Eldritch Girls Chapter 4

First Victory

Liz struggled to pull herself to her feet. The energy blast fired from the knight's shield had done considerable damage, leaving many singes on both her body and new outfit. “Damn it...” she grumbled while using her spear to support herself. “I've got some choice words for Kip after this is over.”

“Worry about that later” Koth-Ladon's voice echoed. “Right now you need to focus on the immediate problem.”

Liz's legs continued to tremble from the pain of her injuries. “Well if you've got a suggestion, I'd be happy to hear it” she thought as the drew closer.

Koth-Ladon chuckled. “I'd rather just show you” he said. “Just face your opponent and try to remain calm, no matter what.”

“What do you mean remain ca-” Suddenly, the feeling of something crawling under her back cut Liz's sentence short. Before she had time to ask her new 'partner' what was going on, two large crimson, bat-like wings sprouted from her back. Expecting some kind of attack, the startled knight quickly leaped back several times and raised his shield.

Liz tried to comment on her new appendages, but could only stutter an incoherent gibberish that included the occasional pointing and laughing. However, Liz's amazement soon turned to horror as several eyes, each one roughly the size of a tennis ball, began to appear on the membrane of her wings. Within seconds, Liz had twenty new eyes and they were all staring directly at the knight. “E-e-e-eyes... Why are t-there eyes on my w-wings?” Liz struggled to stay on her feet. “And why do I h-have wings?”

“Snap out of it!” Koth-Ladon growled. “He's about to attack us again!”

Liz quickly returned her gaze to her opponent and immediately spotted a familiar white light gathering on the knight's shield. “He's not going to hit me this time” she thought while preparing to dodge.

“No need to move human” Koth-Ladon chuckled. “Simply shout the words 'Ladon's Gaze' and your new limbs will take care of the rest.”

With no time to argue, Liz tightened her grip on her spear just as the knight released his energy blast. “Ladon's Gaze!” she shouted. Immediately a small red beam fired from every one of her new eyes and collide with the knight's attack, causing a small explosion that forced Liz to brace herself and shield her face. Once the explosion was over, Liz peeked out from in between her fingers and saw a pillar of smoke that stretched high into the sky.

“Holy cow...” said a dumbstruck Liz before looking at the eyes covering her wings. “They're all like little laser cannons. I can't believe they blocked that attack.”

“That's not all they did” snickered Koth-Ladon. “Focus and look for the knight.”

Liz raised an eyebrow. “There's now way I can see with all that smoke” she said before narrowing her eyes. Surprisingly, the thick smoke slowly turned transparent, eventually disappearing from her sight completely and revealing a small crater and the knight just beyond. He was still standing, however his armor was riddled with holes, white mist pouring from each of them. “Oh no... Did I...”

“Looks like several of your attacks made it through and pierced his armor” Koth-Ladon explained. “Well done human.”

Liz remained silent and continued to stare at the knight's supposed dead body. When her opponent stop leaking mist, he finally went limp and toppled over. Horrified, Liz dropped her weapon and fell to her knees. “I... I just killed someone” she thought while staring at her trembling hands. “He's dead... Because of me...”

“You should be celebrating your victory” Koth-Ladon said as the knight's armor crumbled to dust, revealing nothing inside. “Why are you acting like you just lost?”

“Be quiet” Liz muttered after clenching her fist. “Leave me alone...”

“Very well...” mumbled Koth-Ladon. A moment later, Liz's wings retracted into her back and her armor glowed a bright red light before transforming back to her ordinary clothes. “We'll talk again once you've gotten a hold of your emotions.”

Liz wanted to cuddle up into a ball, but the sounds of a fire truck's siren caused her to run back into the gymnasium. The instant she passed through the large hole created during her fight, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

“You're ok!” Kip cheered before tackling Liz's leg. “Thank goodness.” Liz gritted her teeth and was about to throw the small child against the wall and demand answers, only to stop herself the second she saw the tears pouring from Kip's eyes. “I'm so sorry Liz!” Kip sobbed into Liz's pants. “I saw what happened but I couldn't do anything to help. I should have explained more but there wasn't enough time...”

