Chapter Ten

The first battle came suddenly in the night.

The night had started in silence. Insects no longer chirped in the darkness, animals no longer rustling. The only sound in the forest was the occasional call of an owl, a smooth haunting sound that echoed through the trees before fading. Overhead, the sky was a blanket of billions of glittering stars, mists of blue and purple weaving them together.

The fortress was quiet, though, most did not sleep. The only lights came from handheld candles drifting through the darkness, whispers of creatures ghosting through the house. Above, Geara had turned in for the night, with much force, as she had refused to quit lying amongst piles of scrolls and books. It was only when Starkin gave her a solid hug that she melted into his arms and fell to sleep, having been given my permission to take her to her quarters to rest.

Meanwhile, Satanika had become my shadow. She followed me closely, even when there was truly no reason to. My encounter with Atlan had concerned her, in terms of my mental state, and she insisted on sticking close to ensure I did not snap.

I didn't plan to.

Not yet.

I had enough control to keep my emotions under lock and key. Atlan's threat, and his taunting, had done nothing more than strengthen my resolve over the situation, over my desire to capture him. I was unsure yet if I was to kill him. I was also unsure as to who it was that supposedly held the ultimate decision over his demise. I'd attempted to contact the Source over the several days following my encounter with the creature, however, I only received gentle hums in response, as if the Source was attempting to calm me and assure me that all would turn out as it should.

I did not like that response. I did not like it one bit.

It was the Source itself that warned me of Atlan, so surely the Source would be happy to inform me how to rid the universe of his stain. Yet no word, simply humming. A humming that sounded painfully similar to that of the owl off in the distance.

"Joxeia, it's cold out here." I stood at the edge of a terrace branching away from the family room, not turning to face Satanika. I could hear her boots creak on the sand and stone of the foundation as she approached, and she came to stand at my side, dressed in a pair of snug black pants and a loose flowing rose colored top. Her curls were coiled up into a loose knot atop her head, though a few stray strands bounced near her temples, fell to her shoulders and down the back of he neck.

"It's not too cold," I replied. Satanika arched a brow skeptically, then reached out to place a hand on my bare arm, as I wore only a sleeveless high collar top and black lounge pants. She scowled, rubbing at my arm before she stepped in close to put her arms around me.

"You're freezing, Jo! I can see your breath, yet you stand here in nary a jacket?" Her demand was hissed in concern, but her nickname caught me off guard as I turned to look at her questioningly.

"What did you call me?"

"Jo," Satanika declared, keeping her arms around me, and I could feel the heat of her body warming the physical cold, but it unfortunately did nothing for the coldness lingering in my chest, "I find that such a name suits you. The real you. The you that shall return one day. May it be tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after, or--"

"Yes, yes, I quite understand the length behind your estimation," I said dryly, reaching up to pry her arms from me, laying them at her sides, "Feel free to call me as you wish... As I shall call you something as well." Satanika raised her brow, folding her arms over her chest.

"It better be cute."

"Satan."

"Satan? That sounds so bland! Do I look bland to you?"

"I think its sounds lovely," I defended, surprised at the relaxation in my muscles at finally having a lax conversation for the first time in weeks, "It means determined."

"It means stubborn, you peabrain," Satanika scoffed, then paused to cock her head, "But I suppose that is not a lie. Aye, fine, you win, but I will still call you Jo. I call them pet names and they shall be terms of endearment."

"Endearment?"

"Yes, because you are dear to me, Jo," Satanika replied simply. I blinked, then stared at her. She stared back at me. A strange rift went through the air, as if an unseen force was pulling us close, and she lifted her hand to rest upon mine on the railing of the terrace. I dropped my eyes only for a moment to stare at our hands, then met her hazel eyes. The stare, which somehow spoke louder than any words I could muster, was broken when I realized something was wrong.

"It's quiet," I said abruptly, turning to stare out at the fortress wall. Satanika frowned curiously for a moment before she realized what I meant.

The owl had ceased its midnight song.

We stared at the walls with baited breath, watching... waiting...

And it happened suddenly.

