Meanwhile...the cohort finds the room where Aaron's Lifeweb has lead them, but the door is broken down, the windows thrown wide open, and no sign of anyone there. Aaron again activates the Lifeweb and discovers that Brianna...is in the Swarian District? The group looks at each other with raised eyebrows, and then hurries to get to Swar. On the way there Aaron and Ray continue to talk about how much they want to kill spectres. Suddenly a small group of spectres appears as if out of no where in front of them. Everyone draws their swords-- Aaron and Ray grinning excitedly-- and then Cliodhna's Shadow speaks to her. It tells her that it will keep the spectres at bay, but she and the cohort have to hurry and leave right now because it can only hold them back for so long. Cliodhna stands staring into space in confusion. Then the group hears a noise behind them, and turns to see a large group of spectres approaching from the back.
Cliodhna asks her Shadow what is going on, and it tells her that from now on it's only Cliodhna and her Shadow-- that they will work together as a team, and as a sign of the Shadow's good will, it is going to protect her and her cohort from the spectres. Cliodhna watches as the spectres suddenly stop-- a look of frustrated regret on their twisted faces-- and open up to make a path for the cohort to leave by. Cliodhna tells the cohort that she has no idea what is going on, but they better leave immediately. Aaron is determined to stay and take all the spectres on, himself, but ends up deciding against it and leaves with the group. Cliodhna's Shadows continues to murmur about it being her friend-- that it is someone who wants to see her safe because it IS her. Cliodhna is confused at her Shadow's change of tactics, but tries to block it out of her mind as the group enters Swar.
Brianna opens the door to their room and brings Atepa inside. She shakes her head. �The last thing we need is for you to discover you like to gamble,� she says and smiles up at him. He faces her, but his eyes seem to pass right through her, intent on something only he can see.
Brianna feels the pain knot up inside her again. She takes Atepa�s face in her hands and leans up, bringing his mouth down to hers. She kisses him deeply and feels him respond. For a moment, she can forget about everything else. The kiss ends, too soon, and Brianna hugs Atepa to her, closing her eyes tightly. Instinctively he wraps his arms around her and hugs her back.
Brianna hears a flapping noise, and is not surprised to see several birds winging into the room through the walls. She looks up at Atepa again. �Your friends are determined to bring your memories back to you my love,� she says to him. �Perhaps we should let them. Come with me,� she leads him by the hand over to the opulent bed in the center of the room.
A canopy rises up over the bed, and deep red curtains hang from it, shadowing the dark satin sheets that cover the mattress. Brianna consciously closes up her thoughts and draws Atepa to the edge of the bed, directing him to sit. Unquestioningly he does as she asks, looking up at her as she stands before him. As soon as he sits, another bird launches itself from its perch and flies right into Atepa�s chest.
He falls backwards and she climbs onto the bed next to him, carefully taking in a deep breath, still a habit from her living days, to calm herself and prepare to meditate.
More memories come, one after the other. Brianna sees Atepa crouched on a vast web, the lower half of his body moliated into that of a great spider as he directs the Fate of those that are tied to him. A group of people gathered and sent to stop Markova, then another and Brianna can see herself, though she does not sense recognition in Atepa as he sees her. Then she sees herself as Matthew, waking from a nightmare, only to see herself sitting on the edge of the bed, a pale glowing figure that smoothes back his hair and whispers for him to sleep. She watches many things, many places, some she understands, some she does not. As she watches the world through Atepa�s eyes she feels even closer to him, as if they are no longer two people but one.
Finally the flow of birds stops. Though there are still many perched around them, they have for the moment decided to rest. Atepa�s hand has reached out to touch Brianna�s leg as she meditates beside him.
A knocking at the door rouses Brianna from her reverie, and it takes a moment to come back to where she is. �Yes? Come in..� she calls, watching the doorway. The ravens restlessly flutter their wings and hop about on their perches in the room.
