High Noon – chpt 11
by: sifi.
OOooOO
Something is not right… the middle of his three mouths turned down as he held his igigi-torch aloft, peering intensely at the walls that seemed to loom tightly around him. There were moments he was certain he could almost feel the stone against the upper joint of his wings even though they were folded tightly against his back. I should have come to the cavern by now.
Looking down the tunnel he noted it was no longer made of smooth stone, but instead he could see arches at intervals. Portions of the walls still seemed to glow with the pressing of heat from outside, but nowhere near as strongly as it should be.
Reaching into the satchel he pulled the map and held his torch close frowning with all three mouths. I should have come upon those who disappeared… and to the cavern… this is not right… that fatty gurgle rolled forth again and the frieze on the map face began to alter, images reforming and sliding around to show once again the entryway in conjunction to where he now stood.
A little further then… he rolled the plate of bronze and returned it to the bag. With the last five igigi following he continued forward with something nagging in his belly.
Curious he drew to one of the support arches, his wickedly taloned hand reached out to stroke the cold faintly moist stone. How can it be cold when the heart of the world burns outside? He wondered noting the unusually smooth texture of the support, aside from the imperfection of tiny holes that showed up oddly dark and seemed to neither hold nor transmit heat. It feels… his hand slid to the cave wall itself and to his surprise the cracked and scaly tunnel of earth gave faintly beneath the pressure. No… he pressed forward fast and hard, driven now by disbelief with this tiny handful of toops following close behind.
OOooOO
Done… no more… please. The shredded bleeding stumps that were no longer really recognizable as fingers reached forward. She'd been craving the cool, cushiony feel of grass and now that she'd finally reached it, the blades had turned on her. Those slender green filaments with their pointy tips and knife like edges slid between the layers of what little flesh remained.
At the edge of that dewy green field the thing that had once been a woman laid its head down and let darkness fall.
OOooOO
"I gotcha," Sam whispered, the words sounding like little more than a sigh as he slid his arm around his big brothers' waist until he had his feet properly under him again. He turned till his mouth at the older mans' ear asked, "Do you need to rest?"
"No time for rest! Keep moving!" the sidhe directed.
"Ain't you just a ball of sunshine…" Dean muttered looking down at the small warrior but shook his head as Sam turned, looking like he was about to protest, "He's right Sam… I'm okay. Sooner we get this done… sooner I can die in peace."
"Dean…" Sam grumbled.
"Sorry," the older man smiled sadly, "Just tired…"
"Dean take a breath…" Shep stepped up to his side.
"He can't."
"There isn't time." he said in time with Imdugud.
"How do you think Gader'el's doing?" Bobby asked.
"He's probably being far too meticulous… but that's why he was the weapons' master of the Gods." Ammit smiled as something tingled deep in his host's belly, "Stop." he directed then stepped to the front and slid between Sam and Dean, "Something's not right."
He held his torch aloft and peered down the tunnel then glanced over his shoulder, "Stay here… Imdugud…" he glanced at the brothers.
The Assyrian gave a curt nod and stepped forward. Behind him, Bobby and Shep looked nervously at each other and closed in on the boys.
"Stay behind me," the demigod instructed before unfolding from within his host and once filling his true form, spread his wings, effectively shielding the humans with the whole of his body as Ammit crept stealthily down the tunnel.
A few moments that lasted far too long later, Ammit returned, giving the Assyrian the 'all clear'. In the blink of an eye the demi-god was folded back into his host and standing in a loose circle with the rest of the team.
"What was it?" Sam asked.
"That is STILL wicked cool…" Dean groaned and shouldered the host who inclined his head and smirked.
"Igigi… three of 'em, dead." Ammit explained.
"Wait… those things leave bodies?" Bobby asked.
"Would we be able to see them?" Shep asked.
"Then he IS here… and fairly close too," the sidhe muttered to the boys then turned to look between the two demons, "WHERE is Gader'el!?" he demanded angrily.
"Why don't you go find him? See what's keeping him," the ancient evil suggested.
