Three Months Later
Darkness.
Darkness permeated the air as far as the eye could see with an oppressive weight. It dominated everything except for a small area of illumination. A bright sphere of light floated above two intruders to the darkness. Deep within the cavern, Tabitha walked with her hand held tightly in Buddy’s grasp. Occasionally, she would look down at the red lines that glowed from her forearm and point at the direction they must go. It was the third day within the caves, and it was slow going. Buddy was still weak and hadn’t fully recovered from his wounds. The demon’s injuries were severe, but his kind was resilient and healed quickly.
For any other traveler, the journey into the caverns would have been hard and nearly impossible, but for Tabitha, it was equivalent to a hike through the woods. Her ball of light shined brightly giving them light and warmth. She slept six inches high and over the cold, stone floor, as she levitated comfortably from above. Incantations of fertility produced an abundance of sweet and delicious berries and fruits for her and Buddy to share. And of course, she had Buddy, to keep her company and drive away the loneliness.
On the third day, they entered into a chasm with a great ravine where the ceiling of the cave could no longer be seen. The further they walked, the darkness was slowly replaced with a soft purple glow of light. Soon they stood before the three great Obelisks. Past the three towers, a crowd of women, young and old gathered to greet the duo. The group parted, allowing an elderly woman dressed in white garments to pass. She had a welcoming smile, and her arms were open wide, beaconing them to come forward.
With her hand still tightly held in Buddy’s grip, Tabitha looked up into the blackness and whispered,
“I did it, just like you asked. I love you, mommy.”
Epilogue
In the faraway places between the threads that weave the fabric of time, space, and reality the reverberation of change surged into existence. In those old celestial places where gods are born, and worlds are created, ancient gears fell into place, and keys turned, opening forgotten locks to lost places. Across infinite universes and within countless throne rooms, cries from every god could be heard. Within all pits of damnation and punishment, screams of terror escaped the lips of every king and queen of Hell. A new day had arrived. A day in which the daughters of the Mother would rise and retake their lost birthright. The rulers of Heaven and conquerors of Hell trembled in fear for their sight had been limited to only the here and now. In her wisdom and with a final act of revenge, the Mother only permitted them to see one single thing. One event predestined to come. One word of warning to reveal what approaches from the distance. A word, that was all they were permitted to see. A simple word to preoccupy their thoughts while the child of prophecy prepares.
The word on their lips was “War.”