P I and Magic Book II: The Gods Return
Copyright© 2005 by Volentrin
Chapter 30
I sat with my wife, and finished eating the chicken that I had stashed away in one of the cupboards in the pocket universe. We were still talking over what happened to her, after she had arrived at the Ancients.
"So, later, two Ancients came by and saw me. They heard what I had to say, then nodded and left; but not before one of them cast that spell on me!" she exclaimed indignantly.
I patted her hand. "I was glad to come and rescue you, my love," I said smiling.
Her expression softened and for a short while, all thought of food and battles were driven from my mind. Afterwards, we lay together on a soft bed that one of us had materialized, reflecting.
"This war can go on, forever. I have never felt so helpless before, Paul," my wife said suddenly.
"I know. Since it involves demons, I really wouldn't care. But they are trying to drag our world into it, too," I said heavily.
We fell silent, and each thought what this could mean. There had to be a way to avoid all this. I felt a whispering in my head. I frowned and concentrated on it. CHAOS! As soon as I found what was whispering to me, it manifested itself strongly.
It didn't talk to me in a way you and I would have a conversation. It simply conveyed... POWER! It was a solution, and I had a grasp on it. I was one of very few beings to be able to wield the power of Chaos. It seemed to say 'USE ME.'
I got out of bed and started dressing. Mariel moaned in disappointment. I grinned at her.
"We can't all laze around in bed. There are things to do, wrongs to right, and wars to win. Mariel, I want you to consider waiting here for me, will you?" I asked her.
She nodded, her eyes wide.
"What are you going to do Paul?" she asked me, as I settled my cloak over my shoulders and grabbed my staff.
"I am going to see if I can't shut down the gate between the demons, and the Ancients. That is the main bone of contention, and what threatens to bring our world into this war. Without that gate, everything should settle back to normal," I said, just a little hopefully.
"I'm coming with you. You'll need me," Mariel said confidently.
"NO! Didn't you just agree to stay? Didn't I just have to rescue you from the Ancients? And now you want to put yourself into a position that might have me deciding if you live or die, by my behavior?" I shouted.
Mariel cringed back from me, and I went to her and held her. I definitely did not mean to hurt her feelings.
"Mariel, I can't do this if I know you're exposed to danger. If you were captured again, what would I have to do to buy your safety? Would I have to leave, and wait for days? Months? Years?
"Did you want our child to be born while you're in custody of the Ancients? Would they leave the child with you, or would they then have something to hold over your head? See where I am going with this?" I asked her much more gently.
She nodded her head, her eyes filled with tears.
"Just wait here for me. I'll be back," I told her.
I concentrated for a moment, and saw the opening to where I wanted to go. I went through it, and was in the demon palace. I really loved my pocket universe. I opened the door to what had been my room, and walked out into the hallway.
I wanted to know what had happened since I left and rescued my wife. It didn't take me long to find a servant to take me to Shaitan. I walked along, and I swear I started to... well, hum with power. I had unconsciously grabbed at my Chaos line, and started pulling power off it.
"Paul! Welcome back! What happened? You just sort of disappeared on us!" Shaitan asked me as soon as he saw me.
"Well, I was able to rescue my wife. She is safe, right now," I told him.
"Well, we still have that Ancient you saw. We are gathering our forces and marching them to the gate. We might actually win through to the other side of it, this time," Shaitan said in a musing tone.
I nodded to him but was thinking, 'not if I can help it.' I stayed a while longer, then begged off saying I wanted to get ready to sleep for a bit. He nodded and summoned a servant to escort me back to my room.
After the servant left me in my room, I concentrated, and was at the gate. I had a Chaos shield around me, and I needed it! As soon as I materialized, I was getting attacked! I ignored them, and made my way to the gate.
I was finally reduced to blasting my way through groups of attacking... well, whatever they were. Very bestial in looks, were the troops of the Ancients. I finally got to the gate, and entered it.
I was surprised that I was not followed. On the other hand, there was an army camp before me. So maybe it wasn't that surprising after all. I sank into my newfound power, and drew on it heavily.
I was ALIVE! I laughed. Bolts of power and spells crashed into my shield and fell away. I sent out a spell that cut a swath through the enemy before me. I turned a bit to my left, and cast the spell at them that I had used before. Thousands of little balls of energy flew towards them and sank into their bodies. They exploded nicely.
Turning to my right, I cast again. The result was, thousands of more bodies blew up. For some reason, no one approached me, which was fine with me. I turned my back on them and concentrated on this side of the gate.
They had done a good job of anchoring it, considering this was a previously sealed universe. I sent shafts of Chaos into the gate, and got ready to pull it down. Before I did that, I would have to go through it, back to the other side. Just destroying this side, would not destroy the other side.
"Wait!" I heard behind me.
I turned, and faced several Ancients. They held their hands up and away from their bodies.
"I have nothing to say to you bastards. You kidnapped my wife, and were holding her against her will," I replied angrily.
"You have to understand our point of view. This is our chance, was our chance, to return to the multiverse. You have already introduced death to us. We have never known death before. Several of our people who were severely wounded during battle have... died," he said with a shudder.
"Well, that's life for you. You're born, you live, you die. Nothing is sure in life, except death and taxes," I told him.
He appeared confused for a moment, but then nodded.
"Please. Don't do this. I... We... can see the power your wielding. If you continue, you will destroy the only chance we have had in thousands of years to be free," he said pleadingly.
I shook my head. I turned away from them, and walked back through the gate, collapsing it behind me. Their end of the gate was terminated, permanently. That left this side. The attack was renewed as I had stepped through.
To read this story you need a
Registration + Premier Membership
If you have an account, then please Log In
or Register (Why register?)
$3.99
$6.99
