Death Becomes Her. 40

Back in New Keanna, Aramis sat in the garden thinking about all that happened in the last few days. To him, this was the most perfect place to be. Surrounded by all the plants and flowers he was at peace. He loved it in the garden among all the beauty. The scent of life in the air. The fragrant aroma of all the flower calmed him. The garden was alive when he came here. All the different types of flowers seemed to bloom whenever he came here.
[I knew you would be here.]
 Aramis turned as Jack walked into the garden. He looked around admiring the trellis covered with crawling flowering vines. The bluebells and snow glories with there blue and white petals with yellow centers. Snowflake, white bell-shaped flower. The many-colored Iris's, or dahlias. The beautiful deep red-orange amaryllis. And his favorite, the roses. Jandar or Rage, whichever was the gardener had put banks upon banks of roses. Red, pink, white, yellow, Roses must mean something to them. Aramis loved them.
" Where else would I be?" Aramis walked to the bench near the pond and sat down. Jack crossed his arms and frowned, annoyed with him. It's not every day you're told you're a god.
"You always did do great work with flowers and animals," Jack said standing in front of the roses.
" Me?" Aramis said. " This isn't my work. This is the loving care of a master gardener. Jandar I'll bet. Or Dreik the green dragon. He's good with plants."
"Oh, really brother?" Jack laughed. "Then who made these?"
Jack pointed out rows of green and blue roses. Then he turned to the sunflowers. They were red with huge blooms.
"Jandar didn't do that." He said. " You did. Jandar and Dreik can grow roses and sunflowers, but they can"t create new species. Only you. Vitale the god of life can do that. This garden has your touch most definitely."
" DON'T CALL ME THAT!!" Aramis yelled. " I'M NO GOD!!"
Jack shook his head and looked up at the sun.
[Still, he doubts.] He sent out. [ He won"t listen to my brother.]
" Who is talking to who?" Aramis asked. Suddenly the sun flared and sent warm shafts of light all over the garden. Flowers burst into bloom. The fragrant aromas filled the air. Aramis turned and saw a handsome blond man in golden armor standing with Jack.
" He's talking to me." Alee smile.
" WHO ARE YOU?"
"I'm Alee, the god of light and the sun." He told him. "Your brother. I'm here to help convince you of who you are, or were. There are so many memories locked away in your mind. If only I can get some loose."
"I don't see how you could." Aramis looked away. Sadness filled his heart. He wanted to remember his past. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember anything. Not Jack or this Alee or any of his past life. He did see flashes of the one called Muerte. There were no feelings attached. Just a face, her face. Alee stepped up to Aramis and put his hand on his shoulder.
" There is one that may help." He said looking into Aramis's eyes.
" Who?" He asked. Aramis was tired of feeling so alone. He wanted to be complete and not feel so empty.
" The god of love and memory." Alee smiled. " Our brother Atol. He should be able to stir your memories and bring them out for you."
" Can you bring him here?" Aramis asked.
" No," Alee said. " We have to go to him."
" Then lead me to him," Aramis said. " I'm ready."

Deep in the caves of eternal rest and damnation, Muerte stepped out of the gloom and haze of the underworld. All around her see saw spirits wandering through the edges of the entrance of the place called Hell to so many. Muerte had no fear of this place. In fact, she thought she should be queen here and she intended to take this realm first in her quest for dominance of the world. As she walked through this dark and gloomy land, she saw a gate. Just inside the gate, there was a desk piled with scrolls and parchment. Behind the desk, there was and elderly looking man hard at work sorting the spirits. From the entrance to this dark place, there was a line of spirits heading to the desk. Many had guards with them, keeping them in line. These were the ones headed for punishment and damnation. Muerte moved forward to the desk with a look of determination on her face. At last, she would confront her uncle Nestor and make him hand over this realm to her. Making herself as beautiful as ever, she pushed out with her mind and cleared away all spirits in front of her and sailed to the desk.
" Name?" The spirit at the desk asked without looking up.
" I am Muerte." She said. " I seek your master's attention."
" Muerte?" the spirit said. " I have no Muerte on my...." Then he looked up and saw her. Her godhood blinded him. He knew then that she was the goddess that had escaped earlier, the one Master Nestor was looking for. He thought if he was the one that gets her recaptured, the master might release him. That's when he started screaming for the guards.
