My Beast Within The Beast

At some point, without a clue of how much time had passed, she saw her body take form in the middle of the darkness. It was her human pristine form, beautifully fair skin and silky, long, dark hair. A mirror formed in front of her, she recognized her appearance while she was not in Wildebeest mode.

The mirror fluxed and waved, her image gradually transformed into that of Wildebeest. She stumbled back, scared from the beast that loomed over. Touching her face to make sure she was not transforming, her silky skin was still intact. Even though she fell down, the image stayed the same, glaring out her with terrifying eyes that glowed red. Full of rage. Heavy clots of condensated breath filled the air, fogging the mirror that separated them.

Grusha tentatively stepped close to it, pressing her palm against the mirror. She felt sad for it, even though she knew that it in reality was her. The beast stood on its leg perfectly balanced, never for a second swaying the least bit. It startled her by banging its fist against the mirror, and pressing its forehead against the pane. Quills vibrated angrily, spreading wide to intimidate her. Such tactics did not work on Grusha, it was a part of her after all.

To her surprise, it spoke.

“Kill her.”

Wildebeest never had spoken to her, in her own mind she had thought it was her subconscious functioning as a mechanism of her own psyche. This was the first time she ever heard it speak and not merely send triggers in her head to react in a certain way.

“Her who?” She replied.

“The one who follows you, your pet, Lady Hammer. Kill her.” Wildebeest said.

“Why must I kill her? I have no reason to, she is my debtee.”

“You're wrong, she's a demi. Ample reason enough to rid her from your company.”

“I am showing compassion, besides, I am a demi as well. Should I not treat a fellow demi as my equal?”

“It is precisely for the reason that she is a demi that she cannot be your equal, she is what took everything from you to begin with.”

Grusha bristled. “No, you’re wrong. She did nothing to me, I caused more harm to her than she could ever do to me. Hammer has nothing to do with me and my history.”

Wildebeest pressed against the pane harder, it began to crack from the pressure.

“Hammer is a demi, and all demis must share the same fate. We never meant to exist, we are a plague. That is why you must take up that role as the eradicator, the beast above them all. You are to reign over them all as the sole true demi on top of the chain, and all will kneel before our rightful rule over them all, and fulfill our fate.”

“What fate is it that you speak of?” She asked hesitatingly.

“The climatic destruction of earth, then true peace will finally be restored.”

“You will do as I demand, just as I had always directed you to do so. As my extension of my existence, you live life as I please.”

“And if I refuse?”

“There is nothing to refuse, you have nowhere to go, no reason to live. We have a purpose, and that is to reset the known world.”

“You’re wrong, Wildebeest. I have a purpose to live.”

“NO!” Wildebeest roared. “There is no purpose, just death. We are that instrument.”

“That is not what I choose to do anymore, I will not hunt demis anymore.”

“What will you do then? Live a happy life with children alone atop a mountain?”

Grusha’s palm slid down the pane, she stepped aback. “I will pay back my debt, to Aput. To Hammer. All that I have done, my sins, I will pay them back in full.”

“You? The Wildebeest of nightmares? Legends of you reached the four corners of the world, and entire cities brought down to nothing by your own two hands. Do you honestly believe people will graciously accept you back into their folds if you kill their enemies?”

“I do not need grace.”

Remembering back at the day Aput saved Hammer’s life, the urge was great to end Hammer. That was the first time she exerted her own will contrary to what every instinct was pushing her to do. If only Aput’s voice could be heard once again, giving her the strength she needed to stand tall and exert her own will once again. A scent trickled from beyond the mirror, Aput’s and Hammer’s scents wafted from beyond. This was all she needed to gain the strength to continue on fighting.

“Wildebeest. I refuse.”

“Refuse me? You dare refuse my strength? You need me!” She growled.

Grusha narrowed her eyes. “Yes, I need your strength, but your goals I reject. Strength is needed to accomplish what I need to do, I confess as much. My way will be better for all.”

“NO!”

Wildebeest roared and forced her way through the glass window that stood between them two, wrapping her long slim fingers around Grusha’s neck. Wildebeest pressed her head against Grusha’s face, breathing heavily on her that made her feel uncomfortable.

“If you won’t join me, then you are useless to me. I do not need you to accomplish the role of the Wildebeest. My strength is absolute, and purpose is resolute.”

Grusha wrapped her hands around Wildebeest's arms, peeling her finds off of her neck.

“You forget, Wildebeest. Just as I am a part of you, you too are a part of me.”

Grusha’s appearance hardened, transforming into the same appearance as that of Wildebeest. Long quills stretched across her entire back, frilling across her entire length. Arms and legs elongated, and her eyes glowed a bright white. She towered over Wildebeest, crushing her beneath her strength.

Wildebeest was infuriated and tried to resist Grusha’s pressure, roaring and growling the more that she was pushed further down. When completely flattened against the ground, her entire body began to fracture and rays of white light beamed from the cracks.

“I refuse. I. AM. ALPHA!” Wildebeest screeched.

Suddenly, Grusha completely crushed her and her body exploded into a white dust cloud, the dust cloud completely enveloped Grusha. Little by little until completely drawn in, she absorbed the white dust cloud which once was Wildebeest.

“Now. We. Are. Apex.” Grusha hummed.

The mirror that separated Grusha and Wildebeest moments ago broke apart, and her dark hole was exposed to the light that was beyond it. Odors, light, sound, taste, touch. It all came back in one blow, it was like a waterfall suddenly coming crashing down on you. The shock was overwhelming at first, but it was a welcoming sensation.

Grusha’s eyes fluttered open, she recognized two figures across from her. They talked to each other, unaware of her awakening. Her arm slipped down and brushed the ground, Lady Hammer senses caught the sound of it. Hammer’s head whipped around and saw that Grusha awake, a tear rolled down her cheek and smiled widely. It was as if she saw someone return from the grave. She skidded up to her, holding her in her warm arm.

“You’re back. I can’t believe you’re back. Oh, tartarus was merciful towards you! Thank the gods! I prayed for your safe return, and by the gods here you are.” She exclaimed.

“How long was I hibernating.” Grusha croaked.

Eyeing her surroundings, she noticed they were in a camper. A small window revealed a desert horizon, a drastically different environment than what she last remembered being in. The camper came to a rolling stop, Aput rose from the seat and graciously stepped beside her. Resting his firm hand atop her head, he brushed her that gave her warmth. His scent was different from the forest that he resided in, but it was heartwarmingly still the same lovely scent.

“You’ve grown a beard?” She asked.

“Momma.” A third voice piped up.

A child looked over from behind the front seat, peeking a curious look at the commotion. Grusha’s eyes narrowed, and looked up at Lady Hammer, demanding for an explanation. Aput stroked her cheek, trying to get her attention.

“Grusha, welcome back. It has been nearly six years.”

Such few words had a deep impact on Grusha. So many questions were flooding her mind, and deep down she felt frustrated. Her teeth clenched, angered for having had so much time wasted. A tear rolled down her cheek.

“Is everything alright, Grusha?” Lady Hammer asked.

“I am angry, and sad.” She explained.

Grusha knew she was asking more about if she had Grusha’s approval over this development, but as angry she was, she also felt another strong emotion. This emotion was much more powerful than anything else she felt.

“But,” Grusha started. “I also feel happy, so happy that I am back with you two. I was scared that I was alone, abandoned again.”

Hammer embraced her again. “We are overjoyed you are back as well, Grusha.”

“Welcome home.” Aput agreed.