1 | The Impious Heir

It was as normal and boring a day as any when it happened.

That is…when the world came to an end.

The sky turned red as ash rained and coated the world in dust. Blinding flashes and blasts scattered the horizon. With each building that fell, the earth quaked as if yelling out in pain. Shrill screams echoed as the next attack hit and the world turned black.

Those were her only memories of how she died.

It was the year 2109 when the world had ultimately turned to nuclear war and reduced itself to nothing. It was a Friday of all days, the weekend just hours away, sleep a close and beautiful dream.

However…she hadn’t meant she wanted to SLEEP FOREVER!!

She’d barely stepped outside of the office building before chaos reigned, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. At least it had been a quick death, she thought as she floated aimlessly through whatever colorful void she had been thrown into. Glowing like one of those bioluminescent plants she’d always heard of, the space around her was vibrant—stunning. Like a watercolor painting, the hues blended and washed together, a sea of curious elements. She could’ve gotten lost in its glamor, if she wasn’t absolutely freezing. As would anybody be when they're butt naked! She thought as she tried and failed to move. Floating it is then… she sighed.

 Where in the world was she? Struggling a few more times, she eventually gave up on trying to move her body and instead let the waves of the void guide her. It was so…peaceful? She’d felt more peace and quiet in this weird void than she had her entire life. With no time to spend on anything besides work or her studies, she hadn’t gotten a lot of space to relax. Work…she hoped her father was alright. Did he survive? Unlikely. Her stomach turned at the thought. Her kind father deserved so much more than the horrible life that’d been dealt to him. He deserved far more than she had ever been able to provide. I hope he didn’t suffer…

Shaking her head aggressively, she tried to force herself to think of something else. Though, there wasn’t much else to think of as the sea of colorful nothingness continued to stretch on. Riveting, she stared off blankly. Was this the afterlife? Perhaps, though it seemed a bit too empty to be that. A frightening thought shot through her mind, no…was she still alive? Was this the landscape of her own mind? Was she being kept alive by someone? She shuddered at the cruel, but not entirely out of the question possibility.

Ring

A bell tolled once.

Ring

It tolled again, distracting her from the rambling of her own mind. It echoed through the space, replying to itself enough times for her to forget which was the origin. It tolled twice more, as the air began to warm and the vivid lights of the sea lit a path before her. At the end of the path floated a gondola made of shadows. Its owner stood atop it, imposingly tall with a darkness for a face and spindly fingers which pulled her way. She felt movement as the waves beneath her pushed her closer and closer to the darkened figure. She tried to paddle away with her arms, but it was a futile attempt. She was still physically paralyzed. Panic set in rapidly, I’ll take the cold! I’ll take it back so fast if this is what warmth means!

The figure pulled the invisible rope between them one last time, leading her to the front of the gondola. Staring down at her with nothing but a void for a face, she wanted to scream. She DEFINITELY would’ve screamed if she could’ve as the figure leaned down further and examined her. With what eyes…that was a question for another time. A haunting, unearthly voice broke the silence of the chamber. 

“Alexandra Georgiou, death has brought us here.”

“Death unites us once more, child. Vast and unjust, death was sentenced.”

“Give me your soul and I’ll give you your harmony.” 

The heavy pressure on her body relented, easing routine breaths back into her body. Her fingers tingled as she was suddenly able to move them.

“Speak,” the figure hissed.

“What do you mean by harmony?” Alex hesitated, voice rough and cracked from the nonuse.

“That which your soul lost.”

“Which is?”

“Life.”

Life? Alex wrapped her arms around herself as she stood. She had no interest in going back, if there was anything to go back to at all.

“What is the point in going back to a life I’ve already lived and a world that is nothing anymore?”

“Life cannot repeat, it can simply continue.”

“Okayyyy, now I’m even more confused.”

“I cannot choose for you, nor can I give you more information I’m afraid. It is not allowed of me. This is your choice alone.”

