Chapter 16
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Notes: There are several.
Subtitle for this chapter: In Which It Is Proven That We Really Do Torture Those Whom We Love
Listen, Bullfrog is a really cool bunch of people, and I'm sure they don't mind the extra advertising that I'm giving them in the writing of this fic. ::looks hopeful:: They own Dungeon Keeper and I, sadly, do not.
I'm a weird monkey who really likes the idea of two guys together in a relationship. It's my story, and I can put slash in it if I want to. So there. ::sticks out tongue:: Consider yourself warned and stuff.
If you haven't yet, read the first chapter now.
For a glossary of terms and concepts, as well as a map of this Realm, go to this address: http://dragonnest.freeservers.com/fics/dungeonviewshelp.html
Even though the game is not mine, the story (including many original concepts in it) is, and I would appreciate it if you did not use it without my permission. Ask and ye shall probably be allowed to archive.
As always, I'd like to thank my wonderful beta reader, Vagabond.
Pronunciation Key:
Kaelay: [KAY-lay]
Seiat: [SAY-aht]
Tarkasas: [Tar-KAH-sas]
Ramasha: [Ra-MAH-sha]
Mortagui: [Mor-tah-GUY]
Evain: [Eh-VAIN]
Tukash: [TOO-kash]
Kethian: [KEH-thee-un]
I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
A new Darkness has entered this Realm! the Darkness cries out to me in disbelief.
A new Darkness? No. Impossible. What on earth would a Darkness be doing here, now? Yet another problem for me to deal with.
Which? Which Darkness is it my Lord?
The Darkness does not sound sure of itself, and this scares me down to the core of my being. The Darkness is ALWAYS sure.
The... Blue Darkness.
But that's impossible! I defeated that Darkness! I saw the last Heart of Nemesis crumble with my own eyes!
It has returned. A new keeper is with it... ah... Zannos.
Zannos? I know him. He is an ancient Keeper. Keeper's do not age the same way that creatures do. We gain years, but we do not grow old. We simply become ancient, and those of us who are are the most feared and powerful. Zannos is very, very old.
But Zannos here? What is he doing here? Where is he?
The Northern Border the Darkness supplies shortly. I take off like a shot. Zannos. Zannos here. What does it mean?
I chant a spell quietly, all but the key words to activate it. Coming to the Northern Border, I say the final syllables, enacting the basic spell, Sight of Evil.
Over and over I bring it up, banishing it just as quickly when it shows me nothing but undug earth. Then, finally, a glint of wall. The jewel... yes! It's blue.
I follow the corridor with my spell, noting as I do its direction. It seems to be... no. It couldn't. Could it?
But it is. Even as I watch, Zannos' Imps break through the final wall separating his tunnel from the former yellow dungeon.
Suddenly a lot is clear. Mortagui's insistence that he get the old Heart chamber, the selective erasing of Ramasha's memory, the message that Evain caught...
Yet a few questions still remain. How on earth did Mortagui get Zannos of all people to ally with him? And how did the Blue Darkness come to be living again and in Zannos' care?
I follow the tunnel back up to the impenetrable rock. There is... Good Gods. Mortagui has somehow discovered a Door Spell! I look down upon it. A greenish glow marks a tunnel in the impenetrable rock, which dozens upon dozens of Zannos' creatures now file through. I make a mental note that if and when we defeat Mortagui, I must definitely raid his library. For the Shadowrealm's sake, Master Spellsmiths have been trying to invent a Door Spell for ages!
Thoroughly shaken, I head back towards my dungeon. The creatures will have to be informed of this new development, as will Evain.
Seiat
Damn. I peer into the Lair, looking over at the huddled form that is Tukash. Since Ramasha attacked him, he has moved no farther than his own lair. That lazy coward. I approach him.
"I thought you said you were going to kill him! Or at least hurt him," I say angrily.
Tukash gives me a look like I'm not worth his time. I gulp, suddenly remembering that he's a lot bigger than me.
"You said he was weak. You said it would be easy," he accuses.
"Well, you *are* a higher level than he is," I point out. I probably should have suspected that Ramasha was a back-stabber. He fights like he acts.
Tukash glares at me. He's never really been much for logical arguments. "You said he was weak!"
See what I mean?
"N-now Tukash," I say in my best Pacifying-Larger-Creature-Who's-About-To-Pound-On-Me voice, "I did say that, but I thought it was true. And I didn't really have time to tell you everything about him. I was working after all, and you're such a wonderful fighter, I thought there was no way some little angel like that could stand up to you..."
He puffs him self up under the praise as I hoped he would. I breathe an internal sigh of relief. I might just survive this encounter.
Except that I can't stop myself from opening my big mouth. "So, are you going to try again?"
I freeze. Shouldn't have said that. Shouldn't have said that. Shouldn't have said that.
