There no time for love
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams
yet tips away from us
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
_
Destaine frowned as the squirming bag was deposited at his feet, mamluck parts falling out all over the floor. "Where did you find this?" he snarled and the undead minions pointed to the tower. 'I don't believe this." He growled out in exasperation. How in the seven hells did he escape? Destaine felt rankled. Mozenrath was powerless, half dead. He could feel how decimated the young man was. He was on his last vestige of energy. He never would have been able to escape if someone hadn't come for him.
This was becoming exhausted. True it had been…fun…having his pupil back for a time. He had done a great deal to remind Mozenrath of just what awaited them once they returned to the Citadel. But he had proven more resilient than he had in the past. No matter what he did, Mozenrath raised no more than a haggard breath of stubborn strength.
He'd even found the gall to spit blood into Destaine's face.
He would never have DARED before. Little upstart. He has been granted too much time to be allowed such a sense of importance. He stood from his seat and looked at the bare manacles on the wall. This was a real problem, or it would be if he'd not had the forethought to use his newly created orb. He flexed his power and the circle responded beautifully. It began to hum with power. "There we are. You can run but you can't hide Mozenrath."
Mozenrath was being decidedly silent now as the carpet flew quickly on their new quest. He had little enough reason to talk to anyone. With his gauntlet returned, his body was humming to itself with the renewed flush of power within him. But as good as it felt to have that hollowness in his gut filled, there were too many others still gnawing at him.
He was used to going hungry. Destaine had never been one to keep a heavily stocked cupboard, so he had learned early how to fast and go without. But this was nearly the second week without food. Even a half elemental like him could eventually starve if he didn't eat for long enough.
On top of that, along with the return of his gauntlet had come a pressure he had not been aware of before. It was creeping along his bones, as though feeling out for what it would take next. All throughout his body he felt a constant soreness, an ache that would not depart no matter how he tried to ignore it. That was made only worse by the awareness of just how badly Destaine had hurt him. The djinn had done as much as he could to heal the bloody injuries, but they were still there. And there were gouges in his skin from where the teeth had broken through, almost as if trying to tear his flesh off.
Aladdin had given him a healing salve for cuts and bruises and…as he had put it so annoyingly… "Anything else that hurts."
No. Not right now. Mozenrath shut it down. He could not afford to be in that head space right now. He had to stay focused. According to Aladdin's directions they were nearing the temple. He had to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Or behind. Destaine would likely know he was gone within the first few hours, but it had been five days of flight with nary a sigh of the old vulture. Mozenrath had no intention of being caught unawares again. One night back under his old masters thrall had been enough of a reminder. When next he faced Destaine, it would be as a fully restored man, his gauntlet returned to him. And this time no more games. I will kill him. By now even Aladdin had to see the necessity of it. Destaine represented a very real threat to the seven deserts. Though he had never really attempted to conquer them the way his pupil had, once he knew who Aladdin was there would likely come retribution against Agrabah.
And Destaine only liked playing with intrigues where I was concerned. He won't have the same subtlety. He'll just come in and raze everything to the ground. Of course he might have to explain this to the hero.
"I think we're here." Aladdin said as they came over the side of the cliff.
Even now Mozenrath let out a low sound of awe. There before them stood a huge temple wall carved into the face of the cliff. The carpet slowly lowered itself down the massive pillars and painstakingly detailed statuary. All in the cool white glow of alabaster stone, the place had once been a center of worship before the cult of Mithra fell out of power. The great fires that had once sent rich offerings to the heavens had long gone cold. As they landed in front of the doors the group stared at the unique carving and the story it told.
"I can't read this." Aladdin said as he looked at the inscription. "Can you?"
"Of course I can." Mozenrath shrugged as pushed Aladdin aside. Sheltered by the golden tendrils of the blossoms carving, there was a passage on the door. "A passage lies at pious feet, upon the ground the blighted weeps. When proven worthy and upheld, the barriers three are all but felled. Trials surpassed, blessings given, the torn and broken thus are shriven. Yet a price must still be paid, against your sins you shall be weighed."
"Why does this sacred stuff always have to be in verse!" Iago squawked out. "Nobody ever just tells you what to do no! They cover it up with poetry."