" Guards, guards!!" He yelled as he leaped out of his seat. " This is the one that the master seeks!! Take her!!!"
The entry hall went mad. Spirit flew in all directions. Many escaped back to the world of the living. From every direction, the guards of Hell came running. There were demons and creatures the world hadn't seen in thousands of years coming out to attack Muerte. She stood there and batted them all aside. Winged creatures she blasted out of the air. Many tried to gang up on her but couldn't get near her. Phantom arrows were shot at her that ricocheted off her shields. Muerte closed her eyes and for a second and shifted to a better form for fighting. Her body grew taller and more powerful. Her hair fell away as fangs and talons grew long and sharp. Wings grew, large monstrous wings that could crush a living man with a swipe. She becomes the biggest most horrible vampire harpy that her mind could conceive. Into the air, she flew to battled hells minions. She blasted them and ripped at them. There was no stopping her. She would fight until she found Nestor and settled her fight over the underworld
"STOP!!!!!"
Suddenly was heard loudly echoing through the caves of the dark world. Lord Nestor stood on a high plateau looking out over his kingdom. He wore his black armor and held his staff with its black skull head on top.
" You are looking for me Muerte?" He said.
" Yes, uncle." She flew over to hover before him " It's time I took the throne that was meant for me."
" This realm was never meant to be yours, my dark niece." He laughed. " You have no idea what it means to be master here. What I endure here."
" None of that matters Uncle". She said. " Your time here is up. Go find Alea and leave the underworld to me."
Nestor looked deeply at Muerte. He knew she spun the spell that took his wife from him. How he hated her for condemning Alea to her hell of loneliness.
" She'll be free soon witch," Nestor said. " And you, if you're lucky you'll be here. If you're lucky that is."
"Never will you confine me here again." Muerte's hands began to glow as she readied her spells. Nestor raised his staff then shouted.
" Let us begin!"
Muerte sent a bolt of magic streaking at Nestor. Bolt after bolt Nestor ducked. With his staff, he batted the bolts away. Then he took to the air, his black cloak opened as he sailed through the air. Raising his staff, he rained his dark magic on her. She threw up a shield over her to deflect the rain like pellets. Slowly but surely the pellets began to destroy her shield. Cracks began to form. With a quick motion, she sent out a force bolt that hit Nestor in the shoulder. He fell back disoriented for a few seconds against a wall. This was her chance she thought. Muerte charged at Nestor with her claws raised. His heart and throat her target. But before she struck, Nestor disappeared. All that was left behind was his black cloak which she hung on to.
" Damn you, Nestor!!" She screamed. " You can"t get away from me! Your throne will be mine!!"
Appearing behind her, Nestor readied his next spell. A crushing spell took hold of her. She fought it, forcing the magic away from her. As she fought, Nestor raised his staff to strike her. Fighting against the spell she saw the lord of the underworld advancing on her. There was so much hatred on his face. Nestor knew she was responsible for Alea being missing. All his years of searching for her came to this moment.
" You have lost, Muerte." He said as he approached.
" Free my wife and let her come home and I will be merciful."
" We'll see who has lost!" Muerte's eyes began to glow as she cast a special spell from Gannon's book. Magic glyphs and signs began to appear one by one on Nestor's armor. His walking began to slow as the spell took hold. In seconds his whole body was covered and his movement was halted. Only his facial expressions were active. Sweat ran from his brow as he tried to move. But try as he did, he couldn't. Muerte stood and brushed back her hair as she shifted back to her beautiful form. Smiling she walked to Nestor.
" This realm is mine!!!" She screamed in his face as her hand hit him across the face. Shaking out her long tresses Muerte walked around him." I'm going to do you a favor." She raised her hands and began a spell.

HERE YOU ARE, NOW YOUR GONE.
OFF YOU GO TO MEET THE DAWN
TO ALEA I SEND YOU ALWAYS STILL
NOW BOTH I'VE CURSED WITH MY STRONG WILL
A BOON I GIVE YOU, I'LL LET YOU FLY
CAUSE SOON YOU KNOW
YOU ALL MUST DIE!!!

