Evil Bitch Ch. 14

"What part of fuck off did you misunderstand?"

"Mother wanted me to give you something. But since you are being such a bastard about it..."

Suddenly the Weaver's presence was strong in the area.

"...Yes Mother I will do as you wish. I am leaving now. Check the stones in your staff Mother has added to your precious collection."

I sat up but by the time I wanted to apologize, Vana was long gone. It was probably better that way. I called my staff back to my hand and was surprised at how little effort it took. I did the same with Iyaden's Mask and began to head out when I heard it, the whisper of a mind below me in the crypt. The smart thing to do would be to just leave but when the hell did I ever do the smart thing?

"I am going to regret this," I said to the empty air.

I followed the sound to a spiral staircase set into the far side of the central chamber's floor. I walked down and found the next level lacking any available lighting at all. I was forced to use Umbra's hologram as a light source. Well at least I had company. The walls were covered with intricate carvings depicting various solar systems. Some of them had only one sun like my own and others with as many as three. I was beginning to get really confused. If this was really the Crypt of the Solar Titans why the hell were the tombs under the ground? I mean for any other race burial seemed a logical idea. But to shut up beings who worshipped the sun made no sense. I examined the carvings in greater detail and could almost pick out one or two of the solar systems. Then I noticed the plain flat areas between the decorations. There were placed at regular intervals and were all the same shape and size. I leaned in and touched the cold flat material. It was then that I realized what they were. Now it all made sense to me. Just then the mind that had gotten my attention was much closer. I turned and saw her huddled near a large outcropping of stone. The thing she was leaning heavily against was a sarcophagus! It must have been fifty feet or more in length.

"Titans indeed," I said.

"I am... I am... I am..." she muttered over and over then with a primal scream, "WHO AM I?"

"I am sorry I don't know."

"Who are you," she asked.

"My name is Jon."

"Jon," she said testing out my name. "My name is not Jon... give me a name Jon. I need a name. Please."

"Come closer so that I can have a better look at you," I told her.

She drew herself up to her full height which was nearly six feet. She was slender as a willow with average sized breasts and long ass legs. She reminded me of a female version of Storm with his albino condition. But this girl was different somehow. Was it her queer expression or was it the utter lack of imperfection? When she was close enough I could see what it was that was bothering me. It was her eyes; she was Qual or had Qual blood in her. Then right before my eyes her coloring changed like a pencil drawing being filled in. Her hair became black as night and her skin took on a healthy tan color. Those baleful red eyes turned a soothing cool blue in color. I decided to ignore her changes and find out more about her.

"How long have you been here," I asked her.

"I don't know."

"Do you remember anything?"

"Just a bright light and then I was here in this tomb," she said.

I reached out to touch her and she leaned away at first. Then she sniffed my hand just the way an animal would and only then would she let me get near her. I took her by the wrist and mirrored her action and took in her scent. It reminded me of Iyaden. She smelled safe and warm and loving.

"Do you mind if I make sure you are unhurt," I asked.

"You are very kind," she said.

"This won't hurt a bit," I told her as Umbra scanned her head to toe twice.

One scan was for surface injuries and the other a detailed medical scan of skeletal and internal organ structures. While Umbra processed the results of the UVIS (Ultra Violet Infra Sound) images we continued our little conversation.

"So, have you been hiding over there long," I asked.

"Oh no I spent some time speaking with the Singer," she said with a beautiful smile.

"Who is the Singer?"

In answer the strange girl grabbed me by the wrist and led me forward towards an open doorway. Once there I could see that it opened into a massive interior chamber like the one above. At the center of the room was a huge pool and fountain. In the center of the pool was a white stone obelisk with strange characters on it. But I saw no sign of a singer anywhere.

The girl headed straight for the large circular pool and I followed. Once we reached the pool she leaned over the lip of the pool and splashed the surface of the water. I couldn't help but admire the view she offered me.

"You are a very naughty man," she said but didn't move or try to cover up.

"With such a gorgeous young thing as yourself can you blame me?"

"I suppose not," she replied.

