Drummer Boy - Back Into Hell Ch. 06

It broke free of the column, flaring brightly, now a lone, brilliant star in the sky, and then began to descend.

Its descent was much slower, and though it grew larger and brighter as it did so, Jason found himself transfixed. He was reminded of Pearl and Kristin, right before they'd left for Tarterus. The light stung his eyes, but he found himself unable to look away. More significantly, he felt like he shouldn't look away.

"Prepare yourself!" the Maiden announced, and now there was something like excitement in her voice. "Comes now the Presence! Bask in the all-consuming love, drink of the towering wisdom, and surrender to the sumptuous beauty that is She, Our Mother, the Regent of the Wings, and most-treasured child of the Bright Lady! Behold, the nether-quaking abundance that is ... Great Electra!"

Cool, Jason thought. Eyes smarting, he continued to stare in fascination at the scintillating star approaching ever closer.

"Jason!" Granny sent urgently.

Annoyed, Jason flicked his eyes over at Granny, and saw that she was completely encased inside her own wings.

"Oh," Jason thought, "right." He pushed his wings forward as far forward as they could go, and succeeded in folding them closed in front of him.

He didn't see what happened next, but he felt it. There was an incredible rush of wind that almost knocked him off his feet. There was much clinking of metal: gold coins scattering to the sides, and thrown into the air only to rain back down again. Then a constant trembling, subtle but pervasive, like an earthquake on its lowest setting, and his entire body hummed with the vibrations.

Then, everything became quiet and still. Inside his wing cocoon, Jason waited for whatever was supposed to happen, to happen.

Then he heard the most beautiful sound that had ever touched his ears. It just so happened to be the voice of a woman.

"Reveal yourself," she said. "Open your eyes, and know love."

To Be Continued