Sam turned his eyes to Ammit, "Take me to them. Imdugud stay with Dean, let him rest a few minutes," then he turned to the sidhe, "Go see what's keeping Gader'el, we're going to need that sword." He shook his head, "I can't believe we have to use a sword."
"Well since bullet's are going to bounce right off his hide, and any mortal made blade would simply shatter…" the Egyptian shrugged, "C'mon," and led Sam with Shep at his side down the tunnel.
Dean leaned against the wall layered in sweat. "Too bad we don't have Gordo's sniper rifle eh Sam?" he smiled breathlessly as blood dripped off his fingertips from beneath the hard leather support. It was obvious that his situation was growing steadily and rapidly worse. The clay really had been a stop-gap measure.
Sam felt his insides quiver with fear, "Or a grenade launcher," he tried to hide his concern, don't you DARE... just don't you DARE... "Well be back soon." He and Shep followed Ammit down the tunnel.
"Here," Bobby handed over a canteen of water to the young man then looked at his guard, "Why would he be after Tiamat anyway?"
The Assyrian sighed, "If he's smart,"
"And he IS."
"Right," he nodded, "He's already got the tablets which is how he got here, he'll need her fire to forge them into a sword HE can use. As tablets anyone can use them IF they can read them... but it is Enki's sword that is the instrument of a destiny's transformation. No destiny can altered without the sword."
"Son of a bitch..." Dean grumbled, "I thought the tablets were in Tiamat's possession? Safeguarded by her?"
"Yes, once upon a time, before they were made into the cylinders he stole from the museum, and certainly before she went back to sleep... but the tablets are only part of the equation, there are four of them..." he frowned as a wave of dizziness battered the elder brother and he stumbled to the side, "Hold on there..." he caught the young man before he could fall and further damage himself, then with Bobby's help guided him gently to the floor.
"One for the Gods, one for Man, one for Heaven and one for Earth," Dean muttered breathing hard, and a hint of panic growing in the depths of his eyes.
"Exactly. But during the first great war," he started again.
"When I found Azazel in the tunnel with Marduk... I thought he was going to kill him then, but I'm not sure that was truly his plan," Dean filled in. His head leaned back against the wall, sweat poured out of him and he breathed as if air was in short supply.
"That's right my king," Imdugud said softly with a nod, "that's one of the reasons you didn't relegate him to exile with the others. You ARE and always have been a champion of Mercy, and Balance... you were NOT certain if he was going to cause your son harm, or truly take him..."
"To the safety of the lions' den... I remember." Dean nodded, "I captured him in the tunnel... my sword bound him."
"Your sword, made of the tablets. Only YOU can command..."
OOooOO
"... the form and the purpose of the sword, it responds only to Enki or those who are of his blood." Ammit explained holding the torch high in the hopes of shedding light on the corpses for Sam to see.
"So, God forbid anything happens to Dean and he can't strike the killing blow then..." Shep started to ask.
Ammit nodded toward Sam, "He can. Yes. At least that's the way it went during the first great war with the original sword." he faced the young man and explained, "It's possible that may well be why you've remained through the ages as blood relations, father/son, brothers, sisters, mother/daughter, mother/son, father/daughter..." the Egyptian smirked listing the possibilities.
Smiling easily at Sheps, 'I'm thinking' face, Sam pointed to the igigi on the floor, "This one was torn apart, and that one looks like he was severed by a blade... I don't get it would it have been the guardian that did this?" he asked, "...and THAT sword was actually made up of the tablets of destiny?"
"Yep. The tablets can literally change form and become whatever it is that Enki may need... to create, alter, or end a destiny..."
Sam chuckled and rose up, "Do me a favor... don't bring up the female possibilities, it could be..."
"Awkward?" Ammit finished.
Sam nodded, "Course then again... he didn't seem to mind that time..." he muttered then noticed the puzzled and expectant expression on both men's faces.
Chuckling, and grateful that his intense blushing couldn't be seen in the darkness he explained, "We got overshadowed once by a couple of female ghosts who couldn't rest until they got laid... they made this stupid pact...thankfully they let us pick up girls."
Ammit nodded, "So you got to experience bliss from the female's standpoint... lucky man."
