Part Four: The Quickening ©2000 Daemos screamed as his hand connected with the bars of his cage. His prison. He snarled at the thought of Loki. "He'll pay," Daemos snarled. "Through that child, he'll pay!" George glared down at Zoycite. Loki's daughter, a bastard's daughter. And the daughter of my wife, George thought, looking away from the sleeping child. George glared once more at the child and walked out the door and to his study, locking the door behind him. The last thing he wanted was for Alanna to walk in. He scrubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "Why?" he asked softly. "Why did this have to happen? Why did Daemos have to take her, and her having to fall in love with him." George laughed dryly; getting himself a glass of brandy mixed with vodka and mead. He wanted something strong to take the pain from the betrayal. George took a sip of his drink and winced. Stronger than he had hoped for; he'd most assuredly have a head in the morning. "Why?" he asked mournfully into the liquor. "What did I do wrong? Why did she feel she had to go to someone else, instead of staying with me? What did I do wrong?" "Nothing," Thom said curtly, appearing in a chair. George glared. "What do you want?" Thom smiled, though it had no hint of malice or pity. Just an innocent smile that George had seen on Alanna's face before. "You asked what you did wrong. I'm going to answer your questions so you don't do something dumb." "Like what?" "Drive Alanna into saying Daemos' name twice. That will bring about her destruction. Nasty, evil sort of death. Daemos would be released, and would be a plague upon Tortall." George scowled, and took a long sip of his drink. "Though she betrayed me, I still love her. Dammit! How can she such a hold on me?" Thom looked at him, sympathy in his eyes. "Alanna is incredibly delightful and enticing. She's like an enchantress, and you know it. Jonathan still loves her, in a more than friendly way, though he knows not to give into a temptation. "Liam…. Who knows what he thought of her? But this I can tell you, he loved her. He would have died to protect her. As I know you and Jonathan would both do. But what makes her bewitching is the mystery to her, the alluring sense of her. Yes, I know. I'm her brother, and I'm the last one who should be saying this, but she has incredibly charisma." George sighed. Thom was right. The thing that always kept him loving her was the fact of the mystery, the way she seemed to know exactly what he needed or wanted at the right exact moment, and just…. Her. And she wasn't bad in bed, either. She was very much a temptress; she tempted him every time he saw her. George looked at Thom. "Why? Why did she and Loki…." He looked away bitterly. Thom drew a deep breath. "Do you believe that a mortal's soul goes through more than one cycle of life?" "Yes, but I also believe there is the Black God's realm." Thom nodded. "Once the Dark God's realm gets…. Over-filled, souls are reincarnated. The same happens to gods. Sometimes, a god will be punished, and their soul will be thrown to the very bottom of the Dark God's realm. Not trapped, simply made mortal. That has happened to every god and goddess at least five times. We learn from mortals, to get a better way of understanding our creations. Even gods don't know the outcome of the world, and that is why we try to get to know the mortal world as much as we can. "Alanna's soul, and mine, were old souls. I don't exactly remember everything that happened back then, but it was about twenty-four thousand eons ago. Loki's soul is twenty-seven thousand eons old. Alanna's is twenty-five thousand eons old." "What's your point?" George snapped not really caring how old souls were. Thom sighed. "Want me to give you a bit of a background on those two? Because what happened, and Zoycite, is not just a sexual scandal. Their souls recognize each other, even if Loki and Alanna didn't remember the other exactly." George sat up straight. "What are you getting at?" Thom sighed. "Will you listen to me, or will you interrupt?" "I'll listen. I want to know why this happened!" "All right…." The Divine Realms Twenty-four Thousand Eons ago. . . . Sapphire paced back and forth, her shimmering gold and blue gown accentuating her full breasts and her tiny waist. Her copper hair glistened with the blonde highlights brought out and was held out of her worried violet-silver eyes with moonstone gem clips. It was in a very breathy curl, and had been pinned up with silver, black onyx and moonstone combs on the sides and left to cascade down her back the way it wanted to Her lips were a bright vermilion and her pale face had a slight touch