The Artifact of Dissium (Demona Book 2)

by Megan A. Hepler

  “You have no idea what it’s like knowing that what little bit of a life you remember has been a total lie,” Demona said. “GLC was the only place I had left, the only place I was accepted. I never asked for this…I never asked to be the Mythos or a vampire.”

  Kearne stood. “Did they ever tell you why you were bringing me in?”

  “It was because of all the women dying from your touch.”

  “That was a lie!” Kearne whipped another rock into the river. “I have never been like most Gancanagh. Sure, it’s in my instinct to lure women, but I just wanted love. How could I help that my touch turns women into stalkers who end up dying because of it. I was born a Gancanagh, I never had a choice either.

  “I am the last unwed Gancanagh, the last of my generation. Gancanagh women are the only beings that can resist our poison. Do you understand what that means for me?” Kearne asked.

  Demona rubbed her arm and nodded.

  “The reason why you were sent to capture me was, because Darius wanted me. He wanted me, because of my knowledge of Dissium! There are very few people who travel between the other realm and here; most do not even know Dissium exists. I do not know what Darius is up to, but he clearly knew he needed me for this,” Kearne said.

  “But that was before anything happened with Abd al-Malik and the possession. There’s no way he could have known,” Demona said.

  “Though, beautiful, you did just say that he turned you into a vampire, because he knew who you were. Do not forget that he is one of the oldest vampires in existence. We do not know what he is capable of, or what he understands about the events taking place. For all we know, he could have orchestrated this whole thing.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine…”

  “I’m sorry about everything that happened to you. Had I known everything I know now…things would have been different. Kearne, is there anything else I need to know, about why you are here?” Demona asked.

  “There is one thing you should be aware of, that in exchange for seeing the artifact safely back, I regain my freedom. Nothing…nothing will keep me from my freedom.” Kearne clenched his fists tightly.

  “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Darius holds to his promise. Nobody deserves to be a slave to him,” Demona said. “I need you to help make this work. Please, stop taunting Ileana. And cool it with the whole seduction stuff. We need to work together…”

  “I will do my best, but do not forget that you are not the only being that has internal struggles,” Kearne replied.

  Ileana landed nearby and came to stand near Demona. She stood with her hands on her hips and she looked at Kearne in disapproval. Ileana was always agitated when she was around him.

  Demona looked at Ileana intently. “We’re all going to try and work together now, okay?” She looked back and forth between the two. “Kearne’s had his own tough journey to get here. Try to be sympathetic towards him, Ileana. Try to get along. We’re all working toward the same goal.”

  “I’m not so sure... But as long as he quits giving me those stupid feelings,” Ileana replied. She glared at Kearne.

  “I’ll stop, as long as you stop calling me a toad,” Kearne said.

  “Good, now that we know what is irritating you both you can go work on it. Now, I’m going to go get Felix and go hunt for firewood, again, since the fog has finally lifted.”

  “Awe, sneaking off with your babe again?” Ileana asked.

  “I’ve got more important things to worry about.” Demona rolled her eyes.

  Ileana laughed. “There’s nothing more important than L-O-V-E.”

  Demona ignored Ileana’s comment. “Now, you two are going to sit and get to know each other in the meantime.”

  “But Mom, do I have to?” Ileana whined.

  “Yes.” Demona pointed at both of them. “And behave!”

  ****

  Demona and Felix had gone to search the forest once again for firewood. Since the fog cleared out of the woods, they were able to safely venture farther into the thick trees. They found several arm loads of wood and occasionally returned to camp to drop the supply off. Throughout their search they flirted and stole kisses from one another. Demona tried to enjoy the near perfect moment with Felix, before it was gone and they had to continue their journey.

  They returned to the cave where Felix dropped his last load of wood onto the ground. Demona sat her own supply of long branches down on top of a large pile. They began preparing a fire as they had done on those nights back at the northeast headquarters. It was almost like Demona and Felix’s actions were synchronized, knowing exactly what job needed to be done in order to complete the fire.

  Felix placed the stick up against the others and stepped back. Demona leaned forwards and held her hands above the carefully placed kindling. The damp wood sizzled as Demona accessed her mageia to dry them enough that it would catch fire. Demona once again produced a flame that caught quickly and they were soon warming their soggy limbs around the raging campfire.

  Kearne and Ileana had seemed at peace with one another. It had been a shock for Demona to see that they may have actually worked their bad feelings out. There was no bickering or hateful glares exchanged between them. It seemed almost as if Demona sat in a cave full of genuine companions.

  Who would have thought?

  Aero stood at the cave’s entrance and continued staring out at the moonless night.

  “Aero,” Demona said, “You’ve seemed sad since we left the lake.”

