Maraxus: Welcome, or welcome back, readers to another outstanding chapter from the mind of Sunjinjo on deviantart. My apologies for the delay in getting this updated but I have returned nevertheless. On with the chapter!
Halfway to Hell Part 5
As they approached the mountain stronghold Estell's sense of familiarity only grew. He remembered more and more details from his dreams; the collapsed watchtower from where he'd seen Atrej fighting on the field outside the city, the straight, military lines of the streets and buildings, the rising marble terraces in the higher levels, hugging the grey mountainside, unexpectedly intact and untouched by time or weather. There was nothing alive here, and the total emptiness made him uncomfortable. At times they encountered the skeletons of dead dragons, their bones bleached and weathered by millennia of sun, rain and wind on the naked mountaintop. Here and there lay the strewn remains of men and Minions, their bones and armour in various states of decay.
On their way through the city the Overlord passed parts of a smashed statue, and he briefly slid his hand over the surface of a splintered obsidian wing. Here Vergal dove away, wearing black feathers for the briefest instant. He started to understand why he'd already dreamed about Dragonspire twice.
Vergal, Atrej. One Darklord was still missing, the group's youngest member. The elf beside the two human rulers, the exile from the Light who'd once reigned over Kadath. He'd identified with her more and more throughout his journey through the dark, and looked forward to learning more about her.
The Minions looked around with wide eyes, and even Zap, who held reasonable knowledge of the entire known world, took in the city with fascination. "This was once a volcanic city like Stodir, Sire," the blue advisor informed him. "However, since the demise of the old Dragonkin, the ruling order of this bastion, the volcano has faded and was sealed off."
He grinned. "What the Darklords did here, we could do in Stodir."
Higher and higher, closer to the upper terraces. A few levels below that lofty point Minc suddenly bolted forward, filled with uncharacteristic enthusiasm – and Jinx suddenly burst out laughing. In the crumbling street ahead lay another dragon's skeleton, but this one was smaller than anything they'd seen until now; perhaps a young individual, perhaps a smaller species. Making no distinction, the brown Minion tore the skull from the creature's neck, and slid the cranium over his head to look out through the eye sockets with radiant eyes.
Estell had followed the quiet battle of hats between Minc and Scraps with mounting interest; Scraps had always proudly shown off his new headgear to Minc, but Minc had always stayed bareheaded. He waited for this moment. Oh, that's foul. He knew he could effortlessly beat Scraps in the end. His mouth twitched, half grin, half grimace.
"A proper replacement for that cassowary skull," Jinx grinned as she passed, roughly palming the ridgy bone. "Well done, Minc."
Scraps lingered before his fellow archer, eyes wide, ears limp under his white cowl. Briefly the two stared at each other. Then Minc dove into an alleyway. There was the brief rattle of bone and metal – then the elder Minion came back, holding a gloriously crafted helmet in his claws. Judging by the ear holes, he'd wrenched the thing off the head of a dead Minion from the Darklords' old horde; as Scraps wordlessly put it on and flung away his cowl it fit him much better than the dragon skull fit Minc. The two locked eyes again, and even despite the fact Minc could no longer move his ears Estell could see his appreciation. Scraps' joy was obvious even to a blind man. The Overlord felt his grimace turn to a true grin, felt eyes on his back, and looked up to see Jinx standing higher up in the street, Kniff by her side. Her eyes were as bright as Scraps'.
"Unity in the horde," Shadow spoke, a sideways glance at Estell. He chuckled. "We'll get there."
High on the marble terrace, closest to the cleft, snowy summit of the mountain and nestled beneath a darkening sky, was the Dragonkeep.
"The seat of the Dragonkin," Zap spoke, a tone of rare reverence to his voice. "The elite of their empire, half dragon themselves thanks to their experiments. Winged and scaled, every individual completely unique. From here they plotted their moves against the Darklords, brooding on the idea of nipping our three rulers in the bud." A little laugh, full of equally rare smugness. "So the Darklords marched their entire army and all their followers into their realm, all the way to Dragonspire, and did them the favor instead."
Estell and Jinx looked up at the ancient fortress, ringed with countless sharp towers like the points of a crown. Many had crumbled, and the keep's heart had been blown open, almost gutted like some prey animal. Estell wondered how that'd happened. "Hmm. Were you at the siege, Zap?"
"Unfortunately not, I'm slightly younger than that. The only one who was there and lives now is Gnarl."
Jinx stepped forward, her eyes on the keep. "A good shelter for the night. Come, there's a storm brewing." She looked back. "The gate is deep within the keep, where it meets the mountainside. Let's get some rest before we begin the descent." Her voice was calm and steady, but everyone saw the glow of her eyes – an unholy fire, as bright as the day she'd returned. And Estell felt it, realized it as though for the first time; we're right above the Netherworld.
The Dragonkeep was a burned-out ruin on the inside, completely ransacked and looted dry, most of the walls broken through and laid bare to their foundations. Still, it was indeed a welcome shelter, better than the naked mountaintop. As the clouds gathered and the wind howled around the summit, Estell was glad he could make camp in one of the keep's halls. Everyone knew they'd need their sleep and soon fell silent, but the Overlord noticed it'd be a while before anyone actually slept, both his horde and his elven friends. He lay awake with a hammering heart himself as well, thoughts tumbling through his mind, staring at the shadows in the ruined stone hall and almost painfully aware of the depth, the fire and the weight of what was beneath him now.
If he couldn't find rest here, how would things be in the Netherworld? And would he be able to find it in him to risk his life – and the lives of everyone he held dear – for the conquest of that hellish domain? He'd had his doubts before, even before their departure from Kadath, but they reached an unexpected peak here. Only now, now there was no going back, did he allow himself to truly think about it. Not because he was afraid – he'd moved past that kind of fear – but because it simply didn't feel right, and never had. Zap had told him the Netherworld had a soul, a will of its own, and Estell doubted whether that deep consciousness would welcome him. He was the Overlord and the world was rightfully his, but he couldn't see himself as the master of that fire, that shadow.
