1Chapter Eight: Memories Pt 2 (Revelations)

Raven could sense his turmoil, which frightened her slightly. She had never seen him quite like this. And what did he mean he had been lying?

"About what?" She asked, hurt and confused.

"I have... I..." He closed his eyes and set his thoughts strait. There was no going back now. He could convince her to leave him alone about it, that much he knew, but she would never trust him again. And he didn't want to lie anymore.

"I haven't had amnesia in ten years. It faded when you were six."

"W-what?" Raven asked, stunned. That wasn't what she was expecting to hear at all, "Why didn't you tell me? I mean, why didn't you tell us? Mother and-"

"She knew."

Raven blinked, then asked softly, "Then why didn't she tell me? Why didn't you tell me? I don't understand."

Einderan brought his knees up, letting his crossed arms lay on them. He leaned forward, letting his forehead rest on his arms, trying to curl up and disappear.

His sister glared at him, but then her face softened, "Oh, I... I don't have to know. If it hurts that bad..."

"No. You deserve to know. Alright. Let me start off with this. I look eighteen right?"

She nodded.

"Well, I'm not. But you knew that. Here's the part you didn't know. I am quite aware of my age."

"So... how old are you?"

"Two hundred seventy nine."

Raven's jaw dropped. Staring blankly, she didn't know what to say for a long while. Then she asked, "But, how is that possible?"

"I'm also quite sure that I'm not from Azarath." He stopped for a second, then stretched his legs back out, let his arms fall to his sides, and leaned back again. Einderan thought for a moment, the answered her unsaid question, "I never met my mother. I don't even remember my home."

"So, what have you been doing for the last two hundred seventy some-odd years?"

"I was getting to that. Just, this is hard Raven. I've never told this to anyone except for your mother." Einderan paused, the continued, "Anyway. It's not a bad question. What was I doing? Learning. I was being taught, cultured, molded."

"By whom? And to what purpose?"

Einderan smiled bitterly, "I thought that would be obvious. I was being taught by Trigon. To become general of his armies..."

FLASHBACK

"No thought. No hesitation. No mercy."

Einderan looked to his opponent, a lower class demon soldier. He repeated his father's words again and again in his head.

"No thought, no hesitation, no mercy... Don't think about what I'm doing. Don't hesitate to do what I need to do. No mercy, hmmm... I wonder what mercy means."

He looked around, knowing instinctively that his father was watching. Trigon was always watching. However, he was very surprised to actually see him standing at the edge of the ring. His body was the same size as normal, but size was relative. He could be a giant, or a speck, it didn't matter.

"Mercy? Have I not taught you that, dear son?"

Einderan stood still for a moment. Trigon had never called him that. Why did he? A trick? Then he shook it off, "No father, you never did."

"Well, I think it's time you learned. Mercy is weakness. Mercy is cowardice. Mercy is letting an opponent live. Mercy is something a weakling will give to an opponent so they won't have to follow through with the conviction of battle. Weakness, cowardice, that is mercy."

Einderan just stared for a long time. Then an evil smile crossed his lips, "Thank you father, I am grateful for the lesson."

Trigon's face remained blank. No emotion whatsoever.

Einderan turned back to his opponent, forming his energy into a sword. The demon soldier did the same.

Without any hesitation they rushed each other. Einderan slashed from the side, dodging to the left to avoid a stab from his opponent. His attack was ducked, and countered.

The sorcerer barely jumped out of the arc of the demon's swing, but did get away unscathed. He stabbed quickly, but it was parried to the right. Einderan used the tension in his arms to swing it back as hard as he could.

Einderan and the demon's blades locked together, each trying to overpower the other. It appeared they were evenly matched.

Trigon watched, without looking at all involved. Come on boy, do something right for once.

'I have to win' Einderan thought 'I must win. Father is there, I can't lose. I must show him I am worthy.'

However, his line of thought was broken when the more experienced demon quickly jerked his blade to the side. The momentum of it pulled Einderan off balance, his own blade flying out of his hand and dissipating into nothingness.

Einderan landed on his side, and the demon raised his sword high above his head.

It occurred to the sorcerer that the demon had not heard his father's lesson. His mind instantly formed a plan to make his father proud.

