The Path of Liämeh©

The Path of Liämeh© (Copy write May 27, 2006, Cameron Dawson)1

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If you stare long enough, at any being -- watching how they move, react, and speak...you will see into their future. Their future may be pleasant, or unpleasant, but you have to keep yourself quiet. Revealing one's future will cause great side-effects that will often end in your death.3

The name assigned to me is Liämeh -- I am an assassin created by the gods, to kill the gods. It may be just me who is able to predict one's future...but I can do it well...without flaw. I am neither male nor female not human or animal...I guess you can call me an immortal, or even a greater being; because the gods created me in a way I could not age, I could not die. My only purpose in life was to roam their created world and destroy any immortals I may come across.4

When I was born, or rather created, an angel came to visit me. Yet it was not an angel of peace, mercy, love, or even good; it was an angel of death. She blinded my vision so I could not see her, but I could sense she was no larger than me, and had wings that spread out like ripples in a clear and calm river. I could feel the shivering cold which blew against my naked body. But her words, her beautiful words and voice soothed me, to a point where I fell to my knees and closed my already blind eyes. She told me about my future, and all the suffering I will go through. She told me I will live forever, as long as there is life in this world. And that when all life is gone, that I will die, but I will not go to an afterlife. Instead, I will be reborn as a mortal in the god's world -- I will be their pawn, their slave. But, being the evil as which she was, she made me relaxed and told me who I must kill in order to evade this afterlife.5

My first assignment was a goddess of war, called Démay. It wasn't hard to find her; I just followed the path of death and destruction until I came to a building, or rather a camp which was surrounded by guards. It was then I discovered my first power; I could disguise myself as anyone or anything I kill. He was a lone guard in the back, distracted by a noise in the woods. I did not take his spear though, because I remember the angel telling me, the only way to kill an immortal is not actually by my hands, but by the blade of my knife. So I took my blessed weapon and concealed myself into the chambers of the goddess’s room; where she was sleeping.6

A strange force came over me when I saw her, a force which made my eyes burn, my hands glow, and my head spin; to a point where the world's gravity had just vanished. I managed to take one last look at the goddess before my vision was completely blurred, and my memory...my memory failed.7

I woke up where I started -- lying in a lost forest with no noise or life around. I get up, and look around.8

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The trees surrounding me seem so calm, so content. There was a mark on one of the trees which caught my attention. It was a dried liquid, red even. As I walk closer I find it is indeed the blood of a human. I place my hand over the mark to help get a smell, to help me determine who's blood is was...but was given much more. Not from the blood, no, I wish it were that simple -- but from a noise behind me. I turn around, and see nothing, yet the noise is still there -- coming from somewhere amongst the trees, from where I cannot see. I turn back at the scared tree, to see a figure behind it, suddenly hide its self from me. The sudden surprise shocks me, but I stay calm. I try to talk to the hiding figure, perhaps convince it to reveal itself.10

"Why don't you come out from hiding?"11

I didn't have to wait long before I received an answer. It was a female voice, a child yet -- she spoke to me in such soft words.12

"I'm afraid you may hurt me."13

I reply, "Why would I do that?"14

A short pause, and then she answers, "You are Liämeh, are you not?--The assassin of the gods?"15

I don't reply, confused with the question -- I didn't know anyone knew about me.16

She continues, "If you are...I need your help...please."17

"I doubt I'll be able to help you."18

"...but you have to! It's your job!"19

"No...I'm not here to help people."20

I begin to walk away, trying to avoid the disappointment in her eyes. As each step goes by, I feel a little more relieved, a little less worried -- but the girl didn't give up.21

She asks, "It's tearing you up inside, isn't it?"22

I stop my steps, and close my eyes. Those words drove me mad. I open my eyes and turn to the girl.23

I yell, "You don't know what I am! I am a killer, and nothing else! I don't help, I don't pity, I don't remorse...I take life away, and do not value it. Do you understand?!"24

She looks at me with her dedicated eyes and the fear which now covered her face.25

She answers, "Yes, I understand. But I don't think you do, completely. Yes, you are a killer, but you are something else -- something much greater then you may think you are."26

