Queen's note: Y'all ready for this? Get dem ice packs for the feels and some tea, I'm running around with tiny bits of cannon and making things with them again. Lore and feels and primordial beings are ahead as well as a long ass chapter.
Garnets
Chapter Forty Four:
To give what can not be
It was like seeing the old scarred up great white sharks in the southernmost Platforms off the old states. That was what the Wraith reminded Lily of. Not the overall shape, that was somewhere like the mythic dragon or wyvern creatures, with the ridged and tattered wings spreading out behind it in the outline of a stingray or manta ray more than a shark.
Overall, it still reminded Lily of the old scarred sharks. You could see the damage yes, but also see how wonderful the creature barring those scars still was. The smooth streamline beauty of a shark, bearing its life story with ragged scars and still swimming and hunting, or coming close to the observation windows to look at the humans back.
She thought of John too, the network of layer upon layer of scars. Countless stories and battles he had been in (for at least a thousand years?) but had not explained more than a few most recent to Lily.
The left side of the lizard or skink like head was almost burned partly away. Exposing the sharp, metallic silver fangs and jaw bone under. Even they were partly broken and added to the jagged look to them, where the glimpse of the whole teeth were smaller and smooth. The wraith did not have scales really, she mostly had smooth but thick hide by the looks of it.
Lily wondered if it was like a dolphin's slightly rubbery feel, or like a shark where it was semi rough but smooth one way? Sleek looking and streamlined as it fanned its wings out wider before letting go of the wide 'catwalk.' Moving away not from the humans or Argenta but all three sets of eyes focusing on… John as he leaned over the young woman to growl.
She was scared of him, the wraith's form shivering and shedding off sparks of blue, teal and glittering white energy off herself while trying to hiss at the Slayer. Lily was not sure why but had the clear sense that Wraith knew her guardian all too well, possibly better then she did?
The wings drew Lily's attention again, as they shed off a rainbow shine, like glitter drifting off of them, more so around the open holes between the ridges. The overall shape, or the outline was like that of a manta ray's pectoral fins, a smaller set of flexing limb-like ridges, then one much longer set that seemed to be the main limbs inside the wings. Two smaller ones going down the long back, each edge that was not in the transparent blue membrane of the wing had silver claws that could be curled. She was staying in the air not from the motion of flapping wings but something else, the wings moving slowly not unlike someone treading water in a still pool.
In some ways this Wraith was similar to Lily's mother's shape in the body without the wings. Though distinctly different enough it did not make Lily want to shrink back. Instead of a rounded serpent-like lower half that was many times bigger than the human-like body, this Wraith was more…
Like a skink's build, just much larger. The wider width and almost more boxy shape to the body, with the long tail splitting in the middle into two tail tips that were at least five feet long. The body like the wings was mostly transparent, the flesh shimmering blue-teal, with frosted or green tinted bones inside the body glimpsed but not too distinct. She had a basic upper body that was a mix of a human's and lizard's shoulders on the upper most set. Going down to hand with long, six digits of hand. Two thumb joints while there were two lower sets of arms, each curled close to protect what looked like broken hands, or grasping claws on the lower set.
The neck was longer too, with a more wedged reptile shaped head to fit all three sets of eyes. The main set of eyes were a shimmering teal color with a round white pupil. Just ahead and below that set were solid orange with a red 'x' shaped pupil. Above and behind the last set of eyes seemed to be a solid almost milky white and gray swirl. The Wraith had two horns that used to sweep back and curve upwards. The same metallic silvery shade of the wraith's claws and fangs, only those horns were broken off at what must have been a painful angle.
The wraith did not have hair, not like humans knew, but growths that started from behind those broken horns and down the back of the neck. Following the spine to the split in the tail, it reminded Lily of eelgrass, mostly hiding the spines on its back, but moved in the air like eelgrass would in the water.
This wonderful, unearthly… ethereal being that was almost as long as a humpback whale from head to tail tips. This wraith was battered, burned, scared and in clear pain with each shiver and flinch of its own movements… It was still wonderfully beautiful. Just like those aged old scarred sharks that still swam with grace in the seas.
