"Talking"
Mind link
Thinking
Birthed in the fire and blood of battle it rose on
wings as black as midnight to set the heavens ablaze.
Zar'roc burst through the Harrowgate coming out in a crouch as he listened. He didn't hear anything but that was to be expected after all his wards were still in place.
"But there's something here" he thought as he caught the faintest hint of a foul stench on the wind.
"I'll need more than just you old friend" he said as he looked down at his sword its black and red blade glimmering in the darkness of near dawn.
He quickly produced a small diamond from his pouch and fell into its power going deeper than the normal level of stone use to the third and most powerful ability of the diamond.
The Priests of Orden who dedicated their lives to the study of one of the light god's seven aspects called it the Divine Light. With it they gained absolute control over the portion of the light spectrum that their aspect governed. The control was so great that they could even convert pure light into physical material.
"Orden Father of All, Bringer of the Holy Light, I your humble servant beg your assistance" Zar'roc whispered as he closed his eyes and used the diamond to draw in blue light.
The blue aspect of Orden was strict and uncompromising holding the virtues of order above all others.
As Zar'roc pulled the light to him the diamond turned a deep cool blue. Not stopping there Zar'roc drew the light into himself and shivered as he felt its icy touch and the skin of his hand turned blue.
He felt the pendant around his neck heat up as his eyes snapped open and he willed the light to take form. The color snapped out of his hand taking physical from as a sword similar in design to his own.
Zar'roc smiled at it before he replaced the diamond and rushed forward calling on the power of his sunstone to shatter his wards.
Sound assaulted him as the barriers popped like a soap bubble. He saw a dozen or so demons all gathered around something on the ground as they clawed at it. Zar'rocs anger spiked and he rushed forward swords flashing.
a red lizard like demon noticed him first but he didn't have time to even make a sound before the blue blade punched through his skull and Zar'roc behead the demon next to him.
The remaining demons turned to him then their eyes practically glowing with hunger as they lunged forward.
Zar'roc crouched and rolled under them twisting as he came up on the other side allowing his swords to disembowel another pair of demons. "Thanaman dial" he shouted as he shot a fork of lighting skewering yet another pair of demons.
The closest living demon a green and yellow insect thing with large eyes and long antennae that bristled with sharp red hairs rushed towards him clawed feelers outstretched.
Zar'roc dodged the first attack slipping behind the creature as he grabbed its neck. With a twist and a snap the insect fell. But Zar'roc was already gone leaping away using the malachite to make himself nearly weightless.
He vaulted off the shoulder of another demon twisting in midair as a dagger fell from his sleeve into his hand. The blade arced from his hand as he flicked his wrist and landed with a thud between the beast's shoulder blades.
He landed turned and dropped into a Plangan fighting stance. Ludicrously low but it was excellent for what he had in mind.
He inspected the four remaining demons as he drew on the powers of the ruby and diamond. He used the diamond to modify the structure of the sword slightly so it was it was hallow before he filled it with liquid flames.
A strange purple and black demon was the first to come within reach.
Zar'roc leapt up driving his fist into its lower jaw the power of the blow enhanced by the momentum from his stance.
In the same motion he flung the sword. It flew as straight as an arrow impaling one demon before it exploded in a ball of flame so intense that it consumed it and its companions.
Barely spearing them a thought Zar'roc rushed at the still sputtering purple demon. He seized it by the throat flipped it and slammed it into the ground.
He held it there the fingers of his gauntlets now sharpened into claws pinning the creature by its throat.
"Who sent you" he growled.
"Go to…" the demon started.
"Wrong answer" Zar'roc said as he drew in more light. He formed it into a blue dagger and slammed it into the demon's shoulder.
It let out a loud ear piercing screech of pain as Zar'roc stared twisting the dagger in the wound.
"Okay okay" it shouted. "We came on our own. We wanted the reward" it said.
"What reward" Zar'roc asked.
"Some Altanor named Atlas promised anyone who helped to capture you a pardon and a fortune in gold" the demon said.
Zar'roc curled his lip disgusted with the creature and its stupidity. "And you believed him" he asked.
"He said spoke for the Council that's not exactly something you question" the demon said.
