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Chairos
By: D.L. Joy
Author’s Note
This is a piece of fictional escapism that is in no way meant to garner belief in pagan ideology or to romanticize occult practices. Those who know me well know that I accept there to be but one God and mysticism to be of no value spiritually. What I present, as a story-teller, is an emphasis on the virtue of goodness and the perversity of evil. In the intention of presenting an unspeakable evil, some scenes may appear shocking, though hardly excessive.
"You and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness."
- C.S. Lewis
Prologue
Before the dawn of our time there was darkness and there a great number of horrors reveled. By the hand of the sun god Helios they were banished, cast out by his first rays. His beloved sister, the moon goddess Selene cast her silvery glow upon the night. And the days of the wrathful Titans came to pass, and fortune faired well for the terrible giants. In the passing of time the giants became greedy with their power, much to the exclusion of the younger generation. Zeus, son of Kronos the King, rallied his brethren into war against their parentage. In preparation for the epic ten year battle Zeus sacrificed a bull to Helios, to Ouranos the Titan god of the sky, and to Gaia, Titan goddess of the earth. In this there was revealed to him the omen of an eagle, indicating his victory over the Titans and a defection to them of the enemy. Much to the dismay of their father Hyperion and beloved sister Selene, Helios and his sister Eos, along with a number of their cousins, turned to the side of Zeus. And so, in their betrayal Zeus’ new allies helped in his triumphant victory over the Titans. In the end the Titans fell from on high, into the fiery pit of Tartarus. Zeus was crowned the new King of the Gods and his beloved daughter Artemis took away Selene’s right to the silver crown of the moon goddess. And atop the peak of Mount Olympus the gods ushered in a Golden Age. Deep within the belly of the earth, Khronos and the eldest Titans, parents of the Olympians and those who had offended them most were held in escape-proof prisons of eternal flame. Unbeknownst to those on high, a conspiracy was soon to unfold within Tartarus; for the daimones, those whose activities were closely guarded and governed by Hades, had found an opportunity to revolt. Incidentally, while their elders would remain permanently infallible their first born, the younger Titan generation were permitted to roam among the daimones in the more provincial, scarcely guarded sector of Tartarus. Notorious for her penchants for lunacy and treacherous whimsy, the former moon goddess and one of the young Titanides, Selene patiently roamed the land of daimones, hoping to seat herself among the demon hierarchy. So the goddess came before their master, the androgynous demon with a knack for making as well as collecting objects of dark purpose, one called Belial. In time she found place at the side of Belial the Hermaphrodite, and through their mutual cooperation the kingdom of Hades soon belonged to him. So granted freedom to take Olympus, the Titans accomplished a great upheaval. Centuries have passed since the legendary fall of Olympus. The world has long degraded into open ground for man’s corruption and the followers of Selene keep watch over it all. Her seat, the land of Nheme; where her herald Janus shepherds the masses to him. Yet as the breaches of darkness continue to grow without heed, light awakens to gather in the brinks. _____________
“There’s little reason to hope for success in that domain, we have seen so much loss.”
“Yes, she is just a child, but remember that she is of a strong generation, revolution is in her blood.”
“And that was a costly war. Now flesh is all concern and they lay happily in their filth. I fear for the future.”
I
Dystopia
The sun escaped over the horizon as if in fear of the looming thunderclouds rushing hastily over the valley. It was the end to a day that began in the seething fires of an alchemist’s forge. Before twilight would descend a mighty weapon would be crafted of three of the finest and most mysterious metals. He read her aura by laying a gentle, but callused hand on hers. “Silver of moon, lumin like star, darkshine will work to seal them all.” A figure cloaked in shadow moved among the lofty rooftops of Lunhaven, brandished a menacing new blade. And as he struck the metal for much of the day his guest would meditate, letting her powerful energy permeate the forge.
Lightning arched across the sky and the crack of thunder seemed to jolt the city lights that much brighter. Gales of wind blew back her cape as she peered into the night like a statue. Rain, a thing she had only read about in books. She was struck by the complex machine that was her first thunderstorm. Though magical as it all seemed, something else, something unnatural permeated the chilled air. Once the rain began to pick up she looked fast and took a leap over to the next roof in a blur of speed. The clouds burst above her with torrents of rain and the thunder crashed all around like a chaotic symphony.
