3.16 Audio Sorcery

Before anyone could figure out what to do, the drummer lifted her sticks up into the air, hit them four times and with powerful unity, the band exploded into a chorus of amazing sound, their voices in glorious harmonies resonated throughout the stone walls of the courtyard. Fully captive in mere seconds, the crowds responded in awe, jaws dropped open, the feeling was awesome. What was this? The aribu couldn't help themselves, their bodies began to move to the beat, soon they were starting to smile again. The harmonies gave them feelings they had never felt before, good feelings, shivers were creeping down their spines, they were filled with powerful emotions, joyful emotions, they weren’t sure how to react to these sensations they had never felt before. One by one they succumbed to the beat, heads started nodding and toes started tapping. The music was like a drug, it was even more powerful than the Soloha, and the Lemurians were giving it away for free?

         It was not long before the aribu lost themselves in the music once again, forgetting their prejudice toward the forbidden scene and the presentation itself. Even though their bodies looked strange, the pregnant goddesses were so magical, so beautiful, so bold and so powerful, they rocked the royal stage. Their beautiful obscene only added to their rebellious allure, some of the aribu let out cheers and raised their fists in outbursts of sudden support of the pregnant goddesses. But just as the crowd began swaying to the music, a little child ran out of the wings dressed in a glittery dress, followed by another, and another, and another. The dancing died once again, the aribu stood stunned in speechless wonder as they beheld the beautiful children dancing around the musicians in choreographed brilliance, throwing sparkling crystal dust into the air. The unbelievable beauty combined with the intoxicating harmony had the entire courtyard breathless.

         Some of the aribu began to notice the spell being cast, they began to caution each other as dubious questions arose. Was the music an evil spell? Given the very real appearance of such mythological characters as the god of Death and his Unicorn, was it not reasonable to be concerned that the mythologies of their ancient Sorcery were true too? But the doubts didn't linger for long. So what if it was? It was way more stimulating than the new drug. Some even dared to compare. This was a drug they could never live without again!

         "Do you think Atalon would let us have bands like that here?" Dena dared to wonder out loud, feeling the power of the music steal her soul.

         "Never in a million years" Mel snapped. "It's not a band it’s a coven, and this is exactly why it's not allowed!"

         "I like it!" Nolan boldly announced. "I think Atalon ought to reconsider, he needs to lighten up, what's so bad about it?" He was feeling the energy of the music, like the goddesses on stage it was fueling something deep and wonderful inside. "Perhaps some of them would like to come to Ebar" he suggested, riding the dangerous tide, deliberately pulling Mel's strings.

         "You tread a suicidal path even joking about such a thing" she warned, cross with him now. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that but only because I like you. Atalon doesn't want any of this crap in the New Empire." She pointed to the stage. "I hope you realize, this is EXACTLY the kind of Serpent crap you're being sent to clean up over there!"

         "Ha-Haaa!" Torus chuckled out loud, slapping Nolan on the back, picturing it now. He offered him the pipe. "Good luck with that my friend!"

         "Mighty Medel…." Hedena felt sick to her stomach as glimpses of the stage show caught her attention while making their way through the Grand Courtyard.

         Medena was equally devastated. "It's an act of war" she hissed. "Atalon is out of his mind! He's going to regret this day for the rest of his life!"

         "It's an atrocity!" Hedena agreed. "Right under Medel's nose too! Didn't I tell you? Those Origians are flawed beyond any virtues they were ever endowed with! Who in their right mind would display their deformed bodies in public like that? And look at those snotty nosed tadpoles" she hissed. "They stink, they're polluting the air with their filthy dander!" She lifted her nose and smelled the air. "Ugh! I can smell them from here!"

         "Just let this remind us of how far we've come" Medena offered a bright side to the disaster, while pausing to peek through the tents again. "What a waste! Those Origians were ORIGINALLY the best products we ever designed! They weren't flawed, they were just poorly raised, brainwashed by that hideous alien!" She elbowed her sister sharply. "Look it! Look how they've let themselves go! Look at that RUINED hair! What a hideous, hideous crime!"

         Regardless of the controversial styling, Hedena couldn't help but notice the redheads amongst them. "I wish Malodon could figure out that red hair thing... It sure is attractive!"

          "I'm sure Dion would appreciate a few red headed Breeders for the Wig Culture program, it would be an easy pitch... Maybe Halios can capture us a few. It could perhaps help make this embarrassment pay off."

         "WHAT?" Hedena couldn't believe her sister's contradictions sometimes. "They're Serpents!" She hissed. "All of them. You can't trust them, see?" She pointed towards Vikkar, now aware of their presence in the Grand Courtyard, then tapped her head. "You can't fix stupid!"

         Vikkar had spotted them, he nodded towards them, smiling.

         "Our inbred, over diluted and over engineered versions are unsalvageable, yes" Medena had to agree. "You mustn't forget, even we have traces of their savage gene. How else would the Crystal Skulls be working?"

         Hedena was lost for an answer, angered by Vikkar’s mocking smile.

         "Vikkar's a traitor! He's been possessed by their evil demons, he's going to die a Dishonorable Death for this!"

         Angry and frustrated, the sisters continued making their way towards the Lemurian camp. Medena led the way behind the tents, searching for the love birds amongst the crowd. It wasn't long before she spotted Eden, standing arm in arm with Neter, sampling poisonous wine from some half naked savage.

         "Look!" She elbowed her sister. Hedena had seen them already, they stopped in her tracks to study the couple talking closely with one another… It looked like Neter was doing the handling, not Eden...

         "Do you really think she's just playing him?" Eden was so smooth, it was difficult to tell if she was genuinely falling for the god of Death or just stringing him along.

         "I don't know, to be honest" Medena admitted, shrewdly assessing the situation herself. "She's very good you know, don't underestimate her powers of seduction, that Grim Reaper creature is probably the toughest gig she's ever had! Ha-haaa! I bet she's absolutely terrified!"

         Neter didn't have to look their way, he could feel the ocular laser beams scorch his aura from across the dance floor. As the Crystalites broke into another ballad, he slid his arm around Eden’s waist and pulled her close, leaned into her ear and whispered. "Would you dance with me?"

         Eden felt the rush of desire engulf her fully, completely. He watched her blush and fumble as she battled her internal dialogue, surely she felt the laser beams too; she was blowing her cover. She had true feelings inside, her olive skin, blossoming with rosy cheeks came alive inside the silky proscenium of ebony hair.

         Between lapses of unconscious lust and desire, she pondered her bold moves and contradicting ideologies as the god of Death seduced her once again. Was he for real? He made her weak with lust, he had the power to make her feel wild, to rebel against her duties and risk unimaginable consequences. Instead of fearing him she was having real fantasies of galloping off to Lemuria with him on his dangerous steed. He made her desire freedom for the first time in her life… It really felt like he was trying to win over her heart and she was thinking of selling, fast.

         Hedena wasn't convinced Eden was in control, the way she was squirming didn't look good at all.

         "It looks to me like the Serpent is the one casting spells. How dare Eden take her liberties this far, she's playing way beyond her boundaries! I think she’s enjoying herself way too much!"

         The sisters couldn't take their eyes off the smoldering scene, eyes glued to every move as the god of Death swept their best handler off her feet onto the dance floor.

         "He's much too old for her!" Hedena couldn't contain her anger. "Who does she think she is? Neter's just doing this to irritate me, she's nothing but GEN garbage! He knows that!"

         Medena caught her sister's slip, her contradictions were exposing a hidden truth. "Why should he do this to irritate you? Eden is my problem, not yours!"