FIFTEEN: ABYSS (Alaurys, Trerry, and Lygus. Featuring many others, including Laby, Daphne, Serafine, Ash, and Zell. Spoiler Alert: Lygus is the past life of a certain beloved Knight of Zandar who, in Chosen Legacy, currently has no idea why Zell is so bent on destroying him. This may provide some insight into that beyond Zell just being jealous that Sir Ivan is dating Daphne's current incarnation, Andie.)
The night Trerry Vazgod was born, all of the people of Eltar heard the giggling of an infant echoing in their minds. Although slightly unnerving, it was taken to be an omen of good things to come. They were relieved because the previous night had brought great terror to Eltar.
Alaurys of Eltar was born the night before. That entire day, a banshee could be heard shrieking throughout the land. His mother, a powerful Sorceress, perished in childbirth. His father, in his grief, tried to murder the child that same night. Alaurys survived, and his father became convinced he was a powerful force of evil. He abandoned him, tossing him into the river. Instead of drowning, Alaurys began to float. Terrified, his father turned to dark magic and summoned a powerful demon to Eltar, promising if it destroyed his son, it could keep his soul. The demon would lie in wait for several years before making a move.
The two boys were from very different sides of the spectrum. People adored Trerry. He liked to make them laugh and would often play harmless pranks on them. Being two years older than Laby, he often treated the boy as a younger brother and helped him develop his pranking skills. The people of Eltar kept their distance from Alaurys. Although Elgan rescued him from the river, many did not trust the child born under the banshee's cry. Elgan and Zell trained the boy themselves and showed him kindness. Zell even kept him in their home until he decided Alaurys was old enough to fend for himself.
Trerry had a fairly normal childhood. He was a happy child who enjoyed laughing and having fun. He was an exceptionally gifted dancer, and would entertain the people of Eltar whenever possible. Trerry's powers included powerful Sorcery and telepathy. He could make people believe whatever he wanted them to and could project his thoughts and desires into the minds of others. He tried not to abuse this talent unless it was absolutely necessary. His mind was remarkably complex and could not be breached unless he was intentionally allowing someone inside of it. Anyone who tried fell into traps and either got stuck inside an abyss within his mind until he released them or simply got kicked out immediately. Zell became obsessed with finding a vulnerability inside of Trerry's mind that might allow him to slip inside of his head. He kept a close eye on the boy as he grew up, certain he was a threat.
Alaurys was lonely. Although Elgan and Zell both doted on the boy, no one else would talk to him much. It was not uncommon for him to talk to someone one day and learn they had dropped dead the next. The people believed he brought death with him, and they would not interact with him except when absolutely necessary. As such, he internalized most of his thoughts and only smiled when Elgan went out of his way to make him laugh. He was a very sad, very lost little boy, although things were a bit better while he lived with the brothers. When he was eight, Zell set him up in his own home. He made certain Alaurys had everything a boy could need, and he checked in on him often, but this still left Alaurys feeling lonely and abandoned. Elgan went out of his way to visit him nearly every day. He explained that Zell had simply seen that Alaurys was ready to walk his own path, and they needed to give him some freedom to do that. Alaurys could tell Elgan felt guilty for leaving him on his own, but Zell had not given him much of a choice in the matter. Alaurys spent most of his time practicing his magic and creating spells, which he'd discovered he had a talent for. His magic was very dark, but he never used it to harm anyone. As he grew older, Zell began paying him to work for him, allowing him to go on missions and help the people of Eltar in emergencies.
What brought Trerry and Alaurys together was Lygus. Orphaned at just seven years old, Lygus was determined to become one of the Eltarian Peacekeepers, who were essentially the village police and who would one day be considered part of the Eltarian Guard. He followed the Peacekeepers around, taking any opportunity to show off how brave and determined he was, from catching a stumbling damsel in distress to rescuing stray cats from trees. The Peacekeepers of his village found this endearing and let the boy go on "quests" with them. It was when he was eleven years old that fate brought him together with several people for the first time.
The Peacekeepers had brought Lygus into a neighboring village to assist with recovery from a nasty storm that had swept through it. He spotted a little girl standing on the tips of her toes and casting some sort of spell. She was a cute little thing and he smiled until he realized she was about to lose her balance. She stumbled forward and would have fallen on her face, but Lygus managed to catch her.
"Are you well, Dear Lady?" Lygus asked gently. The Peacekeepers had taught him to address everyone formally and with respect, even children, so he did not modify the question to suit her age.
The child looked at him with the brightest smile he'd ever seen. "Thank you," she said sweetly. "I am well."
He nodded, releasing her once he was certain she was steady on her feet. "I am Lygus, Noble Peacekeeper of Eltar," he said grandly.
"I am Daphne," she replied with a shy look in her eyes. "It was kind of you to help me, Lygus." She curtsied to him politely and stumbled again. He steadied her quickly before she could fall.
"Of course, Dear Lady." He smiled at her, his heart melting at how cute the child was. "Do be careful."
"I shall," she said seriously. Then, she began casting again. This time, Lygus could feel her magic. Although she was quite young, she was powerful. Her magic filled him with warmth and he watched her for a moment.
Another girl came into view. She was older than Lygus, but still young. Her magic was extremely powerful and radiated with fire and passion. He watched as she joined the younger girl. "That's good, Daphne," she said encouragingly. "Just don't get too carried away. Remember, you're not doing this alone."
"I wish to help, Sera," Daphne said seriously. Lygus realized this must be the beloved young Sorceress, Serafine. He'd forgotten she lived in that village. They had never met before, but he'd certainly heard of her many adventures and her contributions to Eltar.
"I know, Little Sister, but you're still young. You have to pace yourself. At seven, so did I," Serafine said.
Daphne nodded. That was when a tree branch crashed down toward Lygus. His reflexes were good, but he still got hurt as it knocked him to the ground. "Oh no!" Daphne cried in concern. She rushed toward him. Serafine followed behind her. "You're hurt..." Daphne said as she saw the blood trickling down his face. He also had a deep gash on his arm.
Lygus tried to put on a brave face for the girl. He was good at that, after all. "It is nothing serious," he promised her. "I shall be fine, Lady Daphne."
