According to the villagers of Regnum, the path to the Cathedral could be traversed in less than four hours. Anka, the petite black-haired angel with an ethereal glow, led the way--her light illuminating the gray, misty morning. Vre, Drake, and Xerith followed quietly behind her, having lost Jonah--the village fading behind them quickly into the distance.
Anka flitted more than she walked, her steps weightless and her form a beacon of light against the gloom. Her demeanor reminded Vre of a child, though she was just as tall as Vre.
“Anka?” Vre called out.
Anka was humming a somber tune, seemingly oblivious to their presence.
“Is she really leading us to the Cathedral?” Vre asked, turning to Drake. “How exactly did we wind up with an angel instead of Jonah?”
Anka twirled around mid-air, hovering as she moved backward. Her faceless, radiant visage took Vre’s breath away.
“Jonah was needed elsewhere,” Anka said with a chirp. “He will meet you at the Cathedral later. Isabel asked me for a favor, to bring you to the Cathedral in return for Jonah helping out Regnum. Hmm, yes. Yes. It’s a favor to my friend Isabel.” She repeated herself innocently, her voice melodious. “You don’t need an angelic escort to go to the Cathedral, but if you do have one, you will be taken more seriously. You are going in hopes of receiving a world key from the Vizier, right?”
Vre nodded, though she wasn’t sure what that entailed. She’d find out soon enough, she supposed. Still, she hoped that Jonah was doing alright, wherever he was.
Still adjusting to the feel of the new clothes she’d received, the long, brown skirt was warm and practical, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of being an old-fashioned maid. She didn't typically wear such feminine clothes. The creamy tan blouse was soft against her skin, and the wooly white sweater she wore over it provided much-needed warmth. Her new boots, which she had traded her combat boots in for, were much flatter and made of a soft leather. Everything about her outfit was a far departure from the tight pants and black jacket she was accustomed to, but looking at her companions the outfit made sense. Drake wore a long frock coat, Anka a white ankle length dress, and Xerith had his black and gold armor.
Xerith hadn’t said anything since they left. He walked beside Vre patiently, his long legs matching her stride. Even if he was silent, his presence alone gave her comfort. She recalled what Drake had been telling her about the Annunaki. The thought that she had an ally in some kind of ancient entity was some serious firepower. The contrast between his dark, imposing armor and her simple, earth-toned clothes was stark, yet there was a strange harmony in it.
“It was really nice of Henry to have spare items for travelers in the World Between. He said these clothes would be more appropriate for traveling here,” Vre said, trying to make conversation. “I suppose he was right. They’re warmer, at least.”
The trip was quiet and gray, but uneventful. That was a welcome reprieve. She kept her mind preoccupied, trying to remember and rationalize everything she had learned in the two months since she had come to the World Between. It had been so long she could barely recognize herself from who she used to be--the worker bee that worked the nine-to-fives in a technology sector. Now she was a just traveler, like others who came here…hopeful to be able to find her way home through this gray and miserable world. But unlike others, she had been studying the taint and had befriended a researcher who studied the different entities here. And, she had Xerith, who had clues on how she might be able to go home.
At long last, the Silver Cathedral loomed ahead, its towering spires piercing the dark sky. Anka’s light little body bounced on ahead, and each step they took felt like a step into another world, a place where the veil between the realms was thin. The ancient stone structure was covered in vines and moss, giving it an eerie yet majestic appearance.
Vre’s heart raced as she took in the sight. It was huge--way bigger than what she had in her mind. True to it's name, above the massive metal doors was a dome that rose up into the misty clouds that blanketed the land. There was a smattering of birds that dove and flew continuously around the dome and the spires. The flitted like Anka did, and they were of all shapes and sizes, some larger like birds of pray but many that were small and clustered together.
There was a kind of courtyard that they were approaching. Outside the courtyard she could see stone gargoyles perched on top of a wall. As they approached, however, she could see that their eyes were blinking. Not stone, after all, or perhaps they were -- she didn't understand the logic behind them. The gates to the courtyard were open and by her ankles, a group of little bumpy creatures with short arms but big hands and yellow skin jostled by her. They ran into the underbrush of the forest a little ways past and disappeared.
Anka was facing Vre, but it was impossible to tell if she was looking at her or not.
“The World Between is a place between reality and the spiritual.” Her melodic voice said, explaining. “It is a world that has been trapped in a spiritual war for so long it's hard not to just call it a battleground. It's appearance is a reflection of it's current state. Gray, morose and haunted is because of the increasing prevalence of the taint.”
“Yes, that's what I understand.” Vre nodded. “I don't really get the whole leaking of the taint nor the spiritual intersections nor how I came to be here. But this Cathedral…why is it called the Cathedral? What is it's purpose?”
