Kakri heard groaning as the sliding came to a stop but not before it sent her gently colliding into a wall. She opened her eyes, not sure when during their trip down the stairs she had closed them. Liz was sprawled rather ungracefully nearby and was lifting up to her knees. “I do not care how dark it is, apparently all these torches are rigged,” she said. “Let us not get any more.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Kakri looked around, “Looks like we don’t need them now though.”
“You are right,” Liz said, eyes wide as she looked around. A flickering light came through the open door. Kakri stood and walked over to peek around the opening, the corridor was clear; torches lined the walls washing the place in light. Across the hall there was a room that was open to the corridor, iron bars obstructing the opening. Looking at the door to the room they were in, it was solid wood except for an opening barred by metal as well.
“If I had to hazard a guess, I would say we’re in a dungeon.” Kakri told Liz who joined her. They took a step into the hall.
“Why did we end up here though?”
Kakri started down the hall. “We triggered some sort of anti-intruder mechanism I expect.”
The hall was sparsely decorated and lined with more barred rooms, some with what looked to be crude beds or benches in them. The only other thing in their path was a couple chairs; it was oddly clean of dust, causing Kakri to be slightly worried as to why. They rounded the corner to a much larger corridor, in the center the carpet looked torn and wore away. Liz raced over, and knelt next to it examining it close. “What do you make of it?” she asked, looking up at the Goddess. “I have never seen anything like it.”
Kakri joined her down on the floor. “Do you mind if I rip part of your gown off?”
“No, but why do you need it?” Liz tore at the hem with all her might tearing a long strip off.
“Mine probably won’t work, it’s not from this realm, but yours is.” Kakri took it and wrapped part of it around a hand allowing the loose end to hang free over the damage, slowly bringing it down to touch. There was a sizzling sound, as the end met the area and the smell of burnt fabric hit their noses causing them to wrinkle in response. Kakri quickly lifted it up and they watched as more was eaten away, falling in small pieces that was meshed together into a blackened mess. “Imagine if we had touched it.”
“What made this?” Liz asked, her voice was calm but her face betrayed her panic.
Kakri stood up and looked around. “I’m not sure but let’s keep going, quickly.”
They raced down the hall almost running, wanting to put as much distance between themselves and the substance. Kakri slowed to a stop as Liz broke away slightly, and went toward a wall reaching up for something. “What is it?” Kakri asked.
Liz slowly pivoted toward her with a hand outstretched. “I think we are on the right track for Terra.”
Kakri couldn’t help but feel guilty at the sight of the torn piece of skirt left behind, which matched Terra’s. It was in a similar state to the rag she still clenched in her hand. “Come on,” she said renewing their pace. There’s still a chance.
Exploration was a long forgotten goal, now getting the mortals out alive was Kakri’s entire focus. They burst through the next room, and found themselves facing a small hedge. “Damn,” Kakri cursed in a breath. They had two options to go but no clue on which was the correct one. Kakri’s fury filled her, and she lifted off the ground as wind whipped around from nothing. As she reached the top of the hedge, she stared and felt her frustration increase. The hedges formed a maze but the path couldn’t have been less clear due to the overgrown nature and that many of the hedges intertwined overhead shielding where a break or turn might be. Sighing, she lowered herself back to the ground and next to Liz who was shielding her face from the debris and dirt that was being kicked up.
“Honestly sister,” a voice came from above, causing both women to look around frantically. A cackle soon followed.
“Show yourself Ahiel, I should have known that you’re behind this.” Kakri demanded.
The laughing increased in volume. “Demanding from me now?” He appeared high above as the roof disappeared, and shadows fell completely across the room. It felt stifling, almost hard for even Kakri to breathe. For Liz it seemed even worse as her breathing became hitched as she struggled with the normally simple task. Kakri’s power quickly flew and encased the Queen in a bubble of sorts, though it was difficult to push off Ahiel’s power as he bore down with all he had. “How funny,” he chuckled.
“Enough of your games, Ahiel. I’m not sure what creature is down here so we don’t have time for this.”
“You have plenty of time.” Ahiel’s tone went from amused to disgruntled almost instantly. “Because I say you have it.” The walls of the hedges enclosed around them making a neat square, and the door they came through slammed shut.
“It’s an illusion, that’s all his power is.” Kakri muttered then blasted the hedge in front of her with a cone of wind. It broke through for a second then quickly regrew as though she had done nothing.