"It sounds simple enough." Aladdin said as he stood next to Genie. "We have to prove ourselves worthy in order to get through the barriers. Once we do the Blossom will heal Mozenrath."
"But what about the price?" Mozenrath crossed his arms. "It said 'against your sins you shall be weighed', well you might be peachy but I doubt it's going to see me as the pure and virtuous sort."
"Do we have any other options?" The hero put his hands to the door and traced the carvings with his fingers. "Besides, Fasir said the Blossom would do the trick. He's never steered us wrong before." He pushed and the doors swung open, the sound of a gong sounding somewhere high above. A flood of light showed through the temple, cascading in from a great glass dome above them and lighting a massive statue against the far wall. "Do you think it's safe?" Aladdin said offhandedly.
"In general no. But this is the main section. Likely just for worshipers and priests to hold public rituals in. The inner sanctum would be where the blossom is kept." Mozenrath walked in, the sound of his boots clicking on the marble tiles. It was truly a beautiful sight, the air inside full of the smell of jasmine and peach blossoms. Patterns of green and blue swam across the pools on either side of the pulpit as they approached the statue in the middle.
It was at least as tall as the temple itself. A man, dressed in ancient Roman robes, his face serene and full of powerful symbolism. At his feet there was a door carved from the same marble as the rest of him. It slid open easily when Aladdin touched it. "I guess this is the way we go." He strode forward.
"Wait!" Mozenrath reached forward and jerked Aladdin back just in time for them to see a brilliant wave of golden orange light coat the doorframe like a curtain. Mozenrath reeled back from the lash of power, stumbling as it invaded his undersenses. He groaned and pinched his sinuses irritably. "Ow."
"What the…?" Aladdin backed up. But the barrier did not seem to cause a reaction in him as it had in the sorcerer.
"It's a protective seal…" Iago said as he inspected the doorway. "Something the priests must have set up in order to keep the un-ordained from getting through." The bird stuck out a feather and touched it. The barrier ripples, but did not give. "See…it won't allow me through."
"So how do we get past?" Aladdin questioned.
"A vow." Mozenrath said, righting himself firmly. "Priests of Mithra had to recite an admission to the god in order to wear the robes of his cult. I'd bet that the seal requires a recitation in order to be lifted."
"And you know the vow?" Aladdin sounded doubtful.
"As a matter of fact I do." The necromancer answered.
"Do I want to know how an evil sorcerer knows the vows of a holy order?"
"No. What you don't want to know is why." Mozenrath grinned, feeling a bit more like himself at that suggestion. He didn't want to say anything to the hero, but the intense throbbing of power in the air gave him a sense of promise. Anything this vibrant was bound to hold some useful properties. His natural avarice for magical objects crept forward until he reminded himself that he had a far more desperate need for the blossom. He clenched his skeletal fist and looked at the street rat. "There's one problem, the vow can only be recited by humans."
"What? Why?"
Mozenrath rolled his eyes. "Do you ever bother to read any of those books in your wife's library? The cult of Mithra was about purification, cleansing the soul for the next life so that one could enter the presence of their god with a pure soul. They didn't believe that animals had souls, so the ritual quite simply wasn't made for them." He gestured airily. "The same goes for your djinn."
"Hey! I'm standing right here ya know!" Genie said, obviously greatly offended.
Not that Mozenrath cared one way or the other. "Immortal beings, efreets, elementals, djinn and the like don't really have much need of a soul. So once again, the ritual won't work. You can try, but it looks like it's just the two of us from here on out."
"You expect us to just entrust Al to your protection?" Genie snapped as Abu chittered in agreement.
"No." Aladdin interrupted. "He's entrusted to mine." The hero came forward and touched the barrier again. "Look no matter how to shake it we have to get through this thing. And we're running out of time. You want to live more than you want me dead." He pointed at the sorcerer who, true to form, shrugged acceptingly. "Well we just have to trust in that for the moment."
"Fine, but at least let me take the gauntlet back." Genie insisted and approached.
