Friday, June 17, 2011

Chapter 86: Selket Has Her Answer

Weds December 9, 2074, 4:21 am: Ethelden Palace-- Amhurst, Veronaville

Photobucket

"Sir ur-batonu kvont arbad, ur-batonu jirhe vi tines. Uorde, uorde..." Selket no longer wore a veil. When she took to her knees before burnt offerings of deadly nightshade, it was not done in the temple. Her forbidden communion with the Ib of Deus Rex happened in deep corners of the palace before sunrise, when all was still. No longer a Magus and forever altered by Orion Specter's energy, she doubted whether the Ib was listening.

"Luminar Mundi, ensonma hem criché. Parameshvara Thoth, ensonma hem criché..." Her body rocked against the undertow of nervous energy that swelled within and without her. She was losing circulation in her legs. As she aged, the act of prostration became physically trying to the point where her concentration was broken. Selket bowed her head to her knees, palms down upon the floorboards.


Photobucket

"Ken-viotzo pagam ken-rota ihora, ken-sirc pagam ken-sirc, ensonma hem criché." She would offer her hands in the service of righteous work. She would have the will of Deus Rex executed through her in word and in deed. She would plead until she had her answer.

Photobucket

"Lahkshe hem epi so domunma dor mahaservi..." Ahriman had not consulted her about his and Thea’s most recent plan to target innocent people-- Third party bystanders that were not to blame for the Vampire Sheut's continued existence. If given the chance, Thea would get them all killed for the sake of an exercise that was both morally wrong and potentially ineffectual.

Photobucket

…vi nominé Tenebris, miir ono.” Jareth Garrison. As far as any of them knew, he had not even been in contact with the Sheut for over a decade. Perhaps he was responsible for attacks on faes but that was for the RDI to determine. The Dissenter Resistance was not in the business of prosecuting vampires for misconduct. Thea’s motives for wanting Jareth dead were so transparent that they defied mention. Thea had trusted Antoine. She had loved him, and he betrayed her. This went beyond the political; it was personal.

There were those amongst them that would have nothing to do with any of this. They would see it as punishing the Sheut for acting in accordance with his will. It was murder. It was sacrilege. Men like Antoine who were so often the voice of reason were running low amongst their number. Selket regretted it.

Jareth Garrison. Selket had never met him but she had known his brother. She was of the understanding that they had different fathers. Maybe if he had the ability to force a fae into submission, he was some portion fae himself. According to Ahriman, Hyperion Tvaud had been investigating Jareth before his sister was abducted by—

Selket held her breath, her heart battering her ribcage. Everything was falling into place. Take the sister and the brother will follow. Could Orion have known about the investigation? What had Hyperion uncovered? A vampire with the life force of a Sheut… A vampire who threatens the sanctity of the Ib… It was monstrous and unspeakable but not impossible. Selket raised her hands to the sky in surrender. Finally, she had her answer.


Photobucket

2 comments:

  1. Wait, Thea was in love with Antoine? Or just loved him in the general sense of the word?

    Sounds like there's a method to Orion's madness. I see potential for a Dissenter/Demon alliance here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved him in the general sense of the word. If she was *in* love with him, I don't actually know at this point. But I do know for certain that he was in her confidence. He wasn't with the Dissenters for long (3ish years) but he made a huge impact while he was there and he went out with a bang.

    Orion is a man with plan!

    ReplyDelete