She watches the Cohort file into her room and stands. Cliodhna gives the guards at the door a "see? I told you so"-look as Brianna welcomes them inside. Brianna asks them what is happening, and they tell her that they�ve been ordered to return to Stygia to request help for the incoming Spectre attack, and Brianna was asked to go with them as well. Cliodhna looks around at the room while she's speaking, a note of disdain in her voice at the obvious mood the room was engineered to create.
Brianna nods, looking back at Atepa. It is so hard to remember that the outside world exists when she is with him. Her world centers around this man, without any effort on his part at all. She is tied to him more firmly now than she was 10 years ago, when she thought that she could not possibly love him any more. But she has a job to do here, and to forget that would be to betray the trust that Ahuru had invested in her.
�I will be just a moment,� she tells them and waits for them to leave. Atepa still lies on the bed, eyes open and alert as she nears him. �My love, we must leave now,� she says, taking his hand and helping him to rise. He towers over her as he stands to his full height, and he looks down at her unquestioningly. Brianna�s eyes widen as she realizes he looks even older now. Nearing 40, he is closer to the age she remembers him. The birds are bringing him back, she realizes. Soon he will be the Atepa she remembers, the Ahuru, the one who loves her.
�Go get your box,� she tells him gently, then gathers her own things from the room.
After collecting Hope from the stables and packing all their gear behind her saddle, the two of them mount the horse and join the cohort waiting in front of the building. Cliodhna has a dark expression on her face, no doubt angered at Veruku Singh�s latest money-making proposal for her. She nods curtly at Brianna, then motions for the group to move out.
As they travel, Ray takes Brianna aside and tells her that he has a message for her from the Sleeping Serpent in the land of Clay. He tells her that the Serpent warned of a traitor in their midst who would destroy them all. Brianna took in this troubling news with a stoic expression and thanked Ray for telling her. Her thoughts turned troubled at this latest bit of information and she went in circles trying to figure out who this traitor might be.
They quickly make their way to the docks, and Cliodhna writes a note for Angelo asking him to see if he can locate William, and then gives the letter to a messenger who immediately runs to the Italian sector to deliver it. The cohort again boards the Ulysses. The sky slowly darkens as night falls over the Shadowlands, and the ship moves out into the Tempest.
Thousands of wings blacken the sky. Some of their escort settles on different beams and ropes, while the majority fly overhead, squawking and cawing in a cacophony of sound. Hans looks up at the birds and shakes his head, then moves to speak to the helmsman. Cliodhna asks Brianna what's going on with the birds, and Brianna explains how each of the birds hold one of Atepa's memories, and that one-by-one they're bringing those memories back to him. Cliodhna nods in relief, thinking that once Atepa is Ahuru again, he will be able to speak for himself and settle the problems his daughter is causing once and for all. She also wants to ask him what her mother was like back when the two met in Egypt, but moves that idea to the back of her mind, remembering what a fool she made herself out to be in front of Amon when she first met him. Speaking of Amon...
Cliodhna breaks from her reverie and asks Brianna what happened to Amon. Brianna seems a bit startled as she realizes she's forgotten all about Amon during these hours with Atepa. She tells Cliodhna about how Amon came to her and told her he was leaving for Amenti to find out the reasons behind the recent Amenti attacks. Brianna had asked him if he would like his Fate read, he had agreed, and she'd seen a vision of Amon taking a ship to Amenti, being approached by a barge poled by the jackyl-headed Annubis himself, and Amon getting on the barge and sailing the rest of the way to Amenti. Brianna sees Amenti-- an incredible city housing a huge pyramid with blue lights (mummy-souls) shooting past her, headed for the pyramid, and the buildings everywhere covered in gold...so bright that Brianna feels like she would want to shield her eyes. She sees Amon walking towards the huge golden palace, and then the vision ends. Brianna told Amon that he would arrive safely, and he nodded, thanked her, and left. Cliodhna shakes her head and exhales in frustration, telling Brianna that Amon is just asking to be shackled up again!