Mozenrath's magic flared as he snarled at the blue creature. "Not a chance you comedic oaf!" Just as the power began to climb, he gasped and clutched his palm, the creeping sensation of his bones causing too much pain to continue. "Besides, I know Destaine is still out there. He used that new little toy of his to drain some of my power. All bets on the table, he's using it to track me."
"Leave it Genie. He's right." Aladdin said softly. "Destaine could still show up. And we don't know what we'll be facing through that seal." He turned back to the sorcerer, who was flushed but quickly righting himself. "Alright, what do we need to say?"
Mozenrath stood up to the seal and held his good hand against it. "Repeat after me: I the son of man, named by my forefathers as Mozenrath, do tithe my life to the service of Mithra, god of all gods." Aladdin repeated, watching in wonder as the translucent curtain began to shimmer, turning green. "I offer my humble services to his word, that my unworthy self might be made sacrosanct so as to enter his presence in the life beyond." The barrier changed from green to blue, opening to allow them through.
Aladdin turned to his friends. "Keep an eye out for any trouble." He followed after Mozenrath, watching the blue curtain transform again to gold, sealing up behind them.
A sent of stairs met them beyond the barrier, leading down further than either man could see. The tiles clicked under their boot heels as the men walked down.
"This is so surreal." Aladdin commented to himself. "This place is obviously ancient, but everything is so clean…like it's never been touched."
"The temple may be thousands of years old, but it was sealed up perfectly." Mozenrath answered. "My guess is with the priests inside."
"What? They left them in here?" Aladdin sounded so shocked and affronted that Mozenrath couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"When the cult of Mithra fell out of favor, that doesn't mean the priests abandoned it. Rather than be subjected to the whims of the mob, they likely sealed themselves in so that they could continue serving Mithra until death."
"That's…horrible."
The sorcerer shrugged. "Stupidly single minded perhaps. But I've heard worse."
"I'm sure you have." Aladdin grimaced distastefully.
At the bottom of the stairs there was a hall, shimmering at the end lay another golden curtain. As the two men approached, a voice resounded, vibrating into their heads. Neither male nor female, it radiated affirmation.
"The Barrier of Confession may only be released when one has divulged a deep & profound truth of the soul." The resonant voice spoke to them. The wavering shield of energy warbled slightly as Aladdin approached it, reflecting his image.
"Truth of the soul?" Aladdin thought as he gently touched the field. It did not strike him back but followed his hand like water. "What does that mean?"
"It's a purge." Mozenrath surmised. "You tell it something you've done, something that weighs on your conscience and it allows you to pass. It's meant to be a means of purifying you before you approach the Blightsbane." He reached up to touch the field of energy as well. His lip curled as the magic bowed from his fingers, refusing to allow him. "And I'm guessing the greater your sins the greater your confession must be in order to lift the barrier."
"Sins?"
"Something more than stealing bread and fruit street rat." Mozenrath muttered from the corner of his mouth. "It has to be something you regret…"
Aladdin went silent for a few moments. Something I regret. He'd done some stupid things in his life. Mostly honest mistakes or just little fibs. He regretted the lies he told his wife in the beginning, but they were past that. It didn't weigh on him like it used to. He looked over at the sorcerer and was intrigued by the distant look in his eyes. Whatever he was thinking, he wasn't going to go first.
Suddenly it hit him. Aladdin walked forward to the barrier and coughed, grabbing Mozenrath's attention. "When I was a kid…I had this friend. He was older than me and he kinda took care of our group. I knew he made deals with the Thieves Guild so they'd leave us alone, but I never knew exactly what sort. Until one day…I followed him." He took a deep breath, aware that the sorcerer was looking at him curiously. "I…I didn't get it at the time. I didn't understand what was going on. But later I started to get the point. He'd been letting the heads of the guild use his body, in exchange for not giving us any trouble." Aladdin put a hand to his chest, surprised by the ragged feeling there. "I was just a kid…I couldn't have done anything. But I was afraid. I was afraid that if I interfered they'd do the same things to me." Aladdin felt like his throat was raw as he choked out the last bit. "I was afraid to come back bruised and limping and bleeding and…" He could feel the pressure behind his eyes, as though the words could pour from them and release some inner pain. "I was afraid to put myself at risk and I let someone else suffer in my stead."
