Part 19

“If I’m honest, I would prefer your words a bit less persuasive.”

My eyes narrowed as Narissa slowed her mount, falling in with me, her creature huffing. Behind me walked the others, spread out in a loose column. None were yet speaking, which was likely why none were yet fighting. Thus far not a word had left a tongue without a blow, spell, or curse being thrown in return. “I’d prefer if my words were more so.” I finally replied.

Narissa laughed, though I’d not told a joke. “Aye, well expecting Chaos to work one way is a near guarantee it will work another. It isn’t called Chaos for nothing.”

I huffed in agreement. It was a lesson I was learning quickly. Fate had fallen into my lap, and it hadn’t been a clean or easy journey to the Basilica. Why had I expected the road before me to be smooth? “When I was promised to lead the Nine, I expected comrades, not distantly cordial foes.”

“Tis rare for someone to see the Four in equal light.” Narissa replied, nodding, or her head bobbing with the movement of her monstrous mount. It was difficult to tell which. She eyed me sidelong. “In fact, I’ve never before met one who worshipped Chaos Undivided without at least having a favorite.”

“And I’ve never heard someone work so hard at being indirect only to end up as blunt as a club.” A melodic voice cut in. Narissa jumped, her steed with her. I merely felt a moment of bowel clenching terror, for I recognized the speaker before she even stepped around a tree on the path ahead. Shiss grinned, her pointed teeth framed by full, luscious purple lips. “My dear sweet Katherine, you haven’t forgotten your part of our little deal, have you?”

I was stunned into silence, not by her unexpected appearance, but by her beauty, no matter how it had been burned into my mind by our last encounter. Each time I saw her was a revelation anew. She wore the rags of clothing this time, her porcelain skin coated in delicate, enticing drops of red. The scythe like claws her arms ended in gently brushed through her hair, oil filled eyes staring down Narissa, who was frozen beside me. “I have not.” I eventually assured the demon.

“Splendid. Because when I asked if you’d make me a body to occupy, and you agreed, I was oh so very excited.” she replied, licking her lips, lashes lowered. I squirmed delightfully beneath her gaze. “And yet you lead the Nine from the Basilica with no real idea how to accomplish this. You haven’t prayed for guidance, or summoned assistance, nor have you asked the library nor your comrades how such a thing can be accomplished.”

“There is something that I must do first.” I insisted, my heart shattering to speak against such a flawless creature. I felt the others hovering behind me, each having finally caught up, all eyes upon Shiss.

“And what, pray tell, is more important than our agreement?” she demanded, stomping a slender hoof into the ground.

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“Not more important, but a precursor.” I assured her. “My fellows are not yet united. They need to be swayed to see the truth. I will show them, as I will show my home, that Chaos is truth. They will all see on the morrow. They will look upon me and know that the Dark Gods are with me, with us all, and they will join us. The Nine will be forged as one, not into a sword, but as a beacon. I will light a fire that shines across the galaxy.”

Shiss considered me, her anger draining away, replaced by coy interest. Her rage was just as enticing as her joy. “You have seen this.” she stated.

“I have. There my Nine will see the Four as One. They will see that the eight pointed star turns on a single axis. They will unite and be mine, or I shall discard those who dissent.”

Shiss cackled as she caught fire, oil colored flames devouring her flesh in moments, leaving behind only bones stained with that iridescent gleam. She smelled of lavender as she burned, the air tasting sweet where it carried her ashes. Then that ash settled, silence reigned briefly over the Nine, and then it was obliterated.

“Deceiver. You are one of the Dark Prince’s.” Veros hissed, serpents writhing from within his loose sleeves. “I was promised a neutral leader, else I’d never have come.”

“And you have one. I am Katherine of the Nine, Chosen of Chaos Undivided.”

“And I am going to cut your pretty face off if you don’t give us some answers.” Jakera snarled, her hands shifting into the sharp blades of broken glass. She predictably came to the aid of her fellow Tzeentchian, but the flaw in their plan, in her faith, quickly was revealed.

“I do not need the bloodthirsty help of a Khorne whelp.” Veros spat.

Jakera turned to him in fury, as did Narissa and Mordred. They were united only by their hatred of other gods, but not a one of them believed in the same pieces of the pantheon. The Tzeentch magicians rallied against Katherine when she was viewed as Slaaneshi. Then the pure follower of Tzeentch rebuked the one also taken with Khorne. Then those who followed Khorne rallied, and soon the others would speak up. And each would hate their fellow for favoring one over another, until all Eight were at each others’ throats.

“You all will listen.” I said calmly, though shouts overwhelmed my voice. A twitch of rage tightened my jaw, and I spun, ripping the obsidian blade free. It hammered into the ground, cutting deep, boiling the earth around it swiftly. Hissing steam escaped from and expanded the cracked earth, which began to glow cherry red. The rest of the Nine turned to me in awe, and I knew my eyes were ablaze with oily light.

“You will listen.” I once more commanded. There was no psychic weight behind the words now, merely a promise of violence. “I was brought to the fold by an agent of Slaanesh. I have agreed to aid her in return for my guidance. I will take the help of the Dark Gods, any of them, all of them, and I will do so gratefully. This is no contest, to see which patron is the stronger. This is a war to prove to all that our pantheon is the true one! Chaos is eternal, chaos is truth. That means all of the gods, together, not one or two separately.”

“And we are to take your word for it?” Narissa whispered.

“No, you will be taking many of my words for it, then you will see it yourself. But until we reach my home you will all of you walk beside each other without a harsh word or blow exchanged, or I will kill you myself.”

Narissa alone had the audacity to laugh.

“Damn straight. We follow your lead, sister.”