The Twisted Gate

by Matt Glicksman

  "How can you be so confident?"

  "Because you're what makes this all possible. You're unstoppable. This is what I want you to realize tonight."

  Erynion looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Like last night?"

  "Malarekita was a test. Tiny town. No danger to us. I needed to see what you were capable of. This is the real thing, though. A true challenge. And like I explained earlier, just stay with me, and everything will come up black."

  Maligus's grin widened. "I'm going to chop them all into pieces."

  By the time they reached the edge of the forest, all evidence of the sun was gone. The demons took their place behind the trees, scouting the wall across the small clearing. A lone arrow streaked across the sky and landed a few feet away from where Erynion knelt. Holy energy illuminated the projectile. The Seductress slid her hand up his back and tenderly kissed his neck.

  "I can feel it," the demon lord said.

  "Mm, I'm sure you can."

  "The agony, I mean. I can feel—" There was a sharp prick, and he bit down before exhaling in relief. A dark mist soon surrounded them.

  "This is it," Sereyna whispered.

  The black fog seeped out of the forest. As it passed the enchanted arrow, the projectile lost its glow. Moments later, more arrows were fired from the walls of Royal Oak, but each was swallowed by the cloud. Erynion heard clamoring in the distance as the Corruption spell spread to the north gate.

  "Let's not keep our guests waiting." Sereyna helped the demon lord to his feet, and together they exited the forest under the cloud's cover. Maligus roared and, along with the fray army, advanced on the city's gates.

  "Help!" a girl shrieked.

  Erynion paused and strained to see through the cloud.

  "What is it, love?" the Seductress asked.

  "I heard…never mind."

  But as they continued, the cry came again. "Help!"

  Erynion stumbled, but Sereyna caught him. As she lifted him back up, he took another step before falling to his knees.

  "What are you doing?" Her voice had lost its sweet tone. "Get up!"

  "I don't—"

  "Help me, please!" The shout was closer than ever. The fog grew so thick Erynion could no longer see the Seductress. He strained to listen to her voice but there was nothing. All the noise from the charging demons faded away. When the mist dissipated, he was on his knees, alone in complete darkness. He found the silence and solitude unsettling until a figure materialized in the void.

  "You fools!" In one hand, the man carried a large axe made entirely of wood, and in the other, he held a little girl. "You cannot hope to defeat me!"

  A young boy appeared. "You've already lost, Erynion!"

  The demon lord's thoughts were jumbled. He'd lost? How? But then, he realized the boy was shouting at the man holding the girl hostage. Of course. He was back inside his dream. There was a flash and the darkness was instantly replaced by a large courtyard with stone paths running between small trees and bushes.

  Erynion glanced down and discovered he was once again in the body of a young teenager holding a wooden sword. Kneeling behind a shrub, he peeked out and surveyed the scene. He was in the royal gardens of Thoris Castle. The man and the little girl stood in the middle of the courtyard where two stone paths intersected. The young boy, his friend, was hiding behind a tree with his back pressed against the trunk.

  "Come on, get up," the boy said. "Go around back and sneak up behind him."

  Erynion tightly gripped the handle of his sword. Staying low, he scampered from bush to bush. The sun shined brilliantly overhead, but the cool breeze kept the sweat off his brow. Once he was in position, he gingerly parted the branches to spy on his target.

  The man with the wooden axe laughed maniacally as he held his prisoner close. "Once I have Princess Sereyna in the Depths, my plan will be complete."

  Despite the threat, Erynion felt no fear. Sonojj was right. The girl was in no real danger. This was only a game. The villain, a demon who didn't speak Kisejjad, was only a man.

  "Don't worry, Sereyna. We'll save you," the younger boy said.

  With the villain's attention diverted, Erynion rushed out from his hiding spot. He swung the wooden sword and struck the man on the arm.

  "Arg!" The man released the girl, and his arm appeared to go limp.

  The other boy dashed out from behind the tree, grabbed Sereyna by the hand, and escorted her to safety.

