Chapter Six- Madness Reigns... in the Hall of the Mountain King!
Several days had passed since that general had sent his slayers to destroy me. In that time we have not yet heard from that "vampire" Angel, but we have begun to learn more of the Legend of the Mountain King.
Rumor has it that he dwells in a place beyond both time and space. This clearly was exaggeration on the part of history, and I had begun to suspect that it was not a place beyond time and space rather a place unchanged- the relatively unchanging depths of a cave.
Tales also claim that this "king" dwells somewhere in the hills surrounding this city. If this were indeed true I would find him and the ally Raziel had supposedly promised me would be free at last.
And so I readied myself, sheathing the sword that contained the soul of my fallen friend, and pulling on the double sets of gloves. I turned to leave, but felt the resistance of the twined soft hands grasping the bend of my arm.
"What is it?"
"I'm not letting you go alone."
"I haven't time for this."
"Then you will make time, because whether you like it or not, I'm coming with you."
"Whether I like it or not? Do not force me to make you stay- it would not be advantageous for you." I had to admit I was angry as shades of Umah entered my mind.
"You need me." How was it she spoke so calmly? Did she know the lie I was keeping? The lie I told her, I could hardly bring myself to imagine hurting her.
"How so?"
"I know those hills. Besides, how long can you stand to be in your bat form before you simply become too tired to fly? And walking? Would clearly take days."
She was right, and I hated it. Not that she was right, not that I needed help, but the truth is I cannot bare losing another friend.
So, we left- I brooding on the future I envisioned- her death, her thoughts, I would never know.
The journey, I found, required two days. These hills I found to be like the badlands of Nosgoth, desert lands. Vultures soaring high in the hot arid air, as other land bound animals hid from the hot summer sky.
As I feared, this weather would be too hot for Lori to bare for long, made evident by the waves of heat a crossed the desert soil. Grudgingly I invited her to what I knew would be her death. "Shall we?"
With a nod she accepted her doom. We traveled closed mouthed, the noise of our footfalls being the only conversation we would share.
I wondered would she do as Umah had and betray me? I had loved her, only to have her steal the Nexus Stone from me in an unguarded moment. Would Lori do something similar?
"Lets stop a moment." I sighed was this the beginning of the endless rest periods that would slow my endeavor? "I need to look at the map."
The map, not a rest, I was impressed, for we have traveled many miles up this rocky hill. I watched as she removed the pack she carried at her back and as she retrieved the map she had packed safely inside.
She bid me closer; as I did she pointed to the parchment and spoke with the knowledge of a scout. "This is where we are, here. See these dots here; these are the known caves in this area. This one, claim the authorities, has a toxic level of sulfur dioxide in the air. For this reason they have grated it off. The others are open for exploration."
I understood what she was saying. "You believe the toxicity of the air is a cover story?"
"Exactly. If there is anywhere in these hills to explore, it would be that one."
"Very well." The journey took not hours but days. I had expected her to complain about the heat as well as the length of our little expedition, but to her credit she said not a word against it- I was truly impressed.
The entrance of this cave could easily be missed, as an outcropping of rocks and heavy growth of shrubbery covered it on one side and pinion pines surrounding it on the other two. But as we neared, passing through the forest of pines, the mouth of this grated off cavern came visible.
"I don't smell sulfur."
"Never the less, I'll go in first if no sign of sulfur is present, I return for you." She nodded. I stole slowly towards that grate and passed through it in mist form.
As I did I stepped into another world, everywhere the corridors were glazed with the purest white crystal. In the center of this alien world ran a small stream where small white fish swam and white crabs scuttled about.
I returned to her, watching as that white glaze slowly turned to red stone then to the bright light of day that shown through the grate. "The air is pure."
Using my magic, I teleported her to the place I stood. "You can't imagine the break taking beauty I've seen below."
She smiled and reached in to the steel framed pack and removed from it two long black items. "Take this it will help you see in the dark."
I took it in hand, but had not yet activated it; there was no need until further down into the depths.
As we continued through this crystal dreamland that seemed to gleam with the light from the glow sticks Lori had provided, I understood why the Mountain King would make his home in such a place. If there was no way to return home, if I am to remain here forever this will be the seat of my empire.
