Blue Lightning and the Bear

by Blue Paladin

Two shadows from the past rise up to confront the New State Army. First they must dispatch the vampire who seeks to make life dance to his whims. But who will aid them against the Dark Knight of Chaos?

77. Chapter 77 Annihilate the Sorrows

Chapter 77 – Annihilate the Sorrows

Leaving behind the cave and the remains of the stone golem, Viktor, Flik, and the others found themselves immediately confronting a cleft in the side of the mountains. A hundred feet down the rocky, nearly vertical slope was a rivulet of flowing water. A narrow bridge of wooden planks spanned the gap, leading to a smaller opening in the rocks facing them. Flik's eyes were drawn up the slope. Above them, maybe another hundred feet, at the top of the opposite cliff, he could just make out the sides of buildings.

"There's a mine ahead," Kahn announced, checking the map. "It should lead us directly into the town." A gust of wind snatched at the parchment, though Kahn held on. "All we have to do is cross this bridge."

Flik looked at the structure again, even as another gust whipped his cloak up. "You'd think they would've built railings."

Riou led the way, carefully walking out onto the planks. Nanami hesitated only a moment and then joined her brother. Sierra, meanwhile, turned into a bat, flew across the gulf, and was waiting for the two of them when they arrived. Mazus and Kahn followed after them, each in turn. Then Viktor started across. Flik thought he heard the boards creaking, but maybe that was his imagination. Once Viktor had gained the other side, Flik realized that he was all alone on his side. He glanced up at the heavens and wondered why he was always the last to do these things.

Looking straight ahead, he walked out onto the bridge. The wind howled around him, but he kept his feet moving. Before he knew it, he was reunited with his friends. Flik was hoping for some accolades, but Riou merely nodded and started walking for entrance into the mine.

Inside there was evidence of a short struggle and hasty retreat. Pick-axes and shovels lay scattered about, some crusted with dried blood. They walked further in and found a line of overturned mining carts, an improvised barricade that had obviously failed.

"So, is this where they came in?" Viktor asked.

"It was very sudden," Riou commented. "Maybe half an hour after you, Ridley, and Klaus left with the troops, one of the shaft managers reported an incident. Gustav went to round up some of his men, but I felt that speed was necessary. Nanami and I went in and…there was Neclord."

"Did you try to fight him?" Flik wondered. They were now walking down a set of rails. Another barricade, this of heaped timbers, lay ahead. It too had failed.

"Of course!" Riou replied, just a bit of heat in his voice. "I wasn't going to simply let him walk into Tinto unopposed, even if I knew there was nothing we could do to stop him."

"Foolish youth," the Star Dragon Sword rebuked. "You put a lot at risk to satisfy your pride. My blade is the only one that can bite the vampire now."

"You can't blame Riou for trying," Viktor argued. He put a hand on Riou's shoulder. "After all, I did the same thing once."

"And it got you nowhere," the sword retorted.

"After you fought him, that's obviously when you made your escape," Flik observed.

Riou walked on a few more paces before responding in a quiet voice. "The Bright Shield reacted to Neclord's magic. I don't really remember what happened after that."

"I had to drag you along," Nanami explained. When Flik looked at her face, he could see her frowning in concern. "You were barely on your feet. By the time we got out, you were ready to collapse. There were zombies all around us, so I put you on my back and ran as hard as I could, until I couldn't go any further."

"Thank you." Riou's expression was distant, as though he were looking past Nanami. "You know, when I was out, I thought I saw Jowy."

"You had a dream about him?" Nanami asked. "He is your best friend, so that's normal."

Riou shook his head. "No, it wasn't a dream. I mean that I saw Jowy, in Muse. Pilika was there too. She was talking."

They had stopped walking. Flik didn't know what to say to Riou, especially on this topic. Jowy was their enemy, but also Riou's friend. As for Pilika, Flik couldn't imagine her speaking at all. She'd never said a word in his presence, so he had no idea what her voice sounded like.