Earlier that day a potion was crushed in a mortar, a powerful catalyst for an alchemical weapon. With a gloved hand he took a handful of the powdery substance and threw it onto the still red-hot metal. A hail of sparks flew about as the smith stood back. He reached for the welder’s helmet on the counter next to him and watched from behind it until the sparks died down. With a larger hammer in his hand the brutish old fellow reared back and struck the blade with a mighty blow. The thundering sound blasted violently throughout the forge and out into space.
The young woman opened her eyes and rose from the floor; the day’s purpose had been fulfilled. “Behold, your Tehnplara, beloved stone of truth.” All was night now and she rested atop the remains of a sanctuary, the sad relic of an old war. She raised a hooded visage to listen past the drumming rain. It was a beautiful face, with the impetuous eye of youth.
A lone gargoyle perched next to her with an ironic Cheshire grin. She looked at the statue and smirked, “I don’t guess you would have my back, you know, ward them off like you’re supposed to?”
Stone obviously didn’t talk back, she almost wondered about her sanity. But she became lucid, closing her eyes, listening to the blood coursing through her veins. Cassia had deep sense of herself, an inner strength that she had always employed in times of uncertainty. Her blood had a fire she could feel; it was the key to a successful first mission, her first endeavor upon the earth. “Get over it, Cass. Fear is for losers,” she mumbled to herself. Cassia was a slightly petite 5 foot 3 but she always stood tall. Tonight would not be different.
Lunhaven was the sinister territory of an enemy Cassia had yet to encounter. As the most loyal servant of the moon goddess Selene, this enemy was especially dangerous and apparently powerful. She was patient for the rain to end, and it soon did. Then came the fog. It slowly rolled in like a sickness, trailing behind the still rumbling thundercloud. Lunhaven welcomed the fog into its towering steel arms, casting night’s familiar scene. The city came alive at night like a beast waking from a long hibernation. This, like any night, was a night of the flesh.
As the shadows began to play on the streets below Cassia decided to descend, leaping from a deadly height like a cat from a tree limb. “Peace of cake,” she thought aloud. The fog was thick, but not disorienting, it was even better cover. She quickly pulled the hood low over her face and concealed the Tehnplara in the folds of her cloak. Now she resembled any number of stalkers and thugs that surely prowled the streets.
She was in the oldest quarter of Lunhaven, just a block or two from the square. The people lived in crumbling flats that lined the street with their iron-worked balconies. They all seemed to stir just as Cassia passed. Doors flew open and the sleeping citizens roused from their beds. There was no shame with them, watching the crowd gather from above while bathing nude in the moonlight. People all around Cassia began to howl like animals as one particularly dwarfish man danced around like he was drunk. A dark-haired woman threw a pair of panties down to him and laughed. He cackled, “Tonight is our big debut, my lovely. The moon is full and the great ball sounds in an hour. The man himself has asked for you!”
“What the hell am I gonna wear, Cedric? She called down to him.
“Natural is the natural way to go, naturally!”
She leaned over the railing, “Ya, well there’s more art to seduction than that, stupid.”
“Don’t fret, ol’ Cedric’s takin’ you all the way to the top, baby!”
She leaned over and blew him a kiss, turning back to get prepared for what sounded like an interview for a brothel. Cassia rolled her eyes and as the dwarf man scuttled past her she thought, “It’s a bloody circus pageant.” Sure enough the sound of pipe organs could be heard, as the curtain of fog seemed to pull away.
Cassia proceeded into the square, a great complex of spectacle and massive architecture. Everything was lit by incandescent torches, which lined the vast circular perimeter of green marble columns. Looking straight ahead was to see perfect geometric symmetry, a circle enclosing two fountains of the same lustrous stone. They each depicted some sort of violent mythical battle, as was obvious even from afar because of their exaggerated scale. The figure of a woman graced the tops. They each held aloft a golden chalice lit brightly with spectacular flame. Between them, in the center point of the circle was a towering obelisk. It was at least 50 feet high and made of a black stone that Cassia swore reflected no light upon its surface. She was almost positive it was made from the stone the alchemist called darkshine.
Eventually Cassia’s eye was drawn to the ten, armed guards posted along the perimeter. They had on black robes and strange white masks with blank expressions on them. The bayonet rifles on their shoulders were no doubt fully loaded and sharpened for good measure. Cassia was compelled to stop and observe the mass of people poor into the forum. She started to realize that she had come underdressed, for as they entered all parties put decorative masks over their faces. When people started staring at Cassia she realized she could soon be asked to leave, or worse. When in the lion’s den, trust one’s instinct. With her wits about her Cassia decided to take a chance.