Two boys raced toward them and helped Serafine remove the branch from on top of him. "That was rotten luck," one said. Lygus knew who he was. Only one Eltarian had spirals in his green eyes, and he had already earned quite a reputation on Eltar. Labyrinth looked to the two sisters. "Are either of you hurt?" He asked.
"No, we're fine, Laby," Serafine promised. "He's not, though."
"Really, this is nothing," Lygus insisted again. He didn't ever show weakness anymore. He hadn't since right after his parents died. The Peacekeepers had taught him to be strong.
Little Daphne touched her hand to his face gently. Lygus could feel her energy moving through him.
"Daphne, be careful," the other boy said. "You're still learning."
"I can make him feel well again," Daphne said.
"I believe you, but you do not want to hurt yourself, Sister."
"Ash, I can help him," she said stubbornly. "He is hurt. I should help."
"You should never risk harming yourself to heal others," Ash said practically. "You have never tried to heal a serious injury before. It has only been small wounds."
"Ash... Let her try," Serafine said gently. "I will make sure she does not overdo it."
Ash did not contradict her. Instead, he watched his younger sister nervously as she tried to heal Lygus. Soon, Lygus could feel his wounds mending until nothing hurt anymore. He looked at his arm in astonishment.
"You've done it!" He cried in delight. "I owe you a debt, Lady Daphne."
She smiled at him sweetly. "You owe me nothing. I am happy to help," she replied.
"A Peacekeeper must have honor," he insisted. "You have my word that if you ever have need of my assistance, I shall be there. You may call on me any time. I shall always protect you." He bowed to her grandly.
Daphne giggled. Serafine watched him with an approving smile. "What is your name?" She asked him.
"I am Lygus, Noble Peacekeeper of Eltar," he said once again.
"Well, Noble Lygus, I am pleased you are feeling better. Thank you for offering to protect my sister. Although she has me, our brother Ash, Laby, and our dear Lido, it is always good to know others watch over her as well."
Serafine and the others may not have taken him seriously, but Lygus knew a Peacekeeper's vow was a sacred oath and had not made it lightly. He would protect that child with all that he possessed, no matter what.
From just outside of the time line, Zell frowned. He had hoped his efforts would be rewarded, but it appeared Lygus had better reflexes than he had anticipated, even as a boy. Zell had wasted energy moving back in time in an attempt to prevent Lygus from ever meeting Daphne. Unfortunately, it seemed his attack had simply caused the two to bond sooner than they had originally. Yes, Lygus had met her that day in the original time line, but he hadn't grown quite that attached to Daphne until some time later.
"He will perish at my hands, one way or another," Zell vowed. He despised Lygus and wanted to keep him away from his wife at all costs. "I must try again." He resumed watching the boy from a safe distance, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Trerry had gone to the village in an attempt to help clean up the mess from the storm. He was being serious for once in his life when he noticed a dark abyss opening up on the edge of town. A young boy seemed to be in a trance as he began to walk straight toward it.
Alaurys was casting the spell to open up the dark abyss when he realized a child was headed toward it. "Damn! I must stop it before it's too late," he said.
"No, Alaurys," Zell said as he looked deep into his eyes. "Continue."
"Great Zell?" Alaurys asked in confusion. "You were just over there... When did you arrive here?"
"I, specifically, am from the future, Alaurys, and I come with an important mission. The boy you see will eventually grow into a very serious problem. He must be stopped before it is too late."
"You want me to harm a child?" Alaurys asked. "But... Great Zell... Certainly that is not an appropriate use of my magic?"
"Alaurys, my boy, I know many things you do not. I cannot explain without risking changing things in the wrong way. You trust me, do you not?"
"Of course I do, Great Zell. You and Elgan are the closest thing I have to family."
"Then please do what I ask. It is imperative that we do not fail today."
Alaurys nodded. He continued his spell. The abyss opened up, ready to swallow the boy. That was when someone grabbed the boy and pulled him back from certain doom. "Trerry... Of course," Zell said darkly. He mumbled something that sounded an awful lot like, "That damn pest," but Alaurys was certain Zell would never say something like that. "Alaurys... I am entrusting you with something extremely important. Watch the boy closely, and when the time comes, you must end his life."
Alaurys looked at Zell in shock. "I... I am not a killer, Great Zell. I know the people of Eltar believe I bring the Banshee's Curse, but you know that is not true," he said desperately, suddenly worried that one of the only two people who genuinely cared for him had turned on him.
"I know that, Alaurys. Eliminating someone in order to save everyone else is not murder," Zell said patiently. "It is simply sometimes necessary. Will you watch over him as I ask?"
Alaurys nodded, seeing no other choice. "Of course, Great Zell. I understand. I will do what I must."
"Excellent. I must return to my own time before anyone else sees me. Be careful, my dear boy. Lygus is dangerous. Do not underestimate him." With that, he vanished back into the space outside of the time line.
Alaurys had an opportunity. He headed toward the boy and his rescuer. Lygus appeared confused and was trembling. The boy with him was trying to keep him calm. "You were in a daze," he explained patiently. "I had to pull you back or you would have perished."
Seeing his chance, Alaurys approached them and said, "My deepest apologies... That was a spell gone awry. Do you need assistance?"
"I am unharmed," Lygus said. "I simply do not understand what happened."
"That is simple, my young friend," the other boy said. "I am Trerry. Allow me to explain the situation we face... But not here." He looked a bit paranoid as he began looking around. Alaurys noticed Trerry's eyes landed on Zell.
Perhaps he really did curse his name, Alaurys thought. After all, it seems his name is, in fact, Trerry. If he is an enemy of Great Zell, he is an enemy of Eltar, and of me. He silently vowed to keep a close eye on Trerry in addition to Lygus.
They traveled to what appeared to be an abandoned house. "Come on," Trerry said. "Follow me." He led them inside. "Now, have a seat. We're going to be here for a while."
Alaurys wasn't thrilled with the arrangement, but he decided to stay anyway. If Trerry was some sort of traitor, he needed to know so he could inform Zell. The last thing he expected, however, was to be pulled into some sort of trance.
The abandoned house fell away. Instead, Alaurys found himself sitting in a cozy den of some sort, surrounded by books and weapons. Lygus looked around in wonder. "Is this Sorcery?" He asked.
"This is me," Trerry replied with a smirk. "Welcome to my mind."
"Your mind?" Alaurys repeated.