of blush. Her eyelids were colored the darkest shade of blue below black, and her eyes had a slightly odd shape to them, which was done with slender black lines. A dark blue veil was placed over her hair and reached down to her elbows. She looked so very elegant, yet so very worried. Loki appeared, sitting on one of the thrones in the room. He wore a regal outfit of a white silk shirt with gold embroidery and blue breeches. A cape of gold was swung over his shoulders, showing his brawny arms and muscular chest. He was the god of Warriors, and one himself. One of the Angels of Divine Justice, though he was the leader of them. The cork to the champagne bottle popped and began to pour two slender glasses by itself. He got up and took the wineglasses, walking over to Sapphire. He kissed her passionately and gave her a glass of champagne. "To the future Queen of the Gods," he said quietly. Sapphire smiled softly, her eyes half-closed in pleasure. "To the future King of the Gods." They had both taken a sip of their champagne when someone started to clap loudly. Both turned and glared. Daemos, god of Death and Destruction, sat on one of the goldenwood thrones meant for the King and Queen of the Gods, Greater and lesser. "Out of my sight," Sapphire snarled, a bolt of silver fire edged with black moons and stars flashed toward Daemos. He disappeared and reappeared next to Sapphire. "Well, aren't you two lovely! Yet, count on Mithros and Selene to challenge your right to claim the thrones." "And we will see to it that you are demoted," Loki snarled. "You have been nothing but trouble, Daemos! You would do better to beg for forgiveness when we are crowned." Daemos' face became an angry look. "Oh no, Brother. It is you that should beg for forgiveness. Not one god will let you two sit on the thrones. We don't need tyrants on the thrones, we need leaders." Sapphire laughed. "And you think you could do better, Death? I think not!" she scoffed. Her silver-violet eyes were wide with fury, and they became like fire, suddenly. "Not I," Daemos said. "I am but a humble servant. But others will. Trust me, others will…." He disappeared. Present Time "So, Sapphire's soul is Alanna's soul?" George asked thoughtfully. "Yes," Thom said. He sighed. "She would have become Queen of the Gods, if it hadn't been for Daemos. Actually, Sapphire is paying for a crime she never committed." "What crime?" George asked, curious. "I'm getting to it. I'm getting to it. Now, where was I…?" The Divine Realms Sapphire lay in a circle of Loki's arms. "We have to get rid of Daemos." "Yes, we do, my love. He will destroy us all." Sapphire murmured a sleepy agreement. "This child will be the beginning of our reign," she said happily. Loki squeezed his arms around her waist tighter. He kissed her neck softly, and began to turn it into something more intimate. Then the door swung open. Loki pulled the blankets over both of them, and Sapphire sat up rather abruptly. "Sister, Brother," Lael, Sapphire's twin brother, said bursting into the room. His face was tight with fear and apprehension. "Daemos has claimed you tried to destroy him. He has proof, and looks like he's a hair away from death." "Us?" Loki asked, bewildered. "No, not you Loki. He claims Sapphire tried," Lael gulped. "Sapphire, you have to leave! They'll try you if you don't! Mithros and Selene are damned near dancing for joy, and I'll bet they had a hand in this." Sapphire sat up straight. "I will not run. I am not a coward, and running will make them think that I am most assuredly guilty. I will stay, for I know I tell the truth, and that the Judges of the mortal race can tell lies." Lael shook his head, his hair getting into his eyes. "No, you don't understand! There's proof!" "Proof? What sort of proof?" Sapphire scoffed. "There is no proof! I am innocent!" Lael sighed. "Get dressed at least. They'll be here any moment!" With that, Lael vanished. Sapphire groaned and climbed out of bed, the silk sheets flowing off her body. "There is no way I would touch Daemos, even to hurt him." She pulled on a simple cotton dress that showed more skin than was necessary, and laced it up. Loki sighed and pulled on clothes as well. By the time they were both dressed, Sapphire in the middle of taming her hair, the doors burst open without so much as a "by your leave." "What is the meaning of this?" Sapphire demanded as Adrian, the Crooked God, and Neo, the Dark God, slapped manacles on her wrists. "The goddess Sapphire, ruler of the Night, is accused of trying to do harm to a fellow god. The price for that is trial and then a sentence," Mithros said, his eyes burning holes into Sapphire. "Your claim to