“Yes, I’m reminding him that those hypnotized people are innocent in all this, too.But…” Dropping my head, I exhaled, trying to come up with something myself for how exactly we were going to stop this false-god.“...I’m not sure.We don’t even really know what this thing is.Sure, it’s a malevolent force looking to rule, but where does it come from?What are its weaknesses?”
“Those innocent people could very well have signed up for this shit, too, Caleb.”Lizzie wasn’t looking at me, or any of us for that matter, but the furious energy radiated off her.“According to Barbs, this church preached some bigoted rhetoric.Bunch of damn prejudicial bullshit about queer people and the BIPOC communities.”
“I know you’re pissed, Lizzie.”She finally looked up at me.“And yeah, some of those people might suck, deserve to be called out on their bullshit, but I can’t just let them all die without having any proof.”
She started to roll her eyes, but I snagged her by the chin and made her look at me.Holding that eye contact, I didn’t blink or hesitate when I told Lizzie the entire truth of the matter.
“There are consequences to a massacre that I won’t deal with, Lizzie.But I promise you, if we need to go in there, and any of those fuckers so much as says two words about hurting you or Temps, looses some shit about your worth, I won’t hesitate to tear them apart.I said not without proof, not never.”
It took a moment, but then the corner of Lizzie’s mouth lifted in a smirk.She took my hand when I held her chin and squeezed, staying with me in that moment until she leaned forward and dusted a kiss over my lips.
“I really needed to hear that.”She smiled as she leaned back, looking over at Temps, who had scooted closer to her.“Thank you.Both of you.And Cerberus, if he’s listening.”
I felt that buzz of magic in my eyes that signaled Cerberus pushing forward, likely turning my stare yellow.
“I am, young morrighan.I will say for you all right now that if someone were to attempt to harm any of my mates, they would be met with the wrath of my claws and fangs.”
Lizzie chuckled.“Such a romantic.”
Scoffing, I looked around the edge of the building we’d hidden behind, checking the parking lot of the carnival again.It was still packed, but I started to see movement at the exit of the tent.
“They might be leaving soon.”I went back to the shadows, crouching in front of Lizzie and Temps.“Cerberus, do you have any other information about what this thing might be?”
Humming magic filled me again, and I felt Cerberus rise forward, taking over so that he could speak through me.I was getting more used to the sensation, but I had to admit that hearing myself with this other voice say things I didn’t know was a bit of a mind trip.
“There are several versions of the malignance in the mortal world's religions.They are all shards of truth, none of them whole, but they each mention this entity.The closest to the factual existence it’s had since the dawn of creation is that of the demiurge.A chaotic, arrogant being that crafted this false world we have now and keeps people from entering the true higher realm of divinity.That is, of course, a simplification, but mortals rarely understand the complexity of the universe and the several realms within it.”
“A demiurge?Like in Gnosticism?”Temps furrowed her brow, coming off her feet and kneeling in front of me.“Those beliefs are from some of the most ancient religions in the world.Theyknew about this thing?”
Cerberus chuckled through me, and I felt that rush of warmth and attraction he had to her well up, magnifying my own.
“A smart young witch.I’m impressed.It is the closest, as I said, not a perfect understanding.The lion-faced serpent was a solid form given by humans.In reality, it holds no shape, but it will manifest in whatever form its followers most desire to see.This is also not a false reality.It’s as real as any of the realms.There are multitudes.The entity has been bound to the lines between realms for eons, unable to take physical form.But it has found a way through that by manipulating mortals, specifically this Paine.He and his offspring are oddly resonant with the being.Together, they have sought to overrun the World of Below, as they have other realms such as the Winter Kingdom and Edom.Your mortal world might just be the first to give him form, and form is powerful.”
“Fucking hell, Cerbs.The info dump.It’s going to take me at least ten minutes to process all that.”
Temps stifled a chuckled, and I shook my head, in control again.It was a lot to swallow.And we were still going to have to go up against this thing as a handful of witches and an elder being.What would even affect it?
The sound of car doors shutting and ignitions firing got our attention; the place was finally emptying out.
“What does it feed on?I mean, if this thing is getting power from its followers, will it have issues if that power supply is cut off?”Temps took off the suit jacket that she’d brought from her house, letting it fall to the ground.Lizzie had modified the dress she was wearing with Cerberus’ help when we landed, and she added Temps’ jacket to the pile of fabric scraps cut from the bottom of her outfit.
She’d made the skirt hit her at just above the knee instead of mid-shin, using the straps that went over her shoulder to create a waistband so that she didn’t have to wear it like a pair of overalls.
“I imagine it will cause some issues, yes.The entity, some refer to it as Ninlul, feeds or draws strength from the belief of mortals and other beings.The sacrifices have given it strength, but undoubtedly, it is still heavily tied to Paine.His death would cause issues as well as the destruction of any effigies or magic used to hypnotize or control his followers.”
“Okay, I can work with that.”Lizzie nodded, and I mirrored it, agreeing with her that something physical to focus our assaults on would be extremely beneficial.
“Alright, so are we ready to head over there?”Temps stood up, pulling her hair into a ponytail with the hairtie she’d worn on her wrist.“Go in the back?”
Nodding, Lizzie pointed at Temps as she found a hairtie on her own wrist and rewound her hair into her signature braid.
“Yeah, I’m thinking a front entrance isn’t going to be good.Not that the back door worked well for us last time.”
“You did not have me last time.”
Temps and Lizzie smiled, patting Cerberus through me, and I couldn’t help but grin.“We do have you.But yes, let’s go now.While the people are still leaving and the Ring Leader stands a better chance of being distracted.”
I held out my hands, the girls taking them as I silently gave Cerberus the go-ahead to whisk us to the back of the tent, wherever it was shadowed and unpopulated.We appeared near the fabric in a line, shadow hanging over us, and a collection of wooden crates in front of us.The little niche would give us a good place to hide, and we all hunkered down again.
