Unsilenced: Black - Part 1
[A little prologue before proceeding. I'm really sorry to all the people who expected this to come out over the long months. But, see, real life has its quirky ways and strange sense of humor. Work and life and stuff like that. I've been forcing myself to play LoL again to get me inspired but everytime I see the community, I just go back to playing Dota 2. So inspiration is hard to come by really.
So just to keep you guys sated for a while, I decided to split the final chapter into 2 parts. If this seems like a cliffhanger, I apologize. I don't want you guys to get the impression that I've abandoned this project. I don't want to though because this might just be the first fiction that I finish writing. So again apologize and I hope you find this chapter fulfilling to say the least. Enjoy.]
Sona stood alone in the darkness, a place where neither light nor sound existed. She tried to look at her hands but all she could see was the pitch black darkness.
Alone.
It made her cringe at the idea. She called for her precious etwahl to give her company in the vast infinity but it did not heed its call, like most of the time ever since she was with Kassadin. Had her etwahl become jealous of her newfound relationship? Perhaps not using it as often as she did before Kassadin made it upset. Of course, it was her main mode of communication since she was mute. She could speak telepathically but she did not choose to do so. Until Kassadin came along.
Her feelings lumped up at her throat and her eyes began to well with tears. She squatted down and began to cry a silent cry.
"My child."
A soft, lilting voice echoed in the darkness that startled Sona. She looked up with tears still in her eyes. She could not see anything but she was sure that the voice was somewhere. Wanting to reply, she strained her throat to say something but could not as always.
"Don't fret now. I know that you cannot speak. But I know of the question you wish to ask."
Sona was surprised that the voice knew of her predicament. She was even more surprised when the voice knew of the question she had for it. There was a slight pause before the voice continued.
"You may find this hard to believe but I am your mother."
The answer was the last thing that Sona expected as she shook her head lightly. Being orphaned since infancy, she had little to no knowledge about her parents. Life in the orphanage was hard for her and she always wanted to be adopted by someone. Prospective parents came and went but none gave her as much as a look. She knew that she could not speak and it was scary for her. She could not talk to the other orphans or tell the caretakers of what she wanted or what she needed. All she simply did was sit around in silence. Of course the caretakers mistook this for uncommon geniality and thought that she was quiet and usually content. When Lestara finally took her in, she thought that she would finally feel like a part of a family. Lestara took care of her like she was her own daughter but deep down inside, Sona felt like she was missing something. She felt as if there was an integral part of her identity that she did not know.
Sona wanted to know who her real parents were and why they abandoned her.
"Sona, I realize that you have a lot of questions for us and frankly, I wish we had the time to answer them all."
The Maven was confused. They had all the time in the world, whatever world they were in now anyway. Was this all real she wondered?
"Your time here is limited as you will soon wake up."
So all this wasn't real then. It was simply a dream. A dream that she would soon wake up from.
"We just want you to know that your father and I have always loved you. We will always be watching you. It makes us proud to see you have grown so much."
'Wait!' the Maven thought. She wanted to know so much about them. What they were like, where she came from, why they left her at the doorstep of the orphanage. But the voices didn't reply this time. Once again she was alone… but not for long.
The darkness around her began to fade and slowly was being engulfed by light. As the light crept up towards Sona, it grew brighter to the point that it was blinding. She closed her eyes and was eaten by the illumination. And then her eyes flung wide open. The light this time was dim, as if emanating from a torch. Groping around she found that she was lying in a bed made of silk. Her covers and pillow were likewise made from it. It felt soft to the touch that she found herself fondling the sheets a little more before getting up from the bed. The air felt unusually cold as she rubbed the bare skin of her arms for warmth. Looking around she saw that there was only darkness, the only light coming from the candle lights beside the bed.
"Where am I?" she asked herself. The only sources of light around her were the two blazing torches that were propped atop gilded stands. It illuminated the bed and a small distance away and then darkness right after. She wondered where she could have been and then remembered all that had happened. Feeling a great pressure upon her, she sat back down onto the bed and put her hands on her face. She had been taken. Kassadin was not beside her. Despite the weight of her predicament, she had to wonder; why was she clothed in her usual dress? If she remembered correctly, she was taken at the beach of Ionia and was wearing nothing but beachwear. Her time to ponder did not last long as she heard the sound of an iron gate being opened and closed. She swiveled her head left and right to see whether there was someone approaching her.
