Invitation
''I just can't believe this.'' Ameena slowly shook her head, her eyes wet of confusion. ''A half-God? Me? I never even noticed...''
''You've never lived in a society where magic plays such a big role before, it's only logical that the effects haven't been noticable until now.'' Bart rested a hand on the bewildered girl's shoulder.
''But still... Even here... Nothing has ever made me feel like -''
''The amazing, dazzingly powerful creature you actually are?'' The sound of an unfamiliar, but chillingly direful voice filled the room, together with the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of Death itself.
''Cueraça!'' Bart shouted furiously as a tall, malign-looking skeleton appeared out of nowhere.
''That Is Me, Mortal,'' the deity-like thing grinned, tentacle-like shadows swirling aroundhim. ''Cueraça. The True Reaper.''
Ameena gasped when she saw that this Cueraça man - who was without a doubt a living character from the Island's folklore - was wearing the exact same mask as Dastardos did.
As Dastardos used to. Before his disappearance. Had Cueraça carried him away from Patch's operation table, that night almost a month ago, to kill him - or rather slaughter him in a nauseatingly grievous way?
''Stay back, Raça!'' Bart growled as he snatched Leafos' machete out of her paralyzed hands and started to wave with it like a gladiator.
''How Did You Dare To Come Here? This Is My Terrain!'' the frantic voice of Jeimiña echoed through the temple at the same time.
Cueraça sniffed. He had an amused sneer on his mask, which aroused the anger of Bart and Jeimiña even more, and made the poor Leafos start shivering for some reason.
Ameena didn't know what to make of the whole spectacle. She was fully aware that something was terribly wrong, but felt no fear or anger at all. All that really got to her was an overwhelming feeling of astonishment.
Not knowing what to do, she glanced at Gretchen. Cueraça turned out to be doing the same.
''Is There Anything You Have To Say To Me, Huntress? I Had Expected You To Be More Of A Talker.''
''All I have to say to you, God of Death, is that you'll never be the True Reaper...''
''Dastardos Is, According To You?'' Cueraça sighed. ''Oh, Miss Fetchem, You Have Just Opened Your Mouth And You Start To Bore Me Already.
Let Us Get To The Point. It Is Pretty Clear What I Am Here From, Not?''
''We won't extradite her to thou,'' Bart huffed. He seemed very couragous as he stood there facing Death with only a long, rusty knife in his hand, but the way his fists were clenched around the hilt of that knife gave away his well-hidden fear.
Ameena came to the shocking realization that Cueraça was here for her.
''The Tinkerer is right, Raça,'' Gretchen hissed venomously, as she took out a long, wooden staff while approaching Death himself. ''We're willing to die for Ameena, keep that in mind.''
She had to do something. Her friends were putting their lifes on the line for her safety...
''Please. You Two Are No Threat To Me. It Is Amusing To See How You Think You Are...'' The deity chuckled disdainfully, which Bart took as a major insult.
When Cueraça winked at him while smiling scornfully, the Tinkerer couldn't hold in his anger anymore and stormed up to the God of Death.
''No!'' Gretchen screamed while trying to hold her writhing companion back. ''Don't take that risk yet, Bart, it's not worth it!''
Bart soon understood that fighting Gretchen was pointless; her muscular arms were too strong for him to escape from.
''Just don't do stupid things,'' the Huntress whispered in his ear with that sexy, husky voice of hers.
In the meantime Cueraça has started focusing on Ameena. He gave her an approving glance, which surprised the girl just as much as it made her want to throw up. Something in his smile seemed fake and manipulative. Sly, sinister and cunning, that was how she'd describe her opponent.
All hope was not lost though.
She was a Goddess. Ameena knew that now. She was a Goddess, and, even though it was a big gamble, she stood a chance of outwitting this skeleton man if she played along with him. He clearly wanted something from her.
Would his craving - for whatever it was she possessed - work in her advantage, if she remained alert and bought no non sense from her adversary?
''You Look Incredibly Calm, Ameena. Composure. A Good Quality.''
''Thank you,'' Ameena heard herself say lightsomely. The other humans in the room gasped at her easy tone, and she could've sworn that she heard Jeimiña mumble something like: ''Damn it!'' in a dark corner of the room.
