Chapter One
The dark sky was torn by a blinding flash of light, the angry sound of thunder followed. Xanatos awoke with a start. For a momnet he was swimming through the vast ocean of his mind, grasping for any memory of which he could cling.
Looking around the huge bedroom, Xanatos noticed a large window off to the side. As he gazed out at the dark wrathful sky vivid images abruptly flashed back to him. A fight, a fight to the death. His pride would not allow his opponent to defeat him. Instead.
"A nightmare," smug satisfaction filled his voice. Sitting up in his bed, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, "It was all a bad dream. It had to be! There's no way I could have."
"Survived?" A female voice cut the the darkness like warm butter. Xanatos couldn't make out anything but a shadow standing by the dresser.
"Who's there?" demanded Xanatos.
Ignoring his question the woman continued as she lit some candles, "You really ought to have more faith in your back door."
"Back door?" Xanatos asked confused. With what little light there was Xanatos seemed to recognize the dark eyes, pale skin, and long black hair, "Ellahni Ittehgapis?"
"In the flesh," she responded, "Which is more than I could say for you after your little 'mishap'."
"Just testing your qualifications," he teased, realizing the events in his dream had indeed actually occurred.
"Next time you decide to go and 'test' my qualifications, do me a favor and throw yourself from a building, drown, or poison yourself. But don't, I repeat, don't' even think about using acid or I won't bring you back again! It was a horrible strain on my power! Not to mention what was left of you was all bubbly, gooey, and juicy."
"Are you done? I never doubted you for a minute. You've never once dissappointed me." At that moment Xanatos's stomach growled, "Death sure can make a guy hungry. But first where is the bathroom? I didn't really get the chance to go before I died. You know they literally mean damnation without 'relief'."
"Your disgusting. Besides I don't care what you do after you give me back my necklace," Ellahni demanded impatiently, "I did everything you asked and even made sure Offworld stayed in business.
"Ellahni, I just woke up from being dead. I'm really hungry," Ellahni glared, Xanatos sensed her annoyance and smiled sweetly, "I'll pay you after we eat..promise."
"I know how much an Xanatos promise is worth," a sharpness vibrated through her voice.
"You will join me?" he asked slightly offended.
"No. I'm not hungry."
"Just greedy," Xanatos mumbled under his breath. That did it. With lightning speed Ellahni zapped halfway across the room to Xanatos's bedside. Wrapping one hand around his neck, Ellahni yanked Xanatos up. He didn't bother to struggle. It would be useless.
"I'm in no mood to be trifled with. All I have to do is tighten my grip and you're going right back to Hell and I'll have done my good deed to humanity."
"Yes, but you won't get your quaint little trinket back," Xanatos choked through her grip. Ellahni released him.
"Really, you haven't changed a bit since the last time we saw each other Elli."
"Niether have you Xanatos," she replied, "Get changed. I'll meet you in the dinning hall
The dark sky was torn by a blinding flash of light, the angry sound of thunder followed. Xanatos awoke with a start. For a momnet he was swimming through the vast ocean of his mind, grasping for any memory of which he could cling.
Looking around the huge bedroom, Xanatos noticed a large window off to the side. As he gazed out at the dark wrathful sky vivid images abruptly flashed back to him. A fight, a fight to the death. His pride would not allow his opponent to defeat him. Instead.
"A nightmare," smug satisfaction filled his voice. Sitting up in his bed, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, "It was all a bad dream. It had to be! There's no way I could have."
"Survived?" A female voice cut the the darkness like warm butter. Xanatos couldn't make out anything but a shadow standing by the dresser.
"Who's there?" demanded Xanatos.
Ignoring his question the woman continued as she lit some candles, "You really ought to have more faith in your back door."
"Back door?" Xanatos asked confused. With what little light there was Xanatos seemed to recognize the dark eyes, pale skin, and long black hair, "Ellahni Ittehgapis?"
"In the flesh," she responded, "Which is more than I could say for you after your little 'mishap'."
"Just testing your qualifications," he teased, realizing the events in his dream had indeed actually occurred.
"Next time you decide to go and 'test' my qualifications, do me a favor and throw yourself from a building, drown, or poison yourself. But don't, I repeat, don't' even think about using acid or I won't bring you back again! It was a horrible strain on my power! Not to mention what was left of you was all bubbly, gooey, and juicy."
"Are you done? I never doubted you for a minute. You've never once dissappointed me." At that moment Xanatos's stomach growled, "Death sure can make a guy hungry. But first where is the bathroom? I didn't really get the chance to go before I died. You know they literally mean damnation without 'relief'."
"Your disgusting. Besides I don't care what you do after you give me back my necklace," Ellahni demanded impatiently, "I did everything you asked and even made sure Offworld stayed in business.
"Ellahni, I just woke up from being dead. I'm really hungry," Ellahni glared, Xanatos sensed her annoyance and smiled sweetly, "I'll pay you after we eat..promise."
"I know how much an Xanatos promise is worth," a sharpness vibrated through her voice.
"You will join me?" he asked slightly offended.
"No. I'm not hungry."
"Just greedy," Xanatos mumbled under his breath. That did it. With lightning speed Ellahni zapped halfway across the room to Xanatos's bedside. Wrapping one hand around his neck, Ellahni yanked Xanatos up. He didn't bother to struggle. It would be useless.
"I'm in no mood to be trifled with. All I have to do is tighten my grip and you're going right back to Hell and I'll have done my good deed to humanity."
"Yes, but you won't get your quaint little trinket back," Xanatos choked through her grip. Ellahni released him.
"Really, you haven't changed a bit since the last time we saw each other Elli."
"Niether have you Xanatos," she replied, "Get changed. I'll meet you in the dinning hall