the Queen's Throne has been made void, if you are found guilty. Never in your life will you be able to claim it again." "Mithros!" Loki hissed. "What do you think you're doing?" "Carrying out justice. This goddess has been accused of breaking a law set by our parents. The punishment must be carried out," Mithros said. Loki made a move to hit Mithros, and was also put in manacles. "Bring him as well. He's an accomplice." "I would never do such a thing! And neither would Sapphire! Dammit Mithros! You know us!" Loki roared. "We would never do that!" "You have been accused. Whether you did, or did not, is for the court to decide." Present Time George sat there, looking dumb. "Daemos set Sapphire up?" Thom--Lael--nodded. "I don't know what happens next. My memory hasn't been opened up to full yet. Asa is being as contrary as a cat and isn't helping. Talk to Sapphire. Try and get her to tell what happens next. I know she remembers it. The gods made a mistake by letting Daemos take Sapphire back into the Divine Realms. She's slowly regaining her powers. Did you wonder why Zoycite was born almost seven months into the pregnancy?" "Well…. Yes," George said. "Zoycite is the child Sapphire was carrying when they stripped her immorality from her soul. Zoycite is a full goddess, and slowly, but surely, Sapphire will gain her power back. And when she does, and full memory comes back…. I would not want to be in my siblings' places. When Sapphire comes to full strength, so will Loki. And their memories will return in full, along with their powers," Lael said. "Still, talk with her. She may tell you something." George nodded and Lael vanished. He slowly unlocked the study's door and went to look for Alanna. Alanna sat in a window seat in her magic workroom. Memories flew through her mind, and feelings. She felt magic welling up in her, and gasped as it went into her veins. She pressed herself into the wall as she gasped for breath. Someone rapped on the door. "Alanna?" "C-c-come in," Alanna--Sapphire--stammered, the power pounding her ears. George stepped into the room, and shut the door. He turned and his jaw dropped. "Tho--Lael was right…." "Lael?" Sapphire breathed, her head feeling light. "My brother? George!" she gasped and fell into a faint. George caught her before she fell to the floor. George shook as he carried her down to the Healers, and Maude. Maude shook as she looked at Alanna. "This isn't Alanna," she said briskly. George looked at her. "It most assuredly is. Go ahead and look at her scars." Maude's hands shook as she picked up the woman's wrist and saw a scar identical to the one Alanna had. "How?" Maude demanded. "How much have you heard of what's been happening two years back?" "Just the gossip. Alanna getting poisoned, then abducted--twice!--by strange men, and something about her being the one that was in a prophecy." George nodded. "All very true. She got a bit of her past as well, I'm guessing." Maude was pale. "Impossible!" she scoffed "Not impossible. Just, unlikely. Zoycite is a full goddess; Alanna has a goddess' soul. Uh, ever heard of the goddess Sapphire?" "Yes. She was said to be the ruler of the Night. She created the Old Ones, was their patron, I believe. You'd do better to ask Sir Myles who she was, but she also had a certain favor toward warriors. All I know is the legend. She was cast of the Divine Realms, her soul turned into the sun's flames, for her hatred for the Great Gods was strong. And that one day, the sun's flames will ebb and the goddess Sapphire will be reborn as a mortal." "When was Alanna born?" George asked. "The May full moon, you should know that!" "When she was born that year, did a solar eclipse happen? Those happen rarely, so you would probably remember it." Maude nodded. "Yes, for the time it took for Thom and Alanna to be born. It lasted longer than usual, if I recall correctly." George nodded. "You said it yourself. 'The sun's flames will ebb and the goddess Sapphire will be reborn as a mortal.' Alanna is Sapphire." George looked thoughtful as Maude stared at Alanna/Sapphire. "Didn't Sapphire have a twin? Lael, I think it was." "Yes. He was the god of Sorcerery, I believe. He had warned Sapphire and Loki of what was to come and fled the Divine Realms. They found him after they had cast out Sapphire, and cast him out as well." "They found him in time for my trial. They wanted him as a witness; at least that's what Daemos said. And there was proof, but I don't understand how there could be when I never committed the crime," Alanna/Sapphire said softly and slowly. Both Maude and George had had their backs turned to the silent figure on the table, now they spun, staring