“Think of it like a grand headquarters, or a central station. If there's anywhere you need to go, this place can connect you to the other realms. That is, if you are spiritual in nature. If you are physical in nature, there is not much need for you to come here unless you need to seek the Vizier's council.”
“And who is the Vizier, exactly?”
“The newest Vizier is my friend. Calos, the high duke of Gehenna firelands. It is hopeful he will be able to bring some military strength to those who have infiltrated from the underbellies. If the seals keep weakening, I worry that the World Between will become untraversable for more beings like me. Our purity will be unable to survive here.”
Vre cast a glance to Drake, who had taken out a small pen and was jotting down some notes on a notepad. He caught Vre's eye.
“Have you been here before, Drake?”
“Yeah. I made the trip here back when I first arrived to the World Between, too. I came with the same thought, that perhaps I'd be able to get home. But I didn't hear about any key. I didn't meet the Vizier, either. I just came and observed, which really got me interested in all the different worlds and different entities you can meet here. We may meet some interesting characters, but we should keep our head low. Many will be on a mission and not able to talk to us.”
Anka did a twirl, then continued leading them on ahead towards the door. Sentinels as big as a vehicle stood to either side of the massive, metal doors, which were engraved in a beautiful turquoise color in a criss-crossing pattern. The doors towered above all of them, up a row of big stone steps.
Vre's eyes didn't know where to look first. If they would have turned left, it looked like they might have disappeared into a garden. A stone trail lead through high bushes and ferns, overgrown with weeds and cold-striken plants. Much of the foliage had fallen to the ground, but it seemed to go on for a ways. Through the brambles, she could see a group of more angels talking -- their faceless glows a welcome sight through the gloom.
To the right in the courtyard was a pavilion, a group of smaller buildings, and a large ornate fountain or lake it looked like, but it was cracked and drained of water.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
But that wasn't their destination. Anka led them past the two sentinels, Goliath-like man-shaped statues with overly large heads, and the metal doors began to open swinging inside. Just enough for them to go through.
Beauty and grandeur was not enough to describe what she saw. Awe might have done the job better, as she felt so small under the stone pillars and sweeping balconies. Everything was a polished copper red color outlined with silver--beautiful sparkling silver as far as the eye could see. There were lights made of crystal and metal, shining the same hue as what the angels gave off. She couldn't tell if they were technology or magic.
Towards the center, under where the beautiful dome lurched towards the sky, painted with figures from mythology and adorned with more silver and the beautiful lights, was an enormous cluster of what she could only think of as crystalline formations. They reached upward towards the dome, but each one of the smallest outshoots of the structure was radiant and glowing a different color.
The traffic, if one could call it that, was intense. The amount of spiritual life there was more than her mind could comprehend. Women with the bodies of caterpillars, men who walked on goat feet, tiny little sprite-like fairies. Skeletal creatures with long robes, imps, goblins, boys with scaly skin, every possible combination of creation that one could envision were coming out of the crystals that made up the gigantic structure, flowing to what could only be described as a transit terminal, and then either going further into the cathedral or going back out through different rotation portals.
Something brushed gently against her hand. Xerith, his fingers against hers, standing tall and unfazed, smiled his lopsided smile down at her. She found it comforting.
“I don't know what I was expecting,” She said to him. “But not this, I guess. Cathedral sounds like worship to me, not interdimensional travel destination.”
“It is called a cathedral because it contains the Vizier's throne.” Xerith explained, his voice deep amongst the high walls. “But it is a nexus for those who go between, in the World Between. This world is the only joining area that connects many realms of existence, including mine to yours.”
Anka flitted on ahead, rising up about a foot off the ground as she defied gravity. The light she emitted pulsed. “Follow me!”
They fell into a line as they followed behind her. Drake first, Vre behind him, and Xerith bringing up the rear. They went around the massive central station, giving a wide berth to the mythological creatures and beings that were in transit. Further in the cathedral, she saw a large room off to the side that was full of congregating beings, and then a long hallway that led further in. This is where Anka led them. The walls of the hallway became smaller, but the ceiling was still a good berth from their heads. Every surface glimmered with inlaid silver and beautiful stone. It was immaculate and breath taking.
Further in, she saw even more angels. These were not like Anka, but their faces were still too bright to look at. These beings wore armor and had mighty spears in their hand. Some of them had blades strapped to their waists, and others still had guns. That was a peculiar thing to see. An angel with an automatic rifle? Their flowing white garments, metal armor and a Glock strapped to their leg with several magazines on their belt.
Stranger things had happened, she supposed.
Finally, they came to a set of double doors with stained glass set in the top half. The motif showed a picture of a tree, each branch a different color. The branches seemed to reach into different areas of space, showing a purple cosmos or a black sky. Anka tapped on the metal part of the door several times.
“Come in.” She heard a woman's deep voice answer. The door opened on it's own, and Anka slipped inside, beckoning them to follow.
