“I don’t think Master Li’Azar is ever pleased,” Evan replied. “You’re lucky you have a different instructor.”
“I heard he’s one of the most talented dreamwielders there is, though.”
“Definitely, he did save me from a spectre after all. He just doesn’t seem to like any of us.” Evan chuckled.
As they walked, one door in particular caught his eye. He still didn’t know every nook and cranny of all Veneseron’s castles, that would take years, yet he walked this corridor every week on his way to Curse Breaking, and he was sure there wasn’t a green door in the middle of the passage.
The gap between the door and the floor glowed a bright red. As Evan froze, mid-step, the red light travelled up either side of the door, glowing brighter and bloodier.
Evan knew he shouldn’t, his mind was screaming at him not too, but he found himself drawn like a magnet.
“Ev, what are you doing?”
Before he could reply, his hand was on the door’s handle. An overwhelming need to step beyond the door consumed him.
Stop it Evan! Snap out of it!
He attempted to wrench himself away from the door but it was too late. He’d already opened the door a crack, and as soon as he did the red light enveloped him. Scarlet flooded his vision, but he felt Brooke rush to his side and try to pull him back.
A second later, the red light vanished and he and Brooke stood inside a very different castle.
Evan whirled back around, but the door was gone, replaced by solid black stone.
Foreboding filled him as he looked around. There was no lighting, even the walls nearby were coated in shadow, but he could make out that they were in a castle foyer of some kind. It was deathly cold, and a terrible sense of foreboding filled him. For some ominous reason, the scent of rotten fruit hung thick in the air.
“What the hell just happened?” Brooke murmured, gazing around in confusion. “Is this some sort of test Li’Azar set? Why did you open that door?”
“I don’t know,” he said guiltily. “I felt compelled, like something was forcing me too. I didn’t mean to.”
“I know there’s dozens of secret doors in the Fortress,” said Brooke, “but I don’t think this was one of them.”
“No,” Evan agreed, “this isn’t Veneseron at all. We need to get out of here.”
“We can’t,” she stated the obvious, “unless you want to explore the castle until we see a door.”
“I’ve got a horrible feeling about this place. We should signal for Emi and Elijah to wake us u...” He trailed off as giant wooden table shimmered before them.
They unsheathed their weapons simultaneously, whilst the shimmering stopped and table fully formed.
“What the-” Brooke whispered.
The table was laden with food and drink, but much was still shrouded by darkness. As Evan’s eyes adjusted to the shadows, he saw a pale man in the gloom seated at the head of the table.
He recognised him at once, and his heart slid up his throat, whilst his blood froze.
Kalkavan stared back at him.
Chapter 13- Disciple’s Deliverance
Evan’s legs trembled as his breath hitched. No! How can he be here?
“Who is that?” Brooke hissed in his ear. “He looks like the Disciple you told me about.”
“Because I am,” Kalkavan answered before Evan could.
Brooke took a step back and Evan could see the terror etched on her face, but he felt nothing but rage, boiling and bubbling to the surface. This was the monster who’d almost killed him, who’d permanently scarred him. As Evan glared at the Disciple, his burned flesh prickled.
He raised Ruaden up, even as flickering flames engulfed his other hand. Brooke screamed his name, but he’d already leaped onto the table and sprinted toward the Disciple. He swung with all his might at Kalkavan’s neck, but his blade went straight through him, as if he was made from mist.
“None of that, Evan,” Kalkavan looked up at him lazily. “Relax. Even I am not a skilled enough Dreamwielder to cast spells inside this place. I cannot harm you, nor you me. I wish only to talk.”
Evan backed away, back to the other side of the table. Kalkavan was right, at least Li’Azar had said the same thing about the dream realm. But it didn’t explain how Kalkavan was here. Veneseron was protected, he and Brooke should’ve never been able to leave.
“Then let us go,” he roared, “if you’re too cowardly to face me for real and fight.”
“Evan,” Brooke hissed. “Calm down.”
He should’ve been shocked at his own boldness, and at his disappointment that he couldn’t kill Kalkavan here and now, but he wasn’t. He’d bear the mark of Kalkavan’s demon fire for the rest of his life. Already, hundreds of curious or unsettled eyes have judged him because of his burn, and he’d never be the same.
