Chapter 16: Grip of Insanity
Alex gently closed the Tome, relieved that her grandfather's spirit didn't come again. Actually, she had trouble believing that this was really Edward. Almost all night she had felt like she was losing it, going insane. Maybe Edward's appearances were all in her mind.
"Danielle saw him the second time… The same thing happened to both of us, I guess." Alex slowly stood up, her legs feeling like rubber. Every time she read a page, she would have to resort to the Tome's spells for help. She concentrated and quickly whispered the words. "Narokath, Pargon, Santak, Xel'lotath, Pargon." There was an odd sensation as five spheres of light flew into her body from the runes. Alex could think clearly now, and she no longer had the feeling that something was wrong.
"What if Grandpa wasn't the one here all the time? Even if he was a ghost, he wouldn't act like that. So if it wasn't him, then…" Alex's eyes widened. Pious could use magick to change his appearance. He could be doing the same thing right now. "It would make sense. He could disguise his real form to get close to us. That would explain how Danielle got caught off guard. I can't let the same happen to me."
Alex was about to head out the door when she heard something small hitting the floor behind her. She turned around just in time to see pebbles fall from the ceiling near a painting. As she walked over to it, she saw the painting was of the same pillar mentioned in the chapter. As if someone was guiding her hand, she pushed aside the painting and pulled out a chapter page. She stared at it for a second. It felt so different now with no one to discuss the pages with. What vision would Danielle have seen if she was still alive?
"Don't think about it," she told herself, sliding the painting back into place. Thinking about her sister hurt too much. Alex sat down at the desk, but instead of reading the page, she began checking through all of Edward's notes. If there was anything useful about fighting Pious, maybe it would be here. If not, then all she did was waste a few minutes.
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Binding the Black Guardian
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Pious stood over the latest sacrifice to his lord, wrapped up in his plans. As he cut the corpse with a curved knife, he felt the presence of one of his servants behind him.
"The Black Guardian grows restless, my liege. Its hunger increases, and the binding continues to weaken. We feed it flesh, but I fear it will not guard the relic too much longer."
Pious stopped, but did not look back at the monk. "There is no choice in the matter. It must remain and guard the artifact until the time of planetary alignment. After that, the Guardian may return to its lair… Our Master does not like failure. It is imperative to keep the binding intact."
"Then we must find more flesh and bone…" Pious ignored the servant and returned to his work, a plan already formed. The nations around him were preparing for war. The bodies of the soldiers would surely please the Greater Guardian…
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Danielle felt an icy chill on her forehead that slowly forced her awake. She opened her eyes, staring up into her grandfather's face. Confused thoughts filled her mind. What had happened since the attack? How come she was still alive?
"You're awake," Edward said, the relief in his voice clear. "I feared that you would not survive. Unfortunately, Alex thinks you didn't."
Danielle sat up as he drew his hand away, slightly more confused than before. "How come I'm still alive, then? I should technically be dead."
Edward seemed worried. "Xel'lotath's magick runs in your blood. It's what kept you alive both tonight and the night you were killed five years ago."
"What happened? I would think I would remember something about that."
He shook his head. "A Guardian came in the night while your parents were gone. It killed you with one blow to the heart. Pious had forced Xel'lotath to indwell you with her power then instead of when she had originally planned it. It was only enough to keep you alive. But Pious believed that maybe she would turn you against us."
"Fat chance," Danielle mumbled. "Why didn't you tell me sooner instead of letting Pious deliver the news?"
"How could I tell you? You barely had any knowledge of the Ancients, so how would you react to this?"
"Point taken," she replied dryly. "I just can't believe this is happening. This is all so crazy."
Edward nodded, his voice bitter. "I know. I hoped that maybe if you didn't know, you would be safe."
"Well, it looks like your plan failed." Danielle rubbed her forehead. "Pious wanted me to join him and Chattur'gha. Any idea why?"
Edward paced back and forth, shaking his head. "The only reason I can think of is to have you delay Alex. You are both a threat to him. He knew this wouldn't kill you. He doesn't possess the power to yet. But when the planets align, you will be vulnerable. Vulnerable not just to Pious's attacks, but to the control of Xel'lotath."
Danielle was about to ask him what he meant when her whole body seized up suddenly. A stabbing pain in her head made her want to scream, but she couldn't even move or speak. Green light engulfed her vision, blinding her. She could hear her grandfather calling her name before laughter filled her head, drowning her in Xel'lotath's insanity.