He raised his arm up, and yelled, "Mercy!"

Trigon's eyes glowed red in anger hearing the word. The insolence of the boy! He would die!

The demon hesitated, looking over to Trigon.

Then Trigon saw something that confused him to no end. A black spike suddenly impaled itself through the demon soldier. Looking for the source, he found it to be...

Einderan?

His grin was insane, sadistic, evil. He began to laugh as the demon screamed in pain, falling over and letting his weapon dissipate. Einderan stood up, looking down to the soldier.

"Mercy... What a laughable concept. Mercy is for the weak, like you."

With that, he delivered a powerful kick to the demon's face, bringing out another cry of pain.

Trigon was stunned for a second. Then Einderan turned to him, smiling like a true prince of demons, "I see what you mean father. Mercy is weakness. I believe your army has become infested with this 'mercy'."

It hit Trigon at that moment. He smiled, then laughed, walking over to him, "You had me worried for a moment, but now I see. You are my son. You had that planned didn't you?"

"Press every weakness. Exploit every advantage. Strike without thought, without hesitation, without mercy. I knew he would freeze, if only for a second."

Trigon put a hand on his son's shoulder, "Merciless, as a son of Trigon should be. I had my doubts, but you have cast them aside. Ruthless. Cunning. You knew his fear of me would stop his attack if you cried mercy, and you knew that was when to attack."

The demon overlord turned to the demon, who was still on the ground, holding his wound. He picked up the soldier with one hand, "You should have known. Don't show mercy to the merciless. Fool! He is right! My army has grown soft! I must make an example of you! My son, what should we do?"

Einderan looked up at his father, mouth gaping. Trigon never asked for advice, except from his top generals. Ever. Son or not, and Einderan knew that Trigon had quite a few sons. Could that mean?

Nodding his head and smirking victoriously, Einderan considered, "Do you truly wish my council?"

"Of course. After all, if you are to be general over my armies you must be able to give council. So what say you? What should we do with this weakling?"

All of his hopes confirmed, the half-human's smirk deepened, "Let's be lenient this time. Send him to the Hell hound kennels. See how long they stop when he cries 'mercy'."

The demon looked over to him, angered, "You will regret this boy! I don't care if he is your father, I will remember!"

"That's the point." Einderan said, turning as his father created a flaming portal and threw the screaming soldier into it.

END FLASHBACK

Raven was speechless.

"You'll never guess who that demon was."

"Who?"

"Mael Kirheinse. Just in case you were wondering why he hates me so much."

"Einderan... Did you really do that? Was that really..."

He nodded his head, "It get's worse from there. Much worse... You see, at first I did those things out of a desire to impress father. Because the more impressed he was, the better off I was. But it changed, even from that. He began to teach me himself, the magical arts. Elemental magic. Shadow magic. Enchantments. Curses. Even time magic. That's why I haven't aged, and don't age. I could, but I don't want to."

"So... He taught you..."

"Yes. Don't mislead yourself, there was no love between us. After that fight I slowly started doing things less to impress father, and more so that he would teach me more. You want to know how I know I had no love for him? Because, when I had enough power, I was going to seize his armies and overthrow him. That was my plan. So I just patiently waited, drifting further and further into darkness. For over two hundred years. Do you know how long that is? Do you know have any idea what that was like?"

"Einderan..."

"He taught me iron control. I could keep any emotion in check, silencing it in seconds. Not that I had many emotions anyway."

"I understand that part Einderan."

He looked at her, shaking his head, "No Raven, you don't. You keep your emotions in check. I didn't have them. I didn't have hardly any human emotions, I had never felt them. Those I had I would rather not have. And I had so many demon ones... But I could control them all."

"So then, what happened next?"

"I grew so powerful that not even Trigon's generals could match me. Or, I was at least equal to them. Ruthless, cold, cunning, and deadly, I had become the nightmare known as Kalsamune."

"Hell son?"

"Exactly. I commanded almost as much respect and fear as Trigon himself. Demons froze and saluted when I walked within a hundred yards of them. Those who were brave enough. Many just ran. The only one who didn't was father, and he was the only one I would pay respect to. The others were tools, weapons to send into battle, they didn't matter. Worthless, weak, they could be sacrificed. Father to could be sacrificed, and I was willing to do it for the 'greater good'. Ha. My greater good that is. I would have been just as bad as he was. I was just as bad. I am just as bad."

