32. Two in One
Chapter 32
Two in One
H ot, molten rage drowned out all other thoughts. Elnok barely noticed Sylzenya’s hand in his, the comfort she brought while everything around him dissolved into fire, anger, and nothingness.
The reason he’d been looking for this damned, magical tree was to find Orym’s medicine. And yet, it was this very tree, the goddess residing in it, that was the cause of Orym’s death sentence. A full circle. A full fucking circle and he walked it like a blubbering idiot.
“How dare you,” Sylzenya shouted at the goddess.
The goddess, Aretta, sat in the middle of a meadow decorated with yellow and red—orodytes and blood.
“You’re the goddess of life, ” Kharis added. “How could you put someone’s life on the line for this?”
Aretta raised her hands. “This is war, and like Sylzenya said the other day during your journey, casualties are expected.” She looked to Elnok. “Weren’t you the one who told her to keep using her power even if it killed people in your land? Does your humanity only start and stop with people who’ve saved you, Elnok Rogdul?”
Elnok sneered, unable to keep his body from shaking. “You don’t deserve to look anything like my mother.”
“You can place all your blame on me, or you can see who the real culprit is. My brother motivated my actions. It’s his bloodlust that’s caused my hand to move in such ways.”
“Why?” Sylzenya said, letting go of Elnok’s hand and stepping forward, “What happened between you two? What really happened?”
The goddess stood, twirling yet another flower in her hand, Elnok’s stomach growing sick the longer he looked at her face.
“A lot of what he’s taught you is true. We created this world together, and we loved each other while doing it. Brother and sister. Two born of one whole. But when I made humans, I discovered a joy I hadn’t felt yet.” She paused, a small smile peeling along her mouth. “I fell in love with one of the humans.”
“I fucking hate it here,” Elnok growled.
“I had children—Esteans. It’s why you and Kharis can wield my power. But it caused my brother great jealousy. One night, one of my grown children went out for a night hunt, and they came across one of my brother’s creatures. They were terrified, convinced it had been tracking them to kill them.” She paused, crushing the flower in her hand. “In the end, they both killed each other. Both were afraid of one another, but my brother was convinced that my daughter killed his creation out of bloodlust. And so, he decided to destroy every human he could find.”
Silence filled the meadow as she folded her hands. “He and his monsters needed a swift end, otherwise my creation couldn’t exist in peace.”
“You’re right, we can’t . And we have you to thank for that,” Elnok retorted.
“But he was your brother,” Sylzenya interjected, “couldn’t you have discussed the matter? Made sense of it some other way? Come to a peaceful solution instead of involving us?”
“The price for life will always be pain.”
“ Bullshit, ” Elnok muttered.
Kharis tapped his empty chest plate. “But you wanted us to go to war, didn’t you? You wanted to fight, and you wanted to put us to the test against his monsters; to prove we were better—that you were in the right, and he was in the wrong.”
“He was wrong,” the goddess argued. “He demanded I end all of your lives over a misunderstanding. I tried to save you.”
“By threatening to do the very same to his creation,” Sylzenya said, “you can’t honestly stand here and blame him for everything when you had the chance to fix it.”
The goddess shook her head. “I underestimated how much of a hold he has over you. Even in your right mind, you defend him over me.”
Elnok’s rage clipped as he ran towards the goddess, stomping on her damned flowers. “Let’s get one thing straight. This isn’t just your brother’s fault, it’s yours. Your fault. You were the one who fucked one of your own creations and started this. You got all those Kreenas killed. You stole my friend’s life to get me here?—”
“ Silence, ” Aretta boomed in a voice dark as thunder.
Harsh winds blew through his tunic, landing like a punch to the stomach, flinging him backwards into Kharis. The Dynami caught him, the man grabbing Sylzenya as well, sheltering all of them as dark clouds formed over the meadow.
“None of you seem to understand what this world is about to become—what Distrathrus is capable of.” The goddess waved her hands, the clouds consuming the golden light until all that was left were her eyes—yellow glowing stones in the darkness.
Screeeeeech.
Elnok jolted, but Kharis kept him close. All three of them breathed hard, slowly backing away together. Another shriek, this time from behind, the sound metallic and blood-curdling. Wings flapped from above, Elnok’s heart racing as a guttural laugh echoed from every corner.
