by Jack Knight
Without the wings, Venitia looked just like an elf, except that her hair, which she wore the same way Ava did, was pitch black. Her clothes were odd, they were made of a rough, black fabric, but otherwise she appeared perfectly normal.
“I am just not entirely sure who you are,” Venitia finished.
“Oh, right,” Sapphire blushed. “I’m Sapphire, Ava’s my friend.”
“I seem to be meeting Avalon’s friends in very different ways,” she glanced at Xara with a grin.
“I stand by what I said before, you have wings,” Xara defended herself.
Venitia nodded. “I understand how that must have looked, given the situation.”
“Just out of curiosity, what exactly is the situation?” Warren asked. “We were sure this was going to be a little different.”
Venitia looked around at all of them. “You look tired, let’s sit and talk.”
“Thank the gods,” Warren groaned as he sat down against a tree. “I’m not running again for the rest of the day, I’m saying it right now. I think I’ve earned it.”
Xion chuckled as he sat down, and Sapphire took a place beside him. Ava looked like she wanted to protest, but she had to be just as tired as the rest of them. She walked over and sat against Tenebris, where Laira was sitting. Both of them looked a little uncomfortable in the presence of Ava’s mother.
Venitia sighed as she sat and leaned against a tree. She sniffed the air and said, “So, you did defeat Draskall, well done.”
“They have names?” Xara asked in surprise as she sat against a tree.
“Yes,” Venitia chuckled, “we have names.”
“Right,” Xara frowned. She said to Ava in a mock whisper, “I don’t think your mother and I are getting off to the best start.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “What’s going on with the portal,” Ava demanded.
“It is safe for now,” Venitia answered. “Draskall and I were guards at the portal, as we have been since it was last closed. Our job was to report if it ever opened. I thought that would be the best place for me, in case there was ever a chance to come home. But, Draskall saw an opportunity out of the Hells and took it. I followed him to slay him before he could cause any trouble.”
“We took care of that part for you,” Warren boasted, putting his hands behind his head proudly.
“Xion took care of it,” Sapphire corrected with a smile.
“I helped,” Warren grinned.
“No small feat,” Venitia mused. “And, which one is Xion?” she asked.
“I am,” Xion answered, a little embarrassed. “But, I just got lucky. I didn’t even mean to kill… him?” He was not sure how to tell what gender the demon was.
“Him,” Venitia nodded. “Still, a great accomplishment.”
“That’s a demon and a dragon, now,” Xara chuckled. “You’re going to be a legend if you keep this up.”
“Ava killed the dragon,” Xion reminded her. He felt that Ava deserved the credit she was due, especially in front of her mother.
“Well,” Venitia smiled, sounding impressed, “you have been busy while I was away.”
“It’s been a while,” Ava said coldly, “I had to do something.”
Xion did not know why Ava would be so rude to her own mother, after not seeing her for so long. Before she could continue, Xion blurted out, “What about Draxis? Wasn’t he outside the portal?”
“Draxis? He’s the one who opened the portal?” Venitia asked in surprise. “After all this time?”
Xion nodded. “We came to stop him. It didn’t go well.”
Venitia shook her head as she said, “Don’t take that burden on yourself. Draxis has tried to open that portal several times, if he did not succeed, he would have tried again. It isn’t your fault.”
“So,” Sapphire asked, “he wasn’t there?”
“No, there were men, but only a few. I’m afraid I may have injured a couple of them in my scuffle with Draskall,” Venitia answered.
“Good,” Laira said, “those are the guys that captured Ava and tried to sacrifice her to open the portal.”
Venitia’s eyes narrowed in anger, the exact same way that Ava’s sometimes did. “Then, I’m glad they were injured.”
“But, where is Draxis?” Xion asked.
“It can’t be good,” Xara mused. “He opens the portal and then leaves it? Not much of a way to build an army.”
“Draxis does not need to gather the army,” Venitia explained. “If his cause is the same as last time, all he needs to do is open the door to the Hells, the demons will act on their own accord, and do exactly as Draxis wishes.”
Xion groaned and let himself slump to the ground. “I failed, again. And, Draxis is gone.”
