In Jupiter's throne room, high up on a narrow viewing platform, tucked neatly behind an overly flattering marble statue of the king, Branna waited. The statue was taller and wider than its subject by half, and the space that it occupied left little room for Branna to find a sure footing. Her knuckles whitened as she held on to the stone with all her might; barely daring to draw breath, lest she should slip. The white marble was imbued with a smoky grey imperfection that somehow managed to impart depth and life to the likeness, and she half expected the head of the stone king to turn and ask her what she was doing. The table where the king had been sitting when they first met with him had been cleared. Flaming torches halfway up the walls of the room cast a low orange glow onto the stone surfaces, from floor, to the throne, to the vaulted ceiling. The entire setting was designed to impress and to intimidate, and it did just that without the need for a large force of guards in attendance.

Branna made herself as small as possible as she clung closely to the king's likeness when voices echoed from somewhere outside the mighty doors to the room. The doors swung open and the king, still in the humble clothing of a commoner, and his brother, Saturn, strode into the room. Saturn did not stop to take in the majesty of the chamber—he had either been there before, or he simply didn't care to feign being impressed by his brother's inclination towards overblown grandeur and professed power.

"It is such a shame brother," said Saturn, as he cast his gaze about the space, fleetingly. "You have created something truly marvellous in this place. It is a city and a civilisation to rival anything that has gone before or is yet to come. You really have a gift for design."

"It doesn't need to be a shame," replied Jupiter. "We can go on like this for as long as we want. My people are happy with the status quo. As are the peoples of the other kingdoms. When we first began this little experiment, we decided that it would one day end. And that ending would be violent and deadly. But as I have said to the others, why must it be so? I am happy. They are happy. And you happy, brother? Could you not be content with what you have? If you ended your rush towards madness, then all wars would end between the kingdoms and this land truly could become paradise. Perhaps this was what our Father intended? What we have created here far surpasses anything that can be found in the other realm. It might seem like an odd suggestion, given everything we have been through, but isn't there a rational argument to be made for simply continuing on as we have been for all this time, and leaving the humans to their own destiny?"

"I wish it could be so. I mean to say; I wish it was as simple as you say. Alas, we are on a road without turning. If I called a council of our brothers and said that I wanted peace, who would believe me? Who would even turn up? We are set fast on this trajectory. Our brothers will blame me for the destruction that is to follow, but if they were truly honest with themselves, they too crave the destruction as much as I do. It is the final destination to which we must now turn. This is why I have sought this meeting with you."

They walked across to the table and sat down.

"Do you know when the war will begin?" asked Saturn. "I only ask as there are a number of personal issues that I would like to deal with before the end, and it would be helpful to know how long I have to attend to them. I'm not looking for some insight into your battle plans, just a sense of when the war will start."

"I can't be certain. For two years there have been skirmishes. You know the kind of thing? Small incursions into my territory. They are testing me. They see my kingdom as the greatest prize. Once I have been conquered the victor will easily sweep aside the other kingdoms and then they will set their sights on you. It will take years. Probably."

"And how well have you faired in these tests?"

Jupiter smiled.

"I am still here," he replied, simply.

"For now," Saturn teased, with a hint of menace.

"Indeed, brother. And when this city lies in ruin, will you find the peace that you desire?"

"When this city, and all cities, and the realm of men, all lie in ruin, then I will find peace. We will all find peace. It will be a new start. And if you stand by my side, you too will find peace."

"I have no desire to stand by your side in a ruined creation. And I have even less desire in rehashing this argument. I made my choice and I will not bend. If we must go to war and destroy everything we have created, let there be no doubt, it will be as a result of the choice you alone have made. You may stand victorious in the ashes of that destruction, but those ashes will be your responsibility."

Saturn smiled before replying.

"You have been living this fantasy life of a human for so long that you are beginning to believe the delusion. Your morality is now firmly rooted in matter. It is restrictive, short-sighted, and sickening. Never forget what you were, brother, and never turn your back on the possibility of returning to your former glory. When I rule supreme, I can restore this city from the ashes. It will be bigger, and brighter, and eternal. You can then get lost in your idea of paradise, and you will never have to raise a sword in anger again. Surely that is worth more than some perceived loyalty to a deviant race that does not know, or care, about you and your children? In me you will not have a loyal brother; you will have a loving father."