  Aero swung his head to glance at the four humanoids behind him. There are many things I am reminded of in the Forest of Grief...the massacre...

  “Ah, the Massacre of Grief. An excellent story it is!” Kearne said.

  “I’d love to hear the story,” Demona said.

  Aero stomped his hoof. If the fairy whishes to tell the tale he may do so.

  “So be it. The Massacre of Grief occurred many centuries ago during a time when the balance of dark and light were equal in Dissium. Before the massacre different types of beings were at peace and coexisted with only some minor intermittent conflict. A dark Queen, ancestor to Queen Yuriko, sought to control all of the magic that flowed in the land, and prepared her army to invade the Vilund camp.

  “They invaded and victoriously conquered Vilund. The women and children were forced into slavery and the few men that had been captured were immediately executed. Many of the men had escaped the invasion, because they were out on a hunt. They returned to find that their homes had been destroyed and their families’ enslaved or slaughtered, so they ran for the forests and sought out the ancients. The ancients were a variety of neutral beings that had resided in Dissium since the beginning of time. The men pleaded for aid from the ancients in order to save their families.

  “Most of the ancients turned the light beings away, for fear of upsetting the balance even more than the actions of the Queen had already done. Most were selfish and did not wish to have any part in a war, so they chose to live in ignorance of what the dark Queen was doing.

  “The light beings pleaded their case to the unicorn race. They convinced them that they would feel the wrath of Aleph if they did not aid them. The unicorns agreed, for fear that the great God would send another plague upon their kind, as he had done in the past. So, they prepared a counterattack alongside the few remaining light beings. Their war camp gathered in these woods, which was known as the Brio Forest before the massacre.

  ”One of the unicorn warriors betrayed their kind and informed the dark Queen of the plan to attack. The Queen’s army planned a night raid on the war camp and slaughtered the majority of unicorns. The Queen’s men cut the horns from their heads and kept them as souvenirs. The foals and most of the women that had remained at home were left unaware of the events taking place. Out of a thousand male unicorns, in the war camp, approximately two hundred survived.

  “The female unicorns received word of the attack and came to the ai
d of the men. The grief of the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of the warriors was said to echo through the forest for a week. It is said that the female unicorns cursed the woods, so that any who traveled through them would feel the sorrow they felt on that day.”

  “That’s awful,” Felix said.

  It is no mere story, Aero said. My father and brother died during the raid. The betrayal of one of our own set our decline in motion.

  “I’m so sorry Aero,” Demona said. “Can-can I ask a question?”

  You may dark one, Aero replied.

  “Exactly how old are you? I mean if the battle was centuries ago and your father and brother were there… That has to mean that unicorns live a long time.”

  We do, Aero replied. Did you think that vampires were the only immortal beings on earth? I have lived longer than most of the beings in this land.

  “I-I never really thought about it,” Demona said. “I guess I just assumed that the whole resurrection of the dead thing was the only way to become immortal. But we don’t necessarily live forever; telos is possible if we suffer a fatal wound.”

  “It is the same for unicorns. Most non-humans live varying life spans. Only humans are limited by a short mortality,” Kearne replied.

  Aero, Kearne, Ileana, and Demona looked at Felix awkwardly.

  “Yeah, no need to say it. You all will probably live to see my grandchildren have grandchildren,” Felix replied.

  I think that is enough depressing talk for one night, Aero said.

  “Wait! You never said what happened to the light beings! I’m dying to know!” Ileana said.

  “More neutral beings stepped in after the unicorns were slaughtered; they joined forces out of fear. They forced the dark Queen to release the prisoners under relatively peaceful terms. It never really ended the violence between the two groups, but the light beings were never forced into slavery again. All neutral beings keep to their own communities and far away from the dark Queen’s descendants for fear that they will follow in her footsteps,” Kearne replied.

  “Thank you,” Ileana said.

  Aero laid himself onto the ground. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow we travel to the last location of Fotos. Let us hope that he still remains where he once was. The river should be shallow enough to cross by morning.

  Chapter 16:

  The Tomb of Beginning

  The morning had come and they quickly crossed the now shallow river. The glaring sun and long travels brought them into another hot afternoon. The sun beat down on the group from overhead and the atmosphere was thick with humidity. Not a single gust of wind offered the travelers relief. The air was calm, so calm that even the wildlife dared not venture out into the heat of the day.

  Aero lead them onto higher terrain, where the trees began to thin as they traveled higher. The paths grew narrower and were bordered by a cliff on one side and a steep mountain slope on the other. Aero had warned everyone to watch their footing on the trail. It was filled with holes that could break ankles and throw travelers into the valley below. He led the group at a slow and steady pace to ensure no one would rush towards their destination.

