Thy Gods Awaken: Witch Queen - Book One

Thy Gods Awaken

Witch Queen - Book One

Anthony C. Valiulis

Copyright © 2024 Anthony C. Valiulis

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-89157-865-4 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-89157-866-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Visions

Chapter 2

The Beginning

Chapter 3

Change of Plans

Chapter 4

Assault

Chapter 5

The Burning Road

Chapter 6

Tasty, Tasty

Chapter 7

A Ripple in the Ether

Chapter 8

Vril Witch

Chapter 9

Lost

Chapter 10

Confrontations

Chapter 11

Consequences

Chapter 12

Testing

Chapter 13

Mound of Skulls

Chapter 14

Questions

Chapter 15

An Unexpected Conversation

Chapter 16

Meeting and Meditation

Chapter 17

Sister, Sister

Chapter 18

Across the Abyss

Chapter 19

Father Hate

Chapter 20

The Way Ahead

Chapter 21

The Use of Power

Chapter 22

Eagle Master

Chapter 23

Chosen by a Goddess

Chapter 24

Twilight and the Palace of Illusion

Chapter 25

Fight or Flight

Chapter 26

Lost No More

Chapter 27

Confrontation

Chapter 28

Prelude

Chapter 29

Teachings

Chapter 30

First Lessons

Chapter 31

Rituals of Power

Chapter 32

Escape

Chapter 33

Meetings

Chapter 34

Lost

Chapter 35

Sacrifice

Chapter 36

The Coming Darkness

Chapter 37

Witch Queen

Chapter 38

Forces Gather

About the Author

To my wife and best friend, Maryann M. Valiulis, PhD.

Chapter 1

Visions

Kayla sat up in bed, unable to sleep. Tomorrow, she and her twin brother, Jason, would show the ungrateful villagers what she thought of them. Then on the next morning, they would leave for good.

Too excited to do anything else, she got out of bed and paced the room. Blurred movement outside the window stopped her. The shape of a black bird, a crow perhaps but smaller, formed from the darkness. What the? Kayla stumbled backward. The bird pulsated within a red glow. Like a bleeding heart. Kayla closed her eyes, opened them. The bird had vanished.

A trick of the moonlight?

An icy draft chilled the air. Where did that come from? Kayla threw a blanket over her shoulders, went to the window, looked out. Nothing but darkness.

She turned away; a scratching sound, like a blade on glass, snapped her attention back to the window. The apparition had returned. Kayla's heart raced, and she began to back up. A voice halted her. Not to worry, my tasty. Merely came by to see what all the fuss was about.

No one else was in the room. Then the bird flapped its wings, and the window melted, dripping onto the sill like wax from a candle. It flew inside and alighted on her bed. The glass immediately reformed. The smell of rotting fruit lingered in the air.

Must say, so far, I am not impressed. She heard the words in her mind, like she did with Jason. Was her twin playing games with her? Not likely. He wasn't the type.

Kayla's body tensed. Was she dreaming?

No dream, my tasty. Not at all. I'm as real as the fear the villagers feel when you're around. As real as your brother's secrets. As real as, well, you get the idea.

Kayla's fists clenched; her mouth tightened. Who's there? She forced her voice to sound steady.

Don't fret. Just passing by. No need to know who I am, not yet. We'll be best buddies soon enough. Besides, you won't remember any of this when you wake up tomorrow. Or maybe you will. Have to leave a calling card, don't I? Wouldn't be right if I merely popped in and ran now, would it? Especially the day before your eighteenth birthday.

Kayla took a deep breath. She was not helpless. As the villagers knew all too well, she had some interesting abilities. Concentrating, she tried to enter the creature's mind.

Not so fast, my young tasty. You can't go there. A girl has to keep some secrets, don't you think?

Kayla tried again but could not penetrate the creature's mind. She had never failed before. Vision or nightmare, you're still nothing but a stupid bird. The words made her feel better. That'll put whatever it is in its place.

The creature cawed, a sharp, unpleasant sound. So mean, calling me stupid. I will forgive you, this time at least. But be careful. I am patient, but even I have my limits, especially with tasties like you.

The room began to spin.

I can discern a little of your future but not enough to know why you're so important or where you'll be hiding.

The room continued to spin, picking up speed until everything blurred.

Shall I show you some of what I know? Maybe just a taste; that would be fitting, wouldn't it?

The room stopped spinning, and Kayla no longer stood inside her bedroom.

Kayla, a voice whispered.

She turned her head, her bare feet rooted in the soft, cool ground near the gate leading home. A boy, about her age and dressed in a forest-green tunic over pants of the same color, stared back at her. Tall and wiry, he had brown skin and long yellow hair that sparkled in the moonlight.

Who are you? she hesitated. And why are you wearing that ridiculous outfit?

He chuckled. I have no idea, but I believe I am someone from one of your possible futures.

Something like memory, both strange and familiar, flashed through Kayla's mind; but it recalled nothing she had ever experienced.

A world is dying, the boy said, his tone more serious, and you must save it.

Kayla flinched. That's crazy.