“I-I still don’t know if this is what I want.” 

Reaching out a long, lanky hand, the figure waited patiently. 

“How does someone continue life?”

“That is up to you child. All I can do is give you the chance to.”

She was so tired of it all, would living again be worth it? She could already feel the fear that settled in. What would guarantee this time would be any better? There was no guarantee, which made her stomach twist in discomfort. Wouldn’t it be easier to let it all go?

Easier?

A distant memory entered her mind, replaying like a movie scene. Her childhood home in England came into view. The one bedroom flat was dimmed by the broken ceiling light, it hadn’t been changed in weeks. Her father sat on the old couch next to her, the cushions rippling as he sank into their comfort. Holding a bowl of her favorite soup, the most basic chicken noodle a few pounds could buy, he gently blew on it and raised a spoon up to her mouth. The salted taste was so realistic, she would’ve thought it all was tangible. She was five years old at the time and still inseparable to her stuffed bunny, Nubs. The room was cold as winter quickly approached. Shivering, her father wrapped her up in his blanket, the only one they had.

“Did mommy choose the easier way?” She muttered softly. Her father nearly choked as he swallowed with a loud GULP and coughed.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Grandma.” Her father cursed under his breath as he sighed and ran his hands along his face.

“Grandma doesn’t know what she’s talking about sometimes.”

“She didn’t want me, was it easier?”

“No, honey…”

“Billy says easier is always better.”

“Billy? That boy from your school?” A young Alex nodded, sniffling as she bit her lip to stop her tears. “Alex, look at me.” She wiped her nose on the blanket and peaked up at her father’s warm brown eyes.

“If everyone did what was easy, no one would be exceptional. And you, my dear, are the most exceptional of all,”

“Really?” She whispered in awe.

“Really.” Her father booped her nose and smiled widely. Ruffling her light brown hair, he laughed and she soon joined him.

Her giggles jingled through her ears as the memory faded away, bringing her back to where she stood beneath the towering vision of darkness. Alex looked up at the figure with a newfound clarity. She would not take the easy path like her mother, if not for herself, for her father.

“I want to live.” 

“Come, let me guide you there.”

The figure’s hand was warm to the touch as Alex took it and stepped into the boat. They had barely started to move when she felt the world around her begin to shift and turn. All of a sudden it was like her body had no weight to it, as if the ground didn’t exist, as if nothing was there anymore at all. Where they were headed, she had no idea, and frankly had no idea where they already were, but it didn’t seem like they would stay there for very much longer. The towering presence behind her crept closer. Alex tried to look its way, but the world suddenly became a blinding shade of white.

She was falling. Endlessly and aimlessly, the wind thrashed upon her back as she fell and floated her way out of whatever horrendous void she had been a prisoner of. She was flailing and screaming, and….warm? Oddly comfortable? Her body relaxed without her trying.

Shooting her eyes open, Alex glanced around rapidly to see the figure and void were gone. When she tried to recall them, both became a distant foggy memory. It was almost as if it had never happened at all. Rubbing her forehead in distress she turned on her side, only to be greeted with a body. Her eyes widened even further as she pushed off of the lap she’d been laying on.

“OH MY GOD!”

“Yes?” A gentle, excited voice answered. A woman with baby blue hair and shimmering golden and silver eyes stared at her.

“What–how am I…”

“I can’t believe it.” The woman’s soft spoken voice resonated through the hall…wait hall? Whipping her head around in a panic, she took in her surroundings. The walls were made of a light tan stone as pillars surrounded them in a circle. On a dais they sat with no one else in sight, and what looked to be actual water this time surrounded them. 

She looked closer at the woman before her. The lady sat on her knees as her smile grew wider and her shapely body grew more restless. Reaching out to her, the beautiful woman brushed a tender hand down her cheek.

“You’re real…You’re actually here!”

“I would hope so,” Alex replied and swatted away the woman’s hand.