Brianna hurries belowdecks with Atepa to continue the meditation and memory-recapturing. After a time, the cohort and crew hear beautiful singing coming from below, and the cohort goes down to see what's going on. As they stand and see Brianna singing to Atepa, suddenly a raven flashes past the group and flies right into Atepa's chest! Atepa falls backwards and begins convulsing, and Cliodhna runs over to him and kneels by his side. She worriedly asks Brianna if Atepa is all right-- staring at his chest and expecting to see a gaping hole-- but his chest is unharmed. Brianna calms her down, telling her that this is how the ravens bring and deposit the memories they carry, and that the more Brianna is allowed to meditate with Atepa, the faster the process will go. Cliodhna stands, brushes off her pants, and tells Brianna to carry on-- hustling the cohort back up the stairs.
Exhausted after a long day, Brianna and Atepa enter their cabin. Atepa falls immediately asleep as Brianna curls up behind him, her arm wrapped snugly around his torso. Brianna holds him for a long time, eyes closed as she relives the memories Atepa shared with her. Finally she too drifts off into Slumber, arm still clinging protectively, possessively, around Atepa.
The trip seems to pass by quickly. Soon they are pulling into the harbor at Stygia, where they can see the ships are in a flurry of activity. As they draw near, another ship moves out to stop them.
�Halt! None are allowed to approach the city,� the harbormaster calls from his perch on the other ship.
Cliodhna calls back that they are under orders from the governor of New York to request reinforcements for their home-- they have reason to believe that the Blighted Sun is mounting another attack. The harbormaster retorts that they have problems of their own-- the Amenti are believed to be mounting an attack on them, and they can spare no men. Cliodhna�s words fall on deaf ears as she requests to be able to dock, and so, defeated, they return to the Tempest and head back home.
The number of birds following the ship has diminished only slightly. Memory after memory is absorbed into Atepa, so many that Brianna can no longer keep up with it all. She spends most of her time with him, and during the rare occasions when he is not beset with another vision she watches him practice with her weapons, her wonder at seeing his skill is undiminished each time he takes up a blade. They sleep at night curled up next to each other, and wake in each other�s arms, but Atepa still seems oblivious to most of the outside world. His attention remains inwards, though on rare occasions his eyes will follow Brianna as she walks around the room, and sometimes he will even follow her without prompting. She continues to speak softly to him, talking of her feelings, their experiences together, and her life without him these past ten years. She always hopes for an answer, but still he does not utter a sound.
The ship finally nears New York. As they draw closer, they can see pandemonium has broken out. People rushing back and forth...great activity is happening and they are anxious to dock to find out what is going on. When the Ulysses docks, armed men approach and act suspicious until the ship is completely searched, at which point the men apologize to the cohort and allow them to leave the ship. What is going on? They hurry to the Governor�s office in the Twin Towers and are shown right up to Paul, who has worry etched all over his face. They can see a large map of the city hanging on the wall with the northern-most section marked off in red, and learn that the Spectres attacked the city soon after they left for Stygia, and the Hall of the Penitant had fallen. Night has already come, so Paul tells them to report to the front tomorrow morning to join in the fighting. He tells them to scan the perimeter and report back what they find, and the cohort salutes and leaves.
The group splits up for the night-- Brianna leaving with Atepa, Ray and Jonny going to their respective resting-places, and Cliodhna and Aaron-- too restless and used to war to sleep-- go right to the front. Cliodhna and Aaron split up, and Cliodhna goes invisible and makes her inspection of the spectre-boundary. The spectres are very organized, and there are none standing by themselves or trying to break into Hierarch-held land. Cliodhna curses under her breath in frustration-- she wanted to try to capture a spectre to bring in for interrogation. Her Shadow pipes up again-- as it seems to do at all the wrong times-- and tells her it can bring her a spectre. She mentally argues with her Shadow for a time, and finally agrees to let the Shadow bring a spectre to her...as long as it has some intelligence that they can glean from it.
The Shadow tells Cliodhna where to stand, and reluctly she does. She hears a familiar voice and turns around-- it's Longtooth! She silently yells at her Shadow for being a smart-ass and tricking her, but the Shadow only protests that it was following her specifications when it called Longtooth. Longtooth looks to be in a very bad mood, so Cliodhna immediately starts sending out her mental energy to put him to sleep. He strides quickly up to her as she struggles against his willpower in vain, and as he swings his blade at her, she ducks agilly under all of his blows. She realizes that she cannot capture or destroy him, so she goes invisible again and flickeres further and further away until she's safe.
Cliodhna reports to the front as the men are settling down for a restless night of sleep. She sees that the Wraiths who have guns have been sent up into the buildings to act as snipers, and goes up to join them. She's excited to find Lucky's men there chatting, and joins in their conversation, making herself comfortable as the night passes away.
The next morning the group meets up early before the battle begins and goes to Lucky's to see if Angelo has found William. He hasn't, and tells them that he has no idea where William could be. He advises that they try the church or the Doomslayers to see if they know anything. The cohort visits both, but no one has seen William. Ash tells them that he will put out a search for William, and the group hurries back to report to the governor. They tell Paul that no one knows where William is, and Paul looks very concerned now, but can't stop to think about it-- they have a battle about to begin. He asks what they have seen at the perimeter, and Cliodhna reports about the spectres' being organized, grouped together in large groups, but not pushing over the boundary as of yet. Paul thanks her for the news, and the cohort hurries to join in the fighting at the front.
As they make their way north, Brianna unhooks her mask from Hope�s saddle. As soon as it touches her face, it melds into her skin, disappearing. Immediately her skin darkens, her platinum blonde hair turns to coal and her eyes turn black. Her features change, and now she has the appearance of an ancient Egyptian woman, with gold jewelry adorning her arms, encircling her neck, and hanging from an intricate headpiece. Brianna�s confidence is bolstered and she feels stronger somehow, more capable of fighting and less afraid.
The streets are filled with worried-looking wraiths. The living still move about, unaware of the momentous events happening all around them, going about their daily lives as usual. Brianna walks alongside her horse, one hand resting lightly on it�s back and the other holding onto Atepa�s hand. He walks alongside her, face upturned to study the buildings they pass, his expression untroubled. Brianna worries about what she is taking him into, but she knows that she cannot leave him alone. Without her to protect him, he would be too vulnerable. Too many people are looking for him.
They finally arrive at the battlefront. The marshall leading all the troops is outlaying his battle-plan. Cliodhna frowns, eyebrows lowering. She knows immediately that the plan is faulty and weak, and stops the marshall in mid-sentence to tell him so. The marshall looks furious and orders her to obey him. Cliodhna studies him for a moment, and then folds her arms across her chest and defies him. She leans in and says in a deadly, low voice that he is going to be responsible for the deaths of many valiant wraiths by his stupidity. The marshall's mouth gapes open in shock, and Cliodhna takes the opportunity to yell some orders to the men...but it is too late. Rips start appearing in the air before them, and howling, shrieking specters pour out of the rents in the Shadowlands, slavering and screeching for their deaths.
Brianna quickly unsheathes her gladius and hands it to Atepa. He takes it and looks at her curiously, but she is too busy unstrapping her quarterstaff from Hope to take notice. Cliodhna shouts for the men to charge, and takes a small group to forge a breech through the spectres to weaken them. She has no control over the army-- no time to train them in the deadly formations she knows could save their lives. All she can do is try to control the men who immediately surround her. They fight through the spectres slowly, and suddenly Cliodhna notices that a group of spectres with guns is filing to the left of the battlefield. Ray also notices this, and sprouts his wings and flies over to them to distract them-- hoping that Cliodhna and her group of men can make it over to him soon. But the spectres are too strong, and Cliodhna's group can't push through fast enough to stop the gunmen. Their bullets tear through the defenseless Wraiths, and the Heirach body-count suddenly soars. Cliodhna looks around her and realizes that the Hierarchy is outnumbered 3 to 1.
