White Angel

by R A Oakes

  The ground heaved, the walls buckled and the ceiling above Balzekior began to collapse. Frantic to avoid being buried, the fiery lava demon threw herself away from the cave- in retreating backwards into a part of the tunnel she’d been running through only a few moments ago.

  Fighting to control the feelings of terror swamping her, Balzekior thought, If I’m buried in dirt and rock, my flames will be extinguished. I’ll be snuffed out.

  After the ceiling stopped falling and the dust began to settle, the fiery demon woman discovered she couldn’t stand up, one of her feet having been pinned in the collapse. And though Balzekior began digging frantically, she was still too late. When finally able to pull herself free, her foot was a dead, smoldering mass of charred lava rock. Standing up, the flaming lava woman tried to walk but could do so only with a pronounced limp.

  “What have you done to me?” she screamed. “What have I ever done to deserve this?”

  “How about the countless lives you’ve ruined?” Greystone asked reappearing once more, stepping out of the tons of rock that were now blocking the tunnel denying Balzekior her freedom.

  “Why should that matter? None of them would have amounted to anything anyway,” the flaming lava woman said callously dismissing her victims as insignificant.

  “What gives you the right to make that judgment?”

  “Rights? What rights? Look at my life. I’m the victim. It’s been nothing but one disaster after another for as long as I can remember.”

  “Your downfall is of your own making, Balzekior.”

  “Yeah? What would you know? You’re a lump of dirt,” Balzekior said glaring at Greystone and rubbing her extinguished foot.

  “Will you never learn?” Greystone asked shaking his head sadly.

  “Certainly not from you,” she sneered.

  Pointing back down the tunnel, Greystone said, “Well, it seems you have a visitor.”

  Balzekior looked behind her and said, “That weakling, Marcheto? He’s of no importance.”

  “Really? I think otherwise. In fact, the reason I blocked your escape was to help Marcheto reach you, and now that he has, I’ll bid you goodbye,” Greystone said turning and walking directly into a stone wall.

  “Good riddance,” Balzekior muttered sulking and feeling sorry for herself.

  Leaning heavily on his wizard’s staff for support, Marcheto slowly walked up to Balzekior and, gasping for breath, said, “I’m glad I caught up to you.”

  Feeling annoyed more than upset or worried about the young wizard showing up, the fiery demon woman picked up a small rock and tossed it at Marcheto, striking him on the head and knocking him down.

  “What are you doing here? I could destroy you in an instant,” Balzekior said looking on scornfully as the young wizard struggled to his knees.

  “Then you should have done so earlier because what happens to me now isn’t important.”

  “It never was.”

  “I’ve gotten my wizard’s staff near you. That was my objective,” Marcheto said ignoring her insult.

  “Fine, so leave it here and go.”

  “No, I think I’ll stay and watch.”

  “Watch what?”

  Suddenly, the length of the staff began glowing, and a bright light shot out of it forming an opening. Through the gap walked Eldwyn, the young mystic’s mentor and immediate predecessor.

  “Hello, Balzekior.”

  “What do you want, Eldwyn?” the demon woman asked laughing. “You were too frightened to face me back at Crystal Castle, choosing instead to retire into the College of Wizards.”

  “But White Angel has destroyed your underground lake of lava, leaving you greatly weakened, hasn’t she?”

  “I’m still strong enough to handle you, old man.”

  “And what about me? Can you handle me just as easily?”

  Looking at Marcheto’s staff, the gateway to the College of Wizards, Balzekior was surprised to see Tenaray, the dean of the college, emerging from it.

  “Tenaray, you haven’t stepped foot outside the College of Wizards in almost 500 years. You’ve always been too frightened of me.”

  “I’m still frightened of you, Balzekior.”

  “If that’s true, why are you here? The moment you try to reenter the College of Wizards, you know what I’ll do. As the dean, you have great power, but that can be a liability when moving from this world into your parallel universe. It will take a long time for the gateway and the College of Wizards to reabsorb you.”

