Sorana sneered at Finnur. “You put me in a cage.”
“That was for your own—” Finnur cut himself off and held up his hands defensively. “Ranie, please be careful. Call if you need anything.” He left the room.
Sorana said, “He’s right. It’s better if I’m caged.”
Ranie kissed Sorana’s forehead. “One kiss to show I’m not afraid.”
“You should be.”
“We don’t even know you killed him.”
“But I probably did. And hundreds of others, if not thousands.”
“Even if your hand killed Athian, it really wasn’t you. At least Donnie and I don’t blame you. The things you lived through... Dear God, give yourself a break. I saw the Singing Blade Lullaby. You never had a chance.”
“A lot of people grow up on isolated farmsteads. They don’t become mass murderers.”
“But they aren’t publicly tormented and possessed by a demon. And then drugged by an alien machine.”
Sorana looked down and away.
Ranie said, “In dealing with things that happened to me, I found the first step in recovery is being able to talk about it. Being able to tell others—to discuss it, rather than fearing it—is empowering. It lets you place blame where it belongs. You can talk to me.
“And the biggest step of recovery was forgiveness. You helped me with that. When you forced Ignas to link with me, I could see his insecurities and fears. He wasn’t some malevolent, powerful monster that had control over me. He is as human as the rest of us—sometimes decent, occasionally cruel and stupid. He knew he was in the wrong, and knowing that he knew helped. He wasn’t as sorry as I would have liked, but at least I could face him on my terms. He was so scared of you. He mostly cared about his own skin. There was nothing powerful about him. In the end, he was just a scared little boy.
“And now, if you will let me, I want to try to do the same for you.” Ranie realized her hands were holding Sorana’s. She moved them to Sorana’s temples and formed a link. You know that I faced Belial inside of Evan’s mind. I did destroy him. What I said was true, but it was not the whole truth. You need to see the whole truth. Inside the link, Ranie reformed the Archon battlefield.
Pale Siren withdrew her lance from Belial’s chest.
The wound healed instantly.
The ground rumbled.
Belial surveyed the fading landscape. “I see now. You have won, however you did it. But do you even know why?”
Pale Siren said, “You are a soulless fiend.”
“No, I am a scientist. And I am sorry for the pain I’ve caused you and your friends.” He clamped his hands together. “And I would ask you, please, take my work and feed it to the Fragment. And use it for yourselves as well.”
“I believe your people are deceased.”
Belial nodded. “I understand. But there are others that will someday find the Fragment. And if nothing else, take my research for yourself. All should benefit from my work.”
“I don’t want your research.”
“But that would be foolish.”
“Oh?”
“You don’t understand. The data I’ve collected could change your future—the future of your world—you can use it to end diseases, bring about the industrial revolution, the digital era, the end of racial strife.”
“I don’t care. You are sick. Your findings would be poison to our society. It is so contaminated by your delusional arrogance that it would be more detrimental than helpful. We will find our own way as a people and as a world of races.”
“I understand that you are upset by my methods. You think I’m a psychopath. I assure you I’m not. I’m just a researcher. Look, our community struggles with ethics of xenobiological research. With the benefit of hindsight, I admit that I stepped over the line. Regardless of whether or not you believe me, you should take my work.”
“You need to understand something. I don’t want there to be any misconceptions on this point. I don’t want your work because it has no value. What you are is beside the point. And we both know exactly what you are.”
“What choice did I have? They violated my daughter—again and again.”
“Daughter? She was your weapon—a tool for your little war. Only a psychopath would think violating her mind was justified by violations of her body. Why not at least send a drone to kill them?”
“When I learned what they did to her, I couldn’t wait. She was there. I just acted.”
“This was a crime of passion?”
“It was just a reaction.”
“Then you are a poor scientist as well. You ruined the experiment in frustration—destroyed the test subject because of your inability to control the environment. She survived the Baptism. But you, with your pathetic, fragile ego, couldn’t handle it. Are you to unredeemable, too unsophisticated to understand? The Baptism of Stains did not destroy her. You did!”
The universe twisted and distorted at her words. The ground shook and shifted at the echoes of her accusation. The Archon board cracked.
Belial became apprehensive. “But what is done is done. Yes, your people were harmed so that science could benefit. Perhaps that was unjust, but—”
“And there it is.” Siren exhaled and relaxed as the world disintegrated.
“There what is? Look, these results...” He exhaled in resignation. “My life was about this.”
“I know … I know. And no one cares. But you have given me what I need. So now we are done.”
Everything faded, save Pale Siren and the demon.
Belial’s tone was soft. “What will you do now?”
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
“I have spent my adult life pursuing you—to save Spawness from you. And now, that is done.”
Belial faded away.
“And now, you are nothing.”
Spawness appeared next to Siren inside the link. “You gave up all of that knowledge? Why?”
“No, of course not. I took everything he knew the instant he dropped his encryption lockouts.”
“Then you lied to him.”
“I lied for you.”
“You broke him.”