But Zar'roc barely heard it as he glanced to where the demons had been before he'd arrived. All that was left was a pile of shredded cloth stained in a few places by blood. His anger rose to a level higher than it had been when Alavar had stood against him. He felt his rage returning as he tightened his hold on the demon's throat. "Where is the girl" he growled his voice murderously quiet.
The demon gulped shaking with fear as he saw Zar'rocs eyes for the first time. They were no longer gold or sane. Instead they glowed with madness. Silver runes danced around his pupils that were a deep violet. Veins of silvery light snaked out through the whites of his eyes giving them an inhuman illumination.
"I don't…" the demon started but that only earned him a dagger in his other shoulder.
"Try again" Zar'roc hissed.
The demon started to say something but stopped as a tremor ran through its entire body.
Zar'roc would have been confused by it if he hadn't had physical contact with the demon. But because of that contact he felt the booming rippling sensation of a Council's call and knew what it was about.
"So he must have used a hematite to relay my message" he thought to himself.
"You" the demon said its voice quavering in fear. "You can kill an Altanor" it said.
"I've killed more of my kind then you can imagine" Zar'roc growled. "Now where is the girl" he said punctuating each word with a sharp twist of the dagger.
"I don't know she was gone before we got here" the demon whined through the pain.
"You saw and understood my message. If you don't stand with me than you are the enemy" Zar'roc said. "You saw what happens to my enemies and yet you still continue to lie to me" he said. "So be it" he said as he let go of the demon's throat and grabbed both daggers by the hilts.
He added more light to them increasing their length until they burrowed into the ground. Once they were in place he bound them there so the demon couldn't escape.
That done he reared back sharpened gauntlet raised to rip out the creature's throat.
"Zar'roc" someone shouted.
Zar'rocs head whipped around ready to strike down another enemy but he stopped as he saw Shika.
The silver retreated from his eyes as they returned to normal and the fire of his anger dulled. It was a disconcerting effect because he'd only known two other people who'd been able calm him when he was this enraged.
He rose slowly. Every move careful and controlled as he was all too aware of the violence that still raged with in him. "Are you okay" he asked as he approached Shika his eyes probing for wounds.
There were several large blood stains coloring her cloths but by their placement he knew that they weren't new wounds. They were only the remnants of the damage from their fight with Atlas reopened.
Zar'roc sighed with relief and resigned himself to rebandaging them.
"You have the power to heal her" a voice in his head whispered. "And yet you use these mundane methods" it said. "Why."
Zar'roc was silent doing his best to ignore the voice.
"Is it perhaps you're too afraid of what you'll find out about her if you do" the voice asked. "Or are you afraid that your own secrets will come to light."
"Silence" Zar'roc mentally growled. But the voice only laughed at him before it retreated back into the recesses of his mind.
"Are you okay" Zar'roc asked again.
Shika nodded. "Yeah I'm fine I heard them coming and managed to get away before they got here" she said.
Zar'roc frowned as she turned paler. He followed her gaze down to his left hand and realized he still wore the claw like gauntlet. Mentally cursing he shifted his coat so it covered his hand as he asked "how did your wounds get reopened."
"One of them almost caught me so I had to move fast" Shika said. "I guess I tore them open well I was going."
Zar'roc nodded and was about to say something when he heard a groan behind him. He turned bending slightly to pick up his sword as he returned his attention to the demon.
"She's safe see like I told you" it said. "Can you please let me go now" it asked.
Zar'roc walked over to it and rested the tip of his sword just above its heart. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run you through" he said his voice utterly cold and without inflection.
The demon squirmed in fear and pain. "Please my lord I have heard the call of my Council and seen your warning to all. I wish for nothing more than to serve you" it said. "I have worked for the Altanor Council against you and deeply regret my actions. I only hope you can find it in your heart to…" the demon trailed off as it felt the weight of Zar'rocs glare.
"Get out of my sight" Zar'roc said as he stuck his sword in the ground and pulled the daggers from the demon's shoulders.
It cried in pain as he tossed them away.
"You better hope we never meet again because the next time I see you I will kill you" he said.
"Yes my lord" the demon said before it rose and vanished.
