Chapter 57

Diablos watched the twin columns on the horizon with a frown. "The Temples," he muttered.

Siren sidled up and shyly took his arm. "My Lord, what does it mean?"

He didn't look her way. "I'm not sure."

He became enveloped in darkness, and emerged in his demonic form. Siren took a step back.

"I'll go to the Temple of Goddess and investigate," he said darkly.

"Be careful," she said.

Siren watched him take off and fly northwards. She turned around and gasped to see Gaspar standing there, his cloak stained with silver blood.

"By Doom!" she exclaimed, "Are you alright Magus?"

He wearily looked up at her. "I have to see the King at once."

She took his arm and draped it over her shoulder. "You need to rest first."

"No!" he snapped, "I have to see him at once!"

Siren muttered a curse under her breath and helped him limp to the throne room. Hasdrubal sat on the throne, tapping the armrest nervously. Carbuncle sat asleep on his lap.

"Magus Gaspar, what news?" demanded Hasdrubal abruptly.

Gaspar slowly knelt before the King. Siren followed suit. Gaspar slowly placed a magicite crystal on the marble floor in front of him.

"Melchior has fallen, slain by Balthazar's treachery," said the Magus slowly.

Hasdrubal frowned. "What of Magus Balthazar?"

"Slain by one of the Raj," replied Gaspar.

"A fitting end to such a traitor!" said Hasdrubal with grim satisfaction.

Gaspar stared at him.

"Tell me of Styx," said Hasdrubal, "How is Lethe?"

"Dead," said Gaspar numbly.

Hasdrubal looked disbelieving. "How can that be? She was with Odin…."

"Dead also," said Gaspar grimly.

Hasdrubal's whole body seemed to give way. He slumped into his throne.

"Lethe is dead…oh by the goddesses…I wish I could join her."

Gaspar rose smoothly. "As you wish Your Majesty."

Siren gasped. "Your Majesty…run away!"

Hasdrubal looked in her directly and slowly shook his head.

"Chill to the bones…Absolute Zero!" chanted Gaspar.

A solid block of ice materialized around Hasdrubal, entombing him. The force of the blast knocked Carbuncle down the steps of the dais. Gaspar picked up the magicite and ascended to the throne. Siren was near tears.

"Magus!" she cried, "Why?"

Gaspar turned and placed a hand on the ice block and smiled faintly at the blurry form encased within.

"It's what he wanted Siren," he replied soothingly.

(Magus gone nuts!)

Siren glanced hastily at Carbuncle. "I thought he wanted to save the world."

Gaspar sighed deeply. "There is nothing worth saving now."

"Don't your grief blind you!" begged Siren, "There are still good people who need help!"

"Don't worry," reassured Gaspar, "After we are gone, the goddesses will create a more worthy race to replace us."

"I'm not giving up yet!" yelled Siren.

(Carbuncle agrees with floozy!)

Gaspar closed his eyes. "As you wish."

Siren turned into her Esper form and strummed the strings of her harp.

"Aphonos Stoma!"

Waves of golden music crashed through Gaspar. He slowly opened his eyes.

(Rubi Luz!)

Glowing barriers appeared in front Siren and Carbuncle.

Gaspar regarded them, a strange light in his eyes.

"Arctic winds, blow through and freeze the blood of my foes…Ice!" he called out.

Siren and Carbuncle blinked as the spell missed them and instead encased the pillars on either side of them. Horror dawned on siren's face as the pillars shattered, bringing down the ceiling on top of them. Tons of stone and mortar buried them, sending up a cloud of debris.

Sometime later Siren woke up to see the familiar canopy over her bed. She gasped as she tried to turn. She saw Diablos standing over her. She tried to speak but Diablos put a finger to her lips.

"Save it," he said, "Carbuncle told me everything."

She nodded quietly.

"I just wanted you to know that his pain will be legendary!" snarled Diablos, "That bastard will beg for death!"

"But he wants to die," she said.

"Good!" said Diablos rising.

Siren grasped his arm and winced in pain. "Don't go my Lord!"

He tried to pry her arm loose. "Why not?"

"It's a trap, I know it!" she said.

"It doesn't matter!" retorted Diablos angrily, "He has to pay!"

He managed to pull himself free. He walked over to the window.

"If you love me, please stay!" said Siren.

He looked her way sadly.

"It's because I love you that I have to go," he said.

He dissolved into a swarm of bats that flew out of the window.

Siren slumped back into the bed.