"I see that you have awakened, Maven of the Strings."
A voice to her right echoed from the darkness. The voice sounded like it came from inside some mask of sorts. She could only guess who it was until the voice came into the light. Sona was not surprised.
"Your face tells me that you disapprove of my presence. I can understand why. I do not expect you to like me in any way, but if you wish to know why you are dressed as you are right now, it is because of my efforts into making you comfortable."
Sona looked down at her dress and realized that maybe Zed had…
"And no, I was not the one who dressed you. I merely acquired the clothes that you wear right now. Someone else dressed you and I must say she was quite jealous of you."
Sona was confused. Who could this mystery woman be? But it was not a matter of importance right now. She had questions that she wanted to ask the ninja though it was impossible to do so without her etwahl.
"I sense that you have questions that you want answered. Where you might be, what Malzahar intends to do with you and so on. I am in no position to answer those questions since I don't have the answers myself. What I am doing here right now however, I can give you the answer."
Zed walked back to the direction from which he came out from and disappeared for a while. Moments later, he came back with a silver tray that had a plate of food and a goblet of wine. He laid it on the table next to the bed where Sona was sitting. Sona was baffled as to why she was being treated like this. A bed with silk sheets and now a decent meal. She could not attempt to hide her confusion.
"I told you before didn't I? We will treat you like royalty as long as you are in our captivity. Please, you mustn't skip your meals."
Zed motioned to leave but Sona grabbed his arm and looked at him seriously. 'Why are you doing this?' Sona thought. Zed didn't know what Sona wanted to ask but he tried his best to give her an explanation.
"If you're wondering what the motive behind Malzahar's scheming is and why kidnap you, I honestly do not know. I am not however under Malzahar's command nor will I ever be. I have my own reason for assisting Malzahar in kidnapping you but he has plans of his own."
Sona did not change her expression and continued to look at Zed.
"Please Maven. I do not have all the answers. If you wish, you could ask the summoner that…"
Zed put his palm to his face and wretched his hand free from Sona's.
"I have said too much."
Not wanting to stay long in Sona's presence, Zed went on his way and disappeared into the darkness. Sona was still left with unanswered questions but she worried about what Malzahar wanted her for. Was it because of her relations with Kassadin? Or was it an entirely different matter? And who was this summoner that controlled them? Sona did not see the need to ponder in those matters any further as she figured that she would soon find out. She stood up and looked at the food that was prepared for her. It certainly didn't look poisoned or anything. Of course if they wanted her dead, they would have already done so at the beach. She sat down, grabbed her knife and fork and began eating.
She had finished rather quickly, admitting to herself that she was indeed hungry and needed to eat. Full but unsatisfied, she got up her chair and wandered around her cage. Out of habit, she called for her etwahl but did not see it beckoning her call. It had occurred to her that she had left her etwahl at the beach where they were attacked. Perhaps it had gone back to Demacia on its own? Unlikely. Her instrument was not compelled to leave her side so it must be nearby. She called it once again and from somewhere in the room, she heard the sound of chains being tugged. At once she had realized that her etwahl was chained some distance away from her cage.
"Kassadin... Save me."
Far beneath the Institute of War, a brutal massacre is taking place. Without the Institute knowing of this, whoever the victims were had no hope of crucial intervention. But in the eyes of some, the massacre was justifiable.
"He's too strong! We can't stop him!"
"Aaaagh!"
"Someone save us! Master!"
Various screams and bellows of pain and desperation echoed throughout the lair. Blood soaked the granite floor and bodies lay broken like a trail towards the storm.
"Your master will not save you…"
Kassadin jumped to and fro, killing and stabbing with every flow of his movement. Malzahar's cultists desperately fended for themselves as they tried to fight against Kassadin's quiet rage. Man after man, kill after kill, the cultists fell to Kassadin's hand one by one till all that was left was a single man.
"P-please. Spare me…"
"There is no compassion for the likes of you. I came here to find you master and I expect him to come home to his cult annihilated."