The barrier contemplated, and then rippled from the center, opening outward to allow Aladdin through. He swallowed and passed into the next cavern, turning to see Mozenrath looking at him with an unreadable expression.
The necromancer did not say anything for a very long time. Perhaps he was staring at the barrier, but his dark eyes did not leave Aladdin's face. It was as if he was searching for an answer there. As though Aladdin could provide him with knowledge as to what he regretted. What could weigh on the soul of an evil sorcerer? What confession could he possibly give that would satisfy the barriers requirements?
Mozenrath closed his eyes. "I am an evil man." He started slowly. "I have done things across the seven deserts to hurt and subjugate people. I have torn souls apart to force others to do my bidding. And I regret none of it." The barrier began to turn from its golden sheen to a dark liquid, but Mozenrath did not appear deterred. His voice was hard as stone as he continued. "I killed my master when I was young, for power…and control…and revenge. And at that moment, the moment when his power over me ended…I might have chosen to step onto a different path."
The barrier paused, becoming still as ice.
"I might have left…I might have walk away right then and never turned back. I might have changed everything about myself…everything that people now know me as…" Mozenrath's gaze dropped and Aladdin could see a flash of something breaking. "I could have been someone different."
And just as quickly it was gone. "But I chose to stay. I chose to continue my work and my goals." He lifted his gauntlet, clenching his fist tightly. "I am an evil man. If someone reached out a hand to save me I would bite it off. Out of spite, and because I do not know any other way to be."
The barrier did not return to its luminescent color, but again it trembled and opened, allowing Mozenrath to cross through. The two men avoided one another's gaze as they continued through the halls of the temple.
Genie was pacing, or rather floating, back and forth in front of the temple door. "They've been in there a really long time." He noticed as he looked up at the sun. "Do you think something could be wrong?"
"When is something not wrong? These adventures are pretty much comprised of how much can go wrong in a short period of time." Iago said as he munched some fruit. Abu chittered nervously, something that apparently the parrot understood. "Yeah I don't like leaving him in there with the wiz kid either, but what else could we do? The temple won't allow for animals."
"Or beings of exceptional power." Genie wrung his hands. "Ohhh I hope they get out of there soon. I keep getting this feeling like we're being watched."
"Astute observation for a djinn." Destaine cackled as he flung a mass of power at the group. Genie yelped and dodged it, the magic exploding so forcefully it sent them flying into the temple walls. "How pathetic! I can hardly believe a magical entity of your caliber is so incompetent!"
"Believe me we're all tired of it." Iago popped off and they jumped to avoid another attack.
"No matter. This time I've brought something to deal with you." Destaine opened his cloak and pulled out a corked bottle. "It has always astounded me that such a powerful being could be contained within the simplest of vessels. When this is all over I meant to take great pains to study you djinn."
"Yeah well good luck getting me in their buddy boy!" Genie said, inflating his muscles till he resembled a modern day governor of California. "I'm a free genie!"
"Not for long!" The bottle uncorked released a great, swirling vortex. It whipped forth with tornado force, snagging hold of the blue efreets and dragging him to the neck of the bottle.
"Whoa! Whoa! AhhhhhH!" Genie hollered as he clawed for a position on the ground. It was to no avail. The bottle sucked him down as mamlucks approached from behind, grabbing Iago and Abu and putting them in cages.
"It would be fun to destroy you all now, but on the off chance that the boy has some affection for you, I believe it will serve my purposes to hold you hostage." He stroked his beard, considering. "Best to do so from a position of power though." He lifted the cage with the Iago in it and brought the panicking bird close.
"Ahh! Hey eh…don't suppose you'd be in the market for a good familiar hum? I can provide references!" Iago professed, sweating bullets as he scrunched himself up against the far wall of the cage.
"You were Jafar's bird weren't you?" Destaine said slyly. "Yes I remember you." To everyone's surprise he undid the lock. "You will remain here and inform my dear pupil that I will be waiting back home for him and his little friend. If he fails to show himself to me I will take real pleasure in providing slow, agonizing torture and death for his companions here." Destaine gave a long, cruel smile. "He'll know exactly what I mean by that."
