Well, here it's the next chapter, hope you also like it.
Law closed his eyes and turned his mind into himself -as he had been taught by the elders of his city- attempting to locate his elusive power. Before, it had been difficult for him to reach it, almost impossible, his teachers and tutors always end up frustrated with him, his potential was immense, but Law had never been able to use it. Until now. Now, with the desert around and within him stirring his mind between sandstorms and soft dunes, the missing piece seemed to be locked into place and the power came to Law with just a soft call.
Law felt it through his body, soft as a caress of the wind, and warm as his own blood. Alert and scared. For the first time since he had discovered who he really was, Law thanked the gift God had given him, he marveled at the wild beauty that it possessed, at how alive it made him feel, and at the unlimited potential that he had finally achieved.
The young Sanieri breathed deeply and the world seemed to breathe with him. He stretched his fingers feeling the muscles tense, and the golden sand slipped between them as if Law had ceased to be himself and had become something else.
The new powerful Law smirked evilly.
Raising his hands in the air, right on the edge of the the cliff that was the colonnade of the room, Law explained to the world of sand in front of him exactly what he wanted to do. And the world obeyed. Quickly the huge expand of sand at his feet twisted in the bottom of the cliff, and began to rise, and rise, and rise, like a golden and hot tide answering his call. The ground began to approach, and, suddenly, the distance to the bottom of the cliff didn't seem so high.
When Law finally stepped into the void, a perfect staircase of undulating sand received him, holding him, guiding him, and letting him escape from his stupid prison. But also leaving him face to face with his captor, the Djinn, - His highness: 'The Asshole' with big, capital, shiny letters- who had clearly materialized when he saw what Law was about to do.
'Well, fuck him'
Law was so tempted to spit on him. Perhaps hit him as he has been wishing to do. But finally he just smiled back innocently and enjoyed the anger of the Djinn: his flashing golden eyes, his clenched fists, and the fury that barely let him materialize on this plane of existence.
But really, had the other expected him to be quiet and turn into a slave again just because his Highness, 'The asshole', wanted him to? Had he expected Law to not fight back? After that stupid excuse?
"Return. Inside" the creature ordered with a voice that didn't sound right, but distorted and magnified by a strange echo. The voice of horror stories. The devil at midnight. Law's new annoying friend.
The desert within Law broke out again in a nervous storm despite his thoughts. It still pissed Law to see his own power tremble under the Djinn's simple presence. But still, the sandy staircase under him remained in place, Law apparently having more control over it than he had expected.
Perfect.
Raising a hand in a dismissive neutral gesture, Law gave a new order to the desert under him, it seemed to hesitate at first, fearing that being in front of Law, but Law held firm and finally a handful of sand rose into the air to hit the golden eyes of the genie.
A precise and accurate sweet sweet blow.
The Djinn cursed instantly. Darkly. In a language Law didn't understand but sounded ominous. Then he raised his hands to his momentary blind eyes and got away from Law on instinct, weakened with the low blow. After a few seconds of cursing, insulting and rubbing, the Djinn had dematerialized to solve the problem in the fastest way possible and Law, without wasting any more time in rejoicing, turned the staircase into a ramp and slid down to firm ground.
His heart was beating as fast as it had never done, pure excitement, Law even felt the thrill of the hunt running through his veins: the fear of being caught and the need to regain his freedom. He had attacked a Djinn, and annoying stupid one, but a Djinn, and he was sure that the creature was going to avenge itself in one way or another very quickly.
So he ran. Among the sand, under the scorching sun, without the protection of any turban, boots, or thick clothing, only with the transparent silks he had found in the room barely hiding his legs and a little bag with food and water that won't be enough to last even a week. Law asked the desert to help him, to lower its temperature or make his way through the scorching sand firmer. But he quickly understood that it was stupid. He couldn't ask the desert to ceased to be the desert, the heat and sand were part of it, that would be like asking Law to get rid of his own blood and breath. Both would die.
So he just burned himself while running barefoot, and toasted his shoulders and nose through the powerful sun while he climbed the first dune.
For a moment nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. The desert received him in all its glory, the heat, the silence, the absolute immensity. Dunes and golden sand going on for kilometers in front of him in every direction. Finally free but on the brink of death.