''I Can Tell By The Way You Talk That You Are A Lady After My Own Heart... Anyway, Ameena. I Am Only Here To Bring You An Offer...''
''Which she won't accept!'' Bart screamed in despair, which compelled Gretchen to cover the Tinkerer's mouth.
''Hmm, I think that I can decide that for myself... May I, Miss Fetchem?'' Ameena asked to the only mortal person in the room who hadn't completely lost it yet.
''Of course sweetheart,'' Gretchen whispered, not sounding very convincing. ''But I hope you know what you're doing...''
''Sure am!'' Ameena beamed. ''Great Cueraça... what is it you want to offer me?''
''Now That Is How A God Should Be Addressed!'' Cueraça grinned, pleasantly surprised by the young girl's use of decorum. ''Ameena... Will You Come With Me To The Underworld, The Neragua? Just To See How Things Are, Down There? I Promise You I Will Not Harm You. You Have My Word.''
''Hm...'' Ameena pretended she thought through if she should accept the Dark God's invitation. After some fake pondering she finally said: ''You know what? Why not. I'll come with you, but only if you let my friends in peace.''
''That Sounds Like A Deal, Goddess. I Will Leave Your Friends Alone And I Will Make Sure Nothing Happens To You On Our Trip. I Will Protect You With My Eternal Life, And I Promise Not To Harm You In Any Way.''
Ameena sucked her lower lip. She wouldn't admit it for the sake of the other people in the room, but she was quite terrified now.
Trying to outfox a deity that had been around since the ancient times was playing with fire. She wasn't even smart - she had once done an IQ test, just for fun, and she'd scored an ordinary 110.
Don't lose courage, she told herself in silence as the God of Death got busy creating a shadowy portal. Ameena shivered when she realized that she was about to enter the domain of what probably were the most dark beings in the universe.
Tsi's attack had been child's play - this trip to Hell with Cueraça was the real deal.
''It Is Ready.''
Ameena looked up to the portal and broke out in cold sweat. Everything behind the devilish opening was yellow, the color of hatred and enmity.
Regardless of her aversion, Ameena stepped closer to the Dark God and asked him in a tranquil, kind voice: ''When will we return? I think my friends should know when to expect me again.''
''In An Hour Or Three,'' Cueraça answered. ''Now. I Would Say Ladies First, But You Would Not Be Safe. Take My Hand. We Shall Step Through The Portal Together.''
Ameena suppressed a shudder when the skeleton enclosed her hand with his bony fingers. Before stepping into that other, more hostile world, she looked back and spoke: ''I will return. Safe and sound.''
Then, she averted her glance from her distressed friends, to leave them alone with their doubt and anxiety.
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''These, Ameena, are the Fields of Agony. They belong to Afoti, your ancestor, who has created them in the distant, distant past.''
The vast void she had ended up in overwhelmed Ameena greatly. All she could see was long, dead grass moving with the wind and a blindingly yellow, cloudless horizon.
''Do you like this place?''
''No.''
No? Was she sure about that? Didn't this borderless field have its own fierce, raw charmes, she questioned herself. Wouldn't she enjoy going on a long , endless walk in this limbo, just to order her thoughts, just to discover her unknown strengths, just to lose herself?
''Shall we go somewhere else, then? There is a lot for you to see at this side of the Universe, and since we do only have a few hours...''
''No. Wait. Hold up. I think I changed my mind.''
''Yes?'' Cueraça tilted his head a little and gave her an intrigued look. ''I suppose it is true what they say. Like ancestor, like descendant.''
Ameena smiled watery. ''Perhaps. Afoti... Jeimiña told me all about her.
She seems dangerous, mad and troubling even, but maybe she's not as bad as she seems in Jeimiña's stories... I mean, these field aren't as bad as they seem on first sight either... They're actually quite wonderful...''
''I can assure you that Afoti is ehm, quite a personality. She is busy today, unfortunately - I have asked her if she would like to meet up with you - but she could not.''
''What do Dark Gods actually do all day?'' Ameena asked as she and the skeleton she'd lost almost all her fear of made their ways through the brownish grass.