Despite everything his breath calmed after a while. He relaxed, closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind –
– a darkened hall, strangely familiar.
It took a moment for Estell to realize he technically hadn't moved at all. Where before he'd been surrounded by crumbling, grey walls, he now saw glorious gilded decorations and dark banners in the muted light of countless lanterns, the dusty and cracked floor now gleaming and criss-crossed with geometrical patterns.
He perked his ears. There was the faraway sound of thunder, crashing sounds and the screams of the siege he knew was happening outside the keep. Vergal was out there, spurring on his Minions to ever greater cruelties, flinging around his purple lightning as the Maw of Destruction. Atrej was out there, bearing his hammer and accompanied by his war machines, to unleash them on all those that couldn't serve his later purposes. Synn –
He turned around. Footsteps, raw laughter and raucous voices approached swiftly. Pale blue light danced over the walls – and then a figure stepped into the hall, and Estell's eyes widened in sudden excitement and joy.
Her armour resembled serrated, dark ice, her short hair was partly covered by her crowned helmet. A ragged, scorched cloak streamed from her shoulders, and the huge, wickedly curved sword in her one hand glittered in the sharp, icy blue light she bore in the other. She wore a wild grin, almost identical to those of the Minions following her, growling and laughing, their weapons coated in fresh blood.
Blonde hair, green eyes and an indomitable, proud stance – she reminded Estell of Sora. But unlike his radiant Mistress, Synn's skin was black as jet, as obsidian.
For the first time in his involuntary dragon dreams the Overlord looked down on his own hands. Black, softly gleaming black as a night sky. Black as the times he and Shadow were fused in the mindscape.
His heart leapt. Synn Aicassë was even closer to him than he'd thought…
"We're past the opposition, boys!" Her triumphant grin widened as the Minions reacted to this with raspy boos. "Ah, come on. It's not as if the fun's over. My arenas and torture chambers will be full for months." And the horde capered and laughed, brushing their claws along their Darklord's black hands as they went.
Estell blinked, hurrying to keep up with Synn and her Minions. He'd wondered how the Darklords had treated their hordes, but he hadn't expected Synn to be this close to them – he'd only known she'd hated her own people and many others with great passion. She wasn't even accompanied by human troops, though he did know she'd had them.
The Darklord strode through the dark, rich halls as if they were already hers, and where she met with resistance – the few guards that weren't at the gates or in the city, and a few servants with courage born from desperation – Estell eagerly witnessed her icy, murderous magic and the silvery strokes of that mighty blade, which had blood spray up against the walls even as her laughter rang through the keep, challenging and mocking every form of reinforcements. Her Minions were strong and wild, most of them clad in well-crafted durium armour and helmets resembling Scraps' new, ancient headgear, and the younger elven Overlord realized how much better he could provide for his horde.
Then they entered a new chamber, and Synn abruptly halted, surprise in her glowing eyes. Estell, who hadn't taken his own eyes off her for a while, turned away to see what might've caused this reaction in her.
They'd arrived in a room with gleaming walls as black as Synn's skin, an almost liquid shine to them in the amber lantern light, and Estell knew it had to be obsidian. He briefly marvelled at the Dragonkin's craftsmanship, to shape volcanic glass on this scale – but then he saw the movement, the glowing eyes.
Between them and the walls was a crescent of fluidly formed bars, a series of great cages. Inside paced restless, hissing creatures, as black as the walls and barely standing out against them, save for their pale reflective eyes. Estell stepped closer, and held his breath.
Dragons – but not just any sort of dragons. He'd seen the winged shadows flash past the sky in his previous dreams, icy blue and pale gold and leaf green, horned and webbed and covered in spines. But these night-black dragons had supple skin, covered in countless delicate scales. These dragons didn't have devouring maws, but toothed beaks. Their heads were flattened, with a single ridgy crest, and their wings were supported by just one finger. This was Ravea's kind, though all of them were smaller than Kadath's acid-spitting dragon.
Synn stepped forward beside him, though ever unaware of his presence. "Beautiful," she marvelled. "Black, I didn't know that was possible in that exploded rainbow of theirs."
"Valuable," one of her Minions grinned foully, joining her as well. A hulking, muscular individual, curved spines on his helmet and leading down along the armour covering his back, and Estell assumed he must be her horde leader. "Kill and hang heads in arena? Show to caught Dragonkin? Ah, let fight caught Dragonkin?"
Briefly, Synn grinned, her eyes brighter, visibly considering the idea. Then her surprisingly sharp teeth vanished again, and she smiled. "Enough dragon blood for today, Splitter." She raised her hands, and her ice-blue magic grew into a sun of whirling light against which Estell was forced to shield his eyes. The power of a Darklord, he realized in awe. Did she bring her Tower Heart close to the city? Or is a ruler with a Heart just this much stronger?
Synn Aicassë visibly strained herself, teeth bared in a determined grimace. Then she let the light fly, straight up, and Estell instinctively dove for cover as the Dragonkeep's ceiling started to collapse – but the plummeting rubble and wicked shards of obsidian never reached him, and not only because he wasn't actually there. He looked up to see a shield of dancing light gently be lowered to the floor, to safely deposit all the rubble. Synn and her horde hadn't moved, though the young dragons were clearly panicked.
A gesture, a sharp bolt of light, and every cage burst open. One by one the dragons came forward, spreading their wings to the grey sky. Synn looked after them as they escaped, soon lost in the burning city's smoke. Some Minions reacted with disappointment, others let out raw cries of approval.
Estell also followed the dragons' flight, now knowing a Darklord had secretly ensured the survival of dragons after the siege of Dragonspire. He didn't just have Synn to thank for his domain, but for Ravea as well; one of the most powerful and unique creatures known to the world.
"Well, that explains why the keep's roof is torn open," he remarked to no one in particular.
Freedom.
The voice rang out around him, between the gleaming floor and the splintered roof, between him and the stormy sky. Now he'd seen what the last Darklord had been capable of, Estell suddenly felt considerably more reverent towards the unholy protector of the Overlords. "…Lord," he spoke, suddenly frozen in place, unable to turn around.
