Page 18 of Her Soul for a Crown
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Languishing in memory would not bring Reeri closer to touching his life again. He snapped his shadows to fend it off, determination settling in. Yet as he moved from one end of the aether to another, Wessamony caught his eye.
The Lord departed his court and swept through the space betwixt the Heavens to stand before the pearl-white gates. Reeri paused and crouched in the darkness.
The two Heavens did not often speak—less did they meet.
However, five Divinities appeared, floating toward the gates like wind on a summer’s breeze. Their sizes and shapes differed greatly, their features neither one thing nor another, yet everything.
“I have done what you requested,” Wessamony declared. “I restored balance centuries ago. It would have been quicker, had my power not been bound to the Maha and Yala Equinox. Yet you denied my ascendance. Have you another grievance?”
Reeri tensed. He had long since stopped wondering what plan of Wessamony’s he had derailed. Wessamony would not tell him. Clearly it was not to forge bargains in the way the Divinitiesanswered prayers, else the Yakkas would not have been banished. It was also clear the Lord thought them mere pawns, not important enough to know details. Playthings to be destroyed and brought back at will.
The shortest Divinity spoke. “Indeed, the chaos that once choked the Earth and terrified the humans has been extinguished. That is not the reason for our summons.”
Realization coiled around Reeri’s mind. The humans had beseeched the Heavens for aid. Against the Yakkas.
Wessamony smirked. “Have you at long last seen the error in your judgment? Have you come to acknowledge my worthiness and invite me into your court, ready for the age of One Heaven, our powers balanced in use and control?”
The Divinities exchanged a glance. Again the shortest spoke. “Grateful are we for your swiftness, despite the constraint put upon you by the birthing of the cosmos. Unfortunately, an invitation we cannot grant, as a creator you are not.”
A blue hue kindled at the base of Lord Wessamony’s horns. “You created the humans, and I created the Yakkas. Moreover, I have undone them to mere phantoms. I am creator and destroyer, balance incarnate.”
The tallest of Divinities shook their head. “You were not designed to create.”
“You are the Lord of the Second Heavens, the Great Destroyer,” another said.
“I am both,” Wessamony claimed, the flames reaching higher. “Thatis worthy of no constraint.”
“You cannot be. The cosmos created you as one, the Heavens as two,” the shortest said. “You have threatened the balance with selfish action.”
“Nothing is unbalanced,” Wessamony growled. “My creation—”
“Yourabominationcaused chaos,” the Divinities scoffed.
“I have rectified that.”
“There would have been no need, if you had stayed within your bounds.”
“My bounds.” Wessamony’s voice dropped. It shook with strain. “I am more than my bounds. I deserve unfettered power.”
“And what would you do with it?” the tallest asked.
Flames danced in Wessamony’s eyes. “Give the humans what they want, if the bargain is right. Retribution. Vengeance. Power and dominion.”
The Divinities ruffled. “You intend to unbalance the Earth with suffering?”
“Your blessings have long since outweighed my destruction. I will bring true balance.”
“You will bring the end to all we know,” another accused. “You want for control, not of your own powers, but of the cosmos. To watch it unbecome and burn.”
No.Reeri blinked with revelation. Wessamony wanted to burn it himself, revel in the slow scorch, and do it all again. As he did with the Yakkas. A cycle of torment and destruction for his pleasure and glory.
The Divinities grimaced betwixt the pearl-white bars, and with a flourish of their robes, they turned away. Save one.
“We know you seek Fate’s relic,” they said, the cosmos mirrored in their eyes. “We warned you that day: your actions will lead to your demise. Take heed and cease.”
A flash of blue sizzled up Wessamony’s horns. “You are jealous! Envious that I gave the humans a better way to their requests, that they favored the Yakkas over you. They shall favor me and destruction, too. You are frightened of my power and know that with the relic, you cannot stop me.”
