Morning dawned as Fiero flew high over Jorania. Muerte would be looking for him when she woke. But for now, he had been traveling for hours and and was weary from the fight with Eheren and his struggle within himself. He knew deep down, something was wrong here. But every time they came near her, Their free will was completely ripped away and they were under her control. Even from a distance, he was under her control. What was it the beautiful bronze had over him and his brothers? Below him was her castle. He looked down but kept on and passed over it. A few minutes more and he would be at the cave. Angling his wings Fiero started to spiral down for a landing. Outside of the cave, Maxius waited for him. He looked confused, like he had no idea where he was, He was looking around at the landscape. Like he had lost something. Fiero landed and shifted to his human form. Maxius saw him and walked over.
" Whats wrong brother?" He asked.
" I don't know." He said. " But something is missing, and this is not out home."
" Its her home." Fiero told him.
"Who Jade?" Maxius still had that far away look on his stern face.
" Who?" Fiero asked.
He was becoming confused to. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite connect it with a face.
" I don't know." The water dragon said. He reached up and banged hid forehead. " What is wrong with me?" He asked. " Why does my head hurt so much? Why cant I clear things in my head. I cant even dream right anymore. Can you?"
" No, I cant." He put his arm around Maxius's shoulder and walked him into the cave. Arik sat in the corner quiet. Fiero was worried. That was the same place he had been before they were called to her. This was not right, Arik should be in the air, not here lost in his head in a cave. This is not how we dragons exist. He took Maxius over to Arik and sat him down. Arik looked at him with tears in his eyes.
" Who am I?" He asked. " I don't know anymore. Help me."
Fiero hugged his brothers close to him. The sorrow in him raged. Suddenly he didn't care what the bronze wanted. His brothers were far more important. He had to help them find themselves and be free of her.
" Come brothers." He told them. " Our dreams await us. There we can find peace."
[ How?] Maxius asked as he shifted and took his place in there new lair. Fiero and Arik shifted and found their places.
[ I will direct our dreams.] He sent to them. [ Just sleep and clear your minds. I will do the rest.]He didn't know it, but that was when the first crack showed itself in Muerte's spell. A crack even she wouldn't notice until it was to late. Fiero had taken the first step to there freedom and the pain in his head was a little less.
As the sun left the sky, Muerte stirred from her sleep. She was hungry. She hadn't fed in two days and her appearance showed it. The beautiful red hair was greying and she could feel her face was drawing back. Tightening up. That would not do. She got up from her silken bed and made her way down into the castle. There she had certain men from town kept just for her. As she walked, all the nightwalkers in the castle bowed to her. She could feel there fear of her in their minds. Their thoughts were so clear to her. Suddenly a stray thought came to her. But it couldn't be true. She sniffed at the air. She couldn't find any blood scent on the air. They had fed on the men she separated and forbid them to touch.
"YOU HAVE DEFIED ME?" She screamed. " I HAVE GIVING YOU IMMORTAL LIFE AND YOU HAVE TAKEN WHAT IS MINE!!" She grabbed the closest vampire and ripped off his head and threw him against the wall.
" HOW DARE YOU!!" As she grew angrier, her feature became more horrendous. Her arms grew thin but powerful, Her hair became totally grey. Talons and long teeth and fangs became needle sharp. She became the devil she always was at heart. With a single thought all the doors in the castle leading out slammed shut. One by one she tore mostly everyone there to pieces. The few that lived she gathered together and in the courtyard.
"YOU ARE ALL MY CATTLE. EVERYTHING YOU DO FROM THIS POINT ON IS FOR ME. IF ANY OF YOU EVERY DISOBEY ME AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO PLACE IN HELL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HIDE FROM ME." She seethed at them. " NOW BECAUSE OF YOUR GREED, I MUST FIND FOOD."
"Mistress." one man stepped up to talk. "We can find you someone if it pleases you."She walked over to him and caressed his face. He smiled then gagged as she ripped out his throat and pushed him aside.