The one that initially reminded you most of yourself – the elven exile that turned on her own people and the wider world – now reminds you of someone else. Minions and wings and freedom, Lord Greenhaze.
"Why did you send me these dreams?" the Overlord asked. He saw Synn leave the room, but could not move to follow her, even if he'd wanted to.
Vergal. The one you briefly took for yourself, young Lord, even though he is the Maw of Destruction. Atrej. The living proof that the crushing hammer and the mindful diplomat can unify, even in one person. Synn. The tooth and claw, the Bloody Hand, and still she showed strange compassion at times, and she valued freedom above all else – even that of her enemies.
And the obsidian hall twisted away before his eyes, and was no more.
Eyes open.
He didn't remember when he'd opened them, but now he realized he was awake. His companions surrounded him in a dark, ruined hall covered in the dust and rubble of three thousand years. But he could still almost see Synn's footsteps, icy, glowing on the floor.
Blue eyes approached from the darkness, and Shadow joined him. "Is the circle complete? The third dream…?"
"I think so." Estell rose, pulled on his tunic and quietly crossed the hall on bare feet. The howling wind outside the Dragonkeep had stopped, though it still clearly wasn't morning yet – but still the Overlord knew this wasn't a moment to sleep. Synn's path beckoned, and he followed it.
Through the hallways where the Darklord had spilled blood, and it felt as though he was still dreaming. His Darklord – he'd gradually come to see himself as her heir, partly as a way to escape his mother's heritage. Now it was as though he was directly following her, right through all those centuries. And in his mind, freshly awoken, the feeling of following Synn merged with following someone else…
…he stepped through the passage, beneath the gaping hole in the keep's roof, and he wasn't alone under the whirling night sky.
He had been following someone else, and now she turned and nailed him to the cracked floor with her golden gaze. For a moment she was a wild silhouette, hatred and fire and murder in her eyes. Then she blinked, and the image shifted. "You can't sleep either?"
He stepped forward. "Afraid not, no matter how badly I know I need to."
Jinx smiled, and he felt her tension. "I hadn't expected to sleep. Years of waiting, months of travel – but it won't be the first fight I enter already exhausted. It won't matter. The Netherworld will be ours, Lord."
Estell lightly cocked his head. "Ours, you say? …Jinx, be honest. We're not here for the same reasons."
Against all his expectations, and just like him, she took a step forward and towards him. "We didn't leave Kadath for the same reasons," she corrected him with a faint grin. "I planned on going home, the only place that's ever truly been home to me. But now… what I've seen tells me you might just be… better for the domain than I, Estell."
He stared down at her, this former Overlady, this woman, this girl, shorter than he was, often seemingly so much younger than he was, the Minion Mistress. "You were the origin of all my troubles. Your return – everything my trust was based on was suddenly a lie. My domain, unearned. The hordes, never truly loyal to me."
Jinx blinked. "I hated you. Busy with Zap and Drip and Ramul and Nex and all those newborns that didn't even know my name, as I was locked into the sandstone tower to forge plans you barely wanted to follow. You didn't even do it for them, but for that blasted Light."
Estell clenched his jaws. "I wasn't even allowed to mourn as I lost Sora. And all the while you were only in such a hurry because you wanted Kniff back."
"The only reason Kadath still stands is your inability to remember where your own domain was under torture."
"The only reason I finally managed to win a weapon and magic on Maesmaer is because you and your 'advice' were out of the picture there."
Shadow looked from one to the other, but didn't intervene and didn't speak. Both Jinx' and Estell's arms were relaxed, their stances open; there was no glowing magic, neither reached for a weapon. Shadow's blue eyes were bright, narrowing in very slight mirth.
"It's a miracle your plan worked in Stodir. Tea with Thorlond, really?"
"This journey with you was nothing but idiotic danger and useless death. The collapsed mine, Oberon's burning tree, the Citadel, the tav-"
"Yes, the Citadel," Jinx interrupted him wryly. Her mouth briefly twitched. "Tell me, why am I alive? I don't get it."
Estell's eyes flared. "I could ask you the same thing. I was helpless when Shadow vanished. Why didn't you at least leave me in that cell? I think neither of us gets it."
Jinx took another step forward. "There's nothing to get, is there?"
They were almost toe to toe, Shadow by their sides, the three of them only illuminated by the subtle glow of yellow and blue eyes under the rolling clouds. Estell smiled down at Jinx. "It doesn't matter how many times you almost were the end of me. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't been my beginning, my advisor. Your role in Shadow's visibility, your incessant belief in us where no one had ever believed before. The support of the horde, because you chose me."
Jinx grinned up at Estell. "And you, my princely pupil, my hope. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't actually cared about the Minions. From that sandstone tower I saw Hive after Hive come home, and eventually you saved Kniff's life. All Minions owe their lives to you. There's nothing to get. I could never harm you."
"Nor I you."
The Minion Mistress held the gaze of her Overlord, motionless. "So it was all true, from the beginning? You never felt the urge to dominate me?"
"I wouldn't say that," Estell grinned. But he saw Jinx' smile, and his heart grew lighter – hesitantly, carefully, but undeniably lighter. "And you never planned to burn me alive in the Netherworld?"
"One way to find out."
Estell wordlessly offered his stump, and Shadow leant him the hand, black fingers stretching out invitingly. And the Overlord waited, not taking, but giving.
Jinx didn't hesitate. Despite her months of fear she bridged the distance between them with one last step, and her warm clawed hand abruptly closed around his forearm, firm and full of trust. Estell looked down at the contact between the shadow and her tanned skin, and let himself be swept away.
…I see smoke and sparks…
Darkness, deeper than he'd ever known, in the Netherworld or elsewhere. But it was a warm darkness, welcoming – except for an occasional surge of hotter temperatures, and the promise of Jinx' devouring inferno.
A reddish light bloomed before them. Estell's and Shadow's combined form shielded their eyes with an inky arm, then blinked.
"Is… is this what it feels like?"
