In a large, dimly lit antechamber deep in the undercity, a half dozen guardsmen stood shoulder to shoulder, holding their dark rod-like weapons in both gloved hands. Over their faces, they wore their gas masks, framed by the snug gray hoods pulled over their heads.
The guardsmen stood solemnly, dwarfed before a set of arched double doors made of thick, monochrome, stained glass. Centered upon the doors was a haunting image: a narrow, naked, gray woman, with swirling black hair curling behind her like a vortex. She was joined at the waist to another, who faded into an ash-darkened hue. Its trunk was turned away from anyone who perceived the figure, and, being inverted, its arms acted as the woman’s legs. The hair of the inverted figure came down from between the arm-legs of the woman, and pooled upon the floor beneath her like dark water. The woman in the image lifted her face upward in an expression of muted mourning, with arms upturned in a gesture of acceptance of a cyclopean, black pupiled eye from above.
A creaking door was opened at the top of a set of stone stairs that led down to the antechamber opposite the guardsmen, spilling its light down and across the cobbled floor. Five silhouettes descended slowly, a halo of amber glow across their heads and shoulders. On the far ends and behind the group were two guardsmen with their rods held horizontally, as if herding the three at the center. They slowly made it to the landing, and were ushered forth harshly, towards the center of the antechamber.
Luinosa and Alto stepped forward nervously, their hands restrained. In the center was Tomokava, who marched towards the six guards that stood before the stained glass door, pulling the fringes of her dress towards her sides, for her usual greeting. In unison, the guardsmen marched two steps forward, brandishing their weapons at Tomo.
“Ah, the stalwart retinue of the last Casiq of frequency .689,” she said with glistening eyes.
One of the guardsmen inspected her curiously, then spoke past her, to the two guards that accompanied the trio.
“Did you take his baton?”
One of the two with the group produced Alto’s guard weapon, and displayed it for the one who spoke.
“And the little one? Anything?”
“Nothing. But we haven’t searched her,” the other said.
Another of the six guardsmen stepped towards Tomo, and grabbed her roughly by the upper arm. “Why? Be thorough when you’re dealing with the Casiq.”
“Don’t treat her like that,” Luinosa blurted. “She’s a guest.”
“The laws of hospitality,” Tomo whispered to the guard, who pulled away from her after hearing her tinkling voice.
Another stepped forward and gently traced her body with his weapon.
“Lift your dress,” he ordered.
Luinosa stepped forward. The escort next to her reached out and seized her by the arm in one swift, savage motion.
“No!” Luinosa barked in protest.
The guard that held onto Tomo’s arm jabbed his baton towards Luinosa.
“You stand there, and shut your mouth. You’re in no position to command anyone. We heard that you were sneaking up to the towers, and through the overcity after lockdown. You’re going to fess up about where you go in and out. That ends tonight.”
“Lu,” Alto hissed, shooting her a concerned glance.
“And you,” the guard turned his pointed attention to Alto. “You’ll be spoken to for allowing denizens into restricted posts. You’ve been relieved of your position for the time being. And that’s if you’re lucky.”
“Let’s go,” the guardsman said to Tomo. “Lift your dress.”
Luinosa and Alto both grimaced, but held themselves.
“There’s nothing under my dress,” Tomo said, as she lifted it. “See?”
As she lifted her dress high over her head, it seemed that Tomo was telling the truth. There was nothing. No feet, no legs, and as she raised the frayed lace, it seemed there were no hips, no stomach. She continued to shimmy the dress upwards, while vanishing piecemeal.
Luinosa and Alto stared in awe, as the guardsmen crouched and circled Tomo, perplexed.
“What in the Lady…”
“Should I take the dress off?” Tomo said from within the inverted lace.
“Put it down!” the guardsman commanded. Tomo dropped her dress.
The guardsmen sent each other furtive glances. The one closest to Tomo waved towards the stained glass doors of the Long Lady.
“Bring them in. Let the Casiq decide what’s what.”
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The entrance to the temple of the Long Lady opened into two rows of enormous mosaic pillars that led to a wide open chamber framed by high arching walls. Enormous paintings rose all around the chamber, ending at the beginning of the arched ceiling. Each depicted a different scene. They towered high over the group that entered the chamber slowly, between the columns.
Tomo marveled at each one.
On the right wall was a bright, many-armed figure wielding a sword of light. It raised this weapon standing upon a shattered, dark world, towards an angry storm that parted for the descent of a monstrous being composed of many opalescent eyes. Thick bolts of blue lightning descended from the storm around this godlike entity, like hands with many jagged fingers. They surrounded the sword, and its defiant wielder, whose tightly curled copper hair whipped in the fierce winds. At the foot of this wild-haired warrior, was the Long Lady, lying wounded, but wearing a wicked sneer.
