Sarwat Chadda: Dark Goddess

Vasilisa sat on the wreck of an old car with the Polenitsy around her. They’d found a plain white dress for her. The material was brittle and threadbare, but still elegant. Around her head she wore a crown made of bound twigs. Her face was spotless and her hair had been cleaned and woven with small white flowers: snowdrops. Vasilisa seemed to glow under the moon. Some of the Polenitsy had changed back into human form, but most, about twenty or so, still kept their beast form as wolves or half-humans.

“ DON’T BE AFRAID ,” said Vasilisa to her. The group of women parted to let Billi through.

“We’re going home now, Vasilisa.” Billi met the black eyes of the small girl, and a chill fear grew in her heart. She was afraid. “If you still are Vasilisa.”

“ OH YES, I AM STILL HER. AND MANY OTHERS . ALL THE OTHER SPRING CHILDREN.” Vasilisa smiled. “THEY ARE AT PEACE, BILLI. IN TIME THEY WILL ALL FADE.”

“Then what’s next?” Billi asked.

“ FOR YOU, BILLI SANGREAL, A SAFE JOURNEY.”

Vasilisa held out her hand and touched Billi’s fingertips. “UNLESS YOU WISH TO STAY HERE, WITH YOUR SISTERS.”

The Beast Within. It would prowl the cage of her soul forever, and she could hear its call echoing deep inside. It had tasted freedom, and Billi had fought it down. She checked the bandages on her arm, praying they would cure her, praying it wasn’t too late.

Vasilisa smiled slyly, understanding. “DO NOT FRET. THE BEAST IS CAGED.” She raised her fingers to touch Billi’s heart. “BUT THE WOLF WILL ALWAYS BE WITHIN YOU. COME TO US, AND WE WILL FREE IT.”

Billi shook her head and stepped back. “I’m sorry, but I know where I belong.” She frowned. “Did I do right, Vasilisa? In saving you?” She’d thought she would defeat Baba Yaga and save an innocent life. Instead she had replaced the old goddess with a new one. Would this one be friend to humanity, or side against it?

Vasilisa took off her crown. She held it lightly, and green buds swelled along the twigs, rapidly growing into ripe, round cases that cracked open, unfurling petals of yellow and soft orange and red.

“ NATURE WILL ALWAYS WIN .” Vasilisa put the crown back on. “ CHERNOBYL IS PROOF OF THAT.”

“So you’re saying Baba Yaga was right? That mankind is best out of the picture?”

“I AM SAYING WHATEVER HUMANITY DOES, NATURE ALWAYS TRIUMPHS.”

“And Fimbulwinter? Is Yellowstone going to erupt?”

“ FOR NOW, THE VOLCANO SLEEPS .” The girl climbed off the car. “ONE DAY IT WILL AWAKEN, THEN EVEN I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IT. THAT IS HOW NATURE IS.”

The Polenitsy began to wander away, disappearing into the birch tree woods surrounding the town. Like sylvan spirits they melted in among the branches and trunks and snow-layered earth. Vasilisa walked with them, then paused at the line of trees, on the edge of the darkness.

“WHEN YOU WEARY OF YOUR WORLD, COME TO US, BILLI. WE WILL BE WAITING.”

“What about Baba Yaga? What did you do with her?” Billi shouted. The girl was a white shadow now, barely visible in the snow, as though she were already melting into the elements.

Vasilisa lifted a finger to her endlessly dark eyes. “CAN’T YOU TELL?” Then she laughed, and among the multitude of voices, Billi heard the brittle cackle of the witch, Baba Yaga.

***