You Are Me As I Am You
With horror and disbelief the Prince watched what was left of the Palace. Place got repaired after Vizier's attack on Babylon and now… It was like getting into the past again. Running to find a way to save Kaileena… Holy Gods! He was even dressed in the same clothes like that day he arrived with the Empress in Persia. Still there was a little hope that Farah and Esfandiar were hiding in the throne room. Centuries ago the Palace was serving as a fortress. King Shahraman and after him Prince himself, made the Throne Room the most highly protected hall in the whole complex. Finally Prince reached his target. The doors were sealed. His heart made a little jump of hope. Maybe they are still there, inside!
"Farah! Farah!" he cried our and put ear to the doors to listen. Silence. Prince crawled out the window and slowly made his way to the Throne Room. It was empty. Heart fell somewhere down and broke.
Prince examined every little spot of the hall. And he found what he was searching for. She was here! Several arrows were lying on the marble floor and sticking out of walls. Those were particular battle arrows the finest smiths of Persia made especially for his wife. And then his eye caught something.
A toy.
Toy horse.
In bloody
stains.
The Prince felt a sudden dizziness coming up and sat on the floor. Gone. Both of them gone. Perhaps killed… A lonely tear slowly ran down his cheek. Prince was crying.
"Well well. What do we have here? Marvel of marvels… A throne." was heard cheerful voice as Dark Prince climbed through the same window, which not long ago the Prince used. "My passion and dream… How many times I was seeing it in my nightmares…"
Something whistled near his ear and small dagger flew past.
"Silence.
Or it will be your head I hit next." he heard whisper.
Dark Prince narrowed
eyes and finally found his counterpart, standing in the corner. He
looked like a ghost. Or a shadow.
"What is wrong with you, human! I left you for some four hours alone and you already possess the wishes of killing people. Not that I strictly object or something… As long as it does not touch my modest person."
"They are dead. My wife and son. Killed."
Dark Prince brushed hand through hair. Well? What should he say? He feels pity? Not. He feels happy? Perhaps. After all, he worries over his own safety more. So giving information that was dragged out of salesman and what he figured out himself would be best.
"Stop being such a crybaby. I have something to tell you. Perhaps I know who came to Babylon. And if you are nice and fluffy with me I, maybe, tell you my thoughts."
A bit disappointed by dangerous silence that came from Prince, red – haired demon crawled on the throne and sat there. Not that he was tired but the opportunity… The throne… The one he desired to possess so much… Once. His plans failed then and Dark Prince became more cautious and less greedy.
"One birdie told me
that the Sand Creatures returned here, during your absence."
Prince
slowly raised head. Eyes were like two burning coals on a dark and
frustrated face.
"Oh… I see the slightest sign of recognition! Good boy. I guess the only thing you know about Sand Creatures, that they are made from Sand. And… Maybe a bit of blood. Depends."
"Get to the point please." was the annoyed reply.
"I will decide myself where is the point and where not. You silence and listen. I guess you do not know, I am actually sure you don't, about The Shadowland."
"Shadowland?" repeated the Prince somewhat confused. He was now standing near the throne but wisely decided not to push his alter – ego from there or he will not tell anything of what he knows.
"Ah… I knew that for almost King you are too little educated." was the satisfied grunt.
Prince also skipped that hidden challenge. He needed to know about those Shadowlands. Dark Prince will get his kick in a back a bit later.
"So… Where did I
stop?"
"Shadowlands."
"Patience, my friend. I guess you maybe always had a slight feeling that not all Sands disappeared after you killed the Vizier and freed our beloved Empress. Like I stayed locked up deep down in you, many Sand Monsters stayed alive. The resonance in the Time and nature of the things was so great that the Shadowlands were created. The mystical world with its own rules and laws, home for a lot of strange creatures. Including Sand Monsters."
Prince's eyes were getting wider and wider from shock as he was listening to the demon. A chance of possible existence of the land full of Sand Creatures was so low… But it was!
"Why they came back?"
"Good question. I bet your Kaileena knows. But that witch does not want to confess. My idea is that monsters came after you. After all, you are the one who did not give them the opportunity to rule over the world."
"You are talking about Sand Creatures as 'they'. Aren't you supposed to say 'we'? You yourself are…"
"My dear little Prince," started demon with voice of a mentor. "I was one of them. But not anymore. I am human. Moreover, I am your brother. Twin brother even."
The Prince did a face
of a total disgust.
"Maybe
in your dreams but I do not want to have anything in common
with such filthy and immoral demon as you!"
"If
I am filthy, that is because you are.
If I am ruthless and reckless and lacking in morals, it is because
you are. I did not spin myself from out of the ether, I was
not conjured by some mad Vizier; I am you."
Those were exact words that Dark Prince said to him during their last
battle. Prince shivered like he did then, he knew his alter – ego
had a point there.
"I had changed."
was the only reply Prince could give.
A cynical smile
appeared on Dark Prince's face.
"Maybe yes, maybe not… We will see… Personally I think not. Hah! Look at yourself! Your family is dead and you sit here, arguing with me over morality… While you yourself already forgot about them!"
And again Prince got
put in front of the fact. They are not so different after all…
"I
will prove otherwise!" he hissed angrily. "Do you know how to get
to those Lands of Shadows?"
"Approximately. When
do we swing into action, dear relative?"
"Now." was the
gloomy reply.
Surprise surprise! Here is the new chapter. It is even longer then previous one. Something is really wrong with me, lol. No particular comments over this bit. Enjoy and review. And btw, ideas over plot are also appreciated, even if I will never use them.
Cheers, AngelT
