Chapter 54: Demons
I do not like this place.
It was an obvious thought, but that did not make it untrue.
Leliana had heard many tales of the circles of magi, from both Sketch and from other magi who had served as bards.
They told tales of a gilded cage where death or something far worse awaited any mage who roused the chantry's ire. At the time, she had not understood what that meant; chantry people were easy marks nothing more.
She had not understood what the mages had to fear, or why the Templars feared them.
She understood those reasons now.
Why would the mages do this? Why turn to demons to try and free themselves?
The abominations and demons they had encountered were horrifying, but at the same time she could not forget the Templars role in this either. The Knight-Commander's insistence on annulling the circle seemed extreme, she had seen that poor tranquil man, and heard the blubbering pleas of that young blood mage girl.
'You do not know what it is like living here,' the girl had said, 'the Templars watching, always watching.'
The chantry taught peace and love for those who lived beneath Andraste's shadow. It was easy to forget sometimes what the chantry did to enforce that peace.
Had things grown so bad here that the mages saw this as their only recourse?
Alim had mentioned how he had been nearly executed for aiding his friend. If he had died, where would they all be right now? It had been Alim who had kept their mission moving forward.
Would Alistair have been able to do it all on his own, would he have been able to gather the support that Alim had?
She was not so sure.
Leliana grimaced.
She was still worried about her vision. What if the demons possessed her companions? Was that was the vision was warning her of?
Would she have to kill them all to save their souls?
No, she would not do that! There would be another way surely, there would have to be.
She kept close to Alim. The bard felt safer with him being so near. Many times he had protected her. She trusted him completely. Few would say the same, most feared that they might get caught up in a mage's spell, consumed by wild magic. Leliana did not fear. She knew how skilled Alim was. Their time in the deep roads had had nurtured that trust further.
She stood at his side proudly, and without fear.
Solona guided them well, this floor was used primarily for magical experimentation, since passing her harrowing two months ago she had spent a great deal of time up here.
The mage knew her way around here better than most, despite what the demons had done.
Theron and Seri stayed close by. Alistair led them, using his Templar abilities to deal with any curses or spells flung by demon or mage. Zevran stayed back with Morrigan and Wynne, protecting the two mages from any attacks that got through the warriors.
They crept down yet another darkened hall, this one thick with the demonic corruption they had seen below.
Leliana found herself missing Sten and Shale. The Golem and Qunari were both known quantities. Theron, Wynne, and Solona were all wild cards. She thought that they meant well, but they had not earned the same trust as the rest of their companions had.
Alistair held up his hand, they could hear voices emerging from the room in front of them.
Alim's ears lowered slightly. He motioned for the others to stay back.
He and Alistair crept forward.
Despite orders Leliana followed, she wanted to see what made the wardens so nervous.
It is time for supper.
The bard shuddered.
The voice sounded so strange, echoing off the high ceilings.
Strange…yet beautiful.
What are we having love?
The voice that responded sounded dreamy and distant, not the kind of voice you would expect in a tower over run by demons.
Roast boar, you favorite, the voice tittered. The children have been waiting for you to return home. Would you like to see them?
Yes my darling, please.
The echoing voice giggled.
Alim shot Leliana a look, he pointed for her to go back.
The bard merely nocked an arrow and motioned him to pay attention what was ahead of them.
The elf cursed to himself, but obeyed.
Now was not a time for an argument.
Papa, papa welcome home!
The voice of a little girl shocked the bard.
What in Andraste's name was a child doing up here?
Papa, we missed you! Will you read to us tonight?
Of course my son…of course.
Alim silently opened the door.
Leliana stifled a gasp.
Dead bodies lay scattered around the room, they looked dried out withered. A lone Templar stood in the room, his cheeks were sunken in, his eyes had an empty glassy quality about them. The armor hung on his thinning frame.
It looked like he was being devoured from the inside out.
That is when they saw the demon.
It was a desire demon, like they had fought in Honnleath, only this one did not look as weak as the creature they had fought it Wilhelm's lab. Its violet colored skin was lustrous. The fel flame that danced on its head flicked with dark power. The eyes were deep and cruel.
"We love you Papa," the demon said in the little girl's voice.
"Yes we do," it said in the boys.
"My family," the Templar gushed, a silly smile on his dying face, "My loved ones."
"Everything is the way you have always wanted, isn't it my knight," the demon said in its own voice, "Our love and our family are everything you hoped for."
"Face us monster!" Alistair snarled.
The demon turned, its lips parted in amusement.
"Did you hear something love?" the knight asked, he sounded confused.
"It is nothing my darling, just the door, I will get it," the demon promised, "The children have finished supper, tuck them into bed, and I will go see who it is."
"Don't be long," the Templar said dreamily, "The children will want to kiss you good night."
"I will be but a moment my pet," the demon purred.
She gave him one final smile before turning to face Alistair and the others.
All warmth faded from the demon's features.
She turned to wardens, her face turned cold and haughty.
