© Diablo is copyrighted by Blizzard. All rights reserved. All I own are the plot and these names: Kail, Moranah, Ollan, Thorn, and Nikan. J
Chapter Five: Andariel's Last Pain
"Kail!"
"Deckard Cain!" Kail gasped, running towards the weathered old man. The last of the Horadrim held him in his arms, and patted his back like a favorite nephew.
"So pleased to see you again!" Cain said, his voice shaking.
"You…remember?" Kail asked.
"Of course I do," Cain said into his ear. "Moranah? Is she here?"
Kail took the old man's arm and led him to Moran. "Moran…this is Deckard Cain. The last son of the Horadrim."
"Hi," Moran extended a hand.
"Moranah…" Cain rasped. He took her hand and shook it hard. "Moranah…"
"Please, I prefer to be called Moran," Moran grinned. "Sorry, but Moranah doesn't sound familiar to my ears."
"Alright, alright," Cain said. "What matters is that you are here, with us again."
Moran shrugged. "Yeah…"
"Hey, you three are here!" Ollan said, after noticing them. "What happened-Kail? What's wrong with you? You look all green."
"He had an accident at the Tower," Moran said.
"What happened?" Nikan asked.
"Don't ask, I'll tell you when we have time," Kail said. "Come on, we have to set out to the Monastery. The Horadric Malus is waiting for us."
"No," Moran pointed a finger at his chest. "You're staying here. No buts. Damn, you can't even walk correctly."
He opened his mouth to protest but Thorn laid a heavy hand on his shoulder, making him stagger. "Moran's right. You stay here, and we'll take your golems and skeletons."
"Fine," he snapped. "I'm not really useful right? Just a necromancer."
"Kail!"
Every pair of eyes, ranging from Deckard Cain's liquid blues to Moran's deep, warm brown stared at him.
"You're tired, come on," Thorn grabbed him around the waist and shoved him into the tent. "Get some sleep."
He lost his balance and toppled into Ollan's bed. "And stay there!" Thorn yelled.
"Damn," he shut his eyes as nausea traveled up his throat. He gagged and covered his mouth.
"Kail?"
"I'll be fine-" he leapt off Ollan's bed, poked his head out of the tent and vomited into the grass.
"Um…you need anything from Akara?" Thorn asked.
"No!" Kail gripped his head. It hurt so much.
"Concussion," Moran said. "If only I had a Tylenol or an aspirin."
"What?" Thorn asked her.
"Nothing," Moran sighed. "Kail?"
Answering took a lot of effort. "What?" He asked.
"Get to bed," she said and turned to Thorn. "Can you open up the tent? Fresh air's what he needs."
"Sure. Come on, partner," Thorn helped Kail up to his feet and to the bed. He opened up the tent and cool air flowed in. With a grin to his friend, the barbarian left.
"Here," Moran returned with a bottle of clear liquid that looked exactly like water, but it moved like oil, and a bowl of something steaming.
"Here, salty broth helps," she plunked the bowl in front of him. "Drink this and take Akara's potion."
"Thanks," Kail lifted the bowl and set it on the floor. It was burning his legs.
"Kail?" Moran said.
"What?"
"Promise me you won't leave the bed?" A smile cracked on her lips.
"I promise you nothing," he said, turning his back to her and shut his eyes to sleep.
"Kail?"
"What?"
He felt a pair of soft lips on his cheek.
He opened his eyes and swallowed. Was she? Was she remembering? Could it be?
"That, pal, was because I pity you," she winked. "Don't get any ideas. I think it'll make you feel better though." She left.
Kail could feel a blush creeping up his cheek as he rubbed he spot where she kissed him. That could heal him better than any healing potion if Diablo had struck him on the head with Thorn's body.
Smiling, he shut his eyes and slept.