A heavy power shook the earth beneath us, knocking us off our feet and slamming into the terrace. I quickly rolled over and shielded Satanika with my body as debris from the shattering fortress wall went flying. I hissed as stones bounced and shot through the air, cutting my cheek and bare arms. Satanika kept her head covered, breathing hard against the ground with her eyes squeezed shut.

"What is that?" She shouted over the roar of stones exploding from the fortress wall, flying through the air and smashing holes in what was formerly called our home. Shining black obsidian shattered like glass and scattered like blades. I snatched one in my fist, feeling the air around me stir unnaturally, and I swung my arm around, landing the blade in the side of one of the attackers who'd broken through the wall.

Said attacker shrieked in a combination of anger and agony, going down hard on the terrace. I took one look at Satanika to ensure her safety, and she gave me a confident nod, grabbing her own piece of weaponry from the debris. I spun back around, shooting to my feet and dressing myself in my battle regalia.

On the ground, the attacker howled in agony, snatching around for the blade to yank it out. The attacker wore chainmail in a long vest, metal gauntlets and matching greaves with tall boots, and a black mask with two dark holes for vision and a straight line for breath. A black cloak was pinned to its metal shoulder pads that stuck out like blades.

The creature itself was definitely taller than myself as he heaved himself to his feet, and built like a mountain as it threw its head back in a mighty roar. The now confirmed male twirled the bloodied blade in his palm and lunged for me, but I spun out of the way and threw out my hands as I dodged backwards several steps, summoning the power that gave me my twin swords.

The mountain spun back around and stalked toward me. It was then I noticed that more creatures were coming in through the hole in the wall, stalking toward the fortress like a black plague. Within the fortress itself, I could hear screams and battle cries echo through the night. I clenched my teeth, watching as the mountain creature roared at me again, this time throwing the blade at me, which I blocked easily.

And suddenly I was snatched up from behind, making me gasp as I was heaved up from the ground and squeezed until my ribcage felt as if it might snap, and the mountain of a creature before me came forward with a demonic chuckle echoing through that straight mouth mask.

I snarled and bared my teeth, rearing back all my weight and throwing the creature behind me off balance, causing us both to topple over, my weight crushing him. He grunted and I leapt off him in time to sink one of my swords into the belly of the mountain, who howled and his arms wheeled backwards to stay balanced, but he fell backwards, sliding off my blade, which I then turned on the beast behind me.

I spun around and sliced hard across the beast's chest. He snarled and swatted at me, but I ducked and spun around the other way, catching the back of his knees with my blade, and down he went like a felled tree.

I looked up to see Satanika leap into the air, performing a flawless spin kick that she landed smack into an attacker's face. She landed down in a crouch, then popped back up to land an uppercut blow to an opponent's jaw, sending him flying back into the wall of obsidian. Confirming he was down, she ran toward me, breathing hard.

"Do we kill them?" She demanded. I clenched my teeth, gripping my swords tight as I scanned the carnage around us and the attackers who were launching themselves into the fortress, which was now an echo of screams and roars, weapons clashing, things crashing and breaking.

"Yes," I said after a moment, "Kill anyone who raises a weapon to you. Clearly the Source will allow certain souls to return. If you see Xiphrus, however, do not kill him. Nor Atlan." Satanika's eyes flashed.

"We need to find the one that can kill him, Jo."

"I know. But right now, we need to protect and serve. Arm yourself properly. We're going in together." Satanika nodded, closed her eyes, and changed into her military uniform, her hair magically doing itself up into its side braided ponytail that fell down her back, and in her hands appeared a pair of sleek gold blades that connected to a pierce around her knuckles where hard sharp points stood out.

I nodded and together we entered quickly into the family room, which had been completely destroyed. The oven had been bashed in completely, a body slumping out of it, unmoving. The cooling unit had been knocked over and currently rested upon another body. Blood was splattered across the walls, across the floors, no surface left untouched by weapon or blood.

"I suppose there's no need to tell everyone they can kill each other," Satanika said, frowning at the carnage. My eyes drifted to the next room to see Geara and Starkin pinned down by five large creatures that were snarling and wielding weapons.

Geara had dressed herself in a white jumpsuit with only leather greaves and leather vambraces, and in her hands was a double sided spear, though she appeared more content with merely whipping people across the face with the staff part and making only warning cuts at their attackers, which appeared to only anger them.

