“IN TIME, OF GREAT PERIL, WHEN THE NATION OF PALEBLOODS SHALL BURN FROM WITHIN– WHEN, DAEMONS IN HUMAN SKIN SHALL RULE OVER US, A GREAT METEOR SHALL BATHE THE WORLD, IN ITS DIVINE LIGHT.
FROM, ITS ETHEREAL TRAIL, SHALL RISE A GREAT EVIL; THE DEVIL, THE FALSE MESSIAH. AND, SHE SHALL GUIDE HER FOLLOWERS, DEMON ALL, TO GREAT CONQUESTS, AND, WITH POWER OLDER THAN TIME, ITSELF, SHALL RECRUIT THOSE WHO COWER AT HER MIGHT– THOSE, WHO AIL FROM WAR– THOSE, WHO VIE FOR BLOOD.
MARKED WITH HER, FOUL, BEASTIAL INSIGNIA, THE DAMNED SHALL MARCH AT HER BEHEST…. FOR, INDEED, THE WORLD ITSELF WILL BOW AT THIS EVIL’S FEET.” -EXCERPT FROM, ‘THE AYLA’
LEYAH VII
She hoisted the cup; its excited vibrations ceased. Raising a brow, she swept her eyes across the room; And, was left confused.
Nothing, in the room danced with such passion as the cup did. Not even, the table on which the cup was resting.
The hell? The cup regained its passion, the vibrations, that only it could feel, laying a fierce tune for it to sway along with. She plucked it, once more, and the vibration ceased.
Just, as she was, about to place the cup back, the vibrations returned; Returned with a reinvigorated passion, ceaseless passion. Although, this time, the infectious passion tore its way through the air. Everything, including her, quivered alongside the cup.
An earthquake, she realized with a start. As she, was about to bolt from the room, the rays of light entering the room disappeared; As if, the sun had been blotted out of the sky. Curiosity taking precedence over self preservation, she walked briskly towards the curtains, and pulled them open.
A startled gasp, left her mouth. The incessant rattling of her windows, a feeble attempt at gathering her attention, becoming mute.
Why were they here? Why, now? The Inquisition had deciphered through her half truths– examined her bullshit– observed her, less than standard, submitted AURORA entries. And, had finally come to the conclusion, that she had lied. An apt conclusion.
Hell, she would have been proud, had it not been–
The Dreadnought, that had imposed itself on her sanctuary, blew it's horn– announcing its presence; shattering her thoughts.
Although, she thought as her mind throbbed with wild abandon, calling it, a horn, would be an understatement. Something like– The roar of a great beast, would be more appropriate. And, considering, with how it prowled through the atmosphere– it was, already a beast, a beast of war.
The horn resounded again. She covered her ears, fearing that anymore and they shall burst open.
A ray of light, filtered through the window, caressing her face. Her hands, slowly, came down from her ears. The Dreadnought, had flown a considerable distance away from the library, taking purchase over the mountain in the north. A threat.
Just then, as she stood up on her shaky feet, the doors were thrown open. Although startled, Leyah, miraculously, maintained her poise.
“Mi Señora! There, is a dreadnought in the sky!”
“A little late for that, Emma,” She pointed to the window, “I have, already caught a glimpse of it,”
“Oh,” Emma paused sheepishly, the fog of panic receding, and immediately dipped into a curtsey. Leyah resisted, and it was incredibly difficult, the urge to sigh. Of course, the first thing that the woman would do, was a curtsey. The formalities completed, Emma continued, “The Capitán, he is requesting permission, Mi Señora! He, wishes to dine at the library,”
“Dine?” She questioned, flabbergasted, “He requested that, specially?”
“Si, well, not exactly, Mi Señora,” At the quirk of her brow, Emma rushed to explain, “Well, Mi Señora, he did not, specifically, request to dine. But, but, it was muy implícito,”
She sighed, nodding, “Bueno. Very well, give them permission, and have the staff begin preparations. I shall, greet the guests personally,”
Emma nodded, “Yes, My Lady.” Emma went to leave, only to pause, and performed a curtsey before leaving the room.
Leyah pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed. It seems, she could never catch a break. She took a glance at the, now resting, dreadnought. She had an inkling of a suspicion, regarding who’s handiwork, this was. But, she was, as of yet, still unsure. Not to mention, her suspect was another can of worms, in of himself. A can of worms, she rather leave shut.
________________________________________
“There was, not one other way, else thou would have remained unburdened. I, of course, had no intentions of encumbering your person with such a visitation,”
She rolled her eyes, “For all your opulent apologies, you have yet to explain, the exact reasoning behind such a move!”
“Mine reasoning for such, is inexplicable. Your hubris prevents you, from accepting assistance. Mine, doesn't,”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“That, ought to make any manner of sense?”
“Not to you, perhaps, but to me, yes,” Saying this, the connection that ran deeply within their respective psyches was severed. Where a tinge of warmth had been present, an empty coldness wormed its way.
AURORA's behavior, her mind observed, was much like a pendulum– oscillating from one extreme to another. At times, the machine would feel more akin to a facsimile of human consciousness, and at others, a cold program devoid of even the barest hints of consciousness. Mayhaps, she reasoned, the oscillating behavior was not born out of intentional efforts, but, from unintentional lapse in compilation. It wouldn't have been, the first time that she witnessed something akin to this.
Nevertheless, it was, anytime it happened, alien– not to mention, highly disturbing. Often, the shifts would happen, in midst of conversation, his voice undulating, ceaselessly, between a degree of human warmth and total unfeeling coldness of a program.
Mayhaps, it was merely the AI’s programming faulting– having being degraded over the countless centuries that his systems had been operating. Or, mayhaps, it had been a design flaw, inherent since its birth.