Mazus suddenly cleared his throat. "There are some interesting theories about the Rune of the Beginning," he observed. "For instance, even though the Rune is normally split in two, it is suggested that the Rune still contains but one will. Thus, just as the two parts of the Rune are linked, so are the two bearers. This is why they are often great friends, or great foes, or both at once."

Nanami rounded on the mage. "Jowy is not our enemy!"

Mazus regarded her fury with a serene smile. "As you say. Well then, let us turn our attention back to getting out of here." He raised one robed arm and pointed forward. "It appears that there is some sort of contraption up ahead. Perhaps we can use it to make our way to the surface."

What was ahead appeared to be a large pen or cage of wood panels with a viewing screen built in. Inside and above the structure were a pair of thick cables. For a moment, Flik was dumbfounded, but then the answer came to him. "It's an elevator!"

Viktor snapped his fingers. "You know, I think you're right."

Flik regarded the machine dubiously as they walked forward. He had experience in them, both in the Liberation War and in this one. He didn't like them. He'd tried the elevator Adlai had installed just once. It rose unevenly and seemed to make ominous groaning noises as it worked. Taking the stairs seemed much safer to Flik after that.

He planted himself firmly in the middle of the pen and forced himself not to cringe when Riou pressed the button to operate the machine. It came to life with a shudder, gears grinding and the cables vibrating. Slowly, they began to rise, passing up through a shaft in the rock. Flik could feel the shaking in his legs. It was all he could do not to collapse on the spot.

Suddenly they were out of the shaft and, with one last jerk, the elevator came to a halt. Ahead was the exit. Beyond that, Flik could see the roofs of buildings. Silently, they walked the last few yards out into the afternoon sunlight.

Nanami wiped her forehead. "Phew! I don't want to do that ever again." Flik agreed with her, though he didn't voice it.

Viktor pounded his fist into his palm. "We're not done yet! We've got to hunt Neclord down and tear him to pieces. Where do you suppose he is?"

Flik slowly looked around, taking in the city of Tinto. The inhabitants had literally carved terraces into the side of a mountain so that the buildings appeared to be stacked on one another as they climbed up the slope. All of the structures were built of the ubiquitous, white sandstone he'd seen in Crom. Above them were a series of larger buildings, whose purpose he could not place. Surprisingly, at the apex of the city was a cathedral of stone, dedicated to the Circle Rune.

"My study of Neclord suggests that he likes places with religious imagery," Kahn said, also gazing at the cathedral. "That's probably where we'll find him."

A distant rumble made them turn their heads. In the haze at the foot of the mountain, more than half a mile below, Flik could just barely detect mass movements. Though he couldn't make out individuals, he was certain that what he saw were the allied armies, fighting against Neclord's hordes.

"Hopefully all the zombies are distracted," Flik said.

"We should tread carefully," Kahn warned. "Remember, our goal is to get to Neclord, not fight his minions."

They left the mine behind and started climbing. Though Flik was tired, he gathered energy from having his goal in sight. At last, all the houses were below them and all that remained was one long flight of stone stairs to the cathedral fifty feet above them. Riou had just mounted the first steps when the ground behind Flik began to rumble.

Flik turned, drawing his sword, and smoothly decapitated the zombie crawling out of the hole at his feet. The remainder of the corpse slumped down, but others were emerging from other traps.

"Looks like he didn't send them all down to fight!" Viktor shouted, smashing the Star Dragon Sword into the face of another zombie. More appeared; in seconds nearly twenty were upright and just as many were crawling up out of the ground.

Kahn's rune glowed and half a dozen of the nearer zombies puffed into ash. "Viktor! We must get to Neclord! Kill him and this will end!"

"I know, I know!" Viktor's sword snapped through the necks of two more zombies.

Flik drove his blade through the neck of another zombie, but even as the monster expired, its hands grasped his sword. The zombie behind it started to reach for Flik. Behind that zombie were dozens more, maybe approaching a hundred. Out of options, Flik drove forward, bearing his blade and the corpse on it right into the next zombie down the line. Dead hands clutched at him, but he set his feet and pulled back, finally freeing his sword.

