AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry for the Ultra long wait. Really. I bow to the universe in contrition!

Anyway. Because of how long it has been, I have forgotten what path i wanted this story to take, however i was doing some reading from my Traditional Cosmologies lectures and got an idea.

so here we are...

Chapter 2

Apparently, crossing over into a new reality isn't as fun as Sliders would have you believe. There was no swirling vortex of awesome, there was no pretty girl landing in his lap. No. There was, however a tug at his stomach, a feeling of electricity pouring in and through his (non-corporeal, but for some reason still able to feel pain) body and a sense of great horror as he was pulled toward a dark pinprick through a large expanse of white.

Chris thought he saw Death strolling beside him. That bastard!

And then there was only dark.

Cain stood at the entrance to the large cavern. Demons were gathered together like some kind of Union Meeting. They were, for lack of a better term, mulling around, some arguing, some drinking unknown concoctions, but most seemed to be muttering quietly to each other. Cain knew exactly what they were talking about, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

"So," he said to his companion, as they leaned in the doorway. "The annual stitch and bitch I see."

"Cain, you should take this more seriously. The king and Queen are dead now. There will be a fight for the throne."

Cain shook his head. No there wont, he'd see to that.

"Anzu, really, don't worry. Everything is fine." Cain smiled toothily at his companion, his grin was sharp and full of malice.

Anzu eyed the figure beside him, his 'friend.' It had taken a lot of work and effort to gain the 'Prince's' confidence and trust. To be in his ear and direct his movements, but the moron was too unpredictable. He didn't listen and everything he did was motivated by self interest, he needed to be removed. The Plan depended on the world not being able to fight back, on not having a champion. Cain alive was too much of a threat.

"Well then, Oh great Prince!" Anzu said theatrically.

"King, Anzu, King now."

Anzu's smile tightened. "Yes I suppose so, after all, you killed you parents exactly for that."

"Indeed." Cain smiled, his eyes shone, lit from within by his corrupt power.

Anzu's teeth clenched. Was killing him necessary? After all, the boy had practically been raised with his voice in his head. And there was no doubt that any goodness he might have had, had died the moment he had killed his parents. Surely he wouldn't run to the other side.

No. Anzu shook himself. No, Cain was too attached to earthly pleasures. He liked power and he got pleasure out of torture and pain. He was to attached to the world to forsake it. No, he must die.

"Well the King! I'll go fetch your dinner shall I." Anzu said casually, his facade perfect, never hinting that this would be the last dinner he'd ever fetch for the upstart King.

"Thank you Anzu. Indian if you can manage it." Cain replied, his spirit high.

SHE is arisen, surrounded by seven, they are cloaked and shrouded in darkness. Here there is no light other than that SHE brings. Swirling vortexes piercing randomly. She has no real form, no shape that is discernible or definable. SHE simply IS. HER presence is wet and dry and fire and ice, SHE is violence and evil and calm. SHE is chaos, SHE is Tiamtu.

They have called to her, for the time is upon them. Darkness has been pushed and cornered by the light. Now is the time for HER to fight back. The time they have awaited since she was cast down into the centre, surrounded, caught by her own skin.

~YOU CALL ME FORTH~

"We do." they say, their voices echoing as one. The place they are in, is not on the mortal plane, sound and thought is as one and their intent is pulled from them, they know it and have longed for this for an age.

"We call to you, Oh great one. It is time to bring you forth again, into the existence of the middle realm. The battle is nigh upon us, your part must be played."

SHE could not be ordered, but long SHE had awaited the time to finish the fight that had cast HER down.

~I CAN NOT ENTER, SUCH AS I AM.~

"We are prepared, Oh Mother of all." Their echo-y reply was strong and every set of eyes was set on the fluctuating form of SHE.

~GOOD, WHEN THE POSITION IS RIGHT, I WILL TAKE FORM. BEL WILL SUFFER MY WRATH.~

The collective nod as one and then the empty plane of existence is gone and SHE alone remains.

Anzu brought the silver tray of food to Cain, who sat, unconcerned, on the large throne at the front of the great cavernous hall. The hall was empty now. Cain must have displayed his power and 'convinced' the muttering demons his worthiness to claim the throne.

Anzu pushed down his nerves, he figured that he been as a corporeal being for to long, He'd let human like emotions get the better of him.

"Cain." he said as he got nearer. "Your curry. It's the special from Mohinder's Curry Palace."

Anzu handed the tray to Cain.

Cain unhurriedly took the food and place the steaming plate on his lap. It had always amused Anzu that Cain, so horrid to the core, had such a weakness as curry, it seemed fitting that this weakness would be his downfall.

"Well, Cain." Anzu interrupted Cain's first bite, he didn't want to see this. He cursed his own weakness then. Cain looked at him. "I'll see you later, I've got to handle that matter with Ba'ak Ner. He's getting impatient with my method of handling the training of that creature he calls a son." Anzu waived his fingers at Cain, who waived back and Anzu left the hall.

Cain watched Anzu leave. He thought his mentor was getting twitchy lately. Cain knew he hadn't approved of the method he had used to dispatch his parents. Or his habit of showboating. He had gotten especially crabby when he had shown his mother's mutilated corpse to, what remains of the Power of Three.

His, supposed, aunts had wailed like banshees. He'd have thought they'd be a little bit grateful. After all they'd been trying to put an end to his Mother and Father's reign over the Underworld for years.

Still Anzu's agitated behavior was starting to annoy Cain, maybe it was time to 'dispose' his mentor. 'After all,' Cain thought, 'we all have to grow up and leave the nest sometime.'

Cain took a bite of the curry.

And thought no more.

The first thing Chris feels when he wakes up is an overwhelming burning sensation in his mouth. 'Curry,' he thinks, 'I hate Curry!'

TBC...

End Note.

Hopefully I'll be able to continue with this idea. But even if i forget where I'm going, i have my mythology all planned.

For future reference. I'm taking creative licence on the Ancient Babylonian creation story and surrounding mythologies. Hopefully it will all come together in the end :D

Until next time

Sanie.