Kingdom of Ash

into the writhing worm that lay inside.
The parasite. The infection that fed on life,
on strength, on joy.
Distantly, far away, Yrene knew she was
incandescent with light, brighter than a
noontime sun. Knew that the dark king
beneath her was nothing more than a writhing
pit of snakes, biting at her, trying to poison
her light.
You have no power over me, Yrene said to
him. Into the body that housed that parasite of
parasites.
I shall rip you apart, he hissed. Starting
with that babe in your—
A thought and Yrene’s power flared
brighter.
Erawan screamed.
The power of creation and destruction.
That’s what lay within her.
Life-Giver. World-Maker.