Then came the chaos. As soon as the silence surrounded him, Law felt and saw the Djinn partially materialized by his side, black smoke emerging out from nowhere, shoving him to the ground with a roar, and holding him there not letting him move.
Law instantly felt his naked back burn upon contact with the sand and he hissed weakly, not standing so much pain. He tried to pull his attacker off of him, get up, but the Djinn didn't gave him the slightest chance. He just continued gripping his wrists until they hurt too, and pushing him to the lava hot ground, finally materializing in all his madness and sitting on top him in a humiliating way.
Capturing Law again, not letting him enjoy even two seconds of freedom, as if Law was too valuable to let him out of his sight. As the people from his city had done.
'No, not again' Law summoned the desert refusing to surrender.
The Djinn meanwhile invoked a thin cotton carpet under Law's back making him emit a relieved sigh when he felt his skin stop burning. But it was too late, Law was too pissed and in pain, to desperate to regain his freedom, the desert again attacked the Djinn with a huge sandstorm swooping down on them without mercy.
The Djinn cursed in the unknown dark language again. Faced Law with a frown and focused dark eyes. Smiled as if he had had an idea, and then, in the midst of chaos, amid all the frenzy, the Djinn lowered himself and kissed Law.
It wasn't a passionate and forbidden kiss, as the ones Law had seen among the temple priestesses, something secret and incredibly erotic in that sacred holy place. Nor was it one of those that the great emperors gave to their queens, frivolous and slightly contemptuous but with enough love on them for the populace to hail at it. It was a simple kiss, just a quick brush of lips, a gentle pressure, and a warm sensation on his lips that vanished entirely before Law had decide whether he liked it or not.
It was a surprising kiss, one that left him totally blank and stunned.
The storm around them faded into nothingness. The Djinn loosened his grip and sighed relieved moving to sit more firmly on top him, now with a clear bulge on his pants. Law just stared at him with wide eyes and without understanding what just had happened, what was still happening. Then he opened his mouth to yell at him. Then he went to ask why had he done that. Finally he opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water without knowing what to do.
The Djinn above Law smirked, wickedly, but also with a slight air of victory and satisfaction in his eyes.
"You'd better not get used to this, it will not happen again" the redhead assured him contemptuously, his dark and lonely eyes brightening again just for Law.
Law instantly shut his mouth closed, and the sand around him trembled as the brown haired boy finally decided to annihilate this odious being. Cut his dick off. No one had ever made him angry so quickly. He had never hated anyone in his life as he hated this Djinn. His highness seemed to have been born with a special rare gift: to piss Law off.
However, before Law could annihilate him, the creature seemed to understand the murderous message in Law's gaze, and, without the slightest concern, fucking rolled his eyes in that way that made Law's blood boil and turn poisonous.
"Don't be so dramatic, stop attacking me, it was just a kiss".
Law gritted his teeth and the sand trembled around them in a roaring sea.
"It is not about the kiss" he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Then why?" the creature asked, raising an eyebrow in that mocking way "Why escape? Why attack me in such low manner when I have done nothing to hurt you? I can give you everything you want for God's sake, riches, palaces, servants, and I don't believe you don't desire anything. So stop being a little child and making a stupid scene and return to the damn palace, I promise I will take care of you."
Take care of you.
Law gritted his teeth until they hurt, until the sand bubbled under the rug ready to erupt. Take care of him? Ha! That's what everybody said before they stabbed you on your back. The other's cock was still pressing against his stomach in a clear statement of how the other wanted to 'take care' of him. And was he calling him a child? Well yeah, it was true, the asshole was old compared to him, clearly showing signals of a senile mind and going deeply mad.
"...Oh for god's balls, you really are like a little child aren't you? A spoiled one since you can't even understand what's good for or bad for you. But are you really going to attack me for calling you a child? Are you so immature?" said the Djinn seriously, almost with surprise.
"Go. Die" Law finally said, this time pushing the creature hard enough to get off of him and rising from the ground ready to escape again. This time he would plan it better. This time he would not throw sand into the other's eyes, this time he will separate his red head from his bare strong shoulders.