Meanwhile, Starkin stood at her side, dressed in an outfit like Satanika's, with his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail with braids along the sides like Satanika. They were almost identical in their warrior attire. And in their fighting skills and weapons. Where Satanika's knuckle blades were gold, his were made of silver.

"We have to help them," Satanika said, earning a nod from me. Geara was clearly not set in her way to kill the creatures. She was breathing hard, a cut across her cheek and down her nose, another splitting the suit and flesh of her bicep, giving way to deep red blood that stained her uniform.

When another creature lunged at her, she leapt back and smacked him hard upside the head with the staff and tried to speak to him, to get through to him, but he merely snarled in her face and bashed their heads together, causing her to stumble back. Starkin moved before either Satanika and I could, blocking the creature's next attack by kicking him back and slashing his blade up across the creature's face, slitting open the mask and the face beneath so blood came spraying out and the creature crumpled.

Geara stared at the creature, frozen.

"Geara," I barked, quickly moving into the next room to join them, causing the other four remaining creatures to turn in a partial circle to face all of us, "I know you do not wish to fight. It is not in your nature. Let us do it for you." Her eyes widened at that, and she had no time to speak as one of the creature's lunged for her.

I darted out, slamming into him and pinning him to the ground, straddling him and hoisting one of my swords up. I was dimly aware of Geara shouting at me to stop, of Satanika and Starkin engaging the other creatures, but my focus was locked on the writhing creature beneath me. I struck the blade home, directly through the monster's mask, and it went limp beneath me. I heaved myself to my feet and looked up to see Geara staring at me in horror.

I frowned, rushing to her quickly to place my hand over the wound in her arm, healing it instantly.

"Geara, find safety. You should be with the children to provide them with comfort, them and their mothers. You--"

"You killed Prixius," Geara choked. I blinked at her interruption, then turned to look at the body that lay upon the floor in a massive pool of red blood. I stared at the mask that had slid off when I'd moved away from the body, and sure enough, Prixius's blank stare was directed toward the ceiling, blood pooling out of the gash in the center of his face, having torn his nose off, splitting his lips and his jaw.

For a moment, something in me cracked. The wall splintered and my breath caught in my throat. My knees felt weak and I nearly hit the floor, but Satanika appeared out of nowhere to grab me by the arm, steadying me.

"Joxeia, it's alright--"

"It is not alright," Geara snapped at her, making Satanika's eyes widen, "None of this is alright! Look at what is being done to our home! I can no longer see the floor for all the blood! This carnage must end!" Starkin stood beside her, frowning deeply, but sympathy glowed in his eyes. I stared at them, then at Geara, her pained gold eyes boring into mine, chipping away at everything I'd built up to protect myself from the same pain she was feeling now.

My eyes fell back down to Prixius where he lay. The light had left his eyes now, his soul had vacated the vessel, and no doubt it was Death who had taken him into his arms and carried him to his final resting place. And I wondered briefly if the Source would forgive him for his sacrilege, forgive him for his confusion, his anger.

I swallowed hard, feeling a brief wave of tears collect behind my eyes, preparing to stream free, but a high-pitched scream rose in the night and all our heads turned sharply to the side to see that the other end of the fortress had been broken into-- the one where the children and their mothers were hiding.

"No!" Geara took off running first. The rest of us followed in a sprint, shooting through the main hall and taking to the library where the hidden door disguised as a bookcase had been thrown from the wall and the entrance revealed, within the sound of high-pitched screams and wailing echoing through the corridor.

Without hesitation, we bolted through the hallway that led to a narrow spiral staircase down beneath the fortress and into the ground, where the staircase opened up into a large room, currently filled with screaming children and mothers fighting to protect them. Already blood was creating a sea on the stone floor, filling in the cracks, splashing up against the walls as creatures took down one female after another.

Geara threw her hand out, and a sonic blast of gold magic pulsed through the room, instantly killing every single creature in the room. She shuddered and slumped to the floor on her knees, blood splashing up across her uniform. Starkin dropped down with her to catch her before she could fall while Satanika and I stepped forward to access the damage.

And bile threatened to rise in my throat.

