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| Part two: the temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The catacombs - a forgotten series of old tunnels and passageways that run deep beneath the area of the city that bordered between the Warzone and the respectable city. Here - an elaborate temple had been erected - made mostly of gold and other precious materials and looked as though it had been taken straight out of an Egyptian pyramid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At one altar - a familiar kindred could be found kneeling. He was Glare -the Keeper of the Prince's Elysium. His eyes opened - they looked much like a snakes. He slowly panned around the elaborate place. He had been around for too long to know when he wasn't alone. He slowly got up and carefully studied the shadows that were cast by the flickering torches. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know someone is here - and I know - that someone will reveal himself - now," he stated seriously - carefully concealing a ceremonial dagger. Just then a cobra slithered from the shadows and seemingly stared at the Keeper. "You," he muttered as he put the dagger away. The serpent began to slowly reveal its true form - a fellow Setite that was more than familiar to him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No fond greeting for your older brother?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have little to say to you. How did you find this place?" Glare asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Always straight to the point," he replied as he walked passed him to admire the temple. "The incense you use in these torches - the scent is somewhat distinct - if you know it. Does your prince know of this place?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Since when have my politics ever interested you?" Glare asked lowly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Always - does he?" he replied and asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you think?" he retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I doubt it," he answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you want?" Glare asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have come to ask you to join me little brother," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Join? That crusade of yours?" he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You make it sound foolish," his brother commented. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let's see - trying to find - those of the Third generation - to avenge the one who embraced our god? Tell me what part sounds foolish," he retorted sarcastically. His brother sighed and walked over to the altar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He was beloved to the master - and those fools killed him. The others will not understand. If they are not found - if they are not dealt with before they awaken - they will have no choice - but to side with them. Time - is both ally and enemy to us brother," he explained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So you told me last time," Glare replied - unimpressed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My little brother - in over three hundred years - you still haven't changed," he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Unfortunately - the same holds true for you. Now I have been civil - as we stand in a holy place - but I will know why you are here. I thought you had ran off with that lunatic that thought he was the god of thunder," Glare commented seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I did - and I still am," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That lunatic is in the city?" he asked coldly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Had I my way - we would have stayed away. But some fool leaked information to him that there was someone here posing as him," he answered calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let me guess - Skamms?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So in the know. The politics game has been good for you," he retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Great - and you had nothing to do with that?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Brother - I know of this Skamms character - I know what he can do - so what do you think?" he asked seriously. Glare studied his older brother and could tell that he was telling the truth - for once. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can you control him?" Glare asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Some days are easier than others. At times I hear him arguing to himself as though another is present. It pushes him to the brink of rage - but if he thinks that there is someone out there - pretending to be him - well," he began but stopped. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see - how much of a threat is he?" Glare asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He thinks he's a god - power wise - he is pretty close," he answered. "What about you? Can you keep this Skamms lad under lock and key until Thunder boy loses interest?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Skamms hasn't been seen by anyone for almost a month - even by the anarchs. The rumors say that he has either left - or someone finally put him down. And if you know of Skamms as you claim - you know the answer," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What I fail to understand - is why this threat hasn't been blood hunted. I mean - how many traditions has he violated so far?" his brother asked. Glare quietly laughed and walked over to a statue of their god - Set. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We don't keep track. Near as I know - the prince finds him to be a most useful ally - even though he is an enemy," he began. "You know I can't stand with you," he added seriously. His brother sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Still don't trust me?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Were it not for you - I would not be where I am today. I know why you do what you must - or at least why you claim to - I can respect that. I will not interfere with your work here - so long as my prince - does not object - or wish me to intervene," he stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I suppose I shall have to content myself at that. The war is coming brother - I just want you to be on the winning side," he replied and reassured as he began to walk away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Should I find Skamms - I will do what I can to keep him quiet - no promises though. After this - we are even," Glare stated coldly - not looking at his brother. The man quietly laughed and nodded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you say so," he relied as he vanished into the shadows. Glare sighed and shook his head. The fact that his brother was here was not something that made him smile. In his mind he could feel the flames from cities that were burned to the ground - could hear the screams of thousands as his brother prepared for the final battle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prince - will not be happy about this," he muttered as he returned his attention to the altar before him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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