The twelfth house

“Should we….”

Gab paced back and forth across the greens, struggling to keep his voice from rising as Awa looked on in concern.

“Should we really kill her?”
Gab stopped, looking up at a sky still clear of the red moon, the wispy clouds swirling across it painted gold by the sun.

“Even if she is evil….She’s still better than anything else. And here…”

His voice cracked.

“...Here it’s safe.”

The woman on the radio waited patiently as he finished ranting, her gentle voice unable to hide a hint of panic.

“I understand, she must seem a ray of light in this sick world.”

Her voice turned harsh.

“Yet you will find no safety by her side. Out of all those you have met, she remains the most evil.”

He could hear the woman tapping on her desk on the other end of the radio.

“Gabriel, when you left the city with Faus. Do you remember?”

He did.

We believe the boy took you out on the request of the lady and that her intent was not to kill monsters, not intent to save lives.”

Gab sank down in the soft grass, picking at the leaves as he lay the radio in his lap.

“Then.. why?”

The woman’s voice grew cold, analytical.

“We believe that she had only one goal.”

The radio crackled menacingly, growing louder and louder in the absence of the woman's voice, filling the air with a pressure that made his ears ache.

“The death of Awa.”

Her death?

“Why, why would she possibly…” Gab started, his hand shaking as he held the radio.

“...It doesn’t make any sense”

“A child of the moon represents the single greatest obstacle to your cooperation… Were she to die, you would surely be left alone.”

“Broken.”

“And manipulatable.”

Gab watched Awa happily chasing an insect through the grounds beneath him, his stomach churning sickeningly as the hiss of the radio wavered, growing more and more menacing.

“Just as she wishes you to be.”

Was that true?

“I know we ask too much Gabriel.”

Awa lunged, catching the bug and sniffing curiously.

“And I know it must be difficult to believe. That she remains a monster amongst monsters.”

Awa took a bite, sticking her tongue out a moment later in disgust and rubbing at it with her fingers.

“But all I need you to do is give me a chance to prove it.”

A pause, followed by a shaking breath from the woman.

“Can you do that Gabriel?”

Gab stood watching Awa, now collapsed on the grass and rolling back and forth.

“Yes.”

…

“What do you want, boy?” The old Mahlin creaked open the door to his cottage, a flicker of worry crossing over his face. “Are you in trouble?”

“No.” Said Gab as Awa leaned over his shoulder, smelling the air. “But can we…no… I need to talk.”

The old Mahlin grunted, eyes remaining crinkled with worry. “Come in then.”

Awa ran happily around them to chat with the old mahlin’s wife, tail wagging happily as the old woman fed her.

“So.” The old Mahlin asked, taking a seat as the lantern above the coarse wooden table flickered.

“We need to get back to the capital.” Said Gab, holding a finger to his ear.

“The capital...” The old man paused.

“You worry about stopping the coming invasion. Fret not boy, I believe the lady soon leaves for this very reason.”

“No.” Gab whispered, his voice low. “We wish for the rift to be opened.”

“Boy. No…” The old Mahlin looked at Gab, the flickering light cast on him giving him a momentarily inhuman appearance.

“I know these words are not your own, what manner of creature possesses you, to whom do I converse?”

The woman in his ear ended her instructions, taking a moment to consider. “It’s alright, show him the radio.”

Reaching into his coat, Gab placed the radio in front of him, setting it down on the table with a thud beyond its weight.

He slowly raised the volume, the hissing static replaced by the voice of the woman, speaking a language he did not understand.

The man’s eyes raised in shock, his shaking hand carefully touching the radio before he responded in the same language, starting a short exchange with the woman.

He was left wide eyed and fearful.

“Gab i need you to translate, we can take no risk that our meaning is lost in our words.”

He nodded, turning back to the old Mahlin as he began to speak. “I understand not, your people seek for your worlds to be connected?”

“Yes.” Gab relayed the radio's words.

“Madness.” The old man whispered in disbelief. “You would doom your world.”

“Doom, No. You understand do you not? The true reason the lady of the twelfth wished to prevent the war.”

The woman's voice echoed around the room, bringing a chill despite the crackling fire.

“The one reason a demon would.”

“Such a thing is not possible.” The old man held his head, deep in thought. “No, even if it is, how can you possibly hope to prevent her…”

He looked up, his eyes settling on Gab in horror. “You wish to use the boy….”

For the first time Gab saw the old Mahlin grow angry, his raised voice grabbing the attention of Awa and his wife. “No, I refuse. You send the boy to his death.”

“You would remain with things as they are, the servant of a monster.” Gab said, repeating the calm words of the woman on the radio.

“It’s better.” The old man reached up to his chest, clutching at his heart. “Better than the others.”

“Better?” The woman whispered softly. “Show the boy how she earned her place among the great houses.”

Her voice swirled mesmerisingly around the room.

“Show him your creation. Why the lady sought you so desperately.”

The woman's voice… It almost sounded sad.

“Show him... what awaits them both.”

The old man looked sick, the lamp creaking above him as he hesitated, staring at the great blue flower blooming from the city, before finally speaking to his wife.

“Watch the moon’s daughter, we'll return shortly.”