Chapter 13:

I soon felt hollow again.

But were also other things that plagued me... With the new robes I finally returned to Undercity as I didn't want to live the life of a loner anymore. And if I truly ever again desired to do so, I could always take the tower of Blarus as a new home. The murlocs or naga that might take it up as new home should hardly prove to be enough to hold me off.

On the other hand I also couldn't have cared less for all the people now looking up to me either due to admiration or blind fear. It all didn't matter to me...

One of the stranger thoughts I had during that time was how salvation seemed not to be made for people like me, but I shook it off and out of my mind within only a few minutes. What nonsense my rotten brain began spouting about in midst all my focused determination.

But it lead me at least something... and with this frail confusion I gave it a bit more thought: What did I really want to achieve in the end?

The answer for this question proved so easy and yet so difficult.

Immortality

The words of Frostwhisper were following me everywhere. They were stuck in my mind and driving to the brink of insanity. I started to ask myself how did he become immortal, and yet again the answer was rather easy and still so difficult - the Scourge.

I knew that I would eventually turn myself into slavery willingly – either to enemy or the warlock's guild that began seizing my every move and turn on the turf of the Banshee Queen. On the other hand I had come free from the clutches of the Lich King on my own when I was weak. So now after I had grown stronger than probably every living being in Azeroth - why should I not be able to get out of his icy grasp once again?

"And therefore I now stand in front of you. Waiting idly inside this cage for the giant beetle to return and finally take me to see his master."

The mage looks at me from bleak eyes and stands up so he could face me properly.

"I really do have to say..." He turns away from me again "I was taught that you normally shouldn't feel for a demon... but if that really was what your own felhunter had said to you..." He makes a short pause "then I have to agree with him. You ARE a cold hearted and cruel bastard!"

I stayed calm for the moment.

"But tell me one more thing, you great warlock..." He turns to me, looking at me again with a strange fire in his eyes unlike before. "How much of this fairy tale you presented to me now was even close to the truth?"

It bursts out of me the moment Chillsbane had closed his mouth again from accusing me. I want to kill him on the spot for that insult!

"Just shut it, or I will kill you immediately!"

"You betrayed and killed everyone who was close to you and now you turn yourself in to the Scourge after blaming everybody but yourself? ... What a miserable way of living. Yet somehow I still can only pity you after all I heard but then again on the other hand I despise you." The mage just went on. A strange clicking sound in the background of the argument accompanied the situation.

"SILENCE YOUSELF, insolent worm!" I yell at the mage as I make a few steps towards him, my hands open and ready to give whatever spell I might think of my all.

Not a single second later a large spike rushes out of nowhere through the bars of the cage, right passed my head it pierces the mage dead center in the chest, leaving only a large gaping hole behind as it retreats, his body dropping to the floor motionless.

What on...?

"Waz he too loud for you, Warlock?" The large spike turns out to be actually one of the claws of the huge scarab that had imprisoned me here.

"The Mazter haz called for you. I will now take you to him as it waz arranged." With the tip of its claw the creature swiftly opens the cage and lets me out of it. "Now pleaze, follow me."

The nerubian leads me back to the room from where you can get to all four wings of the structure. I still don't know what to think about what had happened only moments ago. After all... I wanted to kill him myself.

Above the teleporter through which I had entered Naxxramas it seems there is another one. At least that is where the crypt lord is leading me to. We climb up a small staircase and enter the second circle that shines in a light blue.

A moment later we are already standing in a totally different room. It is far colder in here. The whole place almost completely covered in ice, the skeleton of a dragon lying in the corner. I've never heard of undead dragons before. And although this is clearly only a skeleton I can feel how magic is pulsing through it.

On the direct opposite of this large room there is a hallway. It takes a turn so you can't directly see where it is leading to. The only thing I know is that I draw closer and closer nearer to the source of the immense power that overshadows everyone else in Naxxramas.

As we take the turn in the hallway I can now clearly see the other room up front. It appears circular and a large throne is in the back of it. As we enter I see six portals that all lead into areas covered with thick layers of ice and snow.

The lich known as Kel'Thuzad is hovering in the middle of it all, overseeing whatever progress is made. He has certain similarities to Frostwhisper, except for his crown of bones that is a good bit larger.

"Mazter, I bring you the prizoner. Juzt az you have ordered." The nerubian lowers his bulky head upon saying these few words.

The voice of the lich is indescribable. It has nothing of a human's anymore.

"My, my... this is no prisoner. This is our most humble guest." He speaks calmly before turning directly towards me. "Don't be alarmed - I will not ask what you want from us, for I know all of it to its detail. All I need of you is a single word." He comes directly to the point without any hesitation. "We offer you strength in life as well as in death. Once you have died, you will serve us an eternity, but in return you will receive the might over frost and shadow alike in a way you could only dream of before."

I will not question the truth of his words. I can clearly see how Frostwhisper and he stand out of the lot.

And it is only natural, once you die, eternity will await you. The decision had been mad a long time ago... I will become immortal and transcend death itself!

Nothing will hold me back from reaching my goals now!

"Good... Therefore I ask of you, mortal, will you pledge your loyalty to me and my master? Will you vow to us that you will do as you are told and follow the orders of our lifeless king? Will you turn your back on the world as you know it? If you are willing to do so, come to me."

Eagerly I step forward and go nearer to the lich. The air around the creature is as cold as ice. Even I can fell that much. He turns to one of the portals to our right. The bony hand on my shoulder he carefully pushes me towards the pulsating field of energy behind us, ripping apart the carefully woven fabric of time and space.

"Now turn around to me, initiate."

I do as he says and right now I'm looking back straight at him again.

"There are few things you need to know, warlock." He takes his hand away and glides slowly back to the middle of the room.

"First: Don't you ever think that you can fool us again so easily." His voice rises. The shock on my face displayed a little bit too openly.

"Second: Believe me... you will never get out of his grip, no matter what you plan on doing. Should you prove too dangerous, you will become one of the mindless minions of our king." A short laughter of the nerubian interrupts the scene.

How did he know...?

"And finally... You have probably already guessed it... You are of no use for us 'alive' like this, ... far too dangerous." The crypt lord approaches me.

"You might as well die again... right now..."

The moment Kel'Thuzad ends his sentence I feel how the claw of the nerubian pierces through my chest. My mind is filled to bursting with artificial pain and suffering. Everything grows blurry rather fast. I still see the outlines of everything, but I'm already unable to focus my eyes. How with only a faint the image of the Lich and how he waves with his hand left I'm carelessly flung through the portal behind me.

The pile of snow I land breaks the fall.

The portal, now in front of me, is closing again already, the images of Kel'Thuzad and his nerubian underling vanish as I vow my silent revenge.

But it's no use. I might as well close my eyes.

The bastards!

I try to calm down and breathe steadily. I've never managed to get rid of this old habit...

Dammit! Is this really supposed to be it?

Everything I fought for... everything I sacrificed... was in vain?

No! I can't be..!

I just need to clear my thoughts.

This is exactly what I wanted.

Isn't it not?

I notice how someone or something is dragging me away by my shoulders.

I don't bother to have a look. I know everything that might be of importance already... and no matter what or who I'd be gazing at from these empty eyes, it wouldn't prevent my world dying anyhow.

There is only thing left to cling to now...

The new beginning awaits yet again.