for me! My mother chose him because she loved him! She died also for me! She could've chosen Karel, be the mother of the Nephili, become eternal and immortal like him..."
...and that would not have made a difference, Anna. The creature born of such a union, probably not very different from the pure Bathsheba, the Daughter of Lilith, would've had to die too, Anna. For the infinite plan, both Good and Evil are the same. Sooner or later, Karel's offspring would've had to face the same decision.
"Bullshit!" Anna shouted, clutching her belly. God, it hurts, she thought. "I can't believe we're worthless! My father suffered... he died... he was tortured for months! Did you know?"
A Lux Veritatis rarely dies old, rarely dies in bed. Your father fulfilled his fate perfectly. He prided his ancestors.
"And yet you tell me he did wrong!"
He didn't, simply because he couldn't have done something else. He let himself be carried away by love. The one who loves sacrifices himself for the beloved, always. The one who loves protects the loved one, always.
"You contradict yourself! You're crazy! Y'all crazy!" Anna grabbed her head. "First you say it could've been something else, now you say it couldn't have happened otherwise! You're nuts, you and all those up there!"
Your little brain can't understand everything, but it's normal. I regret having to be the one who told you this, because I believed in the Good while I lived, and for the Good I sacrificed myself. But the infinite plan doesn't care about Good or Evil. If you preserve your life, the cycle will repeat itself in your offspring, and mankind will continue to suffer...
"... well then, fuck mankind."
...and if you choose to assume your fate, then the cycle will close. Mankind will be free. Will you let others assume your mission? Why unnecessarily lengthen your life?
"Shut up! I'm leaving here right now." She turned around. "I don't want to hear this. Besides..." She hesitated. "I'm mortal, after all, right? One day I'll die... what else matters if I do it sooner or later?"
I'm sorry, Anna, but a natural death doesn't pay that price. Only a sacrifice. Remember, both your father and Karel should have destroyed each other to close the cycle. And for you to close it, you must die in combat...
"... against the prince of demons." Anna finished for her.
And then, the Amazon disappeared. Her voice fainted.
"Aaaaand... done!" Zip said cheerfully, and leaned back in the chair. "Time to call Captain Kurt. Hermes, call Captain Kurt."
Calling Captain Kurt, a mechanical voice answered, and then the program dialled a specific number. Marie looked up from the tapestry she was weaving despite her aching hands. "What the hell is that?"
"Hush, you confuse him. It's a voice recognition messenger designed by me. Called him Hermes, as the Greek god..."
"...the god messenger. Yes, I know." The Navajo woman mumbled and focused again on sewing.
There was a connection-establishing sound, and within a few seconds, Kurtis' voice. "Did you even consider that the line might be tapped?" The ex-legionnaire said, without bothering to say hello.
"Nobody taps my lines, boss." Zip clarified, offended. "They are clean and safe! I've already checked."
"Then you better make it count."
"Everything's ready for the big blow – and did you get the hot chick?"
"Barbara's weak." Kurtis answered quickly. "She fainted. I called a doctor to examine her in the room, since it's not safe to take her to a hospital."
"Let her die." Marie murmured, without stopping weaving.
"Fuck dude, that's bad. If the hot chick fails, the plan fails."
But Kurtis wasn't in the mood for small talk. "Call Selma. I need her help."
"Let's get the princess!" Zip yelled, but he'd barely turned his chair around when suddenly, the door opened, and the Turkish archaeologist stood inside the small studio full of screens. "I'm here, Kurtis!" She announced, wilfully.
"You were listening behind the door?" The hacker said, astonished.
"Selma," Kurtis intervened, ignoring Zip, "I need you to get me an evening dress."
"An evening dress? You gonna get sexy, Kurt?"
"Zip shut up." Selma cut. "I guess you'll want it for Bathshe... for Barbara."
"Exactly. Women handle these things better. Besides, I only know Lara's size."
"Of course you know Lara's size, you sly old bastard!"
"Zip, please." Marie sighed, looking up. "Spare me your poor taste."
"Don't worry, Kurtis." Selma promised. "I'll get you a beautiful dress for Bathshe... for Barbara. It must be the same size as I remember. I've an eye for that."
"Actually, she lost a lot of weight. She's very thin now."
"You've looked and looked well on her, huh, Kurt, you bastard? OUCH!"
Selma had just slapped him. "You're a pig, Zip." Turning back to the screen, the Turkish said: "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. She'll have her dress. You make sure she recovers to play her role."
For a moment, Kurtis remained silent. Then he spoke. "Do me another favor."
"Anything you need."
"Contact Lara in Egypt. Contact Jean Yves, if needed. But she must return as soon as possible - and she must bring Anna back. Understood? Whatever it takes to convince her."
"I'll convince her." Marie promised solemnly. "She'll listen to me."
Suddenly, a vibration shocked the air. Lara stood up and faced the two skeletons, testing the guns, just in case - but it wasn't necessary.
The knights, still with swords held high, trembled for a moment. And suddenly, they crumbled, like a house of cards that has been tapped. The bones were disassembled, the armour dismounted, the swords fell to the ground with a metallic rumble. Simply, without a word, without a movement, they collapsed. There was nothing left of them, but two piles of bones next to the remains of their armour.
"What the…" She moved forward and watched them for a moment. Then she kicked one of the skulls, which rolled without further ceremony.
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
And then she saw her. She was approaching her, staggering. Sobbing.
"Anna!" Lara shouted, and ran towards her, crossing the previously forbidden threshold without any problem. "What happened?"
She knelt before her daughter and grabbed her by the shoulders, but the girl was still crying, disoriented, disconsolate. Then Lara noticed that there was a faint trace of blood on the kid's fingers.
"You're hurt?" She asked. "Who...?" She broke off to notice a dark spot between her legs, soaking the khaki fabric of her pants. "It's nothing, Anna. We talked about this before. What…?"
But she couldn't go on because suddenly the girl threw her arms around her neck and continued crying against her chest, sobbing inconsolably. "Oh, Mom, I... I..." She stuttered, choking with tears. "I...!"
"Anna, calm down. You must calm down." Lara tried to separate her gently to look at her face, but she held on harder.
"It's a lie! Everything's a lie! A damn, fucking lie!" The girl sobbed against her chest. "It has to be a lie!"
"What lie? Anna, please, talk to me. What did she said… that…that…"
The girl was still crying. Confused, lost, Lara just stroked her hair, waiting for her to calm down, while she felt the humidity of the first blood, the end of childhood.