There was a violent flash of power and like that, the old wizard was gone. Iago flapping nervously in the air. "Hurry up kid! We got a real problem out here!"
Pebbles crunched under their boots as the next hall opened up into a wide chasm. There was an eerie stillness there that made both men uncomfortable. Aladdin lifted the torch higher, trying to find their way in the darkness.
"What barrier comes next?" Aladdin ventured. It was the first thing he'd said to the sorcerer since their confessions.
"I don't know for sure, but my guess is this will follow a pattern. Mithra is one of those intolerably good deities. The sort that won't allow for tarnished souls in the presence of his artifacts. And since no one gets through life without baggage, my guess is these barriers are meant to purify us…at least enough to qualify." Mozenrath answered. "If confession comes first, then the next barrier is likely to be a cleansing ritual. And after that…" he paused as his foot slipped and they both heard the sound of water.
"What?" Aladdin jumped a little as Mozenrath's powers flared, making the light brighter. "A lake…underground?"
As the ripples flowed outward the water's surface turned the same orange-gold glow of the previous barrier. The voice echoed in the wide cavern. "The Barrier of Cleansing. This barrier may be released when you tread the waters of your past and are not drowned by the weight of it."
"We have to swim to the other side." Aladdin looked, squinting but could see nothing. "Moze?"
"Nothing." Mozenrath said in answer. "I don't even see a far shore."
"Is there any way to know which way we're going?" Aladdin said as he took off his cloak and top.
"That's probably part of the barrier. If we manage to move past our old memories then we'll be allowed to find the shore and move on."
"But…how do you move past?" Aladdin said.
"As if I would know." Mozenrath scoffed, testing the water with a booted foot.
Aladdin looked sidelong at Mozenrath's clear distaste. A thought occurred to him. "Mozenrath can you swim?"
"I can…" he grimaced. "Not exactly my fondest pastime though." He admitted, following Aladdin's example by taking off his cloak and turban.
"Well we need to be sure not to lose each other in the darkness." Aladdin set the torch in the gravel and took out a rope. "We're not going to tie ourselves together, but each of us needs to keep ahold of the rope. Once this torch goes out we won't be able to see."
Mozenrath nodded and grasped the rope. "I have a better idea." He fondled the rope cautiously and muttered something with his eyes closed. Slowly, the rope began to take on a soft, greenish glow. "There. Cut it in half and we can both tie some around our wrists."
"Clever." Aladdin said as he took out a knife. It wasn't much light, but it was enough that they could make out one another's outline in the dark. "Okay…ready?"
They waded out into the black waters, torchlight at their backs. The waters were strange, neither warm nor cold, but a perfect tepid, matching that of the human body. Further and further they walked in, neither one entirely willing to take the plunge first. The water soon came up to their waists, then a few feet later up to their necks.
"Okay…I think the shelf is here…" Aladdin adjusted his foot and could feel nothing as he gingerly let it fall down. "We're going to have to start…"
The torch light behind them was plunged into darkness.
"…swimming."
Something took hold of the both of them and they were pulled under the surface, leaving not so much as a ripple behind.
Sunlight shone on his pale face and Mozenrath smiled a little. He had never known such freedom as he had these past few weeks. It had been tentative at first. He had been sure his master would catch up with him in the first days of his escape and so he had taken no rest for himself. A boy of fourteen traveling alone could have a dangerous time of it, but he in particular had a lot to watch out for.
But when the days turned into a week, and the week turned into two, and nothing happened, Mozenrath began to feel a little more at ease. He allowed himself to go out into the city during the daylight hours now, a little at a time. He wasn't fond of the crowds and the noises and the smells, but that wasn't what was important. What was important was that he could. He didn't even know the name of the city he was in, but no one seemed to notice another young, well dressed boy among the market stalls.
And he had not been foolish in his escape. Whilst Destaine held no avarice for gold, he kept plenty of it around to pursue his interests. Mozenrath had absconded with a fair amount, looking at it as back payments for years as an apprentice. He didn't stay anywhere for too long. He moved from inn to inn, always finding somewhere more suited to his tastes. He slept long hours, ate what he felt like when he felt like it, and used his magic as he saw fit.