"You are intruding on an intimate and loving moment," the demon chided, "I so dislike disruptions."
"Were not too fond of demons ourselves," Alim said dryly.
The creature sniffed.
"I have merely granted this poor soul his deepest dreams," the demon smiled widely, "Where is the harm in that?"
Leliana shivered.
This…this thing…it was…it was feeding off his most intimate desires, and had taken away his will!
This…this was beyond simply evil…
It was unholy!
"I guess this proves that you can have everything you want and still suffer horribly," Morrigan sneered, "Truly, an interesting example to those who champion marriage."
Wynne shot the witch an annoyed glance.
She smirked back at her.
"What you have done to this man is abhorrent," Wynne said, "You are toying with his emotions."
"All emotion is intangible," the demon said dismissively, "You cannot see it and cannot grasp it."
"Nut it is usually caused by real events real people," Wynne chided.
Alim sighed.
"Why are we even still talking to this thing?" he demanded.
"Let the Templar go beast," Alistair growled, "Or face the consequences."
The demon laughed.
She clearly did not take the former Templar's threat seriously.
"He is mine and I am his," it spat, "We are connected now, it would destroy him to be separated from me. Besides, I do not think he would wish to leave, to return to an empty world, a world he resented because of his vows. Would you return him to this?"
No one said anything.
Leliana felt her heart lurch.
The poor man was dead either way…
Should they not at least try and save what was left of his soul.
"I want nothing from you," she hissed, "All I ask, is that you leave us alone."
Leliana glanced down at the corpses of mages and Templars in the room, the demon's previous meals.
They could not let her go.
IOI
"We can't do that," Alim growled, lightning crackled from his fingertips.
The demon smiled wickedly.
"And what of you sweetheart," it purred, "Do you not feel desire? I can give you your dreams too."
Alim shook his head.
He…the demon…it was trying to…
NO!
"Get out," he whimpered.
"Make me," the demon purred, "Here sorcerer let me change into something a bit more…comfortable."
The demon transformed.
Alim gasped.
A small elven woman stood before him, clad in the leathers of a Dalish hunter, her dark hair and violet eyes familiar to all who had travelled with the wardens into the Brecilian forest
Be…Belle?" he whispered.
Bellethiel, the Dalish huntress smiled at her old flame.
"Alim…ma vhenan…I have missed you."
The warden mage felt the world slip away.
Belle…Belle was here.
How wonderful!
IOI
"Lim!" Alistair cried.
The warden mage did not hear him.
Panic filled Leliana.
No…they could not let this happen!
The Bellethiel demon smiled.
Leliana had heard enough.
"LET HIM GO!"
The bard's cry was punctuated by an arrow. It struck the demon in the shoulder. So lost in her rage, Leliana had spoiled her own aim.
The demon wailed.
"HELP! THERE ARE BANDITS AT THE DOOR! THEY MEAN TO MURDER THE CHILDREN!"
The dying Templar snarled like a feral animal. The corpses around them rose, brought back by the demon's magic.
Alistair smited the creature driving it back, forcing it back into its true form.
The Templar tried to behead him.
Morrigan was there, protecting her lover. The witch transformed into a bear. It crashed down onto the weakened Templar.
She tore him apart with her heavy furred claws.
Leliana darted past the corpses, passed her allies.
Her blue eyes bright with rage, she had only one target in mind.
The desire demon snarled; it slashed at her with its claws.
She ducked under the attack.
She fired a powerful thrust kick into the creature's belly, air whooshed from the demon. A second kick pushed the arrow deeper into her chest, black blood flowed from the wound, causing the monster to howl in agony.
Enraged the demon lunged for the bard with her claws.
Leliana back pedaled, the demon's claws missed her…mostly. A single red streak of color appeared, but did not break the skin.
The bard pulled her dagger, she forced it up into the soft flesh beneath the jaw, the blade went up true, straight into the demon's brain.
The creature could not even scream; the blade pinned its jaw in place.
The light faded from the demon's eyes, but not before it saw the triumph in the red head's eyes.
The wolfish gleam of triumph, Leliana smiled at dying monster.
"Go to the void bitch!" she hissed.
The demon crumbled into ash.
Leliana stood over her, her heart pounding, her blood racing.
She had long forgotten the pleasure of watching life and hope fade from her target's eyes.
She had missed this feeling.
The demon had sought to harm Alim, now it was…
Alim!
The thought brought Leliana back to herself. The elven mage lay slumped to the floor, gasping for breath.
She ran to him.
Alim…oh Maker No!
IOI
It took Alistair and Wynne almost an hour to bring Alim back to reality. The others formed a protective shield while the two worked.
Alim cursed himself for a fool.
He…he knew better! The demon should not have…
The elf shook his head, his ears drooping.
He knew what this was about.
Everything that he had been feeling lately, this…stirring that he was feeling towards Leliana, on some small level he felt guilty.
Belle.
He shivered at the memory.