  The villain squared off with Erynion—the teenager—and hoisted the wooden axe over his head. "You are brave indeed. But now you must cross blades with the mighty Erynion!"

  The demon lord shook his head. Hearing someone else use his name was quite strange. When he met Dulo, the beggar in Nolka, he thought the name was random. How odd that it was connected to his true identity.

  With a tame roar, the man slowly swung the axe, and Erynion easily blocked the attack. The villain exaggerated his movements as he went in for another strike.

  The little boy and girl cheered on the demon lord. "Get him…!"

  His name. Erynion gasped. His focus was pulled to the two children. His name. They were saying his real name, but it wasn't clear.

  "Don't take your eyes off me!" The man lifted his axe overhead and brought it straight down. Erynion dodged the blow and deflected the villain's weapon to the ground. Lunging forward, he made his move.

  The man snatched Erynion's sword and placed it under his armpit. "No! It can't be!" He stumbled backward and then slumped over.

  "Cleanse him!" the little boy shouted.

  "Yeah! Cleanse him! Cleanse him!" Sereyna repeated.

  "Too late! I am vanquished." The villain pointed menacingly at Erynion. "But I shall return when your attention is elsewhere. Mark my words. I will…return." The man lay back and stuck his tongue out.

  The two children joined Erynion, and the little boy exclaimed, "We did it! Another victory for humanity! Way to go…!"

  There it was again, but his name was still garbled. Erynion managed to mutter. "Thanks."

  The man sat up and allowed the wooden sword to clatter onto the stone pavers. "Yes, well done. And nice diversion, Batar."

  "Thanks," the little boy replied.

  Erynion felt the blood rush to his head. Batar? This little boy, his friend, was Batar?

  The little girl ran up and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for killing the monster and saving me…"

  It was just jargon. He strained his ear to find some pattern or some hint as to his name, but it was no use. The dream was beginning to collapse. The distant scenery distorted, and the man who had played the villain vanished first. The young boy, Batar, was next to go as the distortion moved in from all sides and cast a long shadow on the surroundings.

  Erynion looked down at the young girl, Sereyna. He had to figure out his name before he woke up. He opened his mouth, but there were no words. Like sand blown away by the wind, she disappeared, and Erynion was once again alone in the void. Everywhere he looked was pitch-black.

  "Wake up already!" The voice pulled the demon lord from his dream. As he opened his eyes, Erynion felt a firm object strike the side of his face. He quickly brought his arm up in defense.

  "Glad you could join us in our defeat!" Maligus buried his machete into the trunk of a tree. "Fangling useless!"

  "Calm yourself, Maligus. You of all demons should know the difficulties of containing your power." Sereyna wiggled the ogre's blade free and returned it to its owner. "Give us a moment."

  Maligus snatched the machete and stormed off.

  "What happened?" Erynion asked.

  The Seductress delicately lowered herself to the ground. "I was hoping you could tell me. I thought we had an understanding."

  The demon lord furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

  "You were supposed to help me while I help you learn your identity. We were halfway to the gates when you closed yourself off."

  "I don't understand." Erynion sensed the frustration in her voice,
but she maintained her soft tone.

  "Your energy. Last night, I used it to poison that little town. You gave it to me freely. I was expecting the same tonight. But just as we were getting started, you cut me off. What caused you to stumble?"

  "I heard a voice."

  "A voice? You mean the one that gives you instructions."

  "No, not that one. This one was from a little girl. The girl from my dream."

  Sereyna squinted. "You're saying that when you collapsed, you fell back into your dream?"

  "Yes. What does that tell you?"

  "That your mind is pushing hard for you to remember who you are." She repeatedly pinched at her dress. "Did you…recover…your identity?"

  "No, but I know I'm getting closer. The dream becomes clearer every time."

  Sereyna gave a half smile. "That's good news, but you picked the worst possible moment to have it. By the time I realized the Corruption spell was forming from my own energy, it was too late. I had already lost much of my power. There's no way we could've faced Candelux without your help, so I called for a retreat."

  "You had me carried back?"

