Jackal Among Snakes

There was some small respite from the constant necessity of tending to the situation in the Great Chu. Their armies were, for a time, at a stalemate brought about by partial control of the enemy’s commanding officers. Any assault that was to come, either from the heavens or from the ground, was something they were amply prepared for. Law and the other gods made their presence more felt on the shores of the Great Chu every second, but until something decisive happened to tip the balance, they didn’t have much hope. Hopefully, that ‘something’ would come at the hands of Governor Zen.

But there was trouble back home—trouble that was somewhat resolving itself, yet still needed a direct hand. Sophia.

Argrave opened the door to their bedroom, where Sophia had been staying ever since her toys had come to life and then died. She was lying down, but upon hearing the door open, she jolted upright. Argrave entered, and Anneliese followed soon after. Waiting behind them was Elenore.

“You don’t want to come in?” Argrave asked Elenore in a whisper.

“I…” Elenore crossed her arms. “Perhaps later.”

Both of them nodded, then left her to watch at the doorway.

“Hey, Sophia,” Argrave said affectionately. “We’d like to have a talk, the three of us. Are you up for it?”

Sophia nodded, her red eyes wide and scared. They moved to sit down, one of them on each side of her.

Argrave and Anneliese had been checking in on her occasionally, but she was rather despondent most times, and their other duties kept them unable to commit to anything serious. This issue, untreated, could become an infected wound. Given the gravity of Sophia’s future, it was something that needed to be tended to.

“How are you feeling?” Argrave asked, to begin with.

“I’m fine.” Sophia lowered her head.

Argrave brought his legs up onto the bed and turned his body. “I think we all know that’s not true. We have to talk about what happened. About the lives you created, at our urging.”

“I didn’t know they would all die. I just want them back. Back to the way they were… they didn’t need to talk, to do anything.” Sophia wiped at her face.

“But the fact is they did,” Anneliese said, not unkindly. “And you still have the potential inside you to create yet more. That is the matter at hand.”

“I’m never gonna do it again,” Sophia shook her head fiercely, black hair whipping about. “I don’t want to. They’ll die. I don’t… I don’t want to be able to do this.”

Argrave got off the bed and kneeled down until he looked Sophia in the eyes. “Creating life isn’t a bad thing, Sophia. You were born—a life created. As was I. As was Anneliese. Life can be made, and life can end. These are two incontrovertible facts.”

“Incont… incontro…” Sophia furrowed her brows in confusion.

“It means it cannot be denied,” Anneliese explained, putting her hand on Sophia’s shoulder. “You, Sophia, can create life. Most living things can. The ease at which you do it does not make it wrong. It does, however, place a large responsibility on your shoulders. Lives carelessly created can… well, they can exist as Mr. Knight did. And they can stop, too.”

Silence stretched between the three of them, and Sophia wiped tears from her eyes as foul memories came back. “If it’s not a bad thing, why do I feel so bad?”

“The fact that you feel that is natural. And if you ever don’t feel it, that’ll be cause to worry. Lives are… complex things, that neither Anneliese nor I can describe to you briefly.

I wanted to pay you back, Argrave. I

digested what she said. “That’s a noble thing on your end. But where you went wrong, Sophia—and where we did, for pushing you so hard—is trying to impose your will on the life of another being. I don’t think you did so on purpose. But one of the important

yet did not

and your mother were the two people that created you. They are responsible for your life. Norman tried to impose upon you what he wanted you to do. He wanted you to do terrible, evil things,

Sophia began to tremble.

never wanted any of that stuff to happen, nor did you want to do what he did. And because you were a life unto yourself, you never adapted those tendencies. You became far, far, better

and her face immediately warped to horror as she wrapped her mind around what Argrave was saying.

at all,” Argrave assured her. “But the thing that Anneliese and I worry about, is that it could become similar. That’s why we intend to impart some lessons

within a person’s head. Argrave believed that was much of the reason people turn to ideas or concepts greater than themselves, larger than themselves—an inner struggle with this subjective understanding. Philosophies and religion offered answers that could be accepted or rejected, but even if one took them to be true, the existence of free will

has been stolen; if detected on

when

lowered her head. “I’m

Anneliese patted Sophia on the back. “We’ll help you understand. Argrave told

step of the way, we’ll be here with

while, she looked up with a brave face and asked, “Argrave, did you mean it when… did you mean it when you said that I’m… that

nodded resolutely.

I mean, my

family need not always be those you are born to. Argrave and I are family by virtue of marriage. Many of those around us,

to, we can be family. And we’ll never

for a hug, but perhaps it was interpreted that way. Sophia lunged off the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Argrave was surprised for a few

felt it was time to mention the real purpose they’d come here. It was somewhat haunting, so Argrave took a deep breath and prepared himself. “Sophia, on that point… one of

up at him in mute

explained with

couldn’t meet

the responsibility you carry, Anneliese and I think it’s best

and only after some time mumbled, “He scares

him truly alive. We’ll fix this. We’ll help you take responsibility for his

Argrave feared they’d overreached, but she nodded.

#####

Elenore walked through quietly, and Sophia slept beneath the

Sophia asked in recognition, blinking tired

you,” Elenore said, then sat on her bedside. “I thought you

okay. I don’t mind,” Sophia