Inside was what appeared, at least at first glance, like a human woman. She was very tall, with wide shoulders and a long face. Long brown hair framed either side of her face, making her look very narrow as it fell in straight lines. She was maybe the same age as Vre--it was hard to tell. A few strands of gray shone through the chestnut brown.
“Anka.” The woman said, stating the angels name. “You're back. You brought new friends?” The woman smiled, like she knew Anka well.
“Yes, Margaretti. Isabel told me to bring them here, to see the Vizier. The human girl wants to ask for a key.”
Margaretti, as she was named, looked over at them and nodded as if she understood. “Been awhile since anyone's asked for a key. Is that you, then, who wants to ask for one?” She looked directly at Vre. She noticed the little side eye she gave Xerith, but she said nothing about him. She paid no mind to Drake.
“Yes, ma'am. I think so. I've been told about this key but not exactly what to expect about it. But from what I understand, does it let me return home?”
“Oh, no, no.” She shook her head. “Not at all, honey. We humans can't go home. The key, as it's called, is named that because it unlocks…different parts of the World Beyond. Places we couldn't normally go to. The underbellies, we call them. Usually no one wants to go to the underbellies, because that's where all the foul things live. The things that have no home.”
Vre shuddered. “I see.” She was a little crestfallen that it wasn't going to be that easy, but if it were, she imagined every human in the World Between would have asked for a key by now. It was disheartening to hear Margaretti say point blank that they couldn't go home.
Vre glanced to Xerith. “Why, exactly, do we need to go into the Underbellies?”
“There's a light down there.” He said calmly. “A light that will let you see into other worlds. Including your own world, should you wish it.”
Vre's heart jumped. “Truly?”
Margaretti nodded. “He speaks the truth. There is a light down there that can be harvested, but only by people who possess a certain trait. You need innocence to gather the light and use it.”
“Innocence?”
“You'll be fine there, Vre.” Xerith smiled faintly.
She didn't think of herself as innocent as all. She was a grown woman--she'd done plenty of things in her life she wasn't proud of. To hear him say so certainly that she'd have this trait made her doubt him slightly. But he'd been telling the truth so far…
Drake scoffed. “The underbelly? You dragged us all this way so that we could get a key to go to a place even worse than this hellhole?”
“You don't have to go…” Xerith's smile tugged up slightly at the corner of his mouth.
“Pah.” Drake scowled.
“What will you do once you have the light?” Margaretti was addressing Xerith now. Anka was sitting in a rotating chair nearby, spinning around slow.
“A light borne by innocence through the dark can cut through the harrow fields.” Xerith said cryptically. “You've heard this before, yes?”
“That's a line out of the old verses.” She nodded. “Been awhile, though.”
“Mmm. Well, there's truth to old words if you know what they meant by ‘cut’.”
She raised her eyebrow inquisitively. “You're not going to do something dangerous or illegal, are you? You know, come to think of it, I don't see your kind around much in the Cathedral. Exactly what are you, if you don't mind me asking?”
Xerith kept his careful smile in place. “You probably don't see many like me, it's true. I am a guardian, ma'am. From the boundaries of the Abyss.”
“An Annunaki.” Drake corrected him.
Vre glanced between the two of them, feeling the strange tension there.
“Guardian is better suited.” Xerith shrugged. “That is what your kind used to call us when we came to your realm. But we call ourselves guardians.”
“And you're supposed to be here, guardian?” Margaretti pressed. “What of the border?”
“I am tasked at finding a way to seal up the taint that is pervading. Together with Vre, I am hoping to succeed in sealing the orifice that is threatening the World Between, to slow the flow if not seal it altogether. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but this would be a huge benefit to the forces of the Cathedral, would it not?”
“It would.” She nodded seriously. “But why now? Why not do this before?”
“It hadn't gotten bad enough that I saw fit to act, is all. Nothing is free. The actions I take--that my kind takes--have a price. One I did not personally want to pay, but it's gotten to the point where it is time to act, lest we fail in our duty.” His voice sounded a bit strained. It was the first time Vre had seen him act like something was wrong or that he wasn't OK.
Margaretti considered them all quietly, crossing her legs. “Well, I think it should be fine. I can tell you don't want to go into the specifics with me, and I assume the Vizier will know what you're talking about. If you can seal up the hole, guardian, then I wish you Godspeed. Anka, I'll let Calos know the girl wants to see him. Will you take her up to him?”
“Surely!” Anka bounced out of the chair she was in, the chair rocking back but Anka floating in midair. Her ebony hair drifted around her blank face. “Are you ready, Vre?”
Vre gripped her fingers into her Palms until her nails bit into her flesh. “I suppose so. Just me?”
“Yep.”
The angel floated down until she was right next to her, extending her hand like a mother to a child. “Come on. Let me take you to meet my friend, the Vizier.”