Zar'roc sighed as he sheathed his sword and turned back to Shika. "You're sure you're okay" he asked.
"I'm fine" Shika said. "But where were you" she asked.
"I had to take care of something" Zar'roc said. "But I wasn't far away" he said. It was only partiality a lie. Even though he'd been an entire realm away he could have been back in a blink with the help of a Harrowgate.
He was about to say something else when he heard a soft rustling behind him.
"Die Altanor scum" someone roared.
Zar'roc spun to see the demon rushing at him with one of his blue daggers raised. His hand went for his sword but he knew he wouldn't be fast enough to draw it.
He tensed ready for the impact as something silver flashed over his shoulder. It hit the demon right between the eyes and it fell back with a cry.
Zar'roc stared shocked at the now dead demon and the silver long bladed throwing knife imbedded in its face. Sheoulin glyphs flared along the blade pulsing with red light a moment before it vanished.
Zar'roc and Shika spun as figure half emerged from the shadows of a rotting tree. "It would seem your getting rusty my lord" the figure said.
Shika drew her daggers ready to fight. Even though she was blood stained and pale she still managed to look imposing.
"He's a friend" Zar'roc said smiling. "I'm not getting rusty Luce I was just preoccupied" he said. "Now come on out."
Luce stepped from the shadows and bowed. "That preoccupation would have cost you a great wound" Luce said.
Zar'roc scoffed "I could have just traced passed him" he said.
"Traced" Shika asked.
Zar'roc turned to her and nodded a moment before he vanished. "It's one of the Altanor's tricks" he said.
Shika spun to see Zar'roc standing behind her.
"It's common ability among my kind that gives us a degree of teleportation" he said before he returned his attention to Luce. "So why are you here my friend" he asked.
"I've brought the information you wanted" Luce said.
"Excellent" Zar'roc said as he extended his hand. Luce took it and opened his mind to Zar'roc who did the same allowing the memories of Luce's questioning of Harvester to flow through the link.
They broke the connection once the transfer was complete and Luce steeped back.
"My lord" he said bowing before he blurred into the shadows and vanished.
Zar'roc turned to Shika who'd been unusually silent during the exchange. "What's wrong" he asked.
"Nothing" Shika said as she sat on a nearby tree stump. "Can you help me rebandage these" she asked.
Zar'roc nodded as he moved to get the bandages from their bags.
He managed three steps before he fell to his keens howling as a debilitating lance of pain speared him. Agony raced through his veins and he curled in on himself.
Shika was at his side in an instant. "Zar'roc what's wrong" she asked.
"Atlas" Zar'roc growled as he strained against the pain he knew all too well.
As the Symbol of the Gods he was spiritually tied to many of the places sacred to them. Even the very earth itself was partially bound to him. Because of this connection he was able to draw power from them. But the other side of the bond was that when they felt pain so did he. Few people knew about the bound and only Atlas was twisted enough to use it against him.
Zar'roc reached up throwing open a Harrowgate to where he knew Atlas would be. At the same time a foul stench filled the air making him wretch.
"Shika dem…" he managed to get out before the creatures fell upon them.
Shika turned just in time to see the last few demons materializing before they struck. Her daggers came out faster than ever before as she prepared to fight. But before the demons could get to her two bursts of black light bloomed in the air in front of her.
When they died back she saw that two people had appeared. She recognized one as Luce but the other was someone she'd never seen before.
She was a few inches shorter than Luce with skin only a few shades lighter than his. Her hair fell down her back in a fine blond wave and her eyes glowed a cool icy blue.
"You tend to Zar'roc leave these cretins to us" Luce said over his shoulder. "Come Hedaira" he said to the woman.
She nodded as she drew a short sword from a hip scabbard and a barbed whip appeared in her other hand.
As the demons drew near Luce's hand shot out blurring for a moment. Three silver throwing knives shot from his hand skewering the first row of oncoming demons.
After that his hand snapped out to the side blurring once more. This time instead of throwing knives a shimmering sword of crimson metal appeared from thin air.
Shika turned her attention away from the fight and back to Zar'roc who was still shaking with pain and clawing at his chest as if trying to rip the source of discomfort from it.