Lily could not help staring up at it with wonder, realizing that the teal, main set of eyes were reflecting emotions unhidden. Scared of John as a part of Lily was starting to recognize there was sound around her not that of the shifting, popping ice sound. Those glowing eyes looked with worry at Becky as she recognized that human, then that the guard was hurt. Surprise, thrill and then guilt at recognizing the Argenta. Instant affection if not love at spotting the tiny form of Heather, then worrying once seeming to recognize Valen.
Lily wanted to cry as the Wraith focused back on her, clearly seeing or sensing the flood of pity and affection.
What was wrong with her to get that reaction from such a wonderful and ancient being?
Even as it seemed like the Wraith and the Slayer were arguing in Primordial, it must be too fast for mortal lives to keep up. Lily could see how the Wraith shifted in the air, its long tail curling back under the suspended walkway. The very end flipping over the rails so the tips touched a dazed Heather's shoulder and flitter over some of her energy to heal the burn splatter marks on the girl from earlier. Then the tail swished down into open air before anyone could react.
Lily suddenly realized the thick, and heavy feeling of the wraith gift Valen used on her seemed… lighter. Glancing down as she touched her chest, becoming aware of the world again. The annoyed, not really angry tone of the Slayer, of John as he was… trying to protect her. A large arm was wrapped around Lily like a solid metal band, keeping her from leaning too far over the rail in the almost hypnotic state she had been in.
The young woman looked up at the wraith again, it was still just as wonderfully beautiful, but not as captivating to Lily now. She could focus on the gauntlet and covered arm across her chest, the massive hand holding firm to her side but not hurting. The heat behind her. For the first time since taking the mask off Lily took a deep breath, the air felt cool despite the heat coming off John. It relieved some of the burn in her chest.
She looked up, it felt oddly like one of the rare few times her father and maternal grandmother would argue over some sort of parenting thing. Lily then recognized at least one primordial word, or the feeling of it as the John flexed his arm, holding her just that bit more firmly.
Mine!
Lily patted the demigod's wrist for attention, feeling his surprise shift as John looked down. As if not expecting her to be able to look back up.
"I'm okay now big guy, I won't fall or wander off. Can you loosen your hold? It's still hard to breathe." Lily asked, and then squeaked as the armored Slayer turned her around and knelt, hands holding her face and then checking her over as if she was hurt.
Concern-worry?
"I'm okay?" Lily offered confused, making a face as a large thumb brushed under her right eye. Then Lily saw her reflection in John's helmet, startled at the white shine on her eyes. That was only something she had glimpsed happen on Valen.
"I told you I did nothing to the gorgon child." The unearthly voice of the Wraith spoke up, though the large jaws did not move as she swayed in the air to back up and twist downwards. Coming up on the other side of the walkway by the Argenta, as much as getting some needed space as to get a proper look. The large ghostly being squinted all three sets of eyes at Valen as she recognized him.
Valen… cringed, grunting as he shifted to hold Heather stable but reflexively gripped at his armor around his heart.
Lily gasped as the shared wraith gift wavered inside her own chest.
The Wraith looked up, surprised but following the connection back to the human. Before whatever was about to happen vanished.
"Child, why are you tied so tight to these horrible beings?" The Wraith asked gilding over top the bridge and those on it back to the side Lily and the Slayer were. Twisting in the air like it was supported in water. Facing the group near the entrance to this massive warehouse-like room. Her long tail swung around farther down the bridge like a walkway to hook onto it. As if anchoring to keep from drifting away.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked, watching the Wraith, not sure when it seemed like her legs had given out. Leaning heavily on John's right arm, finding he was supporting her if not shifting the human partly against his front to make sure Lily was not about to fall over. Then she saw the other humans, Wyatt and Stinson both collapsed on the floor. Rai catching the former while Asin had a hand holding the latter's back, both guiding the humans down while the two Argenta knelt. Heather looked about to just fall asleep against Valen's shoulder, arms limp over him.
The Argenta were kneeling, Lily realized, or nearly. Something about the body language was showing respect, but not the same loyalty that was openly showed to John. Valen looked more in pain or just consumed with that much guilt that it hurt.
