Child of Light, Mother of Darkness.
Salem stared in wonder as she gazed out the window of the blood-stained parlor. Never before had she seen the great void of space or its countless beautiful stars, and at that moment she felt almost content as she sat, staring out while clothed in the bloodstained garments of her enemy. But even after her narrow escape from the clutches of the alien captors, the girl refused to simply give in and run away. Salem was convinced whatever pathetic life she lived had all led up to this moment, and as she sat patiently on the Tella's velvet-colored stool, her legs began rocking back and forth in excitement.
"We are close," Anger muttered from the back of the room, his finger pointed towards the celestial horizon. "I hope you are ready."
Taking advantage of whatever time she had left Salem began to envision the Tella sanctuary and its endless possibilities. But as the alien vessel continued on its automated path, the sight that came into view was far beyond anything the girl could dream of.
Near the surface of Peruvia lay an immense floating structure of impossible size that towered above the clouds so carefully placed to conceal it. At that moment the great lie of Glacia was laid bare, proving at least some of the human legends to be true. Salem then rose from her seat and began examining the spectacle with great curiosity.
"How could such a thing be real?" The girl smiled, pointing towards the unnatural shape of the orbiting station. "And to think it was hiding right under the whole world."
From Salem's perspective, the alien city appeared in the form of an immense jellyfish, its aquatic body adorned with a royal crown that jutted toward the heavens in elegant spindles of silver. Drifting across space, its long black tentacles reached for countless miles, while its bulbous center glowed a warm shade of crimson. For the witch who had seen so little beauty in her days, the station was a sight to behold.
"Do not lose focus," Anger growled as he skimmed over the beautiful oasis and fixed his attention on the more concerning details. "Look to their defenses."
Salem of course would ignore her child's wise advice, as her eyes remained permanently glued to the seductive architecture of the Tella. At first, she had assumed the pale girl she previously encountered was something of an outcast, or simply more expressive than the rest of her species. But now as far as Salem could tell, the whole of the Tella race was rather vain according to their shining home.
Realizing his mother was still entranced, Anger shook his head before stepping closer.
"Salem," he whispered to himself, realizing he never called her by that name.
The machine then flicked the girl's shoulder with mild irritation before pointing towards the station's lower reaches. It would appear from a distance, that the end of each metal tentacle housed a portion of the Valekry's mighty fleet. Thousands of warships then came into view as large specs, their angular shapes resembling the vessel Salem currently sat in. Anger knew little of the machine army, but could easily surmise such vessels contained no fewer than a legion of warriors. If there were any chance the Valekry would attack, then defeat would be inevitable.
"See there, they are prepared for anything," Anger warned, making sure Salem paid attention by snapping his fingers.
Doubt began to brew in the girl's mind as she considered her chances. But the pale girl had come too far to fail at such a time. Whatever strange power compelled the girl to live was still present within her, filling Salem with a sense of confidence. In her heart, she knew there was hope for the future.
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As the station drew closer, its massive shape began to envelop the vessel in a shadow so dark Salem's eyes began to glow. The girl looked rather pensive as an endless black wall crept over the horizon, its smooth surface dotted with bright red lights and ornate glass. But strangely enough, the pair of foreigners appeared to be docking alone against the side of the station, as not a single vessel could be seen near them. Salem was not sure then whether to feel reprieve or alarm.
Suddenly a loud hum enveloped the room, as two silver tubes jutted out from both the vessel and the station. The boarding process had officially begun, and the time of reckoning was near. Anger readied himself with the weapons he had scavenged, fully prepared for a fight to the death. Salem on the other hand sat motionless in fear, waiting for the worst to happen.
"Anger, if anything happens to us," Salem muttered. "Just know I love you."
"Nothing will, now be still," Anger whispered.
But as if fate was on the girl's side, there seemed to be no threat of any kind once the small vessel finished docking with the station. As silence began to surround the motionless ship Salem turned to her child with disbelief in her eyes. In her mind, something had to be amiss.
"What if they're waiting?" Salem whimpered as the lights of the vessel began to dim.
"If they knew of our treachery they would have no need for such a strategy. Killing us would be simple enough," Anger replied. "I advise we stay here and wait, if they are unaware of our crimes, then deceiving a group of inspectors should be easy enough."