“Do you not get it? I control this area.”
Kakri continued to blast at it. “You idiot! There is an innocent life at stake because of whatever ‘s here!”
“The Esaira will not do anything until commanded.”
Kakri’s eyes widened. “What is an Esaira?” Liz asked.
“It can’t be that.” Kakri ignored her, trying to keep from shaking. “Those died out centuries ago!”
Ahiel laughed. “Most did due to human interference but one survived, in my care.” He landed on the edge of the building high above, his robes completely indistinguishable from the shadows he created. “And it is about to have one of the best days of its life.”
“You unleashed it here? Kept it from the rest of us? Why?”
“No one would approve of my plans or trust me.” Ahiel replied. “Not without raising questions I did not want.”
“Which are?” Liz demanded.
“The same one Kakri is asking now. Since neither of you will make it out to tell anyone I will tell you. To preserve the land that should have been mine I needed to take certain measures. Those measures meant getting us mostly out and to let nature take its course.”
“Nature? How was anything that happened after that mistake nature?” Kakri’s voice cracked slightly, as gale blew around her.
“Humans were always going toward this end. They’re too young, too impulsive; most anything civilized about them is borrowed from the Eiren race. They would have weeded themselves out in time, but then this one,” he pointed at Liz. “Had to fix it back to where it might have been with different guidance.” Kakri’s shield around Liz flickered, as Ahiel applied more pressure. The air was alive with power as the two gods held their battle of wills.
“Give it up… Ahiel, we don’t have time to spend eternity at this.” Kakri said.
“Impressive, usually you yield so fast. If it was not just right now that you actually grew a backbone I might be impressed.”
“So you planned on making Segennya fall into chaos,” Kakri said ignoring his jibe. “What is the point of all this?” She waved her arms around to the hedges that surrounded herself and Liz. “What’s with all the traps?”
“Oh, those were crude but effective means that were already here. As for the other... you have not figured it out yet? Thinking like these humans has truly polluted your mind.”
Kakri considered for a few moments. It can’t be that… I suspected something when I saw that it was a whole palace that looked intact, as though the occupants had plenty of time to get out. They left their pictures and other mementos here… but… no … She looked back up at Ahiel, even with the shadows he was casting, she could see a smirk across his face. “Really? You’re the cause of this place being here like this?”
“Of course, I had to make assurances it and my plan would stay hidden. My Esaira was able to live here undisturbed and thrive; I had to open it though, once you started to interfere. Now you are to spend eternity within the earth alone, after the Esaira has her way with the mortals.”
Kakri blinked not sure what to think on it, glancing over she saw the crestfallen look on Liz’s face. “Do what you need to get out of here,” she said in a near whisper. “I will find some way to get Terra and myself out.”
“First wise words a human mortal has spoken. Yes Kakri, listen to her, all you need to leave here is to give this up. Stay in our realm alone and not touch Segennya again. Just let it be and observe at a distance until the end.”
“In other words be like you,” Kakri scowled.
Ahiel shrugged. “We are not meant to be this involved in the world. I proved that at long last.”
“We are meant to be here, Ahiel, to guide as well as let them on their own paths. Much like parents with a child and as such you proved nothing!” Kakri considered for a moment. “Well, maybe not nothing. You proved what a misguided idiot can do if kept unchecked.”
“You dare?”
“I dare,” Kakri growled.
“Make your choice, Kakri. Stay here alone, or leave,” Ahiel said. “Before you try my patience to much and I just destroy both mortals.”
Kakri glared at him. A small part of her wanted to agree to his terms, to go back to what was comfortable and what she knew. Her fists clenched and she looked at the ground, not daring to look at Liz though she could feel her trying to urge her towards safety.
“Look mortal,” Ahiel said quietly. “She is considering it.”
“She would be silly not to,” Liz shot back. “Instead of being stuck in whatever twisted game you are doing here. Answer me this, if you caused the chaos then you are responsible for the death of my father, right?”
“I cannot take credit for that sadly. Something else was playing the same game.”
“What was it?”
Ahiel laughed. “That… I will leave a mystery. Yes, the great goddess Kakri, mistress of the wind, always so carefree, not so much now. Choose.”
