Demiourgos

by Chris Williams

  “Quickly then.” He said as he walked over to the door and waved his hand. “I cannot shape the stone! The shackles affected my ability to shape; apparently it has been retarded in some way now that they’re gone.”

  “Back away.” Rose stood up shakily and waved him back as he tried to help her. Holding her hands out in front of her she imagined a gout of molten rock melting the door down to nothing. Using her hands she made undulating motions with her fingers as if she was shaping the stone herself. The small room got hot quickly but the door began to melt and pool down on the rock below it. Unable to concentrate for long she burned a hole in the door large enough for them to pass through. As she used a large chunk of the raw power stored within her she felt the burning start to fade a little. “Go, I'll follow.”

  Rose watched him leave the room and followed right behind him stepping over the pile of cooling rock and heading out into a long hallway with several doors of similar construction. Behind each door she spied any number of creatures she did not recognize. “We should free them.”

  “No, I would not unleash some of the horrors in the place on the world lightly.” The kurenai replied to her as he took her hand and helped her along. “They will not be long to confront us now that the shackles have been removed. We have no time to waste.”

  “My equipment, I need my things.” She said through her teeth as she fought to hold on to the magic boiling over inside of her. As they rounded a corner he turned to talk to her only to stop dead in his tracks. Standing down the hall was a tall red-skinned humanoid with a head like a canine and leathery bat wings hanging from its back. The powerful-looking creature was tall enough for it to have to crouch down in the hall. Ruckus fell to his knees but Rose stepped past him and looked the monster right in the eyes. “I am going to pass and you're going to let me.”

  “Little mortal, your limbs will be so tasty.” It spoke in broken common through a slavering maw that dripped green slime down onto the floor. The thing charged forward and held its claws out before it. “I will tear you apart.”

  Taking a large chunk of magic from her surplus she knelt down and put her hands on the floor. Her eyes closed as she fought to control the massive amount of power stored within her. The floor before her wavered and she watched with satisfaction as the disgusting creature fell forward into it like he had stumbled into a lake or pool. She removed her hands once the creature was out of sight and pulled Ruckus to his feet. “My weapons, now!”

  “This way.” He said sheepishly while taking the lead again. Down the hallway he led her into a side room and returned from within carrying her weapons, shoes and backpack. He had one on himself, which caused her to arch a brow.

  “Supplies, if we are to survive the wild dark we will need them.” Ruckus replied quickly as he handed her belongings over.

  Slipping her shoes on she donned the rest as she ran and tried to keep up with him. His long strides were hard to match. The corridors around her became more rough-hewn and natural than chiseled and she took that as a good sign. When they reached the mouth of a cave leading into a large central room he stopped. “What is it? Which way do we go?”

  “I don't know. I've never been out of the complex before.” The kurenai looked over at her apologetically and shrugged.

  Rose sighed and pulled the last overcharged chunk of magic from its storage place within her body and ran her hand around the mouth of the tunnel exit. She watched as the rock above the arched cave mouth shifted and melted downward, forming a wall of solid stone between them and any pursuit. She figured it would buy them a little time. “Okay, I need to get back to the surface.”

  The circular cavern in front of them was strewn with rocks and debris; two tunnels led outward, one across the way and the other to the east of that. Her guess would be as good as his so she just pointed to the northern cave entrance. “That way then, we just need to get some distance between us. I need to rest soon.”

  They took a slightly less hurried pace mainly because Rose was having problems keeping up after casting so rapidly and in such large amounts but moreso after absorbing way more than she should under any circumstances. Her blind trust in this former slave was well founded.

  She felt that he had been taking direction so long that he no longer knew what else to do but take orders. “Tell me about where you come from, your people.”

  “Well my people are kurenai, stone children. Long ago it is said that the makers, your people, brought us deep beneath the earth and gave us a city to call our own. They taught us how to shape the stone and mold it to our will, showed us how to survive in the lightless caverns so we could mine gems and metals from the earth.” At many points Ruckus had to pause and gather his thoughts as if he were waking up from some sort of drunken haze. “Eventually the makers stopped returning for the tributes they asked of us but we continued to hold up our part of the bargain as we had been taught. However, as we stocked our metals and gems we began to run out of space so we started using the tributes ourselves, making more than just weapons and tools out of the metal. We crafted armor, statues and works of great art in hopes that one day the makers would return and be pleased.”

  “That's some tale.” She said reverently as she listed to him talk. “You've kept to your word all this time?”

  “Aye, we are loyal to those who showed us the way to fend for ourselves.” He replied with a nod, looking as if he was taking some pride from her commentary. “That was the story our elders taught us when we were young.”

  “How old are you?”

  “I honestly don't know anymore. I have lost count of the years I have served them.” He retorted sadly.

  “I'm sorry. You have your freedom now though.” She knew how it felt to be a slave so she felt badly for this man. It was definitely sympathy for a kindred spirit.

  “I have no direction now; I don't know what to do.”