On the left wall, the painting depicted a kneeling android made of a bronze-like metal. Behind it stood another figure, with its hand reaching deeply into the back of its head. The figure standing behind was obscured in a deep purple cloak, and the space where the face would appear was empty save for a gentle, silver glow. Across the forearm of its extended hand was a series of glyphs, each illuminated by the same silvery light. In the background was a formation of dull robed androids, standing shoulder to shoulder, with their heads bowed in reverence, or in a state of unconsciousness.
The last two paintings, to the left and right of the rear wall, were that of the Long Lady.
The rear-left painting was the undercity’s narrow deity, wading waist deep in still, black waters, raising her hands to her sides, as turned towards the gloam of the horizon. From her arms dripped black droplets. As they rained down, they took the shape of shadowy monstrosities, twisting and flailing together as they plummeted into that calm black sea. The Long Lady’s head was turned ever so slightly, so that her gaze may catch the viewer's eye through the corner of her own.
On the right-rear, the Long Lady sat upon a stained green sofa, and next to her was another of the bronze-skinned androids. She wore a bleak expression; her mouth slightly agape, her eyes tired. Cradled in her right arm was a severed head. The blood and black hair of the head spilled into her lap. The face on the head, very much like the Lady’s but with harder features, wore a peaceful expression as it gazed up at the Long Lady. In her left hand was a small cigarette, its tip lit with a faint glow. The android next to her wore a pink hat, and with a similar gesture, held up its own cigarette.
At the center of the two paintings, raised just above the ground upon a narrow stone dias crowned with dark ornate wood, was a gargantuan bust of the Long Lady, composed of some shimmering obsidian material. There were no arms to this sculpture, only a towering torso, with breasts that leaked from the nipples; a long, slender neck, and that blank, restless expression. Her long hair wrapped down across her collar and around to her back, where it appeared again athe front near the hip, crossing her again just under the navel.
Standing with a bent back, in front of this giant effigy on the dias, was the Casiq. He wore dingy tan robes and was without a mask. His dark feather-diadem rose just above and nearly as long as his pointed ears. Right under the Casiq, before the dais, was a large hole, like a wide well, encircled by short, spiraled spikes of iron.
The Casiq smiled a broad smile, his eyes wrinkling at the corners. His hair was shorn to the scalp, and his fox-like ears seemed large in comparison to the rest of him.
“The guardsmen have made it a custom not to take off their masks, even in the temple. But the truth is, the air down here is quite fresh. It's far enough under and to the side of the undercity pumps, and that unpleasant air,” the Casiq exposed a frail hand, and pointed up with a boney finger. “I make it a custom to come here, in reverence, as often as I can. But I am also relieved of that infernal mask, to tell you the truth.”
The guardsmen directed Luinosa, Alto and Tomo forward, only steps away from the large well. The cousins looked about themselves nervously, and saw that, just underneath the paintings, many cloaked and hooded figures began to gather. In each corner of the room was an armed guardsman; there were another few flanking the well, and more appeared on the opposite sides of the pillars of the temple chamber.
Tomo took the sides of her dress into her hands, and curtsied.
“Well met, Casiq Guybana na Rosa.”
“Well met!” he replied, with some surprise, and in good humor. “I’ve heard from some of the guards on their posts, that you entered the city, and interacted with the bright-faced beings that prowl the surface, in the overcity. And yet, here you are. How may we address you properly, before we speak?”
“Fine Casiq of the undercity, my name is Tomokava Blue-Stellar. But, because I know that’s a pretty long name, you can just call me Tomo. BUT. I will say that I am also fond of nicknames, and if you gave me another nickname, like, cupcake, or something like that… I wouldn’t object to such a sign of affection.”
There was a murmur amongst the hooded figures, and Guybana crossed his arms in curiosity.
Tomo, turned to Luinosa, whose eyes were wide in nervous anticipation.
“My nickname for you is Sweets, by the way. Because I’ll always remember us eating Chocoloot in your room, tonight. I’ll always remember….”
“TOMO,” the Casiq interrupted with a pointed edge, and his smile faded. “I see. I have many questions for you, but I will begin with this: how do you know my name? My surname. All these around us are young, and the only ones who knew that name have for some time, made their way to our Long Lady.”
“Anagmir,” the acolytes responded in reference, from inside their hoods.
Tomo turned and shrugged, with her lips pursed.
