Chapter 60
Palidor rode high on the air currents. Shiva gaped at the devastation below. The land below was nearly unrecognizable. Overnight there were new rivers and bays and mountains. They passed over the great desert and reached the shoreline.
"Where's Styx?" asked Shiva.
"It's gone," said Ifrit.
Ramuh stared sadly as the desert disappeared behind them. "Turn southeast!" he called to Palidor.
Soon they were travelling over the ocean. The Temple of Doom gradually came into view. From the outside, it looked like an enormous black spire, with smaller towers jutting up along the sides. It rested on a circular wedge of land that was hovering hundreds of feet above the ocean. The energy it was emanating stirred up great waves underneath. Palidor landed on the remains of the brick pathway that led to the main doors. The Espers climbed off.
"Fly off and circle until you see us come out again," said Ramuh.
Palidor let loose a screech and flew off away from the Temple. They turned to face it.
"Sure is ugly," commented Ifrit.
"Let's go," said Ramuh.
They walked over to the massive doors. Shiva stared at hundreds of metal splinters jutting through the dark oak. She gently touched one and stared at the black liquid that came off on her hands. She screamed and jumped back.
"What is it?" asked Ifrit, taking her arm.
"It's blood!" she yelled.
Ramuh carefully tried the door and found it unlocked. He walked in and turned around and gasped in horror. Ifrit quickly followed him in and saw Diablos pinned to the door by the metal shards. His horned head was resting on his chest and his arms and wings were impaled in a spread eagle position. Black blood oozed from his ghastly wounds.
"Diablos!" said Ifrit.
Diablos yellow eyes feebly opened. "Ifrit," he rasped.
Ifrit inspected the door. "We've got to get you down."
Diablos grimaced. "Don't bother."
"If we pull him off, the pieces will tear into him more," said Ramuh.
Shiva walked in. "Melt them."
"That will burn him," said Ifrit.
"He'll die if we leave him," said Ramuh.
"Let me die," said Diablos.
"Oh, put a sock in it!" said Ifrit testily.
He walked outside and summoned flame. Diablos screamed as the metal fragments inside of him began to melt and twist. He slumped to the floor oozing molten metal. Shiva turned him over.
"This is all my fault!" said Diablos between gasps of pain.
"How?" asked Ramuh.
"Gaspar baited me and I killed him " said Diablos weakly, "That summoned an Avatar of Doom."
Ifrit glanced nervously at the glowing statue of Doom. "Where's the Avatar now?"
Diablos shook his head weakly.
"Where are the Temples going to meet?" asked Ifrit.
"Just north of Tzen," said Shiva.
"That's where he went," said Ramuh.
Ifrit opened his mouth to ask another question but he didn't get a chance.
"Lord Diablos!"
They turned to see Siren standing there, holding Carbuncle in her arms. She ran over and shoved Shiva aside. She gently cradled Diablos' head in her lap. When she touched his face he opened his eyes again.
"Siren," he whispered.
"My Lord," said Siren, wiping away her tears with a free hand.
"I'm sorry," said Diablos.
"Don't be," she replied, taking his hand.
(Lord Diablos!)
Carbuncle ran over and licked his face. Diablos grinned weakly.
"Do not avenge me," he said, "Just escape and live."
"Look after him," said Shiva as she stood up, "We have to go."
"I'll go with you!" said Siren.
"Stay with Diablos," said Ramuh, "It's too dangerous for you Siren."
"I'm not afraid!" she said.
"Stay with me," said Diablos weakly.
She bent down and kissed his forehead. "Yes my Lord."
(Carbuncle stay too!)
"Thank you both," whispered Diablos.
Ramuh, Shiva, and Ifrit walked outside, leaving them behind. Palidor swooped down and carried them off. Diablos watched them fly away.
"Good luck," he said.