Lily's attention turned back to the wraith as it's large head came near her and the Demigod. "I'm safe with them?"
The Slayer gave a satisfied snort at the Wraith at that.
"Temporary safety found in the jaws of death will not last my child." The wraith seemed to glare right back at him before her milky-gray set of eyes focused fully on the only awake human in this level. "Your crystal heart is so small and clear, why stay? This heir to hell will only devour your potential, or drown it in the blood he wades though."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lily frowned, she was already emotionally drained and tired. She wrapped her arms defensively around the larger one bracing her, John had shifted to hold around Lily's front again, this time shielding with his left hand. His right brushing the edge of the crucible. "I've always been safe with him."
It was when they were separated that things seemed to like to happen. Or Lily did something so stupid, like trying to force Valen to help other humans.
The Wraith shook her head, watching the tiny human press back into the girl's illusion of protection. Her upper hands grasped the air with a whine-like sound trailing out. The Wraith wanted so badly to pull this young life away from the clear danger. They were well able to see the connection cord between them, the Beast's own energy wrapping slowly around the clear soul.
"Child, you may turn into something like that at his side. I can smell even from here that the crucible is tainted before being freely fed demons and blood. It will twist and turn to a dark thing because of that monster-"
Lily gripped the larger hand, holding John's thumb and ring finger so tight it hurt her own knuckles as she frowned. "Don't talk about my dad like that."
The memory of her altered father was so clear in her mind. Of his broken, wide grin at catching her before falling into the hurricane waters. Of looking back at him after being thrown to the West dock, Lily remembered so painfully seeing him mouth the words 'run baby girl' even though he could no longer talk. The memory of laying in a gutter in the start of hell invasion, trying to be able to breathe and looking up at an activity changing person before her dad tackled them as his old unit mate picked her up. Of just being able to go cuddle up against his side when stressed out at school work as they listened to her mom lectured her class over video call.
Lily reflexively hugged the larger arm around her of her guardian, looking back up at the Wraith, watching pink flush through its form in surprise. "My dad was never a monster or tainted. Not then, not now."
He was a crucible, Lily did not fully understand it still. But it still felt like her dad and he helped keep John safe. Even if she also did not understand how he could 'overfeed' a living sword. It was still her dad in there, with John, keeping them safer in turn.
The Wraith dipped her head down, all three sets of eyes focusing on the two in front of her. Taking a really close look at them, confused as there were no deep rooted ties, other than that coil of energy from the Slayer. Yet the Wraith could tell the root species of the Slayer was once one of her younger children. Not one of the Wraith's older children from Argent D'nur like she thought at first.
Primordial beings could not have children the same way as those they made could. With the Slayer being so young, could he have had an heir before changing? The Argenta could still a life in time, for a time without harming that life… stasis?
The soft sound that came from under the Beast had the Wraith pausing before gently grasping the railing with her forearms. The need to comfort one of her children was so strong that it overrode her real fear of this god killer. The Wraith touched the end of her muzzle to Lily's arms, just able to hold back the want to pulse her energy. There was no real control anymore to be able to do so in their broken body.
"My small child…" the Wraith breathed a long sigh, cool air swirling around the heat coming off the Slayer again. "If I could, I would break those ties to this Beast and the Betrayer. Give you the strength to stand on your own even if that would lead to my death."
Her middle set of eyes focused on the Slayer as he gave a low warning growl, his human did not have to be strong if she did not want to be.
That had darker blues flaring through the Wraith's wings and then body. "But I have too many tiny lives depending on my protection, as broken as I am. Don't look at me like that little god of death, you let that traitor follow close to your heels. I have reason to fear for this little gorgon's safety."
"I'm not a gorgon." Lily said firmly, not able to stop the shiver down her spine.
"I will not lose another child." Valen growled from his spot, shifting the tiny Heather in his arms.