  “I can relate.” Rose put a hand on his shoulder as they walked and decided to tell him her story, at least part of it. “I was a slave as well; I gained my freedom not long ago. I also felt no direction or purpose when I was pulled out of my former life. I know your confusion. My purpose was as a pleasure slave in a pasha's harem. Freedom for me was bittersweet, I got thrust into a strange world I'd never seen before and pushed into events beyond my control.”

  Rose paused for a moment and leaned against the wall. “Please, I must rest.”

  “For just a moment then.” He stood not far from her and stared hard down the corridor behind them, obviously alert. “It seems I have been swept up into these events you describe as well. That and I owe you a debt for my freedom; I will stick by your side until that debt has been repaid.”

  “That is not necessary; I would not take your freedom away again after just giving it to you.” Rose leaned against the wall behind her and slid down to a sitting position, her head resting wearily against the uncomfortable rock. Holding in such energy was never good for anyone and beyond that she was still weak from whatever substances her captors had given her.

  “Am I not making a decision as a free man then?” He challenged back at her, taking his eyes off the long corridor to lock his gaze with hers for a moment. “I give you my oath here and now that my debt to you will be repaid and I will not leave your side until it has been. But we are not out of the demonfire yet. I am not such a valuable slave. You were brought in under heavy guard and I was instructed to keep a special eye on your cell while my captor was away. You seem to be a very valuable asset to them; they will not give up pursuit so easily.”

  “It seems no matter where I go there's always someone who wants to chase me down and kill me. So far I have been adept at removing myself from their clutches.” Rose closed her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back as if she were staring at the ceiling.

  “Your magic is strange, different from any I've seen before. I do not think people in this day and age are ready for such a thing. It gives you a distinct advantage now but it may not work forever.” Ruck
us said with a simple but elegant logic. Suddenly he tensed and turned his head to the right, intent on something Rose could not hear. “They come, we must go.”

  “By the hungry dark, they released Trelilok.” Ruckus grabbed her arm and tugged her to her feet, making no apologies for his abrupt interruption of her rest. “We cannot tarry!”

  “Trelilok?” She mimicked, trying to catch the inflections properly. “What is that?”

  “You do not want to know.”

  He began running in the direction they had been headed so Rose followed. It was then that she heard a long keening noise that sent a shiver up her spine so intense that she almost lost her footing. The powerful sound traveled along the cavern ahead of them for quite some time before it resounded again, this time closer.

  ~~~~

  “What do you mean you lost her?” Leonidus yelled at the top of his lungs as he regarded both Nina and Liostro with an angry eye. The queen had been keeping her composure the entire time but Leonidus was fuming mad, ready to strike down the wounded warrior where he stood. “Tell me what happened right now!”

  “Calm yourself father, he is in need of medical attention before we begin piecing together the course of events. Ware your temper in my presence, revered elder or not you are out of line.” She warned him with a tone to her voice that would brook no argument.

  “Do not begin to lecture me.” He hissed through his lips as if it were a curse. Leonidus approached her and put one of his fingers in her face while simultaneously shaking it up and down as if trying to dislodge something. “You know not what has happened here! The prophecy is going all wrong. There is some major player attempting to thwart our efforts. If we fail, this place, our homeland, will be destroyed.”

  Leo walked over to Liostro and tossed him a clear liquid stoppered in a tube-like vial topped with sealing wax. “Drink this and then continue on.”

  “By your command.” Liostro quaffed the sweet-tasting liquid and breathed a sigh of relief as his pain started to subside. “The journey was going alright until we met up with a tribe of forest-dwelling ashkanti. Their leader was after us. Once we shook them a dream eater attacked us in the night. We got to the ruins and as soon as we stepped onto the cobblestones Rose passed out and we were attacked by a pack of creatures I believe to be demons. They had the stink of brimstone and the abyss about them. During the battle Nina and I were forced to carry Rose into the ruins of an old keep. It was there that I was able to retrieve the artifacts but when I ordered Nina to retreat with them the enchantment grabbed us both but left Rose behind.”

  “It was supposed to bring all three of us.” Nina said dejectedly as she looked down to the floor and sniffed trying to keep herself from crying. “We can't leave her there; we can't leave Rose to those things!”

  “Demons are not an adversary for the likes of you little sunbeam.” Leonidus chided her a little more harshly than he had intended. “Forgive me, I did not mean it that way.”

  “I will return immediately.” Liostro interrupted with resolve. “I gave her my word that I would protect her and it has been broken. My honor demands it.”

  “Honor?” The queen echoed incredulously. “What do you know about honor dark knight? You were put on the path of redemption only recently, how do you expect to know honor?”

  “Honor is a concept beyond good and evil. Anyone who has it knows that.” Knowing he was being dangerously insulting did nothing to stop him from saying his thoughts out loud. “Rose knew our mission was of the utmost importance. She knew the risks just as we all did but that does not mean I am willing to abandon her so easily.”

  “You walk a dangerous line human.” Queen Miralastra stood up and faced off with him, not one to back down to a threat or challenge.

  “Both of you put your pride away.” Leonidus stepped between the two of them having suddenly gained control of his previously raging emotions. “I will locate her if I can. Meanwhile Liostro and Nina should both rest as I have no doubt that this will be a difficult journey.”

  Liostro left the room with Nina in tow not bothering to listen to the queen bluster about having her father give orders to her subordinates. His anger could not be quelled and she had done nothing but make things worse for him. Vaguely he heard Nina talking about how to find her and where to go but he was unable to listen until he felt a hand grab his arm. Nina did not deserve his anger but his reply was none-the-less aggravated. “What?”

  “I know you're angry, I am too. You're not the only one who has love for her.” Nina looked up into his eyes and let go of his arm as she returned the hating glare just as strong as anyone could. “We will find her but what I want to know is why grandfather's ring did not work on her when it worked on the two of us.”

  “It must be because she was unconscious.” Liostro countered in a softer-spoken voice as he led her into his room and closed the door. “I don't know magic as well as you or Rose though.”

  “I think someone blocked it. I know how the magic works; it should have pulled us all along regardless of her state. Someone or something there did not want her to leave.” Nina sat down at the table near the balcony and sighed, putting her chin in her right hand. “I just hope she's okay.”

  “If she is not I will rip the gods from the heavens and make them pay for this vile joke they are playing on me.” Liostro slammed his fist down on the table and stood there for a moment with his teeth gritted. He could not help but think about the things beyond his control and wish he had the means to fix them.

  “It's not your fault; we did not know the magic would fail.” Nina said soothingly as she laid a hand down on his arm. She knew he loved her and that apparently confused him but the resolve in his eyes made her feel at least a little better. The two of them would walk to the ends of the world to save their lost friend.

