A long time ago, the Earth blessed four spirits, making them gods. The gods of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, oversee their realms, creating sentient creatures to help cultivate their lands. These beings constantly fought each other for supremacy, eventually driving the servants of Water, the Merfolk, to extinction. Millennia later Kyle Weathers receives a gift from an old and mysterious lady while working in Haiti. This gift will change his life forever.
Ithycca
Chapter 7- Guardian Demon?
by AoifeM
I had a lot to learn. I never thought much about just how important I was. Not only was I a Mermaid, I was the only Mermaid. My existence was all that kept my race from being extinct all over again. Never did I think once that would make me a very important target.
Being attacked by that Angel served as a major wakeup call in more ways than one. I was unarmed, alone, and still not familiar with my body. Sure, give me a tree branch and I can hunt like the best of them, but fight?
What’s worse was the constant stumbling I did while tripping over my long white skirt. I figured it was the most appropriate clothing; if I were in my human form it would help keep perverts sneaking a peak at what was otherwise a panty less woman. Next time I should replace modesty with practicality.
Still, running wouldn’t do me any good. She had the major advantage of flying. Try as I might, she could catch me.
And I still didn’t know what exactly I did to deserve this. I mean, was my race that bad? And even if they were, it wasn’t as if I had intentions of breeding. I mean, I don’t even know how! And I don’t appreciate having to think of guys in that manner!
Even if my body wants to think otherwise.
Dodging another swipe from her blade, I turned to her and yelled, “What the hell?! It’s not as if I’ve done anything to you!”
She looked at me sternly, “Your kind has caused enough trouble. We had to live through an Ice Age as proof of your transgressions! Your existence only continues to complicate such matters!”
I avoided another attack. I hoped that somehow my words could sway her mind and reconsider sparing me.
“I don’t know what happened a long time ago!” I insisted. “But I swear I am not like those people!”
“And, why should I believe you?” She demanded, “I may not have been around to see such atrocities, but I am not a fool, Princess Ithycca!”
It was getting tiring trying to keep up with her. I didn’t know how much longer I had.
“Damnit!” I screamed, panting uncontrollably. “Listen to me!”
“There is nothing to listen to!” She retorted, swinging her sword wildly, obviously getting a little frustrated by my dodging. “Yahweh says you must be destroyed, so I must!”
She was stubborn as all hell. I didn’t have any advantage whatsoever. Hoping to get a little distance, I turned around and started to run from her. However, again my skirt proved to be quite the hindrance as my legs got caught up in it, causing me to fall face first into the sand.
Flipping over, I wanted to jump up and continue running. Unfortunately the Angel was right there with her blade at my throat. I ran out of options.
“This really isn’t my forté,” She explained as her blade inched closer to my neck. “Normally I would give my enemies as least a sporting chance at fighting back. However, your death is of the utmost importance, and I can’t afford to lose this opportunity. Forgive me.”
She was preparing for the deathblow. I closed my eyes, preparing for what was coming. What did come however surprised even me.
A chain with a hook like end to it wrapped around her sword, and with a tug successfully disarmed her. At the end of that chain was a demon looking entity of the female variety, cloven hooves, spade like tail, and ram like horns. She could be considered attractive, if she didn’t look like she could rip your head off.
I didn’t know what she was up to, but when she began to raise her hands I knew it wouldn't be good. Instinctively I ran for cover as she casted her spell. And from my previous spot she unleashed an explosion. While the angel was attempting to escape, she did get caught up in the blast, and was sent flying.
“Mmmm,” The devil like entity began, “Looks like we’re having bird tonight!”
Dusting herself off, the obviously shocked angel demanded an answer. “What purpose do you have here, Hellspawn? This doesn’t concern you!”
The girl grinned as she replied. “First off, it’s Djinn, Birdbrain! And second, maybe I just like messing with your type!”
Angered, the Angel reclaimed her sword. Raising it in an attacking stance she charged headstrong towards the young “Djinni.” I didn’t know what was going on. All I know is that this was my time to escape.
Deciding not to go through the problem again, I used all of my strength to rip my skirt in to a much more manageable size. Now up to my knees, I decided enough was enough and decided to make a run for it, looking over my shoulder to see the battle going on overhead.
And indeed it was an intense one. The Djinni’s chains were obviously meant for this type of battle. She couldn’t fly like the Angel could, and the chains were doing a good job keeping her grounded. They were indeed polar opposites. The Angel held a calm, tempered demeanor; her aura shined confidence. She was one who led by example, the type who didn’t seem shaken by anything.
Meanwhile the Djinni preferred to show her confidence in an almost antagonistic manner. If you screwed up, she’d let you know it. Taunting her opponent endlessly, she seemed to delight when she got a rise out of people, particularly someone as stone cold as her opponent right now, who seemed to be livid as the battle continued.
I couldn’t really take the time to observe the epic struggle. My goal was the water. My best bet was to run away from the field of battle, and hopefully once clear swim away where I knew neither of them could get me. It seemed almost too good to be true; they seemed so focused on each other that they forgot about me. It proved easy to escape.
I pushed my dainty little legs as hard as I possibly could. It was a difficult proposition.