“ Finally, it’s all mine. ”
Red light flooded his vision. They weren’t in Aretta’s tree anymore, nor were they in the temple’s altar room. Instead, they were in a throne room, the familiar dark gray stone causing Elnok’s insides to twist into themselves.
The Rogdul Castle.
But it was all wrong. The roof had crumbled, large bricks and stones littering the throne room, a dark red sun positioned overhead.
Upon the throne sat a skeleton, its crown ladened with red and blue jewels, its white shirt stained with wine. Tattered and frayed, the shirt barely hung onto what was left of his brother.
“ Tosh! ” Kharis yelled, letting go of him and Sylzenya to run forward. He collapsed at the skeleton’s feet, taking its hand into his. “No, you can’t be dead. This can’t be real.”
“That was the last of them, Your Grace,” Sylzenya said, her voice distant and sharp.
Sylzenya’s mouth gaped as she stumbled back, staring at the entrance of the throne room. Two figures walked in, one tall and wide, black eyes a stark contrast to white, pasty skin, the other?—
Sylzenya.
But she looked different. Not lithe and strong, but skinny and pale. Sickly. She was dressed in all white, blood seeping from her back. Her deep blue eyes were gone, replaced with a clouded gaze. She placed her hand—spotted with red and black blisters—above the one held out to her — a blanched, pasty, decrepit hand.
“No more humans,” Distrathrus sighed, taking the sickly Sylzenya’s hand into his. The white cloak he wore was ripped in the back, revealing sharp horns that protruded from his spine, each horn as sharp as arachni fangs. His skin looked scorched, peeling as if it was molting, the skin underneath an iridescent white and red.
“Your creation roams free,” the other Sylzenya replied, her voice monotone and distant.
“And we’ll rule this place together, Sylzenya, just as I dreamed we would.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Anger billowed in Elnok’s chest.
“I’ve seen enough,” the real Sylzenya said, shaking next to him.
A horde of arachnis skittered into the throne room, covering the ceiling, chittering and shrieking as Distrathrus hooked his hand underneath Sylzenya’s jaw. Elnok’s blood ran hot as he grabbed his rope and dagger, breaths increasing as Distrathrus forced Sylzenya’s face to meet his?—
“Aretta, please, that’s enough ,” Sylzenya yelled.
But the goddess was nowhere to be found. Elnok clenched his jaw, watching Distrathrus drag his mouth across Sylzenya’s pale neck, his clawed fingers gripping her hair and yanking her head back, her clouded eyes looking towards the arachnis crowding the ceiling.
Rage burned into fury, Elnok gripping his dagger so tight his knuckles hurt, Sylzenya screaming for the vision to stop.
“She’s had enough of this!” Elnok yelled, spinning in circles, trying to locate the goddess.
Distrathrus ripped Sylzenya’s robe down the middle, exposing her naked flesh, the god’s hands running down her body.
Elnok couldn’t watch any longer.
Running towards Distrathrus with his dagger in hand, Elnok cursed all the gods and their blatant treachery and their fucked up ideas of life.
But then, a scream shattered his ears as Sylzenya—the real Sylzenya—ran in front of him, Kharis’ sword in her hands. She struck through the vision of Distrathrus before the god’s hands defiled the sickly Sylzenya’s body any further.
The vision dissipated, like a wave falling into the sea. Distrathrus no longer stood before them, but Aretta with the sword embedded in her chest.
The birds ceased their songs.
The goddess smiled, the same smile as his mother as she dropped to her knees, gold liquid dripping from her mouth.
“No,” Sylzenya whispered, “No, I didn’t mean to. I just… I couldn’t watch any more of that…”
“This sword is the one you must use to pierce Distrathrus’ heart—it’s how he will form his true body he’s attempting to resurrect.” The goddess wheezed, grasping the blade with her hand, more gold liquid dripping from her palm.
Sylzenya let go of the hilt, her eyes wide. “Why didn’t you stop me? You should’ve stopped me. ”
“Two halves of one whole, Distrathrus and I,” Aretta continued, “and so our deaths must be met in the same way. This, too, was foretold in my vision, for only through my death can my brother be killed.”
