Cassandra Pendragon
"It can't have been in the same place," I added. "It wouldn't have worked. The magic would have combined."
"I don't know much about the principles behind it," the sect leader admitted, "but you're right. There definitely was a second one. We could always tell which one a demon had come through. Unfortunately we, or rather I don't know where it is." She pointed at the northern mountain range on the map: "it might have even been hidden close by. You've flown across our home, haven't you? It'd be easy to hide a city around here, never mind a gate. By the ancestors, maybe it was on the bottom of the ocean. We would never have known." It probably didn't matter, either way.
I allowed myself a few seconds to enviously watch the girls outside enjoy the beauty of nature, their youthful silhouettes surrounded by a gown of droplets, sparkling in the soft light. Constantine had been right, I really sucked at making decisions. Mainly because my decisions had a tendency to make everything worse. Still, I had to try, didn't I?
My wings whispered into existence and I pointed at the map, while I opened myself up to the murmurs of mana, listening to its ever changing flow that covered the entire world. Slowly silver markings appeared on the map, most centred around the Eastern Swamp, but some were also scattered throughout the entire Empire and a pretty dense accumulation burned itself into the table, a few handspans further north than the map covered.
"The markings you see represent every being who's come in touch with a nightmare," I explained and furled my wings. "It's a present. Do with it whatever you want… a word of warning, though. The ones, who managed to escape my wrath, have to be powerful in their own right." I pointed at the Eastern Swamp. "But none of them remain there. I didn't put every human to the sword, but your demons… they're gone. Maybe your sect or your Empress can make use of it. I don't intend to linger any longer. If there's something else, speak up now. Unless… have I earned the right to enter your sacred caves?" The reason behind Mei's hesitancy to divulge any information about the mountains and the labyrinth underneath was pretty simple. The root, located in the lowest parts, constantly pumped life force through the entire maze, which turned the caves into a prime spot for gathering energy. Consequentially it was the best guarded place within the entire sect, especially since it also gave them a decisive advantage over every other cultivator, except for those who had access to something similar. Namely the venerable lords and ladies of the capital.
"And what exactly would you do, if I said no," Lin inquired curiously through a smirk. She, at least, wasn't the tiniest bit cowed by my abilities. I shrugged.
"I wouldn't bother looking for an entrance," I replied evenly, "and simply make one for myself."
"In that case I'll try to keep our home in one piece," she laughed and reached into her robe to produce a jade token in the shape of a snowflake. "Here. You can pass through our enchantments freely as long as you carry this and no guard will dare stop you. Still, if I may, I'd like to accompany you, at least as far as I can go. Would you mind?" I shook my head and reached for the small, but intricately carved bauble.
"Not at all. As long as you do as I say. Which includes rather uncomfortable orders like run or hide." My fingers brushed against her cool palm when I took the gem, but with a quick movement she clasped my hand and her eyes locked onto mine. Her smirk turned warmer until it resembled a genuine smile.
"It almost feels like I'm a disciple again," she chuckled, before she let go. "There is one more thing, though. What do we even call you?" She indicated Constantine with a jerk of her head. "Cassandra, wasn't it?" Right. I had never introduced myself, but the has-been Emperor had blurted out my name.
I had already opened my mouth, but Viyara cut me off exasperatedly with a glance at our interlocked fingers before I could even utter a single syllable: "and another one… just call her Cassy." The dragoness winked at me and added: "it'll be easier that way." Then she stuck out her tongue and continued: "she's engaged, though. Unless you want to find out to whom, I'd keep my fingers to myself. Just a thought." The most awkward silence yet settled in and I felt the burning desire to either sink into the ground or strangle the cheeky dragoness. One of the two. Seriously…
"I… what," Lin spluttered. I was again on the verge of a reply to explain that Viyara had simply meant to put me on the spot, when the azure head added: "you're engaged?" Jesus fucking Christ, I really had to stop saving random strangers. The result was always the same and it was starting to get decidedly dull. Unfortunately that didn't mean I felt any more comfortable. Ahri's warning, that our presence would entice powerful beings even more, came back to mind.
"Thanks so much," I mumbled through gritted teeth. "Cassandra or Cassy are both fine, whatever you're comfortable with. And yes, I am engaged. Does it matter?" For the first time I saw a hint of red tinge Lin's jade cheeks.