There was a flash of light behind Flik. He whipped his head to one side to see the smoking ruins of six zombies further up the stairs, in front of Riou and Nanami. "Viktor, Kahn, Sierra, you three are the important ones!" Riou shouted. "Get up there!"

The zombies from behind surged forward, but suddenly the ground at their feet started to slide away. Mazus raised his hands, and the avalanche picked up speed, carrying dozens of zombies down the side of the mountain. "Go on, all of you!" He started to cackle, laughing as more zombies rose up out of the debris. "It's been a while since I've had a challenge like this. The last one killed me, I think!" He raised his hands again and more rocks slid away, flowing almost like water, taking zombies to their doom.

Flik decided it was better not to question Mazus' sanity. Riou was already sprinting up the steps, followed closely by Nanami. Kahn was next, his heavy coat billowing, his breath audible. Sierra had lifted into the sky. Viktor and Flik ran together, bringing up the rear. Flik's legs were burning with pain, but the top of the steps drew ever closer.

With one more burst of effort, Flik stood with the others at the landing before the intricately carved doors of the cathedral. He risked one look over his shoulder, but clouds of white dust obscured the bottom of the steps. Then he turned back to the others, as Kahn started to speak.

"Remember, Viktor, you need to distract him for a couple of minutes. The rune of binding will take that long to prepare. We don't want him to escape."

"I don't want him to escape either!" Viktor shouted, brandishing the Star Dragon Sword.

"Just do your part," the Star Dragon Sword said. "Everything is in place, just trust me to strike him down when the time comes."

Viktor held the sword out in front of him, staring at the little face. "Are you trying to reassure me?"

"I'm trying to ensure that you don't go after Neclord with your teeth the moment you see him," the sword answered. "Now get in there!"

Flik held his own sword in one hand and, with Viktor's help, pushed open one of the great doors. Inside, Flik stepped to the right, scanning the first room for any sign of opposition. He was in a long corridor that ran parallel to the outer wall. Directly opposite was a magnificent tapestry of red cloth with gold stitching. Next to that was another door.

Looking back, Flik saw that the others had also entered and that Viktor was scouting further down the hall. Making eye contact with Kahn, he gestured towards the door and pantomimed opening it.

Kahn shook his head, then whispered, "I don't think he's there. My instincts tell me he's in the nave, probably by the pulpit." Flik shrugged his shoulders, having no idea what Kahn was talking about.

Walking with the others after Viktor, Flik noted an intersecting hallway, but Kahn waved him off. Viktor had come to a halt by a set of double doors that apparently opened into a large room. From the other side, Flik heard the muffled sound of a deep voice speaking. Even two years removed from his last encounter with the vampire, he recognized Neclord's voice instantly. Suddenly, Neclord was interrupted by the sound of a little girl crying. Viktor's knuckles went white around the Star Dragon Sword.

"Ready?" Viktor asked, looking from Riou to Nanami to Flik.

"Yes," Riou said. Flik simply nodded.

Viktor surged forward, more pushing the doors aside by brute force than opening them. Flik followed hard on Viktor's heels, stepping to one side to get a clear view of the room. His eyes glanced briefly over wooden pews, a raised altar, and a massive stained glass window before settling on Neclord.

The vampire was turning, his mouth curled in a frown at the interruption. His skin, the little Flik could see on his face and hands, was ghastly and pale. His mouth and red eyes were sunken; his sharp nose was prominent. In contrast to his body, Neclord's clothing was opulent. His black cape, with its huge collars, swept just above the floor as he faced them, and Flik could see blood red lining of the interior. His pants, coat, and upturned dress shoes were all black too, though he had a white ruffle hiding his neck.

For an instant, Flik thought Viktor was going to throw himself right at Neclord, but Viktor arrested his charge. He stood several feet away from the vampire, in between the two rows of pews, brandishing the Star Dragon Sword. "Sorry to break up your little party, Neclord," Viktor bantered.

