And Vanth Beside
a micro fiction
“Excuse me,” said Un to a swirling mass of a heartbeat. “Who and what are you?”
It moved to face him. “Oh my God,” it said. “Are you an avatar of my unconscious?”
“I am Charun,” he said, narrowing his black eyes. “You have heartbeats. Who and what are you?”
“I’m… Saul? I didn’t— uh— mushrooms—”
A dabbler, then. Un had hitherto avoided such souls, but the stories Thanatos used to tell him left him with a good sense. He used to join his twin, Hypnos, in case his touch was needed.
“Saul,” he said. “Human.” Un remembered another by that name. Another who had dabbled against the order of life.
“Yes.” Saul’s mass wobbled. “Can I— Wh–where am I?”
Un gritted his teeth. “‘Twixt life and death.”
“C-can I go? I only breached—”
“Why do you wish to leave?”
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum. Then Saul whispered. “T-trying to find p-peace… dad’s death.”
Un just looked at him. “I do not judge departed souls.”
Saul laughed uncomfortably. Un sensed his terror, his thoughts; never had the man experienced such intensity. He wanted to go back home. Call it a bad trip. Possibly never take shrooms again.
And Un was furious.
“Saul,” he said again, “Human. You exist here against the order of life. I have not met others like you, though I know there have been many.” He pictured the shamans, partakers, the New Age. “You have all trespassed. You are not welcome.”
Ba-dum.
For the first time, Un manifested a long, black hammer. Lady Vanth surged beside him.
What novelty, she murmured, flexing her neck. Then Un raised his weapon high. He beat Saul once. Twice. Seven times until the swirling mass collapsed, hardened and quiet.
“Dabblers,” he spat. Then to Vanth, said, "We find them all."
About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
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Copyright Mackenzie Davis.
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Comments (6)
so pure
Interesting take on the challenge.
I had to do some digging on Vanth and Charun- guardian of the underworld and guide for the deceased it seems! I like the idea of people on a “bad trip” ending up somewhere between, where they don’t belong. “Another who had dabbled against the order of life.”- the only other famous Saul I can think would be Biblical, who became Paul 🤔
Speaking of dabbling, I'm quite appreciative of the metaphorical pieces you've bee dabbling in lately! Reminds me of that story you write a long time ago about that woman that was surrounded by the infertile sand that represented her own body... like not this story specifically reminds me of that, just the idea that this will likely become a classic in my mind like that one.
Was not super familiar with the mythology inspiration so went down a bit of a rabbit hole! Glad I did because now I can better appreciate how well done this is!!
Oh, I was not expecting him to just run with his wrath!