((¯`·.((¯`·.((Adel)).·´¯)).·´¯))
Eden stared angrily at the back of the man in front of her. He was leading her through hall after hall, their destination unknown to her. He had lifted her easily from the bottom of the well, and led her deep into the castle. He had slapped her the one time she had tried to speak, so she just kept her mouth shut for the moment.
He finally led her into a dressing room, dresses lining the far wall. Their rich fabric glittered in the dim light and she looked up at him questioningly.
"The sorceress would like you to look your best when you see her" the man said his voice heavy and deep. His eyes stared blankly ahead, cloudy and dark. Eden snorted walking over to the dresses. She ran hr hands along them for the moment and finally chose a deep blue one.
It was defiance, spitting in the face of the black sorceress. Of course she would chose blue, the color of her magic. The color of the gem that she drew her power from. There were rumors that some Blue Sorceress' were so powerful they never needed the gem. Eden had dreamed of being one of those when she was a child. Then she could have easily taken Adel, and saved Esthar from her reign.
The blue dress fit her a bit loosely but she didn't care. Eden would not prance around for the sorceress like some pretty porcelain marionette.
"I'm ready" she said to the silent man, who turned promptly and led her out of the room. They walked up a huge flight of stairs to long hallways with glass double doors at the end. A long red carpet traced the way down the hallway begging to be walked on.
"She awaits you" The man said his arm sweeping forward to motion to the doors at the end of the hallway. Eden nodded and moved forward her bare feet sinking into the lush carpet. Of course Adel would give her a dress, but no slippers. It was typical, she couldn't have Eden at the same level as her.
Eden paused a moment before the huge glass doors, taking a deep breath. Then she shoved them both open and strode into the room.
Odin looked down unsure at the little boy. Together they walked into the entrance to the catacombs under Eden's castle.
"So what's your name?" Odin asked sweeping a cobweb aside with his gauntlet.
"Nate, and yours?" the boy asked running his hand along one of the mud caked walls. It amazed Odin that the child didn't mind getting so dirty. But he supposed it was natural when you were forced to live in filth. He clenched his hand, swearing revenge on Adel for making these people live like this.
"Odin" he answered ducking under a long wooden beam that was hanging low on the ceiling. The boy just nodded and led him further into the catacombs, as the came to a huge room, where the passageways split off in three directions.
The boy hardly hesitated striking a flint to a torch, sending a dancing flicker of flame shadow across the room. Then he set off down one of the tunnels, Odin following easily behind him.
"You're from Centra, aren't you?" Nate spoke up, his hand with the torch extended out in front of them.
"How did you know?" Odin asked raising his eyebrows. Nate chuckled and shook his head.
"Its obvious you are a knight, no one around here could afford armor like that" the boy said. Odin just nodded silently and tried to pay attention to his footing.
The catacomb walls seemed to be heavy and damn around them. Occasionally there were ruins carved into the wall, and Odin stopped to admire their intricacy and detail. The power behind the carvings. The power of this whole ancient place overwhelmed him.
"Why is your father in jail?" Odin asked as the reached another huge room, and Nate led him down another corridor.
"He was a blacksmith, he refused to pay Adel's taxes. Business has been so poor with technology taking over everything" Nate said sadly shaking his head.
"We still stick to our roots in Centra. We only use technology when it's convenient. Some rooms in the great castle are still lit with fire light" Odin said nodding his head.
"Guns are the newest rage here. Everyone's got one, they are making swords obsolete" Nate said softly.
"Why don't you and your father come back to Centra with us. We are always in need of blacksmiths there" Odin said casually as he brushed another spider web away from his head. Nate stopped suddenly and turned to look up at him, the fire reflecting in his brown eyes. He was such a young boy, but there was wisdom there lurking behind that cover.
"Do you mean that?" Nate asked. Odin only responded with a solemn nod. Nate turned and started walking again, both of them fallen silent.
At last the reached a rung ladder embedded into the wall, leading up.
"This is the way in" Nate sad softly.
Eden strode into the room, her shoulder thrown back. A proud smile graced her face. Adel sat before her at the end of a long dinning room table. The table was made of thick mahogany, a tall baked chair at each end.
"Sorceress Eden" Adel hisses softly.