  “And until I’m back inside, the gateway will be wide open, won’t it?”

  “Yes, making it a very enticing target, Tenaray.”

  “Are you thinking about launching an attack on the College of Wizards?”

  “Now why would I want to do that?” Balzekior asked smiling.

  “You’ve always wanted to gain entrance into the wizards’ parallel universe, hoping to corrupt it, to pollute it.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “Now would be a good time to try.”

  “What are you up to?” Balzekior asked sensing that something wasn’t quite right.

  “Why do you think I’m up to something?”

  “You’ve always avoided coming into the physical world, but here you are offering me a chance of a lifetime to invade your home world. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Why does it need to make sense? Don’t meaningful opportunities sometimes surface when we least expect them, taking us completely by surprise? Aren’t some of the most meaningful experiences in life completely spontaneous and totally irrational?”

  “It can be that way for others, but not you. You’re far too objective and self-disciplined. Taking such risks would be completely out of character for you.”

  “Maybe I’ve been wrong.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt it. You’ve been wrong a lot.”

  “I’m wrong because, for most of my life, I’ve lived in fear of my emotions, keeping them tightly under control. But by repressing my feelings for so long, I’ve forgotten what it means to be truly alive.”

  “Quit talking such nonsense, Tenaray. But what are you doing here? Why are you being so careless?”

  “Because I love you.”

  “Oh, please stop, you’re making me cry,” Balzekior laughed.

  “I’m being serious.”

  “No, you’re not. You stopped loving me the day our parents died.”

  “You mean the day you killed them.”

  “Do I sense hostility? Let me ask you, do Marcheto and Eldwyn know who we are to each other?”

  “No.”

  “Why haven’t you told them?”

  “You know why. I’ve been ashamed to admit you’re my sister.”

  Marcheto and Eldwyn looked at each other, eyes wide and mouths open, neither knowing what to say.

  “Well, two very emotional wizards have heard your deepest, darkest secret. If you don’t want it becoming common knowledge, you’d best kill them both.”

  “I’m not killing anyone.”

  “That’s because you’re weak.”

  “Killing is easy, Balzekior. But being merciful to your enemies, that’s hard.”

  “Being merciful is a waste of time and effort. And as far as killing, what makes you think it’s easy? Oh, I’ll admit that randomly killing one person at a time is easy, but mass killings are difficult to orchestrate.”

  “You’re the only person I know with that problem.”

  “I value my individuality, so I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You would.”

  “Well, brother, let’s speak frankly. I’ll never let you go back through the gateway and into the College of Wizards alone. You can either choose to remain here in the physical world, or you can take me with you when you return. But you’ll never escape me now.”

  “Escape is not my goal. I would never have come out of the College of Wizards if it were. Why would I do that? Why would I arbitrarily just hand myself and the college ove
r to you?”

  “I’ve been wondering about that myself, but the answer is that you always were a fool.”

  “I’ve done my share of foolish things. When Eldwyn risked everything to save a young Crown Prince Ulray Kardimont years ago, I almost stripped him of his wizard’s powers. And recently, when Eldwyn wanted to help King Tarlen, I put him on house arrest rather than allow him to follow his heart. And when Eldwyn got Marcheto to act in his stead, I was furious.”

  “You’re powerful, Tenaray, you could kill them both. They mocked your authority. They deserve to die.”

  “Stop it. I’m not some addle-minded idiot.”

  “That’s news to me.”

  “I was wrong to put Eldwyn on house arrest because he was right. If we want anything meaningful in this life, we must be willing to risk everything.”

  “What would be so meaningful that you’d risk everything? Are you here to avenge the death of our parents? Is that what this is all about? Killing me?”

  “No, I’m not here for vengeance. In fact, a few weeks before you murdered them, mother and father asked me to forgive you for everything you’d ever done wrong. They asked me to try one more time to save you from yourself.”

