by JW Baccaro
Memories of no more than seven days ago flooded Talvenya’s mind…
The village burned, crops had been destroyed, men, women and children slaughtered; everything that would say these people once existed was now erased.
Everything except a pleading mother on bended knees setting her five year old son behind her, begging the Queen to spare them, begging more than anyone had ever begged. “Please great Queen, please spare my child. You may take my life but let the boy live. He’s my son, my only son. Everything we possess you’ve taken, even our great crystal that seems to have betrayed us its protection. But take not my son. Use him for a slave if need be. Just don’t end his life. He’s my greatest gift. All I ever asked the gods for. Have mercy, please!”
The woman’s desperate tone, broken heart, and love for her offspring for the first time caused the Queen to be hesitant in slaying a living creature. Thinking, she lowered a javelin she had attempted to drive through both of them at once.
Then Tanarokai approached, sword drawn. “Talvenya, why do you delay?”
As if lost in trance she suddenly gathered her thoughts and faced him. “Let them go.”
“Let them go? Have you lost your sense?”
“What harm could they cause, seriously my King? Let them go. Let them—free.”
With a look that told he might even kill her, he gripped his sword and stepping forward he drove it through the mother and boy’s chest together, retrieving it just as fast, drenched in blood.
“I said I wanted them alive!”
“Do not question my authority Talvenya. To do so is to question Abaddon’s. No survivors it is to be.”
Retreating from her thoughts she noted, “A mother and son having their people wiped out by our hands were not a threat to us Tanarokai. There was no reason you had to kill them after I said I wanted them alive.”
“There is no reason you should attempt to disobey Abaddon.”
“Haven’t we killed enough? Kill, kill, kill! We are always taking lives!”
“Listen to your hypocrisy! You…a mistress of death having slaughtered thousands mercilessly and suddenly now your heart is turning soft? I must say, I stand here bewildered.”
“I am not turning soft.”
“You haven’t been yourself since the fall of Zithel or shall I say, since the time you spent with that Nasharin. Little by little, each day your mind strays. I’ve caught you enjoying the simple things in life all of us should take for granted, rather than the opposite. Mundane typical things repetitively occurring everyday and they are an utter bore! Like sunsets, the way your eyes watch the sky, in adornment, the smile on your lips, as if you are in paradise. The curiosity you have for growing things, stopping to smell the roses, rubbing your hands over tree bark as if you are witnessing such a dull thing for the very first time. And taking the time to step over a rodent or toad, instead of crushing it into a bloody mush under your boot, as you normally do when one crosses your path. But that is not all, I hear you talk in your sleep, calling out the name ‘Darshun,’ with a tone not so hateful as you pretend to hate him so. I would say there are sparks in your heart for that boy.”
“I most certainly do not desire Darshun. Have you not seen what I did to him? Would you like to see what I am going to do to him, perhaps today?”
“The only thing I see is a powerful woman—a Goddess slowly beginning to take on another path. The path and ways of the Li—”
“Never shall I turn to the Light!” she cut him off, having fire in her eyes. “And to make such a comment is to cast insult at me, your Queen! Say it again, I don’t care who you are, King or no King, I’ll tear you to pieces.”
There they stood, both having bitter feelings for the other.
Tanarokai obviously annoyed with her recent ‘mercy’ she’d shown toward creatures. Yet, the real bitterness came from her attraction for Darshun—the way she said his name while in sleep, as if she loved him as a creature of Light loves another. In Asgoth, love didn’t exist. Even before it became infested with creatures of the Dark, there were no marriages among Humans, instead man and woman companionships were arranged or ‘bound’ together for merely outward appearances. The beautiful stayed with the beautiful, those unappealing on the eyes or unattractive—whether it be their natural look, born with severe birth defects or plagued with disease—stayed with others of the same likeness. The poor dwelled with the poor, rich with the rich or in the King and Queen’s case, the royally powerful with the royally powerful.
Among all of this, it’s still better than what happens in Asgoth in the present. Now the city stunk of massive orgies among the male and female creatures of darkness. Even Human slaves—man or woman—were sometimes sent out by the King to ‘satisfy’ a high-ranking non-Human creature.