"Sorceress Adel" Eden replied her voice strong. She tipped her head slightly in the greeting of equals. She knew she was no where near the power of Adel, but she didn't care.
"Sit, join me for a meal" Adel said motioning with a long fingered hand to the chair at the end of the table. Eden sunk graciously down into the chair, her blue skirts rustling around her. She glared down the table at Adel, past the golden candlesticks sitting in the center.
Adel truly was a beautiful woman. Pale white skin, beautiful red lips and gorgeous dark eyes. Her long dark hair tumbled around her, mixing with the low cut black dress she wore. She waved one hand and suddenly the table was full of food.
It was served on gleaming white platters, trimmed in gold. All of it looking unusually dark, but delicious at the same time. A tall thin goblet appeared in front of Eden, and is slowly filled with dark red wine.
"What do you want from me" Eden said glaring across the table at the woman.
"I want your power" Adel said with a cruel smile, her tiny sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.
"You are all ready a Black Sorceress, isn't that enough?" Eden asked her hands clenching around the arms of the chair.
"No, my dear Eden, it is never enough" Adel said shaking her head slightly.
"I will not eat your food, I have had enough of your games" Eden growled standing up, pushing the chair to the floor behind her. Adel laughed casually standing up, her long black dress moving around her. She raised a hand and suddenly Eden felt herself unable to move.
Adel's power brought her off the ground, bringing her closer to the sorceress. Eden fought against her with all of her power. She was standing before Adel now, looking into the woman's dark horrid eyes.
Suddenly there was pain along Eden's forearm, a slash of blood appearing through the dress. Blood stained the blue dress quickly, the pain vaulting up Eden's body. Adel took Eden's hand and slowly drew the cut to her lips.
Then with a grin she bit into Eden's skin. Eden could not scream or move as the sorceress drank from her wrist. Pain so much pain, so much power. She couldn't fight anymore.
"When I am done collecting your power, I will bathe in your blood. I will send your pretty little head back to your parents" Adel said, her lips stained by Eden's blood. Eden tried to call power through her gem, the thing growing hot in her hand. Trying to work against Adel's power, trying so hard.
The black sorceress was sicker then Eden had ever dreamed.
Then with a crash the double doors broke open. The glass hit the wall showering into a thousand tiny pieces, landing on the ground like a tiny melody.
A Knight stood there, splendid in black shining armor.
Blood.
The blade hissed out of the sheath almost of its own will. He hardly knew he was drawing it, the power of it calling to him. Adel dropped Eden to the ground turning to look at him. He stood defiant before her, clutching the blade in his hands.
"Is this the best Centra could do? One Knight for their beloved princess?" Adel taunted licking her lips clean of Eden's blood. Odin growled under his breath, glaring at her.
Now is the time.
Odin rushed forward his body a machine. His limbs moving with the sword, all the power was surging through it. The black blade cut into her skin at the precise moment Eden let lose a spell to coil up the blade.
Blood and magic surged in an explosion at it hit Adel's face. She fell backwards with an inhuman scream, her face forever disfigured.
The Blood calls for the Blade.
He moved forward, kneeling beside the ground next to Eden. He reached out and took her arm, taking a quick survey of her wounds. She had lost a lot of blood, he could tell she was growing faint. The blood dripped down her arm onto his fingers. .
The Blade calls for the Blood.
With a snarl he shoved the blade in its sheath hoping to quiet its incessant need running through his head. He helped Eden to her feet keeping an eye on the wounded sorceress.
"Odin?" Eden said weakly looking up into his eyes. He nodded softly, and then her eyes rolled back into her head as she fell into a faint. He rushed for the door, carrying her easily in his arms. Nate and his father were waiting in the hallway, along with a group of other rescued prisoners.
"Let's get out of here" Odin said leading the group out of the castle.
Adel writhed on the floor, pain mangling her face. Her beauty lost forever at the hands of that man and that woman.
"Guards, don't let them leave Esthar!!" she screamed blood running down her face.
A/N: Thanks to all of you loyal readers for sticking by me through this thing. It should be getting very good soon, indeed.
I've started writing a collaberative with fellow author Sharpedge. It's called Echoes of Dissolved Eternity.
http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1022130
Thanks again everyone :).