He didn't needed protection. He didn't need a palace. He didn't need the Djinn. He wanted freedom!
"Really why are you so eager to leave?" asked the Djinn lying down where Law had pushed him, still not caring to hide his erection, but on the air above the ground, floating easily like a magical king in his palace without touching the hot sand "Is there someone waiting for you? Family? A wife?... A lover?"
Law ignored him and his suddenly low dangerous voice and just kept walking. He ignored his back and feet covered with burns. He ignored the provocations of the other. He ignored everything. He needed to calm down, needed to escape and needed the freedom to feel safe again. And he needed to entertain the other while he think and planned the next attack, the one that will kill the monster.
"I'm not going back into a cage" he announced from afar humoring him with the reality while he kept climbing the huge dune. Because it was true that he preferred death over being a prisoner again in a golden jail, as he had been in all his life, being used, taken advantage, of and humiliated.
"Cage? What cage?" asked the creature with confusion and mock in his voice, but Law also hear the curiosity in his voice, the strange alertness, and understanding. "Why not?"
Law snorted, his feet tripped, and he falled into the dune rolling down a hill to where the Djinn was still lying down above the ground, totally unscratched and watching him entertained. The human breathed covered in sand. The dune top as far away as moments ago. His mind still blank from any attack plans. And the Djinn still smiling.
Law lost his shit. Heat, pain, impotence, hatred and frustration all mingled together within him and burst into an uncontrollable new and ugly emotion.
"Because I'll not be caged and used again! Much less by someone like you" He shouted with hate, turning to face the Djinn with crazed eyes.
The desert erupted around him, rippled dunes, rising and falling as if in a sea of sand that collided against the rocks. The Djinn just stared at him for a moment, long and intense, now also deeply pissed but disturbingly calm. Like a deadly predator. Watching Law panting and about to collapse on the burning sand again while the sand moved and moved around them.
It was too much.
"I see" the Djinn said as if he had finally understood the meaning of the universe. As if with that simple words all could be solved, as if he could fix all Law's problems.
Blind rage flooded the dark haired boy. The other's voice had sounded full of pity, full of a protective and overconfident tone that Law despised. He was not weak, he didn't need any protection, he wasn't obeying this man. So Law raised from the ground and advanced towards the Djinn ready to hit him, to destroy him, to turn him into the absolute nothingness and show him how much protection Law needed.
The Djinn read his intentions and for a moment he looked surprised or even confused by why Law would be angry, but finally he stood up with an elegant and fluid movement, planting his boots on the sand, also readying himself to meet Law. The boy didn't even hesitate this time, he just threw the punch right into the annoying face aiming for the nose. The Djinn dodged it without trouble, and instead he grabbed Law's arm and waist to turn with him as if they were dancing.
The world vanished in a whirl of black smoke.
"You can not survive in this desert without me little one" whispered a voice hoarsely into Law's ear. "You don't have water, you have no food, not even shoes to protect your feet. You'll die in a few hours"
"I don't care!" Law shouted furiously to the smoke as he struggled to get free. Fearfully. Desperately. He wasn't weak, not anymore, he won't be chained.
It was then when world began to spin around him, faster and faster, while the darkness grew covering him completely until he was blinded by it. Until Law was run out of air too. And still he couldn't get out of the grip of a Djinn who was no longer there, who had turned into the painful smoke that was asphyxiating him. Everything was too world and laws of nature were not making sense. His body ached too. Way too hot. Way too dangerous.
"You desire freedom, don't you?. You were a prisoner and now you will fight for it. But tell me little mortal, would you abandon everything for it? Everything you desired? Everything I can give you?" asked again the voice of the Djinn, so close, so hot and hypnotic. But Law was losing the feeling of his body, his vision in the darkness, his touch in the heat.
"Fuck you. I don't want your riches or tricks! I don't need them! I don't need you!" Law answered to the darkness, to the chaos around him, above the noise, above absolute nothingness.
The voice laughed around him.
"Stupid. So you will die?. You will lose your last breathe, everything you are, to just be free, free and completely alone?"
"Yes! I won't live a life that's not mine! Not again! I prefer death over a life so empty" the last years in the city had been madness, cruel, horrible, dead had been a good temptation, now, cage again, it was a perfect promise.