"You lost more than your son," The Wraith arched back and then lifted her head up to look over the Slayer. Just the lower set keeping that threat in focus while the other two sets looked back at the once Commander. She bared her fangs and broken teeth to him, orange and purple colors flashed through the Wraith's body as if along those glimpses of bones. "Because of you, I have lost several of my sisters to Jekkad, or hell as it is known now. You gave your sleeping mothers to that realm's insatiable hunger! And what did it give you but pain?"
Valen twitched, rising as he slipped Heather into the startled Milla's arms. Coming over the railing as he growled low in his chest, "I would do it again mother Wraith, if it meant saving my son's soul from Hell. I only gave up the locations of eight Wraiths to the Order of the Deag. If it meant I could have my Vito again, or to get his soul to the right path down the stream between lifetimes. I would give them more."
"If it would not cause this child such pain, I would sever all links to the Gifts your mothers gave you in their love." The Wraith pulled back, the angry purple starting to flair out more in her body as well as ripping off her wings. Silvery, shining drops of fluid were being flung out of the wounded holes in the wings. "Let you be casted to a murading life with no gift. What good came from your betrayal, son of Argent D'nur? What punishment have your mothers given you for what you have done to them? I can still hear several of their shattered, lingering songs through the veils of the worlds."
"My wraith mothers have done nothing to me." Valen admitted, clenching his fists hard enough the gauntlet and his metal hand creaked. "I waited for ages for them to do so in Hell, waiting with the knowledge that the Khan Maykr has my Vito's soul tied to that world eater the Maykrs have grown. That's what I had to live with, and now my King has given me my active punishment."
Valen stood up fully, staring back at the Wraith as the purple was fading to flashes of pink again as she watched back in surprise. "I've been given another child to protect by the Slayer King, but it's a mortal child. She will slip through my hands if not in this war, then by time in barely a few dozen odd years. I will outlive her a thousand times over. I gave what I can of my wraith gift to her, trying not to hurt, trying to keep her from suffering from Hell's effects. So that Lily will not suffer like my Vito if something happens."
The once Sentinel Commander flexed his hands, looking down at them, knowing there was likely far more blood on him then what could ever be seen. He had let himself get too attached, too fast, too deep to his charge in desperation. It was wonderful but he was very aware of the pain he would deserve when Lily's time came at last. Again too soon to his immortal life.
The Wraith was quiet, the lighter blue, green and teal shades returning around the silver. Her movements slowed in the air beside the walkway into a calmer state, that motion almost like treading water as the long tail swayed in the open air. The Wraith gave a deep breath, chilling the air around everyone and in turn the other humans started to stir awake again.
Sometimes, but not really, she regretted giving so much life and strength to the Argenta.
She knew far too well what it was like to so intensely love her children. To feel the burning joy in seeing them thrive and grow and live. That coiling darkness when seeing that small life finally died.
The Wraith remembered clinging so tight to the first souls she had made in ancient times now, before being able to let them go with convincing help from her sisters. Yet she had been able to finally understand how to let go, and find new joy in the next young lives. Unlike Jekkad's first father, who could not let go of his children at all until it spiraled.
She stared at the older child of her kind, listening to the honest words, no smell of deception. The Wraith looked back at the Slayer, not sure if that was a punishment he meant, but in a way it was so very fitting.
The small gorgon child was still reflecting that shared gift, the Wraith could see it was not settling well as humans were just that bit different. The gifts needed to sit a bit different despite the two sibling races being alike. The Wraith focused her middle set of eyes on how the Slayer was, really, truly taking a good second look.
Protective mostly, and just that little bit possessive that all primordial beings had that.
"...that small gorgon will attract too much attention if not kept safe." The Wraith said at last, flicking her tail and the dripping silver blood off of it and her body was shivered off until scabbing back over. "I can see that little crack in her heart already."
"I'm not a gorgon." Lily said in a small voice, she was hiding under the Slayer's shielding bulk now. The lost tone drew the Wraith's full attention back. "I'm not like my mother… I don't want to be."
The Wraith closed two sets of her eyes, the milky and gray set half lidded before dipping forward and down. Coming back up beside the Slayer and smaller human. "There is nothing to be scared of my child. That is what your soul reflects as."
