"False Conscience"

by Black Mantle

ACT II:

Deneb lay awake in her bed until morning. A clock in her room indicated that it was just past seven, so Deneb got up from her bed and moved to her dresser where she pulled out a black robe and a pair of panties. Pulling the articles on she walked over to her coat rack and took her hat from atop it; she looked like her usual seductive self, save for her tired complexion.

She sat down in her dining room where a bowl of porridge, a glass of orange juice and an apple awaited her. Picking up a spoon, she scooped up some of the pasty semi-solid, and slowly moved it to her lips. Blowing away the steam, Deneb opened her mouth to take in the nourishment.

"Ow, too hot!"

That was certainly one way to wake up. While waiting for the porridge to cool, the witch took a bite of the apple and drank some of her juice. Putting the glass back, she once again takes some of the porridge to test it. Finding it a slightly more acceptable temperature now, she picks up the bowl in her left hand, and starts to slurp down the food. That's not to say she didn't have manners; it's just that it's breakfast, and she's too tired for manners.

* * *

Around 8:30, according to the nearest clock, Deneb received some visitors.

"DENEB! YOU COME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!"

From atop the rampart, Deneb looked down on some of the locals in her "garden" who decided to pay her a visit.

"Ooo… I have company!♥" (Yawn) Shaking the sleep out of her, Deneb turns her attention back to her company. "And what is it I can do for you?!♥ "

The angry mob outside her door, unable to enter because of her sentries, screams back. "YOU WILL COME DOWN HERE NOW AND FACE YOU PUNISHMENT FOR ALL THE TROUBLE YOU CAUSED!"

"But I already did face my punishment!♥ Remember when you had me tied to that pole and tried to set me ablaze?!♥ "

"CUT THE CRAP!"

"Why don't you just leave me alone? I've been having a real bad time since I got back!♥"

The mob showed no signs of dispersing, leaving Deneb with little choice. Picking up her Mega-Pumpkin, a large 400 ton 10 meter wide pumpkin, she dumps it on top of the villagers.

"That's that.♥"

* * *

17 days ago…

After hearing that Deneb had escaped and returned to Valparine, Lexar sent a troupe to recapture the witch. Only now, he intended to take Deneb as his own prisoner, rather than leaving her to the locals.

"Deneb, I am the Paladin Rauny, I have been sent by Lord Lexar to capture you! Please come quietly."

Seeing her opponent was a woman, Deneb was not acting in her cute tone. "Why don't you come up here and get me?!"

Rauny was not in the mood for games and started for the door, blocked by two of Deneb's new shadow knights. As they approached, the guards took their positions. Deneb watched from high atop the castle walls. Despite the attempts of Rauny and her forces, the knights didn't even flinch; even white magic was useless against the undead warriors.

"Listen here you egocentric tomboy, why don't you go fetch me Lord Lexar, and I'll consider my surrendering to him!♥ But if you want to have a little more fun with my sentries, you're free to do so!"

Rauny was incensed, "You little BITCH! Get down here!"

Deneb gasped. "Why?♥ Don't tell me you would be interested in having me?♥ I suppose someone who dresses like a guy would only show interest in girls!♥" Deneb giggles. "I probably wouldn't mind bedding with you, you big strong warrior you.♥"

Now totally pissed off, Rauny heads back to report her defeat to Lexar.

* * *

{It was shortly thereafter that my nightmares started. I wonder if Rauny or "the Liberators" have anything to do with it. I didn't think Rauny was THAT angry with me.}

Heading to her study, Deneb started to search her books for anything that would suggest if this were a spell she was placed under, and if it could be broken. She originally considered it to be a side effect of the shadow knight's spell, but there was no evidence to support it. Then she thought that it was a curse that someone put on her, but no luck. It was then that Deneb came back across Kapella's book, which had been siting in the secret room for the last 3 weeks.

"Kapella! I bet he's behind this! It'd be just like him; after all I still have his book. Well, then, I guess I'll just have to go put a stop to him."