This, in all honesty, Queen Talvenya despised, had always despised. But probably because being a lady of absolute physical beauty she knew how disgusting these creatures of darkness can be and just how far their thoughts descend.
Talvenya considered her present feelings toward the King and part of her knew he was right, but she also hadn’t a clue as to what might be happening. Why did she continue to dream of Darshun night after night? The dreams were not of lust or lovemaking, but the kindness Darshun showed her, casting away all duties to give her food and drink, offering to take her back to Mt. Mundoria, the land she most certainly lied about living in. Dancing with her, forsaking a council to accompany her up the mountain, gently tucking her in for sleep amongst the camp, overall, treating her like none ever did before, like a person.
Yet, why did not she feel this then, while with him? If her memory served true, these things began after she looked into Kelarin’s mind. The feelings, the mercy and especially, seeing that woman begging for her son’s life, which reminded her of begging Abaddon for Sicarius’ life long ago. To hold to ancient traditions of the Demonic Race Abaddon desired a first-born sacrifice from the Royalty of Asgoth…Sicarius would be that.
However, after begging, pleading and setting before his feet twelve infants of different creatures: four Elves, four Men and four Centaurs—all from holy lines, did Abaddon agree to spare the boy. He took his sword to the others instead. While having no compassion for those infants, to witness another mother pleading just the same made her think and remember. What was happening to her? Seems one is pulling her away from the Dark while she is kicking and screaming. Why can’t she be left alone? Why can’t she remain, as she would have it…in darkness?
Their stand off shifted swiftly as they caught wind of the High Wizard approaching, his staff tapping loudly against the stone floor.
“King Tanarokai, Queen Talvenya,” Levieth greeted while shifting his emotionless gray eyes to and fro of them. “You are to report with your gift at once to Lord Abaddon.”
“Will you not take it to him?” Tanarokai asked, holding out the black sack. For seldom were they ever allowed to step foot into the Demon’s lair.
“No. He wants to speak to both of you.” The look in the High Wizard’s eye now seemed frightful, as if he knew something unpleasant would take place the moment they went before Abaddon.
“Very well,” Tanarokai answered. “We shall report there at once and give him the gift that’ll make him the God of earth, and the New World to come.”
Off they stormed to the lair, passing many soldiers who seldom looked upon them; those who did quickly put their heads down as if afraid—like the expression one makes before a severe chastisement.
Something has happened since we’ve been gone, Talvenya thought. I can feel it. Something drastic.
Up the fourth flight of stairs they went, discovering the entrance door to Abaddon’s lair already open. Neither spoke a word to the other, just exchanged a quick glance and then entered. They were astonished. For the lair appeared as if a war had taken place. Rubble seemed to be scattered in almost all directions, the statues of the gods were in pieces, the fifth level didn’t exist anymore and a section of stonewall had been
blown out to the outside, now having the sun shine brightly in.
This is where Abaddon stood, his back to them, albeit descended into his lower form, the form the King and Queen knew him as. Not anything like the Dark Angel Darshun witnessed in the battle before their arrival. He turned around to face them, his yellow eyes piercing, his red scaly skin glistening in the sunrays.
Both Tanarokai and Talvenya descended to their knees, bowing immediately, touching their noses to the ground for a moment.
The Demon Lord walked closer to them, his footsteps causing the floor to tremble slightly.
Raising his face to meet the Demon’s gaze, Tanarokai extended an arm and set the black sack before his feet. “I bring you the Air Crystal my Lord. As you commanded.”
Abaddon picked up the sack, reached in and took it out, smiling wickedly as the smoky gray crystal rested in his large palms, looking like one who might fall into a state of ecstasy any given moment. “You both may stand.”
They obeyed.
“I trust you are pleased with us?” Tanarokai asked.
Abaddon focused a rather unpleasant gleam upon the King. “Pleased with you? This crystal just saved your lives.”
“I—I don’t understand my Lord?”
