CHAPTER 8
After breakfast the next morning Cole took Jael to the handi-bank and withdrew the rest of the money out of his account, explaining that he would get the rest of it now, in case someone started querying why the account was active again after a long while – he wasn't sure how his disappearance had been explained and didn't want investigators sniffing around. He divided the money between himself and Jael, in case they got separated, or something happened – and Jael accepted his half with a thoughtful look on his face. He studied the money, then put it in his newly acquired jeans pocket, and turned to watch Cole do the same.
"You aren't looking too good, Cole," he said, studying his companion's face, and noticing his pallor, and the dark circles under his overly bright blue eyes. "No I feel really strange," said Cole, "I have never been like this before. It must have something to do with coming out of the Wasteland for a second time. Or maybe these powers I picked up there are slowly dying, and me along with them, who knows? It doesn't matter anyway – are you ready?"
Jael nodded, and grabbed Cole's arm, as together they blurred away. They reappeared in a small dark room, with no windows and a stout door. The room was filled with books and papers, pens, all sorts of stationery. Cole looked around, impressed with himself.
"This is where you wanted to come?" he asked softly. Jael nodded, and opened the door a smidge, looking out carefully.
"This is the storeroom for the library," he whispered, "Or one of them, at least, the one that is used the least. If we are lucky, the other students, and the Priests are not here – the manuscript I want to look at is in this section of the library –"
With a sudden jerk, he pulled the door shut, and leant back, motioning Cole to silence, as a black robed dark priest came around the corner, and walked into the section of the vast library that they needed to access. They stared at each other in the dim light, and tried to breath quietly.
Cole looked around the small storeroom, and spotted what he needed. He quietly grabbed a dark robe that way hanging in the corner, and gave another to Jael, who looked at him in horror, as he donned the robe and motioned for him to do the same. Easing the door open, he folded his hands in the black material of the robe, and bowed his head, so it was hidden by the hood, and walked out into the library. Jael followed him, almost tiptoeing, his heart beating so loudly; he was surprised that Cole couldn't hear it.
Without saying a word, Cole indicated to Jael to go and get the manuscript, and then he stood silently and visibly in the middle of the room, allowing Jael time to retrieve what he needed. The dark priest looked up from his reading, and closed his book, gliding towards Cole with suspicion in his dark eyes.
"Do you have permission to access this area?" he demanded as he came closer. "Who are you? I haven't seen you here before?"
Cole lowered his head submissively.
"Well, speak up – do you have permission to be here or not?"
"Yes," replied Cole, not raising his head, but looking up at the dark priest through his lashes.
"Who gave you permission?" demanded the priest. "What is your name?"
"Cole," replied Cole helpfully.
"Cole? Strange name - I suppose you are one of Zaytak's bullyboys – His permission is not recognized here! I am the senior priest, and in charge of this library! I resent Zaytak thinking he can come here and control me. He has already caused me to lose two of my best helpers. So don't think you can come in here and presume to order me around in my own library. This is probably the most sacred site we have in this realm, and if I lose any more helpers, it will fall into decay. This is our history and should be treated with respect."
By this time the old priest was almost yelling. Jael came scurrying back, with a yellowing manuscript in his arms, and the old priest whirled around to stare at him with disbelieving eyes.
"Jael – is that you? – what on earth – I was told you were dead!"
"Tyron – I'm sorry but I need you to forget you saw me here – I am going to borrow this manuscript, but will return it when I can!"
"You can't take that out of here," said the priest, his voice becoming louder still.
"I need to read it," said Jael, "I don't wish to distress you, but I need to read it now – and please don't get the attention of the guards outside – Zaytak arranged to have me vanquished – I don't want him to know I'm alive!"
The old priest looked at both of them, then sighed in resignation. "I will allow you to read the manuscript," he said, "But you can't take it from here. It is very old, and will spoil if it is removed from this room. Take it to the reading bench, and I will pretend that you are studying. But while one of you reads, the other will explain to me what is going on!"