"Actually, this place is…beautiful," Moran said, looking at the Inner Cloister of the Rogues' Monastery. If she could ignore the bloodstains on the grass and stone, and focus her attention on the fountain, she could deeply appreciate the place. The fountain was what really caught her attention. It was made out of gray granite, and had life-sized stone models of the rogues posing with bows and arrows on it. Clear, shimmering water still flowed from it.
"Amazing how it does not flow with blood," Ollan said darkly.
"Somehow, Andariel's evil magic didn't get to it," Nikan said. "Drink, it'll give us strength for later on."
Moran dipped her hands into the water and poured it into her mouth.
By holiness and evilness, I swear to this fountain that I will love you to my dying day.
"MORAN!"
"Oh!" Moran gasped as she opened her eyes. "What happened?"
"You let a Gargantuan hit you, knocked you out for several seconds," Nikan patted her on the arm. "You feel better?"
Moran rolled on her arm and saw the beast lying besides her with a huge hole ripped in its chest. "Wow…yeah, I'm fine."
"Let's go," Nikan pulled her up. "The others are already inside, we've got to catch up."
Moran ran after the Amazon, stopping only to freeze a couple of Fallen Shaman on their way into the Barracks. Nikan suddenly shot out an arm, catching Moran in the chest. She wheezed and coughed.
"Watch it," Moran hissed, massaging her chest. "Ow."
"Shh!" Nikan said. "When I tell you duck, duck!"
"Okay," Moran bent her knees.
"DUCK!"
Moran went down on one knee as she heard something whiz above her head, followed by a loud groan and the sounds of blood splattering. Moran felt some of it run down her neck and forehead.
She turned around to find a dead Demon, taller than her by about a head and wider than Thorn by about twice. It had horns growing out from its raw, red baldhead. The little clothing it wore was torn and covered with blood.
"That is The Smith," Nikan said. "He guards the Horadric Malus."
"Wow," Nikan wiped off the blood on her cheek. "How did you see him? It's so dark and he moves like the Hollow Man."
"Amazonian Inner Sight," Nikan grinned. "By the way, what's a Hollow Man?"
Moran laughed. "Nothing, Nikan. Where'd the others?"
"Probably getting the Malus," Nikan said. "Let's go."
They ran through a few more rooms, into what looked like an armory with a-
"What the freak is that?" Moran pointed to a small creature jumping up and down. It was weird looking thing, about the size of a Chihuahua, a face like a rat but with bloated lips, greasy black hair that fell down to its waist, and holding a large cleaver.
"Rat Man," Nikan said, without looking up from pulling the Malus out of a chest. "Step on him."
Moran walked up to it, watching the creature jump up and down.
"Hey, little guy," she said. "Care to die?"
She swung her staff and it died without a sound.
"Annoying things aren't they?" Nikan said, swinging a forging hammer back and forth in her hands. "Can't believe Andariel has them for her army. Thorn told me they're rats that bloated when Andariel's poison touches them."
"Damn, they look like Chihuahuas," Moran shook her head. "Is that?"
"Yes, it's the Horadric Malus," Charsi grinned.
"Where are the others?" Moran asked.
"No idea," Nikan tucked the malus into her backpack.
"They went off without us?"
"No," Nikan shook her head. "They won't do that. They never did."
Moran's eyes went down to the floor and she noticed two streaks of blood that made a trail. It traveled around the corner and disappeared yet into another room.
"Nikan…look," she pointed to the blood. "We didn't do that did we?"
Nikan suddenly went still. She dropped down on her knees and swiped a finger in the blood. She brought it to her lips.
"NIKAN! What are you doing?" Moran yelled.
"It's human!" Nikan gasped.
"You don't think…"
"THORN!" Nikan screamed. "OLLAN!"
Her voice echoed along the empty halls.
"Oh my god, what happened to them?" Moran covered her mouth with a hand.
"Wait!" Nikan said. "You don't think-"
"I don't think what?"
"Look," Nikan grabbed her arms. "Cain said a few, besides us, would remember what happened before this. You don't think Andariel…"
"What if…" Moran felt as if someone had swung a club into her middle. "Oh FUCK!"