Jinx' form flickered before them, changing as fire. Now her ears were round, now pointed. Her cheek spikes slipped in and out of focus. Now and then her face shifted to full Minion features, even more inhuman than in the real world. Her eyes were wide, in an expression of pure wonder. "Estell – Shadow…"
"We're one in the mindscape," their combined form spoke. Jinx' ears swivelled hearing their deep voice. "Your skin's black," she spoke, marveling. "Black like Synn's."
They looked down at their hands, gleaming and dark as always during a domination. "I never considered that before today," Estell admitted. Shadow laughed. Jinx grinned as well, carefully, and both Estell and Shadow felt what she felt, clear as day; budding relief at the fact they didn't tear through her mind like a black flash and submerged the flame of her personality. They were just Shadow and Estell, not all-powerful, not perfect, and not out to harm her. Shadow smiled, and they felt the same gratitude. "Thank you," they spoke together. "Thank you for letting us in."
Jinx smiled. "You're beautiful together. Darkness suits you."
"Are you sure of this, Jinx?" They didn't want to make mistakes now. No grasping hands where they didn't belong. No sudden spike of fear that could shatter it all.
The flaming figure cocked her head. "…I don't know why I was ever afraid."
Jinx flickered as her mindscape came alive with faint images, all around in the darkness. Estell widened his eyes as a new feeling arose within him, the feeling he was flying. It wasn't new for Shadow, but he had never enjoyed the feeling of flying like a bird, a bolt of pure darkness…
…a giant bat…
Estell and Shadow narrowed their eyes – and the images jolted into focus. Then sound and sensation joined them.
Leathery wings, wind whipping past, and pure joy, pure, dizzying freedom. The realization that freedom was out of reach forever, and tears almost sprung to their eyes. Then the thought whizzed past them, and they focused on something else.
Icy cold and new friendships, a feeling of homecoming in the utter unknown. Nordberg, Shadow knew. When you travelled with Sayron. Estell strained his eyes, searching – and then he saw the towering figure in full armour, a huge axe resting over his shoulder, ploughing through the snow. Pale tattoos on dark blue skin, and glowing orange eyes in the shadow of a helmet. "Father." The Overlord and his Shadow stared at Jinx' predecessor, for the very first time.
Jinx' voice resounded through the depths of her mind.
"He'd like you. He'd be proud." The words were paired with a flood of emotion, from love and loss to a deep discomfort, and Estell knew that somewhere, somehow, she was glad they'd never met again. He knew why. "He turned on the Minions. And on you, when you fought for them."
Deep sorrow washed over them, having been long hidden but never faded. "Yes," Jinx spoke, and the images shifted. Black pillars and flowing magma, winged figures with golden eyes, and Sayron in his armour, a huge mace in hand. And Jinx, leaping, clawing, more murderous than Estell had ever seen her. Seeing her like this, he fully realized she'd never been out to kill him – not after she'd won back her true form and had been able to, in any case. He'd have known if she had actually wanted to harm him.
"It hurt so much. He was my Master, Estell. I didn't even know I lived for him before I had to bring myself to kill him. I never want that again." A pause, bone-tired. "I thought I could prevent it by never accepting a Master again, but… after all that's happened I think I've made that mistake one last time, with you."
A surge of pure lightning shot through them. Both Estell and Shadow instantly knew what this meant. "When?!"
"I don't know for sure." The images shifted, flickering like fire, brighter and faster. "Maybe in the Citadel." Her respect broke over Estell and Shadow like waves, and in response their own shared heart leapt. "Maybe when you returned the brown Hive." They felt the depth of her love for the Minions, her love for their rescuer, and almost involuntarily Estell strained to reciprocate that affection. He felt Shadow's joy, and then he knew his counterpart had long since equalled this warmth. Jinx laughed, breathless, her feelings an almost scorching whirlpool of realizations, each warmer and more elated than the last. "Maybe when we found out you'd survived Maesmaer on your own." Her face briefly emerged from the leaping flames, more Minion than ever – but the staring yellow eyes no longer instilled fear in either Shadow or Estell. "And maybe – partly – long before even that."
The images shifted again, towards an irregularly formed black throne framed by magma, and an elven woman with gleaming black hair. "There are children, Milady, I'm begging you," a faint voice spoke.
"I knew it then and there," the Minion Mistress continued. "Sayron had an heir with the elves of Evernight – and I swore, then and there, to keep both eyes open, to have my Minions search, to lead missions through the forest myself in order to find Nosyar. To find the child I couldn't allow to be raised in the Light. A scale waiting to be tipped, I thought back then, and I wanted to be the one to tip it – but now I know that doubt was never there at all. You were always meant for Evil, and your upbringing in the Light was an injustice and a disgrace." Unflinching certainty, so abrupt it shook Estell and Shadow, and Jinx fell silent – held her breath, shocked by her own absolute openness.
But Estell and Shadow were rendered speechless too. So much more than she'd ever let on. This was why she'd patrolled Evernight, killing elven soldiers, wisps and unicorns; not out of sadistic entertainment – well, not entirely because of that – but to find them. From the moment she'd learned of Fay's pregnancy – no wonder she'd taken them under her wing as her pupils so easily.
Briefly a glimpse of slender trees flickered in the dark around them. That's why you burned down the immortal's trees, Shadow realized. You wanted to keep the light influence away from us.
"Does your respect for Sayron run that deep?" Estell quietly asked, after a long pause. "Did you want to protect his bloodline so badly?"
"I think I hoped you'd resemble him in some way. Well. The Overlord. Not the Emperor."
"And do we?"
Jinx laughed, taking on more solid form before their eyes. An orange glow bloomed below their feet. "You're even more stubborn and proud than he was, sometimes. But…" She looked around, and gestured at the dark mindscape with glowing hands. "…I do believe there's still hope, eh?" She burned brighter, and her intense warmth reached Estell and Shadow. "He turned on the Minions. It was his eventual goal to drive them extinct. You… you risked your lives for their continued existence, again and again, and not because I kept stressing it. You started out as the worst possible candidate, but I will admit you've grown into the best Overlord I could ever wish for. You're better than him, my Silver Shadow." She smiled her crooked smile. "I only hope you won't take advantage of my loyalty, now you know all this."