"No. I don't think so Little Imp," says Tukash slowly. "If I did not know better, then I would think you want me killed."
"N-n-no! Of course not Tukash!" Not that I would *mind* if he was killed...
He laughs in that subtly grotesque way that he has. "That is good, Little Imp. I wouldn't want you to be my enemy."
I shudder slightly, and nod my agreement to this statement. "Y-yes. I mean no. I mean... I'm going now."
I hurry away, Tukash's laughter following me. Well this is just great.
I'm beginning to think that maybe I'll never get rid of that Angel. But... I must try. For Tarkasas' sake, and Keeper's.
But how? How in all the Underrealm can I defeat a creature that strong?
Tarkasas
I have not left yet for Evain's dungeon. I probably should have earlier, but something tells me I ought to hang around. I'm currently at the Temple, thoroughly involved in watching Ramasha work.
There is to be a sacrifice, apparently. Kaelay ordered it, though she is not here to oversee it herself. Instead the intended victim (a Bile Demon, though unfortunately not Tukash) is dragged into the Temple by two rather tough-looking Dark Angels. Jensor is one of them, I think.
As I watch, the Angels take a slightly firmer grasp of his arms and flap their wings, taking off from the ground. They manoeuvre themselves over the pool and drop the Bile Demon heavily into the stone hand rising from the cool blue waters.
The angels chant a prayer, and suddenly a low murmur runs through them as they apparently spot something that I cannot see. They look intensely at the hand.
The Bile Demon moans, a horrible, deep, shuddering moan that will probably haunt my dreams for a while, and dissolves slowly in a mass of red sparkles. A moment later, the waters of the pool glow softly, but only for a second.
"The Gods are pleased," the Angels murmur. "The Gods are pleased with the sacrifice. We praise you, Gods..."
I don't listen to how it ends. Instead I look around for Ramasha; I lost sight of him sometime during the ceremony.
Finally I spot him coming towards me, staggering slightly as he walks. Sacrifices are always tiring, and I expected as much.
"Hey," I say as he reaches me, "need a shoulder to lean on?"
He smiles and the world is all of a sudden a better place to be. "Thank you. That would be very much appreciated."
He leans heavily on me as I walk him to the Lair, and I wonder if perhaps this is all a bit much for him too soon. Was it right to bring him here?
We reach his bed and he collapses on it slightly theatrically, with a loud sigh.
"Sometimes I honestly think we're all mad," he says to me, staring at the ceiling. "Doing this all the time. Sometimes I forget why we keep coming back."
"The Gods?" I prompt.
He makes a vague motion in the air with his hands. "Yes, of course the Gods. But they're mad too, aren't they?" He laughs. "All of us. Every single one. Everything we do. All of it madness."
"Ramasha," I say hesitantly, "do you want to leave? The Dungeon, I mean."
He sits up and looks at me like I'm just as mad as he's been saying. "But I just got here," he says, suddenly sounding very unsure of himself.
"I know," I say. "But I just thought, with Evain here, that maybe if you were uncomfortable with us, with me-"
"Tarkasas," he interrupts, "do you want me to leave?"
"No!" I hurry to assure him. "Far from it. I really want you to stay. I just... wasn't sure if that's what you wanted."
He looks a bit calmer, and it surprises me that he was nervous. He once again leans back on the bed. "I like it here," he says, as though that is all the answer I should need. And maybe it is.
"After all," he continues, looking over at me, "I couldn't leave. I mean, you and I-"
A sudden presence halts whatever he was about to say. It is Kaelay, and she is Not Happy. Both Ramasha and I instinctively stand up, staring upwards toward where we sense our Mistresses' energy to be coming from.
Attention all creatures, says Kaelay, you should be informed that the Blue Darkness has returned with a new Keeper and is currently threatening us in this land. The situation has worsened. I will need you all to give me your very best on the battlefield. And just like that she is gone.
I look at Ramasha only to find a look of stunned revelation on his face, before it changes to a silent scream and he doubles over in pain.
I rush to his side, worried about what might be happening. He clutches at his head and emits a sound that resembles a whimper trying to get enough breath to become a scream. And then suddenly he cracks, collapsing forward onto all fours and taking humongously deep breaths.
Then he looks up.
I have never seen a face more full of rage, anger, and pure, undiluted hatred as his is know.
"MORTAGUI!" he screams at the sky. "YOU SICK TWISTED BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS, YOU HEAR ME?! IF I GO TO HELL FOR WHAT YOU MADE ME DO, I'M DAMN WELL SENDING YOU THERE FIRST!"
He collapses in a heap on the ground, moaning something. I lean closer, trying to catch the words.
"Kethian," he's mumbling. "Oh Gods, how could I? My dear, dear sweet Kethian. My fault. Oh Gods. All my fault. Kethian, Kethian. Why? Dear Gods, why? Mortagui, you'll pay for this. How could you? Kethian..."