" Now you and your wife can be together until the end in silence and loneliness. Off with you now!!"
Magic winds began to swirl around Nestor. Bright sparks dazzled his eyes as he went silent and they picked him up and took him away. Wherever Alea was in her daytime prison, Nestor was on his way there too.
" Now it begins." Muerte said to herself." My final victory. I know what I must do. Death to everyone. No more vampires, no more slaves. Everyone, everything must die!"
High above the cavern floated a lone spirit. He watched as the Lord of the Underworld was defeated. He had been sent here to watch and see what Muerte was up to. Now he knew. She was planning the end of the world. Fear filled his soul for he knew she of all the beings high or low could do it. Baron Valkar had to get back and warn the others. But he still didn't know what she planned to do, so he decided to wait around and see what happened next. He needed more information and this was where he would find it.

Finding Atol would not be easy. In fact, finding any of the gods since they went into hiding was an almost impossible task. Dressed in hooded cloaks, the three gods roamed the world. From continent to small islands they searched. It seemed Atol didn't want to be found. But in every place they went, they heard of different stories of impossible love. In Baderia, the daughter of a powerful king met and charmed the prince of her father's most hated enemy. War almost broke out until a strange man in white brought the two kings together to see how happy and in love their children were. A new nation was born that day. On the island city of Teki, two men met. Both merchants. One grew sick from a strange ailment that weakened him almost to death. The story was told of a handsome tall man with the most amazing smile that came to meet the two men as one halted all his business dealing to take care of the rival that he had come to love. The tall man took the good man aside and showed him how to cure his love and save their lives. For one couldn't live without the other.
There were many stories, one leading to the next until on a mountain far west of New Keanna, Remod was under siege. In Remod there was the most horrible race war that none could remember how it had started. Someone had kidnapped someone's children some said. Others said one race had lived as slaves to the other. They were both dark elves but different, like day and night. On a road into the city, a stranger walked. Alee was told the stranger walk right through the battle to the gates and ended the war. No one knew how, but they said he was still there. That was their destination. With the speed of light, Alee took his brothers to the city. All around they could see the ravages of the war were being cleaned up. Damaged wagons and siege towers were being dismantled and taken away. There were no wounded to be seen. They had already been taken care of. But still, the outside of the city looked dire and bleak.
Dressed in their gray robes and hoods, the trio made for the city gates. They passed many solders in bandages. But the look on all their faces was one of relief. They were all glad the fighting was over. From the city, the sounds of celebration could be heard. As they approached the gates a smiling guard came out to meet them. He was dressed in a clean uniform in the city and still wore a sword.
"Greetings strangers." He waves to them. " It's a glorious day isn't it?"
" Yes," Aramis said as he shook his hand. " What's all the celebration for?"
" Haven't you heard? The hundred-year war is finally over." He spun around happy. " Our city is free again!!"
" When peace is achieved, there's always cause for celebration." Alee smiled. " But tell me, friend. Your war has lasted one hundred years. What miracle brought it to an end?"
" We elves are a warlike race." He shrugged. " Especially the dark elves. We go to war over small things because it's in our nature to fight. But someone proposed something different. Games to settle differences. It's a marvelous idea. We get to fight, but no one has to die anymore. Soon we begin construction on an arena where all can come and see our games. They will be famous all over the lands. It will be great!"
The trio looked at the guard. He had so much joy at the idea of the game. But they knew the idea could be dangerous to. It could lead to slave gladiators. Houses fighting houses. The leaders would need to be careful.
" It's a good thing your leaders came up with this solution," Alee said,
" Oh, it wasn't our leaders." He said. " It was a stranger. He came in fearlessly and gather our leaders in for the compromise. And it worked. He's a good man. We owe him so much."
" You are lucky people." Aramis clapped him on the shoulder. " We are in need of rest from our journey. Is there an inn here?"
" There are many." The guard told them." But the Golden Griffin is the best. Head up the lane and go left at the end. Three streets more and you will be there. Enjoy your stay with us."
So on they walked heading for the inn. All along the street people celebrated. There were all kinds of wine drinking and passed around. Wizards shot magical pyrotechnics off for the amazement of the crowds. Elven men and women danced everywhere while their children played. Jax's eyes were so bright. He wanted to go ran and dance and play with the children. Aramis was having a hard time keeping him with them.