"It's a complicated and often frightening place to be," Trerry said, "but it's also the one place where no one can overhear our words."
"We're... In your mind?" Lygus repeated. He looked both confused and impressed.
"Part of it," Trerry confirmed. "Now... As I said, I am Trerry. Who are the two of you?"
"I am Lygus, Noble Peacekeeper of Eltar," the boy replied.
That got a laugh out of both Trerry and Alaurys. "So formal!" Trerry said with delight.
"How old are you, nine?" Alaurys asked, still laughing.
"I happen to be eleven," Lygus replied, "and I do not appreciate your tone."
"Apologies, Brave and Noble Sir Lygus," Trerry said kindly. "It is very good to meet you."
"Likewise, I suppose, since you saved me," Lygus said after a moment.
"And you, Friend?" Trerry asked Alaurys. "What do we call you?"
"I am..." Alaurys hesitated. For just a second, he'd forgotten he was spying on the two of them and enjoyed being able to laugh with people closer to his own age. If he told them who he was, they would surely turn on him.
"I could just pull it out of your mind, if that's easier for you," Trerry said lightly.
"Alaurys," he said with a sigh. "I am called Alaurys."
"Truly?" Lygus asked nervously.
"Truly," he confirmed. "If you want me to go, Trerry, release me from your mind and I will remove my body from the house."
"Do not be ridiculous," Trerry said firmly. "I have never met you. Why would I kick you out of my head because of your name?"
"My name is well-known."
"Yes. You are the one associated with the Banshee's Curse. That is not a good enough reason for me not to get to know you." He offered him a warm, reassuring smile. "You were born the day before me. I think that's a sign we should become great friends."
For the first time in his life, Alaurys was rethinking following Zell's instructions. "Trerry... Why did you bring us here?" He asked.
"To explain what happened to our noble friend here," Trerry replied casually.
"And what was that?" Lygus asked eagerly.
"Zell."
Alaurys was stunned into silence. Lygus looked more confused than ever. "The Great Wizard?" He asked. "What do you mean? What does he have to do with this?"
"I don't know what you do in the future, Lygus," Trerry began, "but you're going to draw his wrath. I couldn't read everything in his head... He's too strong of a telepath, and he would have noticed me if I tried... But he wants you dead."
"Me? But... I am just... Me," Lygus said rather humbly. He was brave for a child, but it was clear this news had shaken him.
"For now, yes... You will become someone he views as a serious threat. I do not understand why. I assume you must turn evil, because why else would the Great Wizard of Eltar want you dead?" Trerry shrugged. "I saved you anyway... You are very young. I could not, in good conscience, watch you die when I had the power to save you."
"Evil..." Lygus repeated. "Never! I shall never turn evil," he vowed. "It goes against all which I stand for!"
"I believe you on that," Trerry said calmly. "Whatever you've done, it has not happened yet. That aspect of Zell was from the future."
"You do not use his title," Alaurys observed.
Trerry shrugged again. "It is awfully pretentious of him to call himself such a thing, let alone demand everyone else do it as well."
"He does not demand that. It is simply a respect the people of Eltar grant to him."
"I'm not really one for such formalities."
"You called me Sir Lygus," Lygus pointed out.
"I think you deserve that title. You'll earn it one day. I can feel it. As for Zell... I don't know. What sort of person dubs themselves 'the Great Wizard'? I dislike the way he came into the title. A title such as his should be earned and granted by the people, not the one who wears it with such arrogant pride."
"Your words are harsh... Treasonous, even," Alaurys said.
"Is it Treason to have an opinion? I had not heard the laws were re-written. Forgive me," Trerry said with a mock-serious tone.
"I'm simply stating that most people would not say such things."
"I am not most people, Alaurys. You will learn that."
Alaurys should have left then and there and reported back to Zell. Instead, he remained. Lygus looked at both of the older boys with tears in his eyes. "I won't turn evil," he whispered. "Not ever."
Alaurys felt for the boy. Everyone thought he was evil, too. He knew how hard it was to cling to being good when no one believed in you. "We shall help you," he said suddenly.
"Yes, that is a splendid idea!" Trerry agreed. "We will keep you on the right path, my friend." He paused. "What has you so frightened about the other possibility?" He added.
Lygus stared at his shoes. "It is in my blood," he said softly.
"Your blood?" Alaurys repeated.
"My father was consumed by dark magic. They say he encountered a vizu when I was an infant. He began casting darker and darker spells, until one day, the magic destroyed everything. It was an accident... He killed my mother with the spell. When he realized it, he snapped out of the madness the vile creature inflicted upon him and he was overwhelmed with grief. He confessed to everything in a note before taking his own life." The boy looked so haunted, it broke something in Alaurys. He reached toward him, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I am sorry for your loss, Young Sir Lygus," he said softly.
Lygus wiped at the tears in his eyes, embarrassed. He tried to put on a brave face as he explained further. "I found them there... My mother's blood left her body by supernatural means. All of it. It was... Everywhere." He still wouldn't look either of the older boys in the eye. "It was an incredibly painful way to perish, and her face was frozen in a scream... My father... He shoved a sword through his own chest. He fell beside her with tears staining his cheeks." He shook his head. "I vowed that very day to become a Peacekeeper... To do so much good that it would erase the evil my father had left behind in this world." He looked up then with determination in his eyes. "I won't follow that path. No matter what I must do, I shall never turn evil in this life or any other. I refuse."
Trerry looked as touched by the boy's story as Alaurys felt. "Brave Sir Lygus... I vow to you we will ensure you keep that oath," he said seriously.
From that day on, both Trerry and Alaurys protected Lygus. They kept a close eye on him, but not for the reason Zell had made Alaurys promise to do it in the first place. He genuinely cared for the boy. Both he and Trerry quickly came to view Lygus as a younger brother. They also came to become close to each other because of their joint effort to protect Lygus from repeating his father's mistakes.
Zell didn't try anything else for a while. Lygus matured and began to gain the respect of the Peacekeepers. He also got to know Serafine, Ash, and Daphne better. It began with him simply helping the naturally clumsy Daphne whenever he noticed she was in danger of hurting herself, but soon, he became more than merely the boy who kept popping up at the right moments.
