Snippet #1471246

Nike forgot her plight, forgot the plight of anything, when Yani spoke. Her words spilled over the shadows in her mind, washing away any thoughts of despair and filled her chest with a warm light. Her face, neutral in expression, lifted from her palm and turned slightly. Once again, there was no way of knowing where Yani stood, but she could have guessed. Her achromatic eyes fell on the woman, studying her aura and her thoughts. It was this kind of attitude that drew a thin line between what Nike needed for Mankind and what the Father wanted for Mankind, for himself. Nike had to know where her heart lay, where she felt most at ease.

She almost laughed when she discovered the truth. Though it was not to tease, nor to condescend. Once again an heir had brought her fantastic joy. Yani, the only surviving soul of the Shark clan, cared only for her oceans and the creatures within them. She lived there. She drank in the salt-crusted winds and flew over the vast sapphire waters. Her ship was her heart and the sea her body. Looking into her, Nike felt like a fish forever guided by her shepherd. She was silent for a few more moments, choosing her words carefully. Though Yani loved her oceans she was still teetering on that line between hope and despair.

The Father stifles our dreams, dampens our spirits and gives Humanity no other way out. They must fight, kill, and manipulate in order to survive when all Man ever had to do was follow their dreams. With the Father banished and tending to his original purpose, keeping the balance, than Man has every chance of becoming good again. They have the chance to hope, be happy to their heart’s content, and thrive with nature rather than opposed to it. We can never stop the Father entirely. There will always be those weaker beings that choose to live in his darkness rather than in the light of the Sun, but we can keep on trying, and hoping, that one day the world will all be harmonious again.

It is not about what Humanity has or hasn’t done for us that matters. It is how we can help keep Humanity thriving in the light and stop them from retreating back into the darkness. We are nothing without our Humanity. We are base creatures, left to scrounge in filth and chaos. If not for our Humanity, we would be no better than the demons that serve the Father now.

To hope is what will keep Mankind alive forever. Without hope, the Father will win any war and the Earth will become his playground... And everything will die.

Nike knew her words were final, knew the weight of them. She bore that weight presently and had since the beginning of her time. Even as much as she loved them all, Nike knew it was wrong to not tell them the absolutes of this task. Their decisions would alter everything. If they chose to stay there was the promise that Mankind would live on without the threat of eternal shadow. If their choices were against what Nike hoped for… Only bad would come of it. She had nothing else to say, but her eyes, blank as a new sheet of paper, stared at Yani, tears threatening to fall over her pale eyelashes. It wasn’t that Yani had caused her to cry but the very idea of losing them all again rent her heart asunder.

Machai sat with his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers entwined together, his eyes turned to the ground. He’d been watching them all, having no need to watch Nike. When she was becoming ill he could sense it. But he barely knew these newcomers; he still had to observe them all to get an understanding of who and what they were. His hands would intermittently squeeze together causing his knuckles to turn white. He was worried. Worried they were acting too slowly. Worried these people would call them all crazy and leave them. It was a selfish feeling, he knew, but if he lost Nike… Just the notion of it made his stomach do flips. With Nike’s last statement, one he repeated in his own mind every morning, afternoon, and night, Machai could no longer sit still and he stood up, leaving the room and taking long strides toward his own chambers. He needed time to think. He wanted to be alone, away from Nike, away from the descendants, away from her red…

Scowling he threw his door open, removed his bowie knife and tossed it as hard as he could. With strength and purpose, the blade sank into the far wall. At least something felt concrete around him.

Nike winced a little when she felt Machai’s energies spike suddenly then fall after he exited the room. This wasn’t the first time he’d done this, it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Taking another moment of pause, the Mother finally spoke.

This is a lot of information and I would not force you all to make a decision now. You must forgive Machai… He has lived with the knowledge of this for all his life and he sometimes becomes a bit... dramatic. Curling her twig-like fingers back into her lap she waited as four servants, all varying in weights, age, gender, and ethnicity, entered the room from a door just behind her chair.

These lovely people will show you to your rooms. I would at least ask you to stay with us for the night. It would be my honor to have you all. After a moment, she added gently, If you feel the need to come and speak with me, I am always here. It is safest for me to stay inside these walls and I never sleep. You are always welcome to join me and keep an old lady company… If the need persuades you. With a small gesture of her head, one strand of clear hair falling into her unwrinkled face, Nike let the servants walk to the doors and all beckoned them to follow.

It wasn’t that Nike wanted them gone from her presence so quickly. In fact, she would have preferred for them to stay. But He was coming.