Cole nodded, and he and Jael sat down at the reading bench – the dark priest looked around to make sure no one else was in the library, and then joined them.
"Things have been very bad down here, for a long while now," he began, "Ever since Zaytak and his henchmen started throwing their weight around. Actually, even long before that – ever since the old Source became obsessed with ruling the other realm. That was never part of our original purpose. – A foray now and again, a little mischief making – to tempt those above who have the desire and ability to turn – maybe, not this wholehearted invasion."
Cole narrowed his eyes and turned to the old demon. "I thought that was our purpose," he said bitterly. "To destroy, to hate, to ruin – that's what a demon's lot in life is."
The demonic priest eyed Cole sadly. "It's what is taught to you young ones," he said softly, "But that's not how it is supposed to be. Now, what is your story?"
Cole hesitated a moment, then said "We have escaped from the Wasteland –"
The priest gasped a little, shaking his head. "You are both half-bloods then? Or possibly even more – No full blooded demon can survive the Wasteland. I have heard stories of escapes from there, but till now thought they were just stories. What is it you are looking for?"
"To see if he can regain his powers," said Cole, indicating Jael. "He lost them coming through the barrier."
"And you?" asked Tyron "You have lost your powers?"
"No," replied Cole, "Not yet. I lost my mind the first time I came back though." He added a little sardonically.
"The first time? You have been there and back twice?"
Cole nodded.
"You would have burnt away any residue of your demonic half," said Tyron slowly. "You would be fully human now."
Cole nodded again. "Jael needs to see if he can restore his powers." He told the priest. "Then we will be out of here."
Jael called his attention to a written passage in the manuscript, and they both read the old document.
"It says my powers can't be restored, except through a spell cast by the power of three – what does that mean?"
Cole bit his bottom lip thoughtfully.
"I think it means the Charmed Ones," he said "And they wouldn't do it to help a demon – or half demon. Or anyone innocent or not, if they were associated with me!"
"Not the Charmed Ones," said Tyron knowledgably "They are to help innocents and witches from the other realm. The power of three refers to three high level demons – any three that can agree and work together. They would have the power to return yours. The magic is in the number three. Is there a spell?"
Jael nodded – and read out the spell, which was written in the old language.
"I have absorbed the powers of about 20 demons, upper and lower level," said Cole thoughtfully, "What would happen, if I said the spell?"
Tyron looked at him with surprise and apprehension in his dark eyes, and drew back a little from him.
"I am very old, even by demonic standards," he said quietly, "And I have never known this to have happened before. That much power is dangerous, especially to someone who is now essentially human."
Cole shrugged his shoulders.
"I know," he said quietly, "I feel them eating away at me. But I need to help Jael before I go away – so will this work?"
A commotion in the corridor caused them all to spin around, as two more priests entered the library.
Tyron made a sign to the newcomers, and they came to his side, looking at Cole and Jael with curiosity in their eyes.
"Master – the guards have sent us to search for you. They feel a disturbance in the air – they are coming to see if you know what is happening."
Tyron turned back to Jael, and nodded, motioning the two newcomers to a far corner. He gave the manuscript to Cole, and then stood back himself.
"I hope this works for you," he said and raised his hand to make the blessing sign, very similar to the one a priest in the other realm would make.
"If it doesn't there is little I or my helpers and colleagues can do. Zaytak's guards are fierce, and will kill you if they find you here. And then they will probably kill us as well."
Cole took a deep breath, and focused on the words, which he could barely understand. He spoke each word in a loud whisper, and as he pronounced the last word in the spell, Jael faded from sight, then returned, with a jubilant look on his face.
"Now, you must pretend we overpowered you," said Cole to Tyron, who was backing away. "I am sorry, but I have to do this," and he sent an energy ball into the wall of the library, very near to where Tyron and the other priests were standing. They dived for cover, and Jael faded from sight, followed a second later by Cole.