"Zar'roc what can I do to help" she asked.
"The emerald" Zar'roc panted.
"Emerald" Shika asked.
"I left it for you when I went out" Zar'roc said.
Shika frowned until she vaguely remembered something hard hurting her hand as she'd tried to get away from the first round of demons. She cast her eyes around searching and cursed when she saw the emerald right in the middle of the demon lines.
Her attention was drawn away from it as a demon made it past Luce and lunged for her.
Zar'rocs hand shot out. A blast of force hit the demon in the leg shattering the bone.
Shika darted out quick as cat and slashed the creature's throat as it fell.
"Don't worry about the emerald" Zar'roc said. "Just watch my back" he said. Shika nodded as he reached out for the emerald.
The stone wobbled for a moment before it started rolling towards him. "Not fast enough" he muttered as he dug his hand into the ground trying to draw power from it. A trickle of energy found its way to him and he greedily drained it. It wasn't much but it was enough.
The emerald shot through the air and into his hand. Zar'roc sighed with relief cradling the jewel for a moment before he fell into its power. "Enmastre contraymora des…" he started but stopped as a new wave of pain racked his body. "Enmastre cont…" he tried again but was again interrupted by the pain.
"You must fight it" a voice whispered in his mind.
Zar'roc tensed as he heard it. It wasn't the dark ancient voice of evil trying to drag him down into madness. This voice was different just as old and infinitely more powerful but it didn't seem malevolent. Instead it gave of a feeling of overwhelming protectiveness.
"I am not here to harm you Ryslos" the voice said.
Zar'roc frowned at the unfamiliar name but dismissed it as he asked "then why are you here." In answer power like icy fire raced down his spin and he felt his tattoos rising in response.
"There I've unlocked your powers" the voice said.
"What powers" Zar'roc asked.
"Powers older than Sheoul itself" the voice said. "Powers strong enough to help you weather the coming storm" it said.
"What storm" Zar'roc asked.
"I must go now. I will return when I can to explain. Until then be safe Ryslos" the voice said before it retreated.
Zar'roc barely had time to register its disappearance before another wave of pain coursed through him. He snarled in rage and pain and in answer to that call something rose within him. His eyes snapped open and he saw Shika above him.
She gasped and stumbled back as she saw his eyes that now resembled that of an ancient beast. His irises were blood red ringed in ethereal flames that sometimes flared inward leaving only his reptilian slit pupils visible.
"Zar'roc what…" Shika started but Zar'roc ignored her as he clawed at the ground to pull himself away from her.
He could feel his teeth elongating and sharpening into fangs but he barely noticed it even as the coppery taste of blood washed over his tongue. When he was far enough from Shika he raised his hand that still held the emerald but instead of a hand it was a black claw clad in armored scales.
Shika stared at it transfixed. Or at least she was until several more demons made it past Luce and started for her.
She ducked the claw strike of the first one to get to her and stabbed up into its chest. But the blade bounced of its armored hide. She growled in frustration and started backing up blocking attacks as she went.
Power washed over her along with something like sound.
She turned to Zar'roc forgetting the demon as he slammed the emerald deep into the ground and shouted again. His voice boomed resonating through her like a church bell and yet he'd said no words.
His lips moved again and this time she heard a guttural snarl. The strange non words seemed to have an affect though as the earth started shaking.
The ground cracked and massive thorns shot out spearing the demons. They cried out in pain a moment before more thorns exploded from each and they went silent. Vines rose from the ground wrapping around what was left of the bodies before they and the thorns retreated into the earth.
Shika stared at the now empty space in absolute shock. Both at the ferocity of the attack and at Luce and his companion who were completely unharmed. Then she turned back to Zar'roc as he rose and held out his hand.
Instead of an emerald he held a small gray and red hematite. He said something else in that strange non language as light flared within the hematite.
There was a hard impact to the air like thunder without sound as power roared out from him directed at the Harrowgate. The gate collapsed under the strain but just before it did a howl like that of a wounded animal reverberated through the air followed by silence.
