Chapter 13
Solitaire
Kalos stood silently in the east wing of his palace. It was a dark domain facing the unshielded portion of the Soul Realm. He stood looking out the wide balcony entrance. The drizzling rain that started almost a year ago had now become a constant monsoon. Ferocities, once a city filled with cool winds and mild sunshine, was now a dark and gloomy place. And the rain just would not stop. The dead and rotted bodies of the slaves and slain soldiers left behind were now decayed bones after being eaten by vultures. Kalos remained in the shadows of the room while reflections of the rain went across his mask. The state of his depression had deepened. He stopped wearing his long cloak garment and walked solemnly around in only his black harem underwear. He took his long black hair out of its usual high ponytail and it now laid wildly all over his head. He no longer cared about his appearance. All the things he ever wanted, all of his desired achievements could not be fulfilled. All the money, fame, glory, hopes of a bigger and better land, and the desire to have a bigger army, none of them could be achieved because he was without his “magic genie”.
It didn't help that there was no sign of the sun anymore. Even at the days earliest hours it remained dark and wet. The only reminder of what used to be was the abundance of marigold flowers that still remained intact all over the terrain.
Kalos rubbed his collarbone where the medallion had once laid. He became red hot, his smooth tan muscular body glistened with perspiration, as he felt the anger boil within him. He hastily removed his mask, the darkness of the shadows covered his face. He pressed his face and hands desperately against the glass pane of the balcony door. His hazel eyes widened as they caught the light from the portal and parts of the moon. Watching the Soul Realm, he felt his long black cobra slide up his leg. “Not now, Noire.” He said, kicking the reptile off of him. The shunned snake respectfully listened and slithered against the wall. Kalos’ heart began to thud painfully as he wished desperately to use that portal that teased and taunted him daily. His body was completely drenched in sweat, yet goose bumps covered his nearly naked body from the coolness outside. His eyes blackened with more hate than he had ever known. Pure hate and revenge consumed him. Three more snakes slithered into the dark cold room and wrapped themselves up his leg. Then 5 more crawled in and clung to him. They covered his entire body. They just dangled on him like branches to a tree. He was too saddened and possessed by evil to remove them.
Noire became jealous and viciously bit and knocked the snakes off of him. He then wrapped himself snugly around Kalos' neck, tongue hissing against his cheek in comfort to Kalos. Kalos' dark eyes rode along with the vision of the Soul Realm and it’s teasing presence. A surviving soldier cautiously approached him in the eerie room.
“Emperor, is there anything I can do for you?” He humbly asked. Kalos turned to the soldier and shook his head slowly. His small crooked smile was seen through the shadows that made the soldier shutter.
“No. There is nothing you can do for me. Now leave.” He turned his back around to face the dark corroded world before him. The soldier went away quickly. Kalos drew in a deep breath.
“Eventually I will have my way. And on that day there will be hell to pay.” He began to chuckle. Then he began to cackle as more snakes entered in the room. They all wrapped themselves around his body as the moonlit wall showed his wicked snake-filled silhouette.
Grandelyn Page 14