‘Well, I like to think that my children can think for themselves,’ Anu replied, ‘but in desperate circumstances such as this, some are best not given the option.’
‘No wonder Taliesin never had children,’ Rhun commented and Anu burst into laughter, although it was Telmo’s consciousness within the Nefilim lord who got the joke, and he was the only one with a memory that spanned back that far.
‘It’s all clear now in retrospect,’ Anu nodded to concur.
‘Well done,’ Zeven shook Rhun’s hand impressed by his insight and the scheme he’d just aided him to hatch.
Originally they had planned to get rid of the seals and the virus by sending their ship back through the Eternity Gate to the dark universe. But no one really knew how the Eternity Gate worked. With no living soul on board from which to gauge a frequency, they suspected that the Leviathan might end up in a higher universe rather than the lesser one. Here was an opportunity to ensure these curses were returned to where they truly belonged.
‘How did you know how to push the warlord’s buttons like that?’ Zeven wondered.
‘We’ve dealt with Nergal before,’ Rhun explained.
‘Oh,’ Zeven was enlightened, although he was not as familiar with their history in this universe as Rhun was.
‘You remember the Lahmuian mutant I was telling you about?’ Rhun hinted, cryptically.
‘He put us up to that?’ Zeven boggled at the claim.
‘Affirmative,’ Rhun concurred.
‘Good to know,’ Zeven jested, sarcastically. ‘I wouldn’t want to kill him now and miss out on all that fun later on.’ He rolled his eyes, deciding to tread more warily around the warlord.
His gaze drifted to the caged reptilian who’d been observing the proceedings, and although the species were not renowned for their facial expressions at this stage of their evolution, Zeven could have sworn it was smiling.
13
THE UNDERWORLD
Once the initial shock of being spirited away to the realm of the dead by a monstrously large apparition passed, Noah stood looking outwards from the platform of Ereshkigal’s throne, situated on the mezzanine level of a colosseum-like structure of stone. The floor, ceiling and back wall of the dark throne annex were writhing with bugs, snakes, spiders and creepy crawlies of all kinds that immediately vacated the area upon the queen’s return. Noah had spent a lot of time in the natural world, so the critters did not bother him. And in this Grigori form he was immortal, so they could hardly do him any harm. There was a distinct lack of natural light in this annexed area, apart from the flaming oil fountains positioned at intervals round the mezzanine. The passages that led off to the left and right of him curved around the enclosed central arena and disappeared into darkness. Yet light, and the sound of chaos, poured in through a huge stone arch on the inside curving wall that was directly in front of the throne’s platform, and this granted the only view inside the arena. Noah approached the phenomenon cautiously, marvelling at the greatest exemplar of polarity imaginable that lay therein, for it was truly a wonder and a horror to behold.
Besides this one aperture, there were no windows or doors in the huge central circular chamber. Inside, the souls of the dead bled through the walls to take flight into the celestial vortex of light and mist extending upwards through a void in the ceiling, or slide down a funnelling floor that dropped into the abyss of darkness below. Noah was encouraged to note that there were far more souls ascending than descending. Upon considering his memories of life in the dark universe, it was harrowing to witness those souls on the downwards slide. In retrospect, Noah considered that the Grigori had been lucky to have been so prized by Samyaza, but life as a human was truly hell there. Fortunately, most humans in the lesser universe did not have the intellect or experience to imagine a better existence.
‘Don’t look so glum, they are all going where they most desire to go,’ Ereshkigal advised her guest. ‘Just because another soul’s choices might differ from yours, their desires are just as valid. This evolutionary scheme is not for them,’ she explained, as if it were no big deal. ‘At the end of days, when all the souls of the multi-verse have reached their goal, they shall move on to other schemes more suited to their development.’
‘So you don’t judge the souls of the dead?’ Noah realised.
Ereshkigal shook her head to confess. ‘This set-up,’ she motioned to the forces at play within the arena, ‘was here long before I ever braved the Underworld. Every soul is their own judge.’
This was exactly what Noah had come to understand.