"No, of course not," she immediately answered, but I didn't expect her to convince anyone. The slight tremor in her voice was too hard to ignore. I should never have transformed. Everything had been so much easier when they had still taken me for a fox dragon. "I… sorry, I guess I overstepped," she ended breathlessly.
"No matter," I replied jovially, but still tried to cast a scathing glance in Viyara's direction. Not that the dragoness cared. The legs of my heavy chair scraped across the polished, wooden floor when I pushed myself to my feet. With a few steps I walked up behind the phoenix and placed my hand lightly on her shoulder. A faint, acidic scent mingled with her smell of fire and flames, as if she was hiding lemons under her clothes. "Come with me," I said quietly. She didn't dare protest, but the smell of lemons intensified. She was scared. When she got to her feet, Viyara followed suit.
"We'll be outside to keep an eye on the kids. Lin, come find me as soon as you're done here." The first incredulous whispers already reached me as I made my way through the hall and towards the carved gates. They opened without a sound under my touch, even though I almost managed to tear open the long sleeves of my borrowed robe on the massive bronze knockers. Luckily Lin wasn't that much shorter than me had handed over several sets of her own clothes. Walking around in plate armour or a dress made of light and shadows might sound good on paper, but in reality it was a royal pain in the ass.
Outside the hall the building opened into an airy courtyard, surrounded by a roofed walkway. The view was spectacular as the entire valley seemed to unfold in front of me like a painting, but I couldn't quite bring myself to savour the moment. There was too much to do and I already felt like I had squandered too much time. It was getting late.
With a decisive shrug I headed towards the small creek where Reia and the rest were still in the middle of their game. It ran, just a couple of hundred paces away from the hall, through a level meadow filled with wild flowers. A few large boulders had been washed down the mountain during snowmelt and the shadow of the largest one seemed like the perfect spot to talk in private. I could also keep an eye on the kids and the entrance to the hall at the same time.
When I settled down and leaned against the cold, rough rock, I closed my eyes for a moment and listened. Lamia and Mei were talking close by, while Reia and Baihe were still fooling around in the icy waters. A few beasts retreated inconspicuously from the edge of a bamboo grove a few hundred meters further down the stream and quite a few disciples were lingering just outside the low walls that marked the extent of the central hall, their curiosity, as they watched the girls play, more than obvious. They didn't approach, though. Apparently they weren't allowed to enter the premises unless invited by an elder. At least I had been told as much.
"Come, sit," I began without opening my eyes. "If I had wanted to clip your wings, I'd have done so the first time we met." Viyara immediately slumped down at my side and the smell of molten gold drowned out the sweet taste of yarrow and primrose until it was carried away by a cold, northern wind. Judging from her slow, deliberate movements the phoenix settled down much more reservedly.
"It might seem bold of someone in my position," she began, "but is there an actual reason why you've been treating me like an enemy, ever since you killed one of my people and took me away from my home? I can't remember ever offending you." I chuckled hollowly.
"Doesn't say much, now, does it? You can't even remember your own daughter. Who knows, maybe you've wronged me in one of your previous lives?"
"Have I?"
"No," I sighed. "You were simply unlucky enough to pick a fight with my students." When she remained silent I opened my eyes and scrutinised her properly for the first time. She had really forgotten her past. No matter how I looked at her, I saw a girl who hadn't even lived for thirty years, yet. Thinking of her as Lamia's mother would have been utterly unfair.
She didn't avoid my gaze and when she saw the harsh glow in my eyes dim down she even found the courage to ask: "Anna and her coven… so you actually are Lucifer? I always thought the devil was a myth."
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist," I chuckled humourlessly. "I'm quite real, as you can see, but I'm also a tad too busy to run around with a goat leg and horns, tempting the souls of poor mortals like yourself." Reflexively she replied:
"I'm no mortal, though, am I?"
"To me you are, but that's hardly the point. I want to hear your story. Tell me how a phoenix ended up on Earth." She tilted her head and a single flame ignited in her flowing, crimson tresses.
"Are those words spoken by a jailer to her captive?"
"No, rather spoken by someone who has the ability to turn you into a captive or set you free, depending on your answers. I wouldn't lie, though. I'll know and I don't like being lied to."