"I already have a loving Father. I want this to be over, and I want a peace that we can all live with and thrive in. We wanted free will, and He gave that to us. It is our responsibility to use that free will wisely, and with love. For the good of all creation."

"Says a king about to go to war with his own brothers," mocked Saturn.

"Forced to go to war to save our Father's creation. Forced to go to war in an effort to stop you and your blasphemy. We fought a great war and we lost. But we survived. When this war is at an end, even if you should triumph, you will have one more war to fight. You will lose that war. It is inevitable. The war with our brothers will not only decimate us."

"The humans? You are concerned for the humans? This war, once finished, will be acted out in the human realm. You know the truth of what I say. As above, so below. It is His immutable law. It will be their destruction. Do you really want that? For you? For them? I relish the thought of their destruction, but do you?"

"What other choice do I have? If you triumph, you will destroy them. If we go to war with you then millions of them will die as that war is played out in their world. Opposing you will cost them dearly but submitting to you will destroy them entirely."

"There is a choice," said Saturn, passively. "When you win the battles against our brothers, kneel before me and I will spare this city."

"And mankind?"

"Their losses will be matched by our losses. I cannot change that truth. But those that remain, I swear to you now, I will not harm them. You can even join them. Guide them, as we once did. You would be a god to them, as you have been in the time when they were truly spiritual creatures. You never know brother; you might even direct them towards the glory that Father had once imagined for them? You could make real the promise Father has teased them with since He created them."

Jupiter smiled.

"Only you could indulge in a description of genocide in such positive terms," said Jupiter. "But it is not going to happen. At least it is not going to happen in the way that you imagine. If you want to play at being a god, then you can do so, in this place, in your kingdom. Everything else that you aspire to is forbidden. We will not let your will be done."

"If my existence is so unholy, so debased, I wonder why I was created? I fill a need. A need in creation, and a need in Him. Do not judge me, brother. And do not fear me or what I do. If I was not meant to be, I would not be. That I am should instruct you in the righteousness of my mission. There are no accidents in Father's creation. None. Keep that simple truth in your thoughts as you make plans for my destruction."

Jupiter stood up. He walked across the room and he stood in front of a cold fireplace. Saturn gave his brother a few moments to think on his words, before joining him.

"You feed on the divine spark in the heart of every human, in the hearts of your brothers and their children, and you call it righteousness?" asked Jupiter, pointedly.

Saturn grew irritated by his brother's words.

"His ideas were noble. Had humanity realised their full potential they would have joined us in a new Heaven. It was the grandest vision. But it has failed. They failed their Father and we have been punished for that failure. I want a new vision for creation. I want justice and peace."

"And your justice will only be achieved at the highest cost. To us all, including to you. If you do this, you will rule, but it will be a kingdom of compliance through fear."

"All children should fear their father."

"And all children need a father that they can love, and one who loves them in return. If you do not get that simple truth, then you have lost all reason."

"They will love me, brother."

"And if they don't you will send them screaming into oblivion?"

"Perhaps, but it will be a choice. It is more choice than we were given."

They moved back to the table and sat down.

"It breaks my heart that it has come to this," said Jupiter. "If I could avoid the carnage, I would offer you my head."

Saturn smiled warmly.

"You were always the best of us," said Saturn. "And that is why I have come to you. If you can convince the others, then war will be avoided. If they give me their power in this place, then I will leave all of you in peace to rule over the Earth. But if I cannot convince you, there is no hope of convincing the others. This must play out. It was His prophecy, after all."

"It was His nightmare, but it was never His hope, or desire. And you would never be happy ruling in this realm alone. It saddens me to say brother, but I simply don't trust you. We don't trust you."

Saturn stood up sharply.

"I will take my leave of you now, brother. I wish you every success in your little battles. And it is my sincerest hope that you are victorious. In the final battle, I can think of none worthier as an opponent."

Saturn walked towards the door.

"It is never too late to change your mind," Jupiter called after him.

Saturn turned slowly to face the king.