" YOUR HELP IS NOT NEEDED." she opened her arms and sprang into the air and shifted to a vampire bat and flew off into the night.The village was quiet as Muerte came to roost in a tree in the center of the few houses that the villagers had built. There was no one awake here. Everyone had bedded down to be up for and early morning. There were crops to be harvested. Cows to be milked if they were to survive the coming winter. Everyone there would have to work together. And they all would if they were going to live. But the dark shadow moving from house to house promise them all an undead life from that night on. Muerte didn't leave a soul there to wake in the next morning, at least not as a human. they would wake though, as undead nightwalkers. Full and back to her glorious beautiful self, Muerte took back to the air. She was anxious to see what Fiero and Herin had bought her back. She had sent them after the bindings on Gannon's book. A very important part of the book. The bindings could tell her where to find the most important spells the book held. Spells she needed very much.
Deep in there dreams Fiero watched Arik sail through the skies riding thermals and laughing. He knew how much his brother loved been in the air. He was happy at last. A warm spring rain began, it smelled of spring flowers now. Arik was watering the field of colorful flower he was over. To the left, Fiero looked to Maxius diving in and out of the ocean. both his brothers felt so much better he knew. He was glad for them. Fiero knew hard days were on the way. Soon she would call for them to do something for her. Fiero wasn't sure if he could resist her. He would try, but she was very strong. Fiero sat back and watched them enjoy nature. Suddenly a woman in a pale green gown came walking towards him. Who was she to enter there dreams? But she was beautiful. She was tall with blond hair with streaks of green in it. She was smiling it him as she came closer. Then she stopped. the look on her face changed. Now she looked like she was struggling. She held her hands out and started to bang against some barrier he couldn't see. Fiero stood and started to walk towards her. He wanted to know who she was. Suddenly she vanished and the bronze was there in her place. She had an evil smile on her face. Lightning flashed behind her as she spoke.
" COME TO ME."
From the sky he heard Arik's scream as he plunged to earth clutching his head. Fiero watch him shake as he fell.
" No!!" Fiero screamed out. He got up and ran to him, hoping to catch his brother. Closer and closer to the ground he fell. Then suddenly Fiero jumped up awake. He look over to his brothers and saw the pained expression on there sleeping faces. Rocking back and forth, Fiero called out for help in his mind. There had to be someone that could hear him. But no one heard his cry's.
On a dark mystical island hidden from all but the magically inclined, there was a cave. It's a forbidden place seen only by the dead. There you can find the entrance to the Underworld. This cave is not guarded by any demons or three headed dogs. There are no special spells you need to get in. Anyone can enter, but you have to be very special to get out. On any day you can find a long line of spirits waiting to get in. With a soul at the gate with a list of who you are and where your going once in. For most, its a beautiful, wonderful place to spend your eternal rest. But for some, its called Hell and Hades and many other names that cause fear to run along your spine. And rightly so, because this it the place where you will receive your final rewards. Good or bad. The lord of this place is a just god. Only interested in justice. He will judge the life in front of him fairly, and give you every chance to explain your deeds. But if evil ruled your life and that's all that was in your heart, his judgement will be harsh. And your punishment will be severe. His name is Nestor. And he has ruled here since his brother the high god Rimnar set him there. In all his days here, only one has ever escaped, and today she returns.
Back in Keanna, Aramis, Jack, Jade, Ono and Shayn arrived home. Jandar and Rage was happy to see them back. Valen hugged Jade and then he introduced her to everyone else at the Manor. It was a happy occasion, except for the fact that a few were still out on missions. Denner, Eheren, Kalin and Tanis were on ther way back with a new friend. They hadn't said much about her, except that she could help them with Gannon's book. Athene, Cheshire, Ariel,Toric and the Shadows were still in the field with Valkar and Azeal. They were working on freeing Yadessa from Balthazar's grip. Valkar had told Jandar about Angela, Balthazar's long imprisoned wife. And what an asset she might be in the coming future. Jandar marveled at how large his family had gotten.
" We are so many now." He told Rage as the sat in the garden and watched Tomar's children play with other children of town.