Our journey took us deeper into that cavern and now two days from the surface. We continued, talking and walking side-by-side, but we stopped suddenly, our voices stilled as the underdark opened to an enormous height and width and revealed a colossal palace at its center.
Silently we stood, gazing at that palace crafted masterfully by some unknown hand and from that very material that gave this place its white radiance. Handsome white angels looked down protectively from the great height of that palace.
Below I imagined a city of my kind dwelling under the protection of that castle. I shook that thought away, I needed to return home, and the ally trapped within that castle might, in time, be the one to do it.
We stole further down that trail, still in awe of that great retreat. Enormous crystal snakes wound chokingly up the columns supporting a lower steeped roof, and other crystal snakes, maws gaping wide, supported the walls as unique flying buttresses.
The oaken door opened with a slow groan, and I silently cursed it, the need for silence was paramount and a single object had thwarted it. I unsheathed the Reaver, and scanned the foyer; it was lit with flickering torches, which sent ominous shadows throughout that open chamber.
A quick look found that Lori was unshaken and had found the weapon she kept in that pack of hers, a handheld weapon she had called a handgun. She was brave to follow me, and deep inside I was glad she had come; it wasn't for the advice she had given that had allowed me to find this place, but for another reason.
We tread slowly through that place. In spite of our greatest efforts our steps were blasphemously loud, such is the cause when this place had not known sound in hundreds perhaps thousands of years.
What manner of man would dwell in such a place, far from contact of any kind? I would soon find out.
"We're alone in here."
I acknowledged her whisper with a nod. "How can a man dwell in a place like this, a place without contact, a place without sound? Look even the light has gone mad from loneliness." I pointed to the dancing flames, which seemed to contain the very power of insanity.
She shook her head, but we soon would have our answer as we pulled open the oaken double doors of the throne room, where the "king" held court over an imaginary kingdom.
And there, on his throne, sat the Mountain King. Sitting stone faced looking forward as if he had not noticed our entrance.
His stark white hair hang down past his shoulders poorly hiding his nature, the deformity of his face marked him as a "vampire", even through his long white beard was this evident.
I chuckled, as I noticed the golden crown on his head and the scepter at his hand. Even with my chuckle his deep dark eyes refused to acknowledge me.
"Kain, look." I turned my eyes to where Lori was pointing and my jaw dropped in surprise. There chained to the wall hung the weakened body of an ancient. So Janos had not been the last.
I turned towards him, ignoring the mentally unaware "king" but just as I placed a hand on the shoulder of one of my vampire ancestors, the Mountain King suddenly came to life.
His voiced boomed calling down a list of sins and calling us by name, Samuel and Sariah. He charged us, screaming curses and alleged crimes this Samuel and Sariah had apparently committed against him.
His scepter slashed the air with maddening speed, and the blows his insane battering allowed him to land slammed down like boulders.
Like my fallen friend Magnus, the bite of our weapons phased him little. Then he called his children home.
Zombies tore themselves from the walls, five, ten, and thirteen. The pops of Lori's weapon sounding above the "kings" mad ravings and the zombies' low groans.
So this was what happened to the other Samuels and Sariahs they now fight us as undead. He's killed so many of them and yet his madness won't let him realize it. Looking at these rotting corpses I finally understood why he lived alone, everyone who had come to visit now serve him as his lifeless children.
The zombies fell easily to our weapons. As I destroyed the last of them I turned and found the Mountain King kneeling over Lori, his mouth opening.
I ran to her, and saw her eyes widen, as he bit into her neck, in anger I thrust the Reaver deep into his body with such force it clove him in two, the dust of his failing form fell, cloaking her in a gray shroud, chocking her. She was alive, that was all that mattered.
I helped her up, and we both tread together to that captured ancient vampire. He raised his head weakly, and spoke in a breathy tone. "Shandi... you left South Dakota?"
"Shandi? Why did he call you Shandi?"
"That's my name, Shandi Audron."
We released the vampire and I supported him on my shoulder. I looked at her, and watched as her human disguise fell away, before me stood an ancient vampire that seemed oddly familiar.
"And you Nehemiah, you're no longer at your post? Did you grow bored of playing a Frenchman?"