“I’ve waited so long. I can’t believe it.”

“I don’t know what’s going on.” Distracted and in her own world, the woman continued to prattle on.

“I can’t believe it! I thought for sure Morkan would block your way, but here you are right before me.”

“Um…what do you mean–”

“You’re so charming, ah! Of course you are, you’re mine after all.”

“WAIT…hold up, what?”

“I can’t wait to get started, there’s so much to catch up on!”

“Would you just…” Alex growled as her patience ran out. “WAIT A MINUTE! Hold on!”

Shocking the woman out of her excited state, Alex almost felt bad as the stunning lady’s eyes fell to the stone floor in shame.

“Who are you?” She asked calmly.

“Who am I?”

“YES!”

“Your mother!”

They both paused, catching their breath as Alex stared with gaping mouth at the spirited woman before her.

“Huuuuuh?” Did I hear that right? She thought.

“I’m your mother dear.”

“I don’t have a mother.”

“Yes you do, that’s me!” Pointing to herself dramatically, the woman bounced in excitement.

“No…NO, my mother left. She left and is gone. So no, you can’t be my mother.”

“Why not?”

“What? Did you not just hear me?” She hissed.

“If no one has claimed that spot, why can’t I be your mother?” The woman smiled at her as she took a step closer.

“It’s earned.”

“Then I’ll earn it,” the woman’s voice was steady and firm as she spoke and took another step closer to her.

“Who are you really? And where am I” The woman took a deep breath before she interrupted her once more.

“And don’t try to beat around the bush, that will just make me not like you.” The lady smirked at Alex’s remark.

“You really are just like me,” she whispered to herself before answering Alex. “I am Ipatia, god of dreams and the mind. This place…” Ipatia gestured around them, “ is the Temple of Hekta in the Pantheon.”

“The pantheon?” A god? Alex felt sick. When she said she wanted to live, she hadn’t meant serving some god for eternity. 

“Yes, the place where all gods rest. It is a place where we have built our community over centuries.”

“I don’t want to be here.”

“What?” Ipatia’s face fell, eyes watering slightly.

“I don’t want to serve you or any god.”

The god before her raised her eyebrows and stared at her, frozen in place until a hearty laugh burst from her thin frame.

“Oh, dear, you won’t have to. That certainly won’t be an issue.”

“Can you promise me that?”

“Oh yes,” Ipatia chuckled as she wiped away the small tears that pricked her eyes. “I can guarantee that. They wouldn’t dare make you a disciple.”

“...why?”

“It would break the hierarchy of things, and here…heirarchy is unfortunately concrete,” Ipatia rolled her eyes. “Though this time it's done some good, it’ll protect you.”

“Protect me? Protect me from what–”

“IPATIA!”

“I was wondering when he’d show up.” The lady giggled, amused at the booming voice that threatened her from behind the door.

“What is going on?”

“I…may or may not have neglected to tell a few of the others about my plans to have a child,” she sighed theatrically. A child? Wait…no… Alex shook her head hurriedly “Really, you’d think the world was ending…”

“IPATIA!” A different booming female voice now thundered through the temple like a bad omen.

“Oh! That’s right, you’ll need to know your name.”

“My name is –”

“No, your new name my dear,” Ipatia smiled sadly at her. “I know that you had somewhere you existed before, with a name and a life, but that doesn’t mean I don’t consider you just as much my own child.” Closing the gap between them, Ipatia wrapped her in a fond hug. Without realizing what was happening, Alex had already melted into her hold. She’d never gotten to hug her mom previously… “The name I’ve chosen for you is Zenviveig.”

“That’s a mouthful…” she snuggled closer to the lady. Chuckling, Ipatia nodded in agreement.

“The name holds power, but you are free to adjust it as you wish.”

“No I…I like it.”

“Alright then.” Ipatia held her tighter as the heavy marble doors to the temple entrance flew open on their own.

Shit.