Infinite 01 - Infinite Sacrifice

courageously stays to either stab the beasts or perish. The elephants start to fall in massive heaps in the streets. One of them goes through a wall, causing a whole building to collapse upon it. Once an elephant falls, the soldiers pounce on the elephant handler in rage. Each remaining elephant is led off in different directions. All goes quiet as they disappear. The women are silent at the horror of what they witnessed. I have a new understanding of how terrified Arcen must have been in battle. I could never have dreamed of these kinds of atrocities and total disregard for life. We hear men running down to the square and see six Citizens’ Army men turning around at a familiar voice.
    Theodon calls to them, “Stop running! I order you to face this beast together! It’s our only chance!”
    They gather and steady for the command to throw their spears. The elephant comes into view and speeds right toward the cluster. I spring up, pull away from Ophira’s tight hold, and run out the door with Nereus’s knife in hand. I stand on the steps of the building as the men release their spears and dash out of the way to every direction. I watch as the furious beast turns around and charges at two of the men, crushing one under its feet and throwing the other with its tusks. I gasp as Theodon catches the elephant’s back leg with a rope, stands on it, and sticks his spear into its flank as it turns on him. The beast tries to get away, but Theodon pulls the spear back out, runs around to the other side, and thrusts it in its flank with an earth-shaking death cry. He steps back as the elephant staggers and falls onto the statue of Leonidas, tipping it over and shattering the hero king into meaningless pieces.
    My eyes well up with pride as I look upon the baby who was once too weak to cry.
    Satisfied he’s safe, I start back up the stairs but halt when I hear another trumpeting. I turn to see a different beast coming down the other direction, handlerless and out of control. It has a spear stuck deep in its flank, painting its stone-skin with blood. Theodon has little time to react but manages to raise his shield in front of him as the elephant tosses him against the building. I fly down the steps with Nereus’s knife raised, hoping I can get there in time to protect him. Theodon lays motionless as the beast steps back to charge forward with its head down, intent on crushing him. I hit its head at full speed and stab into the spongy flesh of the snake. The elephant reels back trumpeting, shakes its massive head, and throws me. I hit the ground so hard I hear my bones crack on impact. I can’t move. I can only watch as Theodon struggles with the beast, spearing it, and hear its thunderous fall.
    “Mother!” he screams, rushing to my side. “Are you hurt?”
    I try to move but can’t, for the pain is unbearable. I lie back down but realize what he said.
    “Mother?” I gasp.
    “Ophira told me. She came to me weeks ago.” He then laughs slightly. “And only a mother would fight an elephant like that.”
    He tries to lift me up in his arms, but I wince at the pain of the movement.
    “Put me down. Leave me here.”
    He places his shield under me, lays me gently back down, and his voice begins to crack. “I should’ve come to you, but I was so ashamed—”
    I interrupt. “I’m proud of you and who you’ve become. I only gave you to Ophira to save you.”
    He nods. Tears escape down his tan cheeks as he kisses my head. “Rest now. Someone will come, and we’ll move you back in with the women.”
    He removes his cloak and bundles it under my head.
    But, tasting the blood in my mouth, already I know I don’t have much time. I cough weakly, registering sharp pain at doing so.
    “You must promise me something, Theodon.”
    “Anything.”
    “You must go and bring back Kali before she marries. Bring her back and marry her.”
    He looks confused. “She’s my sister?”
    “Yes, but no one else knows. You must marry her once you’re granted citizenship so she can own one of my houses. You can both marry others after, but take care of your sister.”
    He thinks about it for a moment. “I promise.”
    “Tell Ophira I’m sorry, and tell Kali I love her.” I cough more through the pain; it’s getting so hard to breathe. “And I love you, Theodon I always have.”
    I can hear his tears now.
    “Don’t go,” he whispers.
    I shut my eyes to rest.



* = Not present in that life

Third Life
    Pirates of the