“Long time no see, Evan. You look different somehow,” Kalkavan rubbed his own cheek, the exact place Evan’s burns were, “did you get a haircut?”
“Glarq you!” Evan spat.
The long wooden table was laden with a collection of revolting confection, including a plate of elves ears, still covered in dried blood, and a bowl of human eyes.
Kalkavan himself drank from a viscous pink liquid from a hollowed out skull; which suspiciously resembled a gnome.
Kalkavan took a sip before smacking his lips and gesturing to them. “Come, take a seat.”
The Disciple popped an eyeball into his mouth as he observed Evan. The pop as Kalkavan chewed down was nauseating.
“Help yourself to food.” Kalkavan grinned, his teeth smeared with eyeball slime.
“You’re fouler than any other demon I’ve seen,” Brooke rasped, “even if you look vaguely human.”
“Oh this old thing?” He looked down at himself. “This is merely the form I’ve grown most accustomed to wearing. I think I look quite regal this way. No, you wouldn’t want to see my true form, child. I wonder when your own human skins will shed.”
“We don’t have any other forms,” Evan snapped. “We’re human.”
“Are you sure about that? What if one day your sorcery takes over so much that it changes your appearance, permanently. You could wake up tomorrow and have horns, Evan. Who knows when it comes to the first ever human-demon hybrids.”
“Shut up, you’re just trying to scare us.”
“I’ve seen them, you know, Akirandon’s children. Your republic think she’s bluffing about them. And true, they do look human, but both of them have changed from advanced use of their sorcery. I believe Akirandon’s daughter used to have grey eyes, just like you Evan. When I saw her, however, her eyes were a burning red.”
“How are you here?” Brooke cried, “Veneseron is protected.”
“It is,” said Kalkavan. “I do not know it’s location, which is why I lured you to me instead. Just because I cannot harm you on the dream plane, doesn’t mean we can’t chat now, does it?”
“Lured me?” he snarled.
“I called upon your demon sorcery.” Kalkavan replied. “I’ve been searching for you for some weeks now. You and your…sister is it? By using my demon sorcery to attract your own, it’s one of the many tricks of demon magic, not that Vanderain will ever tell you that. I used my demonic power to send out feelers through countless realms, searching for another. All I got for weeks was other dread lords who wielded only measly amount of demon sorcery, nothing like yours.
And now, the first night I send out my demonic feelers in the dream plane, I find you here. It seems Veneseron’s protection doesn’t stop me sensing you in your dreams. Don’t worry, I haven’t drawn you to my own domain. I can’t risk Vanderain tracking you and stumbling into my abode. Think of this castle as a halfway point.” Kalkavan looked around casually. “The food’s quite nice, but it is rather dark.” He thumped his fist down softly and candles appeared along the table, lighting up the room.
The rotten fruit was embedded in the walls, where red and blue maggots writhed am
ongst the decayed food.
“Oh, even the walls contain a gourmet feast.” Kalkavan admired the décor. “I believe a dread lord once lived in this place. It’s irrelevant, what matters is the deal I’m offering the both of you.”
“Let Brooke go,” he cried, trying to keep the anger and fear at bay enough to at least get Brooke out of here. Kalkavan knew what he was, and Taija too, but he had no idea Brooke was a demon spawn.
“It’s me you want, demon. Let’s settle it, the two of us. Let my friend return home.”
“Oh come off it.” Kalkavan chuckled heartily. “I know she’s half demon too.”
“Wha…how could you?” Brooke whispered.
“I have my sources.” Kalkavan leaned back in his chair, taking another swig of his foul drink.
“What do you want?” Evan snarled, his hand hurting with how tightly he clutched Ruaden’s hilt.
“For you and Taija to all leave Veneseron and come to me,” Kalkavan said simply, as if he was asking them some small, mundane favour.
“And why the hell would we do that?” Evan spat.
“As much as you pretend, you don’t belong in Veneseron.” Evan tried not to let Kalkavan’s words hurt.