Neclord's lips twitched, then held an insincere smile. He spread his hands, almost a gesture of welcome. "Viktor, my old friend, you do arrive at the most inopportune moments. My golem was obviously not enough to detain you."

Behind Neclord, a little girl cried out, "Let me go back to my father! I don't want to marry this creep!" Flik, who was standing behind the very last pews, stepped further to the side, allowing him to see Neclord's two captives. One was a little girl with brown hair and a green dress, obviously Lilly, Gustav's daughter. The other was an older woman in a purple robe and green pants, standing protectively between Lilly and Neclord.

"Catch you at a bad time?" Viktor laughed. "What is this, bride number seventy? I know you like them young, but isn't this going a bit far?"

Neclord's smile faltered and his hands curled into fists, but his tone remained smooth. "Only you would be so vulgar, Viktor. I am immortal; I have all the time in the world to train her so that she grows up into a refined lady, capable of servicing all of my desires." His smile bared his fangs; his tongue slid across his teeth.

"You're disgusting!" Nanami shouted, standing with her brother off to Flik's left, behind the other set of pews. "Viktor, kill this creep!"

"All in good time," Viktor said. "I don't want this over with too quickly. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers." True to his word, his body did seem to be shaking.

"We've done this before," Neclord replied, still calm, though he was beginning to back away from Viktor. "Do you really think you can destroy me with that blunt sword of yours?"

The Star Dragon Sword jerked Viktor forward, its deep voice booming, "Foul, misbegotten creature, the penalty for taunting me shall be harsh! I'll scour you down to the depths of your black soul!"

Neclord backed up another step. Viktor took another step forward, shouting, "That's the way! Tell him, Star Dragon Sword!"

Flik kept moving to the right, coming up against the wall of the chamber, where there was a clear path forward. He moved up, trying to get to the vampire's side. Across the way, Riou and Nanami were also walking down the far aisle.

Neclord growled and stopped retreating, his steps having carried him to the first row of pews. His eyes took in Riou, then Flik, then Viktor. His mouth turned back up into a grin. "Viktor, truly I thank you for bringing so many powerful people here with you. I regret that we must cut our acquaintanceship short, but do not fear, for I shall make good use of your corpses, after I separate your souls from them."

Viktor shook the Star Dragon Sword at Neclord. "Do you know what I'm going to do to you? I'll make sure you can never make that stupid grin, ever again!"

At that moment, everything changed. Unexpectedly, Marlowe and Koyu appeared from somewhere behind the altar and began waving frantically, trying to catch the attention of the two women. Flik felt the muscles in his face tense, trying not to give anything away to Neclord, whose back was to this new development.

Viktor, too, realized he needed to play for time. "I'll kill you!" he shouted. "And then I'll take this sword and chop you up! And grind you up!" The older woman noticed the two would-be rescuers and motioned Lilly to silence. "Dry you in the sun!" Viktor continued, his voice growing louder and louder. "Break you to pieces! Bury you in the ground! Piss on you!"

Nanami snickered. Neclord scowled. Lilly and the other woman reached Marlowe and Koyu. Viktor threw more abuse at Neclord, really getting into it. "Then I'll dig you up! Pull you! Stretch you! Drag you around! And then, and then-" his voice nearly gave "-in any case, I'll never forgive you!"

"How very quaint." Neclord sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You are a vulgar man, Viktor, one who fails to plan ahead. For example, you seem to have forgotten that I have two hostages." He half turned, swinging his back arm to gesture towards the altar. Koyu and Marlowe, plus Lilly and the other woman, were ducking behind the curtains in the back.

"What is this?" Neclord hissed. "Damn you!" He hurled a ball of lightning towards the back of the room, but it burst in midair after travelling only a couple of feet. The floor around Neclord shined with arcane symbols that described a circle with a diameter of a couple yards. Neclord whirled back on Viktor, his eyes wide, his mouth moving spasmodically. "How do you…know such magic?"

