Chapter Nineteen
As their feet found the final step, a horrific scene came into view. On the ground were the bodies of the guards, laid out, their insides exposed. Blood hardened around their corpses, oozing from the mangled wounds in their tattered flesh. It looked as if an animal had mauled them before leaving them to die.
Ben choked back his disgust and turned away from the scene. Miles and Donovan just stood there looking at it.
“What have you gotten us into?” Donovan asked Ben. The boy didn’t respond though. Instead he examined the chamber they had stepped into.
The small room had brick walls and a domed ceiling. It was the entry chamber to a larger section. The dead soldiers had been stationed at the bottom of the stairs to guard the doors that now stood half open. The same flickering blue tint from before escaped the doors and spilled into the chamber; flooding the ground at their feet.
"This is it," Miles said, pushing the doors open further. The grand chamber they stepped into was massive, with a half of its surface the same crystal substance that held the water back. The ocean outside stretched on for as far as they could see, creating a dark abyss in all directions. The waters here were devoid of life, which made them seem oppressive and infinite.
The room itself was decorated with elaborate statues and tapestries that one would see in a church. It was draped in red and black with a thick gold trim that set each piece off from the other. It reminded Ben of the cloak Azothothus was wearing outside. The three of them ducked down behind a pew and watched as Salinia and her goons attacked the priests. They killed all but one, leaving the hierophant for interrogation. She paced back and forth before him, occasionally taking a drink from her large chalice.
He didn't beg or cry as they knocked off his cap and roughed him up. He didn't whimper or plead as they threatened him with violence and pain. The tough old man refused to give in, showing his true strength, until finally they broke him by threatening to take him to their leader, Azothothus.
"Please, not that," he cried.
"Then tell us, how do we summon Tiamat?" Salinia asked, splashing him in the face with the rest of her drink. He spit and coughed as it covered his face.
"You can't do this. Your father is a great man; you can't destroy everything he's worked for. The people need us, Salinia, they need you," he pled.
"We both know that's not true. They want my sister to bring them their precious democracy and I refuse to give up my birthright for anyone!" she said. Her face went from calm and sadistic to furious without much transition. Her face turned pink under the white make-up she wore as she spoke.
"It's what's best for the people," he said.
“I'm what's best for the people!" she replied. "Now, how do I summon the sleeper?" She pressed a wavy ceremonial dagger against his neck. In her hand, she held on to the same chalice she always carried. Her knuckles were white from the tight grip of her fingers.
Miles saw something that captured his attention and he signaled for Ben and Donovan to follow. Ducking down, they crossed the aisle to the next set of pews. On the ground were the littered bodies of the priests, their white robes now spattered with red. On each side of the room was a row of marble pillars that held the ceiling in place. Behind the pillars was a small raised brick garden against the wall. Keeping to the shadows, they made their way over and Miles found what he was looking for. Between two flowers, one white and one purple, was a black fern that had a darkened halo on the ground around it. With a gleeful smile on his face, Miles saw his quest come to fruition. Through the war, and all the adversity they had faced, here he was, staring at the only thing that had kept him from his goals. With a careful hand, he cut the plant and placed it into a pouch. The drawstring cringed as he pulled it tight and returned it to its original position on his waist.
"We can go now," he said, keeping his voice low.
"Wait, what about the chalice?" Ben whispered, turning his head in time to see Salinia coercing information out of the head priest.
"The other...you have to summon the other in order to perform the ritual. Only an evil force can awaken the sleeper," the hierophant sputtered.
"Then get to it," she spat, pulling him closer to her face and then dropping him to the ground.
"I can't, it requires the essence of an innocent. I have too much blood on my hands." He sat on his knees looking up at her. She lit up with rage and kicked him in the face. The painful blow knocked him to the floor as he covered his nose with his hands. Red streamed from his face as he applied pressure to the wound. At the same moment, a crashing sound from the entryway drew everyone's attention. Ben watched as his would-be friends disappeared through the door, leaving him behind.