Never, Minion Mistress, Shadow spoke, on his own, before Estell could react. Not in a thousand years will I turn on you, the first to touch me and give me a life. I don't know how I was separated from my bearer like this, but you righted it. You righted everything, for me and Estell both.
"Jinx," Estell spoke softly. "Without you, you and the Minions, but mainly you, we'd be bleached bones in Ruboria. Without your advice we'd have been dwarven slaves, sandworm feed, or chopped to bits by Stodir's machines. Without you, tree roots would've grown into my skull." He paused. "And… worse than that. Even if I'd have survived it all, but hadn't met you, I'd still have been loyal to the Light. I'd have thought Oberon deserved to be my hero, instead of Vessperion. …Certainly, you dragged me deep into trouble, but…" He laughed. "…how else would I know I'm alive? On Angelis' roofs I realized I never want it any other way again." He looked on as her form grew clearer and clearer, and traces of razor-sharp armour took hold. A three-pronged helmet flickered into being above her eyes as she listened, glowing with silent pride and joy. "Your loyalty means more than I can say," Estell went on. "I… I offer you my respect, for the Minion who completely rejected her Master on her own and went on to rule for twenty years. For the prophet of the Silent Order."
For Ruboria's savior, the winged demon of Everlight, the Purple Scourge, the Minion Mistress, Shadow spoke, glowing from the inside.
Jinx stretched out her hands, every finger covered in red-hot metal, and Estell and Shadow painlessly took them.
"Together?"
"Together." Wide eyes full of wonder, and one last, heart-stopping realization. "…Do you know what this makes us?"
Jinx bared her inhuman teeth in a grin. "Darklords."
So simple, so irrefutable. Two Overlords, absolute equals in each other's eyes, able to lead the Minions together, wage one war together, and change the world.
"Darklords."
"…Darklords."
A hand around her forearm, smooth skin under her own fingers. A hand in her neck, silky hair against her own wrist.
Jinx Angelica took a deep breath, opened her eyes and couldn't stop grinning. She looked right into her Overlord's sky-blue eyes, her forehead against his, his Shadow floating by her side.
Bright, sharp light fell on the sides of their faces. Estell was the first to look up, and he almost immediately narrowed his eyes against the rising sun. Then Jinx looked down, and burst out laughing.
They were no longer inside the Dragonkeep, but on top of it, at the edge of the opened roof. "Estell!" She punched his shoulder. "You've dragged me up without me noticing!"
"It's not like I have to warn you about heights," the elf grinned. He turned south, away from the mountaintop, and Jinx followed his gaze. The clouds started breaking open here and there, and long patches of sunlight danced across the northern Heartland. He breathed deeply. "…Darklords," he spoke again, incredulous, overjoyed.
"Well, not entirely. In order to be a Darklord one has to be an Overlord first," Jinx chuckled. "I'm your Minion Mistress, not an Overlady. No gem…" she raised a bare arm, "no domain…"
"Hmm." He still grasped her forearm, and she still held his. Neither appeared about to let go of the other. "…I'll have to talk to the group about this."
"What, that?" Jinx quieted, reliving the domination. She glowed from the inside. "…If I'd known that's what it felt like to have you inside my head…"
"We were merciful," Shadow grinned.
Jinx laughed, lightly bowing at him. "Of course. I appreciate it, Lord Shadow."
"Your loyalty." Estell looked her in the eye. "Your trust. That's all I ever wanted. The freedom to make my own decisions."
"And your respect is all I ever wanted. All I've ever wanted from a… a Master." Jinx swallowed, then grinned. "Yes, I think I could live with being bound to you."
"I vow to never make use of that bond. You're not a Minion to me." Estell straightened out. "And I don't really care what the others think of this. You belong with me. And Sora and Nyarai like you already anyway," he grinned. Shadow laughed. "Yes, I was wondering when that would register, bonehead."
Jinx gripped his arm more tightly. "I don't care I won't be a sole ruler again," she spoke warmly. "It was never… as fun on my own, never as fun as when Sayron was there. I belonged with him – now we belong together. Whatever we are."
Estell nodded, yellow and blue eyes flaring in the morning light, just beneath Dragonspire's snowy summit.
"Let's go take back the Netherworld together."
"I'd love nothing more," the Overlord smiled. He gave Jinx a little squeeze, and a moment later they were back in the hall, amidst billowing black smoke. He slowly let go of her. "But… give me a moment. The group needs to get used to this. Especially Talmar."
Her eyes gleamed. "See you in a moment, Sire."
He'd only barely stepped into the hall where they'd slept before Silt rushed at him, closely followed by Ramah and a few other alert Minions. "We'd lost you!" the Ruborian uttered. "You and Jinx!"
The blue Minion looked up at him with wide eyes, and Estell held his gaze with affection as he re-joined the others. "What happened?"
"We didn't kill each other," he chuckled. "Don't worry about that. We're both fine."
Arandor looked up. "Where is she?"
"Elsewhere. Don't worry about that either." Estell paused, feeling as though the glow of his heart could be seen right through his armour. "Shadow and I dominated her."
He'd half expected the horde to react with shock and fear, but the Minions immediately understood what he meant. The only one to tense up was Talmar. The black-haired elf darted over to him. "Dominated? You mean…"
Estell met his eyes. "Dominated and freed, Talmar." He lay a hand on Talmar's shoulder, and felt his friend freeze up, even as the horde burst out into relief and triumph, and Ramah raised his pershaia up high and let out a shout of exultation.
"Ayah! I don't have to choose between my Lord and Lady!"
"Don't start that nonsense, you'll be king over both of us in a while," Estell grinned.
"And Ruboria will enjoy the protection of two dark rulers, bound like sun and water," Ramah beamed back. "Your eyes always foretold it, yellow and blue."
"Neither of us wants it any different. Jinx and I finally see that too." Estell glanced to the side. Talmar was trembling, continuously staring at him. Estell reached for him. "…Walk with me, my friend."
