THE group eventually reached a great banyan that stood alone from the rest. It sat upon a gently sloped hill where its trunk broke through the canopy of the forest. To their surprise, there were wooden platforms that circled around the trunk toward the top, as if someone had set them there.

Vrihkhaḥ without their noticing shrunk himself just a tad.

The group hopped upon the platforms toward the top and when they had reached the last one, they found themselves atop the tree where there was a large flat base as if the tree had been cut around that point. The night sky was once more visible and the far reaches of the forest could be seen on all sides stretching from them. Trees were all about, some raised and some lower, but all of smaller height then the tree they stood upon.

Camp was set there for the night. With no sign of rain clouds there was little reason to stay under the canopy. Sanyhaḥmān began cooking the food they had left stored in the sack, of which admittedly was not much. A lot of it had spoiled on their travels. Though they had the ability to keep it fresh with the use of their powers, it was not to the point that they could do so passively.

Sanyhaḥmān gathered some mushrooms he had collected on their way through the forest (not the luminescent ones) and dampened them ever so slightly. He then poured some oil into a pan and sauteed them. And after a few minutes he tossed in some tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, and chill powder and stirred them together.

Iḷēhaḥ explained to the others of what she had done. “I did not think I needed to mention this before, but back when I was unconscious and stood in the presence of the Dehaḥṃār they gave me the ability to dispel the aether, but only that. I had not expected to have used it this soon, but it was good that we were not engaged in a fierce fight.” She looked over to the sleeping girl. “Were the struggle to have dragged out even a little bit longer I could have collapsed. It seems I become weaker and weaker as they days pass. Perhaps at some point I might not even be able to use the powers.”

They remained silent for some time but thought about what she said.

“Does that mean your powers will then disappear soon?” asked Aiṛth. She was saddened at this change of circumstance. But Iḷēhaḥ held onto her shoulder and smiled.

“Only if I strain myself too much. This body is much too frail even though I have considerably strengthened since meeting Tūmbṃār.” She then looked to Feyūnhaḥ. “Would you be willing to train me again, when time permits?”

“Aye! You needn’t worry on that account,” the princess said with a grin. “Don’t think I shall be easy on you though. Your regimen will only become more difficult from here on!”

“Now, what of the girl,” said Nakthaḥm. “We will have to wait until she has arisen to ask her of her powers and of what happened to the village, but apart from that, what shall we do with her?”

This was indeed something they had to give much thought. It was very likely that her parents or guardians had perished in the village. And given her powers it was not as if they could keep her away from themselves.

For now she would have to travel with them, but if and when she could control her powers should arise, then best it would be for her to lead a normal life elsewhere. Their journey was soon to grow more perilous and it did not seem right to them that they should subject a girl as young as her to such tribulation.

Tūmbṃār meanwhile remained silent but not out of choice anymore. He had resolved to break the oath but of course he himself could not do it. They would have to wait until they reached his master for that to be a possibility. The girl slept soundly, and Tūmbṃār looking to her wished he could be as free in sleep as she was. If only he did not have to care about so many things and be belabored by the anguish of many deaths and toil. In the back of his mind, he had known that things would become hard and difficult on his journey but never could he have expected it to have taken the path that it did. A kind of path he never wanted to tread. And not the kind of world he wished to see.

A rustle in the trees was heard. The birds took flight and in the distance they could see the banyans falling one after the other. Vrihkhaḥ stood on edge and enlarged himself. He bore his fangs and leaped toward the edge of the tree. Dinner would have to wait. Whatever was coming their way did not seem to want to talk.

“I smell a familiarity,” said Nakthaḥm. He grabbed onto the girl and tossed her over to Aiṛth. “Watch over her, Aiṛth! My kin approaches and not a kind with which we can converse. He seeks blood, specifically that girl over there.”

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“What! How do you know this?” said Iḷēhaḥ.

“I can sense its thoughts and it desires her. I suppose we have an answer to part of our question of what happened to that village. It would seem they had summoned the demon. But enough talk! We shall have to bring the fight to it. It will do little good for us if he were to fell this tree.”

Nakthaḥm, Vrihkhaḥ, Iḷēhaḥ, Feyūnhaḥ, Tūmbṃār, and Sanyhaḥmān bore their weapons and jumped down from the tree. And upon landing, the path before them was burst wide open.

The trees flew in either direction and out from the onslaught emerged the maleficent figure. Its face was contorted in a hideous matter, with four large teeth protruding up and down. Upon its head were a crown of horns that amassed into two greater ones the stuck forward like a buffalo’s. Its arms filled with gnats and its body exhibiting unnatural muscular proportions along the entire length. Its body was mixed of ash grey and pitch black and the entirety of it was gnarled. The black pupils dilated till the white of its iris lined only a sliver of the eyes.