Cassia looked along the great circle of pillars that was built around the square. On the tops of them was a row of ramparts that still had arrow slits from battles long ago. The conditions were ideal for what Cassia had in mind. It was a very open place through which spirits could no doubt move freely and such a crowd supplied plenty of energy for them. Though the people gawked and whispered over the girl without a mask, soon they would be none the wiser. Cassia bowed her head and began to enter a tranquil state, cautiously leaving her conscious mind so a conduit to the spirit realm could be opened. It was difficult and something she had never attempted on actual humans, but Cassia had always had a natural rapport with the spirits. With bated breath she began to whisper an incantation.
I summon spirits upon the wind Direct thy power to every ear Whisper sweet the siren’s song Till from sight hath I then gone
With her eyes closed Cassia continued to pull spiritual energy from her body and out to the wind. Her intense concentration paid off as a wind began to pick up around her. Gradually the breeze became a swift wind, and then blew in a mighty gust. Cassia could barely hear the buzz of the stirring crowd over the wind; still she stood listening to them. It took a long moment for the calm to roll in but with the wind dying so did the sound of the crowd. Cassia opened her eyes to see a mass of human statues practically frozen in place. It was a little like induced catatonia with opened eyes, but the eyes were glazed over in utter bliss. Seeing the spirits were doing their work well she looked to the ramparts with smug determination. She arched her back for a quick stretch and backed up a few steps, careful not to step on anyone. With a sporty running start Cassia pounced like a wild beast into the air, showing off to no one a flawless flip at the height of the jump. She lunged forward with hands out, landing behind the first of the ramparts without a sound.
Creeping down to about the center pillars, Cassia stood looking out from the ample arrow slit. Soon enough the people started to move then quickly continue to proceed into the square. Cassia breathed a quiet sigh of relief; she had just as well not existed to them now. She thanked the spirits in her thoughts as the organ music started again.
Cassia inspected the building from which the strangely arranged music came. Closer now, Cassia saw it as a grandiose seat of power. The building wasn't green marble like the wreath of pillars; it was mostly rose-colored granite with gold inlay. The architecture was made up of a domed rotunda with two wings on either side faced in pillars. The golden ornament atop the dome structure appeared to be a woman with a serpent in her hand. What appeared to be the flag of Lunhaven flew above her, crimson with three gold lions upon it. They stood erect with claws reared up. The part of the flag that stood out, however, was the lion in the middle with a serpent in its claws and rays of light beaming from its head. A fair impression of the individual who ruled this eccentric kingdom was quickly becoming clear to Cassia. Her enemy had quite a flair for the dramatic, very egocentric chic.
Soon the crowd became so enormous they spilled outside the circle; lucky for Cassia they weren’t climbing up into the ramparts. Everyone indulged in rather tawdry discussions about one another’s costumes and boisterous innuendos about the night’s festivities. Cassia eavesdropped on a few of the conversations and they all were overwhelmingly curious about who would be the new priestess, who among a small number of young women would their great baron choose. One or two rather distasteful remarks were made about a certain dwarfish man by the name of Cedric. Apparently the girl at his side was a dancer and fortune-teller named Lady Mei that worked at an establishment of his. Rumor was that she was favored because of the sovereign’s fascination with astrology. Cassia scanned the crowd and sure enough she spotted a tiny person in a purple robe sitting on someone’s shoulders. She couldn’t help but be amused, not by his size, but by the fact that his only intention had to be publicity for his little funhouse. Just a businessman; Cassia wasn’t sure if ol’ Cedric knew what he was getting into.
As the organs suddenly ceased playing and the thousands assembled went near silent. The heavy iron doors of the great building slowly started to open, their extravagant inlays of silver and gold shining in the moonlight. A group of about four men in beautifully crafted jade-green robes and dragon masks came out with a huge red carpet rolled up in their hands. They slowly started to unravel the carpet with incredible quickness but with the greatest care. Two of them hurried down the front steps of the capitol as the other two threw the carpet rolling down toward them. With a bounce in their step and a triumphant cry the men at the bottom caught the two sides of the carpet in their grasp. The crowd cheered and applauded as the two men at the top of the stairs bowed, then hurried down to help the others with the unfurling.