  Balzekior remained silent, for once having no glib response. When she found her voice, she croaked, “They made me so mad the day I killed them. It was their fault!”

  “Nothing’s ever your fault, is it?”

  “Why saddle myself with guilt? I like myself.”

  “No you don’t.”

  “So, you’re going to save me, eh? My heroic brother, the greatest wizard of them all, you think you can change me?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never tried risking everything for you before.”

  “You’ve never risked anything. But tell me, what did you say to our parents when they asked you to forgive me, not that I need anyone’s forgiveness?”

  “I didn’t say anything. I just sat there silent, their eyes pleading with me. They begged me to help you. I left the house without giving them an answer. The next time I saw them, they were dead.”

  “Are you ready to answer them now?”

  “Yes.”

  “And what would you tell them?”

  “I would tell them that, like Eldwyn, I’m willing to risk all for those I love most.”

  “I’m sure that doesn’t include me.”

  “Yes it does. You’re still my sister.”

  “I think you’re having an emotional collapse. The strain of recent events is taking its toll on you. I suggest a moratorium on compassion until you get a chance to sort out your feelings.”

  “No, I’m afraid if I don’t do this now, I never will.”

  “Do what?” Balzekior asked eying her brother suspiciously.

  “Take you back with me into the College of Wizards.”

  Balzekior gaped at him, totally surprised, and asked, “You’re welcoming me into your world?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let’s go. I can’t wait to begin wreaking havoc.”

  “You won’t be allowed freedom of movement.”

  “No?”

  “We of the College of Wizards once tried imprisoning you at Firecrest Castle, but that didn’t last long. You escaped after only a year.”

  “I’ll never forgive you for doing that to me.”

  “This will be worse. You’ll be banished to the farthest reaches of the parallel universe, far from the slightest hint of demon lava, and there you will live out your days.”

  “I knew there had to be a catch. What if I won’t go with you?”

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  “But you believe in freedom of choice.”

  “Not in this instance. I won’t allow you to go on hurting innocent people.”

  “That they’re innocent is half the fun. You should see the looks on their faces when they realize living a good life won’t protect them. Bad things do happen to good people. I’ve seen to that, and I always will.”

  “No more. It’s got to stop. Firecrest Castle’s dungeon couldn’t hold you, but maybe the College of Wizards can.”

  “I’ll destroy you. I’ll ruin your world,” Balzekior threatened.

  “I don’t think so, come embrace me,” Tenaray said opening his arms wide.

  “Keep away from me.”

  “You’re my sister. I should have done this long ago.”

  “I said keep away from me!”

  “Come sister, let me kiss your cheek.”

  “No!” Balzekior shouted shooting flames out of the tips of her fingers at her brother.

  Holding up one hand, Dean Tenaray shouted, “Derito miglitude synorita gloritar!”

  When Balzekior saw her streams of fire harmlessly flowing around her brother, she became enraged, turning into a white-hot raging inferno. Losing her temper, the demon woman leapt at Tenaray screaming, “I won’t live in a prison again. I won’t!”

  “Did I tell you there’s little oxygen in the parallel universe’s outer regions? I’m afraid your days of being covered in flames are over,” Tenaray said wrapping his arms around his sister. “I love you sis. I’m taking you home.”

  “No! No! No!” Balzekior wailed.

  “Watura flonapor delugic ransura!” Tenaray shouted, quickly turning to Eldwyn and Marcheto and saying, “Take a deep breath and hold it.”

  Stones began popping out of the floor, walls and ceiling with water spraying from the holes like dozens of geysers soaking the three wizards and, most importantly, drowning Balzekior’s flames, turning her into one big mass of charred lava rock, the ugliness of her evil readily apparent in her ravaged face and body.

  “Look what you’ve done to me, I’m ugly! You’ve ruined me!”

