Jackal Among Snakes

Anneliese walked as quietly as she could to the door, peered in, then looked at Argrave. She took him by the sleeve, and together, they both walked to a nearby rock and sat. Argrave cast a ward, lest Sophia overhear their conversation, and then Anneliese began. “Hause had much to say. And I had many questions to ask.”

“It seems that way. Took her hours to fall asleep. Had to bring out my pets, then stand by the doorway.” Argrave looked at her, waiting for her answer.

“Argrave, it…” she looked at the doorway. “I think I have some inkling that you care for Sophia.”

“What gave it away, the huge time commitment? I’ve been awake for thousands of hours, you know, seeing this girl endure the same torment time and time again. Elenore likes her, and you know she’s hard to please. I think you do, too. I mean, how could you not? Sophia’s just a kid, and she’s been treated worse than anyone ever has.”

Anneliese crossed her arms. “Do you intend to raise her?”

Argrave sighed. “Yeah. Elenore had some ideas. Introduce her as another of Felipe’s kids, or maybe tie her to one of his brothers—she’d be a niece. We can keep her close, justify the special attention we place on her.”

“But you would almost have to entirely ignore the reason that she needed to be brought here in the first place.”

Argrave had been dreading answering that question, and so lashed out, “Could you stop beating around the bush and just tell me what Hause said, please?”

“Sophia is exactly what we need to end the cycle of judgment. With her, it’s possible.” Anneliese paused to take a deep breath, and Argrave beckoned her to continue. “This is just my conjecture based off Hause’s vision, but I believe Sophia is what keeps the cycle acting as a cycle. She provides the means for the circle to keep spinning.”

“Meaning…”

“Meaning, since she’s no longer trapped, I suspect this cycle will become a do-or-die moment. A huge climax, as all the powers of the world converge to decide its fate. Only, Sophia is the keyhole. Without her, no one has any say. With her, someone has all the say.”

Argrave tried to wrap his head around that, then looked at Anneliese plainly. “Why the hell was Hause so jittery? Can you tell me that?”

“Sophia… her ability, whatever it is, isn’t related to time. It’s quite literally creation. What we saw back there, that place, Sandelabara… most likely, Sophia didn’t rewind things. She quite literally recreated them. And moreover, the things that you saw, they’re likely something conjured from Sophia’s mind. Norman probably wasn’t truly that powerful. And you…”

Argrave stood up. “Hold on, hold on. But my memories… me, I’m all the same. I’m all put together. Sophia didn’t know me, but I stayed the same.”

Anneliese looked equally as confused as Argrave as she shook her head. “I know. I’ve yet to make sense of the idea myself. Perhaps the Ravenstone did protect you from her interfering with your mind. Perhaps, because you were new, you weren’t as mutable. Or perhaps Sophia rebuilt you to be her protector. To be strong enough to kill Norman. To be… emotionally attached to her,” she said gently.

“She’s seven,” Argrave disagreed. “No one is that conniving at seven.”

“I’m not saying it was something she did wittingly. You said yourself she was being torn apart by those Heralds.” Anneliese gestured. “And we don’t have an understanding of what occurred in that loop. Perhaps she changed you to like her, to protect her.”

Argrave dangled the necklace with the black stone on his neck. “You said you were certain I wouldn’t be affected because of the Ravenstone.”

“I was,” Anneliese nodded. “I am. I can see it shielding you, even now, and I was positive that it would work within the bounds of her loop. Her power is so far beyond anything Hause has ever seen, however. It might be possible, that…”

“You’re saying I might’ve become the Ship of Theseus?” Argrave walked back up to her.

Anneliese blinked. “I’m not sure… what that means.”

“Forget about it. Forget it,” Argrave waved his hand. “I’m me. I know I’m me. You know I’m me, right?”

“You never fool me, no matter how hard you try,” Anneliese said in sarcastic assurance.

“If I think about it for too long, my head is going to burst, so we’re going to put the whole notion of who I am aside.” Argrave stroked his forehead. “But how does Sophia’s power being that of creation have any impact on what Gerechtigkeit? How is she the keyhole? Is it because… they’re opposites, somehow? Destruction, creation?” Argrave pointed his finger as something came to him. “Twin brother, twin sister?”