‘This is the most spectacular place to be found in the Underworld,’ she said as they observed the comings and goings of the deceased. ‘Which is why I built my fortress here. I have a great desire to know the unknown and to reveal patterns unseen. I wanted to achieve something that has never been done before, purely because I am the only one who can.’
‘You have certainly succeeded.’ Noah looked to the Nefilim woman beside him with more respect and wonder, for she was not at all as he expected, and quite unlike the Ereshkigal he would witness in later years. Even though Ereshkigal was under his friendly spell, it was surprising to realise she was a fellow scholar with similar aspirations to himself, yet she did not appear completely satisfied with her life’s work.
‘Then why am I still the only one who seems to understand the beauty of the unusual and strange, or that there is knowledge to be gained from knowing true pain and suffering? The creatures who live alone in the darkness still have a rightful place in the great scheme, and desire to be admired and recognised for what they do and who they are. Like Kur, and the other Dark Guardians of the doors to Underworld.’
The monstrous apparition that had delivered both Ereshkigal and Noah to the Underworld had taken a solid form — that of a huge dark dragon, breathing fire, and menacing in appearance. This might have been horrifying to Armaros, as the Grigorian had never seen a dragon, but Noah’s mind harked back to his lifetime in the dark ages of Britain, and he was filled with wonder and sentiment, for he’d not seen a dragon since then.
Ereshkigal was quietly impressed that her captive did not run in fear from the beast, nor pull a weapon and attempt to slay it. ‘What name do you go by, Grigorian?’
‘Armaros.’
‘Are you not afraid of the mighty Kur, Armaros?’ Ereshkigal took a step closer, finding his lack of fear rather fetching.
‘Well, of course I fear him,’ Noah maintained. ‘Dragons are the most formidable, magical and intelligent creatures in all of creation. That is why they are the champions of Tiamat.’
The beast snorted fire in a non-threatening manner and settled into a comfortable position lying alongside the throne. I like him better than the last one.
Noah’s eyes widened upon picking up on the dragon’s thought.
‘Yes,’ Ereshkigal placed her hands on the Grigorian. ‘He is really very genuine for a creature so revoltingly pretty.’
Noah grinned, unsure if he was flattered or insulted. ‘May I ask why you have brought me here, Highness?’
‘For company,’ she said resting her head upon his shoulder, ‘and pleasure.’ She nestled her head into his neck again.
‘I am a sexless being,’ he stated, without spurning her.
‘You have a tongue and fingers …’ She toyed with his hands and then placed them on her body. ‘The energy you exude is amazing! Explore, I command it.’
‘But there can be no issue from our relations.’ Noah got to the point, although he near forgot it as she guided his hands over her heaving breasts.
‘I am already with child,’ she advised, with a smile of satisfaction.
Noah swiftly withdrew his hands and stepped away from her. ‘Then you must already have a mate.’ He played coy and concerned, but he really sought information. He already suspected who the father was.
‘He despises the Underworld and refuses to see me,’ Ereshkigal advised coolly, as Kur breathed fire to protest the very
mention of the subject.
‘I am sorry —’ Noah attempted to sympathise.
‘Why? I’m not.’ Ereshkigal lost her amorous mood and retreated to sit upon her throne. ‘He only mated with me to gain power over me! Well, I shall not give him the satisfaction. You have given me this clarity, Grigorian. I do not need him. Your presence is one thousand times more agreeable than his.’ She raised a finger and beckoned him to approach.
Agreed. Kur seconded his mistress’ resolve.
‘It is my honour to please you thus,’ Noah assured her, staying where he was. ‘But hasn’t the Pantheon ordered all the Grigori be taken to cryogen?’
Your toy is wanted by the Pantheon? The dragon was disturbed by the news and raised himself. You were aware of this!
Ereshkigal was alarmed by the resentment behind Kur’s accusation. ‘It was a spur of the moment decision, I did not consider —’
You did this knowing he would be sent to fetch the Grigorian back!
‘My dearest half brother … that was not the way of it,’ she appealed to the creature kindly.