Then there came a disturbance in the water and up rose the Singer. It was one part star fish, one part octopus and the rest fearless curiosity. Its skin was navy, cyan and white with a marbled pattern of intricate curves and swooshes. The Singer's fierce gold eyes regarded me.

"Ah little one," the Singer said, "You have brought someone new."

"I am Jon Masters," I replied.

"You are the Sublime Master, or you are wearing his ring," the Singer chuckled.

"It is my ring."

"And you are its," the girl whispered.

I looked at the girl her color now returned to its albino coloring in the presence of the Singer.

"Kadaena here is an empath," the Singer explained. "Her shape, coloring and form are dictated by those around her. When nothing in particular is desired, she returns to her natural state."

"How do you know her name," I asked.

"It is written all over her," the Singer replied. "Kadaena, it means the Hidden Strength."

"The hidden strength," I repeated looking at her more closely.

"Yes," the Singer continued. "Why is a chain so strong? It is the links that bind that give it resilience. She possesses that connection through her empathy."

Like most riddles once you know the answer it all makes perfect strength. Then Umbra told me that the medical scans were done and I failed to hide the shock of the results.

"Chain indeed," I gasped.

"What is it," Kadaena asked. "Am I sick? Am I dying?"

"No you are healthy as can be," I told her. "Just some surprising results to the tests is all."

"Tell me," she demanded.

I looked at the Singer who nodded. The truth hurts and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

"I am not sure how to say this so I will just show you."

Umbra displayed a holographic image of Kadaena. Outwardly she was perfect in every way. Her biological symmetry bordered on the preternatural. But it was the internal workings that were most disturbing. The next image showed her skeleton and there highlighted for easier understanding were blue lines where the surgeries had been performed. The lines were located at the base of the skull, the armpits, the wrists, the hips and the ankles. Then there were the internal organs and the vast array of improvements that had been done. Her augmentations made mine and Liz's look pale by comparison.

"What does all of that mean," Kadaena asked.

"It means that you are the sum of your parts," I told her.

"Just tell me damn it!"

I blew out a heavy sigh before I could continue.

"Okay here goes," I said. "As far as I can tell you are perfect in every way. Physically both outward and internally you have not a single flaw that we can find. But to make you that way you were created from at least seven different female donors."

"What?"

"He means little one that someone handpicked the most attractive features of seven different candidates and brought them together to form you," the Singer added.

"Yeah, and that doesn't even begin to cover the internal modifications that you have undergone."

"So I was not born," Kadaena murmured. "I was put together in a lab somewhere."

"I am sorry," I said.

Kadaena sat down and I could see on her face that she was taking this news in. The Singer and I waited patiently. Then she turned to look at me.

"You said you were sorry, why did you say that?"

"Most people would take that news with some trepidation."

"Apparently I am not most people. I am the culmination of a life time of research and dedication. I will honor my creator by living a long and prosperous life."

I couldn't help but blink a few times and admire her attitude. The Singer appeared equally impressed with Kadaena.

"Little one you do us all proud," it said.

"I couldn't agree more," I added.

"Speaking of little one," Kadaena said leaning over and peering into the pool. "Where is it?"

"It," I asked following her example and bending over to look. "What is it?"

Something leapt from the pool and then everything went black. The next thing I know I am looking up at the ceiling and feeling violated.

"Did it rape me?" I asked feeling around my head for something attached.

I was greatly relieved to find nothing there. I sat up and took inventory. My staff was on the floor some feet away, rolled there when whatever the hell happened occurred. Iyaden's mask was nearby as well. But my watch was powered off and that struck me as very odd indeed. I turned it on and waited for Umbra to check in. I psychically yanked the staff and mask to my hands.

"Okay what the hell happened?"

"Oh it's gone," Kadaena mourned.

"What is gone?"

"The little creature that was living in the pool," she said pouting.

"Where did it go?"

"Away," she said.

That is all I ever got out of either of them. Whatever tackled me had simply gone away. Why did that not fill me with confidence? My exploration of the crypt was officially over.

"Fuck this noise," I cursed. "I am leaving. Singer, it was an experience. Kadaena, I wish you a long and fruitful career... whatever that ends up being."

"Wait! You aren't just going to leave me here are you?"