"What she means to say is," Viyara added without being asked or even extending the courtesy of facing the perplexed phoenix, "that she's simply going to look the other way." A dangerous, low hum entered her voice and the air shook as if a dragoness was speaking despite her delicate, elven appearance. The scent of molten gold became stronger with every word she uttered: "I know a bit about the pain of being abandoned by a mother. One of mine had my entire family slaughtered. So please… just give me a reason to show you how much it hurts." I pursed my lips, but I didn't reprimand her. I wasn't the biggest fan of the burning bird, either.
Not necessarily because of her past, I didn't know what had happened after all, but her ruthless rise on Earth and her readiness to exploit the past coming back to life hadn't endeared her to me. Not to mention that she had come very close to truly hurting Anna and her coven with her actions. If that had happened… just thinking about it still made me want to put her so called immortality to the test.
The very moment my thoughts strayed back to Earth I shuddered. If I was right and I had only managed to freeze the shell of the seed, the manifestations on Earth would continue until I was going to get the roots under control. Jane and a few of the witches were on their way to confront the Montrose ancestor right now. What if they couldn't kill him? What if he was getting stronger while the rift was still open? What if… a strangled cry made me flinch, but when I looked around like a wounded doe, my ears twitching, I immediately relaxed. Reia and Baihe were engaged in a wrestling match and the newly fledged immortal didn't stand a chance against quite a few meters of steely muscles covered in jade scales. Apparently the arctic tailed vixen had still been surprised by the outcome, though. Figures.
I shook my head ever so slightly and pinched my arm. I had to get this over with. As fast as possible. Which meant I couldn't afford to be distracted all the time. Luckily I had come back to my senses quickly enough to keep up with the conversation.
"Calling me Lamia's mother is the same as calling you an extension of her body," the phoenix replied softy and inclined her head in my direction. "I can see her power in you and while it'd be true technically, it's just not… you're not the same, are you? Just like I'm not the same creature anymore. The child… she's a stranger to me. I can recognise her as another phoenix, I can even acknowledge my blood in her veins, but there's nothing else. She has already accepted the truth. Why else do you think we're both trying to avoid the other? Why can't you?" A little more harshly she added: "are the wounds of your childhood so deep that you have to project your own pain onto others? I always thought dragons were a proud people." Judging from the very snakelike hiss that escape Viyara, she had hit pretty close to home. An ominous, silver golden glow ignited in the back of the dragoness' throat, but before she could voice her displeasure I intervened:
"Do you even know why your previous life burns in the fire of your resurrection? No?" I chuckled mirthlessly. "You're in luck, then. I don't think there's a handful of beings left in the entirety of creation who remember. Not even my sister, Sarai, the Immortal Phoenix, does." The redhead immediately perked up when she heard Sarai's name, her smouldering eyes filled with curiosity and a sense of longing I hadn't seen in them before.
"It's the price she payed for your existence," I continued hesitantly as blurry images rose from the deepest depths of my mind. "Your race is old, terrifyingly so, and there was a time, when you didn't lose your memories upon your death. You could even pass them on to your descendants. Back then the universe was different. Crueller, but larger and full of strive. Wars were fought… a war was fought on a scale you can't possibly imagine. Stars were used as ammunition… life itself became a tool. It was then that your race first saw the light of day. You were… it doesn't matter. What matters is, that those times are long dead… at least they should be. Nothing survived. Not a single memory. My people made sure of it." I leaned my head against the rough rock and closed my eyes again.
"You'd have been eradicated to the last egg, if my sister hadn't intervened. She took your pain. She took your memories and ensured that you'd be able to see a new tomorrow. Changed, but alive. Ever since she has been the Immortal Phoenix, the saviour of your race. She burned her own recollections, right alongside yours, but immortal magic always leaves a mark. Her power still lingers in your blood and grants you a new chance, every time you die." My eyes flew open and a cold, silver light overshadowed the soft, reddish hues of an early evening.
"And now you're sitting here, hiding behind a gift I'd kill for? Do you know how often I've wished to finally bury my past? Don't use your rebirth as an excuse. It's much too precious. Tell me, why are you afraid of a child, who still longs for your love, even though she's too scared to admit it?"