Chapter Five: A Thief In The Night
XXII
Azarath
Azar, daughter of Azar, reflected on her homeland. How like a jewel Azarath had once been, before the birth a Raven. But jewels could be dark also, couldn't they? It had been a year since Raven had left for Earth, and already Azarath seemed to be growing brighter every day, more like its old self. The great priestess of Azarath smiled.
The people of Azarath valued knowledge, the soul and understanding above all else. They were free of all negative emotion and evil, having cast these things to the Great Void ages ago. Their existence was harmonious and balanced.
Raven had been a conundrum. She had been born of innocence and evil, seduction and deception. She had been the second child to ever be birthed in Azarath. Azar, daughter of Azar, had been the first and only other. The citizens knew how to procreate, but they did not feel the desire to do so. Azarathians were creatures of the spirit encased in flesh. When a citizen of Azarath journeyed onto the next world, the council would select an individual from Earth to take their place. It had been in this manner that Arella, Raven's mother, had been brought to Azarath. Twenty-two years previous, there had never been a more piteous soul alive. Yet mother and daughter had persevered. Neither would cast their evil through the Great Door to become Azarathian true, but they had embraced the philosophy and teachings of their home land.
A great clap of thunder and lightening disrupted Azar's reverie.
Thunder and lightening in Azar?...
Darkness fell across Azar as though Nyx Herself had burst through their skies. Heat, light and hope fled before Her infinite mantle of night. But this was not Nyx… this was worse.
Looking out her window, Azar could see him. His very presence would corrupt Azarath for one thousand years. Azar felt things she had never experienced before… primarily terror. He was immense, larger than anything in Azarath. Azar realized and then dreaded what she must do.
She willed herself to appear before Trigon as all other citizens fled the streets and sought shelter. In a flash, she stood before the enormous, red being with four eyes who reeked of evil and corruption. She summoned the courage to yell.
"Trigon… Have you come to seek peace and learn the ways of Azar? Only then shall you be welcome here."
"Sister…" His voice shook the buildings around her.
"You are no brother of mine, Trigon," she shouted upwards. Trigon shrank himself to a fraction of his current size so that he could look at her directly. He would converse with her at least.
"Oh, but I am, sister. I am the brother of all people of Azarath. I am the part of their souls they cast out into the darkness. I… complete you. Learn the ways of Azar? You should ask that I teach you the ways of ALL the universe. As much as you have learned, dear sister, Trigon has learned, and done, much, much more."
"We do not desire your teachings, Trigon."
"Yes, you prefer your fairy-tale ignorance. But I seek my daughter. She is of age to join her father now. Oh, and also provide me with the Earth woman who birthed her, so that I may slay the cow before my daughter. It shall serve as a valuable lesson to the true ways."
"We will do no such thing, monster." Azar stood firm.
"How many of your people do you wish to see torn apart in front of your old eyes? Or shall I burn them alive? Or perhaps just raze Azarath to the ground? Perhaps I could pull all of Azarath itself through the Great Door?..."
A thousand nightmares filled Azar at once. There was nothing they could do. They had cast out the violence and evil in their souls a thousand years ago and it had returned home a thousand times stronger. She did not fear death, but did they need to die? Trigon came as a father, not a conqueror.
"Trigon, if we tell you the location of your daughter, do you promise to leave here immediately and do no harm?"
"And the cow?" Trigon smiled.
"If you promise to leave immediately and never return, this will be revealed to you."
"Put the cow back where you found her then. I know she's still here. Her purpose has been fulfilled. Only those who have cast out their evil truly belong here, wouldn't you agree?"
"Mother forgive me, but this will be done if you promise to leave immediately, without harm and never return to Azarath."
"Sister, my only thoughts are of my daughter. I will do you no harm. I agree to your demands and solemnly swear."
"So be it. Your daughter journeyed to Earth one year previously, forsaking her Azarathian birthright. We will arrange for Arella to join her."
"Then I shall depart. Farewell Azar, my sister!..."
As he left through the Great Door, Trigon turned to Azar and left her with a parting remark… sealing her fate.
"Please welcome my army to your homes with open, loving arms so that you may embrace a most unpleasant and painful death. Enlighten them in the ways of peace as they feast upon your souls."
"…Army?..."
"Oh yes dear Azar, you have your followers, I have mine. I shall not harm a single of your loving peasants. A bargain is a bargain, after all. But the army of Trigon the Terrible has been promised great rewards for the fool head and soul of each Azarathian presented to their lord and master. You have denied the dark ways of the universe for far too long, sister…"
Azar watched in horror as a mass of beings, terrible in appearance and foul purpose, began to pour themselves through the Great Door. Vile, malicious glee showed on the things she thought were tentacles, wings and mouths lined with a thousand points…