(In order to make a more detailed and complete universe, I wanted to focus on the stories of the other major characters of Ithycca. This one will be in the point of view of the Angel from the previous chapter, taking place from her realm of Heaven. Enjoy!)

Ithycca Sidestories: Chapter 7.5
Subjects of Air
By AoifeM

I failed, and my punishment was justified. My equilibrium was imbalanced, and my ears damaged to the point I could no longer hear. It was no other’s fault but my own.

I made it back to my world, Heaven. To humans, it’s the gateway to paradise, but it’s just like their world, it has its good and bad parts. Of course traversing here was impossible unless you had a pair of wings- there was no solid ground, and buildings all levitated, a marvelous example of our technological prowess.

I am Angela. It’s an apt name for what I am. I serve my God, Yahweh, as does my brother, Darius. My brother is miles ahead of me in terms of actual skill, however. He was unofficially the most skillful warrior throughout the land, and our God’s right hand man. I had a lot to live up to, even though we were born barely 2 years apart.

And so I flew to our capital city of Ahura Mazda. Unlike many of the Gods mine took a particular interest in managing the lives of his subjects, and we followed him unequivocally.

I entered the palace doors of our blessed leader. With no more strength to push me, I fell to the porcelain floors below, writhing in pain. Immediately this caught the attention of my brother, who was waiting for my triumphant return. I felt embarrassed I let him down.

He flew to my aid, and wrapped his wing over my shoulder. Reading the movements of his lips I was able to get the sense he was worried sick. He immediately helped me to my feet, and using him as a crutch I carried myself to Yahweh’s Precipice, the name of the room in which his throne resides. If anyone could heal my wounds, it was him.

Darius set me down in front of our lord’s presence. One look at Yahweh’s countenance was enough to know he was quite displeased. However, he was kind enough to service me, and using his mighty powers he restored my sound; the gentle zephyr winds rushed through my ears and the pain disappeared without a trace.

With a sigh, he began to scold me. “It was a simple mission,” he began. “A surprise attack on somebody who had yet regained her skills and memories, and yet somehow you failed. Now she knows of our intent. We won’t get another chance like that.”

I felt guilt in letting him down. It was the greatest dishonor. “Forgive me Lord,” I pleaded. “Apparently a Djinni knew of our attack and intervened.”

“A Djinni?” Yahweh repeated. “So now my brother, Efreet, has a stake in this as well? What exactly does he see in keeping Alora’s child alive?”

“I don’t know my lord,” I explained. “It almost seemed as if this Djinni was acting on her own.”

“Just a bunch of roaming barbarians,” He remarked. “No sense of honor, no sense of order. Just doing things without any idea of the consequences.”

He turned away from me and returned to his throne, sitting down as he continued to ponder.

“Without my leadership there would have been many deaths. Humans would have died out long ago. The Merfolk are a scourge. If one could be revived, how many more can? It would be Armageddon all over again. And knowing Alora, she will be looking for blood. It will be a lot worse than just an Ice Age.”

Suddenly a strange voice interrupted my Lord’s outspoken thoughts. “Why be you assumin’ the Merfolk be after vengeance?”

My brother got into a defensive position and unsheathed his magical sword, obviously weary of this foreigner. “You!” he cried, ready to strike.

“Oh hun,” The wingless being stated to my over eager brother, “Put down the sword. I’m not a fighter. Goes against my personality.”

“Such is the answer of a powerless God,” Yahweh insinuated. “Tell me, dear sister, why do you defile this room with your presence?”

“Ha!” she scoffed. “You come to my realm, attack without provocation, and not be expecting a visit from little ol’ me? You have some ‘splainin’ to do.”

“Do I?” He retorted. “As far as I can tell I was only doing the job that you should have doing to begin with. But, of course, you never were one to take matters to your own hands. That’s why you’ve lost the worship of your followers.”

“If humanity be wishin to follow someone besides me, that be their right,” she concluded.

“Face it, Gaia,” Yahweh continued, “Without my influence humanity would have no structure, no advancement. They would be as hopeless as my brother and his Djinn.”

“Perhaps,” she replied, “but unlike you I believe in my people. They not be needin’ my constant approval of everything.”

“Hmph.” Yahweh proceeded to change the subject. “So, why do you assist her anyway?”

“Ithycca?” She assumed. “Why not? Does she not have a right to live like anything else? Regardless of her form?”

“She nearly destroyed all of us,” he sternly reminded her.

“And?” Gaia questioned. “It’s been 10,000 years, my dear brother. The planet weeps for her lost children. And I be a firm believer that the guilty need not be victims of retribution, but rather rehabilitation.”