Cassia rolled her eyes at the melodrama. She watched as they laid a second carpet over the staging area. It was all starting to become tedious until one remaining crewman brought out what appeared to be an altar. It was nothing more than a black ceramic basin on brass legs, but painted gold all over the bowl were the symbols of the Greek zodiac. Leo was fixed right on the front as a lion’s face inside the sun, all the more redundant, Cassia thought. The man hasted down the west face of the building where the others had gone, presumably to attend further duties within. Apparently it was extremely important that everyone attended, that was understood from what Cassia deduced. She almost wondered if it was a law, considering the turnout.
There was another silence that seemed to go on for an eternity, not even a few bars on the organs to pass the time. Through that numbing stillness came the sudden crack of a thunderbolt from above. This startled Cassia and her reflex was to cry out in protest but she looked up instead, seeing that the sky was clear of a single cloud. She looked to the crowd, so still and unaffected. They were more awestruck than anything, waiting with eyes glued to the front. That was when out of what seemed to be nowhere a lone figure in a crimson robed appeared, standing at the top of the stairway with hood drawn low. He held a tall golden staff at his right side and with hardly a flinch he struck the granite with the base of the staff. This time the thunder roared overhead like a stampede. It was hardly an impressive trick at this point.
The figure proceeded to descend the steps, all the elaborate trappings of his costume almost coming to life in the moonlight. As he walked the rather large man pulled back his hood in an almost suggestive manner, if that was even possible. The obvious guest of honor walked toward the altar in the guise of a lion and behind his head, as part of the mask, sprouted a halo of light represented in gold relief. Elaborate celestial designs were embroidered in gold thread at the hem and on the facings of his robe. Down each of his legs was the familiar face of a lion representing the sun. He mesmerized everyone and it was difficult for even Cassia to avert her eyes. He had a powerful aura around him and it didn’t take a medium to notice it, it almost threatening to intoxicate Cassia’s senses. To Cassia it was threatening indeed.
He moved without a sound and without a single misstep, but organic like a tranquil stream. Cassia half expected him to float over the crowd like a disembodied spirit. Standing in front of the altar his body was in line with every line of the forum’s structures, every point of sight. His eyes pierced the night from behind the mask, two bright stars glinting in the light. The staff at his side was a bronze rod with a snake spiralling its coils up and around until meeting at the top as the golden head of a cobra. The eyes of the snake were two large, light green jewels, peridot of course. As flawless as each of his calculated movements the lion waved the head of his staff right over the basin. There was a great flash of light, bright but not blinding. The altar flared to life with a plume of green flame, setting off a spectacular chain reaction as every flame in the square burst with a green flash. It was entertaining melodrama, Cassia again thought.
The crowd applauded respectfully as he brought the staff to his side once more. With his left hand raised the crowd went immediately silent. He spoke, a tranquil tone but with just the right amount of authoritative edge. “I, the eminent Janus, your lord and master, welcome you all once more to the Ball of the Great Moon. Our most beloved goddess, the all-seeing Selene is upon us in the full splendour of her silvery robes. Once more we shall call upon her power and wisdom so that we may be strong in body, bold in thought, and bountiful in the fulfilment of our darkest desires.” When he spoke he would occasionally raise his hands to the sky to emphasize a point. There was no doubt to Cassia that this man could sway his subjects to any length he saw fit, they were his sheep. The world was truly intoxicated by evil, and there seemed to be no return.
Again the assembled applauded their great lion and again he silenced them with a flick of the wrist. He then inquired, “Who among the five potentials shall have the honor of being my queen for one night? What such creature of beauty shall live her days among the noble class? Most of all, my children, who among you shall be the vessel that washes the assembled masses in the pure light of our goddess?” He paused for a moment as one of the green-robed aids walked swiftly up to the left side of his master. With an old-fashioned parchment scroll cradled in both hands he bowed in respect to the sovereign, then turning to bow to the crowd in acknowledgement. The aid then broke the seal ring and delicately unrolled the parchment so he could read it. Aloud and in a boisterous baritone he called out the name on the scroll. “The lovely and talented Lady Mei of The Vermilion Moon!”