While we had arrived in time to save a majority of the children and mothers, there were still a handful laying dead on the floor. My eyes swept across the massacre, freezing on the sight of a tiny dismembered hand clutching a doll. This time, I couldn't hold the bile back and I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth, spinning around and racing up the stairs, ignoring Satanika's calls.

I burst through the front entrance of the fortress, stumbled down the steps and collapsed to my knees to vomit on the grass. My body shuddered and trembled as I gasped for air in between wretching that had faded to dry heaves. My head bowed, I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the tears finally break free and streak down my face, taking with it the black war paint I'd swept straight across my face over my eyes.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Why would they attack the innocent? They were neutral in the war. They were only here for protection, that was it. They were never supposed to get caught in the crossfire.

The children had been the first of their kind, the first to be born to creatures my siblings and I had created. Prixius's daughter was down there. Thia's sons. Mothers that had been created both by the hand of my siblings, and a couple from the Source. Nyx and Erebus had been down there, and though they still lived, there was the horror of this night that would linger forever in their young minds.

They were innocent!

"They were innocent, you bastards," I shouted suddenly, rising on shaking legs to glare into the darkness, "You killed children! Is this what you wanted, Xiphrus? The death of newborns? The death of small creatures like Nyx and Erebus? Is this what your Atlan says will change the world for the better? Tell me, Xiphrus, in what world is it required to murder children? If that is your philosophy, if that is the philosophy of your Atlan, then damn you both to the bowels of the Source! Damn you both! You're monsters!" My voice echoed back at me and though there was no response, something told me someone was listening. I was not sure who, but I prayed to the Source it was Xiphrus and I prayed to the Source he would never be able to close his eyes without seeing the tiny bodies scattered amongst the dead.

I bit back another wave of tears, breathing hard to bring myself under control. I spun back around and stormed into the fortress, intent on returning to the basement when I heard something scurrying down the main hall and toward the stairs. I left the library, shooting to the stairs just in time to see something disappear on the floor above this one.

I raced up the stairs, swinging around the top banister and running after the shadow that darted into my quarters. I slowed to a halt just outside the door, bringing my swords up in preparation to attack, using the tip of one sword to slide the door open further and coming into the room slowly. The room was empty, undisturbed.

I frowned, looking around until my eyes caught a flash of white and I snapped my head. I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror mounted above the fire pit. The black sheet I'd thrust upon it had been torn down and now sparked and hissed in the fire. I stared at the fire, then back up at my reflection, and the black paint streaked down my cheeks.

I heard a hushed noise and I turned my head to stare at my bed, staring at the shadows beneath it, studying the stillness there... and then something shifted and I started to draw my sword, until I heard a stifled hiccup and I quickly sheathed my weapons, approaching the bed.

"Come out," I said softly, "There is no one here who will harm you. Tis I, Joxeia." There was a long pause before two little smokey spirits flew out from under the bed, taking vessel form before me as Nyx and Erebus, both of whom stared up at me with big teary eyes before they attacked my legs, wrapping their arms around me tightly.

I moved down so I was at their level and put my arms around them, holding them close.

They spoke not a word of the attack, not of the lives lost, not of the blood, the war. They simply huddled close and wept. Though they were mere children, they were not stupid. They knew what was happening; the cold hard truth of it. They saw through the clear glass of innocence, saw the carnage and the wrongness of it, on both sides.

It truly made me feel filthy to have them touch me when I was covered in blood, but they didn't appear to mind. If anything, they nestled further until their physical forms became wispy and shadowy, attempting to blend into the darkness of my clothing. I held them tight, allowed them to cry their hearts out until they stepped back.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly, reaching up to tuck a lock of Nyx's hair behind her ear and stroke Erebus's. Both of them nodded, and Nyx reached into the pocket of her cloak, pulling out the oversized frog that appeared to be trembling.

"They scared Zeus!" She exclaimed, as if it were the ultimate offense. I smiled half-heartedly, reaching out to lay a finger on the frog's head and the thing ceased its shivering, blinking bulbous eyes at me.

"Is that better?" I asked. Nyx nodded, hugging the frog close and tilting her head down toward it before she smiled.

"He says thank you."

"Tell him I am honored to have helped. Now come, we must leave the fortress for now," I informed them, rising to my feet. Erebus stared up at me owlishly.

