Chapter 11: The Onlooker

"Alright, my zombie brethren, are you having a great time tonight?" The question was returned with a reluctant groan from the audience. The stage announcer was slightly taken aback at the lack of enthusiasm. It seemed he had expected his alleged cleverness to rile them up. Backstage, the man watching him chuckled to himself. It wasn't a very flattering announcement, after all, he thought to himself.

"Well then, perhaps you're not in the mood to see the final act of the night." At this, a few members of the crowd cheered loudly. The announcer failed to catch the sarcasm in their voices. "Now, that's more like it! Perhaps the Underwhere isn't such a dim place after all, eh?"

The man behind stage groaned for the audience. Just announce me before you make things worse. "Alright then! Shaydes… and Jaydes," he added winking at the gorgeous soul-keeper. "I present to you for the first time in the Underwhere, the herald of darkness, master of dimensions… DI-MEN-CHI-ON!"

Dimentio, you overpaid buffoon. Nonetheless, hopeful watchers cheered with sincere excitement, anticipating the marvelous finale. "Looks like it's time to deliver," Dimentio muttered. He glanced at the announcer, who had not seemed to realize his time on stage had ended. "But first…" Dimentio snapped his fingers and surrounded himself in a large puff of smoke that blotted out everything. He heard the gasps of the audience just before the smoke began to dissipate. Once his sight had been regained, he found himself in the middle of the stage, standing directly in front of the shocked audience.

After a moment of confused silence, a few of the audience members began to cheer. Dimentio took an overdramatic bow, glancing around at the room he was in. The area was outdoors but still seemed rather small. One side of the dead field was situated with a bar. The courtyard was assorted with tables, with about three or four Shaydes to each. The queen of the Underwhere, Jaydes, also sat among them. Still, the dwindling number disappointed Dimentio. You would think with all that's gone wrong in the universe, this place should be a bit fuller.

Standing up straight from his bow, he raised his hands to quiet the crowd. "And so I arrive, like a blizzard on a three-day hike. I thank you all!" As he raised his arms, he noticed that his clothes felt tight. Observing himself, he realized that he had accidentally switched himself into the announcer's clothes. Well, he won't need them anymore, I suppose. "My apologies, ladies and gentleman. Allow me to perform a quick wardrobe check. He snapped his fingers once more, and the clothes disappeared, immediately replaced with his own apparel, which consisted of a large hat, a wide silk shirt, and black pants. His hat and shirt alternated in stripes of purple and cream color, and they spiked out around him, giving him the semblance of a star.

"Ha ha! Much better! I could never turn my back on such amazing fashion! And so, our little finale begins!" With that, he held out his hand, revealing a visible ball of energy free-floating around it. The energy ball floated higher into the air, splitting into five parts. The crowd watched in amazement at the dazzling lights. With a snap of Dimentio's fingers, the lights disappeared. The crowd watched in anticipation. A small mischievous grin appeared on Dimentio's face as he reeled both his arms back. Swinging them forward, he howled with pleasure, and a series of explosions erupted from out of the air. The crowd roared with delight, applauding loudly at the spectacle.

"Too easy," Dimentio chuckled to himself. "Dazzling, isn't it?" he said aloud. "Do you want more?" The audience rooted even louder now, feeding his ego. Dimentio smiled contentedly. This is what I love…

Soon after the furor from his act had subsided, Dimentio rested himself next to the bar, the only somewhat lively place left of the world, despite the depressing mood of the barkeeper, who sat down cleaning a dirty glass with an even dirtier cloth. "Could I get one for the road, please?" He glanced down at the rag. "Preferably one that hasn't been cleaned in a while."

The short, fat barkeeper continued rubbing on the glass, leaving questionable black stains on the rims. "It'll cost ya," he muttered. "Thirty coins."

Dimentio grunted. "Can't you get this for free down at the fountain?"

"Convenience fee, unless you wanna walk all the way over there."

"You're dead. What good is my money to you?"

The barkeeper didn't react. Perhaps he was used to such comments. "'S long as it's not yours anymore, I can get by." Dimentio rolled his eyes in annoyance and dug in his pockets for the loose change.

"Half my earnings for today, if it makes you feel better," he muttered, throwing the money on the table. The barkeeper reached in back and grabbed a mug, which looked slightly less dirty than the one he had just cleaned, and filled it with an orange liquid. Dimentio grasped the mug and observed it. The liquid was frothy and pungent. It had an almost unearthly texture. Slowly, Dimentio raised the mug to his lips, unwilling to spill a single drop.

The concoction tasted slightly bitter, neutralizing the rich syrupy texture. As he swallowed it, the liquid burned inside his throat, a sensation that flowed outward to his limbs, giving him a revitalizing boost of energy. "Sweet nectar…" He mumbled. He took one more sip before looking back up at the bartender. "You know what's funny?"

