Forbidden: The Eternal One

Chapter Three: Hellfire

Agony.

I was in complete and utter agony.

How long had it been? Hours? Days? Months?

If this was death, then I apologize to any and every god in existence for whatever I did in my mortal life to deserve this. Everything aches. Everything. The only sounds I'm capable of producing are measly whimpers. They are immediately smothered by the roaring flame surrounding me.

When will this torture end?



The smell of singed hair and burnt flesh are permanently embedded into my mind. Even worse, the smell is of MY singed hair and burnt flesh. No matter how bad it hurt...or how loud I screamed, it never stopped. I begged for death. Pleaded for an escape from the searing pain and blistering of my skin.

Surely there's nothing left to burn.



Another soft whimper escaped my charred and chapped lips.

Suddenly, just when I’m about to give up, a cool, gentle pressure against my back gives a brief reprieve from the sweltering heat and a surge of strength flows through me.

I opened my eyes to greet my savior and instead came face to face with an emerald green light. Blinding. Beautiful. It shines in all directions, lapping up the roaring flames and smothering them to soot. My eyes widened as I lifted a trembling hand to my face, my raw flesh healing right before my eyes, cast in an iridescent glow.

What the…

The light, my savior, it’s coming from me! I’m glowing green and it’s freaking awesome!

I stood with newfound strength, my hair a-blazed in its own glorious flame. My feet lay flat on the obsidian tile floor as I confidently took in my surroundings for the first time.A roar of applause came from the audience around me. I’m in the middle of a dingy, stone arena while a crowd shouts, “KREE! KREE! KREE!” (Kill! Kill! Kill!)

Thanks to my Dad’s seemingly pointless culture and language lessons, I knew without a doubt that I was in Muspel: Empire of the forbidden and damned. And also, the place where many are sentenced to death for disobeying the laws. Muspellians were a barbaric race of outcasts and foragers who placed newcomers in arenas to battle out their rightful place in their society. If they lived through the engulfing fires of Muspel long enough to do so and were deemed worthy enough to live amongst their kind.

The crowd went crazy as I raised a glowing fist, illuminating the shadows with my newfound affinity for flame. I reached deep into my core and urged the power to grow stronger, faster, until it shoots straight out of my palm like a torpedo and into the overhead sky as lightning.

It’s cracks and booms so blindingly and so beautifully that I swelled with pride at the sight of it. The crowd continued to chant and shout, exalting me to ascension as I’m surrounded on all sides by twisting, distorting, mutated shadow figures. They’re a grotesque mix between a hyena and a skeleton, their long snouts contorted in a ghastly snarl as their ribs heave, showing way to their glowing, ember hearts.

I lifted my hands in a challenging “come hither” way as they stalk me like a lion toying with its prey. Suddenly, they all pounce on me at once. The crowd shouts in excitement. “Kree’Twa!Kree’Twa!!” (Kill them, Queen.)

There’s a tugging sensation as their teeth and claws shred at my flesh, but I feel no pain - only anger and annoyance.

I called out to my powers and laughed gleefully as one by one, the disgusting figures combust into ash. They stood no match for me. I am the Eternal One. I have lived many lives and known many faces. It’s coming back now.

I shot one last bolt of green lighting into the fiery skies, it danced beautifully with the red flames, casting all of Muspel under an ethereal red-green hue.

The arena roared in approval. “Chi’m bat wa! Chi’m bat wa!” (All hail the Queen.)

Awakened, after countless millennia, I’ve awakened once more and this is where my journey begins. Amara, Queen of Muspel. Hmm..I could do worse, I suppose.

‘Father, can you hear me?’ I asked telepathically.

‘Sw-Sweetheart, is that you??!’His familiar voice comforted me deeply but I couldn’t help but chuckle at his surprised tone.

‘I have awakened in Muspel. I’m sorry about the bracelet…How do I get out?’ Each Empire had a tracker around the borders that prevented you from leaving without being hounded down by the Rex Empire. Though, now that my memory is coming back to me, I’m certain that they’ll discover me soon enough. They always do.