Kahn entered the room clapping his hands and smiling. He walked down the main aisle to stand behind Viktor. "That was an excellent performance, and it seems the hostages are safe too. Everything is now in place."

"Damn Marley! I should've hunted your clan to its last member!" In his anger, Neclord flung another lightning ball, this time towards Kahn. This attack was as harmless as the first, faltering against the barrier.

"My family has researched this spell for generations," Kahn spoke. "We've spent our fortune for this one moment. I have you trapped here, Neclord, and your phase magic cannot help you."

Neclord shrank back from Kahn's gaze, then gathered himself and stood straight, holding out his right hand. "You-you do not scare me, mortal! Your barrier is nothing compared to the power of the Blue Moon Rune." The rune on his hand began to glow, a blue crescent that was painful for Flik to look at. He had to turn his head. Neclord began to chant. "Oh Blue Moon, your only desire is to annihilate the sorrows of the living! To you I offer the blood of one hundred men, the souls of one hundred men-"

Another voice replied, "Seal and put to rest for a while your awesome power. I, whom you first chose, entreat you."

The light of the Blue Moon Rune faded, leaving Neclord holding his hand out, a shocked expression on his face. Even so, he composed himself quickly. "Elder Sierra, this is a surprise. I see that Rean failed to kill you."

Sierra also walked down the center aisle. She and Kahn moved around and behind Neclord, so that the two of them and Viktor formed a triangle around the vampire. "Give me back the Blue Moon Rune that you took from me four hundred years ago," she demanded. "I will not have this curse spread any further."

"It's my turn to speak," Viktor interjected. "Hey, Neclord, there's nowhere for you to run. You don't have your power and you can't get to your doubles. When I hit you with this sword, you're going to die." He let out a long sigh, a happy smile on his face. "I've waited forever for this moment."

Neclord seemed to weigh those words as he turned to look at Kahn, Sierra, and back to Viktor. "All of you…you're nothing but scum! I'm not going to be killed here! I plan to live forever! Me! Me!" His voice broke at the end, and his eyes were wild. The air around him crackled with energy, building to a sudden explosion.

Flik hurtled the nearest pew, watching as Kahn was blown backwards off his feet and Sierra disappeared into mist. The concussion rocked the church, shattering the stained glass above the altar. Shards of glass rained down as Viktor stepped in towards Neclord, stabbing with the Star Dragon Sword. The vampire skillfully stepped aside, raking at Viktor with nails that were as sharp as claws.

Flik jumped another pew and found himself within the magic circle. He aimed a short blast of lightning at Neclord, which he seemed to deflect off his cape. Neclord hissed at him in reply, raised his hands, and the pews around Flik exploded into splinters. Flik hit the stone floor hard, groaning from dozens of pinpricks in his legs. He wanted to get up, but found that he couldn't.

Viktor and Neclord continued to duel, their faces locked in matching snarls. Thus far, none of Viktor's blows had struck, but the vampire had scored several bleeding gashes on Viktor's face and arms. Flik tried again to regain his feet, but his legs wouldn't work.

A hand reached down to touch him on the back. "Don't worry," Riou said. "I've got you." There was a flash of white light and the pain was gone. Flik kicked out spasmodically and jumped up to his feet, even before he could fully see. Viktor too had been healed, leaving only dried blood on his skin.

Neclord dodged another strike and snarled at Riou. "You think to bring an end to me, runebearer! I won't allow it! I am the world!" Blue fire crackled at his fingertips. With a gesture, he cast a beam of fire towards Riou and Flik.

Nanami stepped between her brother and the fire, hands held wide. A curtain of mist seemed to descend in front of her and, though it looked insubstantial, the fire could not penetrate, hissing with impotent fury as it splashed against the veil. "Nobody will hurt my brother!" Nanami shouted.