* * *

After making preparations, Deneb and her pumpkins set off back to the Pogrom Forest, to find Kapella. Instead of going on foot, which would have taken over a week–Deneb had already made the trip twice–she prepared a spell to transport them all there in record time. Taking the large rug in the dining room, she laid it out flat in Valparine's square, then taking a small pouch, she sprinkles the contents onto the large mat. Within minutes the carpet shows signs of life. Deneb and her pumpkins climb aboard.

"To Pogrom Forest!♥"

The carpet flies high into the air and makes off like a shot towards the north. Deneb looks down at her quickly disappearing home, and almost gets airsick from the height.

{I wish I could have taken some of the shadow knights, but Kapella was right about one thing, they are part of the castle, so they can't leave. Bummer!}

* * *

By the end of the day, Deneb had returned to Kapella's secret cave. Once again, she used the switch in the main cave to open the entrance, and entered, only to find the entire base gutted out. Kapella wasn't there nor were any of his things.

"Kapella! Where are you!"

No answer.

Deneb stormed back to the rug. "He's got to be here somewhere!" Getting back on the carpet, Deneb flew around for almost two hours before it started to get too late to continue. She was getting tired, and needed a place to rest, but where could she stay for the night. Even though she was hundreds of baums away from home, she couldn't be sure that she wouldn't be recognized, there was only one place to go.

* * *

"So my child, you, a member of the Empire seeks refuge in our holy temple."

Deneb decides that a more somber tone is more appropriate for the monks, rather than her usual sweetness. "Yes."

"Why do you come here?"

"I have been having these terrible nightmares, and I believe Kapella is the cause. I have come here to make him stop tormenting me. I was even going to give him back his stupid book."

"I see. The Roshfallian Temples were founded for the purpose of assisting those in times of need. I suppose that would also apply to someone like you. But I must insist on confiscating that book before you enter."

Deneb wasn't sure about forfeiting the text, but she had little choice.

"As well… we would ask that you wear something a little more, um… conservative. In accordance with normal guidelines followed here."

{Cover my beautiful body?}

"Alright."

"Please enter."

* * *

Deneb had a late supper and retired for the night. It was her first time ever in a Roshfallian Temple, and the whole place felt alien to her, almost infringing on her. The blue cleric's uniform that she now wore seemed to give her some form of personal protection, a shield against the overwhelming solitude around her, much more than her skin tight leather skirt would have given. To her it felt like being under a great sea with nothing separating you from the ocean but a diving suit, but it did offer one feeling of comfort to her, it was peaceful.

That night, for the first time in over two weeks, she slept soundly.

* * *

Over the next two days, Deneb remained at the temple while her pumpkins went out looking for any trace of Kapella, with no luck. The monks told no one of their visitor so she was never bothered by any one looking for revenge.

That afternoon, one of the monks approached Deneb. "Excuse me."

"Yes."

"You were looking for the wizard Kapella, correct?"

.

"Yeah."

"We have sent a few carrier pigeons to warn the others temples about him, and we received a report about strange goings on south of here. It might be worth your while to try there."

"Really? Thanks. No one has ever really been this nice to me. Usually I have to trick people to get what I want."

"Oh, have you considered changing your ways and stopping these experiments of yours. Maybe then, people might be interested in forgiving you."

Deneb almost laughed at him, "Are you kidding, my magic has always been my life. Just because you guys helped me, isn't going to change that."

"I am truly sorry to hear that."

* * *

Deneb spent that night in the temple, which would probably be the last time she would ever visit one. The next morning, she took her pumpkins to find the strange occurrence in the south. After 2 hours of searching, they uncovered what looked like a circular arrangement of standing stones with a six-sided star in the middle. The carpet touched down, and its passengers got off to examine the structure.

"Kapella, are you here?"

Deneb made the mistake of standing in the middle of the design and it started to glow.

"What the…" She disappeared in a flash of light.

Spots flashed before her eyes as she tried to see where she was. Aside from the brilliant images produced by her distorted vision, there was nothing but darkness. Deneb stumbled around for a bit as her eyes attempted to regain normal vision. Her hand knocked against a large stone slab, which she further examined with her touch and her regaining vision, determined to be a stone table or altar.

Deneb shuttered out the words, "Looks like Kapella's work."