"It is much too late, brother. It is inevitable, and it is elegant. One day, once the fighting has ended and a new creation takes the place of this corrupt travesty, we shall return to this place and we will rejoice."

Saturn left the room. Two guards on the outside of the room closed the doors once Saturn had left. Jupiter paused for a few moments before getting up and crossing to the fireplace. The unlit wood in the fireplace suddenly burst into flame. Jupiter did not immediately react. After a short pause, he spoke.

"Come out, young witch," he said. "You lit the fire; it is only right that you should warm yourself by the flames."

Branna appeared next to Jupiter.

"Now that you know the truth," he began. "How do you suggest I should proceed? How would you deal with this utter insanity?"

"I only heard part of..."

"Young witch, you were hiding behind that hideous sculpture the entire time. I could sense you before we entered the room."

"But?"

"You needed to hear my brother's words. My telling of them would always come tainted by suspicion."

"And Saturn? Or whatever name he is using these days. Did he know I was hiding? Watching? He plans on destroying the world. He has already destroyed my family. Did he know that I was listening as he planned the destruction of humankind?"

Jupiter snorted.

"I gave up trying to expose what my brother knows a long time ago. The ghastly fact of matter is that he does not care if you heard what we were talking about. What can you possibly do with what you now know? How can you change what is to come? You are but an insect to him. Stand in his way and he will crush you under his boot. But don't take it too personally; we are all insects in his mind. But what my brother forgets is that some insects bite. And some of those bites are deadly. So, young witch; how much venom do you have in your fangs?"

"I can't, not alone, but if you and the others were to accept our help, perhaps we can avoid the destruction that your brother plans? Maybe we can do something to stop him? Or slow him down, at least?"

Jupiter smiled compassionately.

"I love that about your kind," he said. "For all of your faults, you still find courage in the deepest darkness. You have given an old man some hope. There hasn't been much of that going around since I fell from grace and landed in this place."

"Then let us bring hope to this entire land. Let us help you. This is a battle for all creation. We have a right to fight for our own existence. It is as much my war as it is yours."

"That is true, but it is not that simple. It is never that simple. When the gloves are finally off, and all pretence of civility is lost, my brother will be able to turn you inside out with a wave of his hand. You cannot imagine that kind of power."

"Then explain it to me. I am a big girl; I can take it," said Branna, scathingly.

Jupiter paused for a moment.

"Speak honestly, young witch. Tell me what you fear most. Then fetch her."

Branna looked confused for a moment.

"What I fear most?" she mused. "That you are not what you appear to be. That you are as bad as your brother. Or worse; that I will offer to help you win your war and I end up handing Heaven and Earth to an even worse tyrant."

Jupiter Grinned.

"Fetch her and slay that fear," he said.

Branna vanished. In a single breath she returned to Jupiter's side. Amy stood next to her.

"My guards tell me that you saw a rider enter the city?" quizzed Jupiter.

"Yes," said Amy.

"And what did you see?" he asked.

"I saw darkness. Where I should of saw the features of a man, I saw darkness, and it terrified me."

He turned to face Branna.

"Ask the question," Jupiter commanded.

Branna turned to Amy.

"When you look at this man, what do you see?" Branna asked.

Amy stared at Jupiter.

"I see, a man. Just a man."

The king walked towards the doorway. He turned and addressed Branna before leaving.

"This could be a grand trick on my part," he said. "It could be all that, and much worse. But is what you fear worse than what you know? She has looked into my eternal heart. John Dee brought her here for that very purpose. For this very moment. Dee did not know the true reason why her soul called out to him across time and space. You now do. What happens next is in your hands. Sleep on it and find me in the morning. I must pray. Hard. I suggest that both of you do the same."

With that, he was gone.

"What in the hell was that all about?" asked Amy.

"I am not entirely sure, but I think he wants us to save the world. More than the world; I think he wants us to help him save the entire universe."

Amy frowned. Branna smiled—it was slight, uncertain, yet sincere.

"And did he happen to tell you how we are going to save the world, or the universe, or is that part of the secret, mystical gobbledygook that makes him feel important?"

"Honestly?I have no bloody idea," conceded Branna.