The bartender grunted. "Something tells me you and I got a very different idea of funny."

Dimentio chuckled. "Very true…" He paused for a moment, considering if he should continue. "If you were to look at all the vices of living beings, every little guilty pleasure one might have, I believe you could classify it all into one simple word." He waited for a curious reply from the barkeeper. Receiving none, he went on. "Addiction! That one simple concept that can turn any reputable man straight on the road to the Underwhere. And now…" He glanced casually at his mug. "That same irresistible urge lies within this, the very sustainer of this wretched world. Do you know what that means?"

"'Fraid not," the barkeeper replied without looking up.

Dimentio smiled elatedly. "I am drinking the Nectar of Everyone's Sins! Interesting, no?"

"No."

Dimentio managed a frown, though it seemed in jest. "It seems you don't enjoy my company much."

"Why'd you even come to a place like this? I'm sure you could get a better gig somewhere else."

Dimentio was taken aback. "Are you suggesting I'd think myself too good for a place such as this? I am offended." The barkeeper glanced at him skeptically. Almost immediately, Dimentio gave in. "Well, I guess it wouldn't harm me in any way if you knew. I'm doing this for a certain… someone."

"If you're trying to impress your way to the Overthere, you're gonna have to do better than that."

"Oh, heavens no. I don't intend to revisit this place anytime soon. I'll never have to if things go right."

The barkeeper grunted a sort of laugh. "Yeah, trust me, you're not the first to claim that."

"Oh dear! If others have failed in their task, I must be doomed to fail as well!" He fell dramatically over the counter. "I suppose my entire mission is only a farce. My entire life's work ruined in a single moment! Very well, if fate is really that cruel to me, I shall depart this world, like a cold-soled bride on her wedding day."

"That's a pretty morbid piece of poetry right there."

Dimentio jumped back into his seat, all signs of his dramatic performance disappearing from his face. "You think so? I've had a bit of practice in improvising my poetry. With a compliment like that, I suppose it means I'm improving."

"It wasn't supposed to be a compliment. Enough gloom down here without you adding more misery to it."

"If you look at it that way, I suppose. But it's as I say, one man's misery is simply another man's…" He paused, looking back at the door. A cloaked stranger entered through the courtyard. Without wasting a moment, the stranger spotted the closest table and took his seat. "Opportunity…" Dimentio finished. He continued looking back at the man, his glass of nectar forgotten.

Soon after the stranger had taken his seat, the queen Jaydes shuffled over to him. The two of them began speaking, but Dimentio couldn't hear them through the racket. He considered getting closer but quickly decided it wasn't worth the risk. Does she know, perhaps?

"Excuse me." He turned back to the bartender. "Who is Jaydes speaking to?"

The bartender looked up. "Not sure… Oh." For the first time, his hands had stopped cleaning the mug. He leaned over to get a closer look at the duo. "Oh. That would be Lord Blumiere. I've heard about his story. Poor fool's been searching for his lover."

"Has he now?" Dimentio asked, feigning ignorance. "Why search for her in a place like this?"

"That's just the tragedy of it. He feels he's got nowhere else to search. He's been here on occasion, checking in to see if maybe she had passed on. If she's really dead, he can't be with her anymore, but it'd be sort of a relief for him, you know? Jaydes has promised to tell him as soon as she ends up here, but so far…" He shook his head, going back to his precious mug. "It's a pretty sad situation at any rate. As long as she's alive, he wastes his life looking for her. Then again, if she ends up dead, that might just be worse."

Dimentio gazed on at Queen Jaydes. So it seems she does know the story, as does everyone else, it seems. He considered for a moment if such information could ruin his plans.

"What're you thinkin' about now?" the bartender asked curiously.

Without looking back Dimentio replied, "I am always thinking, as does every living thing. Such an irrelevant question is not worth my time." The bartender was taken aback at his sudden shift in attitude, but he didn't care. It worried him to think that others knew what he had thought only he was aware of.

He shook off the thought. It couldn't be helped. It was nigh impossible to hide such things from Queen Jaydes. As far as he could tell, their knowledge would not affect his plans. He had covered every base, every possible outcome. Now it all relied on Blumiere's actions. Despite the high hopes of Jaydes, Timpani would not be arriving anytime soon. Dimentio had made certain of that. It had been almost too easy, appealing to Beauregard's furious nature, showing him the one spell that would truly end his "troubles". After all, if Timpani had simply lost her life, what would stop Blumiere from ending his own?