I ask, "And what would that be?"27

"You are a god."28

I laugh at the reply, "You must be kidding! I am not a god! I was created by the gods, for the gods...not to be with the gods."29

My smile soon deteriorates, when I see she has created her own little, unique, smile.30

I ask, "What?"31

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She keeps her little smile but and walks away. I don't trust her -- and try my hardest to ignore her and her attempts in controlling me. Hours pass as I walk aimlessly through the forest, trying to get a feel of the land, or find anything of value. Although I do not find anything, I soon find myself coughing and stumbling over nothing. My throat is dry, and it hurts to swallow. I don't know why but I soon see a wavy figure forming in front of me. Could it be? Has the angel of death returned to me? I take one last breath before my vision fails; once again, I know it is her. I fall to knees gasping for air. It felt like my lungs were full of water, and dust -- though no matter how much I try to clear my throat it seems to become only worse than before.33

They angel's sweet voice speaks to me. "...Liämeh."34

Although I cannot reply, or see who is speaking to me, I turn my head in the direction of her voice.35

"...Liämeh, what are you doing?"36

Her question tears into me with great pain, what the hell does she mean 'what I am doing?' I regain enough strength to makes out two words.37

I reply, "I'm dying."38

She takes her sweet time to look at me.39

"Yes... You are."40

With each passing word it seems I regain more of my strength.41

I ask, "Can you not help me?"42

"I could. But why should I?"43

I lower my head to gasp another breath.44

She continues, "Liämeh... Are you not doing your job?"45

Once again, I fail to reply.46

She laughs, "Can you not reply?"47

The anger inside of me builds. I try to yell at her, but it comes out as only a whisper.48

"Is this a joke to you?"49

She answers, "Not a joke, do you know why you're suffering?"50

I try to think, but I'm distracted by the pain clouding my entire body. Although it doesn't take me long to gain the knowledge. It was so simple, yet so, cruel.51

I calmly reply, "Punishment."52

I can feel her soft hand press down on my shoulder, and create some sort of halo over my body. The pain disappears and I soon gain enough strength to once again lift my body from the ground. My vision soon comes back to me, but the angel has already vanished. I swallow my pride as I know what I must now do.53

I look for signs that may lead me to the village where the corrupt god or goddess was hiding. I soon find tracks of the girl that visited me. I look back, and again forward. It's strange, but it seems I've been following her tracks this entire time. I head in the direction they were facing, hoping they would lead me to her and her problems. Not long I find myself on the edge of the forest staring towards the village, which so far, looks normal and without any problems. I conceal my knife and walk towards the nearest house. It wasn't long before I was found by a couple of guards who bound my wrists and took me their 'great leader'.54

We enter a large building much different from the rest. This one looks like there was a lot of work put into it. Built with mainly rock, as they others were made from mostly wood. They take me down a short hall which entered another large room where I saw their god, I think. He was leaning back on a chair, a throne. His eyes struck into me, burning a hole in my throat.55

He asks, "You disturb me...why?"56

A guard replies, "We found this one coming from the forest, we think he may be a spy."57

"...A spy?"58

One asks, "What should we do with him, my lord?"59

That last reply was the hint. He was indeed a greater being. He then directs his attention back onto me.60

"Tell me intruder...who wishes to spy on this great empire?"61

I answer, "I am not a spy."62

He answers, "Oh? Then who are you? I do not believe I have seen you before."63

I don't reply...I don't know what to say.64

A guard comments, "He talks like a spy."65

The god agrees, "Yes, there's no doubt about that."66

He once again directs his attention to me.67

"Do you know what we do with spies?"68

I hesitate, "What?"69

The god smiles, and signals the guards to take me away. And they do so. We don't leave the building, but I was taken to a small room, what appears to be a holding cell. They push me in and shut the door behind. There are two others in here with me, but I don't yet pay attention to them. Instead, I crawl to a corner and await my punishment.70