Before the boy could answer, the bird cut in. Indeed, it is but likely true nonetheless. Pity my sight doesn't go further. It would make things so much easier.

Kayla ignored the bird's words and focused on the boy. They stood sheltered by oak trees under a dark, sparkling sky. Far off, voices murmured, lost in the sounds of the night. A bit of blue, perhaps a bird, blurred past.

A warm breeze played with Kayla's hair. The boy moved closer. He was handsome, despite his choice of clothes, and his scent of soap and sweat, fresh and musky, promised much. But underneath that promise lay a sense of dread.

Interesting. Kayla reached out, but the boy had disappeared into the night. She frowned, shook her head, then left the shelter of the trees. The night felt cold. What happened to the warm air? Overhead, that damnable bird darted past and alighted on a low-hanging branch a few feet away. It nuzzled its beak against a wing, then fixed its gaze on her.

She clenched her fists. Is this all your doing? she snapped. Was the boy part of the nightmare, just a dream within a dream? This is getting bloody ridiculous.

Now, now, my little tasty, I admit I did have a hand in it—or should I say a wing? But it's nothing at all to be concerned about. I'm just a humble fowl.

Kayla had enough. Get the hell out of my head.

Can't do that. Talking mind to mind is my thing. No vocal cords, you see. And it's really not very hard to do, not for someone—I may have overstated the humble bit—as clever as myself.

I don't believe any of this, Kayla said through gritted teeth.

But you will. Oh yes, you most definitely will.

Kayla inched forward until her hair caught in the wind and wrapped itself around her face. She tried to pull the silvery strands away, but a piercing shriek jolted her. Her head pounded; her eyes burned. She covered her ears with her hands, trying to muffle the noise, but the wailing intensified until it stopped, and four horned monsters appeared.

Chapter 2

The Beginning

In the morning, Kayla couldn't shake the feeling of dread caused by last night's nightmare—nor the image of those horrible creatures standing over her, their red eyes blazing hatred, drool spilling from their mouths. It had felt real, more like a vision than a dream.

Kayla took a long, deep breath. Just my imagination. Need to focus on today. She stretched her arms, rolled her shoulders, then breathed deeply again.

The feeling of dread lessened. She had an appointment with the elders to worry about. Of course, they didn't know about the meeting yet (no one did except for Kayla and her brother), which would make it all the more satisfying.

Kayla reached the village by midmorning. The area around the Main Street was filled with people busy with their daily chores. Most of them stopped whatever they were doing to watch her go by. Distrust radiated from their stares.

Good morning, Thomas, she said to one of them. Still having those dreams? His face reddened.

What dreams? his companion asked.

Thomas shook his head and turned away.

Thomas had long lusted after his brother's wife and lately had been dreaming of ways to satisfy that lust. To make sure they stayed dreams, Kayla entered his thoughts with a warning: If you harm anyone, I'll twist your body into a pretzel and leave it for the pigs to munch on.

That should work.

She didn't have the power to twist his body into anything, of course, but he didn't know that. Like the rest of the village, he thought she was a witch.

Kayla resumed her walk toward the village center.

I'm no witch. I can't use spells or make potions or do any witchy things. I can read dreams and some thoughts and plant an idea or two but that's it.

Jason had the same gifts, but he hid them. Kayla gritted her teeth. She would never do that, though she paid a price for being so open. The villagers acted as if she carried the plague. It was only a matter of time before some of them became violent.

Doesn't matter anymore. We'll be gone in the morning.

She slowed as she approached the town square. When she reached the village hall, she stopped. Taking a seat on the cool ground, she waited for the beginning of the ceremony, the annual event in which new citizens were registered.

They don't want me, and I don't want them. But before we leave, we'll teach them a lesson they won't soon forget.

They had decided that Jason would enter the ceremonial hall first and alone. He'd walk up to the podium situated in front of the raised dais behind which the three elders sat. The senior elder would be positioned in the middle holding the vellum-covered Book of Citizens. Jason would then ask to be enrolled as a citizen.

Today was their eighteenth birthday, so they were both old enough to qualify, provided an existing citizen vouched for them. Their parents couldn't do it. They had chosen not to become citizens, eschewing what they called that silly ceremony and those pompous elders. But Kayla was not concerned. Everybody loved Jason; someone was bound to volunteer. Hell, if no one stepped forward, the elders would probably vouch for him themselves.

After Jason's name was written in the book, Kayla would enter and ask to be enrolled. The elders would probably snicker, but she didn't mind. The law was on her side.

At the appropriate time, Jason would step forward and vouch for her. The elders would protest, of course. They would claim that he had not yet been sworn, so he was not officially a citizen. The elders did not administer the oath until the very end of the ceremony, after the names of all qualified applicants had been written in the book.

Kayla would smile as she handed them an ancient but official treatise governing the ceremony. She and Jason had discovered it buried in the archives of the library. Once applicants had their names entered in the book, it read, they became citizens, even before they took the oath. Jason then had the right to put forth his sister's name.