''Dark Gods? I would prefer you to call us just Gods, thank you. We are far not as bad as we seem.''
''I'm sorry,'' Ameena blushed. It sounded weird, but she'd actually started to like this deity. He seemed very friendly. ''I didn't mean to offend you...''
''No offence taken. You are just so ignorant of what this world really has to offer, and what we, the 'Dark' Gods really are about... Yet, that is okay. I will show you everything you need to know.''
''Awesome.'' Ameena smiled. Cueraça smiled back at her, the way a friendly uncle would.
''Now let us get going,'' he whispered. ''There are some other places I would like to show you today.''
''Such as?'' the girl asked, truly interested.
''That is for me to know, and for you to find out,'' the skeleton grinned as he started to make grand gestures with his emaciated arms, in order to gather the magical energy that was everywhere in the emptiness surrounding them.
''This is an easy place to create portals,'' the God whispered, as a silvery window had appeared out of thin air. ''All the magic that your ancestor put into these fields is still usable, and allows every great deity to do grand things with it... This portal is only a tip of the iceberg of what is possible around here.
If you would try here, you would be able to amazing things as well. ''
With those words, Cueraça grabbed Ameena's hand to bring her to another baffling realm in the astonishing world that the Dark God considered his.
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''Wow...''
''Beautiful, not?''
''Definately,'' Ameena groaned. She had an headache, and travelling to the other side of this strange universe had cost her quite some energy.
She was laying on the ground, which was seemed to be covered in unbelievably shiny pearl powder.
''You will be okay,'' Cueraça assured her, as he helped her up. ''Light pain is normal when cruising the Neragua by portal when not completely used to it yet... Even for a powerful deity like you. Or me. My head felt as if it were about to explode as well whenever I did this too much, back in the day.''
Ameena heaved a sigh and stared at the white, marble palace in the distance. It was enormous - a God worthy. Maybe even worthy the God.
With that thought, a question started to bother her.
''Are you alright?'' Cueraça asked in a worried tone of voice. ''Is it that bad? Do you want me to support you, can you not walk on your own?''
''That's not it,'' the girl replied vacantly. Her headache had already faded, and despite her sore limbs, she felt physically okay. ''I was just wondering... Does God exist? The God? I was brought up in a religious household, and I'd like to know if... If my family, and just the entire church community, were right, or if they were and still are living a twisted lie...''
Ameena shuddered audibly.
''I am not sure,'' Cueraça answered truthfully.
''But you're a God as well! Shouldn't you know Him?'' Ameena asked surprised as the deity in front of her just shrugged.
''This is my Universe, Ameena. I belong to the Island and the Neragua. They are located in what you mainlanders call the Bermuda Triangle, the mysterious spot in the sea where all ships and... what are they called? Aeroplanes disappear to.
A sort of magical barrier, which we call the cosmos, is surrounding our two worlds. I, as an ancient and unmeasurably powerful deity, cannot leave this extensive, but bounded area, therefore I cannot go to your world to figure out if... that God exists.''
''Thanks for the explanation,'' Ameena said slightly dissappointed, but genuinely appreciating the God's commentation.
''You are more than welcome,'' he said with a warm smile. ''Now let us visit the palace ahead of us... It belongs to Bulan, the Moon God, a selfish ego I actually cannot stand.
He is my brother, though. Not my actual brother through genes, but we, the Neraguan Gods, are all siblings spritually speaking.''
''I understand.''
Ameena squinted against the heavily reflecting sand and decided to look up instead of ahead.
The sky here was wonderful. A mega large amount of stars were glistening fairylike, which made Ameena think of a scene in the Aladdin movie she'd watched when she was younger.
Without her notice, the corner of her mouth curled up a little. The Neragua was more beautiful than she'd imagined the equivalent of Hell to be.
Could it be that this was actually heaven? That the Islanders had been lying to her, or that they just had no idea what they were talking about?
A confused, woe feeling came up in her stomach.
''Are you sure you are alright?'' Cueraça asked again, sounding more solicitously than before.
''I think so...'' Ameena looked up again and noticed something was missing.
