The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (50 page)

Lowenah slowly shook her head. “Not until we
finish our other business, or this night is over and we shall leave
the field to you.”

“All right! All right!” Asotos surrendered
to Lowenah’s demands. “I agree to the arrangement. I and my people
will no longer engage in any direct activities in the Lower Realms
until Salem’s Day, and you will leave the future to be decided
without your witching powers.
And,
you will not bring
anymore of that
rabble
into this universe.”

“Unto your death by the hidden powers of
this universe if you renege on your oath...” Lowenah added.

The bells echoed across the otherwise quiet,
moonlit eve. Asotos grabbed his head, shaking it angrily. “Yes!
Yes! Unto death…I promise.”

Lowenah grinned. “Good. Good. Now what was
the other business you wished to discuss with me?”

Clenching his fists, Asotos fumed, “You know
full well my business! Now reveal your secrets, witch of darkness.
Show me my tormentor.”

Lowenah leaned down to her right, quietly
asking her darling to come forward. Cautiously, Darla stepped out
from the shadows of Lowenah’s mount and into the moonlight. The
fragrant oils mother requested the woman wear lit up her skin with
a cosmic, golden sheen in the silvery-white moonlight.

Long ago she had seen Asotos from afar, but
never this close up in person. Not knowing exactly what was
expected of her, Darla offered a slight bow, saying nothing. When
she straightened up, the bells that had been plaguing Asotos all
day fell from her breasts, falling to the ground in a thunderous
crash.

Asotos gasped, not even hearing the bells.
His eyes bulged and jaw dropped at what he was seeing. After
catching his breath, he cried, “Schiel’ahh, what has the witch
done, delivered you to this world to torture me?!”

Darla had no idea who or what ‘Schiel’ahh’
was. In stunned silence, she stared into Asotos’ face. Lowenah
spoke up. “You speak a long -forgotten name, Schiel’ahh, a child of
gift given to a righteous man and taken a slave by your evil
henchmen. Why do you call out her name?”

His eyes fixated on Darla, Asotos excoriated
Lowenah. “The one child of earth my heart was so consumed with, and
you murdered her!
Murdered her!
Now has your evil witchery
returned her here for my torment, or is she but an apparition of my
cherished love sent to tear my heart asunder? Evil! That is what
you are to all the sons of righteousness!”

“Watch your tongue!” Lowenah snapped. “My
tolerance of your impertinence is limited. If you wish to depart
this eve a whole man, keep your vessel in check.”

Asotos glared at Lowenah. In return, she
smiled. “Never will I allow you the rape of Schiel’ahh. Yes, she
will, one day, return to a world free of your intrusions, but you
will not be witness to it.” She pointed at Darla. “This woman is my
little child who I held close the day your revolt became manifest.
Today she has been delivered here to face the man who ruined her
world, a world she never got to know because of him.”

Asotos stepped forward, his hand reaching
out for the woman. Instantly another shadow stepped out from the
darkness, blocking his path. Startled, Asotos halted, taken aback
by the sudden intrusion.

Ardon stopped, standing between Asotos and
the woman, an arm outstretched, fingers wide with palm out. “You
have no place here!” Ardon bravely announced. “Take your stolen
treasures and go back to the darkness from which you came.”

Though surprised by Ardon’s bold move,
Asotos quickly reacted. Lifting a threatening hand, he chided
sinisterly, “So brave the monkey when its mother is near. Does the
second fiddle
wish to play the lead this hour, foolish
jabberer, mindless wanderer, profiteer of empty knowledge, and
seeker of hidden worlds? Watch yourself! Step aside or I’ll not be
as kind to you as at our last meeting.”

As the two men glared at each other, Ardon
shook a hand, warning, “Leave the
distempered
in peace and
depart back into the Abyss to await your lasting day.”

Before Asotos could reply, Lowenah’s voice,
having gathered the thunders behind it, raged against the two. “Be
off to the Abyss with the both of you!”

The ground began to shake violently, people
finding it difficult to stand. While the tumult continued, flaming
sentinels appeared, burning hot, white like the sun, their
brightness like static spires. Choking dust and smoke enveloped the
air, blotting out the moon while strangling the lungs. In fear and
dismay, many of the people fell to their knees, some beseeching
strange and foreign deities while others begged for Lowenah’s
mercy.

