The Temple of Batak

The steaming vapors filled the dimly lit room, making it almost impossible to see anything behind or in front of him. One could hear the drums, almost matching the beat of his own heart. He did not see the face of the priestess that brought him to the edge of the pool.

Lotor could smell the sulphur in the hot spring; a supposedly gift from Batak. It was hard to find any natural sources of warmth on the surface of Korrinoth and those few that did exist were revered. He still could not see her, the thick steam blocking his view. But he felt her hands, from behind, remove his robe; feeling the fabric glide down his body and settle down to his ankles. The bath was stifling hot and sweat was trickling down his back and chest. He smelled the warm oils she was drizzling on his shoulders which were then replaced by her hands, massaging them in. His head was swimming; he had drunk the Wine of Clarity. Only when one could not distinguish between the line of reality and dreams would the gods speak. The oil, infused with lavender, sent a shiver up his spine. He wanted desperately to see the Priestess behind him; knowing that all those who served the gods and goddesses were always beautiful. He felt the softness of her breasts on his back as she pushed him into the sacred waters.

The insistent hands kept pushing him to the center of the pool; where a white marble ceremonial altar rose out of the water. Through the wisps and vapors; he could make out a visage of the woman; her long dark hair brushing against the water. He saw jewels on her neck; catching whatever light they could refract. He stumbled in the dark; bringing their faces close together. He gasped in recognition of the woman. It was Katte; more beautiful than he remembered. She silenced him with a deep kiss. He sunk his nose into the crook of her neck; luxuriating in the smell of estrogen in her skin. She was in season. He pulled up his head in surprise.

"This is sacrilege." He moaned as he sat her on the altar. He wanted to stop; it pained him to anger the gods. She was for the High Priest. He looked her over remembering his previous want and turned his face in shame for the sin he was contemplating.

"No. It is rare that one such as you; beautiful enough to worship the gods, enters the temple. It would please Batak." She whispered; though her voice seemed everywhere.

"How have you come here? These are not your gods." He took her face in his hands; his hands were not gentle. He wanted an answer.

"Serve the gods and all your wishes will be fulfilled. Anything you ever wanted, or needed, will be yours." His lips found hers again. Softly he pressed into them. He leaned down, biting into her neck. He heard her scream and he smiled; deep down glad that she had suffered. He pulled her back up and plunged himself into her. She responded by wrapping her legs around his waist which only encouraged him. He felt the water splashing up against him as he took her. She felt him clawing at his back and was encouraging him to come. He held back. He was in no rush; the drugs dampening some senses while heightening others. He pushed her down further into the cool slab of marble, pressing his entire weight on to her small frame. She was screaming; he did not care if it was in ecstasy or pain as he ripped into her; he took out his revenge on her body. She sounded like she was suffering which only fueled his efforts. He did not care when he heard her whimper, the drugged wine, heightening his sour mood towards the woman. Finally, he came. She clung to him tight, intent on holding him in.

Katte started to stroke his hair and give the little growls and nips that should have encouraged him on. She threw back her head and exposed her neck which he lapped at enthusiastically; tasting the hormones in her blood. He had never mated with a woman; and the thought, at this moment, was foremost in his mind. Recreation alone had left him wanting; knowing it only hinted at the total ecstasy that came from completing giving oneself to another.

For a moment he was cognizant of his actions, he stopped and gazed upon the woman not knowing what to do. These women were reserved for the High Priest. All the children in the temple had been fathered by one; he had never heard of any other man being allowed to touch a priestess. He had been bestowed a great honor. He was given a priestess to mate with; if she caught his child could one day be a High Priest or Priestess; bowed down to by the masses and loved by the gods. Then another image came to his mind. He saw his father slitting the High Priest's throat after the Atonement Festival and he shuddered. His people worshipped the dark gods who demanded so much and gave so little. He would have no child of his sacrificed for their vanity. Suddenly, without warning he pulled out causing the woman to claw at him in fury. She begged him to re-enter her knowing that the time to initiate the tying would end soon. He grabbed her arms and pulled her tight.

"You are not the one that Batak has chosen for me. I am sorry. I belong to another. I have kissed Allura; Allura is mine." The words came out of nowhere. He whispered them trying to soothe her and him. It took all he had to withdraw from her and his body was trembling. She had been his for the taking; a mating with no commitment was a rare thing to be offered. He must be mad to turn her down. He opened his eyes; and then, she was gone. Beneath him was a priestess; who bore a slight resemblance to Katte. She had long brown hair and dark green eyes. She clung to him desperately as he tried to shake off his confusion.