They stepped through the ruined hallway together. Estell was all too aware of the silent rage emanating from Talmar, almost like tangible heat. "…I've had this on my mind for a long time. From the start, I've felt uncomfortable about the Netherworld. I've never wanted that domain," he confessed, for the first time to someone apart from Shadow. His counterpart nodded in appreciation as he finally uttered it out loud. "Kadath is our home, our throne," the dark figure agreed. "The Netherworld belongs with Jinx."
"You both… plan to make her… the ruler of hell again?"
Estell hesitated. "I've wished it was possible since the day we left Kadath. Now I finally trust her enough to do it. Yes – I'd make her an Overlady again, Talmar, in everything."
Talmar's hand cramped, close to his body. The two still walked through the dim corridor, towards the hall with the open ceiling. "Does she know?"
"I didn't want to tell her before talking to you about it," Estell spoke honestly. "I know how you feel about this. But I ensure you, Talmar, it's the best course of action. With her at full strength, by my side – it means two fully functional domains, a dark realm in the north and in the south –" He paused. "You're my oldest friend, the only one to stand by my side in the Light. What do you think?"
Talmar lowered his head, so dark hair fell over his eyes. He trembled. "Estell…" His voice was low, quiet, like faraway thunder, powerless to impact the here and now.
"I'll listen to you," the Overlord promised.
"I've been trying to reach you for so long," Talmar spoke, still with that strange tone to his voice. "I've been looking for an opportunity to kill her for so long. But there were always the Minions, the Ruborian –"
Estell frowned. "Why do you call him –"
Talmar raised his head. "I know the prince of Light is long gone, but I'm begging you, Estell – find him inside of you again, the boy you once were, before all this madness –"
Estell backed away. Two more steps, and he entered the hall under the lead-grey sky. "Do you really think I'm still that boy? Do you really think that who I am now… is purely Jinx' doing? That none of this is me?"
Talmar's eyes were completely alien to him now, as alien as Jinx' face had once seemed. "Don't do this, Estell, don't do this to me."
"Every step led me here. The keeper of the Tower Hearts speaks to me. My place is by her side, as her equal, as a Darklord. She shouldn't kneel to anyone, and freeing her strengthens us both. I can't wait to tell her that."
Talmar's hand shot down, and suddenly there was the flash of icy elven steel. Estell reacted with the same speed, and his polished spear shaft whirled around to deflect the blade of Ilévos. The Overlord didn't even blink. "I was never at home in the Light. The Light blinded me to the world, kept me small, denied me."
"Turned me invisible," Shadow spoke, in a colder tone than even Estell had thought possible of his friendly, warm counterpart. "Darkness is freedom, Talmar, the freedom to do as we want because we want it. To make a change, for ourselves. Jinx understands that." Estell blocked blow after blow, defending, never attacking.
Talmar stepped forward and back, his face a tormented mask. A sob escaped him. "I'd rather see you dead than dark," he choked out.
"I understand," Estell spoke, calm, always calm, and saw Talmar's eyes fill with horror. "Your father would be proud, but I'm not Morvan, son of Kamáel."
Forward and back, cold steel whirling through cold mountain air. Talmar fought with crazed fervor, but Estell caught every blow. "Why won't you fight back?!"
"I'd kill you." Calm, so calm. Estell knew he could dissolve into black smoke at any moment, reappearing behind Talmar to fatally wound him in one stroke, and Talmar was clearly also aware of this.
"So be it," the black-haired elf uttered.
"Do you really expect that of me?" Estell's eyes emitted a cool glow, and he felt none of the emotions he'd have expected in this situation – no sorrow, no pain. Only a calm, distant kind of pity. "You, who executed Miruvor so I didn't have to kill an elf?"
Talmar's breath faltered. "But you did kill elves. And you enjoyed it. The immortals –"
"– killed Ructa, and would have killed me if Jinx hadn't saved my life." He paused, light on his feet as a dancer, completely in control of his spear. "Though I won't deny I did indeed enjoy it, in the end."
Footsteps on dark stone. Without turning around, Estell knew they had an audience; Minions, Arandor, Ramah. He briefly extended his free shadow hand in a calming gesture. He didn't want any help. Talmar deserved better than that.
He looked up. A small figure crouched on the Dragonkeep's shattered roof; Jinx. But the Minion Mistress didn't even need a sign. She knew exactly what he was going through, and wouldn't have wanted any help against her own hated, beloved opponent either, twenty years ago.
"I know how you feel, Talmar." Their movements were now a gruesome parody on the dance they'd shared in Evernight, laughing and singing as they whirled through the temple of the Mother Goddess. "Unheard, dragged into a direction you despise without being able to do anything about it. I know exactly how you feel, as I felt the same way at the start of my own journey when Miruvor was in charge." Estell felt his eyes harden, and a hint of bitterness overshadowed his heart. "I felt the exact same way, every day of my life in the Light. Now I'm finally free. When I return to Nosyar the city will be mine, not Oberon's or my mother's."
"You were the heir to the throne – the queen named you hope –"
Clang. Estell pushed back against Talmar's sword with more power now, and the black-haired elf staggered back across the cracked stone. "She'd probably have named me something very different if she'd still been Sayron's queen!"
There were tears in Talmar's eyes now. "I've tried to prevent this from the beginning. Before she returned, and after. Maybe it really was hopeless."
"This has nothing to do with hope. Domination's not the only way of possessing someone, Talmar." Estell and Shadow almost spoke in unison, their feelings almost perfectly overlapping. "Let me go."
"You're not yourself!"
"You've never seen me as I am," the Overlord replied. Shadow hovered over his shoulder. "You always only saw hope, and never the shadow."
Talmar uttered a choked sound. Then he threw his entire body into the whirl of his blade, slipping under Estell's spear –
– and Estell drifted backwards on a roiling mass of black smoke, the second speartip scythed Talmar's feet away, and with a twist of his arm Estell pinned his oldest friend to the floor.
Talmar panted, both of exertion and emotion. Estell looked down on him, deathly calm. "We could dominate you," he offered. "You'd be free of all this fear, all this hatred. Everything could be as it was when we were truly on the same side."