Sam couldn't say why but he was a little surprised by Ammit's reaction, "That's kinda how Dean felt... shocked the shit outta me that's for sure... I woulda thought he'd be repulsed."
"Why? Enki is an advocate of creation in all its forms... he is lusty and sensual and ripe of spirit..." the Egyptian smiled almost wistfully as they headed back, "He could smother in sensuality and be reborn simply for the joyous anticipation of more."
Sam was shocked by the assessment even though he knew it was true.
"And you young Marduk?"
"What? Sex? Sensuality? I'm all for it... I just prefer monogamy."
In the dark Ammit chuckled again.
"What?" Sam asked.
"You have your mothers' focus. Inanna was the Goddess of many things and yet whenever she was engaged in a particular activity, love, battle, tending the heavens she was pure focus. Did you know the subjects of Babylon used to stand outside and watch your parents make love on their balcony?" he sighed, "They were inspiring," grinning he turned to Sam, "You are aware that ..." he motioned to the quartet of shadows at the mouth of the tunnel, "he can have no greater love than what he has for you first, and then for her."
Sam smiled warmly against the tears in his eyes, I can't lose you Dean... "I know."
"What'd you find son?... Sam?" Dean asked tiredly.
"One was torn apart, the other seemed cut in half... it might've been the guardian as it retreated this way... I didn't see any hint of venom or poison though... how're you holding up?" he asked looking around, "The sidhe's not back yet?"
The elder Winchester rolled his head from side to side, "Sam..." he motioned the young man forward then looked around at the others, "Leave us."
No matter the language, the instruction was unmistakable. The others backed a discreet distance away leaving the brothers to each other.
"Dean..." Sam shook his head and palmed away his silver ribbons, "No... Dean you can't you CAN'T leave me... we have to finish this... we have to win this..."
"Shut up Sam... listen..."
"I can't do this without you!" the younger man sniffed peering deep into his big brothers' eyes where a familiar copper fire began to glow.
"I can't... but you won't be alone... I can feel the call son... Sam. I have something to do. I won't leave you but I have to go..." he tried to explain.
"No! Dean NO you have to fight! You HAVE to stay... I can't do this alone!" Sam demanded harshly.
"Listen," Dean sighed a deep breath as the copper in his eyes grew brighter and his breathing slowed and seemed to deepen, "You ARE my king... you are ONE in yourself, for now I have to be divided... I have to go," he grasped Sam's shoulder with his good hand, "I'm needed." He smiled as his eyes fell closed and his chest fell still.
"Dean?" Sam grasped the front of his shirt and shook him, "DEAN!"
OOooOO
"It is only a guardian!" he shouted as the last two of his igigi circled the tentacular monster, dodging and evading its stinging deadly spines. "Draw it away from the opening..." the dragon must be through there... I am close!
He watched carefully, waiting for just the right moment, when the guardian's concentration was focused on the igigi, so he could slip by in the guise of a twelve year old human female and finally reach his destination.
The others should be here soon, he grinned to himself knowing that once the igigi he'd sent to round up more troops returned they would confound, and capture the dragon of creation and force it to re-forge the sword, burning away all traces of Enki and thereby its link to him. Only then could it be used against him and his son.
He slid into a cavern the size of a hollowed out mountain and marveled as his gaze, limited by his current form, swept through the orange-red faintly glowing room.
"No!" he gasped after a moment. He peered carefully at the layers of rock around him, following the structure back from where he'd entered the cavern to the mouth of the cave with its jagged fangs of rock, "NO I SAY! This cannot BE!" he bellowed as realization dawned and his plans began to shed their cohesion.
Ouroborous...NO... he felt fury rising into his throat as he pulled out the map and unrolled it on the floor. He watched the frieze's on its face change once again, only this time instead of relaying a simple image of an enormous tunnel ending in a great cavern, he had the experience of having traversed it himself and the map reflected that.