After letting out a sigh, Liz put her hand on Kip's head. “Don't worry about it” she said while sporting the best smile she could muster. “How about for now we sneak out of here so I can get you home to your parents? You can explain more on the way.” Kip smiled back and nodded.


It was easily to get past the firefighters as they were far to distracted by the huge chunks of torched fields and the smoking crater to notice two girls sneaking away. Once they reached the sidewalk on the opposite side of the school, Kip grabbed Liz's hand. “I'm sorry about what happened with that knight guy” she said. “But if you didn't do what you did, he would have killed you and taken me away.”

Liz sighed and looked at her free hand. “Kip, it's been a long day and I think I've earned some answers” she said while maintaining her cool. “So start talking.”

Kip hesitated for a moment. “Before I do, can you answer me this one question?” she asked, causing Liz to answer with a nod. “Liz, do you believe in gods?”

Liz wasn't sure how to answer. “Like, god from mythology or gods people actually worship?” she asked.

“In general” Kip said.

“I don't really know” Liz replied after shrugging. “I would say no, but I'm not totally against the idea of there being a god or gods.”

“Oh good” sighed Kip. “Because I'm one. Or rather, I used to be one.”

Liz raised an eyebrow. “You, a god?”

Kip gave Liz a quick nod. “Yep!” When Liz gave her a skeptic look, Kip pulled her hand from Liz's grasp and crossed her arms. “In fact, I was the powerful god of them all! I could do things your mind couldn't even comprehend.” Kip threw her arms into the air. “I could walk atop worlds like they were stepping stones, create a star in the palm of my hand and even move solar systems with a single thought. Yes, I was just that awesome.”

Liz scratched the side of her head. “So let's say I believe you” she said. “If you were such an all powerful god, why are you now pretending to be a normal human child and going to a school on earth?”

Kip let out a little giggle before dropping averting her eyes. “Well, let's just say I'm in a time out” she answered. “Apparently my first mom thought I was being a little too mean with the natives of this planet and as punishment, turned me into one of them.” Kip shrugged before putting her hand over her mouth. “Thankfully she didn't see too much.”

“So how do the Divine factor into all this?” Liz asked. “Who are they?”

“A bunch of fanatical lunatics” assured Kip after sighing. “They amassed a huge fleet of ships and traveled the universe, slaying any god they came across. Even if that meant dooming those who worshiped said god. They didn't care, so long as their target was no more.”

“So what stopped them?” Liz asked.

Kip smirked. “Let's just say they finally bit off more than they could chew when they found me.”

“Did they attack you?”

“They 'annoyed' me Liz” Kip answered with a smirk. “You still don't seem to understand just how powerful I was. Even with their entire fleet, the Divine couldn't lay so much as a scratch on me. Even their leader, who can kill gods on his own, couldn't touch me, not for lack of trying though.”

Liz's eyes narrowed. “So what did you do?”

Kip's smirk grew into a huge crazed grin. “I exterminated most of them Liz” she answered, causing a chill to run down Liz's spine. “With a single wave of my hand.” Kip's face shifted back to something less terrifying. “I put the survivors in a pocket dimension so they could calm down and think about what they did. But now that I'm not a god anymore... The barrier between dimensions is starting to break down.”

“So they want revenge?” Liz asked.

Kip held up the small bag containing the four remaining marbles. “They want my friends” she answered. “These four plus Koth-Ladon are some of the few remaining gods in all of existence. At least that I know of.” A tear dropped from Kip's cheek. “If the Divine get a hold of them...”

“They'll destroy them too” Liz finished.

“Exactly” Kip said after nodding. “That guy you fought was only the beginning. Pretty soon more agents of the Divine will show up looking for my friends and kill anybody who gets in their way. Then once they're all free, this world and everyone on it will suffer their wrath.” Kip grabbed Liz's hand. “That's why you have to help me stop them Liz. Only by working together can we protect this world.”

“I'm really starting to regret talking to this kid in the first place” Liz thought while looking at Kip's puppy dog eyes. “This is what I get for being so nice.” After letting out a low groan, Liz answered with a nod. “Alright Kip, I'll do it.”

Kip let out a cheer and hugged Liz's leg. “Thank you so much Liz!” she cheered. “I knew you were the right choice for this!”

“What do you mean by right choice?” Liz asked, causing Kip to giggled and avert her eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED....