Isopia stands semi-encased in stone strangely still. She is like a single candle that refuses to so much as flicker during a hurricane. Her eyes, bright burnt gold seem to swell with a benevolence that doesn't suit her at all. I know. I'm so, so- Isopia's quad-horned skull dips gently as if it is within her power to somehow absolve Kaos of this grotesque oversight. It isn't of course, which is largely what makes her current countenance so strange. So disquieting. "We all have things to learn." She offers ambiguously, sounding as though her words might carry some hidden, heavy and ancient meaning that only Kaos will understand.
Mom, please-
Isopia's eyes unfocus for a moment and her body stills. It is as if she is listening to something very far away; mentally trying to tune-into a radio station that is full of static. Her eyes temporarily narrow as if this might help, and as Otem wails again, one of Isopia's ears twitches ever so slightly.
Mom,
Finally, the demi-goddess turns her head away from where the river has swallowed up the young god. She stares at Otem as if looking at a mirror so dusty that it's impossible to see what the reflection is meant to be. Again her eyes narrow and she holds her breath, fishing around in the vast expanses of her mind for ..
for-
family.
Understanding sparks in The Mountain's gaze and her eyes focus. "Otem. She murmurs, then allows herself a moment to scan the crowd for the others that she's left behind. Mauna and Vulkan. .. Zero and Volterra, Amaris..Alysanne..Yael.. that Isopia's list of names to whom she owes a goodbye is so long is rather astonishing given how she lived her life, but then again those listed were far from ordinary. "You are far stronger than you know." Isopia whispers to her daughter with all the warmth she has ever been able to muster. "You will be alright without me."
Fixed in place by the stone, Isopia turns to seek out Vulkán who has positioned himself rather stoically by his twin. She marvels silently by how similar and yet different the two children are. "You are quite right Vulkán, I am not an illusion, but death ... it is not what you think it is." Her smile falters for a moment, "The blood of my father helps to shield me. It is why I am not like her." Briefly Isopia looks to Ampere; thunderhead that was. "But I cannot stay. Now listen to me, wisdom and knowledge are different things my clever boy. Only experience grants wisdom, no matter how knowledgable you become. Do not forget its importance."
Stone begins to grow up Isopia's legs, just as her magic had allowed it to do when she was alive. Looking down, Isopia regards this change with mute curiosity, contemplating silently and quickly what the implications are.
time is running out
But it wasn't, not yet anyways. Only the old gods knew when time would run out. But for Isopia anyways, time was running short.
Unlike Volterra, Isopia is not marinating in memories. Stretched long by the moments of her death and all of the impossibly manner moments between that and now, Isopia has had long to ponder her life and her relationships. In her current spiritual state she is not wounded by Volterra's many lovers the way she was when life filled her veins. She has seen things in death that make her incapable of feeling that sort of resentment or loss anymore, and only now feels love for him. "Volterra." She breathes, her long eye lashes coated with small pinpoints of tears which catch the light in her golden eyes. "Love them." Her lips tremble slightly as the granite moves up her shoulders to cover her back and begins to work out to her wing tips. "I will be with you in the rain and the earth, and when all of your battles are won, join me...but that time is not yet. This place is not like Helovia, treat it as such." Her lips close and her heart breaks. There hadn't been time before to say goodbye, there had only been her responsibility. She had given in, and death had been easy and without emotion. But now was so different. "I love you. Always and forever."
Quickly the rock takes the base of her wings, forcing Isopia to cut short what should have been a much lengthier goodbye, for there are others to whom a debt is owed. Isopia cannot see any of those who she would consider friends, and so she tries to catch her youngest child's gaze, and to hold it, since she can no longer move to meet him. Unsure whether or not her magic will have come on this momentary respite from the afterlife, Isopia tries to conjure the protective dragon-shaped masses of earth to protect her son. "Mauna. I left you too soon." She calls, her voice striding through the chaos like a warm breeze. And then the moment is spoiled by Isopia's pause, for she doesn't know what else to say. She hardly knows the small life, born of earth and lightning. Not one for emotional sentiments anyways, Isopia merely shakes her head, internally musing what a terrible parent she has turned out to be. "Just be good." She whispers, opening her eyes which had been closed momentarily to block the tears which wanted to fall.
time to go, time to go
time
.....to
....GO!
"ZERO." the demi-goddess that was calls out, trying to find the eyes of her sunbeam friend through Ampere and Tae's furious advances. "COME WITH ME-" Zero had been there when she was named, when she first explored. He'd been there for her through heart aches, mistakes, reunions and more mistakes. He'd listened, learned, and loved her for everything that she was and had never wished her to be anything more than that. This world wasn't for them. There were worlds other than these to explore, and Iso's heart yearned to share the freshness of the afterlife with her oldest friend. "The whales Zero!" She tried again, although now the granite had begun to work up her throat and speaking was beginning to be difficult. "There are whales that carry entire worlds through the stars! Whales who name stars, like Pushta named me! Zero!" Her cries were like those of her daughter, youthful and pleading. She needed him with her, for who else was there for her, but him? Her twins needed their Father (as did the rest of his brood). Mauna would have Iskra, and the two would take care of one another.
"Come with me!" She called again as light begun to burst from inside of her rock-body. The Mountain's eyes were golden and saucer-like as they frantically but silently pleaded. She had no words now, for the stone had closed the muscles around her throat, but her eyes - her eyes still spoke volumes.
As more spirits poured from out of the river with Kaos still enveloped by his mistakes and hubris, Isopia new that her time had come. Light bled from her stone body as it began to crack and crumble. Zero would either come into the light with her now, or she would spend eternity after eternity waiting for him - and the rest of her family - to join her.
Isopia
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
|
Scint River