" Yes, and to think this town started as a place to hide." Rage said. "Now New Keanna is being placed on maps. We send representatives to council in Winterhaven and Tir Na and other far off places. I never thought our home would get so big."
" Do you mind?" Jandar asked.
" Not as long as we're all together." Rage told him. As they talked, Valen and Jade walked into the garden and came to their table.
" I hope this is good news." Rage said waving them in. " Have a seat."
" We've come to tell you, we know who the enemy is." Valen and Jade took a seat at the table. Jandar and Rage looked at them intently, ready for the news.
" First, call Aramis and Jax to join us." Valen said. " There going to be important in the coming days."
[Aramis, can you and Jax please join us in the garden.]
" We're right here." Aramis said as he and Jack turned the corner into the garden. Jax smiled and waved as they pulled over chairs to sit in.
"Now Valen." Rage asked. " Whats this all about?"
" Its about the two of you." He pointed to Jax and Aramis."
" Us?" Aramis looked shocked. " What do you mean? Jax has told me we're brothers. But that's all he could say. Since then he's been stricken dumb, without speech. Do you know something of whats happening here?"
"Yes." Valen told them. " I have known you and your brother since my younger days. You are brothers. And your father is someone that has had a great influence on me and my clan."
Jax sat up straight and gave him his full attention. He wasn't sure if this was what his father planned, but he figured he'd soon find out.
" Im sure Jax knows what I'm talking about." They all looked to Jax as he sat calmly there and nodded his agreement. Aramis looked at everyone at the table. He didn't know what Valen was talking about. His memory was not much better then the day he had arrived. In his mind, he still saw flashes of her. Her smile and her laugh. But mostly her angry face and how it haunted him. He had this feeling that not many dared to cross her, and those that did, didn't regret it long.
" Tell me who I am if you know." Aramis stood and banged the table.
" You are Vitale, god of life." Valen told him. "Your father is Rimnar, the high father of all the gods. He is Jax, god of celebration and justice, and the woman we fight. She is Muerte, your wife, goddess of death."
Valen sat back and waited for Aramis's reaction. He looked at them in disbelief. He didn't believe them at all.
" I see from your look, you don't believe me." Valen stood and looked around. He saw an apple tree growing in the garden. He reached down and picked the apple from the ground and split it open as he walked back to them.
" Hold out your hand palm up." Valen told him. Aramis did as he was told not understanding what he wanted to do or how he was going to prove his statement. Valen plucked seeds from the apple and dropped them onto his palm. Everyone watched his hand as the seed began to sprout and grow. Roots began to curl out, then small leaves grew.
" Drop it in the soil there." Jandar told him pointing to place far enough from the other trees to get all the light it needs. He did as Jandar told him then turned back to them.
" So what, " He said. " I have magic. Be sides, I don't want to be a god. Gods lived high above everyone, separate from real people. These are my people now. Jandar, Rage and the people of Keanna, This is where I belong. Both Jax and I."
" Then help them. Vitale." Valen said. "Or surly she will make this world into a hell none of us ever want to see."
" Call me Aramis." He said. " I may be this Vitale you say I am. But I still don't remember any of it. Until I do, I'll be Aramis. So what now?"
" We need to to know what she is up. " Valen said. " We have to be ready for her. So we can plan a way to stop her."
"Then we need someone close to her." Rage said. " I can only think of one person that can get that close to her."
" Who?" Jade asked. " You know someone that can get close to her?"
" The Baron!" Jandar told them. " He's the only one that can do this."
Jandar told them about Baron Valkar Zlenka. He told them as much of his history as he knew and that only a few people could find him. Luckily, Cutter was back. He should be able to locate him.
" But it will be dangerous for him." Jandar said. " Even as a spirit there's horrible things she can do to him. She's the goddess of death, just imagine."
" We don't have to," Jade said looking sad. " We've seen her work long ago. We know what she can do. That's why we're so intent on stopping her at all cost."
" I've sent a message to Cutter." Rage told them. " He's going to try and find the Baron. All we have to do now is wait."
" Yes." Jandar told them, getting up from the table." It's time we all get some rest. We have rooms for both of you ready."