“Yes, I broke him for you.” Pale Siren helped Spawness up to sit side-saddle in front of her. “You must know now, beyond any doubt, where guilt lies. Belial killed all those people and he is no longer a part of you. He is gone and will never come back.” Within the link, she stroked Spawness’s hair aside and spoke into her ear. “I know you. Spawness, you are innocent.”
Spawness gasped and trembled.
Siren wrapped her arms around Spawness. Siren swayed the trembling little girl. “You have traveled through our world, tasting its sorrow and joy. I’ve been where you are, your heart so wounded and alone—out in the world, searching for home. But you don’t have to search. Come with me and I will give you home.”
Spawness wept softly, resting her head on Pale Siren’s shoulder. “I know what you think, but you can’t love me, at least what others might call love. You might love the concept of me, the Spawness.”
“Don’t shut your eyes to me.”
“This feels like destiny.”
“This is how it’s supposed to be. You compelled Donnie and Rap, but you never compelled me.”
“You are grasping because Evan is married.”
“I was always your friend.”
“I wish the past didn’t exist.”
“I always knew you were innocent.”
“I’m scared.”
“I’m not.”
“All I feel is emptiness and longing.” Spawness began to cry, but composed herself. “No, it is too soon for that.”
“I know. Not today.” A calm, moonlit ocean appeared around them. The duelicorn stood on the deck of an otherwise unoccupied galleon. “Find me when the time is right and I’ll hol
d you. Even if it’s the middle of the night, I’ll take you here. And maybe that night, we’ll sail so far away, we’ll fade as one into the dawn.”
“I wish I’d never wake from this dream. It feels so real.”
“And it’s ours.”
“Our Transcendence, away from everything, so safe and silent … could you keep me here forever?”
“I could stay here until my body starves. You sooth my mind in a way I’ve never known.”
“Our Transcendence is the only peace I’ve ever known.”
Siren kissed the top of Spawness’s head. “From the moment I saw you—even before—our souls recognized each other. We are linked in a way that is beyond reality … outside of time.”
“Somehow, I know to believe in you.”
“We were bound by oracles, even before I was born.”
“You give me hope for better days.”
“Better days await you.”
“You have always been my friend. That is all the more reason to leave. The doctor is right. It isn’t safe for me to be around normal people right now. I need time to understand this—to get some control. And I have to go see what it is that my sister promises.”
“I understand.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I will come to you.”
“I will be waiting.”
Chapter 82
Dawn of Mercy’s War
Rapture was so beautiful, her hair shining goldish-red in the light of a sun rise. A light breeze tousled her hair as they stood upon the roof of the Tower of Mercy. Skarholt Forest stretched out for leagues below. Holding his hands and staring into his eyes, she said, “No longer shall I gaze lonely upon the blue moon. Embraced by your gentleness, I have found the meaning of my life.”
Visor said, “The dawn’s light elevates me. With you, I awaken to the heaven of dreams. Holding you, I hold the desires of my life.”
Rapture and Visor spoke together, “May our hearts beat together into eternity.”
Ranie said, “Burke Donovan Mourning, do you take Engel Rapture, Natalia, daughter of Frigg, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to protect and cherish for the remainder of your life.”
“I certainly do.”
“Rapture, do you take Don to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and stand beside for the remainder of your life?”
“You bet I do.”
Visor slid the Ring of Uncreation onto Rapture’s finger.
Ranie said, “Then by the power granted to me, I now pronounce you man and wife.”
Sorana, Quenton and Finnur clapped from the audience. Rapture took the Ring off and gave it to Quenton. Visor and Rapture took seats in the audience. Quenton left and returned shortly pushing a wheel chair.
Evan was still recovering from the latest treatment. She was weak, emaciated and confined to the wheel chair, but Visor’s heart warmed seeing his sister dressed in a beautiful gown. After some words, Quenton slipped the Ring onto Evan’s hand, and the two were married.
Evan gave the ring to Finnur, and he presented it to Ranie as an adoption gift.
Ranie gave it to Visor as a contract buyout for the Quenton rescue.
Visor gave it to Sorana as consideration for relinquishing her claim to the Tower of Mercy.
Sorana changed her name to Amber Dawn Velsignet.
Visor pushed Evan’s chair near the edge of the tower so she could see a small falls below. He knelt next to her.
Evan spoke weakly. “You figured out the tower’s machines?”
“Enough to help you, anyway. It was a matter of focusing energy beams in the right spot to kill the growth in your brain.”
“How much longer?”
“I don’t know—weeks, at least. We have to let your body expel the killed cells and rehydrate between the treatments. That’s the limitation on progress.”
“It hurts so bad.”
“Sorry. The facilities are set up to keep you alive, but they aren’t designed with a human’s comfort in mind. I’ll see what I can do about the pain.”
Ranie walked up. She was now wearing the Ring of Uncreation. “How are you feeling, Ev?”
Evan said, “You linking helps. It’s distracting—the memories.”
Ranie smiled. “It helps to have family close.”