at the woman who had been Alanna. For, she was Alanna no longer. Her eyes were a fierce silver-violet with fire in them. Starfire, most likely. She was the regular height for a goddess, a regular six feet and a few inches. Her face looked as perfect as any goddess' and she looked perfect. Even her clothes had changed, and most suddenly. A gown of dark blue and gold silk clothed her figure. Sheer gold veils led from her wrists to the middle of the back of the dress. The veils formed a circle in back of her, and glowed softly. A gold veil was also covering her face and neck, and went down to her elbows. The dress' neckline was as low as any of the ladies in the Royal Court of Tortall had been, but with a little bit more flamboyance. It certainly accentuated her thin waist and full bosom. Her necklace was like a wide collar inlaid with silver, black onyx, and moonstones. Her earrings were moonstones with fire opals and diamonds. Her eyelids bore the darkest shade of blue below black. Her eyes were accentuated by the way the slender black lines had been drawn around her eyes. Her lips were a dark scarlet, and her lips were full. "Alanna?" George breathed. He shook his head, as much to clear it as to say no. "No. You must be Sapphire." Sapphire nodded, her eyes closed and then reopened, recognition in her gaze. "George…." she said, softly. The half smile on her face full of irony. "Well, now you know why, I guess." "Your not a full goddess, are you?" George asked. Maude left the room, shaking. Sapphire watched Maude leave, and sighed. "No, I'm not. I will be soon, but until then, I am vulnerable." Suddenly her head jerked up, fear in her eyes. "No…. It… It can't be." "What?" George asked. Sapphire's face was a mask of fear, anxiety, and worry. "Loki….He's threatening Mithros and Selene. And Lael…. He's helping." Loki's head suddenly swam, memories and power suddenly surging in his veins and mind like fire. Lael watched him with worry. They were in the Court of the Great Ones, and suddenly Loki's eyes blazed. "You!" he snarled, pointing an accusing finger at Mithros and Selene. Daine, who had been killed by a spidren two months back, watched Loki with shock. "Ma, what's going on?" she asked her mother softly. Weiryn's face had fear on it. "His memory…. Sapphire is back, and so is Loki." "What?" Sarra asked, confused. "Sapphire and Loki are gods older than Mithros and Selene, older than most of the gods here. They rivaled Mithros and Selene for the thrones of the King and Queen of the gods. Loki's mind was stripped, Sapphire was cast out. I have no idea why, for it happened long before me. Lael was also cast out with his twin sister." Mithros and Selene turned and looked at Loki's face, and saw it was full of anger. "The proof was there. You were found guilty," Mithros said simply. Lael snorted. "You probably planted the proof. You two were so eager to get the thrones. You cast Sapphire out, but you know what she said before you did. She will be back, even if she has to destroy you two, she will be back." Selene shrugged. "She may try. She won't get past the first gate." "Won't I?" said a clear female voice. A tall, beautiful woman strode into the crowd. Most of the gods bowed hurriedly or murmured, "My Lady." "How'd you….?" Mithros questioned, his face pale underneath the tan. Sapphire stopped when she was a foot away from her brother. She topped him by four inches at least. Daine stared at the goddess. It was Alanna! "Da…. That's Alanna the Lioness. She's mortal!" "Her soul wasn't…." the Crooked God snarled. "I knew we should have killed her. Her and Loki and Lael are nothing but trouble." "Why?" Shakith asked, annoyed. "Because she's older than you Adrian?" "Oh, shut up, Shakith. How would you understand. She tried to kill Daemos!" "And Daemos has tried to kill her as a mortal for her entire life. If that isn't proof enough, she's here," Shakith snapped. "Her sentence was, as long as she was found guilty in the eyes of our parents, she would not be allowed back in the Divine Realms. They knew she wasn't guilty in the first place, but she needed to be taught that the world won't bow to her. Loki and Sapphire should be on the throne. The two of them know how to rule, and they both gift mortals with far more than Selene or Mithros does now, or ever did," Asa, goddess of the winds, said. Her eyes slitted. "Be serious Adrian! You used to back them!" Adrian's eyes became two slits. "That child of theirs will destroy us, sister. Or have you forgotten the prophecy?" Asa slapped her brother and turned to watch the conflict between Sapphire, Loki, Lael, Mithros, and Selene. "You were found guilty," Mithros