"Well yes. But the truth of the matter is this, have you heard the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat'?"
"I have."
"That was nearly the case Shandi. I found evidence that the 'Book of Life' was owned by the Mountain King."
"What is this book? Explain."
"It's a book of power, Kain. Written by the hand of the archangel Azrael himself. One who reads the book, and knows the true name of a being, has complete control over him. This power can be anything from releasing him from a mythical imprisonment, returning him to life, striking him dead with a word, or you could even take complete control of his actions."
"Shandi's correct, but moreover only those whose heart is good may read from the book or be struck mad. It's possible that that was the cause of our dust pile's madness."
"And it could release someone from mythical bounds, could it also separate him from a twined soul leaving the soul bound?"
"If the legends are true than anything concerning the life or death of a creature is possible."
I took Nehemiah's words to heart; and I would consider his words later. "What is a 'true name'?"
Shandi answered me; I would have more questions for her later. "Every being existed before it was born, during this time we were each given a name one that only the various planes of existence would know. Should someone come to know the true name of a creature you would wield incredible power over him."
I understood. If this were true I would use that power to destroy the Elder with its own name. "Then let us find this book then."
They nodded, as we began to search Nehemiah asked an interesting question. "Why did you leave your post in South Dakota?"
"Wolfram and Hart changed management, I wanted to see it for myself."
"And who is it?"
"Angel, Nehemiah."
"Angelus! He's the worst of his kind."
"You haven't heard? He was cursed with a soul, lately he's been trying to redeem himself."
So, these ancients knew my new "ally", and what did they mean about not being at their posts? Were there others here as well? I wondered.
*Hey kids! Who would have thought Lori was really an ancient named Shandi Audron? Me! I did, yay me! Anyhow, the House of Hair is nearly done and my wrist hurts so, I'm going to go watch too much TV! What should happen next, and why does Shandi seem familiar to Kain? I know why she's familiar, buy you guess, maybe you're right. If you guess right you get a free piece of dry cat food! Any ideas on the next chapter, what will happen now that Angel has had a few days to believe that Buffy is dead? Should I add Raziel to the story? You tell me! *
Several days had passed since that general had sent his slayers to destroy me. In that time we have not yet heard from that "vampire" Angel, but we have begun to learn more of the Legend of the Mountain King.
Rumor has it that he dwells in a place beyond both time and space. This clearly was exaggeration on the part of history, and I had begun to suspect that it was not a place beyond time and space rather a place unchanged- the relatively unchanging depths of a cave.
Tales also claim that this "king" dwells somewhere in the hills surrounding this city. If this were indeed true I would find him and the ally Raziel had supposedly promised me would be free at last.
And so I readied myself, sheathing the sword that contained the soul of my fallen friend, and pulling on the double sets of gloves. I turned to leave, but felt the resistance of the twined soft hands grasping the bend of my arm.
"What is it?"
"I'm not letting you go alone."
"I haven't time for this."
"Then you will make time, because whether you like it or not, I'm coming with you."
"Whether I like it or not? Do not force me to make you stay- it would not be advantageous for you." I had to admit I was angry as shades of Umah entered my mind.
"You need me." How was it she spoke so calmly? Did she know the lie I was keeping? The lie I told her, I could hardly bring myself to imagine hurting her.
"How so?"
"I know those hills. Besides, how long can you stand to be in your bat form before you simply become too tired to fly? And walking? Would clearly take days."
She was right, and I hated it. Not that she was right, not that I needed help, but the truth is I cannot bare losing another friend.
So, we left- I brooding on the future I envisioned- her death, her thoughts, I would never know.
The journey, I found, required two days. These hills I found to be like the badlands of Nosgoth, desert lands. Vultures soaring high in the hot arid air, as other land bound animals hid from the hot summer sky.
As I feared, this weather would be too hot for Lori to bare for long, made evident by the waves of heat a crossed the desert soil. Grudgingly I invited her to what I knew would be her death. "Shall we?"
With a nod she accepted her doom. We traveled closed mouthed, the noise of our footfalls being the only conversation we would share.
I wondered would she do as Umah had and betray me? I had loved her, only to have her steal the Nexus Stone from me in an unguarded moment. Would Lori do something similar?