Brianna turns just as the specters are upon them and lashes out with her weapon to fend off a blow. She moves to Atepa�s side where he has already been caught up in the battle, swinging the sword like it is an extension of his own arm. Her attention is diverted as another spectre moves in on her and soon she is battling for her life. Back and forth she and her opponent fight, neither gaining much advantage until the creature scores a hit directly across her belly. Gasping in pain, Brianna whirls, taking the creature by surprise. She lashes out with her hand, slapping it firmly along it�s misshapen shoulder. She squeezes, then a dull green glow begins to move up her arm from the beast. The wound on her stomach closes as she leeches the life force from the spectre before her, and soon she is again whole. She can hear a tittering laugh in the back of her mind as her Shadow feeds on the angst she has given it.
Shrugging off the voice she glances at Atepa, reassuring herself that he is still all right. His face is smooth and devoid of expression as he battles his opponents, Brianna wonders if he even really realizes what is happening. She has no more time to think before another foe finds her, and again she is fighting for her life.
There is confusion back behind her-- Cliodhna and the others seem to be shouting something but she can�t make it out...it is all they can do to hold their positions, there are so many specters everywhere! Where before she was surrounded by her companions, now they have spread out and all she can see are the grey-black forms of the obliviated crashing through the battle. Then she hears Cliodhna�s voice again, this time calling for a retreat. Brianna backs up and can see tens of thousands of specters coming towards them, killing everything in their path. Brianna grabs Atepa�s arm and pulls him back.
�Quickly! On the horse!� she commands, and he obeys without hesitation. Brianna protects Atepa, beating back another spectre, then is surprised to see Atepa reaching his hand out to her. She takes it, and he lifts her effortlessly into the saddle before him. He holds her tightly as she gives Hope the command to run, and they follow the rest of the soldiers as they flee from the battlefield.
After what seems like hours, the sound of pursuit fades. Wounded men and women collapse where they stand, and medics arrive to begin helping them. Brianna immediately dismounts, Atepa following close behind. She begins to move through the remaining soldiers, offering words of comfort, praise at their bravery, and reassurance that they are not defeated yet.
Atepa follows close behind, his face a mask of sorrow as he sees the destruction that the specters have wrought. The cries of the wounded and dying fill the air, and tears begin to fall from Atepa�s eyes. It breaks Brianna�s heart to see him so upset. Perhaps he sees more around him than she previously thought. A medic takes them aside and heals the minor wounds they sustained in the battle. As this is happening, Brianna can see Cliodhna and Aaron confronting the marshall who had so botched the defense of the city. Aaron actually strikes him, and then in a fury stalks off in the direction of the spectres while the marshall watches him go in shock. Cliodhna is in the marshall's face in a heartbeat, blaming him for losing the battle, and then throws her hands up in disguat, sprouts her wings, and flies off to speak with the governor about what has happened.
Brianna, Ray and Jonny all follow, Brianna taking Atepa�s hand and pulling him firmly along beside her. His face is still twisted in sorrow, and he hangs his head as he walks. Brianna feels terrible that his innocence has been shattered so abruptly...never again will his eyes be clear of pain or suffering, never will he look on the world with complete trust again. Brianna sighs sadly and squeezes his hand, smiling at him when he turns to look at her. He looks at her for a moment, right at her, studying her face, then his gaze again drops to the ground as they continue walking. Brianna feels a thrill of elation at this small victory, but it is short-lived as they arrive at the massive Twin Towers buildings.
When they are granted an audience with the Governor, Brianna stands behind Cliodhna, listening to the grievances she puts to Paul the Younger. He looks at the Oracle and she nods her head, backing up Cliodhna�s report. The group explains that it�s imperative the governor finds better leaders for the fight-- the men are demoralized and New York has suffered a serious defeat in the battle. Paul looks troubled, but he thanks the cohort for bringing them the news so quickly. He tells them that the army will take the offensive at dawn, and to report for duty at sunrise at the last outpost of their men.
Glad for the respite, Brianna takes Atepa with her back to the Swarian section of New York, and Jonny, Ray, and Cliodhna return to their places at the front, hoping that Aaron has cooled off by now. Jonny and Ray find their calling in trying to cheer up the demoralized troops while Cliodhna moves through the army trying to organize them the best she can. Brianna finds that her room in Swar is still being held for her, and she gratefully thanks Veruka Singh. She is exhausted and aching from the battle, and she is very worried about Atepa. He is still staring despondently at the ground, not taking any notice in his surroundings.