snapped at Sapphire. Sapphire banished the veil that was over her beautiful face. Her smiled was full of dislike and hatred. "Hmm… Shouldn't you be talking to Daemos, then? If I was so guilty, why did he continually try to kill me as a mortal? His mistake was taking me up here as a mortal. That triggered my memory, and frankly, he was the one who had sent Duke Roger after me. He was the one with the followers. If he was so innocent, should he be worried that I might tell the truth? That I may prove my alibi?" Loki glared. "You two are power mad. You wanted the thrones so bad. What's to stop us from declaring that you didn't try to kill us?" Loki pointed an accusing finger at the two. Lael smiled. "You know he can do that. His former position of godhood has been restored, as well as Sapphire's." He looked at his sister, and frowned. "It hasn't happened yet, has it?" "No. I am not a full goddess yet. But I will be soon," Sapphire's eyes glinted. "And I want what is rightfully mine." "By what right?" Mithros snarled. "You were found guilty. That forfeits any claim you ever had to the throne!" "Yes, and who passed that little decree? I doubt all the gods voted on it. All Gods have to vote on a law to pass it," Loki said shortly. "That means, Sapphire, Lael and I should have voted on it to have it been passed. Since we did not, it is a null." He turned to the others. "Tell me, my brothers, my sisters. Did any of you vote on that decree?" Heads began to shake, slowly and reluctantly. But still, not one god had voted on the decree. "The decree is a null," Sapphire said, her clear voice reaching into the very corners of the room. "I still have a claim to the throne, as does Loki! There is no 'queen' or 'king' until all other claimants to the thrones either remove their claims, or is voted out." "But the rulers have to be gods, Sapphire. You are not a god, not any more. And neither is Loki!" the Graveyard Hag, Beryl, snapped. "Tell me, Sister! Am I a god?" Loki shouted, bright silver fire glowing against his hand. He hurled it at a fountain with shattered, and reappeared. The gods were silent. "But Sapphire is not a goddess," Sarra said. Daine stared at her mother. Sapphire nodded. "I am not. I have my godhood, but not the powers. My claim to the throne is a null at the moment, but when I am a full goddess, I will come to claim what is mine." In a burst of black moons, she vanished. The gods stared at Loki and Lael now. They disappeared, Loki in a burst of silver flames. Lael in a shower of sparkling flashes. That was when the silence was the worst. Slowly, one by one, they disappeared. Sapphire looked at Daemos. Loki and Lael appeared. "I thought I'd find you here," Loki said, putting his arms around her. Sapphire's eyes were locked on Daemos. Lael watched his twin. Daemos suddenly screamed in pain. Sapphire's eyes took on an unholy light. They started to burn, and with them burning, Daemos' arm began to burn. "You will pay," Sapphire said softly. The flames in her eyes, and on Daemos' arm, went out. The dark returned to Daemos' realm, and Sapphire turned into Loki's arms. The two vanished and Lael knelt down to Daemos' prison. "You know you'll get out," he told Daemos quietly. "Why fight it? You know the time is soon. The quickening is almost over, you know what must be done, as do we all." Lael vanished. Daemos frowned. Was Lael helping him? No, no. Of course not. He needed a half god to get him out. Since Loki's curse kept him in this cage by a gods word…. A half god…. Would it matter if it was someone with god blood? What harm could it do? A man with a god's blood, one who loved Sapphire…. "Perfect…." Daemos said, evilly. "Absolutely perfect." Loki kissed Sapphire softly. "Well, my love," he said, looking around. "The last time we were I this room was that fateful night." Sapphire nodded, pulling the thin silk cover over her chest. "I hardly remember the trial. I know it's important, but I can't recall it." Loki sighed. "I have the memory." He put his hand on Sapphire's forehead, and stiffened as she cried out, receiving the memory in one gulp. Lael watched as Jonathan, Gary, Raoul, and Numair began to shout their questions. George was silent, but then again, he'd already heard this part. "I want to know what happened at the trial," Jonathan said. It was a demand, and the others seconded the demand. George was among them. "You don't want to know." "Like hell!" Numair demanded. "Alanna is our friend, and now she's this goddess? And she's in trouble? We want to know what happened!" "It was thousands of eons ago. It doesn't matter." "To us, it does," Gary snarled. "You started to tell us," Raoul replied. "This