After breakfast the next morning Cole took Jael to the handi-bank and withdrew the rest of the money out of his account, explaining that he would get the rest of it now, in case someone started querying why the account was active again after a long while – he wasn't sure how his disappearance had been explained and didn't want investigators sniffing around. He divided the money between himself and Jael, in case they got separated, or something happened – and Jael accepted his half with a thoughtful look on his face. He studied the money, then put it in his newly acquired jeans pocket, and turned to watch Cole do the same.
"You aren't looking too good, Cole," he said, studying his companion's face, and noticing his pallor, and the dark circles under his overly bright blue eyes. "No I feel really strange," said Cole, "I have never been like this before. It must have something to do with coming out of the Wasteland for a second time. Or maybe these powers I picked up there are slowly dying, and me along with them, who knows? It doesn't matter anyway – are you ready?"
Jael nodded, and grabbed Cole's arm, as together they blurred away. They reappeared in a small dark room, with no windows and a stout door. The room was filled with books and papers, pens, all sorts of stationery. Cole looked around, impressed with himself.
"This is where you wanted to come?" he asked softly. Jael nodded, and opened the door a smidge, looking out carefully.
"This is the storeroom for the library," he whispered, "Or one of them, at least, the one that is used the least. If we are lucky, the other students, and the Priests are not here – the manuscript I want to look at is in this section of the library –"
With a sudden jerk, he pulled the door shut, and leant back, motioning Cole to silence, as a black robed dark priest came around the corner, and walked into the section of the vast library that they needed to access. They stared at each other in the dim light, and tried to breath quietly.
Cole looked around the small storeroom, and spotted what he needed. He quietly grabbed a dark robe that way hanging in the corner, and gave another to Jael, who looked at him in horror, as he donned the robe and motioned for him to do the same. Easing the door open, he folded his hands in the black material of the robe, and bowed his head, so it was hidden by the hood, and walked out into the library. Jael followed him, almost tiptoeing, his heart beating so loudly; he was surprised that Cole couldn't hear it.
Without saying a word, Cole indicated to Jael to go and get the manuscript, and then he stood silently and visibly in the middle of the room, allowing Jael time to retrieve what he needed. The dark priest looked up from his reading, and closed his book, gliding towards Cole with suspicion in his dark eyes.
"Do you have permission to access this area?" he demanded as he came closer. "Who are you? I haven't seen you here before?"
Cole lowered his head submissively.
"Well, speak up – do you have permission to be here or not?"
"Yes," replied Cole, not raising his head, but looking up at the dark priest through his lashes.
"Who gave you permission?" demanded the priest. "What is your name?"
"Cole," replied Cole helpfully.
"Cole? Strange name - I suppose you are one of Zaytak's bullyboys – His permission is not recognized here! I am the senior priest, and in charge of this library! I resent Zaytak thinking he can come here and control me. He has already caused me to lose two of my best helpers. So don't think you can come in here and presume to order me around in my own library. This is probably the most sacred site we have in this realm, and if I lose any more helpers, it will fall into decay. This is our history and should be treated with respect."
By this time the old priest was almost yelling. Jael came scurrying back, with a yellowing manuscript in his arms, and the old priest whirled around to stare at him with disbelieving eyes.
"Jael – is that you? – what on earth – I was told you were dead!"
"Tyron – I'm sorry but I need you to forget you saw me here – I am going to borrow this manuscript, but will return it when I can!"
"You can't take that out of here," said the priest, his voice becoming louder still.
"I need to read it," said Jael, "I don't wish to distress you, but I need to read it now – and please don't get the attention of the guards outside – Zaytak arranged to have me vanquished – I don't want him to know I'm alive!"
The old priest looked at both of them, then sighed in resignation. "I will allow you to read the manuscript," he said, "But you can't take it from here. It is very old, and will spoil if it is removed from this room. Take it to the reading bench, and I will pretend that you are studying. But while one of you reads, the other will explain to me what is going on!"