"I don't want to be a monster like mom was… is?" Lily denied, holding tighter to the massive forearm that was still protectively held in front of her. More than just wrapping her arms around John's own, feeling his fingers slowly get a grip on her side. Lily shook her head and hid her face for a moment, well able to see the massive coil of pearly scales in the observation windows of the lower moon bay lab. Looking up at her father's altered face with one eye, the other filled in with green sea glass like crystal. "I don't want to be like that. I don't want to turn into something that will hurt or change people into those shambling things. I don't ever want something like that..."
John chuffed softly above her, his other hand moving from the crucible to rest on his human's head. An attempt to reassure her, he would never let that happen.
"...oh little- my young child," the Wraith hummed a softer note, feeling for the scared mortal. Wondering what happened to this child to make her so scared of what she naturally was. Glancing down at her own broken physical body. "I wish I could offer more, to be able to help stabilize your little crystal heart. But I can not like this, and I am the last of the Wraiths on this world."
"What happened to them, mother Wraith?" Rai asked, speaking up for the first time, staying in his spot though as the Wraith drifted back in the air. Dipping down and coming up used the walkway to get a look at Rai from behind, above and then peering at him upside down. Her tri-gaze softened, likely seeing that he was mortal as well.
"They left my son. To seed other words with life, or to a secluded place to rest." The wraith sighed, frost forming over Rai's armor as she twisted in the air to be level with the walkway. Two sets of eyes focusing on the waking humans. "I…could not leave your sibling race alone on this world. Not with them being so young they hurt themselves. They inherited the stubbornness of you Argenta, though have a curious tendency for ingenuity and… curiosity despite not being nearly as strong as the Argenta."
Captain Milla frowned and shifted upright. "What do you mean? What are the humans? …where did they come from Mother Wraith?"
"They came from you, daughter," The Wraith could not help but chuckle as she started to drift in the air without anything to anchor herself. "Or rather, from the Argenta, descended from you all. I made them that way."
"You… made us?" Lily asked from her spot, daring to look up again.
"Long ago," The Wraith turned in the air, her wings shifting as if to help guide soundlessly through the air. Though that ever present sound of a glaser moving was there as she moved through the open air, not quite able to hold still. "Those Argenta that came with the few sisters and I, they are your ancestors. Altered and mixed with the life here on your world to survive on it. It was never as gentle as it is now. Was… That is why you and the Argenta look so much alike, you are sibling races. Alike but different."
"Is there anything we can do to help you mother?" Asin finally spoke up, feeling the human woman jerking a bit awake at his voice. Mostly awake as Stinson tried and failed to sit up. "Is there any way to heal you?"
"There is nothing you can do my child. Nothing that mortal lives can understand to offer." The Wraith shook her head, stretching out to swing back around towards the group, and then around the space again, "Even the few of you who are immortal, I can not take that life from you. That Beast is still too young of a Primordial being…"
A sad note came from the ancient creature. Lifting up higher to look out of the observation windows. Watching the fish there and the outline of a saltwater crocodile. The Wraith suddenly wished she had given more leeway to the humans with salt water. It had seemed like such a fair challenge for them to overcome at the time.
"I will die here," The Wraith hummed, not sounding sad about this fact. Perhaps resined as she rolled in the air. "Soon, for me. It may be generations from now if my children survive Jekkad's invasion. I can stave off the inevitable for only so long by giving what I can of myself to the tiny lives they give to me… but I will soon fade like my sisters and mothers before me. When that time comes, I will try to dive deep, so as not to harm these tiny lives entrusted to me."
"...you're the mother earth aren't you?" Lily asked from her spot shielded under the Slayer's bulk still. Lily looked up at the helmet that tilted to look at her, thinking of what had all been said. Something filled almost into place as she grasped the golden chain, fingering the rings there. "What's it… call… Gaia?"
The Wraith stopped all movement in the air, the large head swiveling around after a moment. All three sets of her eyes were wide as she stared at where the Slayer knelt protectively over the small human. Almost without seeming to realize it, the giant, ancient creature came over. Three arms grasping the walkway as the large head came down to stare at the two.