Breathing heavily, it approached them slowly. The nails upon its hands grew long and it shifted its head upward. The demon then began to salivate and as the saliva dripped, it melted the grass beneath and released a putrid odor that drove the last of the nearby animals away.

“What kind of demon is this?” said Feyūnhaḥ in a hushed voice. “It stands close to thirty feet tall, and yet seems like an animal.”

“They are of the kind that linger in the Sea of Lamentations,” said Nakthaḥm unnerved. “Known as the Abominations, they are those that have become so wicked that they became cursed by the realm to take on that unseemly form. The Watchers move them like animals as they mete out of the punishments on the wailing souls. Yet I must say, there are much worse ones than what we see before us. We would be wise to engage it with caution. My powers as they are now, even with the weakened shackles would do little against it.”

“I did not think that Demons would stratify themselves on wickedness,” said Iḷēhaḥ. “Yet is it really that strong?”

“Aye,” said Nakthaḥm. “It does not restrain the usage of its powers, and so one could liken it to that of a moving explosive. Beware of moving too close to it, for if it grabs you it will quickly try to either crush or eat you. And this is of the most importance: when we have brought it to its knees, we must quickly decapitate it. If we allow it to live for even a moment longer, it will rupture its body and burst! Its fluids are like poison and shall either whither or melt that comes to its touch.”

He then looked to Tūmbṃār and then shifted his head slowly to the others.

“Do not treat it as if it were like us. I give my word to you that it is even less than an animal. Better it would be to quickly kill it, both for it and us.”

The boy knew he meant those words for him and nodded to himself.

The group followed Nakthaḥm’s lead and slowly encircled the Abomination. Yet it ignored them and lurching itself back, its back began to shake. The flesh wriggled and rippled like tall waves. And then four wings burst, with bits and pieces of its flesh flying to the sides.

The group quickly evaded the falling bits and watched as holes filled the nearby trees and the grass before them melted. A white haze came over the ground like steam. Then they waited for the demon’s next move expecting it to fly. But it turned and looked at Nakthaḥm.

He slowly paced around it and said, “Friends, keep your distance. Let its gaze be held upon me.”

He inched closer and closer while the others backed away.

Vrihkhaḥ’s ears then perked and he moved his head upward.

Nakthaḥm raced toward the Abomination and held his arms forward and shot his nails toward it. Feyūnhaḥ like them could hear wails from above and she shuddered. The girl sounded like she was in pain and Aiṛth did all she could do calm her but the girl would not stop. The Abomination had heard this and in an instant flew from the ground with a great gust.

“Haste my friends!” shouted Nakthaḥm, now running toward the tree. “We must make after it quick! Aiṛth will not be able to fend against it!”

They followed after him and made quickly up the tree. The Abomination meanwhile soared quickly above. And like a stain it covered the moon with its ugly wings and descended upon the tree.

Aiṛth grabbed onto the girl whose face had become fierce and soiled with tears. The girl’s teeth were planted in the priestess’ hand as blood trickled down her fingers. Yet the pain was nothing compared to what stood before her. She slowly pushed herself back, keeping tight to the girl who writhed in her grasp. The shackles of light upon the girls’ hands and feet only served to become tighter the more she struggled yet it seemed she could not understand this.

The Abomination looked to them with its eyes wide open and when it caught sight of the girl it began to salivate. The bark melted and hazed under the drops. And with sudden movement it flew toward the priestess who stood paralyzed in fear. Her legs weakened and she fell to the floor. She began to quiver and the girl’s bite loosened.

The girl looked to the demon transfixed with terror as it opened its mouth. The teeth began to enlarge. It moved its arm back and quickly swung it toward them. Aiṛth tossed the girl behind and then turned to the demon whose hand made its way toward her.

It was strange. In that fraction of a moment, she felt the end was coming her way, as she looked at the Abomination. The hands were lunging down her way, and all seemed to slow. And she remained resolute. With her head held high, she put her hands in prayer and looked to the Heavens. Unable to resist she sought the abode of the Gods, and perhaps she would have indeed been brought to them.

The highest goal she had aspired.

But for that moment it would not be so: lo! Nakthaḥm had come between them to accept the strike.

The claws of the beast tore into his sides and he gnashed his teeth. His nails were dug deep into the Abomination’s heart. Its breath mellowed and its eyes gleamed with dread, sensing death to come to reclaim it.

Nakthaḥm turned behind to see the priestess who shook. He shouted, “Aiṛth! I shall not have you fall here. Take the girl and fly!”