But as long as she still lives, he would stay alive to find her. For the sake of that small but futile hope, he would search and search until the fatigue drove him mad. Mad enough for desperation, Dimentio thought excitedly. Eventually, he would begin to long for an easier solution, a more powerful solution. His mind would wander back to the recollections of his heritage. It would be slow, but certain: the memory turning to whispers and rumors of a dark tool… Forbidden, yet boundlessly powerful. His spell alone would unlock the potential of this device, and then it would consume him. Crippled, he would be defenseless against the simplest thief. Or in my case, the cleverest. By the time anyone realized what had happened, Dimentio will have found his unstoppable source of power.

So the girl would remain alive, for now at least; cursed to wander through dimensions for all eternity. A cruel fate, but necessary for what needed to be done. My apologies, Dear, but with every war there will be casualties.

Still, Dimentio's patience had begun to grow short. After searching for so long, it seemed that the idea of a new power had not even crossed Blumiere's mind. He continued to wander stupidly between each dimension, hoping that somehow he would accomplish the impossible. He has quite a reserve of stamina, I'll admit. Dimentio considered introducing himself, perhaps to lead him on the right track.

No… He mustn't know about me. It wasn't worth the risk. The last thing he wanted to arouse suspicion. It was risky enough revealing himself to Blumiere's father. I've gotten this far. I can wait a little longer. Patience, dear Dimentio.

Suddenly, a speck of light flickered in and out of his focus. He turned to look, but it had disappeared the moment he tried to find it. "Strange," he thought to himself. He almost turned his attention back to Blumiere when the light suddenly returned, a bit brighter now. Jumping to his feet, he quickly turned his attention to the source. This time, the light stayed in place. It had no form at first, barely even visible, resembling a sort of ethereal radiance. Soon, the ball began to form into a lucid shape. A human… Female.

She was still transparent, evanescent even, but it was undeniably a human girl. There was also no doubt that she was in pain. Dimentio was astounded at seeing such a spectacle. An illusion for an illusionist. It wasn't simply that her presence confounded him, but there was something strikingly familiar about her. As much as it bothered him, his fascination overwhelmed his memory. He nearly gave it up as futile until she glided to one of the tables and, with a great amount of effort, mouthed a single, devastating word.

"Blumiere…"

The realization swept over him in a wave of horror. No. Not here! What are the chances? He turned to Blumiere, who had poked his head up from the table. Apparently, he had felt her presence as well. He turned to find the source.

No, you don't! Dimentio snapped his fingers quickly and watched in content as the tip of Blumiere's cape burst into flames. The blaze distracted him from the phantom's touch, and he exclaimed in shock, trying to rid himself of the deadly cape. Jaydes muttered a spell, dousing the fire instantly. Blumiere sat himself down again, trying to catch his breath. After a few seconds, he looked up at Jaydes and gave his thanks.

Apparently remembering what had caught his attention, he turned away, looking for the one who had called his name, but she was gone now, thrust into the next dimension once again. Dimentio sighed in relief. Too close. I can't let something like that destroy this. Not now. Rethinking the situation, he decided it may have been for the better. An experience like this just may drive Blumiere to desperation. It was only a matter of time now before temptation would come his way in the form of a little black book.

I think my waiting days are about to come to an end, Dimentio thought to himself, sitting back in his chair.

"What in blazes!" The bartender screamed in surprise as a befuddled man scrambled out of the back room. The strange man was clad only in underwear, and he gazed around the room in utter confusion. "What're you doing back there!" the bartender shouted angrily.

"I-I don't know," the man replied. "The last thing I remember was a stage, and… and then there was smoke, and… I don't know. Next thing I knew I was in here."

The barkeeper calmed down and gave Dimentio a knowing glance. "I see." Dimentio laughed aloud. I wondered where I'd sent him.

"Not to be a bother, but where are my clothes?"

"Not sure," Dimentio cut in. "But I'd find your way out of the courtyard before Queen Jaydes sees you in all your glory. I heard she doesn't have a very flattering sense of humor."

The embarrassed man nodded in agreement and quickly jumped over the bar. He stumbled away and out of the courtyard, receiving strange glances and more than a few chuckles. Soon after, Blumiere stood from his table and walked to the exit as well, apparently to continue his search elsewhere.

Dimentio chuckled to himself. "There they go, two fools searching vainly for what can never be found. I do love poetry..."

So, I ended up writing this chapter, deleting it completely, and then rewriting it with a different setting. On the bright side, I managed to put Dimentio into this story after all! And now, I've officially finished writing all of the chapters, so I'll update each one on a weekly basis. For now, hope this one was worth the wait!

Also... I award myself 50 Schrute bucks for using the word "evanescence" in a sentence. Love that band... Anyway, from the immortal words of Dimentio, "Ciao!"