"I… have not been called that in hundreds of generations. The name my first children gave me…" Something like a whine came from the Wraith physically. Her head dipped as frost formed around the walkway once more. "Thank you little one, for remembering that name. I wish I could help you in return, my daughter."
"...can I offer you something?" Lily asked as she shifted, glancing up at John as he tilted her head at that. Not expecting her to say something like that. All the while thinking, something that could not be realized by mortals or given up by immortals that were not like John, but Valen? "I don't know if it would help… but maybe?"
"What are you thinking my lake lily?" Valen asked, stepping over behind the Slayer as he sat up at last.
The demigod tilted his head the other way, staring down at his human as he let her go, but kept his arms loosely around her. Caging or just not able to fully let his guard of Lily down.
"Can I try?" Lily asked up at John, though the question was for both primordial beings.
"I do not know what you think you… can… do…" The Wraith, Gaia, started to speak, watching in some amazement as the Slayer lowered his arms to let the small human step towards her. He was rising back to his feet, the Slayer's right hand dropping to brush his fingers against the crucible. Yet it was not that warning threat, that had Gaia so startled.
"It's a riddle right?" Lily asked, looking up at the Wraith, sounding unsure as she pulled off the thick gold chain off her neck. Staring at it for a moment. The all too familiar links, some warn just a bit much, the three rings and half of her father's dog tags. "Its nothing and everything. Its potential. Everything that would have happened, that could have and should have happened. Right?"
The only remote thing like that, was the chain and rings Lily had been keeping so close. Holding it up to the Wraith as she took a few hesitant steps away from her guardian. She saw as Gaia arched her long neck, but all three sets of eyes were suddenly glowing bright gold.
"This is the only thing I can think of like that." Lily said, wavering a bit as her voice hitched. "It represents the family I had, everything that should have… all the possible things that could have happened."
All the students her mom taught, would have kept teaching when not studying crustaceans. Those new recruits her dad had been getting ready to train with Platform security. The lives those people would have touched or influenced in some way. All the fishing trips together, or dive, or drive down to the states they had been planning.
Every word, hug, love, and argument over pasta. Every minor or stupid married spat or family event. Every achievement and failure. Comfort and celebration that would not stay just between the three of them. The spiral of effects was limitless and vast and…gone.
Everything that could have been.
It was something that could not be given by a mortal life. The only thing remotely representing that to Lily was this chain. The rings of her mother and father, even that tiny ring she was given by one of her grandmothers and gave to her father in turn before he retired from the military.
Gaia stared down at the human for a few moments that seemed like so much longer. Before the Wraith lowered her head, the end of the muzzle touched the top of Lily's head. While the larger forearms started to close around her. The middle set of arms unfolding so broken hands could grasp the offered necklace.
It was only to the two primordial beings that the bleeding energy was visible.
Gaia marveled at how humans kept surprising her over this last age. That a gorgon so young her heart was barely formed could offer something so great with only half grasping what it really meant. Unconsciously channeling that gorgon power to help doing so.
The Wraith pulled on the offering, closing the human's hands together as the physical offering started to melt. It filled Gaia with needed reserves to reach out unseen to tap the little crystal heart in this human. Avoiding the Slayer's energy, but both accelerating the growth of the crystal heart as she drained off all that extra energy that resulted. Able to siphon it off faster the stronger the wraith became. Keeping the human… mortal in turn.
Everything felt tight for the Primordial being, but Gaia was able to reach out and twine strings and then swaths of energy the correct way around the human soul. Insulating so that the crystal growth would not grow uncontrollably if left alone from manipulation. Soul manipulation was not skill the Slayer had at all, Gaia could tell that. Making a popper wraith-gift and flooding the void of taken gorgon energy Gaia took to heal and not leave this little life empty. It might even help this child survive being so close to the young god of death.
"My little child… Thank you. Even if you don't understand it all." Gaia pulled back, making sure the younger Slayer was there before her shell cracked with a relieved sound.
Reviews!
Red Viy: No, no they are not. More so if comes from a small thing with honestly.
XFireStoneX: You never late fren! hopefully this chapter made sense, I've been working on it for a long time