“For us,” Erevan agrees.
A century later
I ran from war. It has chased me.
The enemy changed. The acts have not.
Blood, regardless of its color, makes rivers in the soil. “They will kill each other before we can build an army,” I tell Erevan.
He stands as steady as a ship’s mast, holding me together in these troubled waters.
Death surrounds us, so much so that the gold of his clothing has taken on a darker hue. “They will change,” he murmurs, leaning closer to me.
I feel no comfort.
“It takes time. Power is feral at first. But it can be tamed, Amariel. Remember the wars we fought. War makes us respect and honor peace. These people are just figuring this out. They still use horses to ride into battle. And look at humans; they use candles to light their homes. Progression takes time,” he declares as he looks at what his new creatures have done.
Bodies lay twisted and deformed, creating a roadmap neither of us wants to venture across.
The humans of this world lie dead, their skin turning to rot as the vultures above circle to feast. We don’t have birds like this back home. They are a sight I wish to vanquish from my memory.
Erevan made his new creatures slightly different; this way, when we return with an army, they won’t all share the same weakness.
“Many vampires died this time. See,”—Erevan points to a dead one—“the humans are getting stronger. Remember when no vampires lay dead? Humans are learning to defendthemselves. In time, the vampires will be forced to acknowledge this. Eventually, they will have to seek peace.”
Vampires fuel their magic through human blood. Erevan thought this would help them respect humans. Instead, they sought to enslave them. He also designed them to release pleasure or pain when they feed. It’s his way of judging their character. Sadly, many vampires enjoy pain.
Erevan sees the glass half full, but I broke the glass. I see only the mistakes that spill out and stain my hands. “Eventually is time’s greatest rival, Erevan. I fear it will win before time can correct the mistakes.”
I pay my respects and glance at the dead vampire. He’s as pale as the single moon in the sky.
How I miss our moons.
I find vampires most unsettling; their fangs resemble the elves. It’s wrong of me to compare them, of course. I’m trying hard to distinguish between the two. We cared for the elves; fed and loved them, yet they killed us in the end.
Four other gods came here, making our total six, but the god I lusted for the most never walked through the portal, a fact which makes my heart ache even now.
Don’t think of Lucian. Don’t break.
The six of us agreed on a new tactic. Allowing these people to make their own kingdoms and laws. We want them to make mistakes, so they can understand our hardships. In time, we will make ourselves known. The Gods who are here want to be shadows, that watch over their children, in hopes they will follow our traditions, and defend Attkris. Hopefully, when the time comes, these creatures will realize they need shadows to protect them from the sun’s heat.
“The mages and fae ceased fighting.” Erevan’s statement lands flat, despite the hope in his words.
“That’s because they each need rest to fuel their magic. Rest has given them time to plot peace.”
Each new creature has a flaw that limits its magic. Vampires need blood, mages and fae need rest, shifters need a full moon, and so on. Erevan had to ration his magic with each new creation, but now, after creating so many, his power has entered a state of dormancy. We knew this would happen; we planned and made friends to help protect him in this vulnerable state.
A huge shadow blankets the sun, making us glance up. A magnificent sapphire dragon circles overhead. The sun reflects off its hard scales, casting blue rays like the calm ocean waters.
Dragons are another of Erevan’s creatures. Unfortunately, the creatures became too wild. I helped Erevan correct that by making dragon riders, a rare group of humans that can connect with the stunning animals with the help of a rune I drew in a book Erevan made for me. It wasn’t the first gift he gave me since we arrived, but it is the most powerful and precious.
“They sent scouts.” Erevan’s mouth tugs up. He’d never admit it, but the dragon riders are his favorite. The riders have been the most well-behaved of his creations, which is such a juxtaposition since they ride the biggest beasts that roam these lands.
They are seen as the peacemakers and enforcers when needed. However, their numbers are small, so they mainly keep to themselves. We can relate to that fear.
“He’s spotted us,” I reply with a sigh.
Dragons can see us, no matter how well we veil ourselves, and since they can communicate with their riders, hiding from them is impossible. Consequently, Erevan and I conveyed much information to the riders and dragons.