Once she and Jason had taken the oath, they would renounce their newly acquired citizenship; and Kayla would tell the village not only what she thought of them but also, using her powers, some of what they thought of each other. Not enough to cause lasting harm but enough to reveal their hypocrisy.

Kayla laughed, a loud, spontaneous burst of sound. The last shred of dread had disappeared.

People started to gather for the opening of the fair. Merchants and entertainers set up their kiosks. Children hopped from booth to booth. Plenty of time for Jason to arrive. Without her brother, their plan would not work.

What's taking him so long?

Did he forget the time? Unlikely, but he could be so absent-minded that it was possible, and he had seemed distracted the last few days, as if concerned about something. Kayla hadn't probed, attributing his reaction to nerves. After all, they were about to change their lives forever.

The sound of a bell jerked Kayla out of her thoughts. The ceremony had begun. Her heart raced, and she stood up. The applicants filed into the vestibule. The boys wore leather pants, vested white or blue shirts with string ties, and polished boots; the girls full length dresses of varying colors, mostly green or blue, almost all of them topped with scarves or bows. Kayla was dressed similarly, except for the bows. She hated bows and other frills.

One after another, the boys and girls entered but still no Jason.

He'll be here.

But as time clicked away, Kayla's anxiety increased. By noon, with the ceremony winding down, her hope faded. Jason would not be coming.

Concerned about Jason's safety, Kayla spent the next hour searching the fairgrounds for some sign of her twin. She was about to give up and go home when a group of itinerant minstrels caught her attention.

One of the jongleurs plied his trade apart from the others. He sat on an ornate carpet anchored by four incense-burning braziers. Dressed in black as deep as the color of his skin, rather than the traditional multicolored garb of his profession, the man was performing a haunting song of loss and betrayal, a much sadder piece than any of the others she had heard that day.

Kayla moved closer. Dizzied by the strong perfume of the incense, she faltered but regained her balance as the singer finished to polite applause and a scattering of coins. Her mind clouded, as if drugged, and thoughts of her brother faded away.

The bard's gaze fixed on Kayla. His face was impassive; he put down his lyre, and his voice was as soft as light rain. He spoke as if he were talking only to her.

In the beginning, before time existed, there was but one and the one was five. Alone in the void, the five-in-one was without form or substance, encompassing both being and nonbeing, all and nothing.

Kayla's mind cleared, and she frowned. Just another creation myth, much like the ones she had heard all her life, often whispered behind the priests' backs. As if anyone believed that the One and the Four had ever been part of the same godhead.

The bard paused, and Kayla wondered why she wasted her time listening to nonsense. She made ready to leave until Jason came into view, with his former girlfriend at his side.

He's okay, thank the goddess. Shouting Jason's name, she ran toward her brother, right into a wall or barrier of some kind. She bounced backward and fell to the ground. What the?

She took a deep breath and checked to see if she had been injured. Nothing seemed to be broken, and she was not in pain, though she felt a little embarrassed. In her haste, she must have looked right past—past what? There was nothing obstructing her path to Jason. And why was her brother acting as if he couldn't see or hear her? He was no more than a few feet away.

A real conundrum, isn't it, my tasty?

Chapter 3

Change of Plans

Kayla shuddered at the sound of that voice. She looked around, searching for the bird. If she could locate it, maybe she could try again to examine its mind and find out what the hell was going on. She had failed before but then she had been caught off guard, a mistake she would not make a second time.

If you're going to keep plaguing me, at least show yourself.

All in good time, my tasty. As I already told you, we will soon be best buddies, maybe even dinner companions, if I'm lucky.

Not going to happen, Kayla said aloud. I doubt you would make a satisfying meal in any case. Bit on the scrawny side.

The bird let out a stinging caw. Best be careful. Even I have my limits, especially when I've not eaten since morning.

Kayla let her mind seek out the bird, but it eluded her. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore what was happening. She needed to talk to Jason and find out if he was still going to leave with her in the morning.

And why he hadn't shown up at the ceremony.

Her brother stood near the bard talking to the girl. She moved toward him, but something stopped her.

What the hell?

With her head pounding and heart racing, she inched away, stopped, and reached out. She felt a tingling resistance. She pushed harder. Her hand recoiled as if burned.

Kayla waved her arms and called out Jason's name. Her brother didn't react, as if he could neither see nor hear her. He whispered something to the girl, who answered with a nod. Jason took her hand and started to leave. Kayla yelled, and Jason stopped, looked around, and shrugged.

She tried to focus, but a string of firecrackers exploded off to Kayla's right, distracting her. Then the bard's voice broke through her thoughts.

Even the gods make mistakes. And in the fullness of time, a crucible was formed—and she will determine the destiny of us all.

She reached out with her hand, and the barrier dissolved. Her brother was no longer there.

Nor was the bard.

Kayla's vision clouded; her head spun, and she fell to the ground. A few townspeople rushed to her aid but turned away when they recognized her. She struggled to her feet, brushed herself off, and started heading home.

Nothing more to be done here.

She looked up. The setting sun laced the clouds with slashes of orange and green, a bad omen, according to the old tales.

How can that be? It was just