Elnok stepped to Sylzenya’s side, gripping her shoulder as she kneeled and held the goddess’ face in her hands.
“You tricked me,” Sylzenya sobbed. “ Why? ”
“You wouldn’t have killed me otherwise, and it had to be you,” the goddess whispered. “I’m the one who must thrust this burden onto you, and it’s I who must die knowing I couldn’t save my own creation.” She looked up, her dying gaze staring into Elnok’s with a sharp intensity. “The medicine is yours, Elnok. Your task of bringing Sylzenya here has been completed, and if you leave now, you’ll save your friend. I’ve a gift for you, use it and you’ll make it out of Lhaal Forest quickly and safely.”
The vial of white medicine appeared next to her. Elnok grabbed it, lingering on his mother’s hazel eyes as she offered a sad smile. Some part of him thought to express his gratitude, but he thought better of it. This goddess didn’t deserve it.
She laughed. “You’re not wrong, Elnok. I don’t deserve anything else from you.”
He said nothing as he took the vial.
She turned to Kharis and Sylzenya. “You’ve been taught that only women can be Kreenas and only men can be Dynameis. It’s a lie my brother concocted for more control over you all. You’re both capable of every power I possess. And while his blood is powerful, my blood is stronger.” She smiled. “You’re both stronger.”
The goddess looked to the golden light pouring in from the tree’s power. “My birds have the gifts I’ve crafted for each of you, one of which will show you where my brother is currently preparing for his resurrection.” She coughed, gold liquid seeping onto her white robe. “You must leave as soon as you can. There isn’t much time left. With or without Sylzenya, he will find a way to resurrect himself, and he’ll do it soon.”
“Aretta,” Sylzenya whispered, wiping the gold blood from the goddess’ face, “If I go to him willingly and he gets a hold of me…”
“His love for you mirrors the kind he had for me—what we once had for each other.”
Sylzenya reared back. “You and Distrathrus? You were?—”
“Lovers,” she confirmed.
Fluttering his eyes closed, Elnok ground his teeth. Of course they were.
“You both buried so many lies in our soil,” Sylzenya whispered.
“Forgive me or not, it changes nothing. We were once one and then split in two, brother and sister. Lover and lover. Because of the power I gave you when you made your first willow, you have a piece of me always with you. Whether he realizes it or not, he recognizes it—recognizes the love we once shared. You can use this to your advantage, for while he can use his blood to stop your power, you can do the same to him, although in lesser measure.” She coughed. “Going to him will be a risk, just like me giving you my power was a risk. But it’s the only way, or the future I’ve just shown you will come to pass.”
“You’re a real piece of work, especially to those who fucking worship you,” Elnok seethed.
Sylzenya raised her hand to him. Elnok took a deep breath and stepped back, letting his anger fume.
“I can stop his power?” Sylzenya questioned.
She nodded. “You’ve already done it once, in the Willow Grove when you and Elnok escaped him. You interrupted his control of the Dynameis and Kreenas, your desperation pushing into their minds, commanding them to let you escape.”
Sylzenya nodded, but Elnok didn’t miss the way her mouth quivered. She was angered at her goddess, and she had every damn right to be.
“If we stop him, will Tosh live?” Kharis inquired, kneeling next to the goddess.
“I can’t be certain,” she replied, “All my visions have shown me is that, if he’s defeated, the depletion of the earth will stop, and there will be a chance to revitalize the land.”
“ If is a very important word you keep on using,” Elnok growled.
“Indeed, Elnok, it is.”
The way she said his name sent a shiver down his spine.
Aretta turned to Sylzenya, her breaths fading. “For life there is a price, and only in pain is it made whole, Sylzenya Phatris. Your choice has been made, and so your consequence is set in blood and stone.”
“What’s the consequence?” Sylzenya asked. “I still don’t understand it. Why is the gold ring turned into blood and stored in orodyte? Why was the bird in my vision killed?”
The goddess smiled, wiping a gold bloodied hand across Sylzenya’s face. “I’m so sorry, Sylzenya. For everything.”
The goddess’ hand fell limp as she crumpled to the earth.