The Deepening's Push
609 Words
The silver tide returned at dawn, three years after Kaela's dream.
Thousands of Deep Ones marched across the eastern fields. Their eyes burned with cold light. Their hands crackled with the Deepening's power. At their head walked Vex—her eyes silver again, her will stolen once more.
Surrender the child, she said. The Deepening will be merciful.
Elara stood on the wall.
"We've heard that before."
This time, the Deepening means it.
"The Deepening doesn't know how to mean anything. It's empty."
Emptiness is honest.
"Emptiness is nothing."
---
Kaela stood beside her mother.
She was twenty now—tall, strong, her grey eyes steady. The void's mark pulsed beneath her skin.
"I can fight."
"I know."
"Then let me."
Elara looked at her daughter.
"Stay close to me."
"Always."
---
The battle began at noon.
The Deep Ones charged. The town's defenders met them at the wall.
Taylor fought at the gate, her old body moving with desperate grace. James fought beside her, his sword slower but still sharp. Tommy led the cavalry, hitting the Deep Ones' flank.
Elara stood on the wall, golden light pouring from her hands.
Let me help, the void said.
"Help how?"
I can speak to them. My children. They may listen.
"They didn't listen last time."
They are more afraid now. Fear makes people listen.
"Then speak."
---
The void's voice echoed across the battlefield.
Stop.
The Deep Ones froze.
I have changed. Not because the girl forced me. Because I wanted to. Because hunger was tired. Because consumption was empty. You feel it too. The emptiness. The longing for something more.
Lies, Vex shouted.
Truth. You felt it when you worked the fields. When you healed the sick. When you held the harvest. You felt something other than hunger.
Vex's silver eyes flickered.
I...
You can choose. Same as before. Same as always.
Vex lowered her hand.
---
The army stopped.
The Deep Ones looked at their leader, confused.
I cannot fight you, Vex whispered. I remember. The hope.
"The Deepening will punish you."
Then let it.
Vex turned to face the army.
Lay down your weapons. The Deepening lies.
The silver tide hesitated.
Then the first weapon fell.
Then another. Then a hundred.
---
The Deepening screamed.
Not aloud—in the minds of its followers. The silver tide rippled, fractured, broke.
Some Deep Ones fled. Some collapsed. Some turned on each other.
Vex stood at the center of the chaos, her brown eyes wide.
It worked again.
"You chose again. That's all anyone can do."
---
Kaela watched from the wall.
"The Deepening?"
"Weakened. It'll take time to recover."
"How long?"
"Years. Decades. Maybe forever."
"Maybe?"
"The Deepening is patient. It's always patient."
Kaela looked at her mother.
"Then we'll be patient too."
---
James found Elara sitting on the wall, watching the sun set.
"The void?"
"Tired. It used a lot of power speaking to the Deep Ones."
"Can it rest?"
"It's resting now. In me."
James sat beside her.
"Your daughter fought well."
"She stood her ground. That's enough."
"That's everything."
---
Taylor found Kaela in the training yard.
"You did well today."
"I didn't fight."
"You stood. That's not nothing."
Kaela looked at her grandmother.
"The void says the Deepening will try again."
"It will."
"Will we be ready?"
"We're always ready. That's what it means to survive."
---
The void spoke to Elara that night.
The Deepening is wounded. It may not recover.
"Or it may."
Or it may. But not today.
"No. Not today."
Rest now.
"I will."
I will watch.
"You're learning to watch?"
I am learning to care.
"Yes. You are."
- Writer