"If you say so."
Quite some time passed before the Valekry finally decided to respond. The clever child assumed if his enemy had any intention to fight, surely they would arrive with a warship in tow. But just as Anger had predicted, the enemy began to arrive in one small shuttle, its slim form proof of their nonaggression.
Salem raised her thin brow with much suspicion as the sound of mechanical footsteps began to echo down the bloody halls. But unlike what she had expected, only a single machine appeared through the parlor's battered door. The so-called Valekry inspector wore an unusual tint of green and brandished not a single weapon as he calmly strolled through the room. He then stared at Salem in silent judgment for what felt like hours, before placing a palm against his face.
"And what game of lies do you play false idol?" The strange Valekry spoke, his voice seething with frustration as his poor demeanor became all too clear.
A crudely bent finger pointed towards Salem as the machine expressed even greater exhaustion. In response the pale girl silently observed the machine, identifying his much older age from the quality of his parts. The lights, metal, and joints of the experienced Valekry were all worn with years of violent servitude. Yet despite his evident scars, Salem was surprised to detect little hostility in the voice of the inspector. In fact, the strange Valekry appeared more annoyed than anything as if he was only mildly inconvenienced by the intruders.
"You rip and tear, without a care in the world," he sighed while waving his emerald-colored hand toward the dead Tella in the room. "Though...I would be dishonest to say their deaths were regrettable."
"What do you want?" Salem urged as she finally left her chair and pushed past Anger.
"As you no doubt suspect, I observed your violent crime. But have no fear, only I know what occurred here, and I plan to keep things that way. Perhaps you have not yet fallen like the rest."
Anger then stretched out his hand to hold Salem back as if expecting her to make the wrong move. He had already learned well enough how easily his mother could be distracted. And while Anger was no expert on his own people, he was certain this new adversary was more deceptive than the last.
"I understand your hesitation. Only a fool would trust one such as I. But as it stands, few others aboard this station will allow her continued existence," the Valekry explained as he reached towards Salem. "My name is Kalis, and I promise to take you to one who will care for her."
"We slew your brethren...your real family," Salem frowned, realizing the danger of the situation. "And now you attempt to serve me to another perverted mistress?"
Despite the relentless skepticism, Kalis seemed unphased. Almost every word that came out of Salem's mouth was awfully predictable to him. And as the girl continued to rant, the older Valekry would continually glance towards Anger, shaking his head in disappointment. It was as if he expected all this hassle some time ago, yet remained powerless to stop it.
"As I was saying," he snapped while gesturing toward the exit of the parlor. "This vessel is the site of a brutal encounter, one you narrowly survived. Such an event does not simply fall on deaf ears. My brother Redrix does not tolerate interlopers these days. If he finds you, he will kill you. And unlike those two foolish brothers you fought, he does not hold back like some merciful idiot."
Salem shook her head in denial. She did not want to believe a word that came from the mouth of the Valekry, especially after what had previously transpired. But with each second that passed, the stranger's logic tightened its grip around her. She knew there was little choice but to follow and pray.
"It is only a matter of time till someone else investigates this ship," Kalis repeated. "The crew is dead, a search will begin. You are running out of time."
"Very well then," Salem frowned, nearly jumping off her stool as she hissed at the Valekry.
Kalis nodded in approval before leading the pale girl toward the ship's hangar, ignoring the many corpses that stood in his way. During her short walk, Salem was rather impressed to see Anger's work and smiled at her child with great pride. Anger of course did not notice, his gaze focused only on the suspicious Valekry in front.
"You did all this?" Salem marveled as she reached the hanger.
Anger would continue to ignore the vain compliments, watching carefully as Kalis flipped a switch in the corner of the room. A rather loud crack then followed as the hanger's red shield shut off completely. Salem beamed with excitement as she skipped towards Kalis, her body eager to acclimate to something less frigid.
"Come on now, no reason to tally," the girl smiled before taking the lead.
Having left the hangar and stepped into the docking tube, Salem slowed her pace as an awkward realization consumed her. She was only a few steps from the void of space on such a small platform, a fact she hadn't ever considered. After a few moments of fearful pause the girl swallowed her fear and ran ahead to the other side like a skittish child. Both machines looked at her in confusion, before they too crossed the gap.