"Lotor, release her." A voice out of nowhere commanded. Lotor slowly let her go; she was still snarling at him. He backed away quickly and ascended the stairs to exit the pool. The High Priest handed him a robe. The man was also incredibly handsome, that not even being the right word. He was magnificent. His skin was the lightest shade of blue Lotor had ever seen on a Drule. He had the look of a Westerner with his High pinnacled ears and his perfectly formed features. His hair was the darkest red; it fell in heavy curls around a face that belonged to an angel. His eyes were light brown flecked with green and seemed to change in intensity when he talked, matching the tone of the seductive voice. They were almond shaped; and unlike Lotor's they had the same appearance as human eyes. This had always appealed to him. This priest did not have a drop of Korrinite in him. He was a High Drule through and through and Lotor wondered how he had come to this Temple. Lotor all of a sudden felt inadequate as he stood next to the man. His musculature was still almost non-existent; he felt perpetually trapped in a teenager's body.

"Come with me." The man motioned. He held Lotor's robe in one hand. Lotor felt like he was moving slowly through the water. The man opened the robe and slipped it on his back. The priest smiled and with a look of pure ecstasy, as he ran his fingers through Lotor's hair. He reached down to kiss him. It was neither sexual nor chaste; but almost worshipful. Lotor shook it all off wondering if he was imagining all of this. He had drunk so much more than the others; it was almost getting impossible to hide his addiction. Or maybe, it was all part of the many rituals of the day. He was being initiated into the Cult of Batak; he knew that all religions had their Mysteries in order to excite passion in its believers. He reasoned that the woman in heat and the impossibly beautiful man would appeal to a large part of the young male Korrinite population; few showed strong gender preference for casual relationships until their hormones calmed down.

Lotor was sure that he was in some sort of ritual. The High Priest had chosen him to play the role of Bashir. The woman in the water was playing Keturah; Bashir's wife. He felt the man take his hand; leading him away from the pool. The cool marble against his hot feet felt like ice as he walked down the ancient halls. He said nothing as the High Priest kept touching his hair; he seemed absolutely delighted.

"You are an impossible one. I gave you Keturah and you rejected my gift. This time it was not so easy to figure out how you were connected. Then, I gave you Katte and it is the same result. You were cruel. Your savagery, as usual, was excessive. Does that mean you love Batak again?" Lotor said nothing. In his other dreams he knew the people; this man was a stranger. The man lifted his chin up and looked into his eyes; trying to understand Lotor's lack of response. He shook his head. "Why do you not answer me?" Regardless of your feelings towards me, you are being disrespectful. I came here as a friend, not as an enemy." He stopped walking and spun around to face Lotor. He gave him a puzzled look.

The High Priest led Lotor into a room. At the back wall was an altar. In the middle was a large white couch; resembling the one that he had in is suite back home. The High Priest motioned for him to sit. Lotor swore it smelled of roses. The man sat next to him. He was a graceful creature, bred for beauty. Lotor was nervous that the man was so close; worried that he might want more than a few kisses.

"Such a shame that Batak and you are still at war with each other. Unattached, you are a tempting thing to go for. That is a game I would love to play, but seeing what you have put Batak through I do worry. He is already so jealous that you share your affections with Keturah." The man sighed; a hint of lust and sorrow haunted those eyes. Lotor did not say a word; fearing the High Priest would make him partake in a ritual not to his liking. Lotor considered the man before him. He was more than curious about what it would be like to touch him and this shamed him. The man seemed to sense this and gave him a wicked smile. Lotor wondered how the man could be so calm, so sure in his faith, He knew the man would be dead in a matter of months; a perfect specimen to be sacrificed to the gods.

"Lotor, you are lucky I have a priestess who needs attending or I would have taken my due." His gaze was mesmerizing. "Why did you tell the priestess that you were married when you are not?"

"They were just words to calm the Priestess down," Lotor said with a shrug.

"You lie to a High Priestess, something few Drules would ever think of. But then you are from the House Dabaiza'al." The man laughed. "It is in your nature to speak falsehoods so freely. It always has been. I never know why Batak tolerates it so; but then, you are useful at times."

"Does Batak speak to you?" Lotor's eyes lit up. He prayed to Batak all the time; but his prayers were never answered.

"I amuse him when he is bored. He has a much closer relationship with you. I hear you spend hours in your devotions to him." Lotor slowly nodded. It was not this man's business to know these things. "Even when you are apart; you both obsess over each other." The man looked up at the ceiling. "You fear that your dreams are something more than your Wyvern neurotransmitters playing games with you."