Shika stared at Zar'roc as he turned to her his crimson gaze scrutinizing her. She shivered as she saw that look and realized this wasn't the same Zar'roc who'd saved her from Atlas and his demons. Or the one who'd destroyed the demons earlier. No this being that stood before her was something all together different. it looked down on her its eyes filled with a cold calculating intensity mixed with boredom as if she was a fly and it was debating if it should smash her or not. Suddenly he tensed.
Shika spun as she heard a noise.
A demon materialized in front of her and flung a spear at her.
She dodged but the spear bit into her side tearing away a chunk of flesh. She cried out in pain as she fell. She tried to rise to fight back but before she could Zar'roc traced behind the demon.
He grabbed it by its horns and tore its head free. Torn muscle and sinew hung from the head as blood fountained from the body covering his upper body. With a snarl he kicked the body to the ground and tossed the head away. He glared down at the corpse for a moment his eyes blazing before he fell to his knees panting.
Luce was at his side in a blink. "Are you alright" he asked.
But Zar'roc ignored him as he felt his eyes return to normal. He looked down at his hands as they changed from claws back to their normal state. At the same time he felt his fangs retreating. But he only spared these things a moment's thought before he was crawling towards Shika hematite in hand.
"Zar'roc you can't" Luce said as he moved to block Zar'rocs path.
"Get out of my way Luce" Zar'roc panted.
"I won't let you kill yourself for a human" Luce said.
Zar'roc snarled at him and started to say something but stopped as he felt a hand on his shoulder. A moment later power washed through him. He sighed in relief as the demonic energy flowed through him like warm wine. He glanced up and smiled at Luce's companion "thank you Litrix" he said as he traced to Shika's side.
"Zar'roc" Luce said.
Zar'roc glared at his friend as sparks of red leapt through his irises.
Luce flinched back but nodded his assent. Zar'roc returned his attention to Shika as he cradled her head. "Shika" he asked. "Can you hear me."
She nodded slightly her eyes going glassy as another gush of blood seeped from the wound.
"This is going to hurt but it should help you" Zar'roc said. "But before I start I want you to know what ever you see I'm sorry" he said before he fell into the power of the hematite.
His soul tore free of his body with only a thin strand remaining to connect them.
Gently he sent out a psychic tendril down into Shika's body. "Don't fight me" he said as he met resistance.
"I'm not trying to" Shika rasped.
Zar'roc growled in frustration. He could feel her trying to lower her barriers trying to will him past but it wasn't working.
"Ryslos" a voice whispered just beyond Zar'rocs hearing but it was enough to remind him of the powers the voice had unlocked.
He pulled back from Shika as he descended into himself until he felt the heat of that power.
It manifested as a great inferno within him.
"Will you serve me in this" he asked.
In answer the flames swirled up around him flowing through him and filling him with strength. But he pulled back before it took control.
He looked down at his spiritual form and had to shield his eyes against the glow that was like a captured sun that came from his spiritual form.
"Focus" he reminded himself as returned to Shika.
He extended his spiritual hand and her barriers dropped instantly as he forged a connection with her merging their souls.
Images flashed in his mind. He saw Shika at thirteen leaving her home on a whim to become an adventurer. He saw her first real challenge on that journey when she came across a lone spriggan. He saw her captured by slavers and later escaping them. He saw her at some kind of school. He saw her captured again. Her head on an execution block and flames bursting over head.
The images made him dizzy as they assaulted him but they were nothing compared to the pain that exploded through his side a moment later.
part of him told him to clutch at the wound and curl up well his regeneration took care of it but he knew it was Shika's pain he was feeling not his own.
Shika screamed in pain as she felt both her own pain and Zar'rocs phantom pain.
Zar'roc slammed his mind closed as he grabbed some of his memories at random to form a mental barrier and cut Shika off from the pain.
"Alright now that that's done let's look at the wound" Zar'roc thought as the phantom pain in his side intensified as he took both Shika's and his own burden.
He focused his thoughts trying to will into existence a spiritual needle and thread so he could sow the wound close. Instead light bloomed around him filling his spirit's sight. He looked down at his hands and found them wreathed in cool blue flames. For a moment the sight of the flames froze Zar'rocs mind in confusion.
"Ryslos" the voice whispered again snapping Zar'roc out of his stupor.