He was smooth and charming, and all of the local girls adored him. He flirted shamelessly with Serafine, who found it amusing. "Come see me in ten years, Lygus," she said with a laugh. She looked to Talon, her mentor, and teased him by saying, "You know, one day, he just might give you some competition!" She began dating Talon shortly after. Lygus accepted his defeat to a greater man with dignity and congratulated him with a handshake. This only made Serafine love the formal and adorably pretentious boy even more.
As time wore on and Lygus moved from boy to teenager, his training intensified and the Peacekeepers accepted him as an official member of their ranks. He was the youngest by far, and he was deeply proud of this fact. Trerry was similarly popular with the women of Eltar, and he gave the younger boy tips on how to best handle entering the world of courting girls.
Alaurys had little time for romance. He was busy working for Zell while still protecting Lygus from him. Alaurys believed that Lygus would not become a threat Zell needed to eliminate as long as he and Trerry kept him on the path of light. His focus was entirely on the boy for a time, until one day, something caught him by surprise.
She was the loveliest being Alaurys had ever seen. He felt her before he ever saw her, and watched her walk by him. She radiated the light he so desperately craved in his own life, and he was drawn to her because of it. Alaurys might not be evil, but his dark magic left him consumed by shadows more often than not. When she dropped a notebook, he immediately rushed to scoop it up and return it to her.
"Forgive me, Miss... You dropped this," he said softly.
She smiled as she looked into his eyes. "Thank you, Alaurys," she said as she took the notebook from him.
"You know me?" He asked. He was certain his chances of getting close to her had just been destroyed.
"I do," she said kindly. "I work for the Great Wizard as a Seer at the Counsel Building. My name is Zandra."
"Zandra..." He repeated. Her name was like a song to him. It filled him with hope. He had never felt anything like this before. It confused him, but in a good way.
As she turned to walk away, he touched her arm. "Wait..." He said awkwardly. She looked at him, patiently waiting for him to say more. "Zandra... Would you like to accompany me to get something to eat?" He asked. It seemed horribly awkward and he was certain she'd laugh at him, but instead, she smiled.
"That is very kind of you, Alaurys. I would enjoy that," she replied.
His heart skipped a beat or two from the shock. Sure, Trerry and even Lygus had made this sort of thing look easy for a while now, but he had never thought it would work for him. "Wonderful," he said quickly, realizing he now needed to take the next step and make a plan. "Come. The food here is excellent." He led her to a local tavern.
By the end of the night, he was laughing more than he ever had in his life. He couldn't stop smiling. He gave her a hug as he dropped her at her home and never wanted to let her go. He finally left her, and he ran straight to Trerry and Lygus.
"Who are you and what have you done with Alaurys?" Trerry asked as he saw his face.
"What do you mean?" Alaurys asked.
"You look so... Happy. It's a nice change."
"I met someone," Alaurys admitted. "She's... Different. She understands me, and she brings this light to me like I have never known before."
"Have you finally found love?" Lygus asked in excitement. "Good for you!"
"I... I think I may have," Alaurys admitted in surprise. Was it possible? Could this happiness be his, or would he wake in the morning to find it was all a dream?
"Alaurys... Marry this girl," Trerry said firmly.
"I just met her, Trerry."
"You do not see your face. Trust me when I say that sort of connection does not come along every day."
For once, Alaurys took the advice of his friends. He continued to see Zandra, meeting up with her as often as possible. It changed something within him. She seemed to bring him to life. Three months later, he told her he loved her. There was no turning back, and he was terrified until she smiled and said it back to him. From then on, they were an official couple. No one understood why Zandra had attached herself to Alaurys, but she didn't care if they disapproved. Her heart was his and his alone.
Unfortunately, as was typical for the boy who bore the Banshee's Curse, the first time they met after they became a true couple, it was at a funeral. Death was always around Alaurys, and he'd grown accustomed to it. This time, however, it was different. Elgan, the man who'd saved Alaurys when he was an infant abandoned in the river, had died in a freak accident. He felt it before word reached anyone. The sudden loss of Elgan hit him like a sword through his heart, and he screamed just as the banshee who'd been with him since birth did whenever a great loss was coming. He fell to his knees and wept until he had no tears left and no energy to continue screaming. A dark abyss opened up, because that happened from time to time when he lost control of his emotions, and he struggled to close it before anyone could get hurt. He remained in isolation until the day of the funeral. He forced himself to attend both to support Zell, who was grieving deeply, and to say goodbye to the man he'd loved as family.
The banshee began to cry more often after that. He'd never heard her quite so clearly before, but now, she was constantly at his side, waiting for the next crisis to hit. His grief was incredibly powerful and he sank into a deep depression. Only Trerry, Lygus, and Zandra could reach him and pull him back out of it. When they were not at his side, his pain would return tenfold. Zell saw his grief and attempted to comfort him, but when that failed, he gave Alaurys time off from work so he could process his pain. Alaurys was still in this state when Talon died. The screams of the banshee were especially loud that night, but by the time he realized who was in danger, Talon was already dead. He attended the funeral more out of obligation and respect than out of a desire to be there. It was difficult for him to face this pain. He simply sank deeper into his depression. Then, everything changed in a way he could no longer ignore.
To the great horror of Alaurys and everyone else on Eltar, Zell's beloved girlfriend, Serafine, had been brutally slaughtered. To make matters worse, her own brother had killed her. No one could understand how gentle, shy, generous Ash could have committed such a savage and horrific crime. One popular theory began to spread that it had been the result of him falling victim to one of Serafine's vizu. As this rumor spread, Alaurys and Trerry both had the same thought... They had to get to Lygus and make sure it hadn't set him off.
Lygus was pacing when they found him. At just fourteen years old, he radiated a level of seriousness few men ever achieved. "Lygus... Are you well?" Trerry asked gently.
"It doesn't make sense..." Lygus said, more to himself than to his friends as he stopped pacing.
"What doesn't make sense, Lygus?" Alaurys asked.
"Sera worked with the vizu all the time. Ash knew the signs of trouble. He would have sought help. He was too intelligent... Also, the symptoms do not fit..." He shook his head and began pacing again.
"Ly... Talk to us," Trerry said gently.
"It's not right... None of it is... No... We're missing the clues... Nothing is as it seems... None of this is the truth..."
"He has lost his wits," Alaurys mumbled.
"No... I do not believe that he has," Trerry said. He caught their friend's eyes and held his gaze. "Lygus... Calm yourself and speak your mind," he said firmly. Alaurys could feel Trerry block the room from outsiders so no one could hear their conversation.