Shifting his glare to the Queen he asked, “Tell me Talvenya, have you seen your son, Prince Sicarius?”
“Why—no my Lord.” Her voice trembled in fear. “I planned on meeting with him after we delivered the crystal into your mighty hands.”
“Unless death takes you, you shall not be seeing him for a long while.”
Adrenaline flowed through her blood, despair shot into her heart. Was she misunderstanding him? Yes, that must be it. Sicarius is fine. Let Abaddon continue to speak, so he may explain the meaning to his words “Unless death takes you,” implying Sicarius is dead. Because there’s just no way it could be the truth. “Where is my son?” she asked, with hands shaking. “Where’s Sicarius?”
“Let me make it clear for you woman…Sicarius is dead.”
Not a word came out of Talvenya’s mouth. Her eyes flooded with tears and she collapsed to the floor.
“How could this have happened?” Tanarokai asked.
“The Nasharin, the one they called ‘Darshun,’ annihilated him in the arena, where she sent him. Therefore, the only one to blame for his death is your Queen.”
Darshun did this? Talvenya thought. He, above all creatures killed my son? He whose very life I held in my hands, and could have ended the moment of my choosing? Tanarokai attempted touching her shoulder to comfort but she threw him off. “Do not lay hands on me!” she screamed in despair.
“Silence!” Abaddon commanded stretching forth an arm.
Without warning, an invisible force abruptly drew them high into the air and pushed their bodies against the wall, the pressure crushing them into the rock. Neither were able to move or breathe.
“That Nasharin caused much damage in this castle before I killed him,” Abaddon announced, his eyes flashing terribly. “His power greatly exceeded both of yours and neither of you had the wit to see it. Queen Talvenya, instead of seducing his mind for your own pleasure you should have seduced his will to the Dark!”
“Whatever do—you mean my—Lord?” she asked, her words sputtering from lack of breath.
“Do not take me for a fool!” he shouted and the pressure of his ominous force increased against her body.
She felt like her skin would split apart any moment.
“How soon you forget whom you serve, my agents are always at watch. Nothing gets by my conscious. Yes, I know about Arundel Mountain, the loss of the Crystals, the overtaking of Zithel by rebel warriors and ALL recent events. You should be careful how you plot, for my Nightwings soar the sky and are ever watchful. Olchemy was moments away from destroying the Fire Crystal upon Mt. Flame before Levieth stopped him. Had that happened, I would have put the both of you to death with the most excruciating of pains.” He released the spell.
The evil pair fell hard to the ground, coughing and gasping.
“My, my Lord,” Talvenya defended. “We stole them back for you, and found the Earth Crystal as well. Should you not be pleased? Does that not count for something?”
“The reason you still breathe. However, what angers me the most is how you two tried keeping your mistake hidden, delivering a false message to Levieth. Just like failure…Deceit will not be tolerated. If you value your lives don’t do it again, or as I have already spoken, you shall experience pain beyond imagination.”
“Where is the Nasharin?” Tanarokai asked, once raised to his feet.
“Rotting in the Azriel River. Look around. See the destruction he caused. That creature had more power than both of you combined.”
“It’s—impossible,” Talvenya exclaimed. “I drained him of power. His will was shattered. And even if I hadn’t I spent a lot of time with Darshun and never felt such a force—”
Abaddon stepped forward hard, yanking her by the hair, forcing her to stand.
She yelped like an animal, trying to stay on her feet.
“You know nothing of power woman! That Nasharin had depths reaching those of my world—the Underworld, where immortals forever roam.” He threw her to the ground. “If I could have bent his will to evil he would be wearing that crown upon Tanarokai’s skull and you would now be his slave. But the Light shined too brightly in him, so he had to be destroyed.”