The Disciple continued. “Try as you might, you aren’t Venators, not really. You are demonkind. It’s your nature, within your very blood. Vanderain’s trying to help you, eh? I bet he’s promised to tell you how to control your demon magic?”
Evan didn’t answer, but his expression probably gave the answer away.
“I thought so. But how could he? Yes, he’s an eternal and one of the most powerful beings in all the realms, but he can’t wield demon magic.”
“What’s your bloody point,” Evan snapped, trying to quell the urge to attack Kalkavan again, even if it was fruitless.
“I’m the one who should be teaching you about being a demon-spawn. Do you even know the extent of your powers? Have you conjured more than the mist? Wait until you wield the spires, or feel demonic lightning. Of course, you’ve already tasted demon fire, but that was by my hand,” he chuckled.
Evan surged forward, but Brooke hastily held him back.
“Oh Evan, what are you going to do?” Kalkavan chortled. “If we weren’t in the dream plane, I’d eradicate you like a germ. But keep that wrath. Use it on me when we next meet, I know you want to. Wouldn’t you like revenge?”
“Yeah, I’d like to burn you to ash.”
Kalkavan laughed even harder. “There’s hope for you yet, boy. Yes, I can see tremendous things from you. But only if you join me. Do you think Vanderain will teach you to use any of your demon powers, all he wants is to suppress it. Like he already has. There’s no cure to get rid of the demonic inside of you both, no matter how hard Vanderain tries.”
“Here’s my first tip, demon magic itself has a name. The black mist, the weapons and monsters you can create that are made out of roiling black liquid, it’s all a part of the same essence. It’s called Dethyr, the dark god himself named it such. The demonic word for darkness.”
“Dethyr,” Evan said reflexively. The word felt ugly and dangerous, fitting.
“You can trust me,” Kalkavan insisted, flashing them a smile Evan guessed was supposed to be friendly, but made him creepier than ever.
He scoffed. “Trust you? You really are insane.”
“Why not?” Kalkavan asked. “I could’ve killed you and Taija both, but I spared you.”
“Taija overpowered you, you mean.”
Kalkavan ignored him. “and I’ve protected Brooke, ever since she was born. Did Vanderain figure it out? Tell you my involvement?”
“Yeah,” Brooke snapped. “I know how you took me from the woman…demon, who gave birth to me, and hid me away on Earth.”
“Exactly, without me, Akirandon, one of the other Disciples or even a dread lord would’ve killed you. You grew up safe because of me. Actually, you may even say I’m your father, dear girl.”
Brooke blanched, and looked like she might throw up.
“I’m the one who captured that Realmer, Herak, I believe his name was.” Kalkavan’s eyes bored into Brooke’s. “I’m the one who performed the rituals so Adena could be impregnated.”
“What happened to her?” Brooke asked softly. “My real mo…the demon, Adena.”
Evan didn’t blame Brooke from being able to call Adena her mother. He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Adena was his.
“Your mother’s dead, Brooke,” Kalkavan replied casually, flicking a speck of dust off of his shirt. “I killed her. Not even Vanderlin or Akirandon know that. You see, that’s how much I trust the two of you. I’ll tell you all of my secrets if you’d like.”
“But…why?”
Brooke looked a mix of horrified and confused. Evan knew she wouldn’t mourn a so-called mother she’d never met. But still, to find out the Disciple who gave birth to her was dead must be quite the shock.
“Adena knew too much about me and my plans, she had to go.”
“You killed a fellow Disciple?” he said. “I thought you were the most powerful demons in all the realms? Only two Disciples have ever been killed, one by Vanderain. He almost killed you too, didn’t he?” Evan added viciously.
Kalkavan chuckled, toying with an elf ear now, flicking it across his fingers instead of chewing on it.
“Indeed, we Disciples are the most powerful demons in existence, now our god has perished. Akirandon is the strongest of us, but I am the smartest, no matter what Meriam says. Adena was just one of the Disciples I held influence over. Meriam is trying to steal Halahink and Hynd away from me, but I’ll kill him before he gets far in his schemes. But yes, Adena was my favourite amongst my brethren. I’m almost sorry I had to kill her. She grew harder for me to manipulate in the years after she produced her demon-spawn. I think it was a form of madness.”