Once across Salem found herself standing before a large steel door, its large surface layered with intricate patterns she did not understand. But before the girl could even properly collect her thoughts, the massive hinges of the door began to swing open, welcoming her into the city as if approving of her arrival. Salem nearly chuckled as she relaxed her posture. Finally, after years of searching, she had found something of value.
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"Welcome to Lacuna. City of shadow and light," Kalis groaned as the gates opened far enough for Salem to slip through.
As the pale girl ran past the gate of Lacuna her eyes widened with amazement. Somehow, the exterior of the grand station was only half the spectacle. For within the great hollow shell lay a brilliant display of civilization never before seen by either humans or machines.
Several large rings of the station's bulbous shape seemed to surround the sprawling city, its crimson beacons dotting the landscape with towering monuments at their side. Layered between the red and black structures lay a vast forest of luscious blue leaves and pearl white trunks, their diamond rays eagerly shooting through the misty sky. And in the center of the station stood the most beautiful structure of them all; a grand palace of crystal and stone dwarfed the surrounding buildings in an archaic display of dominance. Salem wanted nothing more than to explore the whole city in an instant and find the royalty that no doubt lived within the beautiful walls.
Unfortunately, the girl found herself instead being dragged around the very farthest edge, likely to remain out of sight. This annoyance would continue for some time as Kalis made sure to avoid every possible member of the station. So much was to be learned of the majestic place, and yet so little had been seen. All Salem could really do was admire the strange rock-like substance that surrounded the city walls, its sharp cliff face having been fused into the metal hull of the exterior.
"Who resides here? How was this made? How-," Salem stammered, staring at a group of moss at her feet.
"She will explain," Anger growled.
Kalis would have smiled if he could, realizing Anger had accurately predicted the future. "So you know where I plan to take her?"
"Another Tella."
"You are more clever than you look, young knight."
"If she tries to hurt my mother, I will kill her as well."
"I expect nothing less," Kalis scoffed while motioning for the group to pick up the pace.
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The green-colored Valekry continued to lead the group for some time, his mind set on crossing only the most deserted of areas of the station conquered by nature. Salem on the other hand remained impatient as her eyes turned to whatever vista she could find. If she could have her way, the group would have already been strolling through the streets of Lacuna's city.
"You know why you can't go down there," Anger barked towards Salem after realizing she wanted to run off.
"I know," the pale girl scoffed while kicking at the terrain beneath her feet. "It's all just so beautiful."
Despite appearing barren at first, Lacuna's stone-covered rim contained many unique formations native to the station. Each particular mound of stone and steel housed only the most ancient and prestigious of homes, their moss-covered roofs suggesting only the oldest and wisest lived within their halls. Salem of course had already begun to imagine resting in such a calm retreat. Perhaps there she could be alone with her child, isolated from the painful world.
The girl then continued to fantasize for the rest of her trip - her mind filled with dreams of a well-earned peace in a new home. Every moment that passed within the alien walls seemed to convince her that the Tella and their culture were far more agreeable than she imagined. But still, a fragment of doubt lingered in Salem's mind.
"We are here," Kalis grunted as he quickened his pace.
Just as the machine had promised, Salem soon found herself standing before a smooth path of moss and pebbles, with a large dome-shaped house resting just beyond its length. And like her guide, the home appeared older than all of its counterparts. Judging by looks alone the girl might have even assumed no one lived in such a place at all.
"I assure you there is someone inside," the green Valekry hissed as if predicting Salem's mind.
As the girl continued to inspect the curious structure, she noticed creeping vines of every kind crawling their way through the walls as a series of multicolored flowers dotted the aged crevices of the home. It was a menagerie of floral life-cluttered and disorganized in shape. Salem then began to expect the old house to be less cared for than the rest of Lacuna.
"Excuse the mess. She doesn't go outside much anymore," Kalis whispered while pointing toward the front of the home, its mossy surface almost impossible to spot with the naked eye.
The large oak door serving as an entrance to the home was wide open, its only protection from the outside proving to be a layer of vines that grew over in abundance. And as Salem entered the large dome, a great blast of air nearly blew her small body over. She could feel the temperature drop and the moisture on her skin increase as if stepping into a different organic world.
"What in the-," Salem groaned as she held down the ends of her skirt.
