Chapter Nine

Beyond the portal the demonic host clamored in anticipation. The moment of their release is close at hand.

Mirial can feel them tugging at his soul. He found himself eager to answer there call, wishing to be with them. They wanted him to die for them. They hold him enchanted while the demon reaches for him. He can not will himself to move away from him.

With a surreptitious look he catches a glimpse of Kay's huddled form on the floor. It seems he is trying to get up. Blood is oozing from a wound on his forehead.

The cacophony of voices intensifies. They are driving him mad with their incessant requests.

" Quiax'n , help me!" He pleas. To his horror his prayers are answered by the demons.

" We are Quiax'n! Bow before us , worship us with your blood!"

" No!!!" His terrified scream is heard outside the temple by Kay's men. Their faces are grim with determination. They are still trying to reopen the barrier.

The siren call continues to assail him. He can not resist it any longer. A part of him belongs to them cherishes them and it is gained control over him.

Strong fingers grab him by the neck , he makes no resistance. Something is happening. The song is fading . It is being replaced by a soft, tender voice. Mirial has never heard such a beautiful sound. It feels warm like a mother's embrace as it wraps itself around him, driving the demons away. Whispered promises of life and happiness fill his mind. The choice is his...

He winces as a sharp nail makes an incision on his wrist. The bloodletting has begun. In a few minutes a similar wound will be made on his other arm while Butraz draws an astral chart of sorts with the blood upon the altar. Three more wounds will be made to finish the drawing and a last fatal one to open the dimensions. With his last breath the end of the world will begin.

" There is light in all living beings... Dissipate the shadows... Let the light shine upon your soul... Cast the demon away... Exorcise him from within...." Again that loving voice called to him.

Meanwhile, Kay has risen to his feet, a dagger in his hand. He is poised behind the distracted demon. Alarmed he notices that the summoning ritual is almost completed. Only one last wound left to ended all. Mirial is deadly white. A pool of blood spread around him.

The blade shines briefly before sinking into Butraz's flesh. Shrieking he releases Mirial.

He is hunched over desperately trying to remove the blade from his back. Finally he dislodges the knife and throws it to the side.

Like a caged tiger he snarls and growls at them. His eyes roam over Mirial , then over Kay. He is debating his next move.

Suddenly he bares his fangs at Mirial then pounces on him.

" Lookout Mirial !" Kay screams as he dives at the incoming demon. They clash, the force of the impact nearly sending them down the steps. Kay is too distracted fighting the creature to notice the deep gash on Mirial's thigh. It is a fatal wound.

Kay heaves with all his might trying to keep the razor sharp claws and teeth away from his throat. It is a matter of minutes , he knows , before the demon overwhelms him with his supernatural strength. He calls out to Mirial, but the young Ragghyr is heedless . His eyes have a glassy faraway look.

" Pretty boy can not help you! He is dying! Bleeding to death! So, even if you kill me you accomplish nothing."

" Never!!"

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A thick fog seems to cover every thing. He can barely make out the two forms twisting on the floor.

He is aware of Kay urgently calling out to him, but he is so weak, so tired. He just wants to lay down and rest.

The voices have returned, taunting him. Telling him to let go ... to rest... but, Kay... Kay is in danger.

Slowly he gets on his hands and knees. The stones are slick , slippery with his own blood, he notes. Gingerly he crawls towards combatants.Awave of dizziness washes over him. A dull pain throbs down his arms and legs. He closes his eyes , a feeling of numbness gradually growing within him.

His hand touches something cool . It is Kay's blade.

He sits back on his knees, only a few feet away from his husband and son, silently sobbing for his unfortunate child. He cries for the little one who has no fault, for the forbidden son of light and shadow. For the one who will die twice without ever been born.

With great effort he gathers himself and stands on wobbling feet. For a moment his whole world turns black and he nearly keels over.

When he recovers he sees that Butraz has pined Kay's arms to the floor. His mouth is opened wide, ready to bite down on his exposed neck. Long pearl-white teeth glint in the moonlight.

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He has lost. The demon is to powerful. Powerless he watches as Butraz opens his jaws.

Instead of sharp teeth on his skin, he feels a shower of warm droplets. He looks up into the demon's face as a burst of blood gushes from his mouth. Gone is the malignant smile, full of conceit and condescension.

He tries to talk , but all that comes out is a bloodied gurgle before he collapses in a lifeless heap.

Kay pushes the corpse aside. It is then he notices the wound crossing from ear to ear. Confused, he looks up to see his bejeweled dagger grasped in Mirial's slender hand.

He drops the blade and sinks to his knees. Kay takes him in his arms . Quickly he accesses the extent of Mirial's wounds. Taking his belt off he ties it very tightly about Mirial's thigh. The blood flow lessens to a trickle , but he is still loosing precious blood.