The dreams were even beginning to go away. Sometimes he would go whole days without looking in the shadows, waiting to see his masters face.
Mozenrath picked up some fat pomegranates and a loaf of fresh, hot bread for his lunch before he headed back to the inn where he was staying for now. He would be leaving in the morning once more and he'd a mind to take a long hot soak before heading off.
He walked up the stairs and into his room, setting his food down on the table as he turned to lock the door…
…and saw a tall shadow standing by it.
"No!" he shouted out, firing off a blast of his own powers at the figure. They were deflected with ease, a slash of vindictive green magic knocking him back into the corner. Mozenrath clutched his stomach and doubled over, forcing himself to rise. "Oh…" he said in a dead voice. "It's you."
Mirage strode forward, closing the door behind her. "Is that any way to greet your dear mother?"
"You're right, next time I'll have a litter box out." He snarled and another rending of power struck him to the ground.
"Insolent little bastard!" the cat woman yowled at him. "What are you doing away from the Citadel? I go to all the trouble of arranging a mentor for you and you have the gall to run away?"
"I don't need him any more! I've mastered my own magic!" Mozenrath insisted, standing up with the wall for support.
"Oh please! If that pathetic attack on me was the limit of your powers than you are decades behind! I have not wasted all this time and effort just to have a drop out for a son." She reached forward, grabbing the slim, pale wrist and yanking Mozenrath to his feet. "You are going back to Destaine if I have to drag you there myself! And gods help you if you embarrass me like this again!"
"No! I won't go back!" Mozenrath twisted in her grip, his magic jetting out into the furred wrist as Mirage screeched in pain. "You can't make me!" he threatened triumphantly.
"Oh can't I?" Fire swarmed in the room, catching on the curtains and turning the wallpaper into curling ash. His mother stood in the torrent of power, the flames writhing her face into a terrible visage. Behind her she opened a portal, the Citadel looming in the background. "You will return to your master and your studies or so help me I will burn this entire city to the ground with you in it!"
Mozenrath shrank away from the fire as it tore at his cloths. "Go ahead! I don't care! I'm not going!" he flared out his own magic, keeping the flames at bay just enough to stop himself from getting cooked.
"Yes you are!" Mirage thundered, raising her arms as the flames began to turn blue from heat. Mozenrath screamed as his own magic was engulfed by Mirage's, ensnaring him in the fire storm. "You will do as I say brat!" He was thrown through the portal the black sands sucking at his feet as he pushed himself up. Ignoring the pain he started to run.
"Where do you think to run this time my son?" Mirage's voice had become deadly quiet. This time it was the firecats she unleashed, surrounding the pale teenager on all sides. 'Where do you think you can go that I shall not find you?"
Mozenrath ran around the circle, avoiding the slash cat claws and yowling teeth of his mother's pets. "No! No no no no!" he yelled, defending himself by letting his power surge forth.
"You belong to me Mozenrath. I will always find you no matter how far you run."
"NO!" His magic flooded from his body and there was an implosion of power, the force of the impact sending the firecats screaming into the dust and sands. Steam shone around the boy as he crouch from exhaustion. It had expended all his effort to produce such strong display. "I belong to no one." He said softly. "Not you and least of all him."
Mirage arched an eyebrow, impressed despite herself. "Why? Why on earth would you throw away what you've already accomplished? In just another decade you could outstrip any sorcerer or warlock within a thousand leagues? Why give up now?"
Mozenrath frowned. "I can't go back to him. I can't…you don't know what he does to me mother…" he felt weak. He hadn't called her that since he was a child. "You don't know what he makes me do…"
"That's it?" Evil incarnate chuffed. "That's what all this teenage rebellion is about?" She began to laugh in a rich, mocking tone, flinging back her hair. "Stupid boy. Surely you knew there would be a price to pay for your tutelage."
"W-what…" Mozenrath's jaw fell open as he stared at his mother in betrayal. "Y-you knew? You…you knew…what he was doing to me?" his voice took on the high, whiny quality of a teenage boy. "You knew and you did nothing?!"
"Why should I? Private tutors don't come cheap. And Destaine is the best in the seven deserts. If you're to be of any use to me in the future then I need to be sure you're properly trained…a goal he seemed to be accomplishing on multiple levels till now."
