Chapter 5. Appendages

CYRUS

An early morning fog has just ascended, leaving the green leaves around polished. The sound of chirping birds, creaking insects, and rustling leaves trail the steamy atmosphere while I sit on a hard rock, staring blankly at the peaceful scenery. A lake. Crystal clear. Surrounded by hard crimson rocks, trees, and shrubs. The smell of lavender hanging in the air pilfers into my nostrils.

“Welcome back,” her familiar voice sings from behind, followed by the sound of a crunch. I whirl around sharply, only to see her teeth digging into a fruit. I heave as she proceeds to chew the fraction slowly, hmming and mmming as colorless fluid drips down her glossy lips.

“Say please,” she says, assessing my face with her gaze.

I clear my throat, frowning. “I’d rather kiss a horse’s arse,” I reply, and a peal of laughter leaves her mouth.

She sits beside me, her musky scent growing stronger. “Okay.” She shrugs. “Have it your way. At least next time you go blank, it will be on an empty stomach.”

I roll my eyes. “Thank you for reminding me that I passed out during our escape last night. You were the one who preserved me till now. Rub it on my face,” I grumble, hating myself for giving her that opportunity.

She takes another bite before flinging the leftovers away. “It will happen a few more times before you get used to this place,” she says matter-of-factly and shrugs.

I glare around. “What is this place anyway?”

“Well, we call it the Valley of the Gods—one of the two realms. It has been separated from earth for so long that it has become our reality.”

“Separated from… Wait, am I dead?”

“I wish,” she chuckles.

I shake my head. It’s either she hates me, or she just enjoys sarcasm. “How come you know so much about adjustment to life here?” I try to change the topic.

“Oh,” she licks her lips. “My mother and I crossed over from earth when I was eight. She was in search of the love of her life, my father, who suddenly disappeared. He was never found until the day she passed. He came to her funeral and then disappeared again.” She lifts her head, facing the sky in an attempt to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. “Her name was Karen. She died of a strange illness—the Black Death.”

My eyebrows raise. “Oh, I know the disease. It was an epidemic sweeping through my country before I left. It kills men like flies. Once you contact it, you die in two days.”

“Exactly, but her case was different. She fought it for so long…” she adds, her gaze falling, her face flushed red.

“She must have been incredibly strong,” I place my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, but she snaps.

“Don’t touch me!”

I freeze, then gradually take my hand away. Pinching her nose in-between her fingers, she turns to face me. “Young man, you stink!”

I quickly look at myself. I am a mixture of sand, sweat, and grime in ragged clothes. “Oh, I see…” I pass my gaze from the lake to myself, then back at her. “You brought me here to have a bath, didn’t you?”

“Someone has to babysit your fancy ass,” she smirks.

“Do you always have to be so full of yourself?”

“What can I say? I was waiting for you to figure it out. Almost thought you were dumb. It’s a good thing you’re not.”

“I am not dumb.”

“Come on, take the compliment.” She grins. A smile spreads on my face as I rise to my feet, shaking my head in wonder.

The way she talks amuses me. To be honest, it might not be so bad. She is brutally honest. Annoying mostly. In a kind of way that is strangely pleasant.

I begin to peel off my clothes while she maintains a steadfast stare at me. Then, a gentle breeze zips across, scattering her rosy hair. My pupils dilate at the sight. Just like magic, her charm is only matched by her foul-mouth.

“You’re not going to look away?” I ask.

She smiles, revealing her well-arranged set of dentitions and a pair of dimples. How the creator took his time on her.

“Don’t worry about me. I like women,” she replies.

“Is that another compliment?” I scoff. “I mean, all my magnificence cannot be for nothing?” I spread my arms, allowing my shirt to fall off, revealing my body.

I am well aware of the fact that my hard battle training has torn my chest into two and chiseled my abs. I move backward slowly, shaking my head fervently until my jet-black curly hair tied in a ponytail is let loose. Then, my feet kiss the warm lake, plodding into the water until half of my body is immersed in it.

“I am seldom attracted to men. You’ll have to be extremely good-looking, and strong, and…”

“Like me?” I cut in, and she bursts into loud cackles of laughter which slowly fade as I immerse myself into the warm water and pull out again. Smoldering pains grow on several parts of my body from some few bruises and cuts. I hiss…and for a brief moment, I catch her staring in a somewhat different way than before—her face is looking dreamy.