Law had no regrets.
Again the laughter filled the silence. Coming out of nowhere, coming from the smoke, coming from within Law itself, the heat, his mind. Macabre, dark, lonely, sarcastic, strangely like Law's one. Broken, and powerful after so much suffering.
"Idiot" the voice whispered with a small, dark pleasure "Life won't be empty anymore, you have me now, don't throw away your life so easily"
...oOo...
When Law woke again, he knew instantly that he was still in the middle of the desert even before he openened his eyes. Something told him he was home, something told him he was safe, protected from the world by kilometers and kilometers of white sand. He had never had this feeling.
Law opened his eyes. They were again in the reddish mountains where Law had spent the previous night, in the comfortable, yet restricting, palace created by a legendary being. Law remembered breaking this room in an attack of rage, he remembered destroying everything until the room lost all it beauty and grace. But now everything looked repaired and exactly as it has been that morning.
As if nothing had happened.
Sitting between blankets of the huge bed, Law observed the familiar surroundings that seemed to have came out from the purest imagination. The white curtains on the colonnade protected him from the sun of the afternoon, showered the room with light and curled with the pleasant wind creating an eerie atmosphere. Again there were trays of food around him, again there was the huge pool of clear water and jasmine petals waiting for him in the other room, and the red carpet covering the floor and protecting him from harming his burned feet.
All stunning, all marvelous and full of luxury.
This time, however, instead of the watching Djinn with red hair and an impressive psyke, a huge black cat was sitting by the colonnade staring into the distance with alert ears and a slightly curled back. Law for a moment wanted to hit him and puss him over the edge of the cliff, to strange it again and continue their fight, but the anger had died down he was just too tired now and the conversation with the Djinn still was replaying itself in his mind making him think over his situation.
Law shrugged. He could always try later. When he regained his strength and murderous instinct. When the Djinn opened his mouth.
So he got up from the bed. The cat didn't even look at him when he ate hungrily from the tray of food, or when he stripped naked to enter the scented pool. It wasn't until Law felt the cold water soaking the wounds on his back making him emit a low pained moan, that the big cat turned to face him with captivating golden eyes.
Dark. His eyes were so dark now, the gold almost disappearing within the depths of his irises.
"You're wounded" said the creature with a dark and powerful voice that did not quite fit with its innocent appearance. A known voice. The Djinn's voice.
"And whose fault is that?!" Law asked ignoring the uneasiness inside him and still pissed for what had happened. Fainting like a court lady was so humiliating. However he finally managed to sunk into the water with a groan of pain and clenched teeth, it hurt, but at least the cold water would help calm and clean the burns.
"It was definitely yours" Replied instantly the creature, approaching Law on silent paws as the human frowned and splashed cold water over the animal.
The Djinn however transformed into his human form -the dark clothes and dangerous sword, the powerful muscles and the unruly red hair- easily dodging the water. Then taking a wet and scented towel next to the perfume bottles, he got himself into the water, and he began rubbing Law's face and neck with it as if Law was a child that needed help to take a bath. And he did it with an unnatural delicacy and care for someone with his looks, silently helping get rid of the desert sand and caring for the wounds on his back.
Law said and did nothing to prevent it as the situation had just turned too weird for his mind to process. Was the Djinn cleaning him? Why?
Clearly, he still remained prisoner of the other, he just couldn't escape from him or kill him. But now, with a clear mind not filled with rage for his lost freedom, the nature of his new imprisonment was starting to confuse him. The Djinn, unlike the people from the city, seemed to give him everything he might need: food, water, a home... he had told him he would be granted any wish he desired, that he would be protected and taken care of.
Even now, Law felt a strange delicacy in the other's gestures, in the way he asked him to move one way or another to reach a difficult area, in his deep concentration, or even in his suddenly lonely and hurted eyes that prevented Law to ask anything now to make him stop. This was the relationship a servant had with his master instead of a jailer with his prisoner, Law could even see a slight satisfaction and necessity in the eyes of the creature, as if deep down he also needed the contact and the unconventional relationship, as if he didn't want Law to go and be alone again.
Maybe this wasn't like it looked like.
