Chapter 22 - Gilded Cage

The monotone dream world beckoned. V, Raeyn, Vinaraeya, no matter her name she did not know the name of the body she possessed. There was no reflection in the shining sword, the prop made real. The steps and words were fixed, but she was aware of Maelyn now. The Goddess wore a mask of black and gold over her face, concealing herself. Flecks of glitter hung about the white makeup on her face and the stacked golden necklaces that dug into her flesh. The leather outfit and corset struggled to contain the voluptuous feminine orbs before her. Lines of discoloration and circular scars were masked by a blend of earthy tones. The knowledge of the failed attempts on Maelyn’s life began to appear.

Maelyn had orchestrated these attempts before. Too shallow, too obvious, too easy to read. They knew her thoughts. They knew her longing for release. The caged songbird could not be trusted. A time, a place, a method. Maelyn needed to be ignorant of it. A quick death was her only demand. It was only fitting that the songbird gave a final swan song and at the moment of her greatness that the curtain came down once and for all. All the rehearsal, all the hard work. It had been years of careful planning. The meticulous steps to control these puppets made the blind spot. It was dangerous to infiltrate the mind of another, but the Hero was nothing more than an empty vessel by the time the production was ready. It had already begun and the disorienting shift at the climax of the fight made. The prop sword was easy enough to switch out and the mechanism needed just a simple turn to turn it from fake to real. The clandestine stiletto blade was ready and the time to strike was at hand.

As it drove into Maelyn’s chest, the sword shifted and snapped as the tip broke within her breast.

“You were splendid, Maelyn. You are free. And I will follow you soon enough.” Those words came from the mouth of this puppet, but now those words held different weight.

They fell into one another, in an embrace. The wondrous actress that Maelyn was, even as her body seized, she was committed to acting her last. Realization flickered in those eyes at what had just happened, and it was Maelyn was the one to catch and support her assassin. The end was upon her, and she was not scared. Nothing but joy and a thin dagger in her heart.

A soft whisper escaped her lips, “Thank you… my hero…”

They fell to the floor of the stage, but it was too late. By the time they had hit the floor, she was gone. Freed from her gilded cage. It was a suicide mission for any assassin, but the look to the stage and the fleeting glimpse of a familiar body slumped over in a chair resonated through the chained memories.

It was already too late. There was no way out. No way back. No way to flee. The gods had been too slow. The distractions had worked and now Maelyn was beyond their reach. It could not be undone, not without making all those faceless gods vulnerable. To act was to shatter reality. Maelyn was not worth even that price.

The torture and pain itself took on new meaning. The act of killing Maelyn was one of mercy and brought freedom. An assassin who would not be broken who longed for the same release was not to be granted the same mercy. Lingering for days in the darkness and suffering a self-determined penance, they never expect the puppet master to drown itself in its own blood. It had already been too late. The place had been determined. The form had been decided.

The void took her. Time passed.

“Biergenn! Biergenn! I felt a kick.” An echo resounded through the void

“Strong! Haha!” A distorted but hearty deep voice responded.

The void called.

“Tailtore, leave her alone she is not due for another week.”

Again.

“Vinaraeya? Bold, aren’t we?” It was the Great Mother’s voice laughing, “What if it is male?”

“Do not tease her. Hawkeyes! You will have the daughter you want.” Agog said with confidence.

Once more.

“Biergenn, a blessing to you uniting our two tribes. Long live Hawkeyes and Biergenn!” another voice.

“Thank you, brother! You made all this possible. How can I ever thank you?” Biergenn said.

The void called and shifted. Things shifted and churned and with a slap the cold, harsh world beckoned had another life. A screaming cry. Her cry. The warmth of her mother’s breast. Her first moments.

Raeyn awoke with a soft questioning, “Mother?” and found herself nuzzled into Violetta’s breast. She felt the soft and steady heartbeat through her cheek and the warmth emanating through the leather vest. She opened her eyes, but it stung from crying in her sleep. Violetta’s eyes were open in the darkness, blindly looking down at her.

" Violetta? " She asked.

“Mother?” Violetta’s voice cracked with sadness, " You called me, mother? "

Raeyn did not know how to explain so she did the first thing that felt natural. Pressing herself into Violetta and wrapping her arms around her, she strained to give her a hug. Violetta let out a little squeak of surprise and sniffled before saying coldly, " Let go. Raeyn. I am not your mother. "

It was the only warning she needed, but the damage had already been done.