"No, Einderan, you aren't! You're a good person now, no matter what you did."

However, he broke into tears anyway. He didn't even try to stop them now, "You haven't heard the rest of it yet. Fifteen years ago..."

FLASHBACK

Einderan watched his soldiers march. Yes, his soldiers. His army. His power...

"Do not disappoint me. I do not tolerate failure, not even from you."

The sorcerer laughed, "I learned all I know from you. I don't know how to fail."

Trigon smiled, joining his son in watching the army, "Pawns, nothing more."

"Never underestimate the power of a pawn."

"But what does a pawn have compared to a king?"

"What does a king have compared to the one playing the game?"

Trigon laughed mercilessly, "Ha! You have grown much my son. A being as ruthless and cunning as I am! You are of my blood. Which is why you are going to lead the next campaign."

Einderan whirled, "I'm going to what?"

"You have proven yourself worthy. What world shall we burn? Where shall we conquer next! Choose my son! This army is yours to command!"

"I chose..."

The half demon smiled sadistically, "Azarath."

Trigon frowned, "Azarath? We have attacked before, they are a strong people."

"Exactly."

Trigon smiled, and said, "I know what we will do. I'm afraid you will have to settle for commanding the conquest, because I have an extra special plan for those insolent shadow mages. One that would make my other conquests seem kind! Go, train your army. Three months, then I will tell you of my plan."

END FLASHBACK

Raven stood up slowly, shaking her head, "No... You didn't."

Einderan began to tremble, "Yes, I did. I chose to attack Azarath. I knew that they were the last great race of spell casters. If I conquered, I would prove myself better to my father, and finally gain the support I needed to overthrow Trigon. Then..."

FLASHBACK

An army was coming back in tatters. Weakened, many demons collapsed as soon as they came through the portal. Quite a few had been sent back by spells before the main army.

Einderan looked at the returning army in fury. What was going on?

"Where did you attack?" Einderan questioned a soldier.

"Azarath."

"WHAT! WHO ORDERED THIS? WHO LED THE ATTACK?"

"I did."

Einderan threw the soldier away and glared at his father, "You?"

"Yes."

The sorcerer strode up to him, and stared at Trigon right in the eyes, "Why? You humiliate me! I train my soldiers to attack when you go off and do it yourself! And lose! Do you do this to demoralize the soldiers, so that I will fail? Are you that incompetent-"

Trigon snatched his son's throat, and picked him up. Einderan's air flow was interrupted by his father's vice-like grip. The demon overlord smiled, "Do you question me? Not even you can do that boy! I had a reason for this."

He tossed Einderan away, leaving him gasping for air. When his breathing returned, he looked up and said, "Forgive me, it was not my place. But why?"

"Oh don't play dumb. We both know that if you succeeded you would declare yourself master in my place. You are my son after all. But if you wish to do that, you will have to defeat me one on one, not with my armies at your back."

Einderan stood up cautiously, "So if you know that, why am I alive?"

"Because, I wish you to be alive. You fascinate me, a creature so like me. My ambition and my cruelty and my power."

"No, not your power. You say defeat you one on one. We both know that will never happen."

Trigon nodded, "And that's if I allowed you to fight me one on one, which I wouldn't. You would have to clear all of my legions to get to me."

"Some of them are loyal to me."

"I know this as well."

Einderan crossed his arms, "So what is it, are you showing me mercy because I'm your son? Treason is normally punished by death."

Trigon shook his head, "I have no mercy. But you see, you are a powerful pawn. Perhaps more than that. Perhaps one day you will grow strong enough to challenge me, and I will let you come. But until then, you will serve me."

Einderan shrugged, "I don't understand your logic."

"I may need someone powerful like you later."

"So then, I'm just another tool. But this blade is double sided 'father'."

"But I still wield you 'son'."

"I will grow stronger."

"So will I."

"I will kill you."

"We will see."

They just regarded each other, then Einderan shook his head, "Perhaps you've finally gone insane, because I do not see why you would keep me alive. But alright, if you wish. Still, why did you attack Azarath like this?"