"Get them! But don't hurt them. One of those bastards could be useful to us." As Salinia spoke, her goons, one an animalistic barbarian donning fur hides for clothing, the other a swordsman with daggers running up his arms, took off after Miles and Donovan. Ben stood there with the sinking feeling of betrayal in his gut, trying to rationalize their actions by thinking that he must have missed their lead, but deep down, he knew that they had left him. Miles got what he came for, and Donovan was done with him.
The chamber grew silent as he was left there with only the woman and the priest she was tormenting. A thousand thoughts reeled through his mind as he tried to figure out what to do next. The medallion in his pocket pressed against his thigh. He reached down and pulled it out and held it for a moment as Salinia stood over the crying man, torturing him with the blade. The promise Ben had made to Franklin came back to him, and he knew what he had to do, even if it meant losing his own life. She had something he needed, and he couldn’t stand by and watch her kill this man. Pulling his weapon from its sheath, he took a deep breath, focusing on the sentimental trinket in his hand, and jumped out from his hiding place. Surprised, Salinia looked up at him with knowing eyes.
"You? I ordered your death!” she said. “The girl, the one I had killed. She obviously had you released, despite my wishes.”
Ben thought back to the moment when Diostist told them they were being sent to war because of Salinia’s sense of irony and realized she had been lying.
“Your presence here is convenient, though, wouldn't you say, priest?" she asked looking down at the weeping man. "You look innocent enough." These last words were directed toward Ben as she waved her hand with a crooked smile. Ben felt the magic come over his body, holding him in place like an invisible vice, forcing him to stand still as she approached.
"Tell me how to perform the ritual," she said, but only received whimpers from the broken man.
"Tell me!" she screamed, never breaking eye contact with Ben.
"Take him to the altar," the priest replied, giving in. Without moving, she motioned for Ben to drop his weapon and move to the altar; he complied, his own actions out of his power.
"Now what?" she asked.
"Take his hand and cut the palm, allowing for the blood to pour onto it," the hierophant said. As she followed the priest’s directions, her men returned empty-handed. They tried to speak but she shushed them, concentrating on the task at hand.
"A tooth is needed, and an eyeball. Place them both on the altar, in the blood." Her face lit up with excitement at the prospect. "Not his!” the priest exclaimed. “The physical essence must come from a violent man, capable of committing great evil. There is a jar under the table, over there," he said, pointing to a place where ritual items were stored. Salinia motioned for one of her men to bring her the jar. As she did, Ben stared down at the pool of blood that poured from his wound. The place on his palm throbbed, but there was nothing he could do.
The barbarian brought over the jar, which contained a surplus of items needed to complete the ritual. With all the pieces on the slab, the hierophant walked over and turned to Salinia.
“Please, I beg you, our home won’t be able to withstand her force,” he said, trying to get up with a fearful tear in his eye.
“You wi
ll do as I say, or I promise you, you will have an eternity of pain and torment to worry about what you’ve done,” she replied, and then pushed him back to his knees.
With a quiet prayer, he began to recite the archaic words. The blood began to thicken and take shape as it grew in size and started pulling the items into the growing pool. It became so big that it spilled over onto the ground, and Ben began to hear a sound that could only be described as insects in the night, whispering and chattering amongst themselves, just outside of his range of hearing and understanding.
They all watched as something began to form and take shape in the mess. Sinew started to weave its way up black bone, gripping and pulling until it formed limbs. Picking itself up on its new legs, the thing’s body formed from shadowy tendrils that crept up, twisting and pulling until they became muscles. The skin was a runny black liquid that shifted and moved in a continuous motion, covering every inch until it finally enveloped the head. The creature reveled in its birth by releasing a demonic howl. Once it was done, the thing turned around, revealing its featureless face. As it opened its mouth, its tar-like skin pulled apart in sticky strands.
The priest looked at the unholy creature and started crying. "I can't," he said.