They enter the darkened room together where Brianna gratefully tosses their weapons to the floor. She immediately turns to Atepa, tilting his head slightly so he is looking at her. His ageless eyes stare back at her, right into her. His sorrow is deep, and it seems to reach out and envelop her, wrapping her in a blanket of sadness. She can feel his pain, and shares it with her own.
�I�m so sorry, my love,� Brianna whispers, reaching up and pulling Atepa close to her. �I would protect you from this if I could, but it is not to be. We have all been forged in the conflict with Markova, strengthened and tested, so that we might better fight him. I wish I knew if you could understand me..� she breaks off, staring intently at Atepa.
Atepa is looking at her now, eyes alert and aware. For the first time, Brianna is certain that he can really sees her. �Atepa?� She asks quietly, afraid to move, afraid that the moment will end. Atepa slowly raises his hand and lightly touches her cheek, caressing her skin. Brianna closes her eyes and lets out a soft sigh, skin tingling from his light touch.
When she opens her eyes, he is still staring at her with the same expression. He studies her intently, and reaches to touch her face again. He runs his fingers over her cheek, across her lips and down to her throat as if trying to memorize her features with his hands.
Brianna backs shakily away, hands going to her face where the skin still tingles from his touch. Grasping her mask she pulls it from her face and tosses it to the floor. Her hair tumbles from her shoulders in golden waves, and her blue eyes are deep as pools, drinking in the sight of the man in front of her. Her skin is again as pale and smooth as alabaster, and her face resumes its natural features. Atepa looks at her with curiosity, then steps closer again.
His fingers resume their study of her face, lightly touching her with a careful caress. His face is a mask of concentration as this new task absorbs him. His nearness is intoxicating, sending fire racing along Brianna�s body. She begins to tremble, feeling her tightly reined control slipping. �Atepa..please..� she whispers, but he doesn�t appear to hear her. His hands move down to her neck and shoulders, and Brianna can take no more.
She reaches up and pulls him to her, kissing him deeply, filled with the passion of ten years of wanting. He responds instinctively, but this time Brianna does not have the willpower to stop herself. She hungrily kisses him again, holding onto him as a lifeline when the world spins away beneath her.
Meanwhile, the cohort tries to rest with the army, wondering what will happen to them when daylight comes. Suddenly the govenor and his guards arrive. The governor flies to the top of a building and makes an incredible speech that rouses the hearts of everyone who hears it. The crowd roars when he asks if they would let the spectres take their city, or if they would fight for what was theirs? The Grim Legion starts chanting "I brought my weapon, my weapon is me!" louder and louder until soon the entire army is shouting the phrase. Cliodhna feels her heart swell with pride, and a new strength courses through her veins. The army should have been exhausted, but the words of their governor have rejuvenated them!
Leaping down from the building, Paul begins to shout orders for getting the soldiers to form up. He directs the melee-fighters to form three columns, for those with guns to form columns on either side of the melee-group-- as the spectres had done earlier-- and for those who could fly to wait in the buildings for his signal, and then fly around and flank the spectres. When everyone is in position, Paul raises his sword, yells for the army to attack, and he, himself, goes ahead of the group to lead the fight.
The battle is over quickly, and when the dust settles all the land that had been previously lost to the spectres is back in Hierarch possession. The army of New York is ecstatic and cheers Paul's name with respect, awe, and enthusiasm. Cliodhna is stunned into silence. Never before has she seen anything like this-- a leader so skilled and charismatic, and an army come back from such defeat to take back what was theirs! She silently watches Paul in amazement-- he seems to radiate confidence and power and give energy to everyone near him. Cliodhna realizes that she has some lessons she could learn from him-- especially his way with people-- and makes her way through the cheering throng to congratulate him.
Wraith Side-Story 1: "After the Masks Fall"