"It's all apart of my plan. During the raid I impregnated a woman."

"What you do with your spare time is of no concern to me."

"Oh, but this is significant. I placed upon the child a curse. She will be the gateway into Azarath, the key to the world."

Einderan raised an eyebrow, "How is that?"

"One day, she will open a portal, which the Azarathians will be powerless to close. I will have trained your army for the entire time, and they will fall before our might. Nothing will prepare them, there will be no warning."

The half-demon nodded slowly, smiling, "Then we slaughter them without mercy."

"Oh no, that would be too easy. Then we enslave them! Make them our servants! Turn them into pets!"

Einderan's smile widened, "Maybe I should stay loyal to you father. You're cruelty is simply amazing, I don't think even I can match it. So then, when should I prepare my army to move?"

"That will be handled by someone else, I have a special assignment for you."

"Really?"

"You are going to go to Azarath, and make sure that nothing stops the portal from opening."

"What would stop me from becoming a turn coat and warning them?"

"They would kill you, and nothing you've worked for would come to pass."

The sorcerer shrugged, "I don't have a choice. But the Azarathians have surely put up a barrier by now. How do you propose I get through?"

"We will bring our portal masters here, they will get you through whatever barrier is there. Do not fail me."

"Of course not father, I wouldn't want to die before taking your throne."

END FLASHBACK

Raven stood at the entrance to the cave, looking out. So Einderan was...

"That's the attack that he raped my mother..." She said.

"I had no knowledge of it. Anyway, the portal masters came, and I was sent to Azarath. But the spell was botched, someone screwed it up. When I woke up I didn't remember a single thing. I was unconscious for a day I think, until my body was discovered."

"By who?"

"You're mother. I opened my eyes, and there she was. I attacked her then and there, but I didn't remember how to harness my powers effectively and she managed to subdue me. I was yelling and screaming in anger..."

FLASHBACK

"LET ME GO! WHO ARE YOU! WHERE AM I? I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!"

"Please, calm down, the demons are gone now." A soft voice told him.

"What are you talking about? Demons? Who are you?"

"My name is Arella. What's your name?"

"Where am I?"

"What is your name?"

"I'm... I'm..." He said, his face growing pale. His eyes widened as it hit him, "I don't know..."

Arella walked over to him as he started to struggle violently. She used her powers to make him be still, then brushed some hair off of his face with her hand, "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. It's ok now..."

He suddenly felt the power in his body again, and lashed out, knocking her through the air. Standing up he just went berserk on anything and everything in sight.

Arella stood up, flustered, and yelled, "THAT'S ENOUGH!"

He froze, all emotion draining from him instantly. Arella almost gasped at the sudden withdrawal of power from the air. She walked back over to him, slowly.

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Where am I?"

"You are in a place called Azarath."

"Who are you?"

"Like I told you, my name is Arella."

"Why can't I remember who I am?"

She flinched. He was a total automation now. No one she had ever met had such control, "One of the demons must have hit you with a spell, or you hit your head during the fighting."

Arella took a few more steps, when he said sharply, "Don't come any closer."

"I am not going to harm you."

"How do I know that?"

"Please, I just want to help."

"Help? What's that?"

Stunned, she stopped in her tracks, "Are you serious?"

"What does that mean?"

"Help is... When you do things for others when they need it or can't do it themselves."

"Like mercy?" He asked.

"Um, in a way."

He knocked her away when she said that, "I DON'T NEED ANYONE'S MERCY! MERCY IS FOR THE WEAK!"

"Stop right there!"

Sorcerers and sorceresses descended, surrounding him. He spun around slowly, regarding each with furious eyes.

"Are you alright Arella?"

"Fine..."

"I believe that someone should put him back in his place!" Another sorcerer said, launching an attack at the boy.

"Itari Kial Sib!"

The man found himself flying through the wall of a building nearby. The spell casters looked over from the wall, to the boy, then back to the wall. Several ran over to see if their friend was ok.

"Alright, let's get this child before he does more damage!"

"Wait!"

Arella flew over beside him, blocking some of them's line of fire, "Get out of the way!"

"He doesn't remember anything! He doesn't even know his name!"