is the truth. A truth we deserve to know." Lael sighed. "Fine…." The Divine Realms Twenty-four Thousand Eons Ago Sapphire was stripped of her dress and belongings and put in a plain white cotton dress of one layer. Sapphire, who always had white pale skin, was almost transparent in the dress. Loki heart ached for her, the moment they stripped her of her powers. She swayed and her knees collapsed. She fell to the floor, unable to support herself. Loki was next. Put in plain canvas breeches and shirt, his clothes and belongings stripped from his body. Then they took his powers. He moaned in pain as a void feeling existed instead of the magic. Finally, they put Sapphire with Loki. She was crying softly. "We didn't do anything!" "I know," Loki said, holding her. "I want to see this proof that they have. And what crazy tale Daemos came up with." "Why did Daemos do this?" Sapphire asked. Daemos laughed. "Daemos did it because you are nothing but a harlot, Sapphire. And because I'd rather die than see you two put on the throne." "You bastard!" Sapphire snarled, lunging at him with her nails. Daemos jumped out of the way, but not before five wicked looking, blood-oozing scratch marks appeared on his face, right over an eye. Daemos snarled in pain. "You lousy bitch!" he screeched. Mithros appeared. He looked at Daemos, who nursed his wounded face. He looked back at Sapphire, who was glaring at him. She was staying in the dark, a haven to her body since she had no magic to protect herself from the light. He smirked and cast the darkness away. Sapphire's body began to have a silver haze around it. She looked more transparent than anything. Loki stood and smacked Mithros. The light stopped. "You are a child compared to us. You think you can rule over us? You have no concept to our powers. One day, our revenge will come upon you. Not even our parents could stop us from taking our revenge upon you. For we have the right of this! I am surprised our parent's haven't struck you down for this!" Mithros glared, and sneered at Loki. "Yes, but if I have it my way, you, your bitch, and Lael will be out of the Divine Realms for good. Your trail, Loki, will be in the morning. Since the gods refuse to bring Sapphire into the light without her magic, her's will be at night." "You'd just love an excuse to see me parish, wouldn't you," Sapphire snapped. She was in the dark, but still was shaking from her brush with light. Mithros seized her arm, bringing her into the light. She hissed with pain. "I'd love anything that got rid of you. You and your kind. You don't belong in this world. God and elemental…. You don't fit here, and you should be banished." He threw her to the ground and looked at Daemos. "Come. We have much to do." Present "What?" Jonathan asked, breathlessly. "Mithros doesn't like Sapphire or Loki. Or you?" "No. We are much older than him, our power scares him. Since he was the first of his kind, him and Selene, he thinks they should rule. But we came before him, before his parents. Our parents are the universe, and that which made the universe. Loki, Sapphire, Daemos, and I…. We are the last of our kind. Mithros got rid of Loki's power, but could not banish him. He gathered enough evidence against Sapphire to banish her forever, but that evidence was weak." Lael sighed. "With me…. What other evidence than to gift mortals with magic? The gods were furious with me for eons. Magic was something only the gods should have been able to use. Though they could not do anything to me, they banished me along with Sapphire. Daemos was on their side; he hated Sapphire. She toyed with him too easily." "What is that suppose to mean?" George asked. "Why do you think Daemos called Sapphire a harlot?" Looks of shock registered on everyone's face. "She slept her way around court?" Jon asked, horrified. Lael chuckled. "No! Only with those who were forceful. I really don't understand it, but she's got something for people who are aggressive and forceful." Lael shook his head. "She's the same. Aggressive, and forceful, except, she plays innocent every now and then. She gets what she wants, and the person who comes between what she wants will be quickly eliminated." He sighed. "At least, that was the way it was before she was sent down here." "But, why did the gods not like you?" Numair asked. "We're more powerful," Lael said simply. "How powerful?" Gary asked, suspicious. "Sapphire can get rid of anyone who irritates her. She's been known to be a goddess of revenge a few times. That was when she was incredibly young and threw tantrums for not getting the tiniest thing. Loki is the god of Warriors and the head Angel of Divine Justice. I'm