In the water I was as athletic as anyone possibly could be, yet on land I was anything but. Perhaps I could gain more oxygen in the water. Perhaps it was the fact that in the water I didn’t sweat. And of course my tail was rather strong compared to these legs, and on land sweating only makes me more dehydrated, which makes it easier for me to get dehydrated.
The shore wasn’t far, however. The rocky coast was a welcome sight, free from the fighting that was occurring up ahead. I slowly walked over to the shoreline; the water messaged my human toes. Kneeling down, I was about to swim off, however someone wouldn't allow me.
Completely unaware, the Angel surprised me from behind, pulling me up from my hair and onto my feet. Apparently, even though the Djinni gave her a hell of a fight, she came out of it victorious. Obviously frustrated beyond belief, she pulled me over to a nearby rock and threw my back against it, subduing me in a fit of pain. With her hand she pinned me down, her sword preparing to do what it should have done earlier. My luck had ran out. I was out of chances.
Panicking, I did the only thing a defenseless girl could do- I screamed.
Yet this scream was beyond anything I’ve heard before. It almost felt like the ground was moving. My mouth was wide open, and my gills followed, almost like a woodwind instrument. However, the sound coming out of it wasn’t pretty.
I’ve never heard a banshee scream, but if I had to compare it, it would be like that. Stunned, the Angel fell backward, holding her hands to her ears in agony. The blood was running down her hands. She was beaten.
I fell to the ground, writhing in pain. I barely could stand up. Luckily the Angel had enough for one day. With the last ounce of her strength she flew off, leaving me thankful.
With a hand on my kidney I staggered to my feet. I was greeted from a distance by the Djinni who was fighting earlier.
“Aw, man!” she exclaimed like a little kid at his first monster truck rally. “That. Was. Awesome! You could hear that for miles! Totally tore that bitch a new one!”
I didn’t know what to make of her. As she began to move closer to me I instinctively went into a defensive stance.
Nervously I asked, “Who are you? What do you want?”
She stopped halfway, not real appreciative of my reaction. “That’s kind of rude, you know? Acting all paranoid like that? And to think I saved your life too!”
All of a sudden she ignited in a sea of flames, and when those flames subsided the demon looking entity became a gorgeous, honey skinned, blue eyed woman, with golden locks of hair reaching down to her shoulders, covered only by the short miniskirt and flimsy top she was wearing prior.
“That’s better!” she exclaimed. “My name in Khalifa, but you can call me Kali.” She resumed walking, closing the distance between us. “And you must be Princess Ithycca.”
“Don’t come any closer!” I warned. “I’m serious.”
“Oh come on!” She yelled. “If I wanted to kill you I would have.”
That didn’t help me get comfortable.
Now standing right in front of me, she began to lick her lips. “Besides…”
Spontaneously she dragged me into an embrace and began to intimately kiss me, her tongue wrestling mine. As her lips and mine connected, you could see the steam rising from our mouths as if it were vapor.
“Mmmm,” she seductively moaned, “Tangy.”
I was freaking out. What the hell was going on? Was she flirting with me? I really didn’t need this now. I had a lot of thoughts circling my head as it is, with Douglas, Eliza, my sexuality. I didn’t even know her!
“No, it would be a waste to see such a beautiful thing like you disappear,” She stated. “I must say Alora did a good job on you.”
“So then what do you want?” I demanded, wishing she would just answer me already.
“What do you think I want?” she retorted. “Need I spell it out, Y O U. You, you sexy thang you!”
It didn’t make sense. I was totally uncomfortable with the situation “But…but I don’t even know you!”
“And that’s what makes blind dates so a-MAZ-ing!” She cried while giggling. “And I must say, you sure know how to pick a first date!”
“I…I don’t know,” I stammered. Actually I did know. I didn’t want anything to do with her, but I was afraid of the repercussions by rejecting her outright. She was rather powerful, after all.
“I tell you what, my little Ithy,” she began. “You’ll need help don’t you? After all, that Angel won’t be the only thing after you, you know. You’re so special- everyone seems to want a piece of you!”
“Uh…” My mind was having a hard time coming up with the words. I couldn't even begin to form a sentence without Kali cutting me off from the get go.
“So, that settles it!” She confirmed. “Just call me your Guardian Ang-…er your Guardian! Yeah! Guardian!" She began to giggle in an almost sadistic manner. "This’ll be sooo much fun!”
“But…” I still was unable to get a word in.
“Don’t worry my sweet little fish stick,” She interjected. “You don’t hafta tell me anything now. Deep down I know how you feel, and I’ll be here when you ready.” She gave me another seductive kiss on the lips. “Well, babe, getting dark, you oughtta get swimming! You have somewhere to be right?”
“Uh…yeah,” I replied, nervous as all hell.
“Well don’t just stand there!” she chided. “Get going! Waves won’t be cooperative forever!”
I turned around and look at the waves. They were rather calm. Getting in the water might help soothe the back pain.
I looked over my shoulder, and Kali was gone; vanished without a trace, leaving me alone as the sun set beyond the horizon. Gods, Angels, and now Djinn, the whole world seemed to be after me. It seems like my life just got a little more complicated.
I took a deep breath, and in the immortal words of Dr. Sam Beckett of Quantum Leap fame, I exhaled and uttered, “Oh, boy.”
(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.