"He remembered that spell pretty good!"

He looked down at her, frowning, "What are you doing?"

"Helping."

"I don't need you-"

"It's not mercy, it's help. And besides, who taught you mercy is for the weak?"

"My... I... Um..."

"Mercy isn't for the weak. It's for the strong." She stated simply.

"How so?"

"The strong show mercy to the weak, to show their true strength. They spare others because they have the power to do so, and it isn't right to use strength on those who can't fight back. It takes a strong person to give an opponent their life, even after fighting them."

END FLASHBACK

"That was the beginning of it really. I swear to you, I've existed for so long, but it only seems like I've been alive the last sixteen or seventeen years of it. It was like, I met your mother, and woke up from a horrible nightmare. I started losing control of my emotions, because she exposed me to so many new ones. Kindness. Happiness. She taught me how to smile. And even how to cry. She was my mother, she was the one who showed me how to be human. I owe everything... to her. She showed me what was right and wrong, the difference between good and evil, how to treat others. She showed me how to... love. I loved her. She wasn't my real mother, but..."

"Did they know what you were?"

"Well, it didn't take them very long to figure out I had Trigon's blood in my veins. After all, that's kind of hard to miss really. That was the day I felt the power love could have..."

FLASHBACK

"He's half demon Arella! Half of his blood came from that monster Trigon!"

"That doesn't make him a monster as well!"

"Out of the way! Why are you protecting him?"

"Who knows what he's been through! But I've begun to get past the anger and hatred. He's not a monster!"

"He is the son of Trigon!"

"I know that! And he's also one of the most in control person I've ever met!"

"Why do you defend him?"

"Because! Because... I'm carrying his sibling."

"What!" The crowd gasped.

"He... Trigon..." Arella stumbled over words, tears in her eyes. She didn't want to say it.

"Arella... He... took you against your will?"

"Please..."

They began to whisper among themselves, when suddenly one yelled, "Then maybe you both should leave!"

"W-what? Leave?"

"Yes! Take both the son and the child you carry and leave! Maybe you'll take Trigon's attention with you! Get rid of the cursed blood."

"But where would we go?"

"That's not our problem."

"You... You monster! It's not his fault what blood is in his veins! It's not the child inside me's fault who it's father is! You call Trigon heartless? Look at yourself!"

"I won't take criticism from you!" The man said, lashing out with his power.

Arella watched it come, and braced herself for the impact, when suddenly it stopped. She opened her eyes, and the boy stood there, looking at the crowd coldly.

"You will touch her over my dead body."

"Is that a threat?" The attacker asked.

"Yes."

"Ha! Mighty big talk from someone who can't even remember his name!"

He closed his eyes, and heard a voice in the back of his head saying, "Einderan..."

"What was that?"

"My name is Einderan."

"So has your memory come back, 'Einderan'?"

"No... But that's my name."

"Well then, I guess you think you're pretty big now don't you? You pathetic dog, son of a demon! And she is no better! Maybe we should just send all of you to the next world!"

"I say again, you will touch her over my dead body. And be aware that you will be climbing over the bodies of fallen comrades long before you have to worry about mine."

"Arrogant!"

"Leave now."

"This isn't over!"

"Leave, now"

"You dare give us an order son of Trigon?"

"LEAVE! BEFORE I MAKE YOU LEAVE!"

The crowd ran after that, leaving a very shocked woman and a very angry young man.

"Einderan..."

"I won't let them hurt you."

"Why? You hate me."

"No. I don't know what I feel, but I know it isn't hate. I don't understand this... It's, tearing apart my mind... Will you help me?"

She nodded quickly, "Yes, I will help you. Come on, tell me what's bothering you exactly."

"I don't know... It's something I don't ever remember before. I feel it for you, and it's just so, odd. I feel like you are more important than I am, and everything in my head is screaming that isn't right..."

"I believe I may know what's bothering you..."

END FLASHBACK

"I think you know what happened from there." Einderan finished.

"You were raised by Trigon to be just like him... You chose Azarath to attack when he gave you a chance... And you were sent to make sure that nothing happened to me..."

"Now you know why I never told anyone. I am a horrible person. I am evil, no matter how hard I try to hide it."