  After the demon woman’s flames were extinguished, the tunnel had become pitch black, but only for a moment. Tenaray’s robes had immediately started giving off a warm, soft light revealing Balzekior’s wretchedness.

  “I didn’t ruin you. You did that to yourself. All I did was take away the radiantly beautiful fire you were hiding behind.”

  “I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

  “Don’t worry, they won’t. The most distant sector of the parallel universe is so far away that light hasn’t even reached it yet.”

  “Total darkness?”

  “And not a single soul will be within a hundred thousand miles of you.”

  “Please, have mercy on me.”

  “I thought you said being merciful is a waste of time and effort?”

  “That’s when dealing with other people, but we’re family.”

  “Keeping you from hurting others is the most merciful thing I can do for you.”

  “I should have killed you along with our parents.”

  “Well, you didn’t.”

  “It was you I wanted to kill. I went to our parents’ home hoping to find you there. When they tried to protect you and wouldn’t tell me where you were, that’s when I got mad and killed them. But it’s you I wanted dead most of all.”

  Tenaray paused but maintained his grip on his sister, refusing to let her escape. “Okay, you’ve got what you wanted. You’ve hurt me.”

  “It’s just the beginning. If you take me with you, it’ll never end. Finding ways to torment you will be my reason for living.”

  “Then start thinking of ways to hurt me because we are going home,” Tenaray shouted. Suddenly there was a bright flash, followed by an enormous clap of thunder, and the ancient wizard and his demonic sister vanished.

  “Mantua litata sunsak raysic,” Eldwyn said quietly, causing the stone walls to give off a green, emerald-like glow. “That should help us find our way back through the tunnel.”

  “I wish I’d known that incantation before coming down here,” Marcheto said.

  “You did just fine, and you should be proud of yourself.”

  “Thank you, but Eldwyn, I thought it was going to take a long time for Tenaray to be reabsorbed into the College of Wizards.
”

  “Yes, quite a long time, but Tenaray isn’t inside the parallel universe yet. He and Balzekior are temporarily being held in a containment area. After the College of Wizards is certain Balzekior can be controlled, she’ll be allowed to enter the home world.”

  “With Balzekior out of the way, what should we do now?” Marcheto asked.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “A lot better.”

  “Good, find Aerylln and stay by her side.”

  “What will you be doing?”

  “I’m going to see my old friend King Ulray. I’ll pledge my continued loyalty and then avenge my king’s death. I’ve been waiting 30 long years for this day.”

  “I think you’ll have to stand in line for a shot at Swarenth.”

  “No, I won’t go after him.”

  “Why not?”

  “That honor belongs to his son, Tarlen.”

  “You’ll allow King Tarlen to risk his life fighting a gargoyle warlord?”

  “He wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Neither would Swarenth.”

  Chapter 32

  Dominion Castle’s front entrance.

  Upon emerging from the tunnel, Eldwyn and Marcheto were relieved to see that the hundreds of gargoyles who’d been attacking the entrance from inside the castle were in full retreat with Prophet, Jewel and Flame in hot pursuit further terrifying the winged apes and giving them plenty of incentive to keep running.

  “They’re heading towards a large tower that’s behind the tiger compound,” Gwendylln shouted. The warrior woman had raced up a flight of stairs to the walkway along the top of the castle walls wanting to see for herself where the gargoyles were going now that the front entrance had been secured.

  After having driven the winged apes towards the entrance, Chen and her warrior women had gotten out in front of the mob by climbing the stairways to the walkway, charging along the top of the outer walls and coming down by Prophet and the White Angels.

  Following Chen’s warrior women were King Ulray, King Tarlen, Genevieve, Captain Polaris, almost two-dozen of the king’s personal guards, Chaktar, the smaller tigers from the present, Lord Grenitar and his robust tigers, and Tenacity and her village women. Exploding down stairways to the courtyard below, over 360 humans and tigers had hurled themselves into the fray with frenzied determination.