  We grow nearer to Bretthirg, Aero said. We must be extra cautious.

  Demona looked confused. “Fotos is just an archangel—”

  “You think that because a Power in his half bird, half human form granted you access into Dissium that there is no reason to fear? Do you not realize that Aleph has warriors of his own? And those angels are his warriors? Never underestimate an angel, especially those that guard something sacred,” Kearne replied.

  The fairy is correct, Aero replied. Fotos will know our true intentions and react accordingly. You will be tested.

  The group rounded a bend in the trail that now seemed to cut between the mountain side and a few large boulders. Aero had difficulty trying to squeeze his large body through the opening. After a few minutes of careful maneuvering, so not the scrape his sides, he managed to pass through.

  “I’m going to get a better look at this path. Do you think there is any risk?” Ileana asked.

  Aero continued to lead them up a steepening incline. I believe the risk is minimal, but do not draw near the top of the pass. Stay within our sight and land only by us. If you see suspicious movement return to us immediately.

  Ileana squawked at Aero in response and she took to the sky. She arched in wide circles above them and then angled downward in their direction. She circled around sideways and then soared back upwards. Ileana continued to repeat her pattern of flight and made sure not to venture too far from the group.

  The rest of the companions continued up the rocky incline. Felix had been quiet during the day’s journey. Unlike the others, Felix’s mortal body was paying the price for their extensive travels and exposure to weather. He frequently stopped to wipe the sweat from his brow and take a swig of water to quench his thirst.

  Ileana spiraled downward and fell quicker than Demona had ever witnessed before. She landed hard on the surface still in her phoenix form with wings outstretched. When Ileana transformed again she remained in a crouched position and panted heavily. “There is movement at the top of the trail. I couldn’t see what it was, but something is there.”

  Let us hope that it is only Fotos, Aero said.

  They spent another half an hour journeying upwards on the trail, higher onto the mountain side. The trees continued to grow sparser and the dirt path became more solid rock than dirt the farther upwards they traveled. The sun continued to beat down upon them even more fiercely as their altitude increased, however the air seemed to grow cooler as well.

  They passed through a low lying cloud as they neared the top. The cool, moist mist settled on their skin. It had also offered a temporary relief from the sun. Soon, the cloud floated up over the mountain and disappeared on the other side.

  The group reached a level surface not far from the peak of the mountain. Aero paused and looked from side to side, before he determined which direction to travel in. They walked around a large slab of stone that seemed as if it had been deliberately placed standing up. They followed the solid stone and Demona realized it was not only a stone, but served as one of several support walls that formed a structure.

  A parallel stone slab stood upright several yards to the left. Another sat perfectly in front and connected the two slabs together. The largest stone was placed directly on top creating a massive, flat roof. Demona wondered if a giant had been responsible for its construction. She noticed that there was a small opening on the stone facing.

  Aero lifted his head upwards to sniff the air. Moments later he stepped cautiously in the direction of the opening and into darkness. The other companions looked at Demona for any indication from her if they should follow. Demona stepped in front of the opening and braced herself. She stepped into the structure and was ready for anything that she might encounter on the other side.

  Demona was surprised by what she found inside the stone structure. The seemingly dark interior was actually not dark, but filled with streams of light. The evening sunlight had entered through holes at various locations in the walls and illuminated the room. Demona walked around and looked at several geometric designs that had been carved into the stone slabs. When she made her way to the back, she noticed that the sun’s rays poured into the room and shone on one specific shape. She rubbed her hand over the unfamiliar etching.

  The others walked around and marveled at the ancient designs. Felix now stood beside Demona as she studied the illuminated shape. Then, she turned to the center of the room to find a basin shaped altar, which stood on top of a cylinder. Demona placed her hand on the altar and was surprised at how cold it was.

  There are no signs of Fotos. We shall check outside for any other clues, Aero said.

  The group stepped back out of the structure and looked around carefully for any sign of life. Each of her companions walked in different directions cautiously looking for proof of a living being.

  “Hey, guys chec
k this out,” Ileana said.

  They stood around what looked like a long pile of rocks only to discover that it was another structure in disguise. The rocks were piled to form walls that supported a grassy mound. Demona produced a flame and stepped through the opening into darkness. The air smelled damp and stale.

  Demona allowed the light to fill the room while the flicker of the flame cast eerie shadows from objects around the room. She stood inside the elongated structure with walls made of stone and a roof of timber. It was not dissimilar to the buildings in Vilund or Gleannbroch. Some old, broken wooden furnishings were placed around the room, but it seemed that it been abandoned for quite some time.

  “There’s a draft over here,” Felix said. He held his hand out over the floor in front of him.