A fine layer of dust descends from the ceiling. The temple is quaking .

Mirial has bled so much the demons are nearly pass the gate. He can see their horrendous forms through the thin barrier left between both worlds. A fowl stench is seeping into this dimension from their own.

Terrified Kay watches as a scaly purplish arm juts out of the khenkai.

" Gods! There must be something I can do? " He presses Mirial close to him and gives him a tender, lingering kiss.

Then he stands up before the very gate. Narrowing his eyes he stares hard at the creature looming on the other side. It is a silent challenge. If they want his world they will have to fight for it.

Once again fine tendrils of energy flow into him. This time however , he does not content himself with lifeless objects within the temple. He feels his spirit roaming over the city, hungrily calling forth whatever energy it and it's inhabitants might be able to offer. The flux of power is nearly intoxicating. Never has he dreamed of wielding such might.

A dazzling corona of white-hot light forms around him. It is so intense the demons are blinded and cower back in pain. He can hear them wailing and crying in agony beyond the portal.

The casting of such a spell has it's drawbacks. It stole energy from all mater ,which meant that in order to sustain it for long you endangered the very things you are trying to protect. That is if the sorcerer did not succumb from the strain first.

Exhaustion from the fight is setting in and his wounds are aching badly , that does not leave him much of a reserve to cast a spell of this magnitude.

His heartbeat is erratic. He can here himself whizzing. It will not be long now. At least he has kept them at bay for a while.

Kay makes a last desperate prayer to Shariar. " Please help us!!"

He turns, for what he is certain will be his last look at his beloved, and is greeted by a sight he never would have imagined.

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He had regained consciousness as Kay stood before the gate.

What a glorious sight that had been. To see his awesome body, a beauty in itself, enveloped in such raw power. It was a light so pure, the essence of creation itself. Surely Kay is the closest to a god a human can achieve.

Even he can not hold out for long. He is mortal after all. His on life is depleted by the spell. The demons knew it. They are bidding their time until he ran out of energy.

Looking away he finds the demon's body is gone. In it's place is the tiny body of an infant. With a painful gasp Mirial lifts his baby's body cradling it upon his chest. Tears come unbidden to his eyes.

" This is the prize Quiax'n demands." There is such compassion in the words." The lost of innocence and love." It is the same voice he has heard before.

" This is the pain he will bring to all mothers and fathers..." It seems to fade only to return just as strong." ... to all sons and daughters, brothers and sisters..."

" There is nothing I can do!!" He holds his dead child tight to his breast.

" Look to your past... to the innocence..."

" I do not un...."

A memory comes to him so sharp and vivid he is left ,literally, with his mouth open.

He had been ten, it was two years before he met Kay. It is the age at which all nightshadows acquired whatever powers they are meant to have.

That night he had been presented to Quiax'n, made to bow before him for the first time.

He remembered the strange chill he felt within when His Shadow passed over him. Ever since he has shared his body with the Dark One.

" You are his because a ten year-old "chose" it. Willed by his father's inexorable command. Not your own desire!"

Silky fingers lift Mirial's chin. He gazes into a creature made of pure light. Without a doubt he knows it to be Shariar," The Light of Illumination".

" Choose now! Let not my temple be defiled by tainted blood!" It's smile is resplendent like a hundred sunrises.

A weight seems to lift from Mirial's soul as he absently nods to the unspoken offer.

Glimmering lights shine about them both. Multicolored sparks fall, like snowflakes, over them, landing in Mirial's hair, his clothes. He lifts one opened hand to catch the falling sparkles. It dissolves into nothing. A delicious warmth spreads from the palm of his hand down to his arm. His whole body feels warm; cozy and protected. Then he knew the darkness that is Quiax'n has been lifted from his soul.

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Kay stands aghast. Shariar! Shariar itself stands over Mirial.

The Ragghyr has never looked more beautiful. His face is enraptured in the presence of the Divine One. The Sacred Light of Shariar running through him, cleansing him.

All at once horrible wails erupt from the portal. The demons scream and curse.

Kay is surprised and relieved to see the gate closing itself .The creatures claw and bark at it in a maddened frenzy. Then with a brief burst of light it is gone. Without Mirial's demonically tainted blood to sustain it the gate collapsed.

Shariar is gone as well.

He sits down next to Mirial, who still holds the dead child in his arms. Softly he traces the baby's lips with a finger while holding Mirial close to him.

As soon as the portal collapsed the outer barrier did so as well. Arluc, Tenn and the rest of the men hurry into the temple. Immediately they begin healing the battered couple.

Mirial smiles softly remembering Shariar's promise.