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| Forbidden Places | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Twenty-Nine: second chance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atop scorched mountains that surrounded the peaceful paradise below, the numerous armies of the Mountain King were entrenched. The demon lord smiled as he watched his weapons of war being moved into position. All around the valley he could see his forces - dragon riders - orcs - goblins - demons. On the opposite side of the valley - he could see where the armies Markys had assembled. They were no where near as plentiful as his - but hers were no less formidable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The time is almost upon us. I can smell it in the air," The Mountain King said as he took a deep breath. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why we no fight now then?" the Orcish Demon Lord asked. The Mountain King kicked the stupid beast aside. There was a time and a place where he could tolerate those kinds of obvious questions. Now was not that time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because we would get slaughtered. If we do this wrong - the cost will be heavy - and the gains small. We wait," he answered coldly. Just then Markys appeared from a burst of flames and walked by her husband. Judging by the sullen look on her face, he could tell that her plan had failed. "Well, if it isn't my wife. Returned from her secret mission," he added sarcastically. Markys ignored him and walked over to where a bottle of wine was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why she angry?" the Orcish Demon Lord asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because her big plan failed. She hoped - prayed - and probably begged Enchanter to free her from the curse she inflicted on herself - and he turned her away," The Mountain King answered. Markys took a big swig from the bottle and threw it at a near by goblin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shut up," Markys muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Come on honey. Did you really think a man like Enchanter - would sacrifice so much for a power hungry whore like you? Face the cold hard facts Markys - we belong together - forever. I started the journey - but you completed it," he retorted. Markys flew over and held her metallic claws to his neck. The Mountain King showed no fear. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This isn't over yet. He might not have listened to reason before - but that can change. Once he sees how this battle goes. Once he sees what I can do - he will have no choice but to do as I say. And when he does give in - I promise you - you will suffer ten thousand nights of agony before I free myself of you!" she hissed. The Mountain King quickly grabbed her by the chin and passionately kissed her. As he did - her grip on her sword weakened until it fell to the ground. When he released her - she fell limply to the ground. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will never be free of me - never," he replied smugly. Markys slowly forced herself up. "So - do we stick to the game plan - or will we need to alter our strategy this time?" he asked seriously. Markys stared at the ground and did her best to ignore him. The Mountain King sighed and sat down before her - smiling at her, he patted her on the cheek. "Ignoring the problem won't make me go away - it will just make me angry. Your power is nearing its peak. Your time is almost up - you do not want me angry," he warned calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Everything - goes as planned. We target the land to lure my sister's forces into fighting on our terms. Enchanter will probably just help her b7y casting spells from the safety of the Temple - but he won't be content to sit by once he sees Tydiss' people dying," she answered lowly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Such a gallant type. It warms my cold heart whenever I see one of them die," he said evilly as he hopped up to his feet. "So when do we make our move? Soon I hope," he asked seriously. Markys slowly got up and looked down at the Temple. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven days," she answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven? That is a lot of time to prepare," he retorted hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For both sides. I want you to call everyone in for this. Enchanter is the last of the Wishmaster Djinns. If we do not come at him with everything - what we have will not be enough," she stated as she began to walk away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where do you think you are going?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To pray," she replied seriously as she walked away. The Mountain King shook his head in disbelief. The situation must be grim if one such as she would seek spiritual guidance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - return to the Hall - put a call to all minions - all slaves - everyone. This is going to be a big party and I want everyone to have a seat at the table. Go!" he shouted to the Orcish Demon Lord. The stupid demon scampered away to do as he was told. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At that moment - back in the temple, Enchanter and Tydiss were watching everyone preparing for a war unlike anything most had ever encountered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This looks like it could get messy," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It will. My sister has never assembled so many for one simple cause. She will try to lure you away - to get you away from the protection of the temple. If you succumb to this - I will not be able to protect you," Tydiss warned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can fight my own battles - I'm not exactly helpless," he replied calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I wasn't trying to imply that you were. I am just saying that Markys is not a foe to be underestimated. As a Dreaming Djinn she was dangerous - as she is now - just - be careful. All is not as it seems," she explained seriously. Enchanter smiled and nodded. "You should get some rest. Markys will not act soon. I will send for you when the time is upon us," she concluded with a smile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thank you," Enchanter stated as he walked down one of the halls towards the room he was given. So much was happening around him and was happening so fast. Since learning the truth about who he was and what he was he had attempted to find any fault. Anything that could prove it untrue - but nothing could be found. All he could find were facts that substantiated what he was told. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why so grim Enchanter?" a voice asked. He looked up and saw a small band of djinn soldiers that were heading his way. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just have a lot on my mind," he replied seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you are worried about Markys," one began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll be okay. Thanks," he interrupted politely. The soldiers smiled and continued passed him. Enchanter sighed and entered his room. He closed the door and flopped down onto his bed. For some unknown reason he just felt so - drained. Darkness began to swallow him whole. Just then - a scream woke him up. Enchanter sat up and found himself in a dark dank cave. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What the?" he began as he rose to his feet. Another scream interrupted his thoughts. He picked up his pace and hurried towards the light that was coming from deeper in the cave. As he did - he could hear the sounds of orcs and goblins laughing. He rounded the corner and saw a girl that was hanging from the rafters of the cave - being maliciously whipped by a brutal looking orc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hit her again," a goblin squealed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is going on here?" he asked in disbelief. No one heard him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They can't hear you," a familiar voice stated. He looked over his shoulder and saw Markys kneeling on the cave floor a few feet behind him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is your doing?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - yes - my stupidity - my envy - allowed this to happen. Go - see who that girl is," she suggested without raising her eyes. Enchanter slowly made his way passed the orcs and goblins until he could see the face of the sobbing girl. The girl - was Markys. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This - is you?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes. I managed to escape his minions when I made it to the forest - but the elves - scared me away. I thought I could hide in the mountains - I was wrong. Goblins - found me and hurt me a bit - but the orcs - they brought pain to a whole new level. ," Markys stated quietly. Enchanter could see the pain that was going through the tortured child. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why am I here?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have come to beg of you - to hear me out. Will you at least give me a chance?" she asked timidly. Enchanter sighed and reluctantly nodded. In the blink of an eye - they were out of the cave and were on one of the tropical beaches. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My envy - my pain - all of it - I know are on my head. I know that you have no hand in my suffering. But what you saw back there - it wasn't my past - it is my present - my future. My power - when at its peak - protects me - but not for long. As a child - that is my fate. When my body matures and begins to develop - I get to look forward to being abused - raped - by those - creatures. I have doomed myself to this vicious cycle. I can't even kill myself to escape this fate," she continued. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am not trying to hurt you," he began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You said you loved me once - not too long ago," she muttered timidly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You did too," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - I have no other options before me. My time - is almost done. I can already feel my power starting to shift towards him. I will do anything you say - give you whatever you desire," she began nervously. Enchanter turned away and looked out at the peaceful ocean. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can not trust you. You have sought my end since I was a child. How do I know that this is not just another means to an end?" he replied seriously. Markys lowered her eyes and tried to think of a plausible answer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A contract! I can conjure a contract that would bind me to you! You would lose nothing," she replied eagerly. Enchanter looked over at her and sighed. Contracts were the tools of demons - and were never what they appeared. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Anything signed to a demonic contract - costs one soul," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then - tell me - tell me what you want. What must I do - what must I give? Tell me!" she sobbed emotionally. Enchanter turned around and looked at her. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You cast yourself to this fate. You chose not to look at the cost - I am," he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - compare me to him?" she asked in disbelief. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A part of him is who you are. If I deal with you - I will be dealing with a demon. And when dealing with demons - the cost - is always - too high," he replied seriously. The timid look evaporated from markys as she rose to her feet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have humbled myself at your feet. I have begged you - pleaded to your sense of compassion. No more. A demon you call me? A demon I will be. As you said before - my mistakes are on my head - the deaths - the thousands of them who will die trying to protect you - they - will be on yours!" she concluded as violent flames rippled outward from her. Just then - Enchanter woke up in a panic. He looked around. He was back in his room. Just then - the doors were opened and two soldiers rushed in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You okay - we heard you cry out?" one soldier asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just - a bad dream," he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Markys?" the other soldier asked. He nodded and walked over to the mirror. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Our scouts informed us that her troops are getting restless. They will most likely make their move tomorrow. At least you will be well rested," the other soldier commented. Enchanter turned away from the mirror and looked at the soldier. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you mean?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - were asleep for six days," she answered seriously. A puzzled look crossed the wizard's face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At that moment in the enemy camp, an angry Markys was doing her best to contain her pent up rage and frustration. It was then that she noticed the shadow of a familiar person towering over her. She looked over and saw a smug looking Mountain King. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Strike - two. Give it up Markys. I told you that he wouldn't listen to you," he stated calmly as red mana swirled around his claw like hand. "Only innocent - gullible - fools deal with demons. Enchanter is none of these," he added confidently. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shut up. Have all the war machines ready! Assemble the troops! Raise the banners! For when the sun rises to greet the day - we will rain hell on earth on those that would dare defy me!" she said angrily as she stormed her way passed the demon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That's my girl," The Mountain King said with a chuckle as he followed Markys to the heart of the camp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be concluded! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||