“The information is out there, Guy. Ripe for the plucking, right off the tree.”
“Casiq!” one of the guards barked at Tomo. “We are in the sacred temple of our Lady, and you’ll speak to the Casiq appropriately, demon.”
“She’s not a demon,” Luinosa spoke, before thinking. “She’s…”
Alto shot her a desperate glance.
Casiq Guybana raised one hand, halting the mumbling response of the acolytes in the chamber, who began to creep forward for a better view of the strange, shimmering guest.
“Let’s not get worked up about formalities. Did this girl - what is your name girl?” he turned toward Luinosa, blinking his old eyes.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Luinosa froze.
“Who, Sweets? Her name is Luinosa en Arnaxa,” Tomo replied.
Luinosa nodded, looking up at the Casiq with large eyes. She shoved both her hands inside of her coat sleeves.
“Luinosa. Madreena’s daughter, yes?” the Casiq pondered, turning again to Lu.
“She’s not my mother. She’s my aunt.”
“Ahh,” he replied. “Yes. Unfortunately, we lost your mother, didn’t we?”
Luinosa lowered her head, examining the ground before her feet.
“The last dimming was eight years ago. You must have been very young. The bright-faces have taken much from us,” the Casiq lamented quietly, and the acolytes muttered in agreement.
“OOOOoooooooo, Casiq Guybanaaaaaaaaa,” Tomo said, in her melodic voice. She crossed her arms, and furrowed her brow. She passed the Casiq a disapproving look.
The Casiq narrowed his eyes.
“TOMO,” he spat. “Were you permitted into our city by Luinosa?”
Tomo put her fingers to her chin, and cocked her head, with one brow raised.
“No,” she replied. “I took the liberty of letting myself in, because there was a vending machine in the mall, and it still worked. But Sweets invited me into her home, which was a very kind thing to do. She was worried about me, and she wanted to help. AND - she wanted me to help you.”
The acolytes huffed and chortled amongst themselves.
“Help me?” the Casiq responded, his large ears turning in interest.
“Well, everyone, really.” She gestured to the chamber in swirling motions of her small hands. “Everyone needs a little help. I noticed that your fake sun ran out of energy.”
“Our guardsmen said they saw a strange orb emerging from the bright-faces, after you had been… taken by them. But you seem just fine.”
Tomo examined her dress, and adjusted the angles of the white lace edges. She pulled her hair to one side of her head gracefully.
“I mean, I do. It’s true.”
“And you know, as only some of the engineers know, those same who have spent their lifetimes calculating its slow degradation, that our sun has died.”
“Mmm hmm,” Tomo said, shuffling forward to come closer to the well. “You put some of your foxes into the well, huh? I gotta say, I think that was a little bit cold, Casiq. I sense that this well goes on forever.”
The Casiq stared blankly at Tomo. The acolytes speculated quietly amongst themselves, and the Casiq regarded them with an expression of suppressed anger.
“Are you a human being?” he asked Tomo, loud enough to snip their whispers.
“Nope. There aren’t any human beings in this frequency. But, they’re the ones that built that mall. So we can give a thank you to those dirty little angels, for things like vending machines, and cute scarves with leaves on them,” she said, turning to Luinosa with a grin.
“You say so many strange things,” the Casiq said, thumbing his chin. “From where have you come? How is it that you move across the poisoned planes surrounding the city, to arrive here as you are, unaccompanied?”
“Oh, I wasn’t alone. Well, I was alone for a few days, I guess. But, I’m usually with Kettle. We had a race that I obviously won, by a lot. I’ve mastered the art of speed walking. And… wait, what was the first thing you asked me?”
“From where do you hail? Where do you come from, is what I want to know,” the Casiq said, his voice lifting, as he slowly crossed one side of the dais crown to the other.
“You aren’t a human being, as you’ve said. So, what is the origin place,” he extended his hand out towards her, over the wooden crown. “Of a Tomo?”
“Ah, right. Well, I’m pretty sure I came from Kettle. But he doesn’t exactly know that, I don’t think. I mean, I think he recognizes the truth, deep down in his heart. But I’ve never asked him. I don’t know if he’s ready for that conversation. When he is, we’ll have it, and not a moment before.”
“How obtuse,” the Casiq said, turning and grinning to his acolytes.
“Now can I ask you another question?”
The guardsmen shifted uncomfortably where they stood, most of them gripping their batons in the hands tightly. Some looked sternly at Tomo, others awaited the Casiq’s response.
“You haven’t asked one yet,” the Casiq said, angling his wrinkled face.
“I asked if I could ask,” she said. “It would be rude not to. If you say no, I won’t ask the second.”