"Huh? You want to come with me?"

"Yeah silly," Kadaena said with an evil smile. "You found me."

"Now technically the Singer found you..."

"...Actually she found me. Besides I am not even near her species. Would you condemn her to a life here... in the dark?"

"Oh hell," I cursed again. "Alright but you have to behave."

"Then it is settled," Kadaena said with a huge grin.

She entangled her arms in one of mine and we were off. I looked over at her and she was now a stunning redhead with the green eyes. Though this time her eyes appeared like normal human eyes. She really was a chameleon of sorts. Umbra appeared next to us and her expression mirrored my own. It was that whole 'what the fuck just happened' look.

"Master, I have some missing time I cannot account for."

"That makes two of us. Scan Kadaena and me and maintain an ongoing medical update. Do periodic scans to make sure nothing is going to hatch out of my chest."

"Yes Master," Umbra said with a worried expression. "I see you have acquired another 'friend'."

"If that means lover," Kadaena said. "Then yes I am his newest friend."

"The manor house is going to get very crowded Sir if you keep this up."

"Yeah, tell me about it. And we are not lovers..."

"...Yet. When the time is right I will impress you I promise."

"That's a big ticket to punch there little one," I said.

"MMMMMMMMMMMM I think I will like big," she replied.

"Aw hell."

The rest of the walk to the exit was in silence thank god. But of course we couldn't leave without Vana making an unscheduled appearance. She seemed amused by Kadaena's tight grip on my arm.

"Listen," I began. "I am sorry about my rude behavior earlier."

"Is she one of your other lovers?"

"No," I said.

"Not yet," Vana added with a smile.

"Oh don't you start that."

"Jon you are so much fun to fuck with," Vana said smiling even more now. "Apology accepted by the way."

"Thanks. So what can I do for you or um Mom?"

"How astute of you, Mother has decided to facilitate your collection of the library stones. She is in need of your services earlier than expected."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"Check your staff," Vana said repeating her statement from our earlier meeting.

I held my staff of office horizontally and silently told Sterling to open up. The small alloy panel covering the slots allocated to the stones opened and revealed that all the slots were filled, all seven of them. There was now a seventh stone added to my collection besides the six I had been sent out to find. I looked at the three new stones and their individual beauty. There was the tear drop shaped sapphire, the pyramid cut yellow diamond and then there was the oddly cut black gem. The new stone had seven facets and though as dark a pitch glowed from within unlike the other six.

"What's the seventh one represent," I asked Vana.

"Well as you know Mother has provided for you the Chronarch's Sapphire and the Pharaoh's Pyramid but in Her infinite wisdom She has also given you the Black Library. It is a deep and compelling compendium on the subjects of Dark Matter and Dark Energy as your people call it."

"So what does the Weaver need me to do?"

"She will contact you soon Jon Masters," Vana said as she turned to leave. "Oh and I have something for you as well."

She walked over and got close enough that I was unsure what she was about to do. She lightly touched my left arm and a brief electrical discharge could be seen.

"Imagine that," she moaned. "...Sparks between us. I will see you soon Jon, keep a light on."

"Oh I will."

Then with that queer wavering effect she was gone.

"I got to figure out how she does that," I said to no one in particular. "Umbra, are you alright?"

"Yes Master but I am running a full level diagnostic just to be sure."

"That's my girl; tell me if you discover anything amiss."

"Who was that Jon," Kadaena asked.

"That little one was the daughter of the Weaver," I said. "Someone so far out of my league they have to use astronomical measurements just to calculate it."

"She's that important?"

"That and she is that dangerous."

"Oh."

"Yeah, but let's have some fun now shall we?"

"I like fun," she purred and grabbed my arm again.

I led her outside and there still on watch was faithful Illiria. Who took one look at Kadaena and just shook her head.

"I swear you find them in the most unlikely places."

"It's a knack," I replied. "Want to see a magic trick?"

"I love magic," Illiria said.

"Good because this trick will bring the house down. Now I just have to find a sweet spot."

"Um Jon what does a sweet spot look like," the two asked as one.

"I am looking for a fissure in the rock," I said.

"You mean a big crack," Kadaena asked.