The telepathic shove worked. Lygus began speaking more clearly. "They say Ash murdered our dear Lady Serafine... We all know he would never do such a thing. The logical argument would make sense, except that Lady Sera would have known he was in danger, and Sir Ash would have realized it as well. Neither would have missed those signs. The madness a vizu inflicts takes time to consume someone. He's innocent. I know it in my very soul."
"Ly, I know you cared for Ash, but Great Zell found Ash beside Serafine's body, covered in her blood. He killed her and then shut down," Alaurys reminded him gently.
"No! Don't you see, Alaurys? None of that is true! All of Eltar has been fooled by a convenient lie because it is easier than accepting the obvious truth!"
"What truth is that, Ly?" Trerry asked patiently.
"That Ash did not kill his sister... Zell did."
Alaurys stared at him in horror. "Lygus, no! How could you say such a thing? The Great Wizard loved Serafine with all his heart. He would never have harmed her. He is incapable of such savage violence," he said.
"Alaurys... I am not mad, nor irrational," Lygus said firmly. "Please, if you have ever cared for me, hear my words now. I know what vizu-induced madness looks like. I lived through it. I watched as my father descended into it slowly. Ash showed none of the signs." He sighed.
"Great Zell is not a murderer, Lygus. You have no idea what Serafine went through... The details were not made public, but I know them, because he came and told me himself. He was terribly distraught. I'm telling you, he is incapable of such a horrific crime."
Lygus looked heartbroken at his words. "She did not deserve to suffer," he said softly. "None of them did... You must understand, Alaurys... Break free from his control. He has blinded you for years... He has blinded us all. Everyone around him dies, Alaurys. Every. One. Those closest to him are in terrible danger."
"It is my doing!" Alaurys blurted out.
"Alaurys, that's absurd," Trerry argued.
"It is the truth! Everyone I become close to is doomed to die a horrific death. Why do you think I isolated myself after Elgan? The banshee was with me that day... I heard her cry, but I could not save him. She came for him because of how dear he was to me, and even Great Zell could not protect him."
"Alaurys, be rational. You are not this foolish. The superstitions of the people of Eltar are not facts. You do not bring death wherever you go. You are not the one calling the banshee, and she is not the one taking lives."
"I am cursed! I have been since the day I was born! My own father tried to murder me because he knew that I was evil! This is my fault! All of it! Elgan... Serafine... Perhaps even Ash's madness..." He had tears in his eyes.
Trerry shocked him when he slapped him across the face. Lygus stared at him in horror and confusion. Alaurys did not know how to react, so he simply stared at Trerry with anger in his eyes. "Stop!" Trerry shouted. "You are repeating what has been programmed into you, but it is not the truth, Alaurys! Think clearly! For the first time in your life, see the truth!"
Alaurys felt incredible pain in his head as Trerry grabbed him by his temples and forced his way inside of his mind. The pain was powerful enough for Alaurys to hold on to, and it seemed to break through something he had not known was there.
He was shaking as Trerry released him. "Ouch..." He mumbled, rubbing his temples.
"I am sorry, my friend," Trerry said with a shrug. "It was the only way."
"I do not understand," Lygus said. "What just happened?"
"For the first time since Elgan pulled him out of the river and brought him to Zell, Alaurys is free."
"Free?"
"His mind has never been fully his own. I just changed that."
Alaurys suddenly understood. "I could never speak against him... Even thinking a disloyal thought hurt more than it should have... And if others spoke harshly, I put a stop to it, even when they were my friends..." He stared at Trerry and Lygus as realization overwhelmed him. "I could not believe anything except what he told me, even when it made no sense. I could not directly defy him... I did it once, and it was only because I told myself if the issue ever came up, I would still handle it."
"What was the issue?" Lygus asked.
"You were," Trerry said.
"You knew?" Alaurys asked in surprise.
"That you were ordered to murder an innocent eleven-year-old? Yes, I knew," Trerry replied. "The fact that you decided to fight the order to the best of your ability, and to change his destiny so he didn't have to be handled, showed you could be trusted, and I knew I had to help you then."
"You... You meant to kill me, Alaurys?" Lygus asked with hurt and disbelief in his eyes.
"He told me you would become a threat when you were older," Alaurys replied. "He wanted you handled... He made me create the abyss that day, but Trerry saved you, so he told me to keep an eye on you and eliminate you when I could. The thing is, you were this sweet, loyal kid and you were so brave and so determined not to turn evil... I couldn't kill you. I wanted to save you." He shook his head. "I am so sorry, Ly. Can you forgive me?"
Lygus nodded slowly. "I almost died twice that day... The first time, a tree branch fell on me. Daphne healed me, after Serafine, Ash, and Laby pulled it off of me. I don't think he considered that a seven-year-old might fix me. The head injury was probably a lot worse than I wanted to admit, but she insisted on healing me. It was why I vowed to protect her... And I have, to the best of my ability." He sighed. "Now, she has lost her sister and is about to lose her brother, and I can do nothing to stop it. I cannot protect her from this pain."
"Be by her side. She does not need a protector, Ly. She needs a friend," Trerry said.
He nodded. "Then I shall be her friend," he vowed.
"You're right, Lygus," Alaurys said. "None of it makes sense. The story doesn't fit. Gre... Zell is lying." He decided then and there that unless he was directly in Zell's presence and keeping up appearances, he would never use his title again.
"So what do we do about it?" Lygus asked.
"We find evidence," Trerry said. "Our theories alone are not enough to convince anyone outside of this room."
"Zandra would believe us," Alaurys said. "However, I am reluctant to include her in a Treasonous investigation."
"Bring her to me. We will speak of this only in the safety of my mind, where he cannot figure out what we believe to be true."
Zandra soon joined them in their efforts to prove that their theory was not simply madness. Unfortunately, Ash was executed before they had a chance to look into much of anything, but they had accepted that was probably inevitable. It was horrifying, and it broke something in all of them, but they could not interfere. If Zell caught on to them, they would all meet the same fate.
Much time passed as they carefully investigated Zell. Once a week, they would meet inside of Trerry's mind and share what they had discovered. Lygus grew closer to Daphne, who so few people paid proper attention to. Zell had zeroed in on her, and it worried Lygus, so he tried to look after her whenever he could.