The crowd erupted in a barrage of loud cheers as well as a few boos over that particular choice. Over by the west fountain Mei let Cedric down from her shoulders and proceeded hastily toward the stage. Cassia could only imagine the way in which the little joker expressed his adulation. Lady Mei was dressed in dark blue robes and her mask was made to resemble a peacock’s plumage. Two dark brown eyes twinkled as she fought to keep her composure for the enchanting nobleman. As she approached the stage the aid that read her name bowed to her and she thoughtfully bowed her head to him. Before taking his place with the group of aids in the fourth row he placed the scroll near a shrub off to the side of the stage.
Baron Janus walked over to greet the rather tall woman, seemingly young in her mannerisms. He took her hand and kissed it gently and she held his hand long enough to perform a very mature half curtsy. “I regret that m’Lady shall no longer be offering her many talents to you all,” Janus declared, addressing the assembly. “However, I would imagine that my governors and their families would benefit greatly from her gifts. Who knows, she may even convince us to abolish the prostitution tax.”
With that the crowed burst into a hearty round of laughter, Cassia only rolled her eyes. “Ya, you’re a real comedian hiding behind that mask,” she said aloud while drowned out by the laughter.
Once the crowd ceased Janus lead the priestess by her hand, walking them both in front of the altar. It was less of a shock and more of a frustration to Cassia as she witnessed him removing her robes. It was no surprise; she had been warned she would find this society crude. She had only read about places like Lunhaven, and those had fallen from under their own rot. Lady Mei was naked save for the mask and a navel adornment, surreal to say the least. Naturally the great Janus left his robes on as he reached into the basin with his free hand to reveal two objects. In his left hand he held a short curved rod and a scourge. He handed them to Mei and without his direction she stepped back a pace, placing the rod in her right hand and the scourge in her left. She then crossed her wrists upon her breasts as she stood facing Janus. “And now you shall have the honor of being liaison to the mother of the sacred light!” Janus declared, lifting his golden staff to the sky with both hands.
The crowd cheered loudly as the moon loomed high. Soon enough, however, there was not even a wind stirring the overwhelming silence. “I summon the all-seeing goddess Selene!”
Direct thy power to every heart Embrace them all in darkest night Desires wrought, thy greatest light
Even in her most distant of states Cassia could feel the incredible pull of the spell’s great power. She had to fight hard not to give in to the irresistible warmth that was permeating her very being. The cold sting of remaining locked away from such temptation was almost unbearable; still she fought. Not until she felt compelled no longer, until the cold sting calmed to stillness did she pull herself up from the depths her unconscious mind.
She awoke to the sound of organs no longer somber and melancholy; it was undulating chaos, song without any decent sense of reason. She pulled herself up slowly, slightly disoriented from the strain on her life force. Her head pounded and her body ached, but being no worse for the wear she reluctantly peered out the slit once more. Everything she had witnessed up to that point had all been very surreal and only mostly disturbing. A cesspool of flesh boiled furiously below, robes strewn about but masks on as an orgy of tens of thousands of naked bodies ensued. It was as if she was looking into the very pit of hell, save the gnashing of teeth was brought on by acts of sexual depravity.
Cassia forced herself to turn her gaze to the stage where Janus and his priestess had been. Much to her surprise the nobleman remained fully clothed, only he now sat upon a golden throne, his head held high as though he were victorious. Lady Mei laid at his feet in the sordid company of two men and three other women writhing all over one another. Reeling with disgust, Cassia fixed her gaze upon Janus, as he seemed to pride in what he apparently considered fellowship. He sat with his head thrown back as if in utter ecstasy. She had underestimated the power of the so-called Baron High Priest. The capacity to sway so many souls into such an unbridled frenzy was a terrible mark on the world.
Unable to look on any longer, Cassia turned to sit facing the rampart’s back wall. She stared blankly at the tight arrangement of gray stones, her ears filled with the horrible sounds of the human abyss below. She fingered the hilt of her new weapon. It was strangely warm and as she felt around she noticed that her robe had been scorched right around the area where it covered the sword. “You felt it too, didn’t you?”
She had been reduced to addressing a piece of metal. Perhaps it was not so unreasonable considering the circumstances; the Tehnplara was no ordinary weapon. “I think you and I are due for some serious quality time together,” she concluded. “Just not here.”
Do you know of a publisher who could publish Devin's work? If you do, please get in touch with Barbara at (please replace AT with @ in your e-mail). Thank you.
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