Some of the guardsmen chuckled to themselves.
The Casiq took a deep breath. “You may.”
“Do you think that telling the truth is important?” she asked, clasping her hands together.
The Casiq leaned over the crown guard of the dias, his jowls trembling under a forced smile. “What are you insinuating, Tomo?”
Tomo raised both of her hands to her sides.
“I’m not making any statements, sir. I just asked you a question.”
The acolytes and the guardsmen grumbled in disapproval.
“The TRUTH,” he bellowed, turning to his acolytes, “is as important as the context within which it is delivered; to be judged in its value by he who speaks it, according to his understanding; by those who receive it, according to perception.”
The acolytes muttered in satisfaction at this wisdom.
“Oooff.” Tomo put a hand on her forehead. “Okay. Well, I think that telling the truth is important. I think that we should always tell the truth, when we can. Especially about important things, to people who rely on us. For example: your friends here in the room, all of these guys in hoods, they all think you’re super wise. And they really listen to you when you speak, because everything you say is important to them. They trust you, and would do anything you asked of them; they would believe anything you told them. Don’t you think that’s kind of incredible?”
The Casiq turned his face, and from the corner of his eyes, looked at the acolytes. Some of them bowed their heads, and discreetly hid their hands in their sleeves, or in their robe’s deep pockets. Tomo raised a hand towards them.
“I didn’t mean to make any of you uncomfortable. I’m sorry. It’s a really special thing, devotion. Having faith in an idea, or a person. I feel the same way about Kettle. It’s like being in a family, isn’t it?” she asked, smiling shyly.
Some of the acolytes nodded.
“But,” she continued, addressing the Casiq with slow words. “You have to be careful with that sort of thing. You have to be mindful. You have to care. Not anyone is ready for that kind of responsibility.”
There were reluctant murmurs of agreement.
“What are you trying to do here?” the Casiq said, his voice becoming sharp.
“I’m just…” Tomo's hands curled over each other several times, flourishing before her heart. “...expressing.”
“You’re playing a game,” the Casiq said to her. “You’re doing something here.”
“Life is not a video game, Adam,” Tomo said, deepening her voice and laughing. “I’m just kidding. But actually I do think life is kind of like a video game. You decide that you want to play, and you come to play. The player knows they’re playing a game, but, the character they’re playing as doesn't. All of the danger feels real, because you are the character. But you’re also you, and you know that the danger is part of the fun. Even dying is part of the game. But you keep playing, keep learning, and you know that no matter what happens, you always come back to yourself.”
Both the acolytes and the guards reflected deeply upon this.
“I’m sorry I’m talking so much,” Tomo said, bowing her head. “I just haven’t gotten the chance to speak to many people.”
There was more laughter from the crowd in the temple.
“There is some wicked force at work here,” the Casiq said evenly. “I’ve made my decision. We have been visited on this night, of all nights, by a demon of the outer waste.”
There was a sudden silence.
“A demon? Tomo lifted her head.
The Casiq took one purposeful step forward, to the wooden crown of the dais, and leaned over it. He jutted his face forward, over the edge.
“A dee-mon. An evil being, from another world,” he said, his voice filling with resonance as he leaned forward against the crown, and cast a steely glance at the crowd in the temple. “And the reason why our red sun has died.” The acolytes and the guardsmen all stood still, and quiet.
Tomo paused, and her eyes widened; her mouth opened, exposing her brilliant teeth.
“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
She placed her hands on her belly, and stumbled back a step. Her laughter continued, pure and without shame, and did not stop. It echoed across the chambers, filling it with a reverberation of sound that twinkled at its edges. Many in the chamber began to smile, and themselves began to chuckle; their laughter grew, and became unleashed slowly, until the temple was filled with it.
“QUIET!” The Casiq roared, but his voice was weak against the laughter in the temple.
“I picked out this dress,” she said, when she caught her breath, “because I thought it was cute. And there’s no humidity in this city, because those molten pumps make the air so dry.” Tomo turned to the guards, and the acolytes, with her fingers spread before her. “So I thought my hair looked very nice tonight.”
The acolytes and some of the guardsmen came to agree to this.
“And literally no one has said anything about it. But I might be a demon,” she said, pivoting to Luinosa, with her eyes narrow. “That’s what I get for trying to be cute.”
One of the guards stepped forward, nervously. He took off his mask, exposing a sweat-glazed face and a bashful smile.
The temple hushed.
“I think your h-hair is wonderful, T-Tomo,” he stammered.
Luinosa’s eyes widened..
Tomo spun towards the guard, her luminescent hair trailing behind her like vapor.