the god of Sorcerery. Daemos…. He was the god of Death and Destruction. He was the one who went around killing everyone, while Neo, the Dark God, held the mortals' souls." Lael sighed. "But we can be killed." "What?" Raoul asked. "How can a god be killed?" "The five of us aren't gods, remember. We're gods and elementals." Lael made a face. "Not actually killed, though. Trapped until 'the birth of one like us' is the saying. This happened when Sapphire and I were cast out and Loki's powers and memories stripped. Our brothers and sisters rebelled the moment Selene and Mithros declared themselves Regents. Asa is the only one left, basically. She's the goddess of the Winds. She and Sapphire are the only two goddess of our kind left." "Asa? Who is she to you?" George asked. "You mentioned her twice, and both times it was softly." Lael looked away. "We were lovers. She's reluctant to talk about anything that happened. She's afraid, and I don't know why. Daemos is afraid now, has been since Sapphire was reborn. Duke Roger was one of Daemos' followers. I don't really understand most of what happened." "So, what happened at Loki's trial?" Numair asked. Divine Realms Loki was thrown to the floor before the Judges of the Old Ones' souls, or the mortals' souls. Lael was also taken and thrown to the ground, but with less force than Loki was. Lael spat at the man who had thrown him. "Silence!" Agni, the First Judge, snarled at the gods. He got silence. "Let the trial begin. Read the crimes against Loki and Lael." "The god Loki has been accused of helping the goddess Sapphire who intended to kill the god Daemos. The god Lael is a witness, but is also on trial," read Adonia, an Angel of Divine Justice. She scowled suddenly and threw the scroll down, her wings spreading out. "I refuse to participate in the trial. Everyone of you know Loki. Everyone of you know he has more than once listen to your bitching and whining and has sent us to carry out Justice on those you despise. How can you sit here and watch him be put to trial for something he never did?" she roared. Silence. The Angels of Divine Justice stood and flew up into the heavens, refusing to watch or participate. "Abel," Mithros bellowed, naming the god of wisdom. "Act as Magistrate." Abel nodded and picked up the scroll Adonia had thrown down. "The god Lael is on trial for giving magic to the mortals," he said softly. "That trial will be held later. Take him away," Astra, the Second Judge, said. Lael was hauled to his feet rudely and thrown into a small corner which was warded with magic to prevent escape. He growled low in his throat. "Where were you around the tenth hour of the night?" Ali, the Third Judge, asked Loki. "I was with Sapphire," Loki said, wearily. "In my rooms, and what we were doing is absolutely non of your business." "It is our business if we say it is!" Agni snarled. "What were you doing?" Astra asked. Loki sighed. "Making love," he said, looking away from them. "What proof is there?" Ali asked. Loki snorted. "How can you prove love?" He sighed. "She became pregnant that night." Now the gods began to talk with fear. A goddess with a child? One that would release the rest of their kind? It must be killed! "SILENCE!" Agni roared. Everyone became silent. "Bring Sapphire out," he ordered. "NO!" Loki yelled. "The light will kill her! She has no magic to protect herself from the light! She is a goddess of the dark!" Asa and Lael yelled in agreement, as the gods murmured uneasily. "I passed an order. Carry it out," Agni said, softly and coldly. "Dim the lights, or bring her into a shadow." Sapphire was hauled out of her room and brought into the room. She hissed in the light, and was hurried over to the dark of a corner. "Are you with child?" Ali demanded of her. Sapphire met his eyes with hatred. "I am." "When did this happen?" Astra demanded. "The night you shackled us. Maybe before, but it was when I found out," Sapphire said defiantly. The gods were now panicked. "Take her away," Agni shouted. Sapphire looked at Loki, tears in her eyes and they hauled her away roughly. Loki's eyes closed in pain, afraid for her, afraid for himself. Present Lael sighed. "The gods were scared. If Sapphire's child was born, our brothers and sisters would be freed. Probably cast the gods out, and rule the Divine Realms." "Why were they so afraid of your kind?" Jon asked. "Our magic. Our strength. What weren't they afraid of. They were infidels compared to us. They couldn't hold a candle to what we are, and what we did for mortal kind. Sapphire and a few others created the Old Ones. The gods didn't like the fact that we could create life like that." "What happened