Something crucial to every night sky.
''Where's the moon?'' she asked, slightly marvelled.
''The Neragua has no moon,'' Cueraça chuckled. ''The Island does have one, though. I told you who lives here, not? Bulan. The Moon God. Bulan is the moon of our Universe.''
Ameena's brows furrowed. ''In my universe, the moon's just a large piece of space rock. So here it's actually a living creatue?''
''Oh, yes,'' Cueraça grinned. ''And ironically enough, Death is one too.''
Ameena smirked uncomfortably. She didn't know what to make of that...
To bring their conversation to another subject, she let out a fake gasp and sighed: ''Wow! That Moon Palace looks amazing, from up close! It's huge! It actually reminds me of a monument we have on the mainland - it's called the Taj Mahal and it's got the same kind of cupola! Its color's pretty similar too, but even though the thing's massive, it's far not as big as Bulan's residence, I think...''
''True, it cannot be. We are hundreds of piñometers away from the building and it looks enormous already...
Bulan has once invited me over. Or, now that I think about it, maybe it was twice, but not much more often, the guy is not very keen on visitors for some reason.
However, I have visited the palace and I can recall exactly what it looked like from the inside. The ceilings were so high and the rooms were so big, that I think that my entire could have fit into only one storey of Bulan's, and my home certainly is not small either...''
Cueraça disapproivngly shook his head.
''That must be... scary, sort of,'' Ameena murmured.
''It is not that scary, but it is by no doubt inconvenient. Not only are the rooms gigantic, their walls are also made of the most glaring white materials. If I had had eyes, they would have been burnt out after that certain visit...''
''Ehm, I'm not sure if this might sound impolite - or if you want to keep it private - but ehm... How come you can actually see then?'' Ameena asked gingerly.
Cueraça shrugged. ''That is something even I do not know, yet I suppose there is a valid, biological reason I can. Now, look at this. We are standing right into the Gardens of the Palace of Bulan.''
Ameena blinked Goobaishly. She didn't see anything that suggested that anyone had gardened around here in the recent past, in fact, she saw no flora at all. ''I'm sorry, all I can see is pearl powder.''
The God of Death smiled kindly. Secretly, he found the fact Ameena couldn't see all statues, fountains and decorative ponds Bulan had installed quite alarming. It indicated her not belonging in the Neragua - only Neraguans by heart were allowed to drop an admiring eye at the Moon God's magnificent garden ornamentations, Bulan had decided after a visit of Platia's to the Underworld.
''Try harder,'' Cueraça encouraged her, ''try to see this place through the eyes of the powerful deity you are. This garden was installed for the elite. Trifling creatures - which I am sure you are not one of - are not capable of beholding so much beauty...''
In vain, Ameena tried a little harder. All she yielded from it was the return of that headache she had gained during their portal-travelling adventure...
''I'm so sorry, Cueraça,'' she said, genuinely regretful. ''I promise to make more out of my powers when I return home.''
''That is very ambitious of you,'' Cueraça gnashed, trying to hold his frustrations in. ''I appreciate such motivation. Yet, keep in mind that it took us, the Gods, hundreds of years to get where we are today, and that you will not reach our level of ability overnight, so please, do not be dissappointed if it takes a while...''
''I won't,'' Ameena said determined.
''Good. Now, has anyone ever told you how good pearl powder is for your skin?'' The serious expression on Cueraça's masked had morphed into a playful one.
''No,'' Ameena grinned. ''Why?''
''Then I will have to demonstrate to you what it is capable of!'' the God of Death answered, sniggering. ''Would you fancy a traditional, Neraguan skin treatment? All Goddesses here have a beautiful, glowy complexion... Not that many beings are privileged to see that though - my sisters are always masked when talking to their inferiors.'' Cueraça heaved a sigh. ''I am a true supporter of the holy Mask Rule, but I somehow find it tragic that so much beauty remains unseen...''
''Me too,'' Ameena admitted. ''On the mainland, we don't wear those things, you know. Not that I mind wearing one, I mean, I love mine, look at the pink Tigermisu face, it's wonderful, it's just -''
''Would you take your mask of for me?'' Cueraça interrupted her with a small hint of longing in his voice.