Alaurys and Zandra's love continued to grow. Less than a year after they became a couple, they were married. As hard as life as a double agent was for him, Alaurys was happy. Zandra being his wife was all he needed to find the strength to go on. She got pregnant with their first child a few months later. They named him Calix Elgan, honoring the man Alaurys missed so terribly in the best way he could think of. He only hoped giving him Elgan's name would give him strength and the ability to follow the path of the light. The following year, Zandra gave birth to a daughter they named Lia. Calix and Lia were happy children. Calix had his mother's gifts for bringing light and beauty into the world. He giggled and spread joy the same way his "Uncle Trerry" tended to as a child. Lia was darker, like her father, but that didn't mean she couldn't be just as happy as her older brother.
Trerry continued to enjoy his life as a single man, but the minute his daughter was left on his doorstep, he began to change just a bit. Trinity was much like her father, even as an infant, and the moment he laid eyes on her, he fell in love. Her mother was one of the many women he'd spent a night with before moving on, and she had no interest in raising the girl. Trerry was happy to do it instead. She had his powers anyway, and most people would not be able to raise a baby who could project her thoughts into the minds of others.
Lygus realized things had taken an inappropriate turn between Daphne and Zell when she was still far too young. He tried to get her to discuss it, but she politely changed the subject. He could not push her without upsetting her, so he simply tried to keep an even closer eye on her after that. As a result, her attachment to him grew. He shared things with her he didn't tell others, including the truth about his parents, when she was fifteen and he was nineteen. Daphne did not judge him, and instead embraced him until he felt the grief and trauma lift from his heart for just a little while.
"I fear sometimes that I will meet the same fate as my father did," he admitted with a single tear in his eyes that he couldn't stop from escaping.
Daphne wiped the tear from his eye gently. "I will never let that happen, Ly," she promised him.
"What if you cannot stop it? What if it is in another lifetime? What if-"
"Lygus..." She gently put a finger to his lip to silence him for a moment. "I vow to you that in any lifetime in which we should meet, I shall protect you, no matter what, and ensure you cannot turn evil. Your heart is too pure. Even if evil is all around you, you shall never be consumed by it." She touched his chest gently. "This is my oath to you, just as you made one to me when I was young. I shall always protect your heart from the darkness."
He saw genuine determination and unconditional love in her eyes, as always. Daphne had an infinite ability to care for others no matter who they were or what they had done in the past. He hadn't noticed when she went from a girl to a young woman, but as she grew, she simply became more beautiful to him. He hugged her. "Thank you, my dear Lady Daphne." When he released her, he kissed her hand. She smiled at him sweetly.
"Are you feeling better now?" She asked.
"Indeed," he said. "After all, I know you never break your word."
"And I am not about to start now." She was about to gather her belongings to leave when Lygus noticed something on her arm.
"Lady Daphne... Forgive me, but... What is that bruise from?" He asked cautiously.
She looked nervous for a moment before she managed to smile. "That? I did not even notice it. I must have walked into something again," she said lightly.
It was certainly plausible with how clumsy she was, but Lygus was skeptical. "Again, please forgive me, but it looks as though someone grabbed you harshly." The fear in her eyes was enough to tell him what he needed to know. "Who dared to lay a hand on you? I will make them suffer the consequences!"
She shrank a bit at his sudden burst of anger. Lygus realized this and softened his tone and demeanor. "My apologies, Lady Daphne... I simply dislike seeing you hurt. Please, let me do what I vowed to do and protect you."
"All is well, Lygus," she said softly. "You need not worry for me."
"Daphne." He said urgently, with enough emphasis on her name for her to understand he did not believe her words in the slightest. "Please... Tell me what happened."
"It was an accident," she finally replied. "Please, Lygus, forget about this. It is nothing."
"You were left bruised. That is not nothing, Daphne."
"He had just returned from traveling. Lido was with me, but he asked him to leave so we could speak privately. I do not think he expected me to have company when he returned, and he found us laughing and having a bit of fun. I suppose I should have been more focused on his return than on Lido... When he stepped out of his energy tube, he was stronger than he realized, and he reached out to touch me... He meant no harm, but he grabbed me a bit harder than he intended to. It really is nothing, Lygus. It was an accident."
Lygus was horrified. He gently took her arm so he could examine the bruise more closely. The marks were clear. Not only had Zell grabbed her, but she had small cuts on the underside of her arm from his nails digging into her flesh.
"Daphne... My dear, sweet Lady... This was not an accident, no matter what he tells you," Lygus said softly.
She was obviously terrified, but she didn't ask for his help. Instead, she smiled again, but the sadness in her eyes was clear. It made his heart ache. "Please, Daphne... Let me help you. He has no right to hurt you this way," he said.
"It was an accident," she insisted. "He is the Great Wizard of Eltar, Ly... The greatest force of good in all the Universe. He would never deliberately cause me harm."
He knew she believed that. How could she not, after all? Zell was all Daphne really had. Her parents had stopped paying attention to her after Serafine and Ash died. They were perfectly happy to allow Zell to prey on their daughter if it meant their family name might be redeemed from such a horrific scandal. If the Great Wizard took an interest in their daughter, the people of Eltar might forgive the family history. Although Daphne was beloved by everyone, she rarely saw her friends alone. Zell kept her fairly isolated under the guise of training her. Lygus had to steal precious moments with her when Zell was traveling. The only person Zell hadn't tried to push to the edge of her personal life was Lido, who Daphne would never allow him to push away. Now, Zell had discovered her with Lido and had punished her for it, but he had her and everyone else so convinced he was the great hero who had rescued her from being neglected that she couldn't seem to comprehend his true intentions.
I will save her from him, Lygus silently vowed. As he and the others found proof of Zell's true nature, he would do everything he could to protect her from that monster who'd dared to lay a hand on her.
Lygus did not know that his words had gotten through to Daphne on some level. She was afraid of Zell, but she'd never admit it. Everyone always told her how lucky she was that he'd taken such an interest in her. When she went home, Zell was back to his usual self, or so it seemed. He greeted her kindly and embraced her, and she thought she might be safe. However, when things progressed to a more intimate level, he was entirely too rough with her. She cried out in pain, but he didn't realize he'd gone too far until he felt her tears on his arm. Only then did he ease up and ultimately leave her to recover. He covered her with a blanket lovingly, stroking her hair and whispering sweet, soothing words of adoration and comfort until she passed out from pain. Zell knew what Daphne did not. She was now pregnant with twins. He intended to make sure she never forgot who the most important man in her life was again. This would prove a point, and he was certain Daphne would provide him with powerful heirs. He left her to recover as he dreamed of what the future might hold.