"Andariel remembered!" Nikan gasped, her hands shaking so hard the javelin fell from her grip. "Andariel remembered! She was ready for us! She took Ollan and Thorn!"
Moran grabbed the amazon's strong arm. "Wait! What if Ollan and Thorn were bait?"
"Well then, I'm a strong fish," Nikan's fist shook angrily. "My mouth is harder than any steel bait. Wait till I get hold of that spider-"
"Then let's go," Moran picked up the javelin and thrust it at Nikan's hand. "Charsi's malus can wait. Thorn and Ollan can't."
"I KNOW Thorn would get us in trouble some day," Nikan hissed. "If I get him out alive, I am going to kill him!"
They ran, following the streaks of blood, running up and down stairs, stopping only twice to finish off a Banished and a group of Ghouls.
"Nikan!" Moran gasped, clutching the stitch at her side, panting. She took a deep breath. "Slow down!"
Nikan gave off an angry sound, but stopped. Moran ran up to her, clutching her chest. "Where are we?"
"Third floor of the catacombs," she said. "Andariel lies in her throne room the floor below us. See if you have any antidotes."
Moran checked her belt and her bag. "No," she said.
"Damn," Nikan hissed. "Well, when Andariel releases her poison fumes, try to stay out of the way."
She disappeared down the stairs, and cursing, Moran ran after her. They were met by a horde of Banished.
"Freeze them, Moran," Nikan hissed. "I'll finish them off."
"Ah!" Moran ducked as one of the Banished shot an exploding ball of fire at them. It grazed her knee, leaving a hissing wound behind. She clutched her leg as blood dripped down her calf.
"Moran! Freeze them!"
She released bolt after bolt of ice, and slowly, what was left of the Banished were their black robes and staves. Pain rang through her leg as she tried to stand up.
"Are you all right?" Nikan asked.
Moran winced as she touched the hissing wound. "I'll be fine. Let's go."
The swung open the door, and a grisly sight met their eyes. Severeal Rogue Sisters were tied up to poles, their bodies charred from fire. A few were decaying on he ground, with broken swords through their hearts.
But what made her heart stop with terror was what she saw on the ground. A large section of the stone was pried away to create a basin, in which was filled with blood and had several naked, decapitated bodies and insides floating in it. Moran gagged.
"Oh my god," she gasped.
"Andariel…" Nikan pointed to large set of doors. "Lies behind those doors."
Tearing her eyes from the blood and bodies, she gripped her staff and walked slowly to the door.
"On four, kick it open," Nikan said, clutching her javelin. Moran could see bits of lightning flickering on it.
"One…"
Please, don't let Thorn and Ollan die, Moran prayed.
"Two…"
Let Andariel die…
"Three…"
Please, please, Moran whispered in the depths of her heart. Let me return home.
"FOUR! NOW!"'
Moran shoved her booted feet against the wood, and she could hear Nikan's part of the door splinter and break. The doors swung open to reveal a totally dark room with one beam of light falling on-
"Thorn! Ollan!" Nikan cried, running towards the other two who bounded together and on the floor.
"NO!" Moran lunged for the Amazon but it was too late. "NIKAN!"
Her scream ricocheted off the walls.
Moran clutched her forehead. Three down, one to go.
"Nikan! Nikan!" She gasped.
"Die, maggot!!"
It was Andariel.
She rose to a fearful height, flaming hair and all, twice as tall as Moran. The Demon Queen was naked, and every muscle bulged with an unnatural strength. Spider pincers shot out from her back, each of them sporting long, red claws.
Don't attack first, Moran told herself. Let Andariel attack first.
"Why, it's the little sorceress," Anadriel hissed. "DIE!"
Moran ducked the poison fumes just in time. Her hair slapped against her sweaty forehead and neck. She suddenly slipped on some of the blood from a recent victim and she fell, her body thudding painfully on the stone.
She looked up and saw Andariel grinning down at her.
The Queen swung with one of her hands.