Her heart started to race as she wondered how she got here, and how to get out. She also wondered where Kapella could be hiding, there wasn't much to see in this strange realm, no real furniture, no real anything, just empty space. Deneb then thought to look up, but could again see nothing. Taking a step back, she hit something. Quickly turning around, Deneb came face-to-face with what looked like death himself.

"EEEEEK!" Deneb stopped to get a look at the ghostly figure. "Ka? Kapella?!"

Once again, Deneb felt something come up from behind her. Turning, she saw something that made the Grim Reaper look like a five-star athlete.

"EEEEEK!"

The stranger spoke in a voice that echoed inside Deneb's ears, "What are you doing here?!"

Deneb stepped back, "O-omicron?"

"Yes. Now answer my question!"

"I-I…" Deneb stopped to regain her thoughts. "I came here looking for… Deadbeat here, 'cause he put some kind of curse on me."

"A curse, what kind of curse?"

"Well, I don't know if it was him exactly but…"

"Irrelevant, what kind of curse?!"

"Some kind of nightmare spell. I've been having bad dreams for over two weeks now."

Omicron stepped to one side while stroking his chin. "A nightmare curse, I suppose Kapella could have done it. Step into the star!" Omicron points out the six-point star pattern on the ground, if you could call it ground.

Deneb stepped on the pattern, and it started to glow a bright blue. Omicron moved towards the pattern and examined the fiery trail of light streaming from the ground.

Deneb tries to make petty small talk to try to get to know the sorcerer. "So, Omicron, what are you doing here?"

"Same as you, on the run from that low-life, uneducated pond scum."

"You mean Lexar."

"Yes, he just doesn't understand the purpose of research, not like you."

"Of course. He came to stop my experiments. I heard he was a nice guy, but he left me to the villagers. Next thing I know I'm facing the Spanish Inquisition!"

"Nobody expects the 'Spanish Inquisition'."

"So when did he get you?"

"Two days ago, he freed the angel, Yushis. I believe he's now heading towards the Tundra, after her sister." Omicron squints his eyes to examine something. "Yes, it most definitely seems as if you've been cursed. It isn't exactly a nightmare spell, more like it's a side effect. But it is definitely a wizard's spell. Kapella could have done it, not like it really matters now."

"Can you remove it?"

"If I tried."

"Will you?"

"Maybe, for a favor."

Deneb smiles. "Oh, a little favor. What will it be?" Deneb starts to prance around the star. "A little dance? a peep show? a full-on exhibition? or maybe you'd like my five-alarm full-body massage?♥"

"Just because you go around dressed like some two-bit prostitute, doesn't mean that's all anybody wants from you!"

"'Two-bit prostitute'! I'll have you know I am a very refined lady of culture, and this is the standard dress of my kind. Besides, I'm just goofing around, it's not like I really want to sack with every guy on the planet!" Deneb calms down after her little tantrum. "So what kind of favor do you want?"

"Well, you see my last witch spontaneously combusted, so I need a replacement to do my work on."

"WHAT?!!"

"Don't worry. My experiments only involve the deceased, I assure you, your death will be quick and painless."

"You ain't using me in-" Deneb storms towards Omicron and is stopped by a forcefield emanating from the pattern on the ground. "What?"

"Oh, come on now Deneb, surely you understand this is for the advancement of science."

Deneb tries to pound her way through the field, "Yeah, but I'm no experiment! LET ME OUT!!"

"Come on Deneb, you're making this hard on yourself." Omicron thinks to himself, {Is it any wonder I experiment with the dead, they're so much more passive.}

"Omicron! Let me out! Please! Ple-hee-hee-heease!" Deneb starts to cry her eyes out as she leans against the forcefield. "Waah!"

"Would you knock it off! Oh for crying out loud." Omicron waves his hand, causing the field to fall, and Deneb with it. "The last thing I need is some whiner around here. Get out."

Deneb picks herself up. "What about this curse?"

"Find somebody else to break it."

"Yeah? Who?!"

"I suppose you could try Rashidi, but I'm sure he's not in the mood to talk with a failure like you. Of course, there is one I can think of. Tell me Deneb, do you know why Antalia is called the 'Land of Imprisonment'?"

"Because you had that angel, Yushis trapped there."

Omicron casts a wide grin on his face, "Silly girl. Silly, silly girl."

To Be Continued…