  ~~~~

  Deep in the unchanging caverns below the earth it was eternal night. Knowing when the day ended and began was difficult for her considering there was neither a sun nor a moon to go by. Endless rock was all that had greeted them so far but it felt as if they had been running for an eternity; stopping only when neither of them could continue running any further. She could not keep his pace so she had to rely on magic to replenish her body several times but her stores were running low. Her body was in no condition to provide her the fuel for magic either.

  “I must rest Ruckus, I cannot go on.” She said finally as he began to outpace her yet again. “I am not used to such painstaking travel.”

  “We must not stop, it will not stop.” Seeing her face and noticing how haggard and tired she looked he relented and grunted in agreement. He had known this would happen, they had been traveling and resting sparingly for three days straight. The only food and water they had brought was the rations and skins of water Rose had in her pack but they had quickly eaten through those supplies.

  He too felt tired but he knew the evil and tenaciousness of the thing they faced. He led her down a side corridor for quite some time and ran his hand along the wall, searching for the perfect spot. After a long walk he nodded his head and backtracked with a curious but unquestioning Rose in tow. Holding his hand against the stone he closed his eyes.

  Rose watched in amazement as the stone quite literally parted before his hand as if it were sand falling down a dune. Once they both had stepped inside a thin layer of rock closed in behind them and he sat down near it with his ear against the other wall, his back to the makeshift door. “You can work magic?”

  “No, my people have a deep connection to the stone. I merely asked it if we could stay in this little cavern for a time.” Tapping the entrance with one of his knuckles he continued. “It should keep us safe while we rest, and the backtracking should confuse the beast at least for a time.”

  “How did you know it was here?” She asked as she looked around the tight space and rolled out her bedroll; which had been among her belongings.

  “The stones told me.” Ruckus answered simply.

  “A
h.” Rose was in no condition to question it but she made a mental note to inquire later. Instead of entering her usual trance she opted to sleep a little harder this time, knowing it would more readily replenish her energy.

  Her rest was fitful to say the least; she spent more time tossing and turning and attempting to sleep than she did actually sleep. Rose tried for many hours to get more than just fleeting minutes of sleep but failed. Several times she looked up at Ruckus and found his eyes closed but he was sitting in the same position with his ear against the wall and his back against the entrance door. With a sigh she stood and began packing her bedroll back up. “Ruckus.”

  “Aye?” His eyes opened instantly.

  “I cannot sleep any more, we may as well continue on.” Rose shrugged her shoulders and put the pack on her back, standing up and giving him a hand at doing the same. As he put his hand on the wall nearest the rock doorway he paused and put his ear against the wall again. “Something is close.”

  “What is it?” She asked tensely as she rested her palms on the hilts of her blades.

  “Stones and mountains.” It was an oath he had not used in a long time but it seemed appropriate.

  “What?”

  “I fear my ears are playing tricks on me.” He replied as he touched the stone and asked it politely to let them out. Once it had cleared he fell to his knees before a group of miners that had been walking through the hallway conversing in their deep voices in a language he had not heard in decades. They were kurenai like him but younger and better groomed.

  Rose, taken aback by the good luck, sighed in relief when she saw the mining party carrying their picks, shovels and other tools. She looked from Ruckus to them and found the older kurenai crying so heavily that she feared he had lost his mind. She approached him and put a hand on his back trying to steady him. “Ruckus.”

  One of the larger of the gathered kurenai approached them and said something in a tongue she did not recognize. He went through several of what seemed to be different languages before Ruckus looked up with pleading eyes and shook his head. “I do not remember the language of our people, do any present speak the overworld tongue?”