I lift him up gently. He doesn't resist me, but does little to make it easy. He leans on me heavily, apparently no longer aware of his actual surroundings. I manage to get him on the bed and pull the covers over him tightly. Slightly stunned at this mysterious behavior, I sit on my own bed, staring at him.
Eventually I give up and lie down, still watching him. Suddenly the world is too much to cope with and I am drowsy. As I drift off to sleep I can still hear him muttering "Kethian, Kethian..."
Ramasha
Dear Gods, what have I done?
When Kaelay informed us all of the arrival of the Blue Darkness, the wall that Mortagui built in my mind crumbled, and everything flooded back to me. Not of course without pain, for it would be very unlike Mortagui to make anything painless. But as the wall crumbled another went with it, one that was there for so long that I no longer realized it.
Kethian...
An Angel, like me. Both of us proud, strong. Yes. Strong. I was strong once. So strong, but not as strong as Kethian. My lover. My beloved.
We were not from a large Dungeon. A minor fuchsia Keeper. For her Dungeon, we were tough, though not the toughest. She was really very young, not ready at all for the trials of the Underrealm. We were not prepared for the likes of Mortagui, though I realized later how weak he truly was.
We were sent as scouts. Gods. I can still hear him laughing. "There's nothing out there but water and rocks," he said. "We'll be bored to tears." But we never refused a scouting assignment because it meant we could be alone together. We kissed each other briefly, and left for our mission.
Mortagui took us completely by surprise. Before we knew it we were surrounded by Demon Spawn. We tried to fight them, but one of them spit fire and Kethian's wings caught, and that was pretty much the end of the battle right there.
I awoke in Mortagui's Torture Chamber. Kethian was right next to me as always, chained to one of their wheels. I looked in his eyes, slightly afraid. But I knew everything was going to be alright because he was there and his eyes told me so.
That's when Mortagui arrived. His voice was a horrible, slimy thing that hurt to listen to. But we had no choice. I remember the false sugariness with which he spoke to me.
My, my. What a pretty Angel. What is your name, Beautiful One?
But I was strong back then and defiantly replied, "I am Ramasha, of Teleya's Dungeon! You will not defeat our Mistress, Scum!"
Is that so? he asked, sounding amused by my defiance. Tell me, Beautiful Ramasha, how would you like to join my Dungeon, hm? There's an easy spell I could use that would simply switch your current energy signature with my own. Then you could be my beautiful Angel.
"Never. Why should I join you, Foul One?"
Well, there is your little friend here. He paused and lightning lanced down from the sky, striking not me but Kethian. I could see him trying not to cry out in pain as his body was scorched. He lay still afterward. But still breathing. Still alive. I could always kill him, continued Mortagui. But I rather like you, so I'm willing to cut you a deal. You come over to my side, and I'll let your little friend here go free. He can run back to your little Keeper and you will stay here with me.
"Kethian..." I whispered. I looked over at him and saw that he was still conscious. He looked at me pleadingly. "Please..." I could barely hear him, but then, I didn't really need to. We were too close for that. "Please," he said, "don't do it. I love you Ramasha. Don't let him take you. I don't care if I die Ramasha. If he kills me then we can be together when we've passed on. He can't take you against your will. Don't let him talk you into it."
Again the lightning lanced down and this time he screamed in pain. Foolish Angel, Mortagui said to him. You talk to much. Maybe I should just finish you now...
"No!" I yelled. "Please, no. I'll do whatever you want. Just please, don't hurt him."
I could feel Mortagui's triumph. You have made a wise decision, Angel, he said.
I was led away, to the library, and there he did the deed that would come to haunt my subconscious for a long time to come. He made me Green.
I thought it would stop there, but he assured me that he had one more spell to perform. I had no choice but to remain. After all, I had already given him my word that I would do anything, hadn't I?
The spell was painful, but not so much as to knock me out. And then, Gods, from that point on I had never been in another Dungeon. I had always belonged to Mortagui, his to do with as he pleased. All my memories, Kethian, Teleya, everything was gone.
Ramasha, he told me, there's some business that I would like you to take care of.
I followed him to back into the Torture Room, where I was assigned to carry out the torture of one individual.
And he was just another Angel to me. Just some Angel which my Lord wanted information from. I remember... oh Gods. I remember wondering how he knew my name. He was screaming my name in pain and horror as I killed him and all I thought was 'I wonder how he knows my name?'
Kethian... my Gods. My darling, beloved Kethian. Killed by my own two hands. All my fault. Mine and Mortagui's. I will never be able to pay the price for murdering him. Never.
I knew what real love was like once. Mortagui took it from me. Once I was strong. And he took that too. Once, maybe, I was also innocent. Then he forced me to stain my hands with Kethian's blood. I shall never be clean. Never again pure, innocent. Never again truly loved.
What have I done?
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.