The soup bowl Kail was holding suddenly slipped from his hands for no reason and hit the floor, shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.
"MORAN!" He suddenly shouted. He grabbed his wand, war sword, and dashed out to the Waypoint.
Moran felt herself flying through the air, but found it surprisingly painless. Somehow…Andariel didn't hit her with her full force. Something…a shield or something had come suddenly between her and Anadriel's pincers.
She landed in the blood basin along with the decapitated bodies, and someone else.
Gagging, she tossed her staff up and grabbed a bobbing body besides her. With an effort of standing on a decapitated chest, she pulled herself up and the person.
It was a Corrupted Rogue.
"Wha-what did you do?" Moran asked.
The Rogue grinned at her. "Well, Andariel's not worth it for you to be killed. You deserve to live. I don't."
"Well…thanks," Moran said. The dying Rogue gave her one more bloody grin, and shut her eyes.
"Live peacefully in Heaven," Moran whispered.
Anger surged through her.
"DIE ANDARIEL!" She ran towards her.
Andariel suddenly stopped in her tracks. Red blood streaked with bright, neon green spurted from her lips. Fire burst from the ceiling and ground and smothered her.
"NOOOOO!" Andariel screamed. "AAAAAAHHHH!"
The ground shook violently and several pieces of stone came flying from the ceiling. Moran rolled underneath a chair and held her head under her protective arms.
The shaking stopped.
The fire died away.
Coughing violently, Moran crawled from the chair. A hand appeared in front of her.
"Kail!" She gasped, looking up and seeing the Necromancer grinning. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I can't resist it when it comes to killing Andariel," he grinned. "I don't want to be left out."
She took his hand and he helped her up. "Where are the others?"
"Oh my god…" she ran over to Nikan's limp body. Fear rang through her body as she shook the Amazon. "Nikan, Nikan!"
"I'm fine," Nikan moaned.
"Damn!" Moran sat back, breathing a sigh of relief. "I thought you died."
"So did I," Nikan coughed. "Hey, what's wrong? You're covered in blood."
"I fell in that basin thing out there," Moran shrugged and looked over to Kail who was untying Ollan and Thorn.
"Guys! You're alive!" Moran dashed up to Thorn and threw a bear hug around the Barbarian's shoulders, which was an easy task since he was half lying on the floor. "I thought you died too."
"Can't believe it," Thorn moaned. "I let those little Rat Mans get me and Ollan!"
"Rat Mans?" Kail raised an eyebrow.
Moran collapsed, laughing. "Behold, the big and brave Barbarian."
A few days later, everything settled into place. The rogues moved back into the Monastery, and the encampment was slowly turning back into part of the meadow. Moran thought she would probably die screaming if another Rogue had walked up to her and said a thank you along with a hug. The others agreed.
"I mean, my shoulders are so sore," she moaned.
Ollan laughed. "Maybe I should put up my thorn aura. Return the damage back to them."
"Hey, caravan's ready!" Warriv shouted. A horse's whinny rose high along with a snort from a camel.
"Dibs on the wagon with the biggest mattress!" Thorn shouted.
"Stupid," Nikan rolled her eyes. "You ready Moran?"
"Yeah, one more thing," she swept past Kail and tossed him her bulging pack. "Hold these for me for a second will you?"
He caught it and staggered.
She ran up to Kashya. "Kashya?"
"Oh, hello," Kashya said.
"I, um, wanted to say this to you," Moran grinned. "Sorry for the slap."
Kashya's stern face broke into a true smile. "No problem, outlander. And thank you, for everything."
Surprised, she pulled Moran into a hug. "Thank you…friend."
Moran grinned into the red hair. "No problem."
"MORAN!" She heard Kail shout. "We have to go!"
"Bye," Moran pulled away and head out to the long caravan train. She pulled herself into the wagon they were all sharing. Warriv had loaded it with mattresses, fluffy pillows, and food of all sorts.
"On to Lut Gholein," Kail said as they pulled off, away to the East.