"You bitch." His voice turned just as cold as his mothers. "You evil feckless bitch!" his power surged forth again, catching Mirage off guard and slamming full force into the powerful elemental. She crashed to the ground, gritting her fangs at her sons daring move.
Mozenrath ran forward, preparing to end it now. Mirage swung her hand out, her claws embracing him like a rat and tearing at her sons cloths and flesh until he screamed and collapsed on the sands, bleeding from multiple wounds. She stood over him, the only way she could now tower over her tall son was when he was knelt like this. "Now you listen to me you ungrateful brat." She crossed her arms. "The next time you run, I'll make sure that what you've experienced so far is NOTHING compared to what I will bring down on your head! You think Destaine is the worst you could do?" he laughed, callous and heartless to the core.
There was a shower of green sparkles, and when Mozenrath looked up, his mother had disappeared and his master stood in front of him. His face shining with wicked glee.
"Welcome back home..." He said, fist closing around Mozenrath's neck."…my dear Mozenrath…"
"Mozenrath! Mozenrath!" Aladdin yelled at the sorcerer, dragging him the rest of the way up onto the shore line. Both men were soaked, the viscous quality of the water slickening their skin. It slipped from Aladdin easily, but seemed to cling to the sorcerer possessively. Aladdin had to hold tightly onto the unconscious man as he pulled. "Moze!" he yelled again and there was no response. He laid Mozenrath out on the pebbled sands and realize the man wasn't breathing. His mouth was open and his chest did not rise or fall.
"Dammit!" Aladdin checked him over, his mind racing for a solution. They could not come this far just to fail now. They were so close! Without another moment of hesitation he clipped Mozenrath's nose between his fingers and covers the sorcerer's mouth with his own, pushing his breath into the lungs. The chest rose and Aladdin lifted up, balling his fists and compressing them down into Mozenrath's sternum.
Again…
Again…
Again…
"Come on!" Aladdin gasped and forced the air in as hard as he could.
Mozenrath jerked forward with a start, shoving Aladdin aside as he coughed violently and began to vomit up water in vast amounts. Aladdin slapped his back firmly, trying to help push it all out. When it was done the sorcerer collapsed on the bank, breathing a little sluggishly, but on his own none the less. He gulped, spat the strange taste of slim out of his mouth, and sat up slowly. "H-h…" he gurgled, vomited again, and shook himself. "How did you know to do that?" he asked when he found strength to talk.
Aladdin, breathless as well, rang his hair out. "What? Oh…I have this problem with an obsessive water elemental. Genie taught me how to do that just in case." Mozenrath nodded, too tired to pry further. He swallowed, feeling raw all over. "What happened?"
"I don't know…the torch went out…something dragged us under and I saw…" He stopped, the memories of his past flooding over him.
"Saw what?" Aladdin pushed, looking at the doubled over young man.
"None of your business." Mozenrath said shortly and shakily stood up.
"Oh great…so we're back to this again." Aladdin leaned back. It had been hard enough making it through himself, but when he'd made it to the shore only to realize the sorcerer wasn't with him, he'd dove back in to find the man. It had taken six times, diving deep and coming up for air before he spotted the green rope and managed to drag the man to safety. The waters had held onto him hard, not wanting to let go of their prize as he hung in limbo beneath the surface.
So, at the moment, he was more than a little peeved at Mozenrath's lack of faith in him.
"What do you mean by that?" Mozenrath shot over his shoulder.
Aladdin stood, gritting his teeth. "Look I know…okay. I know everything." He watched the way Mozenrath's body stiffened, the outrage and humiliation that flashed through his eyes. "I know what Destaine did to you…everything he did and I…"
"And what?" Mozenrath's voice held a callous edge. "You think that changes anything Aladdin? You think you know me just because you know about that?" The sorcerer rounded and charged forward, temper controlled tightly as his forehead throbbed. "You do not know a damned thing about me street rat. You will never know me. And I don't need your pious display of false pity!"
"It's not pity Mozenrath I just…!"
"You what? You feel bad for me? Poor Mozenrath, how sad and tragic." The necromancer scoffed. "I am not another victim who needs to be rescued by you hero. I put my past behind me long ago!"