"Why so? Nyx and I have already grown comfortable in our new room," he said. I frowned.

"New room?" I asked. Erebus pointed under my bed and I felt a tickle of laughter rise in my chest, coming out as a low chuckle of amusement as I reached down to ruffle his head.

"We will find much better quarters, safer. For both of you, and of course, Zeus," I added, looking at the frog that bulged with a low croak. Nyx stroked his head and then took Erebus's hand in hers. I led them back downstairs, relieved to find that the carnage had been moved aside so the children would not be forced to bear the horrid sight.

Down in the main hall, the surviving creatures had gathered in a crowded cluster with soldiers making a thick circle around the mothers and children. Geara had been speaking to Satanika and Starkin in a low voice as I arrived with Nyx and Erebus. I shooed them away to join the center of the circle before turning to Geara, who watched the children scamper off.

"Ew," Satanika said dryly, watching them leave, "Was that a toad the child carried?"

"I believe they are called frogs," Starkin replied, and Satanika frowned at him, "There is a difference. Unfortunately, frogs require water, do they not?" He turned to Geara, who smiled.

"Aye, but when Nyx becomes shadow, she also becomes water vapor. It is enough to sustain the beast until it can find true shelter," she explained, making Starkin wrinkled his nose as he absorbed the information, and Satanika made a face of disapproval, "Anyway, we must seek shelter elsewhere. The fortress is not as safe as we assumed. We need something that can withstand blasts of magic, and we need a stronger barrier. We also need an escape route so that next time the mother and children should be able to escape."

"What was the death toll tonight?" I asked. Satanika looked at me grimly.

"Twenty and one," she answered, making my eyes widen.

"Such a large number. And of the enemy?"

"Twenty and six, but only because a few were caught in their own blasting through the wall. We were unprepared for the attack. Although, I suppose there is one bright side to this all," Satanika said, making me frown in disagreement, "We managed to capture one of the enemy's soldiers. The creature called Himus. With a little persuasion, we've learned that they used a calling to signal their troops."

I frowned for a moment, curious, until I remembered the sound of the owl cooing into the night and I cursed low, reaching up to swipe a hand over my hair in frustration.

"Aye, I heard it," I replied, making all eyes turn to me, "The sound of an owl. I thought it natural to the night."

"I never would have caught that," Satanika admitted.

"No one did," Starkin replied, "Tis why they used it. They knew it was false, but we did not. We must further improve our battle strategies."

"He's right," Geara murmured, then took a deep breath and met my eyes, "But I must focus entirely on seeking the end to Xiphrus. Soon, Atlan will unleash him upon us and we will be unable to stop him, Joxeia. You know as well as I that tonight was naught, but a stone throw into a pond. Should Xiphrus lose himself, the pond will be without water and all life within will cease." I nodded.

"Leave the war to us. Find a way to stop Xiphrus, and, Geara," I added before she could take off to inform the others of our move, my hand resting on her arm and her eyes locking with mine, "See if you can find any texts of prophecy." Geara's brows knitted into a deep frown as she shared a quick glance with Starkin and Satanika.

"Prophecy?" She asked. I nodded.

"Atlan knows something we do not, I fear to say. He speaks of one, and only one, who can bring his ruination. If what he speaks is truth, his death by our hands, or any that is not the right one, could bring about the destruction of everything," I explained. Geara's eyes widened at that.

"What is he that he knows of prophecy that we do not?" She demanded. I shook my head.

"I know not, sister mine, for I care not. What I do know is that he is evil that must be stopped in order to protect the rest of the universe. Find the prophecy. Find Xiphrus's lock and key. We lost too many tonight and I shan't lose more." Geara's eyes welled with tears for a split second before she blinked them back, swallowing hard. She gave me a firm nod, started to leave, then turned back to place a kiss upon mine cheek... and then my nose, my temple, and she quickly hurried off.

I turned back to Satanika and Starkin, who straightened to attention.

"Prepare the others. We must move now. Atlan will not make any further moves until he has assessed the situation. To him, this is a game. He has made his move. Now it is our turn, and we must move quickly so that we can catch him off guard. Starting with whatever pit he calls home."