"Yes, you can!" she hissed in his ear. The words hit like a spell, taking his resolve. Without a second of hesitation, the hierophant led the newborn creature to an etched circle on the ground. With a few words spoken under his breath, the black liquid creature lost its shape and disappeared into a hole in the ground. After a moment of silence, there was a loud click, and then a rumble that shook the entire chamber. Outside, the water began to bubble as giant chains started moving, pulling something up. Salinia pulled Ben to the large window and they watched as a massive obelisk covered in arcane symbols rose from a gigantic hole in the ocean floor.
"It's happening," Salinia said, watching as something large stirred, down in the dark depths. The sheer horror Ben felt as he watched a monstrous webbed hand covered in scales grab the top of the hole was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The very fabric of his sanity began to rip as the crest of a head appeared. On the verge of a breakdown, Ben was pulled away like a marionette as his puppeteer left the window.
"We have to start the ritual!" Salinia said. Salinia and her men gathered their things and placed them in a circle. They used salt to draw a circle on the ground and lit black candles inside of it. Salinia stepped inside with her chalice in hand. They took a strange dark liquid and poured it into the cup. In that same moment, she came face to face with the monster.
"Tiamat," she said in awe. Realizing the urgency of her task, Salinia started chanting the words that would bind the being to their will. Ben once again heard the chorus of insect like voices echoing from every dark nook and corner in the room. Like a strange dancer, she waved her hands as the salt around her feet burst into a blue flame, encircling her with fire. Ben watched as the woman shot forth a magical projectile from her chest that connected with Tiamat like a tether. The creature responded by taking its fist and slamming it into the transparent barrier that separated them from the sea. As it connected, a large crack raced out from the impact point in all directions. It continued to wave its arms about, hitting everything it could. Massive chunks of rock started to fall and the entire island above wavered with each strike.
Right then, the projectile began its return. As it retracted, it pulled something along with it. Ben could see a translucent figure that issued forth from the angry beast before them. As it came through the glass, Ben realized what was happening. They were pulling Tiamat's soul from its body and into the girl. He could hear the beast’s loud screams through the glass and water as it howled in pain. Its violent flailing got worse as it did what it could to bring the island down on top of them.
As Salinia fought to reel in the essence, Ben watched as the swordsman stabbed his sword through her chest, ending her life. As her lifeless husk hit the ground, Ben was freed from his magical bondage, but as her soul left her body, Tiamat's was sucked in, filling the void that was left. With a deep cough, the girl sputtered back to life, opening her eyes in time to see the crack get larger. As the grotesque creature fell away from the window, Salinia started speaking in an alien language while pointing at the window that was now leaking.
Ben turned to run and came face to face with the hierophant. The sad man had committed suicide by jabbing a dull piece of candelabra into his throat. Without a moment to spare, the boy took off toward the stairs while the two goons picked up Salinia's body and summoned a portal. The air crackled and sparked as electricity tore a hole into space, creating a swirling doorway for their escape. As they stepped through, the barrier shattered and a colossal wall of water came pouring in. Ben ran as fast as he could for the door, grabbing the chalice and his sword from the ground. Taking his prize, he pushed on with every ounce of strength he had, but he wasn't fast enough. The water picked him up with no effort and slammed his body against the wall. As he connected with the hard stone, he took a deep breath full of salt water and everything went black.
Epilogue
The warm ocean water pushed and pulled Ben’s listless body against the coarse yellow sand. Its frothy liquid threatened to pull him back out to sea with each recession. Unconscious, Ben was unaware of the horrific scene around him. The very water where he rested was stained red with the blood of a thousand soldiers. Lying there, mimicking the dead, Ben was ignored by the panicking masses that ran along the seashore. It was pandemonium as the Atlanteans all tried to scramble away from the very thing that finally stirred him from his sleep—a tremor.
Please look for the rest of my Terra Incognita series starting with book two: The Other, as well as my series of short stories that tie directly into the storyline. You can like my Terra Incognita Facebook page to receive updates on new releases and general news. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a positive review, and tell your friends! Thanks for reading!
Check out Dark Summer by my good friend Lizzy Ford.
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