Noah found Ereshkigal’s reference to the dragon as half-brother curious; in fact he found everything about Ereshkigal curious. How had she become the sole ruler and only living occupant in the realm of the dead? He felt Kur surely had something to do with her privilege, and at this present moment the dragon appeared none too pleased with the object of his patronage.
You vowed, along with me, to challenge and fight to the very end those who dared to approach the Underworld uninvited! Kur snarled in challenge.
‘And if he dares come, I shall,’ Ereshkigal exerted.
That is what you said last time, Kur now seemed more hurt than angered. And now you carry his seed! Kur growled as his anger overwhelmed him once more and morphing into shadow, the creature vanished.
Ereshkigal looked back to Noah. ‘Could he be right, do you think?’
Noah had decided to lose some of his loving feeling in order that she might lose interest in seducing him. ‘Sometimes, destiny forces us to act in ways we cannot explain, and are not even aware of.’
‘I came to my throne in the Underworld in such a way.’ Ereshkigal related to his reasoning. ‘And as surely as I knew when I met Kur that he could carry me here, where I could be one of a kind with the one who is all kinds … I also know that the father of my child will destroy everything I have achieved here. And still I am drawn towards him. Against my own will, I could not stay my hand!’
‘Kur seems jealous of your mate,’ Noah observed the dragon was rather dark on Nergal.
‘Naturally so,’ Ereshkigal validated her companion’s reaction. ‘For Nergal is Kur’s polar opposite in every way: fair of face, yet heartless, cold, and a moronically boring intellectual. Whereas Kur, despite his ferocious appearance, is the most loyal, loving, intuitive and wise being I know. The Pantheon do not like that I live in the realm beyond their influence, or that I have access to powers beyond their understanding. They sent the handsome Nergal to tempt me to abandon my claim here and return to the land of the living. For he will not live here, and if I am to be his wife, I must stay at his side, and he will ban me from visiting the Underworld again.’
‘Hence the reason why Kur is so opposed to Nergal.’ Noah nodded, appreciating her woes. ‘So it appears I am just bait for a much larger fish you wish to catch.’
Ereshkigal looked down to reflect on this, and was saddened to have to nod to affirm. ‘Kur’s instincts are never wrong.’ She snapped herself out of her melancholy and looked back to her guest. ‘But before my fate comes calling for me, tell me of the dark universe you came from.’
‘We all came from the dark universe,’ he replied.
Ereshkigal smiled broadly to learn this. ‘Then why can I not remember?’
‘Because we Grigori are the only soul-group cursed to remember; the universe has done you a great kindness by allowing you to forget,’ he suggested.
‘No, for me it is an injustice. I alone among the living in this universe hold the desire to dive into the deepest depths of creation, and by so doing know the deepest depths of my sacred self. This is why I ventured into the Underworld. But here is as close as I can get to the ancient dark ones that are the seat of my soul, I know it!’ she insisted.
‘That is why you wanted the seals,’ Noah realised.
‘Yes!’ she replied, as if only just realising that she had been distracted from her goal. ‘If I cannot get to the dark ones, then I could summon the dark ones to me. Their seals will be safer and more cherished with me than anyone; you must help me acquire them.’
‘If you knew the Fallen Elohim like I do, you would know those seals are not safe with anyone outside of the dark universe.’ He could not vindicate her wish. ‘But you are right in thinking your soul-group harks back to the ancient dark ones of which you speak. Your language, your technology and even the way you think, is all reminiscent of the Fallen Elohim.’
Ereshkigal was not angered by his refusal to aid her with the seals, it appeared she had another idea more inspiring. ‘I am adept at reading the thoughts and feelings of others, that is how I came to befriend Kur … would you share your memories of the dark universe with me?’
Noah was rather impressed that this was a request and not a command. ‘If it will help you realise the danger of using those seals, it would be my honour and my duty to share with you what I know.’
‘Come, sit before me,’ she beckoned him forth once again, and this time Noah complied, approaching to kneel before her.
‘You must not fear invoking the darkest of your recollections …’ She placed her long slender hands upon his shoulders. ‘There is no horror that is too painful for me to bear.’