"Perhaps." Lotor said softly. The wine was causing him to be dizzy.

"Why do you still pray to him after all that has happened to you. Most would choose another god to worship." The voice was a bit harsh; almost annoyed that Lotor maintained his obedience to Batak.

"He has brought my family great fortune." Lotor said.

"And an equal amount of misery. There are kinder gods to choose from." The High Priest added.

"My father has brought this upon me. I have so much rage and longing that sometimes I cannot bear it." Lotor cried, desperate in his confession. It is so hard to maintain discipline. I can be excessive in my actions. I pray to Batak to give me control."

"Batak's love always comes with a price. He is a jealous god. The rage and longing have little to do with Zarkon. It has always been like that with you; no matter where or when." The man took Lotor's hands into his lap and turned them over, carefully examining them. "Batak made you this way on purpose. The rage was so that you could join him in battle and the longing, he had hoped, would be for him. You were to be his perfect companion. He could never deny you anything; not even Keturah. The Dark Lord granted you so much, but you never appreciated anything. You have always been such an arrogant creature." Lotor felt the man's hand on his leg, slowly moving his hand up and down. His eyes were laughing. "Do you know what would happen if I took you to my bed? Batak would go insane. It so fits my nature to do so and yours. I have always been the bigger threat than Keturah was." Lotor groaned. No one warned him that these rituals would go this far. He could live life without a harem. He did not need to go to the Festival of Kitor if this was the price of admission. Lotor went to grab the man's wrist but all he felt was air as the mysterious hand continued to make its way uncomfortably up his leg. Lotor found himself frozen in place unable to move. The High Priest just laughed and pulled away his hand as it just stopped short of his manhood. The man reached over and gave him another kiss; this time it ws no longer innocent. The kiss was full of want and Lotor felt helpless to do anything about it.

"I have kissed Lotor; Lotor is mine." The man's lip curled up into a cruel smile. Lotor was tiring of this strange man, the drug having giving him a headache. He wanted the man to go away. "Relax, I meant nothing. I am not such a fool as to try to take what belongs to Batak. Though I have to say, the way Batak and Keturah fight over you I am tempted to taste the forbidden fruit." Lotor stared at the man. His words made no sense. The Mysteries, whatever they represented, were overrated. He was feeling trapped.

"So, tell me is your war with Batak over? Is it going to be like the ancient days when you loved only him and he dismissed his harem for you? For years you were inseperable until Palla caught his eye and he threw you out of his bed. Oh, wait, that was after you tossed him out for Jera. All the fights, all the discipline...and then both of you kept trying to outdo each other with your conquests until you relented. How did we all survive that drama?" The High Priest looked at Lotor and licked his lips. "Is that why you did not claim Keturah? If so, Batak will be kind in his discipline this time. He has learned his lesson about pushing you too far. I think we all have after what happened last time." The man again reached for Lotor, seductively playing with his hair, twirling them around his fingers. "He needs his sword back and unfortunately it is still attached to you." Lotor felt that unwanted hand again settle down uncomfortably on his groin; it was not still. Lotor did not appreciate his turning their religious myths into a double entendre.

"You talk as if I am Bashir." Lotor said as his body tried to shift away from the unwanted attention. Lotor was positive he was hallucinating. That explained while he could feel the man, but when he tried to grasp the wrist there was nothing but air. This was the best hallucination he ever had. Gavin, though not approving of his drug use, loved to hear about his odder experiences. This was by far the most involved.

"Do you know why they kill the High Priest after he goes into the Holy of Holies?" Lotor shook his head no. "They see the real story and not what is told to children. Batak lied and he was afraid that you would find out that he never killed Keturah. He wanted you to be free from your lotor but you cannot kill a goddess so easily." The man sighed. "The second time around, the priests knew the original story and Batak could not convince you she was dead. You were impossible to deal with. You did not want to make her angry. You did not want to play the game. It almost did not happen. Batak was so angry with you did not let you see her for over a thousand years. I think he suffered more than you did since you refused his affections. Now, Batak always uses the same script. For no reason at all, except for your stubbornness, do they have to die." The man got up and poured wine; offering Lotor a glass. Lotor drank it within minutes, the drug rushing to his head.

"Unfortunately, the original story, so devotedly copied by the Wyverns, is all over the damn Universe. Well, at least we do not have to worry about that anymore. Your bloodlust is thoroughly accessible now. And as usual, you always seem to hurt everyone around you regardless of any other circumstance." Lotor was laughing hard. The man looked annoyed at him.