'You've released me' Law recalled the words that the creature had said to him that first time when he had awakened in the palace, and for a moment, these took on a new meaning.
What if the creature had also been a prisoner? Law seriously doubted it. The redhead looked more powerful and older than the world itself. But what if he was mistaken? What if the other had spent years under other people's command? Law's prison had been a kind one, a prison nonetheless, but they had taken care of him. They hadn't hurt him, Law has not been tortured or starved to death as punishment. As he had seen some lords do. But what about the Djinn? What if his jailers had been crueler?
For a moment Law felt a slight empathy and connection with the Djinn, a strange need to protect him as the Djinn was protecting him, for a moment he seemed to understand him and his motives. Both of them could really be equals, the two sides of the same coin, imprisoned, forced to live a life that both loathed, and free at last without really knowing what to do.
Law knew he would try to escape again, there was no other option and the other had to understand it, but with this new possibility and the wounds on his feet and back, he decided to wait a little longer for now. He decided to learn and understand the other creature, know if his theory was true, because if it was, the other could be the only creature that resembled him the most in this world.
When Law was clean from sand, sweat, and blood, the Djinn helped him get out of the huge bathtub, clearly struggling to ignore Law's nakedness. Then he changed his own wet clothes in a swirl of smoke and then proceed to help Law dry of with the towels of white linen, and dress with the strangers pants, turbans and jewels the Djinn chose himself. Law still didn't like them, those garments hid less than they revealed, and the curves and angles suggested by the gold necklaces on his chest where those of the courtesans ready to please. They were somewhat excessive from Law's point of view, obscene even, but still, by the look the creature gave him once he was wearing them, he might not look so bad.
Law contained a smirk when the other just finished dressing him and stared at him for a good five minutes without being able to move, just gaping and devouring every naked curve of his body with hungry eyes.
Law recalled what the Djinn had said after their pathetic kiss "It will not happen again" and wanted to laugh. Ha! He was so gonna use this against him. He was so going to get his revenge over this little arrogant shit.
The Djinn, however, seemed to have a firm grip on his emotions and desires today, and at the end he just blinked when Law teased him and said nothing. He instead made Law sit down on the bed next to him, and grabbed a glass filled with a strange substance from a bedside table to tend to his wounds.
Law heard the tinkling glass as the other opened it at his back, and soon the smell of mint flood the air before he felt the Djinn's great and reassuring hands over the tender skin of his wounds expressing the substance. Law then waited for the sting, the pain that those things usually caused, but the only thing that happened was that relief flooded him in waved when the discomfort disappear. Incredible, magical, but deep down it was to be expected from a Djinn.
Law closed his eyes during the slow massage, and let the other to treat his wounds with those slow and precise movements that were clearly trying to lengthen the time and contact. The other's fingers were running down his back following his spine, lowering more and more until he ran them dangerously close to his waistband. Law felt his pulse quicken when he understood the other's desires, too clearly, as he felt those fingers pressed lightly in over the beginning of his ass, over the border line of his pants. However, before Law could say anything, the redhead climbed back up his back, spreading the balm on other areas. Law gasped not aware that he has been holding his breath. The light massage felt good, dangerous, relaxing, and being appreciated for the first time for who he was, rather than what he was, was starting to felt intoxicating.
At least until a shiver ran down Law's body. Until the Djinn's movements suddenly stopped. Law turned his head slightly to look at the other as he felt the enormous creature's hand still over his ribs.
The Djinn was frowning as he looked into the distance through the balconade as he had been doing when Law had awakened. His body was again tense, his attention elsewhere. His eyes a deep black tone, dangerous, not human.
Law refused to follow his golden gaze with a incomprehensible hunch.
"Djinn" Law called him in a whisper, feeling slightly uneasy by this change, by the sudden silence, by the eyes of the redhead. But the other continued ignoring him, just looking with focused eyes among the dunes, only frowning more and more, like reading himself to attack.
"Djinn!" Law called again, louder this time.
And finally he turned to face him. Snapping his attention back to Law. Still scowling, tense, and with that wild scaring look, the playful and relaxing air totally gone. The desert fidgeted inside Law, awakening under the dangerous look that the creature suddenly had.