" Let him go," Alee told Aramis. " He'll find us later."
" What's wrong with him?" He asked. Aramis let Jax go and off he went dancing in the street.
" Jax is the god of celebration," Alee said. " Games and parties and fun. Right now here, he's bursting with power."
" The god of celebration?" Aramis asked. " What good is that?"
" Look around you and you'll see the good of celebrations." Alee pointed out how happy everyone looked. " Celebration and joy is necessary to live. Or the people would have nothing to look forward to. You use to know that brother. On his practical side, he is also the god of justice. You know we need that. He's important to us, and he's always been at your side. No matter what happened."
Together Alee and Aramis made their way to the inn passing through the crowded streets by all the revelers. The inn was a three-story building with at least fifteen rooms. On its side, there was a livery station and a blacksmith. During the war, the blacksmith was always busy making and fixing armament while the inn was used as a hospital for the wounded.
The Golden Griffin was a pretty nice place again at last. It was the largest inn in Remod that housed any important businessman or royal that came to the city. As soon as they walked through the door Alee turned to Aramis.
" Atol is here. I can feel his presence." Alee whispered to Aramis. The lobby of the Golden Griffin was still being transformed back to an inn from being a hospital. It was a very homie place with a broad fireplace and many tables for customers to dine at. Drapes hung on the walls to hide the age of the building and the smell of meat roasting on a spit filled the air. From behind a counter, an elven man came out smiling to welcome them. He was a thin man with white hair and a long straight face with pointed ears.
" Welcome my friends." He said. " It's been a while since we've had a guest. Can I offer you refreshments?"
" No," Alee said. " Just three rooms and a little knowledge."
" Very well." He ushered them over to the counter. From a pegboard, he took down three keys and pushed them over.
"The rooms are on the top floor. Dinner is served here at the stroke of eight." He said leaning on his counter. " What knowledge do you seek?"
" There is a stranger in your city," Aramis told him. " He is said to perform miracles. How can we find him? We have need of his help."
" I'm not sure. He keeps to himself." The innkeeper said. "I can give him a message when I see him."
" No." Aramis took the keys. " We'll find him."
Alee and Aramis followed the innkeeper upstairs to their rooms. He told them there are towels in the rooms and there's hot water available if they needed it. They both went into Aramis room and closed the door. The rooms were sparsely furnished but of average size. They had a bed and a bureau for luggage, a bedside table with a lamp and a sitting table with two chairs. Alee went to the window and opened it. He wanted to see the moon as it rode across the night. He closed his eyes and let its light energize him. His hair began to blow in the night wind. He looked so peaceful Aramis thought.
" What do we do now?" Aramis asked.
" I know Atol is here." Alee said without opening his eyes "I could call him, see if he answers."
" Try." Aramis watched him at the window. Alee's body was alive with energy. Aramis could feel it pouring off him. There was no heat, just power.
" I'm going out into the sky." He said." I need the freedom of the sky to strengthen me, I'll try calling Atol while I'm out."
Alee began to grow brighter until his body became an orb of light. Then he flew out the window and up into the sky. He flew high over the town and for a few minutes soaked in the essence of the moonlight. it wasn't as strong as sunlight but Alea's light would always power her brother. Energized he called out to his brother the god of love.
[Atol! Brother, we need your help.]
He waited, probing the city below him for an answer. Minutes went by. He found Jax dancing in the city center with the rest of the elves. Alee could tell he was enjoying himself and keeping the people's level of revelry high. Suddenly he felt a familiar contact. Atol reached out to him.
[Brother, what are you doing here?]
[Looking for you.] He answered. [We need your help.]
[ Who needs my help? Surely not you.]
[No, Vitale needs you.]
Alee could feel the curiosity Atol felt in their connection.
[Vitale is imprisoned in the underworld, in exile with Muerte. Why would he need me?]
[Come to the Golden Griffin and we will explain everything to you.]

[ I will meet you there.]
And the contact was broken. Finished with his task. Alee returned to their room and found Aramis asleep. Alee smiled. Aramis was taking on human traits. Gods didn't sleep, they didn't have to. He pulled the covers over him, then sat down and waited for Atol and Jax to come to the inn.