The next morning, Lygus saw Daphne in town. She was walking with difficulty and he knew she was in pain. She was trembling as she purchased supplies to cook dinner that night. He approached her and was furious as he spotted new bruises and scratches on her arms. She would not meet his eyes as he tried to insist on bringing her home. She told him it was unnecessary and that she needed to hurry and return to the house. She'd rushed off before he could do much more than tell her goodbye and to be careful.
"I have to do something about this," Lygus said after he told Trerry, Alaurys, and Zandra what he'd seen. "He's abusing her."
"She remains with him willingly," Trerry said. "It makes things difficult."
"Where else can she go, Trerry?" Lygus demanded. "He's the only adult who takes proper care of her as far as everyone is concerned. They all think it's wonderful he chose her as his lover... She is still practically a child." He shook his head, fuming with anger.
"He's right," Alaurys said. "Daphne probably doesn't feel like she has a choice. Even her parents want her with him... And I'm not surprised he hurt her. I'm actually surprised it took so long."
"It may have been happening for a while," Zandra said. "Daphne is very good at keeping a smile on her face even when faced with great difficulty. There is no telling how long he has been harming her."
"I cannot allow it to continue," Lygus said.
"What do you propose, Ly? We cannot just march up to him and punch him in the face," Trerry said.
"I'd like to, though," Alaurys said. "I'm all for beating the hell out of him for the things he's done. In fact, why can't we? Give me ten minutes with that bastard and I'll make him regret ever crossing me or any of us." With Zell's control on his mind broken, Alaurys had become much more outspoken. He was even more sarcastic than Trerry, and that was saying something. Sometimes, he didn't hold back and said things he probably shouldn't have. After being restrained for so long by Zell's programming, he was enjoying his new freedom to speak his mind whenever it suited him.
"It is too dangerous," Trerry said practically.
"Daphne is in danger... More than any of us, because she basically lives with him at this point," Lygus said. "She needs our help. If you won't stand with me, I shall do it alone. I promised her... I promised I would protect her, no matter what. My word is the one thing I have, and I shall not break it."
Trerry sighed. "You're not doing it alone. We will figure something out. Give us a day, my friend, and I promise we'll get that girl some help."
Lygus was relieved they had agreed to help. He headed home that day intending to rest up and prepare for whatever battle might come when they made their move. Before he made it home, however, Zell appeared in front of him. He dropped some blood on the ground and a dark abyss opened up. Lygus knew he must have stored blood from Alaurys for just such an occasion.
Lygus tried to defend himself. He was trained, after all. He would not go down without a fight. He had too much honor for that.
"Be careful where you step, Lygus," Zell said coldly. "One false move will lead to your untimely death."
"What do you hope to accomplish here?" Lygus demanded.
"You have been a thorn in my side since the day you met my precious Daphne. She does not need you in her life."
"With all due respect, that choice is Daphne's, not yours."
"Daphne wants whatever I want. You should have kept yourself out of our business, Lygus."
"You hurt her, you monster! If you expected me to sit back and allow that, you were sadly mistaken. I do not support any man laying a hand on a woman, especially one as gentle as Daphne." He remembered the beatings his own mother had endured at the hands of his father as his mind deteriorated into madness. He hadn't been able to do much to protect her then, but he would never let another woman be abused in such a way on his watch ever again.
Zell struck him hard in the chest. Lygus nearly fell into the abyss but managed not to as he stumbled backward. "Do not say her name. You aren't worthy, Lygus."
"Neither are you," Lygus said.
Zell laughed. "Such disrespect from a Peacekeeper? I am ashamed of you. I'd have you fired, however, you won't survive long enough for that."
"We shall see." Lygus drew his sword.
Zell seemed amused by this. "Fair enough," he said. "A warrior deserves a warrior's death." He summoned his own sword. They began battling in the night, meeting each other strike for strike until Zell slipped into the time line, jumped backward about three seconds, and stabbed Lygus through the chest from behind with his sword.
"You fight well, Lygus. It is a shame we were not on the same side. I could use a man such as yourself behind me... Fiercely loyal, skilled in battle, focused and determined... Such a waste," Zell said.
"I shall never work for the likes of you," Lygus said weakly.
"Stay away from Daphne, Lygus... Or, I vow, I will destroy you and everyone you care for, over and over, in every lifetime you attempt to come near her."
"Someone like you... Never wins in the end," Lygus replied with a determined look in his eyes. "And I shall always protect her."
"You can't protect her, Lygus. Not anymore." Zell laughed before pulling the sword from his chest and kicking Lygus into the abyss. He knew he'd bleed out long before he ever hit the bottom.
Losing Lygus sent Alaurys into a deep depression once again. Zandra found a way to bring him back, encouraging him to keep fighting because Lygus would not want them to give up. On the days when that wasn't enough, she'd place Calix in his lap and the boy would pester him until he finally gave in and started laughing. These were the only reasons he didn't go completely over the edge.
Trerry, on the other hand, finally snapped. He began plotting to destroy Zell, coming up with an elaborate scheme that would take a long time to accomplish. Trerry had learned that Zell would fall briefly, but he would return, and that was when he would need to help finish the bastard off.
One year later, a horrific demonic attack happened in the same village Alaurys had been born in. He returned to the town to investigate the source and found himself drawn straight to the demon. It felt as though they knew each other.
"Alaurys of Eltar... Your soul belongs to me, and I have come to collect it," the demon announced upon seeing him.
"I don't belong to anyone," Alaurys said firmly.
"Your father promised me your soul if I could destroy you. It is time. Please come die now. I have other things to do tonight."
Alaurys stared at the demon in disbelief. "Did you really just say that?"
"I did."
"Does that line ever actually work for you?"
"It was worth a try," the demon said. "Fine. We shall do this the hard way. Alaurys of Eltar! I am the demon, Argustano, and I have come to claim what is rightfully mine." He raised some sort of ritual dagger in the air.