at Sapphire's trial?" Numair asked. The Divine Realms "Why do you claim you are innocent? We have proof that you are the one who tried to kill Daemos. How can you argue proof?" Ali asked Sapphire harshly. "I can't." "Then why do you try?" Ali snapped. "I do not try." "Then admit it!" "I did not commit this crime. There is nothing to admit." "LIAR!" Daemos snarled. "You seduced me, then tried to kill me!" "You wish," snorted Sapphire. Asa stood up. "I know for a fact that Sapphire would rather die than touch Daemos." She sat down. "Do we have proof this child is Loki's?" Ali asked. "It could be Daemos', or any gods, for that matter. We all know Sapphire is a mistress to any god who wishes her. No doubt more than one of you have tasted her." Loki, who had been watching this, roared, "How dare you, you bastard!" "Lock him up," Agni said, smiling as the Court of Gods laughed. Sapphire was red with embarrassment. Ali smiled and turned to Sapphire. "Well? What proof do we have?" "Wait until the child is born, and see. Or use magic. The child is Loki's. I haven't touched another man beside Loki for over two thousand years now." "The child is mine," Daemos said impatiently. "Get on with the trial." Present "I can't believe it. Why would Daemos claim it was his?" George asked. "He hated Sapphire. He wanted her to pay." "What happened next?" Numair asked. "We--" Lael's head suddenly jerked up. His eyes were round and wide. They were all whites, no pupil. "I don't believe it…. I just can't believe it!" "What?" Gary asked, a little impatient. "Somehow….somehow our brothers and sisters were released!" Lael exclaimed. The mortals' eyes bulged and jaws dropped. "What?" they all yelped. Lael nodded, as if someone was talking to him. "I'll bring you up with me. It'll be easier to explain as well." Numair looked a little sick. "How long will we have to recover?" Lael frowned. "You were brought by lesser gods. I am a Greater god than the Great Ones themselves." With that, a silver cloud enveloped them and transported them to the Divine Realms. Sapphire watched, eyes wide as her siblings started to appear. Mithros and the rest of the Great Ones watched in horror and fear and shock. "Oh, this cannot be happening…." Beryl moaned, scared for the first time in a long time. Lael appeared next to his sister, and mortals were with him. "Sapphire, what's going on?" Lael asked. "What happened to free them?" "Zoycite," Sapphire breathed. "Her birth signaled that they were free." "But it's taken so long!" Lael exclaimed. The mortals watched in awe and shock. Sapphire swallowed. "It's taken a while for them to get the signal." Suddenly, two very old and very majestic looking beings appeared in a shower of gold and silver sparks. Slowly, all the ones who had appeared, Asa, Sapphire, Loki, and Lael knelt. The female of the two laughed. "Rise! No use having to kneel to us!" "You are the oldest of us all," Sapphire said. "You deserve to be given great honor." "And this from the one who said there was no limit to her power, no end to the sky of which she could soar?" the male said. He looked at the sky. "The Divine Realms must be crumbling! The sun is turning green! The fish learning how to fly!" He shook his head. The gods who were elementals laughed. Sapphire smiled. "I have changed, Elder. I am no longer the goddess who thought that the very earth and universe would order itself the way I wanted it to." "Such humility from the goddess who claimed that she could rule better than us all? Am I rebuked?" the female quipped. Sapphire smiled and bowed. "I have learned my place. It is not for me to think of my will, but for those of who I rule, mortal and god, not just the mortals." "Ah, so now you understand why we let the punishment be carried out!" the male said, a smile lighting up his weathered face. Suddenly, the mortals disappeared, though no one noticed. "Where the hell are we?" Jonathan demanded. "Psst, over here," said a voice. The mortals turned and looked over to the corner of darkness where the noise had come to. "Who's there?" Jonathan asked, curiosity coming over him like a wave. "Come over here." Jonathan did, as did the others. It was Daemos. He sneered. "What's my name?" "Daemos," Jon said. "What's my name?" "Daemos! I already told you what it was!" Jonathan snapped. Suddenly, the cage began to open. "Yes, yes, yes!" shouted Daemos, joy and anger on his face as the cage vanished. "I'm free." His eyes took on a light that was pure evil. "I'm coming Sapphire. No one will be safe until you are dead. And dead by my hand!" He laughed, his voice rising and falling eerily in the darkness while the mortals watched on in horror.