"Scum, all of you!" Neclord screamed. Despite his words, he was looking worried. He dodged another of Viktor's strikes, then transformed into a black bat and lifted up into the air. For a moment, it looked as though he might escape by rising straight up, but then the circle of magic sparked and the bat reeled away, falling slowly back towards the ground.

Kahn was back on his feet, dusting himself off. "He won't escape that way, I'm sure of it. My grandfather crafted this spell and my father passed it to me. It won't fail."

Neclord returned to his human form and backed away from Viktor, until he came up against the far edge of the circle, where he fell to his knees, exhausted. "Elder Sierra, please! Get me out of this! I'm your child, your creation!"

Sierra walked forward from the altar, holding up a hand to forestall Viktor. "Give me back the Rune, and do it quickly."

Neclord looked down at his hand and up at Viktor's eyes. There was panic in his voice. "Of course, yes, whatever you want!" The blue crescent of the Rune hung in midair over Neclord momentarily, then descended on Sierra.

She held up her right hand to inspect it. "Finally, I can lift the curse."

"What about him?" Viktor asked, pointing his sword at Neclord.

"Please, Elder Sierra, show me mercy!" Neclord squealed.

Sierra regarded Neclord coolly. "I offered you an escape from all your sorrows. I offered you an unending life without pain or suffering. It wasn't enough for you, was it? Instead, you desired more power. Tell me, Neclord, did the Blue Moon sate that desire? Are you satisfied?"

"I just wanted to keep living!" Neclord pleaded.

"Yet you sent so many, vampire and human, to their deaths," Sierra replied.

For one long moment, Neclord looked like he was trying to understand, but then he shook his head. "I just…I just wanted to ensure that I'd…that I'd…keep living."

"You tried to save your life, and now you shall lose it. Rather, you should've given up your life, and I would've saved it." Sierra turned her back on Neclord. "I am done here, Viktor. Do what you came to do."

"You killed my family, my friends, and everyone that was important to me," Viktor spoke, advancing on Neclord. "That's not all. You've trampled on the lives of many times that number. I'm tired of listening to you beg for your life." Viktor held his sword at the ready, paused momentarily, and added, "Hey, Star Dragon Sword, you got anything to add?"

Neclord struggled to get up, more lightning crackling between his fingertips. His voice was a high and frantic. "I'm not going to let you kill me! I'm going to live!"

The Star Dragon Sword flashed through the air, cutting cleanly through Neclord's neck. "Die, vampire!" the sword commanded. The body began to shrivel even as it collapsed, skin blistering away to bones, and bones to dust. All that remained of the vampire was his black clothes.

Viktor prodded the remains with toe of his boots. "What a boor. Even in death, he couldn't clean up after himself."

"It's done," Kahn whispered, holding his beret in his hands. He looked exhausted, but then, they all looked exhausted to Flik. Suddenly, Flik felt exhausted too. He staggered back to the nearest undamaged pew and sat down. Riou and Nanami sat down next to him, leaning on him from either side.

"I'm satisfied," Sierra declared. "Remember to hold up your end of the agreement."

Viktor was still pushing the clothes around with his boot, but he looked up at Sierra and replied, without enthusiasm, "Yeah, I will."

"What's the matter?" the Star Dragon Sword asked. "Was your revenge not good enough for you? Should we have made him suffer more?"

"Bah. Find me something to burn this garbage with." He turned away from the clothes and wandered over towards Flik. "I guess I just want to wipe away all traces of him. Even so, I can't bring his victims back from the dead."

Flik looked up through the hole where the stained glass had been. The sky was rapidly turning to dusk. "At least you've stopped him from taking any more. I think that's all we can really do, in the end."

Viktor took one last look over his shoulder, as if reassuring himself that Neclord was dead. "I guess there isn't anything more to do here. Let's go back and see about getting some food and rest." He laughed. "I bet Riou and Nanami are looking forward to that too.

They didn't reply. They'd both fallen asleep, pressed up against Flik's shoulders. He yawned, wondering how he'd move them without waking them. He yawned again, closed his eyes, and found that he was too tired to care much about moving, them or him.