Gradually the quaking storm subsided,
leaving the crowd subdued and in shock, but no worse for wear,
other than coated with red, powdery, talc dust. All about them were
stationed thousands upon thousands of fiery sentinels, flaming,
blinding white. Long had it been since any of her children were
witness to these ‘Cherubs’, as some called them, and none ever
recalled seeing them in such vast numbers, or so bright. It was
told by a few that the brightness of the Guardians reflected
Lowenah’s temperament. If that was so, then she must be in a very
foul mood at the moment.

Anger blazing in her eyes, Lowenah bristled
contemptuously, “There are more with me than with you! And this is
but the vanguard of only
one
of my armies!”

She then directed her verbal storm at Ardon.
“Second fiddle to a fool you are at times, and this is one such
time! This is
my
day!
My
hour!
My
moment!
Shall I ask the spit-weed to gather the tempest, then might I call
upon you. You speak prattle and with brashness! Little do I doubt
your bravado, but no power of wisdom exists with it. Not for the
protection of my child do I see your motive, but for self-glory,
fearing not the man’s poison because Mother is near. Death is
deserved for touching what is holy, even if it is done
innocently...”

Ardon lowered his head in dismay, still not
fully understanding Lowenah’s scathing denunciation, or grasping
the seriousness of his actions, but he did not desire her ill will.
“Mother, I have acted rebelliously, seeing only a little of the
picture, and carrying on imprudently. I am wrong in this instance
and deserve whatever penalty you choose to mete out.”

Her anger somewhat diminished, as the fading
brilliance of the sentinels indicated, Lowenah commanded, “Go back
to your station and do not interfere again with these proceedings,
or I shall deal you a lasting blow.”

Ardon turned to face Lowenah, bowing low.
“Your servant...” he replied after standing erect, just before
hurrying away.

Lowenah now addressed Asotos. “Riddle me
this...

‘
It casts itself upon the web,

to cause to die and make life begin.

To be consumed, it does succeed,

but to make the hungry weaver bleed.

And in its death, it brings to life,

the avenger that will do it right.’”

Asotos frowned as if being bothered by a
childish intrusion. “Even one of little wit will understand such a
foolish riddle. It is the schulipp fly that falls by intent into
the spider’s web in order to be caught up by the spider. Then, when
within its grasp, the dying fly implants her eggs into the spider’s
thorax, leaving them there to grow until they drink the spider’s
blood and consume its inward parts, eventually killing the
spider.”

Lowenah leaned forward, looking down at
Asotos, sadly nodding. “So, too, must my world die...”

Confused, Asotos stared up at Erithia,
waiting for her to explain her new riddle. She did not. Sitting
back, she cast her eyes upon Darla. The girl was not yet
comprehending all that had recently taken place. Ardon’s words were
stinging, when they finally sank in, but not the worst she had
heard when in the company of
important
people. She did
puzzle regarding other matters, though. Everyone about her was
covered in red dust to the point of being little more than living
shadows on the desert plain - that is, all except her and the man
facing her. Curious...

Lowenah spoke up. “The tongue of the Serpent
is smooth and cunning - a great weapon when wielded with skill.
Also powerful is the secret person of the heart when carried in the
hand of the modest one. These are the instruments of my choosing
this night. The horses are at the gate.” She cast her gaze back and
forth between Darla and Asotos. “Use them wisely...”

Darla dropped the reins of Lowenah’s horse,
staring with trepidation into Asotos face. This was not expected at
all. She was not prepared for this situation. With sword and
buckler, the woman was used to dealing with an enemy. Now, here
stood the greatest of all villains and she bereft of all weapons
save a long knife, one she was forbidden to use. Naked she stood
there, awaiting whatever fate was to be hers, not knowing quite
what to do at all.

Asotos broke the silence, he understanding
well the riddling words Erithia just spoke. This was the beginning
of the horse race, winner take all. What was the prize though -
this girl creature? Or was there something greater to be won
tonight? Well, whatever the
greater
might possibly be, first
he must succeed in capturing this creature by luring her into his
web.