" I cant sleep in doors." Valen and Jade got to there feet. " We will be in the forest resting. Call us when you have word of the Baron."
Shifting to dragon form Valen reached out his leg for Jade to climb on to. Once comfortable on his neck, he opened his wings and took to the skies. Rage and Jandar watched them fly into the sunset then went into the Manor to rest. The next few days they expected would not be easy. They would all need their rest.
" Whats wrong brother?" He asked.
" I don't know." He said. " But something is missing, and this is not out home."
" Its her home." Fiero told him.
"Who Jade?" Maxius still had that far away look on his stern face.
" Who?" Fiero asked.
He was becoming confused to. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite connect it with a face.
" I don't know." The water dragon said. He reached up and banged hid forehead. " What is wrong with me?" He asked. " Why does my head hurt so much? Why cant I clear things in my head. I cant even dream right anymore. Can you?"
" No, I cant." He put his arm around Maxius's shoulder and walked him into the cave. Arik sat in the corner quiet. Fiero was worried. That was the same place he had been before they were called to her. This was not right, Arik should be in the air, not here lost in his head in a cave. This is not how we dragons exist. He took Maxius over to Arik and sat him down. Arik looked at him with tears in his eyes.
" Who am I?" He asked. " I don't know anymore. Help me."
Fiero hugged his brothers close to him. The sorrow in him raged. Suddenly he didn't care what the bronze wanted. His brothers were far more important. He had to help them find themselves and be free of her.
" Come brothers." He told them. " Our dreams await us. There we can find peace."
[ How?] Maxius asked as he shifted and took his place in there new lair. Fiero and Arik shifted and found their places.
[ I will direct our dreams.] He sent to them. [ Just sleep and clear your minds. I will do the rest.]He didn't know it, but that was when the first crack showed itself in Muerte's spell. A crack even she wouldn't notice until it was to late. Fiero had taken the first step to there freedom and the pain in his head was a little less.
As the sun left the sky, Muerte stirred from her sleep. She was hungry. She hadn't fed in two days and her appearance showed it. The beautiful red hair was greying and she could feel her face was drawing back. Tightening up. That would not do. She got up from her silken bed and made her way down into the castle. There she had certain men from town kept just for her. As she walked, all the nightwalkers in the castle bowed to her. She could feel there fear of her in their minds. Their thoughts were so clear to her. Suddenly a stray thought came to her. But it couldn't be true. She sniffed at the air. She couldn't find any blood scent on the air. They had fed on the men she separated and forbid them to touch.
"YOU HAVE DEFIED ME?" She screamed. " I HAVE GIVING YOU IMMORTAL LIFE AND YOU HAVE TAKEN WHAT IS MINE!!" She grabbed the closest vampire and ripped off his head and threw him against the wall.
" HOW DARE YOU!!" As she grew angrier, her feature became more horrendous. Her arms grew thin but powerful, Her hair became totally grey. Talons and long teeth and fangs became needle sharp. She became the devil she always was at heart. With a single thought all the doors in the castle leading out slammed shut. One by one she tore mostly everyone there to pieces. The few that lived she gathered together and in the courtyard.
"YOU ARE ALL MY CATTLE. EVERYTHING YOU DO FROM THIS POINT ON IS FOR ME. IF ANY OF YOU EVERY DISOBEY ME AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO PLACE IN HELL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HIDE FROM ME." She seethed at them. " NOW BECAUSE OF YOUR GREED, I MUST FIND FOOD."
"Mistress." one man stepped up to talk. "We can find you someone if it pleases you."She walked over to him and caressed his face. He smiled then gagged as she ripped out his throat and pushed him aside.
" YOUR HELP IS NOT NEEDED." she opened her arms and sprang into the air and shifted to a vampire bat and flew off into the night.The village was quiet as Muerte came to roost in a tree in the center of the few houses that the villagers had built. There was no one awake here. Everyone had bedded down to be up for and early morning. There were crops to be harvested. Cows to be milked if they were to survive the coming winter. Everyone there would have to work together. And they all would if they were going to live. But the dark shadow moving from house to house promise them all an undead life from that night on. Muerte didn't leave a soul there to wake in the next morning, at least not as a human. they would wake though, as undead nightwalkers. Full and back to her glorious beautiful self, Muerte took back to the air. She was anxious to see what Fiero and Herin had bought her back. She had sent them after the bindings on Gannon's book. A very important part of the book. The bindings could tell her where to find the most important spells the book held. Spells she needed very much.