"You're going to have to try harder than that, Argie-Boy," Alaurys said casually. He proceeded to open up a dark abyss beneath the demon's feet. That nearly worked, but the demon floated back out of the abyss to safety looking relatively unscathed. "That's a shame," Alaurys said aloud.
"A noble effort," Argustano replied. "Now, prepare to shed your mortal coil!" He lunged at Alaurys with the dagger again.
Alaurys dodged the attack and kicked the demon away from him. He began moving expertly around the traps he'd set. Every few feet, another abyss sat ready to spring up. It was taking a lot of energy, but Alaurys didn't care.
The battle waged on for a few minutes before the demon finally threw up his hands in frustration. "Listen here... Either you cooperate and give yourself up to me, or I will slaughter everyone you care for, starting with your family. The children are sickeningly adorable. They'll get eaten alive by demons."
"Don't you dare threaten my family!" Alaurys said, attacking the demon with a surprising amount of force. The demon nearly fell into the biggest abyss Alaurys had set up. When that failed, he used some of the unconventional dance steps Trerry was so proud of, getting closer to the demon's flaming weapon. He pulled the bow and arrow from out of the demon's reach and aimed the arrow straight at the center of its chest.
Argustano screamed as the arrow pierced his chest. "You fool!" He shouted. "If I perish, the force of my energy's destruction combined with the abyss you created shall destroy this entire planet! Eltar shall be swallowed whole!"
"Well, how do I stop that?" Alaurys demanded.
"There is no way! You haven't the power and I am too weak to do it on my own because I am wounded." The abyss was getting larger and out of control. A storm raged around them as the demon's energy flared and spilled out of him.
Alaurys knew he only had one choice. He had sworn he would never use the spell, but he had no other options now. He knew if the demon was contained within him, it would ultimately recover somewhat, and its excess energy would not spill out and explode upon releasing into the world. Eltar was in danger. He didn't even hesitate before he cast the spell. Cutting his wrist, he summoned Argustano into himself.
The abyss closed almost immediately. The storm stopped just as Alaurys lost consciousness on the ground beside the river. That was where Zandra found him several hours later. She healed him and brought him home.
Surprisingly, Argustano and Alaurys found a way to coexist fairly quickly. Alaurys grew darker, and the snarky sense of humor he already possessed got much sharper. His temper was stronger, but he always kept it in check around innocent bystanders. He never got angry around Zandra or the children. Their light kept Argustano in check.
Alaurys had grown much stronger as he embraced the darkness and allowed Argustano to teach him some things. He did his best not to harm others, but he was willing to experiment with some of the spells which did not require hurting the innocent.
For a time, everything was fine. Then, unexpectedly, Zell cornered Alaurys one night. "I did not expect this from you, Alaurys," he said.
"What do you mean?" Alaurys asked.
"Your betrayal, of course. I had assumed you would remain loyal. I suppose that pest cleared me from your mind. Very well... Let us get this over with quickly." He grabbed Alaurys before he even realized what was happening. That didn't stop Alaurys from reacting. He could feel his energy being drained from him rapidly. He clung to it, fighting to stop Zell from destroying him for good.
Let me take control, Argustano said.
That is a bad idea, Alaurys argued.
If you do not, Zell will destroy you. If I take the brunt of the attack, I can survive. You will not fare as well. Listen to me, Alaurys. I am your only hope of survival.
Reluctantly, Alaurys agreed. He handed control of his body over to the demon he'd fought so hard to keep trapped inside of himself. This worked incredibly well at first.
Argustano's energy threw Zell off. He hadn't expected Alaurys to figure out how to fight him. It angered Zell, so he decided to prove a point. He sent part of himself back in time just a bit.
Suddenly, Alaurys felt like his heart stopped. He felt panicked and terrified and did not understand where it was coming from. Argustano lost control and Alaurys was back in charge.
"Allow me to explain what has happened, dear boy," Zell said. "What you are feeling is Zandra. You see, she was quite terrified until about six minutes ago... I took her and made her mine, Alaurys. After all, you belong to me, so your wife does as well. She put up quite a fight. I admire her determination to stay loyal to her husband. Still, in the end, she lost... First, the fight, and then... Her life."
"No..." Alaurys said. "No! Don't you touch her, you son of a bitch!"
"I'm afraid that request has come too late... Why don't you listen for a moment, Alaurys... What do you hear?"
Suddenly, he could hear it clearly. The banshee was with him. She was not screaming, however. Instead, she was sobbing softly, almost as if she grieved this loss as deeply as he did. He'd never experienced anything like that before and didn't understand what it meant. He only knew that Zell was telling the truth. Zandra was dead. She'd perished horrifically at his hands, after he assaulted her in ways Alaurys refused to think about.
He attacked Zell with everything had inside of him. Unfortunately, Zell had expected that, and he absorbed the magic. He smiled before saying, "Don't be too upset, Alaurys... You will see her again soon enough."
Alaurys was weak from expending too much energy in one shot. Argustano tried to take control back, but Alaurys knew his body was going to give out. He had to fight. He had to make it back home to his children. He was all they had now.
Zell manifested the very sword he'd used to murder Zandra out of thin air. Alaurys tried to defend himself, but he was dizzy from losing too much energy. Argustano struggled to try to save them both, but even he was weak now. After a few minutes of battling, Zell was able to shove the sword through Alaurys.
Zell teleported Alaurys back to his home. He easily lied to everyone, telling them Alaurys had murdered his wife before taking his own life with the same weapon. He thanked the Universe that the "monster" had spared the children, who were safely asleep in their beds. They hadn't witnessed anything, and Zell decided it was more believable if he left the children alive. As usual, no one questioned him.
Trerry adopted Calix and Lia. He took them and Trinity and went into hiding, knowing he would have to keep a low profile until the next time Zell returned. He mourned his fallen friends deeply, and he made sure that Calix and Lia knew the truth about their parents, telling them that they were heroic, good people who had tried to stop Eltar's biggest monster from harming innocents.
Long after Zell fell from power, as the Rebellion of Eltar began to come together, Trerry kept an eye on their movements. After the horrific slaughter that turned the Rebels from peaceful protesters into soldiers, Trerry contacted Laby, who happily brought him and the children into the Rebellion. Trerry spent the next several millennia preparing for war. When Zell returned, they would be ready.