The old Tella's home was indeed more of a greenery of sorts, with a tremendous glass-stained roof dominating the space in the main room. Only in the corners of the abode could the girl find any rooms or doors, with most of the house's real estate having been dedicated to the center garden. Any delicate outcrops in the room had been overshadowed long ago by the great brown tree standing firmly in the back.
"Are you certain your mistress has been alive this past decade?" The girl scoffed while gagging at the misty air.
"She prefers the confines of her bedroom," Kalis replied as he pressed a quaint little button.
A faint lullaby hummed through the left side of the hall, its audible trail leading up a set of pearl stairs and into the dark chambers above.
"Kalis?" A motherly voice inquired.
The voice of the woman was unusually gentle and mature, unlike the chaotic Tella Salem had encountered before. A great deal of exhaustion could be felt in her words as if some effort was required to ask anything at all. Raising his own pitch, the machine did his best to respond with amusement.
"Cora, I have brought you, visitors!"
Despite the unexpected turn of events, the woman was rather excited. She hurried out of her room with as much speed as she could muster. And as she gracefully descended the staircase, Salem stood perplexed in a mix of envy and admiration.
The Tella known as Cora appeared disheveled and half awake, though still, her visage was that of a calm goddess filled with the joy of all things fair. Her hair and skin were as pale as one would expect for her race, and her weary eyes displayed just a tint of orange, their colorful light having faded long ago. And while her beauty was immune to the ravages of time, her mind was surely not. Even Salem could feel a sense of pity in the corner of her heart as she continued to observe the woman.
A weakened voice then cried out in joy, "Oh my goodness! What an amazing sight to behold. A lost little girl! Quickly, sit her down. She must be exhausted, her journey no doubt perilous."
Anger nearly pushed Kalis aside to relieve his mother himself. Pleased beyond compare, Cora released a genuine smile towards the kind machine once he snatched two dark wooden chairs from the corner of the greenhouse. Before long both girls sat together near the tree in awkward silence, both marveling at each other in distinctly different ways.
"What little girl?" Salem growled, attempting to assume a form of confidence as she nearly collapsed into her chair from exhaustion.
"It's in the eyes dear. You haven't the slightest clue as to what you want. Not to mention your body has yet to mature. All are very indicative of a child. Tell me, do you like pets?"
"Sure I do, though they don't usually like me. And what do you mean I haven't developed?" Salem whined, feeling her own curved waist.
Cora began to laugh in an ironically childish tone. Ignoring Salem's complaints, she clapped her hands together and began to call for something hidden in the greenery. In just a brief moment, the grand foliage surrounding the dome began to shutter as a mass amount of life rallied to its mistress.
At first, Anger was poised for attack, assuming Cora had called for assassins. But all hostility ceased to exist once the creatures' true nature came into view. For in truth, there was nothing more than an assortment of furry creatures ranging from cats, dogs, bears, and even little rabbits inside the dome. Each mammal was undersized and tame as if genetically bred to be a docile pet. Salem couldn't resist the urge to smile while she surrounded by Cora's cute entourage.
The usually miserable witch giggled with excitement as a baby bear leaped into her lap, its heart racing with joy toward its new friend. And for a time all was right with the world. Salem was truly happy.
"As my daughter once told me, nothing raises the spirits like a furry little friend." Cora smiled.
Anger felt at ease, knowing he could easily dispatch the entire horde if need be. Kalis on the other hand was unamused, having seen that exact trick performed one too many times for his taste.
"I do not have words...it is," Salem stammered.
"Relieving I know. Sometimes, a little innocence in life can help you forget. I hesitate to imagine what they would have done to you."
"You know of my capture?"
"Young girls like you do not arrive any other way."
"So you know I'm not one of them."
"I don't claim to know everything dear, but we Tella don't usually have such beautiful crimson eyes. You are a rare thing, pale girl or not."
"Do the men have different eyes then?"
"Oh...there are no men here," Cora paused, unwilling to explain the truth.
Suddenly, a slight pain in the witch's heart began to swell. Salem couldn't quite understand her sudden rage. Something about the cruel assumption was simply unacceptable. Surely the Valekry would count as men. In her mind, the personality of each Valekry had no other reason to exist.
"Surely some remain. I saw them with my own eyes beneath the ice." Salem urged.