Evan said, “I like the time in the old mill, when we tipped the cow and ran into the outhose.”
Ranie said, “You mean when you pushed me out of the way so you could get your butt in first?”
Visor said, “Wait—family? How are you related to Quenton?”
A devious smile formed on Ranie’s face. “Oh, my. You didn’t tell him yet, Ev?”
“Holy shit. Forgot.” Evan started gasping. No, she was laughing, sort of.
“Oh, Donnie …” Ranie was absolutely delighted. She put her arm around him. “Sweet, little Donnie, all those beautiful moments, the covered cart, George’s top bunk, the white patch hollow tree … don’t cousins make the best teachers?”
“OOOO!” Visor guffawed. “You’re making that up.”
Evan said, “Half.”
Ranie rolled her eyes. “Okay, half cousin. Your dad’s dad is my mom’s dad, too. It was in the tower’s records. Check it.”
He checked the Tower’s records, and she was right. Mercy had done her research on him.
Ranie asked, “But really, how surprising is it, though? A telepath and an oracle from the same farmstead? You know how rare that is. I’m surprised you never predicted it.”
“Yeah, it’s genetically inherited. I just never—” It’s genetic!
Evan said, “Donnie?”
“Donnie?” Ranie shook his shoulder. “Hey, it’s not like we produced any dimwits. It’s not that bad.”
“It’s not that.” He looked over at Rap, smiling and nodding gracefully as others talked, as she always did. She was grace divine and beauty serene, Emotion and Devotion. “We always assumed it was a vampiric telepath she carried. What if it wasn’t?”
Amber Dawn Velsignet—Sorana—headed for the stairs.
Visor said, “I will give you the tower, if you want it.”
She stopped.
He took a step after her. “I still feel like it is more yours than mine. I just borrowed it to destroy Belial, and to save my sister.”
Sorana turned partially, but didn’t look at him. She was humiliated. Or perhaps she just hated him that much.
Rapture moved beside him. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay here in the tower. Or if you want, you can take my suite at the Siren Sanctuary. They will take care of you there—treat you with respect.”
“And if you want to stay here, then when and if we move to WaterCrescent, you can come with us.” Visor opened his arms. “When we talked earlier about how things would be different now—that doesn’t mean that we don’t want you around. There will always be a place for you.”
Rapture said, “We still think of you as a friend.”
Visor said, “We need you. We never would have been able to do everything we did without you. We have so much more to do.”
Sorana gave him a look of incredulous disdain. It was good that looks couldn’t kill. Actually, Sorana’s possibly could.
Rapture sighed. “We would miss you. Of course it is up to you, but—”
“Bye.” Sorana turned and left.
The two stood in silence for a time. Rapture asked, “Are we terrible people?”
“I don’t know. We are people. It is what it is.” Visor sat in a chair and pressed his hands together. The last two fingers of his right hand folded over the stubs on the left. “But that is done. So what now?”
“Can’t we just stay here forever?” Rapture looked at the forest wistfully.
“That would be nice, but only I am stuck here.”
Rapture let out a big sigh. “I eventually have to leave.”
&nb
sp; “WaterCrescent is occupied. Xandria is threatened. Raykez is in disarray. People need our help. They need you out there to run things.”
“Me run things?” She laughed.
“Yes, you. People will follow you.”
“Yeah, but …”
“I’ll be with you, in a way. We’ll make sure there’s always a warden nearby.”
“I guess.”
“I feel like we have to try.”
“Oh, of course. You have to rescue all the sirens.” She pursed her lips in exaggerated shock. “I heard they took some Marigolds.”
They leaned their heads close together.
Visor said, “And there’s—”
“So what are we going to do?” Ranie smiled apologetically. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Evan said, “Me neither.”
Visor said, “There’s WaterCrescent, of course. With Presence cut off south of Xandria, it looks like something that is out of reach for now.”
Evan said, “Damn, Donnie, you sound like you just lost your best friend.”
He made an effort to sound normal. “It’s fine. We just lost the best asset we had, but we’ll be fine. We have the tower wardens. They’re pretty good soldiers.”
Evan leaned forward and hugged him. “I know you’ll miss her.”
Ranie said, “What you did wasn’t wrong, Donnie. She’s just scared and disappointed—the way it all happened. I mean, who wouldn’t be?”
Visor said, “Yeah, I could understand why she’d want to get away from this place for a while.”
Ranie said, “She didn’t want to leave, you dork. She had to. She retained Maciate’s knowledge. Could you imagine living like that? Knowing that with one unfortunate thought, one inadvertent flutter of your heart, you could kill any of us? To peer into your own soul and see the very heart of evil?” Ranie looked around. “Her words—not mine. She just needs some time to get a handle on it. She’ll be back.”
“She was just a weapon to him.”
“But don’t feel bad, Donnie. You did what you had to do.” Ranie smiled supportively. “It would have been worse to have strung her along for years.”
“Oh, come on!”
Ranie smirked. “Kidding … just kidding. But really, it was kind of you to make the offer, considering what she did to you.”