"What is so funny? His voice seemed to deepen. Lotor tried unsuccessfully to stop; deep down he knew he was dealing with something that was not what it seemed to be. Yet, he found himself out of control.

"It is funny to hear one's self described as Bashir; the fallen angel." Lotor almost fell on the floor because he was laughing so hard. Normally, he had better control over his behavior but he was sure that drugged wine was stronger than he thought.

"Another misconception spread by the priests. Bashir was never an angel; he was never trustworthy. He was all demon from the get go; he was just an incredibly skilled liar that convinced the Council to give him Batak's sword." The man stiffly answered.

"Then why do the priests say otherwise?" Lotor asked.

"...Because the gods believed Bashir's lies. At time, he made us look like idiots. It was one of his favorite pastimes. The worse were the lies he told Keturah. Keturah tried so very hard to forgive him all the time. She tried so hard to love him." The man sighed.

"Keturah did not love Bashir." Lotor stated firmly. Lotor did not want to dream this man anymore. "She hated him." He did not know why, but he always hated this part of the story.

"Most of the time; but sometimes he pleased her. She is a goddess of some passion and would succumb to his charm and lies; just like the rest of us. He occasionally showed mercy to those he conquered. She always showed him pity when he did that." The man spoke softly as if to reassure Lotor. "Remember that this time. Maybe she won't throw you out with the trash."

"Who needs pity? It is a horrible thing. I would resent a wife who did that." Lotor grumbled.

"You need her pity or she will not redeem you. Batak, for some reason, has become desperate for his sword again. It took powerful magic to bring you back which has had serious consequences. Of course, Keturah blamed herself for everything. She always does. To be fair, she never thought he would go that far to bring you back. None of us did." The man's face seemed to transform in front of him; it was now washed in sorrow as if he had suffered a terrible loss. "They were our children after all."

"What happens if I refuse to play your game? It sounds like I lost last time." Lotor tensed up. All of a sudden the dream like state of this hallucination seemed to become very real.

"You lose every time. I always win." The man looked at Lotor; his voice was no longer sweet but had taken on a commanding tone. "You have no choice; you are just an object that Batak created for his enjoyment. Your ego keeps forgetting that you are no more than a glorified pleasure slave. You were supposed to be his recreation, not his competition. I can assure you that the Court did not miss your antics." The man gave Lotor a smug look. "I no longer want to play this game. I was content to let you rot for eternity."

"Batak obviously missed me." Lotor replied. His smirk was in full bloom. He could not believe he was even engaging his hallucination in a conversation. But then again, he was used to the persons in his dreams talking to him.

"Batak is bored again and wants to play with his favorite toy." The man shrugged. "You are pretty to look at and none of us ever know how Keturah will play the last card. That is what makes it so exciting." The man's hazel colored eyes darkened. "She regretted her decision last time. Batak was furious. He ws not ready to put you away yet. It took forever and a day to find her again." He paused. "The Great King took her memory this time." The man looked at Lotor who was shaking his head. "As for you, play smarter this time. Keturah is always such a distraction for you. Batak can deal with your lust for her because in the end you always go crawling back to him. You are as bad as he is at times; desperate for your hunting partner." The man stroked his cheek. "If neither of them can keep you satisfied, perhaps it is time for a change. With me, you never have to keep your appetite in check or learn to be content with what you have. I do not harbor such silly jealousies. The possibilities are endless." The man smiled and ran his fingers down Lotor's arm. "Perhaps it is time that you tasted another wine."

Lotor returned the smile; but unlike the priest there was malice in his. He gently pushed back the Priest's hair. The man was beyond beautiful but Lotor's inhibitions outweighed his curiosity; his year in the Supremacy had left him with a high tolerance for the drugs that laced the wine. "Retire your lust."

"You, the man who spends his every morning and evening in devotions, would refuse recreation to a High Priest who is also a god. I would think it would be your fantasy." The man fell back unto the couch and laughed. "What kind of Drule are you? Has your human blood so tainted you that it has excised the Evil Impulse? When does a Drule not want to worship an object of beauty? Offer your submission to me; I will be gentle with you. Batak owes me at least this for finding you."

"I have never offered submission to anyone." Lotor bristled.