"M-master Malzahar has not come back to the cult for weeks now! We do not know where he is!"
Kassadin grabbed the cultist by the collar of his robe and held him up to his face. The cultist shivered in fear of what Kassadin might do with him that he whimpered.
"Cultist, you will tell me what your master plans. If I like what I hear, I might just let you live. Now it's either you will talk," he said as he held up his nether blade up to the cultist's face, "or you will die."
"Alright! Alright! I will tell you everything I know."
The fear stricken man told Kassadin everything that he knew about his master's plan, about the planned kidnapping and the whereabouts of his master. Surprisingly, Kassadin did not hear anything about Malzahar's plan that incuded Thresh or Zed. This did not overly surprise him as he already knew of his nemesis' treacherous capabilities.
"Master Malzahar could be anywhere right now. He does not disclose with us the exact details of his plan so please forgive me." whimpered the cultist.
"Very well."
"You're not going to kill me are y—" the cultist stopped short of his sentence. "W-why?" he looked down past the hand that clutched him at the collar and down at his chest. A glowing purple blade stuck into his body, straight to his heart. "You… you promised…"
Kassadin had stabbed the cultist squarely in the chest with his nether blade. Blood seeped out from the wound like a river. "I said that I might let you live. My decision leaned towards you dying."
He released the cultist's dying body and let it slump on the floor. With his last breath, the cultist cursed Kassadin, "Damn you. You shall never succeed. Sona will unleash the Voidborn onto Valoran and Malzahar shall be King."
Kassadin turned to walk away when the cultist added, "And Sona will be his Queen."
The Voidwalker clenched his fist and turned back towards the cultist. He held up the cultist's head and put his fist up to the man's face. Slowly, Kassadin charged a ball of void energy that grew in size the longer he charged it. Soon it stopped growing but the ball seemed to amass so much energy that it generated violet charges of electricity. When Kassadin was finally satisfied with the ball, he let it touch the cultist's face. Like a vacuum, the ball slowly sucked the cultist into itself. The cultist's body crunched and cracked at the force of the suction. Soon enough, the entire body was sucked into the ball and immediately afterwards, the ball itself disappeared.
"Malzahar will not be king of anything. And Sona is nobody's Queen but mine. I will make sure of that."
Kassadin made his way out of the devastated lair of the cult and stepped out into the open air. Nearby, the Institute of War stood along the walls of the enormous cave in its majesty. But the more he looked at the Institute, the more frustrated he grew. Kassadin cursed under his breath. "Damn it! Where are you Sona?" Had Veigar lied to him or had Malzahar spoken a lie to his compatriots in order to cover his tracks? He preferred to think that Malzahar had done the latter, treacherous and devious as he is in his endeavors. The fact that he had let his cult to die despite knowing that he would come after him made Kassadin hate him even more. To think that he'd let all those people die just to hide his intentions… He had to admit that he did not like the cult following him but at the very least he respected the people who shared his mission. Malzahar will answer for his crimes.
Not knowing where to go next, he decides to go to the one place that he thinks Malzahar might go; Shurima.
"He would want me to think that he is hiding somewhere besides Shurima; the first place I would look. Then again, if I really thought that then there would be no other place he would be. Wait for me Sona."
Minutes seemed to drag out like hours as Sona waited in her cage to be rescued by Kassadin. How long has it been? She felt that she had been captive for only two days but it felt longer. Zed always came to care for her during her stay, bringing her meals and keeping her company (even for a little while). Even when she requested for the etwahl to be placed closer to her so that she could play it, Zed complied. Of course the etwahl had to be positioned in such a way that Sona may not be able to use it to escape. But she could not help but feel that Zed had taken a brotherly stance towards her. She was thankful for his kindness and hospitality and made her think that, maybe despite his appearance and reputation, Zed might be good at heart. She wanted to thank him properly next time.
The next day, Sona was playing the etwahl at the edge of her cage, seated at the chair with one of the light stands repositioned next to her. A soothing aria echoed throughout the cavernous hall where Sona was held. It calmed her nerves despite her situation. And then she heard the familiar sound of the door creaking open. Immediately, she ceased playing and stood up from her chair. The cage door opened with a large clanking sound and from the darkness emerged Zed with another tray full of food. Zed did not seem to be interested in interacting with Sona and went straight for the table to set the food down and take the ones already finished. Before he could walk out of the cage, Sona rushed towards him and clutched his arm.