Anneliese furrowed her brows. “I cannot speak to that comment. But Sophia is likely what allows Gerechtigkeit to manifest. She’s also likely what allows him to survive after death. And, most relevant to our endeavors… she is the only one that can allow us to pursue Gerechtigkeit beyond the pale, and end the cycle. I told you that she was one half of an unimaginable whole.” Anneliese lowered her head. “Well, Sophia is one half of the cycle of judgment. The other half? Gerechtigkeit. Or so Hause claims.”

Argrave gripped his forehead now as his headache mounted. He hadn’t wanted it to be true, but it seemed his thoughts about this whole endeavor might prove to be all too sadly true. Was Griffin actually Gerechtigkeit? Were these twins of opposing polarities the cycle? There was only circumstantial evidence for it, but it was almost storybook in how much sense it made.

Anneliese’s steady voice interrupted his whirling mind. “Do you know why Mozzahr really came here?”

Argrave looked at her. “Why’s that important now? Because he came here at the word of the Heralds? We’ll talk to Dario, believe me. I got Melanie and half the nation looking after him, while the other half is watching Sophia.”

“No,” Anneliese shook her head. “I attempt to illustrate something.”

“Then paint the picture,” Argrave indulged patiently.

“I think he came because of Mial,” Anneliese said simply. “He came to free his daughter. He came to defeat you and make or break the delusion he’d been festering for years. He’d either prove to her, once and for all, that he was a god worthy of worship… or shatter that notion utterly. But in either case, he just wanted to free her.”

Argrave shook his head. “Are you sure? He’s not the type.”

“People change,” Anneliese nodded. “And if you’ve changed, if that small child in there became like a daughter to you, one way or the other…”

Anneliese didn’t finish speaking, but her point was only made all the clearer by that fact.

“Is parenthood really that complicated? Good lord…” Argrave stroked his head.

“Whatever path you walk, I’ll be with you,” Anneliese assured. “I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Come wind or rain, you and I will walk our path ‘til it ends.”

“Our path won’t end,” Argrave told her with a shake of his head. “Still, I appreciate your candor.”

“Sophia roused, by the way,” Anneliese tilted her head. “She’s trying to act like she’s sleeping, but she’s not.”

Argrave held his hand out to her. “Let’s go talk her back to sleep.”

“It’s a long day tomorrow,” Anneliese cautioned.

“I’ve already been awake a few thousand hours. What’s a few more?”

As Argrave and Anneliese walked to speak to Sophia, a thought did linger on his mind. Had Sophia changed him? Since he first remembered entering that place, he’d always been a little sympathetic to her situation. But why? Was it just a human thing, or was it something deeper? And even if Argrave could cut past the situation to think objectively, would he care to? Looking at his fennec fox, snug in Sophia’s arms as she tried to act asleep, doubt bubbled.

#####

“He’s in here?” Argrave looked at Melanie. “Awake?”

She stood there with arms crossed, peering into the cell. “Yeah. Took off all that artificing stuff, put it where he couldn’t get it unless he was some kind of freak. But Dario… he’s mighty ruined.”

“Can he talk?” Anneliese peered into the dark room.

“He talked long enough to spill about Mozzahr. After that… quiet. I think he still can, but it’s a matter of ‘will.’”

“How’d you get him to talk before?” He studied her.

“Must be my irresistible charm.” Melanie shrugged.

Argrave gestured inside. “Got any left?”

Melanie rolled her shoulders. “I mean… I suppose I can try.”

“By the way… you might’ve said thousands of lives, getting Dario to confess. And mine, on top of all of that.” Argrave pointed his finger. “I haven’t forgotten that. Won’t forget it, not for a second.”

Melanie shook her head. “It’s fine. I don’t want anything.”

She entered into the room where Dario awaited. Argrave sat there blinking, and looked at Anneliese. She seemed just as surprised. The two of them gathered themselves, then followed after her to get answers from Dario.