He steeled himself as he placed one hand on either side of the wound and willed it to close.
The fire flowed out over Shika circling the area around the wound before it filled it with a warm healing light.
Zar'roc watched amazed as new flesh formed from nothing. Muscle, veins, and skin knitted together so seamlessly it looked as if there had never been a wound at all.
"What is this" he whispered. "What did you do to me" he asked but there was no reply not even the faintest whisper.
But he hadn't expected one.
He turned back to his work. Now that Shika's life was no longer in danger he turned the healing fire to her other wounds. Healing the cuts and scrapes form today's battle as well as their fight with Atlas.
That done he lowered the mental barrier and retreated back into his own body as he pulled out of the hematite's magic.
Atlas was practically beaming as he walked into the privet area in his dungeon reserved for special prisoners. "And what a special prisoner this is" he thought to himself as he closed and locked the door. "How are you adjusting to you new life my dear" he asked the dark cell.
"Thanaman dial" a woman's voice said.
Atlas hissed in pain as a thin concentrated streak of lighting pierced his left shoulder and another weaker blast seared a line across his cheek.
"Give me that" he said as he reached between the bars in search of the graphite.
He recoiled as black almost talon like nails shot out and ripped bloody furrows down his arm. As he pulled back the hand followed nails scything through the air searching for him well the black tribal tattoo like marks on her arm writhed in anger.
"Enough" Atlas growled as he pulled a diamond from his pouch and used it to light the room.
The woman in the cell hissed as she pulled back from the bars to the darker recess of the cell.
Atlas watched her checking her for any damage the guards might have caused. She was thin from malnourishment but still beautiful. She had high Elven features that were sharper and more pronounced then his marking her as half breed. She'd inherited her long black hair and dark blue eyes from her Altanor mother. Along with her ability to use the Celestarium. But her features and the black tattoo like durmwau that ran from her shoulder to her wrist came from her Nethal father.
"What do you want" she asked.
Atlas smiled "just to diminish what's left of your hope" he said. "I've put a bounty out on Zar'roc" he said. "Last I heard an army of demons were flying out to attack him at his campsite" he said. "With any luck they'll be back shortly with him in chains" he said.
"Thanaman dial" the woman shouted again.
This time the bolt struck Atlas in the chest but it barely had enough power to singe his shirt let alone do any real damage.
"Give me the graphite" Atlas said.
"I don't have one" the woman said.
"Then how are you doing that" Atlas asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know" the woman said with a sneer.
Atlas snarled as his ring flashed and he sent a burst of power at her.
She yelped and threw up her hands a blue topaz shield following a second later.
The blast rebounded of the shield but Atlas reabsorbed it sucking it back into his ring before it could do any damage.
Atlas growled in silent frustration. He couldn't figure out how she was using the stones when she didn't have them. And he'd made sure she didn't. He'd had every inch of her searched physically and magically but he'd found nothing.
"Your defiance is meaningless" he hissed. "I will capture Zar'roc and when I do I'll string you both up."
"Will you now" the woman said.
"Yes" Atlas said.
"And how will you do that considering your weaknesses." she asked
"What weaknesses" Atlas asked.
"Well let's see" the woman said. "You don't have the ability to trace and Zar'roc does" she said. "Your power with the stones is abysmal in comparison to his." "And there's the small problem of your own madness" she said.
Atlas grinned wickedly as he heard the last one. "Ah but you see Zar'rocs mind isn't without its own brand of madness" he said. "And that is why I'll win."
"And why is that" the woman asked.
"You see I don't need to catch him to beat him" Atlas said. "All I have to do is push him into using some of his darker skills until they push him over the edge" he said. "And once his fall is complete he will be easy pickings for my demons."
The woman was silent for a long moment. "No" she said. "The game has changed."
An icy finger of terror traced down Atlas' spine as he heard those words. Because this woman connected to Zar'roc as she was had the ability to sense both his location and changes within him. If she said something had happed that changed the game it didn't bode well for him.
"What's happened" he asked.
The woman grinned at him. "Figure it out for yourself" she said before a thick cloak of darkness filled the cell.
Atlas was furious and worried he'd never seen her use the power of a diamond before.