"Again you lie. You gave it to Borak." Lotor's mouth flew open. Only Borak and Driedal knew of this. They swore never to tell a soul. "You gave it to a mere mortal but not Batak. There is something comical to that. It has been centuries since something amused me as much as that did. Batak was seething. It took him a long time to figure out a just punishment for your betrayal. Ravok and Utor delivered his discipline." The man stroked Lotor's cheek. "Bashir, you will submit to me before this is over. It will make Batak lose control."

"And who, may I ask, longs for my submission?" Lotor asked. He had talked to this hallucination enough to ask for a name.

"Are you lying again? Or do you really not remember who you are or who I am? We have played this game for thousands of years." The man looked into Lotor's eyes and shook his head. "Batak's magic was not perfect, was it? I think he left a part of you behind. That is why you did not recognize Keturah. You, a mere demon, have humiliated a goddess. How you do amuse me of late with your blasphemy." He sat up straight and placed his hands in his lap; the man was hungry for attention. "First I shall name you – Bashir, Telora, Magro, Jain and now, now you are Lotor. There were others." The man took Lotor's face into his hands. "You have never liked me. You keep trying to use Batak's sword to keep me at bay. You think that's the answer but you will always lose. I will still be here when everything else is gone, even Batak. Someone always has to be last." He grabbed Lotor's hair and pulled him close. "Can you name me? Can you name the thing you fear the most, what you can never conquer though you try so hard." The man leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"Lord Tavor. You are Lord Tavor." Lotor felt the tears fall.

"You were always such a clever thing. How long can your sword hold me off this time? A hundred years, a thousand. The sad thing is that Batak puts you to sleep before you find out. Your existence relies solely on his desire for you. For the last thousand years he took another lover, and only when he tired of her, did he look for your box and start to plan your next body." He looked Lotor up and down. "As always, he did a good job. The human was a nice touch to smooth out the rough edges. I will have to remember that one." The High Priest sighed. "Eventually, this body that contains you will die and whatever you have built in that small amount of time that Batak took you out to play is all that will keep me contained." The man stopped and brushed away the tears. There was gentleness in his touch that surprised Lotor. 'We have not always treated you well."

"One day, Batak will even get bored with this game and he will forget about his favorite toy. I sometimes even wonder if you are alive in there." He stroked Lotor's hair. "Shoshi, how does Batak serve you? Keturah will never understand that he designed you to fear and abhor me. She does not understand your need to contain me. She is always thinks that she can save you; but you always disappoint her in the end." He shook his head. "Last time, she abandoned you all together. Submit and I can make that feeling of fear go away. Submit and I will give you Keturah or take away the desire for her; whatever you prefer. She will love you if you forget the sword. Without his sword, I can keep Batak far away from the both of you. You could make this life a happy one. You have ruled this all before, but it never made you happy. In the end, you are still his slave."

"And if I agree." Lotor said.

"You will be mine. You are an object of cursed beauty, even I cannot change what Batak created." Lotor shook his head no.

"You were always such a difficult child." Lotor closed his eyes. He felt something gently tugging his shoulder.

"My Lord, wake up." The soft, but firm hands of the High Priestess awoke him on a marble table. He was in a room, surrounded by vapors, but there was no spring to be found. He was on the table that he had seen in the water. She had been the woman in the dream; but she was dressed in the solid black gown befitting her station. Lotor moaned and rolled over, pulling the robe on. His head was splitting and he still had the festival tonight.

"The High Priest will see you. Today you will be consecrated to Batak. Your heart must be soaring with joy." The beautiful young woman smiled as she handed him a black robe. I think we met once before; during a New Year's Festival. Your father brought you to the Temple, you were about seven and I was five. You played with me in the gardens. Do you remember?" Lotor slowly nodded. He did not remember the girl; just the garden full of his mother's roses.

"My Prince, you must be very much in love" The woman was brushing his hair. "You said the wildest things while you were under the wine's spell." Lotor sat up.

"I have no one." Lotor shook his head.

"Do not jest. You pronounced the marriage vows so many times. I have kissed Allura; Allura is mine. And then, it was so cute, you even did her part. You said I kissed Lotor; and Lotor is mine."

"Allura died a long time ago." He angrily grabbed the robe and stormed into the room that contained the final ceremonies for the initiates. The High Priest anointed his head and said the blessings over him. It was not the man in his dreams. His High Priest was godlike in his beauty. This man, though attractive, paled in comparison. No one could be that terrifyingly beautiful. Lotor shook his head. Today, he thought, as he refused the last glass of wine offered, he must have found the bottom of his proverbial barrel. He was sticking to wine from now on, free of anything else. It would put a damper on the Festival tonight but he had enough visions for awhile.