He looked up to the ceiling and traced the beginnings of those fangs of rock, examining a fine layer of stone that seemed slide into that gigantic maw between them, Eternity, infinite, beginning and end, the serpent eating its own tail, never ending... but how... can this be? How can...? he tried to wrap his mind around the facts. Those fangs ARE fangs... the dragon is dead and I have traveled the length of its corpse. There is no living fire in its belly, the guardian guards nothing... there is nothing left for it and still it continues, it is eternal... there MUST be dragons' fire! Were there none this world would long ago have turned to ice and ceased!
"Dean!" the word echoed, rolling faintly toward the enormous cavern closer coming through the maw than the tail within it.
The child's mouth turned up in a sneer and its eyeless sockets blazed with orange rage, "My King..." he breathed grasping his belongings and heading stealthily toward the source of the cry.
OOooOO
"And you thought she'd wind up looking like a picasso," Gader'el grinned clapping Tommy on the shoulder as he gazed at the life sized sculpture of feminine form laying on the grass, appearing for all intents and purposes to be asleep.
"It doesn't look exactly like her...I did the best I could... I hope Dean likes it... her," he shook his head, knelt down and perfected the faint smile on the full lips he'd given her.
"Now all you need is the soul to animate the flesh," the weapons smith motioned with a ruby tinted flash of glaringly bright silver in his hand.
"Is that it?" Tom asked motioning to the sword in the demons' hand.
"Yes," he smiled holding the blade up and handing it to the human, "She too is beautiful isn't she?"
Tommy literally felt the breath gush out of his body, "She's the most beautiful blade I've ever seen... may I ask?" he turned it against the sunlight noting the ribbons of red that seemed to appear or disappear depending on the angle at which it was held.
"Tungsten carbide coated in liquid diamond. Every molecule infused with his very own blood," he noted Tom's questioning glance, "Every drop I could draw from the cloth that didn't go into her," he motioned to the body on the ground, "went into her," he smiled at the blade.
In the distance Anunnaki's form came into focus, his copper colored body shining in the bright of perpetual underworld daytime.
"Look," Tom nodded.
"Good, looks like he found her. Let's just hope her soul is still there."
"What do you mean?"
"There you are! Gader'el the champion needs that sword NOW!" a diminutive and undeniably angry sidhe warrior appeared before the two even as Anunnaki approached.
The smith shook his head, "Not yet."
"HE IS DYING if not already DEAD you idiot!"
"What's goin' on?" Tommy asked.
"Soon Daphthamec, the time will be here soon."
"For all we know it's already passed!" the warrior argued as Anunnaki reached their position, holding in his arms a charred torso of bone.
"Oh my God is that her?" Tom asked grasping at Gader'el's shoulder for support.
"It is what's left," the lord of the Anunna and king of the Igigi nodded setting the husk down on the ground beside the sleeping sculpture. His surprise was evident as he looked up at the young mortal, "She is beautiful, you've done well."
"Couldn't have done it without some really great advice..." he shouldered the weapons smith, "thanks man."
"HELLO! Time!" the sidhe practically screamed.
Anunnaki looked into the warrior's eyes, raised up his hand and opened his fist palm up. A tiny darting light popped into the air, zipped around the warrior's head then seemed to bite him at the neck. A split second after his hand slapped at the spot, he fell to the ground rumbling surprisingly deep snores almost immediately.
"He seemed tired."
"He said Dean may be dying... please... whatever we have to do... we need to get that sword to him right?"
"Cernunnos has another mission for you both," Anunnaki rose up and held his hand out for the sword. He inspected it with reverence, "She is a thing of beauty Gader'el. She will serve without fail," he smiled setting the weapon on the ground beside the vessel yet to be filled and placed a hand on each man's shoulder, "Now... we must ready the battle lines..." he smiled and led them to the stump where Tom had begun his sculpting.
On its smooth woody surface rose a map displaying a location Tom recognized.
OOooOO
tbc.
please review?
thank you.
sifi
A/N – Tremendous thanks to all of you who've been following the story and the verse, I'm sorry these are coming not as frequently as you're accustomed to... but I hope that it's been worth the wait.
Thank you Nevermore for breaking out that mental plunger and following it up with some brain-o drain-o... mental constipation sux.