"Kidd" He then told Law who was still looking at him askance.
This time it was Law's turn to frown uncomprehending.
"What?"
"My name is Kidd, Eustass Kidd, I don't call you human"
Law nodded slowly, refusing to smile, relaxing for a moment when he heard the other talk, sounding like normal, arguing again. Nonetheless, something inside him was still shaking, the hunch, something that told him that something wasn't right.
"Kidd" Law probed again breaking the eerie silence, savoring the name in his mouth, still without turning around to completely face the other, still feeling the hands on his body like a shield against the world.
When had he allowed the other to protect him?
However the redhead's eyes also seemed to change with that single word, with that simple name. Again the beautiful brightness returned to his eyes, that look of hunger, while Law felt the strong fingers press on Law's skin in an almost possessive way. For a second the redhead seemed to lean closer, his hand over Law's chest holding him firmly in place, his scent surrounding him and the magic and danger clouding his mind.
Law held his breath for the second time, waiting for something he did not understand, opening his mouth slightly while the other kept getting closer, while the golden eyes seemed to devour him slowly.
But suddenly, the Djinn's look changed again, the darkness filled his eyes again, not as dark as when he had been looking to the desert, but losing that pretty shine Law was starting to appreciate. He stopped mere millimeters from Law's mouth as if waking from a trance and frowning at what he had been doing.
"... I want to make a new deal with you" said the redhead as his gaze strayed back again to the immensity of white sand, as if nothing had been about to happen. Distracted again but without the dangerous edge as before.
Law tightened his lips and turned his head back to look in front of him. He was disappointed and worried for some reason and that only confused him. The last words of the Djinn in their fight before he had fainted had confused him, 'You have me now'. It sounded fake, cheesy even, yet something strange had been planted in him and was growing with each new caress and kind word from the Djinn.
It wasn't good.
Law had to admit that the Djinn was incredibly attractive, physically imposing, fiery red hair and eyes that seemed to hypnotize him every time he looked into them, and if that was not enough, the dangerous and vulnerable aura that he sometimes had, were only complicated things further and making him act weirder, tamed, docile. Law didn't know what he was feeling, and he didn't want to analyze it, he just knew it was wrong. The Djinn was still his jailer, his enemy, someone from another species, and that alone, should be enough to make the decision. The rest was irrelevant.
Law blamed his fatigued mind for this moment of confusion. A lot of things had happened in the last two days, and his mind was not assimilating it all. He needed time, he needed to think.
"What?" Law asked however surrendering to the other's silent question, tensing and feeling his heart race in an annoying way.
"I'm going to release you and grant you a wish" the Djinn said at his back, drawing small circles with his thumb on Law's ribs inadvertently, but making Law's mind focus entirely on that place "But in return, I want you to come with me to a place"
Law gulped for a moment perfectly knowing the place the other wanted to go.
"Where?"
"There"
Law turned again slightly, to observe where the Djinn was pointing with a strong arm: through the curtains, to the remoteness of the desert. The place where Law didn't dare to look too. To the place from where an uneasy feeling came.
Law doubted. Something wasn't right!. The Djinn seemed obsessed, entranced with the place and since he had awakened something was so very wrong. Law realized now that the desert within him had remained calm, peaceful despite the proximity and touch of the Djinn, as if not paying him any attention. Law now understood why. It wasn't that the desert had not paid attention to the Djinn, it had not paid attention to him because something much more dangerous and frightening had caught it. Law did not know what it was, but something told him he did not want to find out either.
"What if I refuse?" Law asked already knowing the answer he would receive. He could almost feel the eyes of the creature digging into his back with his fingers on his skin.
"Then I will not liberate you and you will be my prisoner forever"
Something dark and agreeable twisted in Law's stomach with those words. Law ignored it. This was not an option. He had barely met this being the night before and he had already fought and had insulted him as he had never done with anyone. A single whole week with him could shorten his lifespan dramatically.
"All right" he said at last, resigned, hiding his concern and everything he was feeling.