‘I will oblige you in this,’ Noah vowed, ‘as I understand how vital it is that you know the truth.’
The queen of the dead smiled, excited. ‘It is my life’s aspiration you are about to fulfil, Grigorian, for which you shall hold my utmost gratitude.’
‘You seek to find beauty in all things, but in the dark universe there are beings so pure in hatred and devoid of compassion that no amount of nurture will save them from themselves,’ Noah warned.
‘Show me,’ Ereshkigal urged nonetheless.
‘As you wish.’ With a heavy sigh, Noah closed his eyes to cast his thoughts back to Tartarus and his dark life spent in imperial service.
Once it was cleared of bodies, Anu held a closed court in his Worlds Chamber, with Nergal and all the Grigori who remained conscious. Zeven had brought the cryogen incubator containing the virus to the meeting with him, as he was not prepared to let it out of his sight — or out of his psychokinetic influence, which was keeping the package powered up and on ice.
‘What could you possibly have that Ereshkigal would desire?’ Nergal was demanding to know.
‘On board our craft are some very precious souvenirs from the dark universe that your lady love has already attempted to steal,’ Zeven assured the warlord boldly.
Nergal’s mood darkened. ‘I have no interest in that morbid piece of work … and anything on board your vessel is mine, being that your vessel has been seized by my forces.’ He motioned to one of the Worlds Chamber screens that displayed an image of the Nefilim base ship that hovered over the Leviathan. But Nergal did a double take, when he glanced to the image and found the captured craft had vanished.
‘Sorry,’ Zeven apologised, ‘you were saying?’
Nergal came at Zeven, raising a fist to slam into him, but he found that he could not — the young Nefilim lord’s unconscious vow to Anu prevented it. He roared out his anger and then backed down.
‘That’s not very cooperative,’ Zeven pointed out, unfazed. ‘But if you would like me to have our treasure brought forth, I can arrange it.’
‘What guarantee do I have that, when this quest is done, you will all submit to cryogen as vowed?’ Nergal resisted as best he could.
‘Unlike you, we fathom what cooperation means,’ Rhun com
mented.
‘I will take personal responsibility for the incarceration of the Grigori upon your return,’ Anu advised the warlord and then looked to Zeven. ‘Tell Sacha to bring them forth.’
Zeven looked to Leal in Sariel’s form, and gave him the nod. Leal closed his eyes to send a telepathic message to the Grigorian, Sacha, who was the body Avery was inhabiting at present.
Moments later Sacha appeared in the Worlds Chamber, accompanied by a great clang of metal, as all the seals, still melted beyond recognition, fell into piles around him.
‘This is just a pile of junk!’ Nergal observed the ruckus with disgust.
‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Avery floated his Grigori form up and over the pile of metal to come stand before Sammael. ‘What would you like me to do with this lot?’
‘I shall take it from here,’ Zeven replied, ‘the rest of you can submit yourselves to cryogen.’
Leal breathed a huge sigh of relief, clutching at the void between his legs. ‘Thought you’d never ask.’
‘Don’t screw this up,’ Avery uttered quietly to the man they were leaving in charge, then resigning himself to the command, he took a seat on the floor next to where Leal had plonked himself down.
‘Bring our brother back to us.’ Jazmay sat Gadriel’s form next to Sariel and Sacha.
‘I have the utmost faith in you,’ Rhun gripped his brother’s right forearm, and Zeven did likewise thankful for the vote of confidence. ‘If you can tame a mutant, the Queen of the Dead ought be a pushover.’
Zeven was amused, as he considered just how many times he’d found himself in precarious predicaments. ‘Yeah … I think, if we create our own reality, I really need to question where my head is at.’
Rhun grinned, in tune with that sentiment. ‘A conundrum best left for musing in some future time.’ Rhun’s Grigorian form, Penemue, lay down alongside his brothers. Closing their eyes, their forms fell limp as their spirit consciousnesses took flight back to the future.
‘I like these odds so much better,’ Nergal grinned.