Deep in there dreams Fiero watched Arik sail through the skies riding thermals and laughing. He knew how much his brother loved been in the air. He was happy at last. A warm spring rain began, it smelled of spring flowers now. Arik was watering the field of colorful flower he was over. To the left, Fiero looked to Maxius diving in and out of the ocean. both his brothers felt so much better he knew. He was glad for them. Fiero knew hard days were on the way. Soon she would call for them to do something for her. Fiero wasn't sure if he could resist her. He would try, but she was very strong. Fiero sat back and watched them enjoy nature. Suddenly a woman in a pale green gown came walking towards him. Who was she to enter there dreams? But she was beautiful. She was tall with blond hair with streaks of green in it. She was smiling it him as she came closer. Then she stopped. the look on her face changed. Now she looked like she was struggling. She held her hands out and started to bang against some barrier he couldn't see. Fiero stood and started to walk towards her. He wanted to know who she was. Suddenly she vanished and the bronze was there in her place. She had an evil smile on her face. Lightning flashed behind her as she spoke.
" COME TO ME."
From the sky he heard Arik's scream as he plunged to earth clutching his head. Fiero watch him shake as he fell.
" No!!" Fiero screamed out. He got up and ran to him, hoping to catch his brother. Closer and closer to the ground he fell. Then suddenly Fiero jumped up awake. He look over to his brothers and saw the pained expression on there sleeping faces. Rocking back and forth, Fiero called out for help in his mind. There had to be someone that could hear him. But no one heard his cry's.
On a dark mystical island hidden from all but the magically inclined, there was a cave. It's a forbidden place seen only by the dead. There you can find the entrance to the Underworld. This cave is not guarded by any demons or three headed dogs. There are no special spells you need to get in. Anyone can enter, but you have to be very special to get out. On any day you can find a long line of spirits waiting to get in. With a soul at the gate with a list of who you are and where your going once in. For most, its a beautiful, wonderful place to spend your eternal rest. But for some, its called Hell and Hades and many other names that cause fear to run along your spine. And rightly so, because this it the place where you will receive your final rewards. Good or bad. The lord of this place is a just god. Only interested in justice. He will judge the life in front of him fairly, and give you every chance to explain your deeds. But if evil ruled your life and that's all that was in your heart, his judgement will be harsh. And your punishment will be severe. His name is Nestor. And he has ruled here since his brother the high god Rimnar set him there. In all his days here, only one has ever escaped, and today she returns.
Back in Keanna, Aramis, Jack, Jade, Ono and Shayn arrived home. Jandar and Rage was happy to see them back. Valen hugged Jade and then he introduced her to everyone else at the Manor. It was a happy occasion, except for the fact that a few were still out on missions. Denner, Eheren, Kalin and Tanis were on ther way back with a new friend. They hadn't said much about her, except that she could help them with Gannon's book. Athene, Cheshire, Ariel,Toric and the Shadows were still in the field with Valkar and Azeal. They were working on freeing Yadessa from Balthazar's grip. Valkar had told Jandar about Angela, Balthazar's long imprisoned wife. And what an asset she might be in the coming future. Jandar marveled at how large his family had gotten.
" We are so many now." He told Rage as the sat in the garden and watched Tomar's children play with other children of town.
" Yes, and to think this town started as a place to hide." Rage said. "Now New Keanna is being placed on maps. We send representatives to council in Winterhaven and Tir Na and other far off places. I never thought our home would get so big."
" Do you mind?" Jandar asked.
" Not as long as we're all together." Rage told him. As they talked, Valen and Jade walked into the garden and came to their table.
" I hope this is good news." Rage said waving them in. " Have a seat."