"Focus" he snapped at himself as he charged another blast of power this one strong enough that it would rip out the entire wall to get to her. But he stopped as he heard a knocking on the door.
"My lord" Vonlon's voice said through the door.
"What" Atlas snapped.
"There's a visitor here for you" Vonlon said.
"Who" Atlas asked.
"Barbas" Vonlon said.
Atlas cursed as he unlocked the door and went out. "Where is he" he asked.
"Right hear" a voice like a dying breath said.
Atlas turned as the demon stepped from the shadows.
Barbas was one of the few very old demons that Atlas had in his employ. Well over two thousand years old Barbas was a powerful Talamtix demon. The Talamti were a race of demons that lived in the icy caves of Northern Sheoul. They were seldom seen and reputed to be masters of illusions and excellent spear users.
Barbas looked like an average member of his race snow white hair pale skin coal black eyes. He was dressed in rich gray cloths edged with gold and long black cloak lined with dark fur.
But Barbas was no ordinary demon. Because not only did he have the mastery of illusions that all his kind had but he had the unique ability to read someone's greatest fears and then use his power of illusions to bring them to life.
"Why are you here Barbas" Atlas asked.
"I'm just here to collect my fee and make sure you haven't screwed up the plan I thought of" Barbas said.
Atlas' fury rose again but he tamped it down reminding himself that he did indeed owe Barbas for coming up with this plan. It was he who had read Zar'rocs fears and found out that his greatest fear was that the woman would fall into his clutches.
Atlas laughed silently "a fear that has indeed come true" he thought.
"Very well what reward do you want for your services" he asked.
"Just some assurance" Barbas said.
"Assurance of what" Atlas asked.
"I know what you're planning Altanor" Barbas said.
Atlas paled as he heard the words. "I don't know what you're talking about" he said.
"Of course you don't" Barbas said sarcastically. "All I want is assurance that once the plan that you have no knowledge of is complete that we continue to work together" he said.
"What" Atlas asked.
"you're going places Atlas and all I want is to make sure I get a cut of whatever power you gain" Barbas said.
"Very well" Atlas said.
Barbas smiled "good" he said. "Oh and one last thing" he said.
"What" Atlas asked.
"Just a gift" Barbas said as he raised his hand its shadow falling over Atlas' face. "Interesting" he said as he examined his palm. "I expected your greatest fear would be the Council's wrath should they find out about your plans" he said. "But no your greatest fear is the wrath of your brother" he said. "And rightfully so."
"Why" Atlas asked as he paled even more.
Barbas smiled showing the barest edge of his fangs. "Because my lord he is death" he said.
Ice flooded Atlas' veins. "Who's death" he asked.
"Yours, mine, the Council's" Barbas said. "And many more" he said. "You see you're playing the game Atlas but you comprehend only the tiniest fraction of the truth" he said before he vanished dissolving into the shadows like a breath of dark wind.
"Vonlon" Atlas said.
"My lord" Vonlon asked.
"Go and get something from the prisoner" Atlas said. "Make it a piece Zar'roc will recognize" he said.
"An ear or a finger" Vonlon asked.
"No" Atlas said. "No real harm is to befall her" he said.
"Then what" Vonlon asked.
"A simple lock of hair will do" Atlas said.
Zar'roc awoke with a gasp as he sat up straight. He franticly checked his body for injuries only vaguely registering that his armor was gone and he was once again in his normal cloths. He sighed with relief as he realized he was fine. Then he felt a hand grab his shoulder.
His battle senses roared into life as he traced away. When he reappeared he was holding his sword and the ruby was in his hand. "Imperium draconus in…" he started but stopped as he saw Litrix standing over the small pile of blankets where he'd been a moment before.
Slowly he released the power allowing it and the battle rush it evoked to subside. "You know not to do that" he growled. "I told you and Luce not to touch me well I'm asleep or right after I wake up."
"Forgive me my lord I forgot" Litrix said and was met with only silence from Zar'roc. "Are you alright" she asked when she realized he wasn't going to comment.
"I'm fine" Zar'roc said. "What happened why was I asleep" he asked.
"After you came out of the hematite trance you fell unconscious" Litrix said.