‘Emporer Alberich has assisted me with gathering a caravan. We are going to pretend to be tradesman and use Core Magick to smuggle you out. Amara, when you say awakened, does that mean you know now??’ My father asked.

Meanwhile, the crowds were pouring out of the arena and lifting me onto their shoulders in praise. Muspellians do not die permanently. Like the native Phoenix, they are reborn from their ashes and able to keep their memories of previous lives. My heart slightly warmed to see such a cold and treacherous race welcome me so fondly. Though my memories are still trickling back to me, I knew that one of my past incarnates once called this Empire home. Ah, Muspel, what happened to you?

‘Amara?! Can you hear me still??’ My dad asked worriedly after not getting a response from me.

‘My memories are returning. Slowly. I thought I wasn’t supposed to Awaken until my 21st birthday. Things are different this time.’

“CHI’M BAT WA! CHI’M BAT WA! CHI’M BAT WA!”

My forsaken people continued to chant for me. Many touched my body in awe. I had hands on my face, arms, neck, torso, anywhere that they could manage to feel as they passed me from shoulder to shoulder. It were as if I was an illusion, threatening to slip away at any moment again. I felt a pang in my chest knowing that I was going to leave them again. Soon.

‘I know this must all be very confusing. I’m sorry we didn’t get the chance to tell you sooner, we just wanted you to enjoy your childhood and honestly thought we had more time. Your mother is worried sick about you, she will feel better knowing your full powers are coming in. Amara, I have to go and speak with Alberich. Extra precautions must be taken and I don’t know if he’s going to be willing to help now that you’ve Awakened. He typically remains neutral to stay on the Royals’ good side.’

I chuckled fondly, an image of the ruddy, bearded Emporer flooded my mind. He always was full of cowardice. ‘If he doesn’t want to help me, remind him of the Golden War. That’ll persuade him.”

I could see my dad shacking his head in disbelief in my mind. ‘Alright, I’ll tell him. Please be careful, Amara. I love you.’

‘I love you too, father.’ I thought back, and then I ended the connection with him.

While still on their shoulders, the chanting Muspellians carried me towards a looming, obsidian tower. It stood at least 100 foot tall and was fortified by a glowing red forcefield. Vultures cawed from above, circling the building and looking for prey. My stomach churned uneasily, and I suddenly felt depleted of energy.

“Put me down!” I yelled and tried to scramble out of their arms. Their grips on me remained like iron vices and my screams were drowned out in the chorus of their elated shouts. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

I called on my powers and a pale green glow started to shimmer around my palms before spazzing out. Powerless.

We were growing closer to the forcefield now.

‘Father, something is wrong!’

‘Amara?’ His voice sounded choppy in my mind, but a wave of relief washed over me knowing I could at least contact him.

‘My powers quit working. Please get here fast!’ They’re taking me to the tower!’ I rushed out frantically.

‘Darling, are you trying to—can’t hardly—-forgot to tell—-tower’ His words were cutting in and out and my heart sank. He couldn’t understand me, nor I him.

There was a sizzle and then I felt our telepathic connection die out once more in my mind as we neared the shiny red film surrounding the tower. A memory was trying to come back to me, something important, but I couldn’t remember just what.

I struggled feebly against my restraints, feeling weaker by the second. Drained. My head felt too heavy to hold up on my own.

“CHI’M BAT WA! CHI’M BAT WA!” The crowed continued to chant as we continued towards the fortress.

The forcefield was close enough now that I could feel the heat radiating off of it. Beads of sweat dotted my lips and brow and the corners of my vision started to blur out. I called again to my affinities and begged them to help me. This left me feeling even more drained.

I slumped in defeat, allowing the exhaustion to take me. The last thing I was vaguely aware of before I passed out, was a slimy, tugging sensation all over my body.

And then there was nothing but darkness.