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The sound of screaming awakes me, rushing me to my feet. It was coming from outside the door, on the other side... The door opens and a young girl is tossed inside. Her appearance alone startles me; the entire left side of her body is black, and right, the right side is white...except for her eyes which seem to be the negative. Her hair is thick, and almost serpent-like. She quickly gets back up and runs to the door only to have it close on her. She stands there hacking at the door with her hands, yelling at the guards to let her out, but they do not listen. She eventually gives up, and sits in a corner away from the others -- covering her face with her arms, and between her knees. I know she's crying, but I don't ask why...I think it's pretty obvious why. I let her finish, all the while feeling some sort of power coming from her...like she was gifted with something. She uncovers her face and whips a tear from her right eye. The tear looked a lot like it was blood, or some other red liquid. I build the courage to speak to her...but it came out all wrong.72

"Are you ok?"73

Of course she wasn't ok, why would I ask something like that? She looks at me, for a second, and then looks away. I understand why she didn't want to answer.74

I try again, "Can I ask why you're here?"75

She doesn't look back at me, but I got her to reply...76

"I refused..."77

"Refused? Refused...what?"78

Once again, she doesn't reply.79

"Can I ask...your name?"80

There was a short pause, but she did want to tell me...81

"...Paléo."82

"Great name, Paléo, innocent child."83

She stares at me with open eyes, surprised at something. She looks almost, scared.84

She says in a shaky voice, "How do you know that language?"85

I ask, "Language?"86

"You know the language of the gods...how?"87

Confused, I reply, "Oh...I...language of the gods?"88

She raises her voice, "Stop lying!"89

"I'm not, I didn't, and I don't know the language of the gods."90

She doesn't believe me. I watch as she sits in that corner afraid of something...afraid of me. She no longer talks to me, or asks me questions, and I no longer ask.91

The door opens, and three guards walk in. They chain our wrists, ankles, and pull us out of the room, down the hall after a turn to the right. We stop in front of a door. One of the guards puts his hand on the door, ready to open it. The other two stand behind us, to make sure we don't try to run. Our chains are removed, and the guard opens the door, revealing what appears to be a field covered in grass; stained with the smell of blood. Many people have died here, many... The guards push us into the field. There is a wall made of wood surrounding the field, at least twenty feet high. And to the north, on the other side of the wall was a throne, with the god calmly sitting, staring down at us from his haven. The door shuts behind us with one of the guards laughing. A moment of silence...then...the god, the leader, says something.92

"In just a few moments you will see what we do to people like you."93

Another short pause so we can watch the smirk from his face.94

He commands, "Let's begin!"95

A door on the opposite side of us opens, and a creature runs in, after us immediately.96

The prisoners beside me start to run away screaming. They have nowhere to go; we have nowhere to go...what kind of entertainment is this? To see helpless people run for their lives, screaming for mercy. The creature catches up to one of them in no time. It jumps on his back, clutching its teeth into the back of his neck. When he stops moving, the creature runs towards another one of us. It's trained to kill...nothing else. I will make sure that god doesn't get away with this. Another one of the prisoners is caught, and killed. The creature runs after another, after Paléo. Yet she doesn't run--she falls to the ground covering her-self, hoping the creature will not see her as prey. An almost moronic thing to do, but, it works. However, the creature is now running towards me from only a few dozen feet away. I know I can't outrun it, but I don't know what to do. I don't know what I can do. So I close my eyes, and wait... The seconds pass, eating away at myself in a way I've never felt before. But something's wrong. I no longer hear screaming, and, I'm not dead. I open my eyes, at something I did not expect. The creature was still there, but it looks almost calm now, standing on its four paws just as arms length away from me. It stares back at me with curious eyes, as if it sees something inside of me. It soon sits down and calmly licks itself.97

The god yells, "Kill him!"98

At least a dozen of guards run into the field, but they quickly retreat as soon as the creature runs after them. I look at the god, telling him with my eyes, that he will see me again. I walk towards and out of the same door I came in from, noticing Paléo is following me, cautiously. Around a few corners, I walk outside of the building, the, castle. No guard dares to attack me, yet, they must be in some sort of shock. Although I stay close enough to Paléo so that she can 'escape' with me, but as soon as we leave the castle, she runs off away from me. I enter the forest, but not to seek a place to rest, but for a place to hide a few hours before I come back...and finish what I must do.99

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Well I'm sure you can see where this story will lead. And the truth is, I never found out who the black-eyed angel was, where Paléo ran off to, or what my fate will be. Maybe I'll know soon...maybe.101