"Then why did the water drag you down huh?" Aladdin came back, almost as angry as Mozenrath. "If it doesn't effect you any more then why did you sink under the waves where I had to rescue you." The same question had just dawned on Mozenrath and he was stunned just long enough for Aladdin to continue. "What did you see Moze? What did you see that pulled you down?"
"That's none of your business." His voice was becoming emotionless, the way it did when he was holding back something painful. But this time Aladdin wasn't having any of it.
"You're right. You are absolutely right it is none of my business what you went through or who hurt you or why they did it." Aladdin shook. He had never felt so angry in his whole life. This was not the first time he had saved Mozenrath's life. Hell on this quest alone they were up to a tally of three or four! "But I would think by this point in time you could at least trust me to keep your secrets."
"Right. I'm so sure you and your little posse have been having a good laugh about this while my back is turned."
"You really think I would do that?! You think I've told anyone about what I know?"
"How kind of you." His voice was as sour as a lemon. "You want to keep doing me favors Aladdin? Well then just keep all of this to yourself. Not you Genie, not your princess, not even that flea bitten little monkey of yours. And especially not that parrot!" Mozenrath finished, turning to go.
But Aladdin wasn't through yet. Something spurred him on. A twinge of curiosity perhaps, but there was this while blind denial Mozenrath was insisting on perpetuating. This coping mechanism he used like a shield as he shoved down everything further and further into his soul. It tainted him so darkly that it was no surprise how he reacted when Aladdin grabbed his wrist and spun him around. "What…did…you…see?" he demanded.
Mozenrath looked him in the eyes. "You really wanna know? Fine. I saw my mother."
"Your…?"
"Yes, my mother. Remember I told you I tried to run away? Well I didn't try just once hero. I tried again and again and I never got far. But one time, one time I managed to get away. I spent an entire month away, completely free. And then my mother found me. She drug me back and when I told her what Destaine had been doing to me do know what she said?" he laughed, an insane sound in the dark echoing cavern. "She said she knew. She said it like it was nothing! Like it wasn't even worth considering!" he yelled, his voice pitching as he pulled back and tried to compose himself. "And she was right. She was right it…isn't even worth troubling over. I knew there would be a price. There is always a price. And I just keep paying it."
Aladdin let go of Mozenrath's hand like he'd been burned. The shock of it was too much. He sat down, dizzy. "She just…turned you over to him? She betrayed you like that? Even knowing that he was…"
"My mother excels at many things Aladdin. Betrayal is just another of them."
It was so different from how his own mother had been. He had only known her till he was seven or eight, but he could remember the love and kindness with which she treated her only child. How much care and comfort she had always given, assuring Aladdin of just how precious he was to her. Aladdin hung his head. "Moze I'm…I'm so sorry…"
"Stop it Aladdin. It isn't wanted." Silence hung between them until Mozenrath looked over curiously. "What did you see?" he asked.
Aladdin sheepishly admitted "Nothing."
"You what?"
"No I mean…I literally saw nothing. I got drug under and swam to the surface without any trouble. I had a completely normal swim until I realized you weren't there." Aladdin had never felt more guilty than when Mozenrath gave a loud, sardonic laugh.
"Oh Aladdin…" he finished with his palm to his forehead. "Everything just comes so easy for you doesn't it?"
A glow suddenly lit up the shore line as a deep hum echoed off the walls, interrupting their conversation. "We're close." Mozenrath announced. "I can feel it." And none too soon. He could feel his bones creeping painfully, aching up and down his body. The blight was urging forward. He grasped his arm and stopped when he saw Aladdin looking at him.
"It's getting worse?" The street rat asked.
"Well it isn't getting better." Mozenrath started off.
The stairs went deeper still, the glow lighting their way. When they came to the doorway there was a moment of confusion. No barrier stood there to halt their progress.
"That stone did say three barriers right?" Mozenrath nodded as they entered into the final room.
The glow became brighter than the sun, it's brilliance almost engulfing all else. The two men had to shield their eyes from it as a voice reverberated in the room.
Approach the Blossom of Mithras and be healed.