“Oh, Lovie. Thank you for being so sweet. I know it took a lot of nerve to step forward and say that. I knew you liked it. I could sense it.
“It’s nice sometimes, to compliment someone. You never know, they may have needed some kind words at that exact moment. Like you, Lovie. Sad Iyan et Tarn, who has trouble sleeping, because of so many terrible dreams. Dreams of bright-faces.”
The guardsman Iyan nodded, emotion welling upon from within. “Yes I… I have bad dreams. Sometimes,” he said, turning self consciously to a guard nearby, who nodded his head to Iyan.
“Lovie, you have a sincere, loving expression. Your good heart shows up on your face. And I think there is a bit of wisdom underneath that. You should share it every chance you get.”
Iyan smiled, and huffed a shy laugh, twirling his mask in his hands. He took a step back among the other guardsmen, who patted his shoulder.
“You should all really just appreciate each other. So much,” Tomo said, looking around the chamber. “You’re not alone,” her voice was soft.
Some of the guards looked at one another, and removed their masks. New smiles were born, and the guards and the acolytes began to soften their expressions as their gazes met.
Alto turned to the guards near him, who were nodding along with Tomo and regarding one another with appreciation. He was utterly dumbfounded.
“This… what is this?” the Casiq stuttered in horror. “All of you, remember yourselves, and where you are! This is the sanctuary of Oblivion, and you're being turned by this demon. Do you not see what is happening?”
The audience in the chamber looked at the Casiq, conflicted with feelings of confusion and shame.
“Casiq,” Tomo said, as the crowd within the temple began to quiet to hear her. “I think you do need help.” She raised her hand, and pointed up at him in the dais. “You have something unhealthy inside of your mind.”
“What are you saying, demon?” he said, challenging her.
“The one who created and sent the bright-faces to this city. He's whispering in your ear. Do you hear it? Spsss Spsss Spsss,” she said, holding one of her curled hands by her lips.
For a moment, the Casiq raised his trembling arms, and nearly placed his hands against the side of his head, but then turned them to fists and thrust them down.
“There it is again.” Tomo’s voice began to swirl around the temple, resonating with depth; no longer soft at its edges.
“That darkness is within you, Casiq Guybana. I can cast that darkness out for you… but only if you ask that of me.”
The guardsmen and the acolytes stepped back from Tomo when they heard her voice.
The Casiq stumbled back from the crown of the dais.
“GUARDSMEN,” the Casiq commanded in frothing rage. “Lay your hands on this monster, before you lose your minds to it. Bring her to the edge.”
Most of the guardsmen were frozen in place. The two who had searched her in the antechamber broke free from this stillness, and each seized one of her arms.
“Tomo!” Luinosa yelled, stepping forward. “No! Casiq, please! She didn’t do anything wrong! She came here to help us!”
The Casiq turned his rage towards Luinosa.
“HELP US? You’ve been swept up by the lies of this demon, little girl, and you’ve brought her evil into our home.”
The guardsmen nearly lifted Tomo off of the floor, stepping forward to the spiked gate around the pit. The Casiq fumbled his way to the center of the dais, and passed his hand over a small glass sphere embedded in the crown.
“Let her be judged in Oblivion.”
The spiked guard around the giant well dropped with a snap of iron on stone.
The guardsman Iyan dashed forward in protest, as did Luinosa. Alto looked on in horror.
A trio of guardsmen met them before they reached Tomo, and fought stiffly to keep them away. They performed their duties mechanically, a pale sickness stretched across their faces.
Some of the guardsmen moved in protest, with their hands outstretched towards Tomo and the two who held her over the edge of the well. An equal number jumped before them in response, and there was an exchange of shoves and violent voices. As the two groups grappled, the acolytes, whipped up by their own terror and panic, began to trip over themselves as they stumbled back to the walls of the temple.
The scene disintegrated into chaos.
“THROW HER IN!” the Casiq howled.
“TOMO!” Luinosa cried above the din, fighting like a wild animal against the arms of the guard that restrained her. “TOMO!”
Tomo looked over the edge of the well.
“How does a well go on forever?” she wondered to herself.
Tomo was shoved from behind, and her bright form overcame the lip of the well.
Luinosa let out a shriek that overtook the din of the temple.
Tomo’s tiny body fell into the darkness of the pit, and she vanished.
The chaos slowly subsided, and there was a grave silence in the temple.
The Casiq turned his mad eyes upon Luinosa, trembling as he spoke. He pointed a single finger.
“Take her to the ascending cell. Let her spend the morning with the bright-faces.”