" We've come to tell you, we know who the enemy is." Valen and Jade took a seat at the table. Jandar and Rage looked at them intently, ready for the news.
" First, call Aramis and Jax to join us." Valen said. " There going to be important in the coming days."
[Aramis, can you and Jax please join us in the garden.]
" We're right here." Aramis said as he and Jack turned the corner into the garden. Jax smiled and waved as they pulled over chairs to sit in.
"Now Valen." Rage asked. " Whats this all about?"
" Its about the two of you." He pointed to Jax and Aramis."
" Us?" Aramis looked shocked. " What do you mean? Jax has told me we're brothers. But that's all he could say. Since then he's been stricken dumb, without speech. Do you know something of whats happening here?"
"Yes." Valen told them. " I have known you and your brother since my younger days. You are brothers. And your father is someone that has had a great influence on me and my clan."
Jax sat up straight and gave him his full attention. He wasn't sure if this was what his father planned, but he figured he'd soon find out.
" Im sure Jax knows what I'm talking about." They all looked to Jax as he sat calmly there and nodded his agreement. Aramis looked at everyone at the table. He didn't know what Valen was talking about. His memory was not much better then the day he had arrived. In his mind, he still saw flashes of her. Her smile and her laugh. But mostly her angry face and how it haunted him. He had this feeling that not many dared to cross her, and those that did, didn't regret it long.
" Tell me who I am if you know." Aramis stood and banged the table.
" You are Vitale, god of life." Valen told him. "Your father is Rimnar, the high father of all the gods. He is Jax, god of celebration and justice, and the woman we fight. She is Muerte, your wife, goddess of death."
Valen sat back and waited for Aramis's reaction. He looked at them in disbelief. He didn't believe them at all.
" I see from your look, you don't believe me." Valen stood and looked around. He saw an apple tree growing in the garden. He reached down and picked the apple from the ground and split it open as he walked back to them.
" Hold out your hand palm up." Valen told him. Aramis did as he was told not understanding what he wanted to do or how he was going to prove his statement. Valen plucked seeds from the apple and dropped them onto his palm. Everyone watched his hand as the seed began to sprout and grow. Roots began to curl out, then small leaves grew.
" Drop it in the soil there." Jandar told him pointing to place far enough from the other trees to get all the light it needs. He did as Jandar told him then turned back to them.
" So what, " He said. " I have magic. Be sides, I don't want to be a god. Gods lived high above everyone, separate from real people. These are my people now. Jandar, Rage and the people of Keanna, This is where I belong. Both Jax and I."
" Then help them. Vitale." Valen said. "Or surly she will make this world into a hell none of us ever want to see."
" Call me Aramis." He said. " I may be this Vitale you say I am. But I still don't remember any of it. Until I do, I'll be Aramis. So what now?"
" We need to to know what she is up. " Valen said. " We have to be ready for her. So we can plan a way to stop her."
"Then we need someone close to her." Rage said. " I can only think of one person that can get that close to her."
" Who?" Jade asked. " You know someone that can get close to her?"
" The Baron!" Jandar told them. " He's the only one that can do this."
Jandar told them about Baron Valkar Zlenka. He told them as much of his history as he knew and that only a few people could find him. Luckily, Cutter was back. He should be able to locate him.
" But it will be dangerous for him." Jandar said. " Even as a spirit there's horrible things she can do to him. She's the goddess of death, just imagine."
" We don't have to," Jade said looking sad. " We've seen her work long ago. We know what she can do. That's why we're so intent on stopping her at all cost."
" I've sent a message to Cutter." Rage told them. " He's going to try and find the Baron. All we have to do now is wait."
" Yes." Jandar told them, getting up from the table." It's time we all get some rest. We have rooms for both of you ready."
" I cant sleep in doors." Valen and Jade got to there feet. " We will be in the forest resting. Call us when you have word of the Baron."
Shifting to dragon form Valen reached out his leg for Jade to climb on to. Once comfortable on his neck, he opened his wings and took to the skies. Rage and Jandar watched them fly into the sunset then went into the Manor to rest. The next few days they expected would not be easy. They would all need their rest.
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