"Hmm? Did you want something?" asked Zed
Sona nodded. She let go of his arm now that she had his attention. She stood there looking at Zed and tried to find the right… gestures to thank Zed for his kindness. Sona pointed to Zed and gestured to the bed, the table, the food and the etwahl. She smiled the most sincere smile she could to what she perceived as an enemy.
"I don't think I really deserve a thank you. You may have taken my hospitality as kindness. You are mistaken."
Sona shook her head. She pointed to the Zed's chest where his heart was presumably is.
"You think I have a good heart? I would like to believe that too. But with the things I've done to family… One would think that my heart is filled with taint."
Zed made to leave Sona now but before he went through the door, he mentioned one more thing to her. "Mistress Sona, please continue to play your music. It soothes my soul." Zed then went on his way and locked the door behind him.
She was kind of flattered to hear that her music was pleasing to Zed's ears. At this point she had begun to think that maybe Zed is not all that bad. When guided on the right path, he could become a powerful ninja alongside his brother Shen. She went to pick her chair up from the cage edge and towards the table. She sat down, picked up her knife and fork and began eating. Zed was incredibly kind to her but she couldn't help but feel that there was something else at work in the shadows. If there was some plan to use her in some malevolent way, wouldn't they need to hurry since Kassadin might come at any time to rescue her? Maybe they were too confident of their ability since they kidnapped her already? Then again it didn't really matter to her if they took their time. Once Kassadin finds her, it will be over for Malzahar.
Finishing her meal, she dragged her chair again to the edge of the cage where her etwahl was and played it. A soothing melody filled the air as she plucked the strings of the instrument masterfully. The cave's acoustics were amazing that her music echoed throughout Malzahar's hideout. While playing, Sona saw at the corner of her eye a head poking out from the porthole of the dungeon door. Immediately, she is pleased that Zed is enjoying every little bit of her music. Moments into her symphony, a small ruckus could be heard from just outside her holding cell. She had no idea what it was about and made her curious. She got up from her chair and walked towards the edge of the cell closest to the door.
"Why can't we watch Mistress Sona play?!" a voice shot out
"We want to see her play!" another piped
"Nobody is to enter this chamber besides me and Malzahar. Those orders are strict!" Sona heard Zed shout to the others. Judging from the shadows, Zed was furiously trying to stop the other people; whoever they were, from entering the dungeon.
"Stay back or I swear I will gut all of you! You can listen to her from here but no further!"
"She stopped playing." One of them pointed out, " Maybe she heard us? Maybe we disturbed her session."
"I'll go check. Nobody move an inch or the doors of Mistress Sona's cell will be the last thing you see." Zed exclaimed to the others.
The door creaked open while Zed squeezed through, to prevent the others from getting past him, despite his warning. His protectiveness was unusual as the other bystanders seemed to be eager to watch her play.
"Mistress Sona?"
Sona stood still at the edge of her cage looking at him.
"I see you have noticed the ruckus that we have made. Did we bother you?"
Sona nodded.
"I apologize for that but these vile cultists do not deserve to hear the melody that pours forth from your fingers. I'll force them to leave."
Zed was about to turn face but Sona stopped him. He took notice and was prepared to listen to whatever she… gestured. She made hand signals, beckoning Zed to let the others in. Without a second take at her commands, she proceeded to her etwahl and began running her fingers on it. Immediately the halls reverberated with her Aria. Zed knew at once that she wanted him to let the others in to listen to her play. He opened the door and let the cultists come in to watch her play. The cultists did not even rush in to the chambers but went in rather orderly. Without ruckus. Zed was somewhat confused over Sona's actions. She had been a prisoner for the past few days but she did not seem distressed at all. Perhaps she was confident that Kassadin would soon find her? Sona's faith in Kassadin is overwhelming that he was almost tempted to spring her out. He is however, bound to his duty to Malzahar's cause for the Prophet has someone important to him imprisoned as well. If it wasn't for that, he would have cut down Malzahar himself…
From behind, a lone clapping of hands echoed through the Aria. Sona looked up from her entranced state, the cultists spun their heads around, and Zed only grimaced. Malzahar appeared at the open door of Sona's dungeon, clapping his hands somewhat sarcastically.