"Lets stop a moment." I sighed was this the beginning of the endless rest periods that would slow my endeavor? "I need to look at the map."
The map, not a rest, I was impressed, for we have traveled many miles up this rocky hill. I watched as she removed the pack she carried at her back and as she retrieved the map she had packed safely inside.
She bid me closer; as I did she pointed to the parchment and spoke with the knowledge of a scout. "This is where we are, here. See these dots here; these are the known caves in this area. This one, claim the authorities, has a toxic level of sulfur dioxide in the air. For this reason they have grated it off. The others are open for exploration."
I understood what she was saying. "You believe the toxicity of the air is a cover story?"
"Exactly. If there is anywhere in these hills to explore, it would be that one."
"Very well." The journey took not hours but days. I had expected her to complain about the heat as well as the length of our little expedition, but to her credit she said not a word against it- I was truly impressed.
The entrance of this cave could easily be missed, as an outcropping of rocks and heavy growth of shrubbery covered it on one side and pinion pines surrounding it on the other two. But as we neared, passing through the forest of pines, the mouth of this grated off cavern came visible.
"I don't smell sulfur."
"Never the less, I'll go in first if no sign of sulfur is present, I return for you." She nodded. I stole slowly towards that grate and passed through it in mist form.
As I did I stepped into another world, everywhere the corridors were glazed with the purest white crystal. In the center of this alien world ran a small stream where small white fish swam and white crabs scuttled about.
I returned to her, watching as that white glaze slowly turned to red stone then to the bright light of day that shown through the grate. "The air is pure."
Using my magic, I teleported her to the place I stood. "You can't imagine the break taking beauty I've seen below."
She smiled and reached in to the steel framed pack and removed from it two long black items. "Take this it will help you see in the dark."
I took it in hand, but had not yet activated it; there was no need until further down into the depths.
As we continued through this crystal dreamland that seemed to gleam with the light from the glow sticks Lori had provided, I understood why the Mountain King would make his home in such a place. If there was no way to return home, if I am to remain here forever this will be the seat of my empire.
Our journey took us deeper into that cavern and now two days from the surface. We continued, talking and walking side-by-side, but we stopped suddenly, our voices stilled as the underdark opened to an enormous height and width and revealed a colossal palace at its center.
Silently we stood, gazing at that palace crafted masterfully by some unknown hand and from that very material that gave this place its white radiance. Handsome white angels looked down protectively from the great height of that palace.
Below I imagined a city of my kind dwelling under the protection of that castle. I shook that thought away, I needed to return home, and the ally trapped within that castle might, in time, be the one to do it.
We stole further down that trail, still in awe of that great retreat. Enormous crystal snakes wound chokingly up the columns supporting a lower steeped roof, and other crystal snakes, maws gaping wide, supported the walls as unique flying buttresses.
The oaken door opened with a slow groan, and I silently cursed it, the need for silence was paramount and a single object had thwarted it. I unsheathed the Reaver, and scanned the foyer; it was lit with flickering torches, which sent ominous shadows throughout that open chamber.
A quick look found that Lori was unshaken and had found the weapon she kept in that pack of hers, a handheld weapon she had called a handgun. She was brave to follow me, and deep inside I was glad she had come; it wasn't for the advice she had given that had allowed me to find this place, but for another reason.
We tread slowly through that place. In spite of our greatest efforts our steps were blasphemously loud, such is the cause when this place had not known sound in hundreds perhaps thousands of years.
What manner of man would dwell in such a place, far from contact of any kind? I would soon find out.
"We're alone in here."
I acknowledged her whisper with a nod. "How can a man dwell in a place like this, a place without contact, a place without sound? Look even the light has gone mad from loneliness." I pointed to the dancing flames, which seemed to contain the very power of insanity.
She shook her head, but we soon would have our answer as we pulled open the oaken double doors of the throne room, where the "king" held court over an imaginary kingdom.
And there, on his throne, sat the Mountain King. Sitting stone faced looking forward as if he had not noticed our entrance.
His stark white hair hang down past his shoulders poorly hiding his nature, the deformity of his face marked him as a "vampire", even through his long white beard was this evident.