“And you think she can change?” He asked, with a slight rise in his voice.

“Why not?” She continued. “Before her rebirth, she was a Human male, after all. One of humility; kind, caring, committed. She has experience from the other side. Something that just doesn’t go away even after she fully remembers.”

“You’re playing with fire, Gaia,” Yahweh insisted. “You’re going to get burnt.”

“And without love,” she concluded. “Nothing ever changes.” Lowering her head, she commented. “Sometimes I wonder if it be strong enough, that maybe one day we all could make amends.”

“…Gaia,” Yahweh said in a compassionate manner, “We cannot change the past. Alora made her bed. She must now lie in it. We did what we must. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, nothing will ever change.”

“Maybe,” She said. “Either way, leave Ithycca to my care. I will take full responsibility.”

He sighed, obviously not real thrilled about the whole prospect of this. It seemed like he was going to grant her what she wanted.

“…Very well,” he conceded. “But I will be watching very closely. I will not hesitate to cut the power from its source if needed.”

“That be your prerogative,” she claimed. “Just don’t expect that to be simple as you wish it to be.”

With that she turned and walked off. Now just the three of us, obviously he had just about enough of our presence as well. “Leave me,” he demanded. “I have much to think about.”

We bowed and made our way for the exit. As we walked downstairs from the Precipice, I could see the frustration in my brother’s eyes. I became increasingly worried.

Not holding back any longer, he screamed, “What a fool! What kind of Goddess preaches restraint?”

“What do you mean, dear brother?” I asked him.

“Look at what that Sea Monster did to you!” he cried. “I know of your skill, and yet she nearly killed you! And to think that was only but a modicum of her power.”

“But what are we supposed to do about that, brother?” I inferred. “Our Lord gave her the opportunity to work with her. We cannot just defy him!”

“And what if after all of that she fails?” he suggested. “Just how powerful can this Ithycca become?”

“I… I don’t know,” I replied, recollecting the intense pain her shriek induced and shuddering at the mere thought.

“Our Lord may have given such an order, but I doubt that is what he truly wants.” He continued. “He wants to eliminate this threat before she gets that far. Before she becomes so powerful, that not even I could best her.”

“So what are you suggesting?” I asked, almost scared to hear the obvious.

“We need to kill her, Angela,” he declared. “We just need one chance. And when that time comes, we shall strike!" Raising his voice, he yelled. "No one gets away with hurting my little sister! No one!”

I wanted to stop him, but he stomped off, too angry to pay any attention. What can I do? Defy my Lord’s will? It was sweet to see my brother go this far to defend my honor, but at what cost? Even if he had the go ahead, I will still be nervous seeing him in battle against her.

I stared at my hand, and realized it couldn’t stop shaking. Was I afraid of her? Of what she could possibly do? I’ve never felt this way about anything in my life. I was trained to be gallant, to hold myself up high, and fight without fear. Now look at me.

“You know, fear be all to healthy,” A familiar voice said from behind.

“You…” I replied, obviously not using the most tactful greeting.

“She truly is a nice kid, you know,” Gaia claimed as she appeared in my sight. “Right now, she’s just as scared as you are.”

“And why?” I asked.

“She feels she’s losing herself,” She explained. “She has her own demons to face. I'm sure she's slowly recollecting her past, and it's sickenin' to her. Your presence only further emphasizes those feelings.”

“I don’t get it,” I continued to question, “why are you telling me this?”

“Because I know deep in your heart you be not a bad person,” she stated. “And I don’t believe you or Ithycca should live life havin’ to fear each other. Heh, in fact, in another life you two would be like good friends.”

She walked closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. “Do me a favor child, and keep an eye on your brother. He not be thinkin’ straight, and I’d rather he not be involved any more than he has to be. There be no use gettin' hurt for nuthin'”

“…I.” I really couldn’t answer her. She had a lot of clarity in her words whenever she spoke, regardless of her accent. I too wanted to stop Darius, however, he was much more powerful. If he set his mind on something, regardless of how much I was against it, he would do it. My objections can only hinder him for so long.

“Go out, see the world,” she digressed, “Life isn’t always black and white. Trust in your own judgments, not the judgments of others. Maybe then you’ll see maybe certain people aren’t as evil as you first thought.”

Walking by me and turned and gave me a quick grin. “I be sure we be meetin’ again, Angela.”

I blinked my eyes, and somehow she vanished. I had a lot to think about. I just didn’t know what to do.

All I knew was, I was a major player in all of this, whether I wanted to be or not.