“So, the girl I saved was your lover?” I ask, scrubbing my face with my palm.

“Something like that, but I don’t have lovers. I don’t do that. She is my best friend.”

“Hmm, why don’t you join me in the water then? Maybe I’ll find a way to thrust myself into your heart.”

She giggles. “Nice try. But no.”

“You are afraid, coward,” I use her words against her, the feeling of revenge tingling my insides.

Her eyebrows pucker. “What is your name, young man?”

“Cyrus, son of Cyrus, grandson of Cyrus,” I reply, dipping myself into the lake again.

“Oh, and you have no surname?”

“It’s called Ban-Ipal. I would never say that where I came from, for it is forbidden,” I giggle.

“You are a Ban-Ipal?” Her eyes widen.

“Yes.”

“Then why are you such a wimp?” She stands, folding her hands. “Over here in Iridu, Ban-Ipals are the right hand of Mardurk. They are warriors of the highest pedigree! In fact, second only to the Annunaki…”

“What is a Mardurk?” I ask, confused by the several names she was mentioning.

“What do you people say in your place for a ruler of the realms?”

“King?”

“Yes, something like that,” she smiles again. This time, it hits me like waves of hazardous radiation. Her beauty melts my heart like wax. But I quickly take a mental note to guard my emotions. After all, elegant women like this are always dangerous. This one even reeks of secrets. How did she even know what would happen with that Son of Dragon in the first place?

“Where are we going anyway?” I give out a platonic smile.

“Iridu, the jewel of the gods. You’ll like it there. There are dragons and…”

“What? Dragons?” My eyes bulge.

“What do you seek here, Cyrus?” she blurts out, abruptly changing the topic with her face turning grim. My muscles stiffen at the suddenness of her reaction and her intense glare.

“Why did you leave your home for this place of chaos?” She taps her foot impatiently, sheathed swords dangling on her hips. It is clear that she doesn’t trust me despite rescuing me.

“Why am I here?” I mumble… The more I think of it, the more fragments of my memory come together. The image of a pair of glowing red eyes in a dark background flashes through my mind. I remember the color of his cloak, sea-green. ‘Trail the Triangle,’ he said to me, his voice crispy and deep.

I also recall the voice of Ameera yelling at me, ‘Cyrus of Constantinople, do not fall into this cycle of destruction!’

“Get out of the water!” A sudden cry from Nabu sends me out of my head. I see an arrow stuck in her shoulder. My head swells, cold waves tracing my spine.

I thrust forward, out of the lake, naked. My aim is to help her, but another arrow whistles past my ears and lands on her thigh. I freeze. Howbeit, she quickly breaks the stalk and then unsheaths her sword. The look on her face shifts in an instant—veins pop out of her forehead, and her eyes grow bloodied and red. She even pushes me aside.

“Run!” she groans.

“No. Not without…”

“Get the hell out of here, Cyrus. I will find you. Go!” Her voice rings out, tearing the tranquil.

Although I do not wish to abandon her, the sound of numerous footsteps approaching ruptures what is left of the silence. I veer around, sighting some figures pulling out from the trees around the lake.

I swivel instantly and begin the race for my life, lunging into the woods butt-naked. The sound of slashing swords, whizzing arrows, and bashing shields echo from behind me, but I don’t dare look back. I fling myself through space, holding my heart in my chest, swerving past trees, leaping over logs, cutting corners, and penetrating tight spaces.

As more seconds trickle by, the sounds in the distance grow duller, signaling that I am continuously increasing the distance between myself and the chaos. Nonetheless, my heart remains far from peace, for I am ridden with thoughts of Nabu’s safety. How can I leave her like that? After everything she did for me?

The longer I sprint, the more the thought haunts my conscience. I halt. What am I doing?

I whirl around and begin to run towards the lake again. A part of me hates the idea, cursing myself. Until my foot lands on a twig, and I find myself lifted off the ground, upside down, with a rope tied around my ankle.

I remain like a hunter’s prey, all my appendages dangling in the air, just below a branch. I wriggle and wriggle to no avail. Again, I have made a wrong decision. Damn it!

I widen my eyes like a thief. What to do. What to do. My eyes search the ground below. Yet, no idea pops up. My skull becomes heavier, even muddled. I’m sure that if I remain like this for much longer, I will certainly meet my ancestors.

“Nabu!” I shout in frustration, my voice echoing back several times to me. Then ominous cackles of laughter respond to me.