Cole nodded, and he and Jael sat down at the reading bench – the dark priest looked around to make sure no one else was in the library, and then joined them.
"Things have been very bad down here, for a long while now," he began, "Ever since Zaytak and his henchmen started throwing their weight around. Actually, even long before that – ever since the old Source became obsessed with ruling the other realm. That was never part of our original purpose. – A foray now and again, a little mischief making – to tempt those above who have the desire and ability to turn – maybe, not this wholehearted invasion."
Cole narrowed his eyes and turned to the old demon. "I thought that was our purpose," he said bitterly. "To destroy, to hate, to ruin – that's what a demon's lot in life is."
The demonic priest eyed Cole sadly. "It's what is taught to you young ones," he said softly, "But that's not how it is supposed to be. Now, what is your story?"
Cole hesitated a moment, then said "We have escaped from the Wasteland –"
The priest gasped a little, shaking his head. "You are both half-bloods then? Or possibly even more – No full blooded demon can survive the Wasteland. I have heard stories of escapes from there, but till now thought they were just stories. What is it you are looking for?"
"To see if he can regain his powers," said Cole, indicating Jael. "He lost them coming through the barrier."
"And you?" asked Tyron "You have lost your powers?"
"No," replied Cole, "Not yet. I lost my mind the first time I came back though." He added a little sardonically.
"The first time? You have been there and back twice?"
Cole nodded.
"You would have burnt away any residue of your demonic half," said Tyron slowly. "You would be fully human now."
Cole nodded again. "Jael needs to see if he can restore his powers." He told the priest. "Then we will be out of here."
Jael called his attention to a written passage in the manuscript, and they both read the old document.
"It says my powers can't be restored, except through a spell cast by the power of three – what does that mean?"
Cole bit his bottom lip thoughtfully.
"I think it means the Charmed Ones," he said "And they wouldn't do it to help a demon – or half demon. Or anyone innocent or not, if they were associated with me!"
"Not the Charmed Ones," said Tyron knowledgably "They are to help innocents and witches from the other realm. The power of three refers to three high level demons – any three that can agree and work together. They would have the power to return yours. The magic is in the number three. Is there a spell?"
Jael nodded – and read out the spell, which was written in the old language.
"I have absorbed the powers of about 20 demons, upper and lower level," said Cole thoughtfully, "What would happen, if I said the spell?"
Tyron looked at him with surprise and apprehension in his dark eyes, and drew back a little from him.
"I am very old, even by demonic standards," he said quietly, "And I have never known this to have happened before. That much power is dangerous, especially to someone who is now essentially human."
Cole shrugged his shoulders.
"I know," he said quietly, "I feel them eating away at me. But I need to help Jael before I go away – so will this work?"
A commotion in the corridor caused them all to spin around, as two more priests entered the library.
Tyron made a sign to the newcomers, and they came to his side, looking at Cole and Jael with curiosity in their eyes.
"Master – the guards have sent us to search for you. They feel a disturbance in the air – they are coming to see if you know what is happening."
Tyron turned back to Jael, and nodded, motioning the two newcomers to a far corner. He gave the manuscript to Cole, and then stood back himself.
"I hope this works for you," he said and raised his hand to make the blessing sign, very similar to the one a priest in the other realm would make.
"If it doesn't there is little I or my helpers and colleagues can do. Zaytak's guards are fierce, and will kill you if they find you here. And then they will probably kill us as well."
Cole took a deep breath, and focused on the words, which he could barely understand. He spoke each word in a loud whisper, and as he pronounced the last word in the spell, Jael faded from sight, then returned, with a jubilant look on his face.
"Now, you must pretend we overpowered you," said Cole to Tyron, who was backing away. "I am sorry, but I have to do this," and he sent an energy ball into the wall of the library, very near to where Tyron and the other priests were standing. They dived for cover, and Jael faded from sight, followed a second later by Cole.