But, who could even answer this question? Except, perhaps, the creator of the AI, himself.
Musings and theories over, enigmatic, AI’s aside, the more tumultuous matter was of the landing craft currently, aligning itself with the library’s landing pad.
The model was a luxury craft– a wingspan of 75 meters and a height of 24 meters, built in the likeness of an aquatic animal, the manta ray to be specific. Fitting, she supposed, the craft swam swiftly amongst the void oceans of black infinity which resided amidst the stars, just as the manta ray swam amongst the pearly blue oceans of life.
The craft was a standard issue to all high officers. Deductionally, if the dreadnought was no indication, the official paying visit to her was of a higher standing; much higher, than the kind, she would've preferred as a visitor.
Unless, a, deluded, part of her mind whispered in optimism, Fredrick had been gifted a sudden promotion. But, that was wishful thinking. Extremely so.
The hopeful whispers of her mind, were drowned out by the roaring of the engines of the craft, as it touched down. Leyah nearly jumped out of her skin, not that it would ever be publicly admitted, when the craft’s occupants, in an attempt of intimidation, blared its horn. Tis something, she had hated and will continue to hate. Unnecessary, noise pollution, nothing more.
Inspite, of the sudden scare, there was no indication of discomfort in her countenance. She stood straight, a polite smile of welcome painted on her face, dressed in an elegant white dress with a white and gold scarf draped across her shoulders. Though, her dress was different– her poise was as flawless as it was during her Calypsonian service.
An entry ramp extended from the craft alongside a sharp release of air, depressurising the craft, and surrounding the ramp in a haunting mist.
A man exited the craft, flanked on either side by 2 distinct hulking silhouettes. The man, whom she could make out clearly, cut out a striking figure, he was tall– taller than her, for sure, but certainly not taller than Fredrick. He was dressed in an immaculately shining white outfit, a scarlet cape draped over the shoulder, and a white and black hat adorning his head. She, unfortunately, could not put a name to the face. Troublesome, for she could not anticipate the man's motives.
At least, he was non-inquisition. That was a boon.
However, she was not able to dwell on the man, much longer, as the 2 figures beside him, demanded her mind's complete attention.
A gasp, nearly, escaped her lips. And, her heart was gripped with cold chilling fear. For standing beside the man, dressed head to toe in their customary, nigh daemonic and devil horned, armor– were the Cardinals. And, going by the slashed eye socket, the one on the right was Agony. The left, was a mystery.
A maelstrom of thoughts, of suspicions, of nightmares, assaulted her mind. The attack, although self made, was intense enough to kickstart a dizzy spell within her. It was, years of experience and training, mostly training, that kept the polite smile plastered on her face.
Lost within the madness of her imagination, which tirelessly supplied her with gruesome ends to her tale, she failed to take notice that the man had reached her, and waited with a hand outstretched. It was, with a light clearing of his throat, that she snapped out of her mind, violently so, and shook his hand; albeit, shakily– she was still in shock of the Cardinals, afterall. Tis, was understandable.
The man, in a move akin to telepathy, commented, “Ah, in shock of the Cardinals, My Lady?”
She let out a nervous laugh, denying the allegations, “Oh, not at all! Merely, lost in my thoughts, trying and failing to remember; if I had, seen you before.”
The man laughed, good naturedly, “I, somehow, doubt that, My Lady. I was, only quite recently, promoted to this exalted position. And, nevertheless,” He suddenly lowered his voice, speaking in mock conspiracy, “I had, the fortune of not being posted on Calypso,” She let out a, conspiratorial, chuckle alongside him. “Humor aside, my Lady. I am, General Adolph, pleased to have made your acquaintance.”
“Likewise, General Adolph. And, I trust, that you already know of me?”
“Of course, my Lady. I believe, that a good and trustworthy relationship is fostered, only if the supervisor knows his subordinate, like the back of his hand,”
“Supervisor?” She questioned, shocked and, equally, incredulous.
“Oh, why, yes. I had thought, you would've been informed?” At the shake of her head, he hummed, “Curious. Nevertheless, my Lady, I shall be effectively replacing Commandant Fredrick and will henceforth, assume all his duties for the time being,”
That.. was a shock. Her only, well daily, source of unfiltered, or filtered to some degree, communication with Fredrick had been effectively severed. Something, coiled around her heart, squeezing it. It was mocking her, she could feel it.
Fredrick, has grown tired of you, it whispered. She shook the thoughts away. She couldn't afford to breakdown, not in front of him, at least.
Fredrick was, nonetheless gone, her mind reiterated, and the post taken. And, that too, taken up by.. by some green horned ruffian? She could wager, that the man- no, boy had never seen a battlefield– well, mayhaps, he had seen a simulation, but never a real one. His chocolate brown eyes, had that shine afterall; the shine, that one can never, possibly, retain after seeing true horror. The true horror of war.
As Leyah, who cursed Adolph in the depths of her mind, guided the trio into the library, the left Cardinal, continued to stare at her with curiosity. All too sudden, he felt a nudge and feeling of askance. He permitted it, and his sworn brother, Agony’s voice swept through his brain– humor lining it's tone, no doubt, prepared to land a, hideous, raunchy jest.
“See something, you like, Malice?”
“Maybe.”
The shock, that filtered through their bond, made the answer, even more worthwhile. Although, he admitted in the depths of his consciousness, the answer held more truth than humor.
This girl, this Leyah Engel, had a most distinct scent; woefully, a scent that he remembered, yet, could, quite, not name.
No matter, he thought as the girl guided them to the humongous and, hauntingly, empty dining hall, You have, all my attention, Leyah Engel…..