"Well, well. A concert? Why was I not invited?"
Nobody answered. Some of the cultists shook in fear at their master's sudden presence.
"Zed?"
Zed looked at Malzahar defiantly and refused to answer.
"Come on, it's just a question. If I had known that there was a concert being held here, I would have invited everyone to watch! What's so wrong about that?"
Still, nobody dared move a lip or limb.
"This is no concert. Just Sona playing her etwahl in direct effect to her captivity. If you were a caged bird, wouldn't the only thing you do is sing?" Zed finally started.
"Yet you are all here! A song with an audience is a concert yes? Tell me if I am wrong, Master of the Shadows?"
Zed stayed quiet once more, not even looking at Malzahar. Instantly, the prophet's attitude changed.
"My cultists. BEGONE! Linger close to this place again and I would have you sacrificed to the void."
The cultists fled immediately in fear of what their master would have done if not so.
"I'll take my leave." Said Zed as he approached the door.
"Oh, on the contrary Zed, you're staying here."
"On what reason?"
"You're defiance is numbing Zed. I thought I had your full cooperation."
"I have no reason to follow your every order."
"Oh but I just have the very reason for your full, if somewhat forced, cooperation Zed. I'll be telling you right after I tell Sona of her more troubling predicament."
Sona took more attention of this and looked at Malzahar menacingly. Zed took a stance as well.
"What are you saying Malzahar? Is it so much to you to get revenge on Kassadin? After what you have done to him in the past?" said Zed.
"It is never enough! As a void brother, it is only just that he embrace his nature and become one of us!
"You're making no sense Malzahar. It only seems to me that you like to piss him off."
"I'm not? Why do you think that with every creature the void brings forth to Runeterra, Kassadin instantly comes to hate it? If you haven't noticed, all of the creatures of the void are allied to me because I have embraced my true calling. A void filled Runeterra!"
Zed did not believe it at all but it somewhat made sense. Cho'Gath, Kog'Maw, Kha'Zix, Vel'koz. They were all allied to Malzahar in a way. Kassadin was the only indifferent being from the void. Kassadin alone was dedicated to purging the world of the void, having seen the horrors that it brought.
"His love for Sona proved timely as for all these years, I couldn't completely bring my plans to fruition because we were missing one thing. A queen."
Sona didn't yet realize what Malzahar had meant but it didn't make sense to her that he needed a queen for Kassadin since he already had one before her. Syrienne.
"It was a pity that Kassadin's wife had died before he was exposed to the void. It appeared that the poison that I gave her was too much for her body. It was supposedly to induce an incurable illness that persisted, except when exposed to the void. Kassadin would eventually find the portal to it and be exposed along with his wife. Runeterra would have had its King and Queen a long time ago if not for my mistake."
Zed's eyes widened with disbelief. "You're saying that you were the one who killed Kassadin's wife?"
"That's what I'm saying! And this dagger is proof. So long as I live, the pain of heartbreak and loss will forever haunt Kassadin's life."
Sona could not take his transgressions against the man that he loved that she dashed to the cage and shook the bars as aggressively as she could. For all that anger that had welled up inside her, she teared up a bit. She could only cry for Kassadin in his perpetual state of torment and pain. Malzahar took notice and approached Sona.
"You're arrival in Kassadin's life proved convenient for my plans Maven."
Zed unsheathed his blades and walked menacingly towards Malzahar. "You're evil has no place here Malzahar. The likes of you should be killed."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Zed. Remember what I said about you needing more reasons to completely be under my command? I have taken the liberty of moving her to a more... comfortable place."
Malzahar conjured an image in front of him as he laughed maniacally. Zed's eyes immediately widened in terror and anger at the realization that Malzahar would dare do this. The image showed Syndra hanging beneath a void portal, only opened so slightly as to fit a single person. She was unconscious, her hands tied to what seemed to be shackles glowing of purple. Zed could only assume the worst.