  "Of course. You're too important. I had to concentrate on protecting you, and so most of the Corruption spell dissipated, leaving the scorchers the freedom to barrage us with arrows. We made it back unscathed, but many of the fray did not. The whole event was an utter failure."

  Truthfully, Erynion cared little for the results of the battle. He was more preoccupied with his dream. He had just experienced it more clearly than ever before.

  "Erynion" was just a name made up by a man pretending to be a demon. A game for children. And while the demon lord clung to this name, his true identity still remained elusive. The young boy, his companion, was none other than Batar. Did that boy really grow up to be king? Had Erynion really been sent to kill his friend? The demon lord eyed the Seductress as he thought about the little girl. Who was Sereyna and why was this demon using her name? It couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

  The greater iymed caught his stare. "Something on your mind?"

  "Should we be worried about a counterattack?"

  "Unlikely. Candelux isn't exactly known for going demon hunting at night. And despite what happened, they're probably still scared of you."

  "So, what now? Do we attack again later tonight?"

  "Pfft, I don't think so. I told you I had to concentrate on protecting you. That used the rest of my energy."

  "Protecting me how?"

  Sereyna nodded at him. "How's your head?"

  "It's fine. Why do you— The agony. Where is it?"

  "Gone. At least for another hour or so. Before you completely shut me out, I created a barrier around as much of your energy as I could."

  "A barrier? Like you did to Maligus?"

  "Sort of, yes."

  Erynion narrowed his eyes. "Last night, you told me that you weren't able to do that to me."

  The Seductress covered her mouth as she yawned. "Similar spell, but different conditions. I'd love to explain it to you in detail, but I have other things on my mind."

  "Such as?"

  "Such as, what do we do in an hour when the spell wears off? It's only temporary." Sereyna got up and wiped the dirt from her red dress. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to consult with Maligus on the matter. You just wait here."

  As she went to leave, the nearby bushes rustled, and the jester iymed emerged, breathless.

  "Flinch! Where have you been?" Sereyna asked.

  The jester huffed and puffed. "We have to go back! They got him!"

  "Got whom?"

  "Sonojj. He's caught in Royal Oak! We have to go save him!"

  "Impossible. Now, how about you tell me why you two ran off?"

  The jester tightened his lips and breathed heavily through his nostrils.

  Sereyna's hips swayed as she neared the short demon. She lifted his chin and locked eyes with him. "I know it wasn't my orders you were following, so out with it. Or would you prefer we leave Sonojj to rot in that city?"

  "No, ma'am."

  "Then?"

  Flinch scowled. "Last night, while you two were off doing devil knows what, a pod came up. A messenger from Verago. We were given eight gate seeds and instructions to plant them in Royal Oak. We knew your attack tonight would be a perfect distraction, and so Sonojj and I snuck in through the river once the bells started to ring."

  Erynion tried to piece the story together. "The river?"

  "Yeah, the river that flows to Lake Ivorus. It's fed by the spring that rises from the middle of Royal Oak. There's an old grate in the aqueduct that hasn't been changed in ages."

  Sereyna put her hands on her hips. "Fine. So, you slipped into the city using the river. What happened next?"

  "Once we completed our mission, we were about to leave, but there was a stray priest. Sonojj said we should take the opportunity to go, but it was just one priest, and I wanted revenge for yesterday. We went to kill him, but it all went to the depths. I don't know how it happened, but before I knew it, Sonojj was seriously injured. He lost his front paws. He couldn't move. Another priest showed up, and I had no choice but to leave him behind. We have to go back."

  The Seductress turned her back on the jester. "As I said, it's impossible. There are more pressing matters we must deal with. You two stay here and get some rest."

  "But what about Sonojj?" her lieutenant demanded.

  "Forget him. For all we know, he'll be cleansed tonight."

  Chapter 22

  Taking Control

  "You doing all right, Flinch?" Erynion asked.

  High up in the tree, the jester iymed rested against the trunk. "I keep replaying it over and over in my head."

  "What happened in the city?"