“I don’t blame her,” Brooke said suddenly. “Not after you ripped her children away from her and killed one of them.”
“Ah, growing sentimental for your dear mother, are you?”
“No, I…” Brooke faltered.
“Meriam, a Disciple I loathe more than Akirandon, also started getting his hooks in her. I couldn’t risk Adena letting the worlds know of her own spawn. If Akirandon found out I was responsible for such a thing, she’d kill me herself.”
“So that’s why you want us to help you kill the demon queen?” Evan sneered. “You’re terrified she’ll destroy you.”
“And now you’re trying to manipulate us,” Brooke added. “Just like you do everyone else.”
Kalkavan remained smiling, but Evan saw the flash of rage in his eyes.
“You should see my army, a hundred thousand strong,” he hissed. “My forces can be used either to strike at Velkarath, or invade Veneseron, it is up for you to decide which. I can either take out the Rakarn, your most bitter enemies, or I can destroy your home and everyone you’ve ever cared about.”
“You’re lying,’ Brooke cried. “The locations of both worlds are hidden.”
“Better yet,’ Evan said, deathly quiet. “Your army won’t matter after I’ve killed you.”
Kalkavan laughed loudly this time. “Oh, you have grown fiery, Evan. I approve. You could be so much more powerful then you realise. With my help, you could rule the realms. Whole civilisations will tremble before you, or else bow in adoration as you gift them with your presence. Don’t you want that? To be a god amongst insects?”
“No!” he snarled. “I want nothing from you.”
“Oh, that’s just your human side talking. Your demon side is still yet to be unleashed. Who knows what he wants.”
“I don’t have a demon side, and why would it have a different personality? I’m just a human, a Venator who can summon demon magic sometimes. That’s all.”
“No. You’ve already felt it haven’t you?” Kalkavan gazed into his eyes. “Those stirrings. That urge. Your Dethyr calls to you. I know it, for mine calls to me too, as it does for every
demon who has the power to wield it.”
Evan couldn’t help but notice the fear in Brooke’s eyes as she hastily looked over at him.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Kalkavan turned to her. “It’ll happen to you too, soon. Evan here has used his Dethyr more than you. And the more you use it, the stronger its hold over you becomes. I don’t care how many potions or amulets Vanderain comes up with. He cannot stop it. You will both give in to your demonic sides before the end.”
“What do you want?” Ruaden quivered in his hand, his arm was shaking so much.
“I want you to join me,” Kalkavan said. “I don’t wish to enslave you like that pitiful fool Kurrlan would have. I don’t wish to use you for your powers. You may not think it, but I am your ally. I always have been. It’s why I engineered Brooke’s birth. My plan wasn’t for Brooke to be the only spawn useful to me, but you Evan, and Taija. With three of you, we’ll be unstoppable. Akirandon only has two of her own.”
The demon lord leaned over the table toward them, his expression manic. “I used Adena to beat Akirandon. I’m the one who figured out how to create a demon spawn in the first place. But someone in mine or Adena’s forces leaked the information to Akirandon, and her spawn were born only months after Adena’s. Yet Akirandon’s children are the ones still out there today.”
“What happened to the others…like me?” Brooke rasped.
“You were one of three, Brooke. The first died in its first few months, whilst the second was horribly disfigured, more demonic in appearance than he was human. You were the only one worth keeping out of Adena’s litter. So I hid you away, for I knew Akirandon would destroy you if she ever learned of your existence.”
“So I have one brother out there, what happened to him?”
Kalkavan shrugged. “I tested him, experimented. Tried to see if he would ever be strong, like you. But he failed. I think I imprisoned him somewhere, but he’s probably dead. Good thing if he is. I didn’t want to kill him myself, unless it accidentally brought back Ezanathul.”
“Wait, you don’t want the demon god back?” Evan asked.
“You aren’t very smart are you?” Kalkavan drawled. “Akirandon wants to resurrect the dark god at any cost. She’d kill any one of her children, even the two loyal to her at Velkarath, all for him. I don’t want him back. So you see, there’s really no reason for us not to work together. If we kill Akirandon, together, then it’s all over, isn’t it?”
Angels and Elves- Act I Page 21