Damn him for doing this. I’m the Goddess of the entire realm though; it’s my job to protect the future of it, just as much as any mortals at times. It’s our job… but he won’t see it… Kakri slowly lifted her head, fury burning in her eyes as she stared at the god she called brother at one point. “You called me uncontrolled, weak and young because of how I act.” The wind blew around her revealing ears that were just as pointed as his, as her hair tossed around her face. “When will you learn that the strongest can seem the weakest? Having compassion and being among them is not a weakness. It is strength…and that is why my answer to you is…” She lifted a hand with outstretched fingers pushing her power at him with all her might, causing him to have to jump up in shock to avoid being more than clipped by the blast of wind. “No!”
“Your choice then!” He rose higher and higher disappearing from sight. Kakri felt a crackle of power overhead, where the opening to the outside world was. “Enjoy your solitude Kakri, and I would hurry. The Esaira will not wait forever, if you can reach there at all.”
His voice, its echoing, dark laugh faded leaving them in silence. Kakri deactivated her shield and with the same outstretched hand blasted at the illusion wall again, it remained still. She turned and faced one that at one point led to open path and blasted once more. The hedge opened easily and she grabbed Liz’s hand. “Come on, time is of the essence.”
Liz followed automatically, though she struggled to keep up as they raced through the paths. “You should have left,” Liz said at last. “He has set us up to fail.”
“He thinks he has,” Kakri corrected. “Typical Eiren arrogance, where do you think they get it? They seem to get a lot from him actually, now that everything is clear.”
“Still… I do not see a way out.”
Kakri stopped and whirled around, grabbing her arms. “I will get you out of here if it takes all that I have. He forgets though I might not act it at times, I am much older than he is and possess a good amount of power myself.”
“I do not doubt that, but will this not put you at odds with the other Gods?”
“I am always at odds with them, some days more than others. At the same time, when he put that force field up he just told them that something is here. No doubt soon someone will be along to examine it.”
They went around another corner, and then had to double back as it dead ended. “Did they not side with him on withdrawing from the realms?”
“Yes, but even they would not agree to this. Not overseeing everything they are fine with that isolation. Outright meddling to speed along a possible extinction or pushing events like that, however? We are order; though we do have some chaotic needs, we need that balance. What Ahiel is doing is outright chaos.”
Liz seemed to be considering this, as they sped down a long path and around yet another corner. “What about this creature he is talking about, the Esaira? You seemed almost frightened by it.”
“It’s a creature that was driven to extinction long ago by your father’s ancestors due mainly to its quite aggressive nature. It has a body of a spider, with a torso and head of a humanoid with long, claw like arms as well as normal human-like ones. That acid we saw is exuded by barbs on its arms, as well as with its bite. It uses silk, like most normal spiders do to catch and hold its prey, though their silk due to their size was quite prized at one point for clothing.” She sighed and stopped, looking both directions before blasting through a hedge with her power. It opened but quickly attempted to shut again. She quickly pulled them both through and to freedom from the hedges. “That is better.” She said as she allowed Liz to catch her breath. “Vicious creatures though Liz, that is what they are. He acted as though it was humans that drove them off, but really they forced them over the course of years to kill them by attacking any human settlement. And then, not helping their cause, the area they thrived in dropped into the sea.”
“So how do we face it now?”
“I will handle it,” Kakri said. “You grab Terra and get out.”
They pushed the door open and looked down the next corridor. The hall was washed in the glow from torches and lamps, almost welcoming. Kakri pointed at the ground. “We know it came down here at least,” Liz said.
They wandered in silence, not wanting to think about what might be waiting in one of the chambers ahead. Kakri was still fuming at Ahiel’s actions and didn’t want to make much conversation. The area here was a bit more decorated with paintings and other pieces. Instead of stone floor, carpet reappeared cushioning their footsteps occasionally dotted by more of the substance from the Esaira. The two women came up to closed tall double doors, Kakri stopped Liz before reached for the handle to open it. “Listen,” she whispered.
Inside they could hear the banging and occasional crash of something moving within. “This cannot be this easy, can it?” Liz asked. “What is our luck of this being the room this Esaira is in?”
“We are dealing with a God who lives for his games, Liz. Nothing is easy with him so it is doubtful.”
“Well, shall we see what is in there then?”
“It appears we have no choice,” Kakri replied. “On three?” Liz nodded. “One…two…three.”