  "I don't know. I was blinded. It doesn't make any sense. But it was all my fault. I convinced Sonojj to stay. He and Reaper were my best friends, and now they're both gone."

  "You've known them since the Assault on Light's Haven, right?"

  Flinch allowed his foot to hang down and sway forward and back. "Pretty much. After Marksy and most of our battalion died in the purge, there was only a handful of iymed left. They all wanted to take control of whatever remained of our squad and be the new leader, but I didn't want any of that. I'm not a leader. While they were fighting one another and splitting up the fray, I wandered around for a few months. Reaper found me while he was on a scouting mission. I was surprised to hear Sereyna was recruiting. She always kept her army really small. Trust issues, I think. And as an assassin, I was more interested in joining Draeko."

  "That's the Shade, right?"

  "Right. But with Draeko in the wind, I decided it was best to join Sereyna. Safety in numbers. Iymed came and went, but Reaper, Sonojj, and I were always together. And believe it or not, Maligus wasn't so bad either. Don't get me wrong. He was no basket of fun back then, but it wasn't until his brother wandered off and died that he became a huge jerk."

  "You mean Rojjiro. Yeah, I heard about that."

  Flinch sighed. "First, Reaper. And now, Sonojj. Can't help but think there's something I could've done."

  "I'm sorry, Flinch. What do you think will happen to him?"

  "I don't know. Sereyna might be right. They may just cleanse him. But he lost his hands…his paws during the fight. He's not much of a threat, so they may try to interrogate him first." The jester hung his hat on a twig and ran his hands through his hair. "Ugh, it's Alovajj all over again."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Eh, you don't want to hear about that. Long story."

  Erynion looked around. "I don't think we're going anywhere anytime soon. I'm all ears."

  At first, the jester didn't speak. The demon lord assumed the conversation was dead, but then Flinch broke the silence. "Not long after I joined up with Sereyna, we found ourselves in the southern part of the kingdom, not too far from Alovajj. There's a place down there called the Den."

  "I think I've heard of it. It's a hideout for demons
, isn't it?"

  "It's much more than that. It's a tunnel, a permanent opening between the Depths and the Surface. It's the only way demons can come to the Surface without a twisted gate or a pod. The Den has always been a gathering place for demons. No humans have gone near it in centuries. Anyway, there was a rumor that Draeko went missing around Alovajj, and Verago had ordered Sereyna and Sarjjore to investigate."

  "Sarjjore?" Erynion had heard the name before in an earlier conversation. "He went missing, too, right?"

  Flinch smirked. "She, actually. And yes, she went missing not long after this whole thing."

  "So, who is she?"

  "The humans call her the Brute. She's one of the five greaters. Huge demon with a battalion to match. No one knows where she is, and so the majority of her army occupies the Den. I remember she had these six lieutenants, just massive. The Ash brothers, we used to call them. But, I digress.

  "So, there we are, relaxing at the Den, when we get orders to go investigate Alovajj. Now, there's a group of humans called the Death Gods who had just cleared all the demons out of the city and reclaimed it for themselves. Rumor has it that Draeko was sent to deal with some of their founders but was never heard from again. His soul never returned to the Depths, so the assumption was that he was captured, locked away in the dungeon beneath the palace."

  "So, what happened?"

  Flinch sat up and let both legs hang off the branch. "Back then, the Death Gods didn't have the numbers to defend the whole city. There were only a few dozen of them. Moultia Palace was where the nobles lived when the city was still alive centuries ago. A nice fortified position. That's where the Death Gods stayed. So, Reaper, Sonojj, and I sneak into Alovajj and look for a way into the palace unnoticed. This archdon on patrol spots me somehow, and I get restrained. She seems to be alone, and so Sonojj dives at her. But this other guy comes out of nowhere, pins Sonojj to the ground, and puts a blade to his neck."

  The jester pulled out his dagger and took hold of an invisible adversary. He brought the weapon close to his empty fist. "He's about to slice him right through, but the priest calls for him to stop. So, he stops."

  "Just like that?"