Your Destiny Is Not Over Yet

Sarevok sat empty, drained and brooding for a long time. He stared ahead, aching all over. Then he lifted his head, looking around. The place was still grim and hellish like it had been before. His body was very shady now, the hard work of reshaping it with the strength of his spirit undone. Why did I have to get so enraged and antagonize my sister? Winski would lecture me now, if he was here... I grant you it is not fair, he would say, but who ever promised anything was fair?

In spite of himself Sarevok was a bit curious about what had happened to Peri. She was not here anymore. Had she won and gained her soul back, back in the land of the living, or was she truly dead now, even more than Sarevok, her soul belonging to Irenicus, who ever that was? As angry as Sarevok had been, he almost hoped that Peri had survived. Perhaps he would get to see what came of all this business with Bhaal. After all, he was in Bhaal's former realm, and the time of the prophecy was at hand.

Sarevok took a few tentative steps. Naturally it hurt. How long it would take to gain back what he had lost because he had lost his temper...

Was he stuck here, or would it be possible to try to escape the Abyss again? Sarevok had a sinking feeling - even if he did get out, all the commanders of the Blood War forces were probably extremely displeased with him, and right now he was very weak and tired. Perhaps the torments inflicted upon him would break his spirit and make him dissolve into a little, mindless demon.

ENJOY YOUR ETERNITY, SON... THERE IS NO WAY OUT.

Damn you, you bastard! Don't you have anything better to do than gloat over my misfortunes?

FRANKLY, NO. THERE IS LITTLE TO DO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A DEAD GOD.

Sarevok sank downwards, leaning on the rocky wall. He buried his face into his hands, then clutched his knees. This was the closest to despair he had yet been.

* Sarevok... don't despair... Sarevok... your destiny isn't over yet... you are still loved...*

He sensed rather than heard his mother's voice. It was very quiet, and perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination. Still, it made a small surge of power flow into his veins.

- "M... mother? Can you talk to me?" he whispered.

There was no answer. But he was sure he had heard it, and held his head high, resolve on his face.

He stood up and limped a bit when he noticed an area still shifting and forming in the distance. Was Peri's mind still at work here? He knew the girl was gone, he was able to sense her if she was nearby. But her blood could still hold sway here, if she had survived the fight...

Sarevok fought his way over the rough terrain, grimacing and hissing in pain, and saw the shimmering turmoil shaping the landscape. He felt the force emanating from it, and a faint displeasure from Bhaal, who had been enjoying his suffering.

His mind was racing again, his eyes shining. So the bastard didn't like the forming mini-plane. Perhaps it was a safe cocoon Peri was creating for her mind so that Bhaal couldn't manipulate her?

DON'T GO THERE, SON. YOU WILL DIE LIKE A FLY IF YOU ENTER. THE GIRL HATES YOU, AND HER HOSTILITY WILL SNUFF YOUR SOUL.

Is that so, father? I wonder why the sudden eagerness to give me good advice.

Sarevok continued, too exhausted to walk but crawling on the hot ground, grabbing the stones that burned his palms.

I CAN GIVE YOU SOME ESSENCE BACK...

I just bet you will.

Sarevok's ears were buzzing. Who knew when she was done? He had to get in before he lost consciousness.

Finally! His fingers bleeding, his nails chipped, his palms blistered he dragged himself in the shimmering area. Just before passing out he felt a relief he had forgotten was possible - Bhaal couldn't torment his soul any more. He couldn't feel the dead deity any more, and his soul was left alone. Grateful, he fell asleep, and again there was just darkness for a long time.

When he woke up he was still aching all over, but that felt insignificant compared to the relief of having his soul left alone. He looked around. The decorations were not much of an improvement, but perhaps Peri would pay more attention on that if she indeed was the one who was chosen to be the new Lady of Murder. This was naturally better than being at Bhaal's mercy, but he still was stuck here. It could get boring at some point. Of course, Peri would be here eventually. The time of the prophecy was upon her, and all the Faerun for that matter. Sarevok felt the familiar resentment at how easily the girl got everything he had fought to gain, and failed.

But there was another side to that. She was stumbling about with no clue where she had to go and what to do. Perhaps... perhaps Sarevok could offer to help her. And surely she knew by now that there were no such things as free lunches. If he told her where she had to go... if she willingly took him with her... perhaps she was even powerful enough to give him a spark of life... Sarevok started to smile.

- "Er... hello."

Sarevok whirled around, eyes wide. An imp. It had an annoying voice, and Sarevok felt an instinctive urge to smash it, but perhaps that would be a bit hasty. It might have some information, and it was not like he had much company while waiting for Peri.