"Yeah."

"Like that one up there," she said pointing up ahead.

"Perfect."

We all walked up and I looked at the fissure and it was perfect. Then I went to the side of the tower and opened one of the windows and directed the girls to stand inside. Next I altered the end of my staff into a sharp alloy spike. I drove the staff deep into the fissure and joined the girls at the edge of the window.

"Ready for some magic," I asked and they both nodded. "Okay Sterling you are on. Let's start with a nice deep tone."

Though I could hear it and Illiria could feel it poor Kadaena just shrugged and waited.

"Okay let's try another octave down and more power say twenty percent," I said to Sterling.

Now Kadaena felt it in her toes and so did every Blind in the valley below.

"Jon what are you doing," Kadaena asked.

"Well on my world there are trained singers who can break a crystal goblet with just there voice. This is the same concept at work. I am setting up a resonance or vibration in the ground. If I can hit just the right power and tone I can shatter the stone around the tower."

"Why the hell would you want to do that," Kadaena asked alarmed. "You will tip over the entire tower!"

"No I won't."

"Yes you will!"

"No I won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because little one when I found you I also discovered something else."

"What did you find?"

"Windows," I said smugly.

"Huh I don't get it. You mean someone built this tower with windows below ground. That doesn't make any sense."

"It does if you take into account that this tower is very old. So old in fact that a hillside grew up around it," I said.

While we were talking Sterling made adjustments on the fly and a deep rumbling ended our conversation. The three of us looked out as the staff was vibrating so much it appeared blurred to us. Then I looked at the ground around it and saw loose stones hopping and bouncing all over the place. Then there came the earth shattering kaboom. Okay it was more like a combination of an ear splitting cracking sound melded with an ultrasonic pop. I yanked my staff back to my hand just as the entire cliffside fell away in a shower of dust and an avalanche of furious destruction. The tower shook to its core but remained upright, thank god.

What had once been ground level was now at least eight hundred feet in the air. Once more the whole of the Crypt of the Solar Titans was revealed! Damn I was good.

"Um Jon, how do we get down from here," Kadaena asked.

I was in such a good mood I scooped them up by the waist and teleported us down to view my handiwork. Sadly the Blind were not so blissful about the massive amount of wreckage I had wrought. We were soon surrounded by a mob of angry giants but to my astonishment it was Red that came to our rescue. Or maybe he was coming to theirs.

"Master why have you done this," Red asked his voice trembling in fear. "I know that the wearer of Black angered you but to this extent?"

Before I could even speak it was Kadaena who answered.

"My companion and I require clothing, where can we find some?"

The three of us were directed to one of the structures far enough away from the landslide to still be standing. Inside was a vast assortment of robes sadly all of them had four arms. Kadaena and Illiria picked out one robe each that fit their height well enough. I knelt in front of Illiria and hummed a little tune while I focused my thoughts on the excess sleeves. I imagined the material falling off and sealing like an open wound. To my pleasant shock it worked better than hoped for. When the bottom sleeves fell to the ground the open gaps closed up as if they were never there. I took a moment and did the same for Kadaena and they were now dressed in costly silks. I noticed that there was a stack of black robes in the corner.

"What is to be done with those robes there," I asked.

"Why they are to be burned Master, it is our custom. Unless they would please you then feel free to take them with our blessing."

"I accept your gift, girls if you will. Now about the crypt I will be taking that with me as well."

If I could choose an emotion to tie to the collective expression it would have been shock mixed with relief.

"Master," said Red. "You are going to remove the crypt?"

"Yes it deserves to be bathed in sunlight so that its true glory is revealed."

"This I have to see," muttered one of the Blind.

The girls had gathered up the wearer of Black's robes and as per my instructions left the domain of the Blind. They then headed directly back to Wind Sword Manor. I stayed behind to shift the tower from its current location to a more discrete one. Yes I put it in the backpack. No I wasn't sure if it would fit or not but I had to try.

The Blind were so put out over the events of the day that when I turned to say goodbye they were all gone. Not a single solitary soul remained. I shrugged and headed back to the passage and my way home. But sadly I was not to reach it unhindered.