I chuckled, as I noticed the golden crown on his head and the scepter at his hand. Even with my chuckle his deep dark eyes refused to acknowledge me.
"Kain, look." I turned my eyes to where Lori was pointing and my jaw dropped in surprise. There chained to the wall hung the weakened body of an ancient. So Janos had not been the last.
I turned towards him, ignoring the mentally unaware "king" but just as I placed a hand on the shoulder of one of my vampire ancestors, the Mountain King suddenly came to life.
His voiced boomed calling down a list of sins and calling us by name, Samuel and Sariah. He charged us, screaming curses and alleged crimes this Samuel and Sariah had apparently committed against him.
His scepter slashed the air with maddening speed, and the blows his insane battering allowed him to land slammed down like boulders.
Like my fallen friend Magnus, the bite of our weapons phased him little. Then he called his children home.
Zombies tore themselves from the walls, five, ten, and thirteen. The pops of Lori's weapon sounding above the "kings" mad ravings and the zombies' low groans.
So this was what happened to the other Samuels and Sariahs they now fight us as undead. He's killed so many of them and yet his madness won't let him realize it. Looking at these rotting corpses I finally understood why he lived alone, everyone who had come to visit now serve him as his lifeless children.
The zombies fell easily to our weapons. As I destroyed the last of them I turned and found the Mountain King kneeling over Lori, his mouth opening.
I ran to her, and saw her eyes widen, as he bit into her neck, in anger I thrust the Reaver deep into his body with such force it clove him in two, the dust of his failing form fell, cloaking her in a gray shroud, chocking her. She was alive, that was all that mattered.
I helped her up, and we both tread together to that captured ancient vampire. He raised his head weakly, and spoke in a breathy tone. "Shandi... you left South Dakota?"
"Shandi? Why did he call you Shandi?"
"That's my name, Shandi Audron."
We released the vampire and I supported him on my shoulder. I looked at her, and watched as her human disguise fell away, before me stood an ancient vampire that seemed oddly familiar.
"And you Nehemiah, you're no longer at your post? Did you grow bored of playing a Frenchman?"
"Well yes. But the truth of the matter is this, have you heard the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat'?"
"I have."
"That was nearly the case Shandi. I found evidence that the 'Book of Life' was owned by the Mountain King."
"What is this book? Explain."
"It's a book of power, Kain. Written by the hand of the archangel Azrael himself. One who reads the book, and knows the true name of a being, has complete control over him. This power can be anything from releasing him from a mythical imprisonment, returning him to life, striking him dead with a word, or you could even take complete control of his actions."
"Shandi's correct, but moreover only those whose heart is good may read from the book or be struck mad. It's possible that that was the cause of our dust pile's madness."
"And it could release someone from mythical bounds, could it also separate him from a twined soul leaving the soul bound?"
"If the legends are true than anything concerning the life or death of a creature is possible."
I took Nehemiah's words to heart; and I would consider his words later. "What is a 'true name'?"
Shandi answered me; I would have more questions for her later. "Every being existed before it was born, during this time we were each given a name one that only the various planes of existence would know. Should someone come to know the true name of a creature you would wield incredible power over him."
I understood. If this were true I would use that power to destroy the Elder with its own name. "Then let us find this book then."
They nodded, as we began to search Nehemiah asked an interesting question. "Why did you leave your post in South Dakota?"
"Wolfram and Hart changed management, I wanted to see it for myself."
"And who is it?"
"Angel, Nehemiah."
"Angelus! He's the worst of his kind."
"You haven't heard? He was cursed with a soul, lately he's been trying to redeem himself."
So, these ancients knew my new "ally", and what did they mean about not being at their posts? Were there others here as well? I wondered.
*Hey kids! Who would have thought Lori was really an ancient named Shandi Audron? Me! I did, yay me! Anyhow, the House of Hair is nearly done and my wrist hurts so, I'm going to go watch too much TV! What should happen next, and why does Shandi seem familiar to Kain? I know why she's familiar, buy you guess, maybe you're right. If you guess right you get a free piece of dry cat food! Any ideas on the next chapter, what will happen now that Angel has had a few days to believe that Buffy is dead? Should I add Raziel to the story? You tell me! *