He had been interested in Belle, had…had she lived…he…he and she might have become…
Part of him wondered if it was too soon. Was he moving too fast? Leliana…she was a strong and beautiful woman. Was it time to let go of his feelings for Belle. It had only been a short time ago?
The elf cursed his weakness.
Leliana would not even look at him; did she blame him for this? Did she think that he still cared for Belle?
But that was just it, he did still care. His feelings were changing sure, but…Belle…Leliana…they…they were two different women.
He hated this, hated the conflict, and hated the vulnerability!
He was fool, a complete and utter fool!
Wynne cast a spell to bolster his will, he felt his strength return.
The old woman gave him a concerned look.
"Who was that?" she asked him.
Alim's ears drooped further.
"A companion of ours," he whispered, "She…she died trying to save her people from a terrible curse. She…I…we…if we had had more time…maybe…"
Wynne gave him a knowing look, it was almost motherly.
She smiled sadly.
"Say no more," the old woman said, "I think I understand."
He nodded gratefully.
He looked up at Leliana.
The bard would not even meet his eye.
Shame blazed in his heart, he…he was such a stupid idiot.
Not time yet!
He was a fool!
IOI
Leliana was grateful when they started moving again. She still could not bring herself to meet Alim in the eye, though it was not the reason that he would have thought.
She…she felt wrong… dirty.
Marjolaine's cruel smile sprang to her mind.
We're the same.
She had surrendered, given into her passions. She had wanted to save Alim, but it had unleashed a part of herself that she despised.
It was still there, she could feel it. The cold calculating side of herself, it watched her allies for any advantage, any sign of weakness that she could exploit to better herself personally.
She hated that side of herself.
By hurting Alim, the desire demon had awakened a demon within her. Those old needs and desires, buried for so long had finally gotten out, and…
They were hungry.
She wanted to find this Uldred. She wanted to make him suffer for harming the mages here, but she wanted to take her time as well. She wanted to enjoy his end, to make it take time.
Dorothea would be horrified. Silas would be horrified.
Marjolaine would be pleased.
I told you my pretty thing, we are the same.
She tried to ignore what she was feeling. They…they still had work to do.
They still had a circle to save.
They passed into yet another room. A large abomination stood before them, it smiled at them with its twisted mouth. Unlike the others, it did not try to attack.
The creature seemed amused by their presence.
"Ahhh visitors," the abomination purred, "I would try to entertain you but there is just too much effort involved."
"Good," Leliana hissed hungrily, "It will make you easier to kill."
"Leliana," Alistair gasped, he sounded shocked.
He should not have been.
The demon did not even respond. It just stood there, grinning at them.
Solona noticed something on the floor behind the monster, a body in circle robes.
"Wynne, Alim," she cried, "It is Niall!"
The demon looked down at the fallen man.
"Oh let's not disturb him," it purred, "Poor lad, he has had a very, very hard day."
Sereda pointed her sword at the creature.
"Out of the way or die," the dwarf hissed.
The demon laughed.
"So much trouble," it chuckled, "So much trouble…would you not like to just lay down and…forget about all of this. Just leave it all behind?"
Leliana felt a wave of lethargy sweep over her. She…she felt like she had drunk two of Sketch's knockout draughts. She wanted to…
NO!
"I…I will not believe your lies demon," she murmured, her voice becoming softer by the minute…
So…so weary…so very tired.
"You…you have…no…no power over me."
The Abomination grinned.
It clearly disagreed.
"You…you cannot," Morrigan yawned, "You can't expect me to sleep on a floor sticky with blood. I…I will not…"
The witch tottered forward, but was clearly losing momentum.
Alistair sank to his knees.
"Can't keep…keep eyes open…someone…pinch…pinch…"
He sank to the floor. Morrigan lay down next, resting her head on his chest.
She was asleep in seconds.
All around them, their allies fell. Sereda tried to lurch towards the demon and fell at its feet. Theron tried to fire an arrow, but ended up collapsing against a stone pillar, he sank to his knees. Zevran, who had been trying to sneak around the demon, fell onto an old reading table.
"Resist," Wynne hissed, she struggled mightily against the demon's spell, but she was still weak from healing Alim, "Resist or we are all lost."
Solona leaned against her staff, struggling to stay upright.
"Wynne…Wynne…I can't…Cullen?"
The mage fell forward, sighing as she sank into the deepest of dreams.
Alim struggled to summon lightning to blast the demon.
It sneered at him.
"There is no reason to fight," it said triumphantly, "You need this. You deserve… a rest. The world will go on without you."
Alim's fingers sparked and went out; his staff fell from his nerveless fingers.
He collapsed next to Leliana.
The bard struggled, but she felt like a fly caught in a spider web.
She sank next to Alim, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Sorry," she whispered to him, "Soooo sorrr…."
She fell into blackness.
IOI
The sloth demon smiled through the eyes of its host.
Oh what a marvelous meal, it would be able to gorge itself for days, but not all at once…oh no.
Such a meal as this should be savored, slowly.
There was plenty of time.
First rest, then its banquet would be ready…but first…first...
Rest.