Raven almost agreed, but then shook her head, "No, that's who you were, not who you are! You're different now! You're a good person! My brother! You are fighting against Trigon!"

"I manage to hide it, but you have no idea how truly screwed up my head is."

"Tell me, I can help."

"Arella said that to. She couldn't. But alright, I'll give you an example. You have an emotion, Rage inside you right? Embodiment of your anger in your mind?"

"Yes, everyone does. Why?"

"I have two."

"Wait, two? But how is that possible?"

"I told you, my head is screwed up bad. I also have two happys. One is the human version, joy, laughter, and smiles. The other is the demonic one, the joy of battle, of blood lust being quenched. I am evil. And there's nothing I can do about it."

Raven walked up to him, pulled his head upwards by his hair, and smacked him.

"Einderan, come to your senses! You are my brother! You were always there when I needed you! Whenever I was alone or frightened you would come and it would be ok again! Whenever someone harassed mother about me or her 'meeting' with Trigon, you would show up and they would stop! You protected us, watched over us, just because you bear the scars of Trigon on your mind doesn't make you evil! Arella loved you as if you were her own child! She wouldn't have done that if you were a monster! You're my brother, and I love you. I would know if you were evil. You may have been in the past, but now you are good. Better than some of the soldiers that fight for you! Get out of your pit of self pity and stop beating yourself up for things in the past. There is evil in you, but you have overcome it."

Einderan looked into her eyes, and she knew that she was looking right into her mind. She didn't try to stop him. She felt his gentle presence searching for evidence that would suggest she was lying to him.

He found none. She was telling the truth. Einderan stood up, and embraced her, "Thank you. You have no idea how much that means."

"Why did you lie to me though?"

"I was ashamed. I still am. I came within a hairs breadth of becoming the next Trigon the Terrible. I'm the reason that Azarath was destroyed."

"No, that was me."

"But I could've chosen another planet. Another world."

"And you would have come to Azarath eventually. Maybe it was the work of God, bringing all the right things together in the right place to bring you back to the light."

"Maybe it was... Raven?"

"What is it?"

"I'm sure Arella is very, very proud of you."

The young sorceress felt her heart jump, and she smiled, "You think so?"

"I'm positive. Come on, you're friends might be worried."

He walked out, but then it occurred to Raven, "Wait, Einderan!"

"What?"

"Why did that storm make you so upset?"

He turned away quickly, pulling his hood over his head to hide his face further, "That's a bad memory Raven."

"Please, you've told me everything else. Why? Does it have something to do with when you said 'He already did'?"

"Yes..."

"Einderan, you can trust me."

He sighed, and looked up at the sky, "I'm sure Frista or someone has told you the story of how after you left I faced down Trigon."

"Yes. You ran me to safety, opened a portal, and pushed me through. Then according to Frista the demons began to round those still alive together into a group."

"Right. Well... Do you mind if I skip details?"

"Go ahead, I may ask again later."

"And I may be ready to tell you then. After they started rounding the people up, I went to look for Trigon. I was going to fight him, whether I had a chance of winning or not. Well, he killed Arella. Right in front of me. It was a, painful death. It enraged me to no end, and I attacked him. I was doing fairly well to. But I lost, as you can tell."

"Then you escaped with Frista and the others right?"

Einderan shook his head, "No, dead wrong. They got away alright, but me... Fate had a different path for me."

He trembled slightly, "He kept me in darkness for two years. Two years... It felt like two million years. Darkness, only interrupted for food and water. And also... Him."

Raven put her hands on his shoulders and looked up at his face, hidden in shadow, "What did he do?"

"Tortured me. He has great mastery over lightning. I can still feel the burning, the shock, the pain. The thunder still deafens me. Two years... It was Hell Raven. I can't hear or see a lightning bolt without reliving every second of it. If you wish later I'll tell you more... But this is more painful than any of my other memories."

She smiled reassuringly and nodded, "I understand. Thank you for telling me the truth."

"Let's go back. I'm going to tell everyone. It's time they found out who they are really fighting for."

END

Alright, there ya go. Einderan's dark secret. Kind of boring, I know, but come on.

And thanks to all my reviewers, you all rock!

God bless everyone!