The Djinn nodded behind him satisfied. Then he took his hand from his ribs to encircle his waist and drew him against his body. Law said nothing, he refused to recognize the panic in his body and the acceleration of his pulse while the Djinn sat him on his lap, careful not to touch much Law's sensitive back. Law didn't even deign to look at him as the Djinn took his hand and brought it to his mouth gently, to deposit a soft and long kiss on the back of it.
"I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this sacred covenant; and to safeguard, protect and defend my bargainer until he deems it completed. Shall my honour be taken away and my life ripped if I dare betray him. Shall my soul rot in darkness and my name be cursed for eternity if I betray this oath."
Law suppressed a shudder at what words and contained a surprising wave of heat and arousement at something much more intimate than the kiss the Djinn had been about to give him, something forbidden and secret between them two.
Law simply remained silent as the Djinn again transformed into the black cat and disappeared from the room as if nothing had happened. While the desert in Law panicked. While something in the tissue of the world changed itself with what they had done.
...oOo...
One left.
In the old abandoned temple in the middle of the desert, everything seemed to be as it had been for thousand years. The wind was still dry and cutting, destroying the rudimentary wall paintings, and the old standing stones built millennia ago in veneration of gods of the first civilizations had been breaking over the years, crumbling under sandstorms and the hot sun, leaving the place raw and nude, when the temple had been covered by sand thousand times to emerged from it again.
Always surviving the inferno of fire and light. Until it had almost become the desert's own bones.
This place was a place that the world had chosen to forget. Not even animals passed by on their migrations. No maps existed from that area. The plants didn't grow. The clouds didn't released their little rain. The light seemed to swerve and lose color leaving everything there covered in eerie gray tones.
This was a cursed place, a place that the world had refused to recognize as its own.
For good reason.
A Something lived in that temple that had been created with the world itself, a Something that had long existed before the three races had walked and changed the world by pleasure. Because as there is light there is also shadow. Just as there is heaven, hell exists. As well as there is God and good, there is also the Devil and evil.
And that hidden Something at the end of the world represented all those things at once. Dark, evil, the devil, death, nothingness, pain, suffering. It was a Something so terrible, so destructive, and macabre, that when the world had emerged it had been put to sleep to protect it.
So it had been for centuries, locked in the temple since the first generations. Imprisoned by the three races. Sleeping in an eternal dream, never to be awakened.
But the first civilizations were gone. The famous temple had been abandoned. The legend forgotten. Rituals corrupted.
The war between the Djinn had begun just a few millennia later, altering the landscape of the world itself, causing earthquakes, creating new deserts, and reaching the most remote places in the world.
The Something had then woken from its slumber. And it's hunger and hatred had been ravenous. The first ones to suffer them were the Djinn the ones who had awakened it. They had been the most powerful of the three ones, the ones who had dominated the world at the time. The Something had devoured them one by one. Patiently, quietly, and almost lovingly. Annihilating an entire race as it had never been seen, without leaving the slightest trace of them in its path, without letting them escape anywhere in a chase that ran through the fabric of reality itself. Until there had not been anyone left. Until its voracious hunger had been sated for the moment.
The Something had then returned to the doomed temple without color, where the wind was gray and the dark stones murmured old chants, to sleep again. To digest its food before it started a new hunt.
But it had been awakened again.
The fabric of the world had been altered, a new connection had emerged, there was a new line of light in the darkness that now covered the world.
One left.
And not just any. The best of them all, the largest and most succulent morsel, a prince among his kind, someone who was quite similar to the Something, who had been locked up too, who had been hated and now finally released.
From the strong chamber in the depths of the temple, in the depths of the desert, in the deepest part of the world, a shapeless black liquid began to drip from the walls. Drop, after drop, after drop. Absorbing the dim gray light of the place. Making the shadows grow. Obliterating the sounds until only one thing could be heard.
Plip-plip-plip.
The air of the place flooded with an unpleasant smell of blood and putrefaction. The smell of an entire race decomposing. Black blood of an entire species dripped from the walls with a slow and silent patience.
The drops fell and slid down the stones at will. They came together in a small puddle on the floor in the middle of the chamber. A puddle that grew and grew without reflecting the light, without reflecting anything. An amorphous puddle that was growing and growing until everything inside the temple disappeared into the darkness.
Plip-plip-plip.
One left.
And this time it was hungrier than ever.