Talmar froze, purple eyes growing glassy with panic. "No – no, no –" It wasn't Jinx who truly killed my father. It was Morvan, the dominated elf, the twisted servant of darkness.
"Rather dead than dark, hm?" Estell's entire bearing softened with pity. Only the arm keeping Talmar down remained rigid and unyielding, no matter how the other elf struggled. "Old friend…"
"No." Talmar gritted his teeth, but the panic slowly drained from his eyes. He briefly closed them. "…If this is who you truly are… if this isn't Jinx speaking through you…"
Estell smiled, warmly, humourlessly, as a creeping feeling of irrevocability grew stronger and stronger. "Jinx merely showed me how to right what'd always been wrong. No matter how much light surrounded me, I've always been dark."
"…I tried to follow the dark, for you. But I can't be with you in destruction and domination." Talmar looked up at him, almost pleading. "If this is who you are, I only ask a final favour of you, Lord Greenhaze. To honour an old friendship."
I could dominate you and keep you with me. We could reclaim the Netherworld together, return to Nosyar and Everlight together. You could see Kadath blooming, more beautiful than the Sanctuary, old friend. Estell looked down on him. But you deserve better than that. You deserve true freedom.
He glanced at Shadow. His counterpart nodded, slowly, but without hesitation.
…One final step, then, to end this journey from light to dark.
The spear didn't branch out inside Talmar's body. The elf showed no fear, and the wicked blue blade didn't spill any more blood than necessary. A clean wound remained, and Talmar's breaking eyes shone with a hint of appreciation. "…Thank you. I wouldn't have… had it any other way."
"Rest now. No more worrying."
Pity, but no sorrow. And his pity faded as he saw Talmar die, a faint smile around his lips. It's better this way.
Once everything was over, they'd taken their silence and the group slowly started approaching them, Shadow turned to Estell. "Now there's no one left who knew us, before. Miruvor killed Isil. Talmar killed Miruvor. And we killed Talmar."
"I'd never have expected the four elves that left the Sanctuary alive would end up this way," the Overlord quietly agreed. He looked up. "But there is someone left who knew us. We have each other."
"We have each other, always," Shadow smiled. He looked up. "And them."
Arandor silently knelt down and closed Talmar's eyes. Ramah placed his hands on Estell's shoulders. The Ruborian didn't speak, but as Estell looked back at him he didn't see any accusation in his eyes.
Jinx swung down and joined the quiet group. "You killed him." She sounded incredulous, a slight tremble to her voice.
"Not for you," Shadow spoke, reassuring her. "…For him."
A few Minions gathered around Talmar's body. Scraps looked up, confused. "For him?"
Estell kept silent, briefly pulling Talmar's body into a quiet embrace. Then he let go, looking down on his oldest friend with soft eyes. "Despite everything he's been all his life, he ultimately stopped fighting the dark. For me. Not for the Light. He finally saw me."
Jinx understood. There was love between me and Sayron too, when we fought. But here… She flinched. Talmar stopped fighting out of love. And Estell granted him the death he wished for, out of love. She smiled slightly. This is the most elven way possible to kill a friend, but I understand. I understand.
Estell straightened out. "All my ties to the Light have been severed." He squared his shoulders. "I'm free."
Free from the complications of the past, Jinx thought to herself as her Overlord stepped to Arandor and took one of the seeds from Ructa's pouches. Here he is, completely dark, free and purposeful as a sword from the sheath. She looked on as Estell placed the seed on Talmar's chest and reached out his magic together with Shadow, and jolted as supple young shoots hardened into dark, almost black bark, interlaced with delicate silver and glowing purple. That must've been a seed from Oberon's tree. The ultimate honor for Talmar, son of Kamáel, defender of the king.
Eventually a robust, twisted trunk rose up through the shattered roof of the Dragonkeep, and heavy branches and a great purple canopy spread over the fortress. The grey sky disappeared from view, and all the light from the outside filtered in through the crown in muted shafts.
"May he rest here, at one with this immortal tree, the first life of Dragonspire," Estell spoke, his head raised to the canopy. Then, without conscious thought, spontaneously, he spread his arms. On his unspoken command, four radiant Minion gates bloomed between the roots of Talmar's tree, their unearthly light a beacon in the dappled shade. And behind the Overlord, Arandor raised a hand to the pouch around his neck. He'd felt something stirring inside.
He wore the leather pouch in the same place Ructa had always kept the most precious seeds of all; the gate seeds, sprouted from Kadath's central indigo flower gate. And the shapeshifter could barely believe what happened now – though Estell turned around at him with a knowing gaze in his glowing eyes, and his outstretched hand was almost immediately greeted by a fragile green stalk.
More shoots joined the first, and a tiny flower gate – still in its bud – hoisted itself out of the pouch almost by itself, still growing as Estell took the little plant into his hand, as tenderly as if holding a newborn. All eyes were on the bud.
"They listen to you," Arandor finally uttered. "After all this time."
Estell carried the flower to the base of Talmar's tree. A few moments later a bright blue light shone up to the purple canopy, and the Overlord looked back. "I'm not a plant singer. But no matter what was necessary to let my own Tower gates bloom, it's finally complete now."
He turned to Jinx, smiling. "I'm completely damned."
"In the best possible way, Silver Shadow."
Together they looked on as the light in the flower's throat swelled and took new shapes. Estell's face brightened as the first two newcomers stepped from the flower gate; Sora and Nyarai, both fully armoured and armed, and clearly happy to be back in the outside world – and more than ready for the battle to come. But more than that, overjoyed to see Estell and Shadow again. The four immediately fell into each other's arms. "I've missed you," the Overlord uttered. "It should never have taken this long."
Sora pulled him in closer, almost painfully tight. "But now you control the gates at last," she beamed. "And… everything else." She met Jinx' eyes, leaning against the tree, silently smiling in the shade as more elves, Minions and Zola entered the Dragonkeep. "…Milady."
"Mistress," Jinx nodded.
"Call me Sora, firebreather," the blonde elf grinned.
Jinx grinned as well, uncontrollably. "Call me Jinx, sun worshipper."
Sora laughed. "I'm so glad we are where we are. Finally."