Ameena couldn't help but wince when she sensed that.
A unimaginably macabre-looking creature had managed to lure her to a realm she didn't know the rules of, a place in which she couldn't even perceive everything that was actually there.
Right now she was standing in a sparkling desert, and no one would hear her screams if the skeleton -
''It is not... I do not fancy girls as much younger than me as you are, let that be clear, it is just...
As you undoubtedly have been told, the Mask Rule of the Gods is different than that of the Revolutionists, who spread this nonsense of seeing one maskless indicates a certain level of intimacy, mostly that between the man and the woman.
In the Neragua, masks are, instead of a warden of purity, a symbol of status. Only the powerful ones, the sacred ones wear masks around here - yet they do show their faces to each other...
I see you as my equal, Ameena, perhaps less experienced, but certainly as powerful as me and any of my siblings. We should see each other's faces.''
Ameena bit her lower lip. ''That contradicts the beliefs I have adopted since my short stay on the Island, but okay... Different worlds have different rules I guess, and since my entire school has seen me maskless at home...
Why not.''
The girl already began to loosen the lints that kept her mask in place during the daytime.
''I would love to take mine off too; but I must warn thou, Ameena. My face is heavily mangled and might hunt you in your nightmares... Ever seen a dried, emaciated corpse with empty eye sockets and a wizened nose? Even pearl powder cannot help me, I am afraid...''
''Hmm... You better keep it on then.'' Ameena gave the deity she'd started to consider a friend a smile. ''As for my face... here you go.''
Cueraça gasped. She was absolutely gorgeous - not as flawless as Afoti was, but she came closer than any other lady he'd ever seen.
The way the starlight shone upon her, together with the reflection of the glittering ground, her chocolat noir skin got a bluish-silver glow. Her eyelashes were longer than he had ever seen them, and her eyes were huge and blacker than coffee.
If he had been human, he would've felt as if they were staring right into his soul, but since his magical talent and wit were bigger than hers, he didn't.
''You do not need this at all, but,'' Cueraça kneeled, put a large amount of pearl powder on his scarily long scary long finger and smeared it out over the young girl's cheek ''see it as a token of my fondness. This stuff is valuable where you live.''
The girl shuddered at the deity's touch, but tried to show nothing of her tangled fear.
As long as he didn't do anything inappropriate, this whole ritual thing was alright with her.
That didn't take a way the coldness she had felt when the skeleton's fingertip had caressed her cheekbone, though. No matter how nice the creature acted, she realized, she was still dealing with an evil being.
''Thank you,'' she shuddered, as the God of Death drew his hand back.
''You look beautiful. You should see yourself...'' Cueraça reached for something in his blood red robe, which turned out to be a cupreous hand glass.
Ameena stared at her reflection in awe. It was probably rather the wonderful lighting than the ancient, Neraguan beauty treatment that was laying on her skin like white, pearly eyeshadow, but she looked absolutely stunning, like nothing she'd find in her own world or even on the Island.
''I look amazing,'' she grinnned. ''Thank you, Cueraça.''
''I am glad you like it, now put on your mask again. We have been hanging around here for too long now, two hours have passed since your arrival in the Neragua and there is one more kingdom I want to show you. Namely that of Mze, the Sun God.
Ready for another portal voyage?''
''I guess so,'' Ameena said somewhat reluctantly as Cueraça began to gather magical energy again. She was sure she would enjoy seeing another beautiful placel, but the prospect of another headache fit slightly put her off.
''Are you ready?'' Cueraça asked after a few minutes.
''I think I am... Hey, wait. Is that a fountain, or just a fata morgana?''
''That is a fountain,'' Cueraça said, with a smile in his unearthly voice. ''And a very pretty one, not?
I am glad you are such a fast learner. Do you see any of the other pieces of art surrounding you - like, the statue of the archers, to name one?''
''No. I'm sorry.''
''Can you not see the Centaur Twins either? They are only two meters away from the fountain.''
''I wish I could...''
''Not your fault. Now let us visit Mze's Sun City. We need to return to the Island in an hour, if not your friends will be devastated.''