For the first time in her life, she felt truly humbled and treated as a piece of worthless garbage. Is this how she’d made others feel since becoming Queen of Asgoth? Those who failed and begged for forgiveness at her feet? No longer did she feel like a dominatrix, or a mistress of death and darkness. Abaddon frightened, humiliated, and destroyed her pride. Another mistake and there was no doubt she’d experience what he promised, unimaginable pain and then death. Why would any follow such a creature as this? Why would anyone want to live in a world forever ruled by a creature like this? Nothing good ever came from the race of Demons, especially this one, who obviously cares for nothing except authority, power and Rule—as she had once before. Was the Elf, Kelarin right after all? She recalled a memory…
“No, what you lust after is selfishness. You delight in killing the innocent, murdering the weak, destroying forests, animals or anything not willing to abide under the Dark’s Rule. You cast aside the helpless, are unforgiving to your own; bitter, hateful, even blasphemous to all whom differ in thought, deed and belief. What you call ‘pleasure’ is the sole purpose for suffering within this world. And deep down Talvenya, you know this.”
To Abaddon, one of those categorized as ‘weak’ was Talvenya. Her power, being nowhere near his, meant nothing to him. Her only purpose in life is to serve the Demon, to fail meant death. Finally, she understood how others must have felt before her many times in the past, when she held the same mindset as Abaddon. Now, with Sicarius dead there would be no one she could run to for comfort. Sicarius being the only one she’d ever gone to—would ever go to for compassion in times of stress—secretly. For no one knew. Embarrassed, she thought of it as a weakness, however she loved her son's comfort, the stroke of his hands over her head, telling her in a soft tone how everything would be all right, that he’d always be there for her, always. Now he was dead, by the hands of Darshun who was also dead. Just like in the dream. Hence, she couldn’t even get revenge since Abaddon killed him. Life now—meant nothing.
“Forgive us my Lord,” Tanarokai pleaded.
“Forgiveness is the way of the Light. Never shall my anger against you vanish. Yet, I have spared you for a time. I am returning to Syngothra, to Castle Astaroth to prepare for the eve of Saruinkai, and the final stage of this secret war. I want both of you to secure all entrances into the north. The Light senses the time is arriving and they may yet strike hard before the end, especially the Elves. Let nothing pass through. Your lives depend on this.”
“As you command my Lord. But how will we know when to flee to Syngothra before
the Spell of Destruction hits?”
“I will call for you. Now leave my presence at once.”
They departed with no hesitation. As they were going down the stairway the King stopped for a moment and tugged on Talvenya’s hand, looking the Queen in her tear-swollen violet eyes. “I am sorry for the loss of Sicarius. But as our Lord rightfully said, it was your fault.” He continued on without her.
For long minutes, she remained in the same spot, staring off into space; too tired to weep any longer, too run down to scream. She hated Tanarokai, she hated Abaddon and she hated—herself.
* * * *
Abaddon held the Air Crystal in his right hand and the Dark Crystal in his left, then closed his eyes and began to speak in demonic. He transformed into his true self. Black flames surrounded the Dark Crystal then converted onto the Air.
Screams of a thousand Angels sounded from the heavens, shaking the foundations of Asgoth, causing every creature of the Dark to take cover, unknowing where these terrible shouts of anger and despair were coming from. A true sign of the end times, those belonging to the Light among the sky knew the ancient Wizard Crystals of the Elements were now forever out of Good’s hands. Another betrayer, another former Guardian of Light knowing all secrets of Holy Magic, now corrupted the four…Abaddon.
The Demon Lord ceased from speaking, descended to his former state and opened his eyes. Like the Water, Fire and Earth crystals, the Air had a darkish look to it, ‘marked’ as his property. He set it beside the other three and grazed his hand across them, smiling. “Now all four of them belong to me. The Light will soon fall to my hand and I shall rule this world for eternity. I’ve waited for this day for thousands of years, ever since they cast me out of my realm of Heaven. There is no hope left for the Light. Their most cherished planet shall be lost.”
He levitated the crystals into the air. The four former Wizard Crystals, now demonic, floated in a circle while the Dark Crystal hung in the center. “Dark forces of the Underworld,” he shouted, “I pray I have pleased you with these sacred gifts, they are now yours and our task of domination draws near. So I ask you, reveal to me whose blood I must spill for the ultimate sacrifice.”