In a voice filled with compassionate
tenderness, he lifted an outstretched hand. “I see the face of a
troubled child, one abused and berated by evil siblings seeking to
tear away her heart and soul. Tell me, please, child of despair,
who you are and what is your name?”

Well did Darla remember the smooth speech
Asotos delivered up to Trisha this very day, and how empty and
hollow it really came to be. Still, this man was now speaking to
her, the harmonics of his words flowing into her ears and wafting
upon her mind. Sweet, so sweet the melodious tunes his speech was
playing within her soul, consoling, sympathetic, and… and… sensual.
Already she was feeling an erotic tingle growing between her
thighs.

“Who are you, child?” Asotos cooed again,
taking a small step toward her.

Darla stood up, razor straight, keeping her
wits about her. This man was her mortal enemy. He sought her
destruction. He ruined her sister long ago, attempted it again this
very day. Be alert! Stay alert!

“My darling little child, fear not the
foolish prattle of
wise councilors
,” Asotos glanced into the
shadows where Ardon stood. “Such pompous hubris is not permitted in
my camp. Your heart is safe with me. Please, what, my cherished
one, is your name? Who
are
you?”

Oh, what a smooth tongue - a tongue speaking
words that Darla so wished to be true for her. So long she had
endured the whispers and malcontent of others, the unknowing and
uncaring. How could this person know so quickly her plight unless
he also harbored within his bosom an understanding heart, having
suffered the same? Oh, how he must be playing her at this very
moment! But it felt so sincere, so real, so caring - feelings she
had so long desired to receive from a man. Even Euroaquilo lacked
the depth of solicitude this man was displaying.

“Child…” Asotos’ voice was filled with
concern. “It is you and I standing upon the edge of Time, the
universe waiting to discover us. Please, what is your name so that
I may hold it dear to my breast and fondle its very existence?”

Nervously, Darla answered in quiet prose,
“Who am I? Birthed was the name given me, ‘RachelOchlah’, but I am
come to be called ‘RachelOchranNohah’, because I am a troubling
thing to the people of this world. For I am the
star of the
evening
,
sinker of dreams,
bringer of pain and
despair
, becoming a
shadow-walker
and
demon-chaser,
child of damnation and giver of death
. Ugly and cancerous I am,
bringing disease to all who touch me, cursed by the old age and
rejected by the new.”

She then pressed a finger to her chest. “So
I have taken to myself a new and dreadful name, filled with woe and
despair, a more fitting name for a loathsome creature as myself –
‘DarlaUmehahAstrni, ‘barrow watcher’ - for I feed upon the dead in
my night dreams and seek escape from the living in the light of
day.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “‘Darla’ is my name - bringer of
torment and dismay.”

Asotos was completely taken aback. This time
Lowenah did not smile, nor was she bemused. Long ago her little
girl had chosen that name for herself, not revealing its meaning to
anyone. Lowenah thought little of it at the time, it being common
for her children to do such things. Her heart began to ache with
remorse over what her little child must have suffered at the hands
of those calling themselves her ‘brothers and sisters’. This was a
chink in the girl’s armor Lowenah had not seen. Had she known of
it, today might have been planned differently...so, so,
dangerous...but there was nothing for it now. The race was already
begun.

Disarming, so innocent and open with her
feelings Darla was, so disarming. Asotos could little believe the
honesty of heart he was witnessing. But ‘once burned, twice
learned’, he was not going to fall for such sincerity this time. He
kept his guard up while looking for opportunity to use this
newfound knowledge to his advantage.

Asotos frowned, tears filling his eyes.
“Child, it cannot be so! How could this evil be permitted with the
Maker of Worlds
watching over you? Innocent – oh, sweet
innocent sister, my little sister, my heart pains me so to think of
the wickedness you have suffered.”

Darla stared into Asotos’ smoothly shaven
face as his musical words bathed her heart and soul in hypnotic
sensuality. How beautiful his eyes, strong chin, determined brow,
and gracious dignity. This was no man, but a
god
risen up
from the stories of the Ones Who Came Before! Her flesh tingled in
delightful excitement, growing with intensity every time he uttered
words from his golden tongue. What was wrong? She brought a hand to
her head in response to a growing dizziness twirling about in her
brain.