Kalis flinched, the image of death inflicting great pain upon him. Lowering his head in shame his lights dimmed. The stunned machine had not planned to reminisce such tragic memories and decided to step away for the moment.
"Small steps little girl. Small steps. What is your name? And would you like something to eat?" Cora sighed.
Salem looked away with saddened eyes. She required no subsistence in her unhealthy state, and any pleasurable consumption would simply reveal her own weakness. For what felt like years she had refused to engage in food or drink, needing little substance to carry on. Only recently had she learned that such remarkable power could be attributed to the strange parasite Cora most certainly did not need to hear about.
"Salem," the red-eyed girl replied with a slight sniffle.
It was clear to the mother she had already failed in many ways. It would not be the first time those under her care had succumbed to their sorrows. But still, she was determined to aid Salem however she could. But piercing the heart of such a scarred girl wouldn't be easy. Cora was aware of such challenges and took time to ponder her next move.
"Is there...something you'd like? Maybe kindle the spirit a smidge?" The old Tella smiled.
Salem paused, not sure what sad truth to release next. The last time any form of life bothered to ask what she desired, it was her choice of dress in less than comfortable memories. Too ashamed to admit she liked skimpy outfits, Salem decided to blurt out the only other reasonable answer she could imagine.
"F-flowers. Red flowers."
"Just like you," Cora winked, not understanding the strange implications behind Salem's statement.
Despite her rough treatment, Salem did in fact enjoy her own beauty. Having been called the precious red flower by both men and women was most flattering for a time. And despite every story of hers ending with death and blood, it felt good to be loved, even if it was just for her stunning features.
The red-eyed continued to reminisce in silence before Cora took her hand with maternal warmth. The old woman had long understood the pains of lust and violence. She knew from experience how difficult it could be to avoid the past.
"Flowers are curious little things," Cora lamented as she pointed toward a patch of red flowers behind her. "Sometimes I neglect them, failing to nurture and support their beautiful growth. And still, they spread throughout my home as if they were a parasite.
Salem silently nodded in agreement, staring at the blood-colored flowers as a feeling of peace set into her soul. But as her gaze began to avert back to Cora, she noticed a crimson pistil twitching in the distance, its center replaced with a ghoulish eyeball that stared into her soul. Salem's eyes widened as she took another glance, only to find nothing at all. The eye was gone, its terrifying gaze replaced with an eerie sense of despair as if the flower could appear once more at any moment.
Something was watching the girl.
"My dear...anything can terrify the soul, only if you let it," Cora whispered with a worried tone as she noticed Salem's fear.
"But what foundation do I have to rely on?" Salem snapped, her anxiety turning into frustration. "You must have good memories I imagine, experiences to remind you of the real world, the one you want to live in. But me? I have nothing to protect me!"
Cora paused before carefully selecting her next step. "Then my dear Salem, find that home, for your heart. See the good things in this world, and you will have plenty of memories to hold on to."
"But how?"
"I take it you are new to Lacuna? Why not make it your home, I can even show you around later if you want."
"Are you sure? I've caused trouble you know," Salem stammered, refusing to believe someone would be this kind to her.
"Let's just call it a little family outing. Me and my new adopted girl. It should fool anyone. There have been crazier things in this city you know, just try not to stare at anyone. Those red eyes of yours are more enchanting than you think."
"All right then," Salem blushed, not realizing her eyes could be anything but terrifying.
In the distance, Kalis continued to act irritated despite his successful plan. Salem was exactly the girl he expected. All he had to do was wait, and watch the accursed being find herself in that city he loathed with such intensity.
"Do not think your schemes are hidden," Anger growled, as he stood beside Kalis in the corner.
"Is that so? You're a smart one, I reckon someday you'll realize what kind of mess your mother has really gotten herself into. She can't help it you know."
And with that, Kalis left the room, leaving Anger with one last look of indifference. He knew Salem's child would have little time to discover his true intent. That reckless girl was now bound for the city in search of what she could only imagine. And as usual, she would require protection and aid during whatever disaster awaited her. All Salem's child could do was admit what little he knew and wait patiently for his opponent's next move. The suspicious green Valekry had won for now, the true extent of his apathy still a mystery.
"I am aware," Anger muttered to himself. "It's just the way she is."