A few elves had approached Talmar's tree, and Sora followed them with her eyes. "I'm sorry it had to be done, Estell. I'll miss him too."
Estell shivered, but seemed to find support in the presence of his Mistresses. Shadow looked up at the canopy. "It's a pity he can't be a part of this."
Nyarai looked around the little group, solemnly, but with a twinkle to her dark eyes. "He lives on." Then she broke the embrace, gently knocking Estell upside the head. "And you finally stopped bickering, eh? About time!"
"Yes," the elf spoke with a faint smile. "And more than that – Jinx…" He stepped towards the Minion Mistress. "…I wanted to give you something, for the occasion." He offered her his good arm. "I'm afraid I can't take it off myself. Would you…?"
Jinx stared at him, then at his arm. The amber gem shimmered under her gaze. "…What…"
"This is your battle, Jinx. I trust you. With my life, and this gem." He paused. "My favourite Darklord valued freedom, I know now. You and I are going to set each other free."
She reached for the clasps, slowly loosening the gauntlet. A shiver coursed through her body as she pulled the slightly singed leather over her own left hand, and adjusted it to the shape of her arm with practiced movements. The gem flared, and kept burning, fierce and bright. "I…" She righted herself. "Thank you, Estell. But you'll be having it back after."
"Hmm."
The Minions had taken note of the exchange; countless amber eyes now rested on Jinx, and a whole lot of ears slowly rose. Then one youngster after another stormed towards both rulers to lower their ears, followed by a few veterans, some calmer, others even wilder than the young ones. Both Estell and Jinx laughed. "Save your energy for later, we'll need it!"
Jinx was pleasantly surprised to see an exceptionally robust veteran moving in, a group of young ones trailing behind him. "Aches! Well done on the training."
Aches lowered his ears to her, then to Estell, a faint grin around his scarred mouth. "Thank for fighting for the horde, Master, Mistress." Then he turned to Kniff. "You. Kept clan alive well."
Estell looked around, and found the Minions they'd traveled with. He realized every horde had lost a Minion, save for the browns. He grinned as Aches took a look at Scraps' new helmet, roughly slapped the young archer's shoulder, and very briefly lowered his ears to Kniff.
The Overlord turned back and inspected the newcomers. Even the smallest had been simply but competently armoured and armed, supplementing the Ruborian steel with what they'd taken from the domain themselves. "Giblet's done well."
"Of course," Jinx nodded. "And many more wait for us in Kadath." Indeed, this was only a small part of the full horde; during the descent to the Netherworld they'd only be accompanied by a small group. Estell didn't doubt his ability to create a second set of gates in the deep dark.
As the expanded group passed deeper into the Dragonkeep, Nex approached Estell and his Mistresses. The shadow weaver seemed almost shy, but the same couldn't be said of the small, now dark green spider on his back. Issay seemed to see Sora as his new owner already, and the blonde elf was elated to finally meet him. "You're even softer than you seemed!" She inspected the little face, and the folded fangs. "And your fangs are a lot bigger," she grinned. "Thank you, Nex. And thank you for bringing him with you, Estell…"
"He'll be as blond as you," the Overlord observed. Issay comfortably nestled onto Sora's gold-armoured shoulder, and Estell could almost swear he grinned back as the green eyes of the elf and spider met.
As they walked, almost all the reds, big and small, gradually streamed towards Wick, Tallow and Pitch. Wick and Tallow had survived the entire journey and were now almost twice as big as during their rescue from Stodir, and even Pitch, who'd only experienced the travel through the Heartland, had already grown considerably. This was the cause of much excitement and commotion within the red clan. Everyone was also in a hurry to properly welcome Char as a horde leader, and truly seal her position. Char beamed, spewing up a jet of flame and leading her clan across the walls to light the group from above during their trek through the darkened halls.
It didn't take much longer. After a few minutes the group reached the point where the Dragonkeep hugged the mountainside, clearly visible in the change in structure of the walls; gleaming obsidian made way for rough rock. Jinx stepped ahead of the others, and the light of the amber gem shone on a crack in the rock wall, blacker than the volcanic glass of the other walls.
Estell smiled. He'd somehow expected the Scorched Gate to be imposing – but of course Jinx had made sure her secret way in wouldn't stand out, even as it lay hidden at the heart of the most severely cursed area known. He followed her closely as she stepped into the crack.
After a few moments of stumbling forward by touch as his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, he realized the narrow passage slowly widened. Then he heard Jinx' voice, soft, in a tone he couldn't place. "Here we are."
The Overlord moved forward, his Mistresses and companions gathering by his side. The light of countless reds and the pale sparks of the blues gleamed on the huge passage ahead, and Estell widened his eyes.
The true Scorched Gate towered over all of them, a gaping arch framed by irregular flames of polished black rock. A huge bat spread dark wings above it, as if carried by the fire's thermal. Its eyes were fist-sized rubies, almost alive in the faint, flickering light emanating from the group. Estell stared up, realizing his thoughts had fallen silent. The Netherworld was ahead. The place that'd instilled awe and slight fear in him from the beginning – but now, for the very first time, he felt the call of that unimaginable depth. He was also tied to it, in his beginnings, as the son of Sayron and dark queen Fay.
Jinx looked back, the light in her eyes flickering like the reflection of actual fire. She also heard the call, he knew. The deep darkness united them, and for a moment he felt her fury like his own. Her years of hiding and gathering her strengths – over. He saw her last remnants of despair change to old pride and rage, and he nodded. "Time to go home."
"I've never wanted anything more." There was a Minion's rattle to her voice, and the horde reacted at once. However, Kniff seemed hesitant by her side, his ears trembling in a way Estell knew indicated uncertainty and fear. But Jinx was quick to notice, and knelt down with him. "Not this time, Kniff. This time we have him." She looked up at Estell. "This time will be different, I swear."
Then the Minion Mistress stood, turned and stepped through the Scorched Gate, leading the Overlord and their followers down into the deep, secret dark.
Maraxus: And so it begins. The reclaiming of Lady Jinx's domain. Please review, and prepare for the next exciting chapter.