"Hematite" Zar'roc asked. Then he remembered. "Is Shika alright" he said his tone urgent.
"I'm fine" a voice said from behind Litrix before Shika appeared stepping out from behind the taller woman.
Zar'roc sighed in relief. "Thank you for your help Litrix you may go" he said.
Litrix nodded. "Luce wanted me to tell you he's going to call in an old favor to have some protection ready for you in case something like this happens again" she said. "He also told me to give you this" she said as she tossed something to Zar'roc.
He caught it and nodded. It was what he'd expected. A simple brown leather string bearing a small square plate carved of bone with several old runes etched into it each filled in with a half black half red paint.
"Thank you" he said as he tucked it in a pocket.
Litrix nodded and turned to go but stopped as she felt a presence pressing against the borders of her mind. She carefully lowered her barriers prepared to strike or defend as needed.
"I have another job for you" Zar'rocs voice said.
"Why are you using the mind link" Litrix thought in reply.
"Because I don't want Shika to hear this" Zar'roc said.
"Very well what is it you want me to do" Litrix said.
"I want you to follow us hidden in the shadows so if anything happens we have an immediate ally" Zar'roc said.
"It's a good idea but you know Luce is better at shading than I am and it's not like I can trace like you" Litrix said.
"I know" Zar'roc said.
"I want you to leave for now and come back after Shika is asleep" he said. "I'll use some of my other skills to help you" he said.
"No Zar'roc you can't use those powers" Litrix said. "You know every time you do you take one step closer to…" she started but was cut off as Zar'roc said.
"That doesn't matter I can handle them."
"Are you sure about this" Litrix asked.
"Positive" Zar'roc said.
"Then I will obey" Litrix said.
Zar'roc gave a mental nod before he pulled back and Litrix started moving again their conversation having taken only microseconds.
"Are you sure you're alright" Litrix asked over her shoulder.
"I'm fine" Zar'roc said.
Litrix nodded before she shot him one last worried look and melted into the shadows.
"Not good at shading" Zar'roc scoffed before he returned his attention to Shika.
"Well it looks like we're not going anywhere today" he said as he glanced at the sky that was rapidly darkening with the absence of the sun.
Shika nodded then stiffened as she remembered something. "Come on sit down" she said. "You shouldn't be standing up after what you did" she said as she pulled Zar'roc towards their makeshift campsite.
He followed and found several tree stumps set around a small fire. He frowned at the fire and the pot that hung over it. "What's that" he asked.
"Soup" Shika said. "It isn't much but it is something" she said as she pushed Zar'roc down onto one of the stumps and dished him out a bowl.
"I need to sit down" Zar'roc asked as he took the bowl. "I'm not the one who had their side ripped open by a demon's spear" he said.
"I'm fine now" Shika said dismissively. "Now eat and then you need to rest some more" she said.
Zar'roc smiled amused at how Shika was trying to mother him.
"What do you know about being mothered."
At the thought Zar'rocs smile turned into a scowl and he returned his attention to the soup which now tasted like bitterness and ash. But he ate it quickly enough.
"How about this instead of fighting over which one of us needs rest more how about we both get some sleep" he said.
Shika nodded. "But before that I want to ask you something" she said.
Zar'roc nodded his assent.
"What was that back there" Shika asked. "Those thorns, those words that weren't, and then what you did to me" she said.
Zar'rocs eyes darkened. "For the first two I honestly don't know. But as for the last we'll talk about it later" he said as he rose and walked away back to the pile of blankets where he'd been sleeping.
Shika sighed as she to crawled under her own bedding. "You gave me more than you know" she whispered. The images of Zar'rocs life that had flashed through her mind during their connection played again along with the other greater secret that had been reveled to her.
Silently she pulled the emerald from her pocket. "Enmastre" she whispered. Soft light pulsed from the jewel as thin vines sprouted from the ground.
Shika sighed as she released the power. "Did you mean to give me this" she asked silently. As she closed her eyes and wondered if this power was a gift or a curse.
Thanks to my all time favorite reviewer for your review and to the rest please read and review I do value your opinions
hopefully I'll have the next chapter up in about a week and a half