CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Sara's eyes slowly opened as she came to. The first thing that came to mind was the Koiga who'd kidnapped her in Vesuvia. Her grogginess wore off rapidly, and the headache was mild at best.
She sat up on the hard floor. In front of her was a large opening to a balcony that gave a fantastic nighttime view of two moons and an enormous, beautiful planet with blue oceans and vast continents.
The roof had a few openings, but there were spots where black drapes hung halfway down to the floor. The walls appeared to be made of a combination of metals, and along them were numerous statues of creatures Sara had never seen before.
Looking back, Sara found Nibiru in his chair, watching her. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed her equinox. “Who are you?”
“My name is Nibiru,” he answered, making an effort to at least look friendly. “I tried to decorate a little bit, but I'm not too familiar with human taste.”
If Nibiru’s pale skin and glowing red eyes didn’t give it away, the view to the outside told Sara where she was. “This is the Shadow Realm, isn't it?”
“Some call it that,” Nibiru answered. “The name of this particular world escapes me at the moment. There are so many. I am very sorry, Sara, for having to bring you-”
“How do you know my name?” Sara asked.
Nibiru began to sense that Sara was going to be tough to crack. “What I have to show you is much more important than the answers you seek. But if you must know, I watched you and the Rheans during your visit to the Corinthian homeworld. And I must admit I was very impressed with you.”
Sara stepped back as she looked for anyway out. “I don't care what you have to say. You're obviously a Pelasgian or some creepy Myrmidon.”
Nibiru spoke as he thought. “That is interesting, but not surprising. Leon didn't tell you about me?”
When Sara peeked over the balcony she couldn’t believe how high she was.
“Not surprising at all,” Nibiru continued. “I wonder. Did he tell anyone?”
“It doesn't matter,” Sara said, cautiously moving back into the room. “I know what happened to the Corinthian homeworld, but I'm not going to let that happen to mine.”
“How are you going to stop it?” Nibiru asked. “You can't even save yourself right now.”
As fast as any human could have, Sara grabbed a dagger and threw it with pinpoint accuracy at Nibiru's forehead.
Using two fingers, Nibiru caught the dagger and tossed it aside. “I mean you no harm, Sara. I simply wish to show you what awaits your world, and make an offer you can't refuse.”
Sara raised her weapon as Nibiru stood and walked towards her.
“I'll tell you what,” Nibiru said, holding his hand out. “I promise when all is said and done, if you want, I will return you to Rhea. All you have to do is take my hand and I’ll show you a world whose name escapes me at the moment.”
There was a long pause as Sara thought about what to do next. Witnessing what Nibiru did with the dagger told her she was likely no match for him. If Nibiru had wanted her dead, he would have already done it and he could easily do so if he decided to.
Reluctant, Sara put her weapon away and took Nibiru's hand. Instantly, the entire world around her seemed to explode in a burst of swirling, black streaks. In the next instant, she was standing with Nibiru just inside the entrance of a cave.
Outside, it felt like summer. Aside from the two moons that could barely be seen in the blue sky, it reminded her of home.
Sara began to think she was now on the planet she had seen in Nibiru's throne room. Ahead in the valley below, she could see a city whose size was reminiscent of Vesuvia, but this one radiated a certain type of beauty that spoke of its opulence.
It made Sara wonder if humans could ever build such a thing. “Where are we?”
Nibiru raised his hand to the sky. “As I said before, the name escapes me.”
The day suddenly turned to night as a massive black orb blotted out the sun.
Sara didn't know what was happening but then remembered what Caycee had seen in her vision. Pure terror filled her as she bore witness to a world being stripped away into darkness. What she had imagined was nothing compared to actually seeing it firsthand.
Nibiru stepped out of the cave, next to Sara as she fell to her knees with tears in her eyes.
The once immaculate city was now completely black and looked desolate.
As the darkness rapidly approached, Nibiru placed his hand on Sara's shoulder and both were instantly teleported back to the balcony of his throne room.
In full view was the planet, and it vaguely resembled its former self. Everything from the oceans to the continents had fallen into darkness.
“Why?” Sara asked.
Nibiru almost seemed confused. “If you are attacked, you defend yourself, do you not?”
“Attacked?” Sara said, facing Nibiru. “Those people didn't have a chance! What did they do to deserve that?”
“You must understand that I am on a quest. A journey to right a wrong.”
“You're a monster.” Sara replied.
“No,” Nibiru said, leaning on the rail. “I am... the beginning. It was only me. Self-aware, yet without form. Ages went by with no reason, no purpose. Nothing. And then, in one moment, a spark that turned into the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. But no matter how much I tried, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't touch it. It pushed me away into the shadows. This...existence, this cruel existence was forced on me by this thing you call light.”
Sara realized what Nibiru had said. “Light? It will kill you, won't it? Like a Vesuvian.”
Gazing at the dark planet, Nibiru felt a tinge of disappointment. “For now. At any time I choose, I can send your world into darkness just like this one.”
“Then why the invasions?” Sara asked.
Nibiru turned to Sara. “Leon. Unlike you or anyone else, I have encountered, his natural ability to withstand the light is of an unnatural source. I could replicate it for myself. If only I could convince him to join me.”
Sara couldn’t control her shaking, and couldn't remember being so scared, “Leon knows, doesn't he?” she asked.
Nibiru held his hand out and conjured a small shadow seed. “Which brings me to my offer. Take this and become one of my Myrmidons.”
Floating to Sara, the black ball dripped with crimson energy as red bolts of lightning danced across its surface.
“You're crazy,” Sara said. “I would never join you just to save my own skin.”
“Words I’ve heard many times before,” Nibiru said, moving behind Sara. “But consider this. Joining me would grant you not only strength and speed you can only dream of, but also everlasting youth. Imagine being as beautiful as you are for eternity.”
Feeling helpless and desperate, Sara stood there refusing to speak anymore as she stared at the shadow seed in front of her. For a few moments the urge to touch it was almost irresistible.
“You can’t stop me, Sara,” Nibiru said. “No one can. I am giving you the chance to spare yourself the fate that awaits everyone else on your world, or you can join them and become a mindless drone with no will of your own when I decide to take it.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Nibiru spotted movement from an opening in the ceiling. Playing it cool and shrewd, he began walking towards his throne. pretending he'd seen nothing.
As Sara considered her options, an orange portal suddenly opened next to her. Leon leaped from the ceiling and practically tackled her through it.
It happened so fast the portal closed before Nibiru could barely see it. He sat with a sinister smile and absorbed the shadow seed back into himself.
Marduk emerged from the shadows near the door. “By my count, that would be the fourth time you let him escape.”
Nibiru let out a small sigh of agitation. “Why did you go to the Netherworld?”
“Forgive me,” Marduk said. “I sent a Corinthian with the order to retreat. We’ve lost m
any soldiers, and I believe we’ll need as many as possible for the battle ahead.”
The openings in the ceiling opened up, revealing more of the sky.
“Why not simply capture and torture Leon until he decides to join?” Marduk asked.
“Vesuvians don't feel pain like some other creatures,” Nibiru replied. “And I believe poor Leon is about to receive more scrutiny than he would like, now that his little secret is out.”