''Yeah. I'm sure they're waiting for me in suspense - but y'know what? You ain't all that bad. You answered all my questions so far and you've showed me some wonderful sights.''
''Thank you.'' Cueraça cracked a smile as he grabbed Ameena's hand, which was the softest hand his undead fingers had ever touched.
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Cueraça had told Ameena that only two hours had passed since her arrival in the Neragua, but this wasn't true. Actually, they had been wandering around for the double amount of time; and the God of Death knew that.
Feigning sympathy for her friends, was just a stragety of his to gain Ameena's trust - the whole mask thing had been one too. The fact that she had seen one of Bulan's fountains was a sign his efforts had paid off okay, but they weren't nearly there yet...
''Ah!'' Cueraça clamored. ''While the sun never rises in Bulan's kingdom, the sun never sets in that of Mze. This is quite a scorching place, not? Fortunately the City is packed with buildings - so that the living can stay in the shades. And I think we should, extreme weather like this does not do my skin any good.''
Ameena eyed the city she found herself in in surprise. Everything seemed to be made of terracotta, from the small, cube-like buildings with square windows to the pavement that was as cracked as the soil of her garden had been when she had first visited it.
Asided from the terracotta, there was a lot of gold to be found on the houses too. Golden depictions of the sun adorned every door post, and every window frame seemed to be made of matte shiny brass.
''Amazing,'' she muttered as she followed Cueraça to the shades of a shed that was attached to one of the buildings' roof.
''It is,'' Cueraça agreed. ''Yet, do you not notice something strange about the City? Is there not something that - despite its glamor - makes you shudder in eeriness?''
Ameena was about to shake her head when she noticed something. At the middle of the relatively wide road they were walking on, she could see strange dark spots, that seemed to be moving autonomously
''Goodness gracious... Are they..?''
''Shadows? Yes. Shadows of those who once lived in the Village of Mze on the Island. After their death, they were transferred to this place to wander around forever, as invisible citizens with the task to serve Mze in eternity...''
''That's just disgusting,'' Ameena said as a legion of shivers went down her spine. ''It's just...''
''Cruel? Selfish? Disgusting? I cannot say I do not share those views with you, yet I do not think that the poor beings suffer much. The numbing of souls occurs quite fast after departure fron the body, when not sent to paradise.
A soul usually stays intact for two weeks, if it does not receive stimula. After this short period of time, it just dies, mostly to never be brought alive again...''
Ameena's stomach turned.
''Tha-that's sad,'' she stuttered. ''It just really is sad, the stuff Mze does to his subjects. Is there anything you can do to stop him?''
''I am afraid not,'' Cueraça said in a sepulchral voice as the two had reached a three-way at the end of the street. ''Mze is the most powerful God in the entire Universe, you should keep that in mind. Would you like to visit his palace with me? He has been waiting to meet you ever since he heard about you being a young, powerful descendant!''
Ameena angrily kicked a pebble away. ''Why would I want to talk to a man like that?''
''Because he is not an ordinary man! He is Mze, the most important God in the entire -''
''Neragua! Hmph! Believe me, I can tell already that I will not like Mze.''
''He is friendly as a person!'' Cueraça pleaded. He really started to regret showing Ameena the shadows roaming through the City - they probably would've been better off if he'd opened a portal that lead directly to the Sun Palace. ''Give him a chance. Just a few minutes. He will adore you, I am sure, and you will love him too...''
''No,'' the girl refused stubbornly. ''I won't come with you. Bring me home.
I like you, Cueraça, but why do you think I'd ever love such a misbegotten being as Mze?''
''He genuinely is a good man. Those sould are not in pain. Now, let me take you to a palace more beautiful than Bulan's...'' Cueraça tried in a last attempt to make Ameena change her mind.
Her response was not what he had wished for, but certainly what he'd expected and feared after his little misstep with the shadows.
''No. I can't. This whole Neragua thing,'' her voice started to tremble, as if she were about to burst out in tears. ''I... I appreciate everything... The sight-seeing was awesome, Cueraça, but I don't think I belong here.
Create a portal to the Island and never bring me to this fantastic world where... I just will never feel home again.''