"Don't you dare drop her in there." He said threateningly
"Or what? You'll kill me? Just so you know Zed that once you do manage to kill me, the shackle's power would fade and Syndra would drop into the void below. Either way, you don't even need to kill me. If you disobey me even once, the shackles go off."
Zed cursed loudly, the words echoing throughout the chamber. He wanted to kill the prophet so bad that he was shaking, not from fear of Syndra but of anger towards Malzahar.
"Now that you have a reason Zed, I suggest standing down and stay there as I explain to Sona what is about to happen."
The conjured image continued to hover in front of Zed. He thought that maybe it wasn't real, that Malzahar was just playing him for a fool. But he couldn't risk it. He didn't want Syndra to suffer a terrible fate. Without any other choice, he sheathed his blades, with eyes staring at Malzahar. Eyes full of hate and murderous intent.
"That's better. Remember Syndra dangling above the void whenever you think about disobeying me again."
"Curse you Malzahar! I will see you dead and your head impaled on a pike before my time is over!"
"That's cute Zed. I like little threats."
Malzahar then faced Sona once more, with the intention of filling in the details of her capture.
"As you already know Maven, Kassadin needs a Queen. That part is already easy. Once Kassadin is King of the world, he will not hesitate to take your hand and make you his. The tricky part however is the opening of a critical void portal."
Sona looked confused and angry at the prophet, his plans not making any sense at this point.
"The void as you know, is a massive place. You could fit a thousand Runeterras inside. Portals open up here and there once in a while but they open only briefly and just large enough to fit one creature. Cho'Gath and the other void-borns are proof of that. You can however open a portal that is large enough to accommodate the larger creatures and in higher volume. It would also stay open perpetually, letting in the creatures in numbers that could easily overrun Runeterra and its inhabitants."
Malzahar looked at Zed and Sona alternatingly, seeing if they caught the meaning of his plans. Both of them still stared at him menacingly, Zed even more so.
"No creature of the void can open portals of that size and magnitude. They can only open up small portals in which to draw powers or abilities from. Kassadin's voidwalk is an example. What I needed was a key."
Malzahar moved in closer to the cage and eyed Sona like a prize.
"Your etwahl is the key and you, Sona, will be playing the tune that will open the gate to oblivion!"
Sona's eyes went wide as she backed away from the cage. She shook her head slowly, denying what she had heard from Malzahar. She couldn't believe that she and her etwahl would be the reason for Runeterra's demise, a world that Kassadin tried so hard to protect. She then remembered all those dreams she had before. All those things that Lestara had told her.
'That instrument is the key and it will speak for you in more ways than you can imagine.'
"Now, you may be asking 'Why not open the portal now? Why wait for Kassadin to have a chance to rescue Sona?'"
Sona looked up to Malzahar, as if waiting for an answer.
"A key's effectiveness at opening a portal to another world becomes more powerful under emotional and physical distress and in the presence of a significant other. Sona's attachment to Kassadin proves to be convenient as I am opening a void portal. Kassadin is a being of the void, only making the key more effective in opening a portal."
Malzahar felt so excited about his plans coming to fruition that he laughed a diabolical laugh that echoed throughout the walls. Zed clenched his fists and grit his teeth in anger that he could not do anything to avert the disaster that was about to befall Runeterra. At the back of his mind, he had wished that Shen would come aid him in his and Kassadin's predicament. Sona felt grim that she would be the cause of the downfall of Runeterra. A part of her wished that Kassadin wouldn't come to rescue her.
She knew that it was not to be so.
"Zed! Take the Maven to the main hall. It is time."
Zed didn't move at first but then remembered the fate of Syndra if he did not comply. Hesitantly, he moved towards the cage to retrieve the captive. Sona moved away from Zed in a futile attempt to discourage the plan.
"I am sorry Mistress Sona. I have no choice." Zed said as he proceeded to take Sona. She resisted at first, hitting and kicking him. However, he pressed a pressure point on Sona's neckline that instantly made Sona unconscious.
"The herald is coming." said Malzahar, as he watched Zed take Sona away. "And the world shall burn with his arrival!"