“It’s not over yet,” Xara said brightly. “Look, only one actual demon came through, and we stopped it. So, there’s a chance we can close the portal before any more can come through.”
Xion pulled himself back up. “Yeah, and then one of us has to close the portal from the other side. We save the world, and doom one of us to be stuck in the Five Hells. Draxis wins either way.”
Venitia smiled at him. “Don’t worry, Xion, I will gladly close the portal from the other side.”
At that moment, lightning arced across the sky very close to them, and the boom of thunder that followed seemed to be accenting Venitia’s statement. Xion wanted to be relieved, Venitia had already been in the Five Hells for a long time, it would not be as much of a burden for her. And, as selfish as it was, Xion would have gladly let anyone stay in the Hells, if it meant that none of his friends had to.
Xion looked to Ava, thinking that it was just as much her decision. If Venitia was the one to close the portal, that would mean that Ava would lose her mother, again. After believing that her mother was dead all these years, it felt wrong for them to be separated so soon after reuniting.
Ava was clearly of the same mind. “Over my dead body!” she shouted.
“Avalon, please,” Venitia chided. “I cannot in good conscience let any of you lock yourselves in the Hells.”
Ava scowled, her eyes narrowed so much Xion was not sure if they closed completely. “You disappeared when I was fifty-four, I was just a child. Father said that you were killed by orcs. I was all alone, raised by The Hand. They taught me to kill, and to steal, and to give my life for Dreskar if necessary. All of it was because you weren’t there. You will NOT leave me, again.”
Xion cringed. He thought that was all a little too harsh. There was no way Venitia could have known what would happen to her daughter. Xion was still having trouble understanding how Venitia had actually gotten stuck in the Hells, Dario said she was kidnapped, and Paarathax said she had willingly closed the portal. Either way, it did not seem like it was her fault at all.
Xion, however did understand Ava’s reaction. He remembered his own mother, from before she disappeared. He had known that she had left, as young as he was at the time. He remembered her trying to explain at the time, but all he could remember was that she was leaving. He had waited for her, every single day, for years. If he were to find out, somehow, that she was still alive, there would be no force on earth that could stop him from keeping her from heading right back into danger.
“Avalon, you know it is the right thing. I am sorry for what happened to you after I left, but I do not regret it for a moment. If I had stayed, you may not have grown into the person that you are now,” Venitia said, looking at Ava with sad eyes.
“Yeah, but she might have learned how to be nice,” Warren interjected, “so, it’s a toss up, really.”
Ava picked a rock up off the ground and threw it at Warren’s head. He laughed as he rubbed the spot where he had been hit. “See?” he said, as if she had demonstrated his point perfectly.
Venitia looked at Ava disapprovingly. “You should all sleep,” she said. “When you are rested, we can return to the portal.”
“Fine, I’ll take first watch,” Ava volunteered angrily.
&nbs
p; “I don’t know if you guys realize this, but I haven’t eaten since we left Evergreen. I don’t know if I can sleep on an empty stomach,” Warren pointed out.
“I wondered when someone was going to bring that up.”
Paarathax voice came from the open space just outside the tree line. He walked around Tenebris and Xion saw that he was carrying a backpack, he opened it and started handing out elf bread and a piece of cloth tied around a bundle of some sort to each of them.
Xion was very disappointed to have to eat elf bread again, but he knew that it was not the time to complain. He unwrapped the bundle that each of them had been given to find that Paarathax had gathered them each a couple handfuls of berries. It was not much in the way of sustenance, but it was better than nothing.
They all started eating immediately, and Venitia stood to embrace Paarathax for much longer than Xion felt was appropriate. When they separated, they looked at each other in a way that made Xion uncomfortable, he returned his eyes to his food after only a few seconds.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” Paarathax said softly.
“Neither did I,” Venitia laughed. “Where’s your wife? I miss her, too.”
Paarathax hesitated. “We will have to discuss that later,” he said after a moment.
“She’s not…”
“Another time,” Paarathax interrupted.
Xion looked to Sapphire in surprise. He had no idea that Paarathax had a wife. Sapphire seemed interested in the information, as well. She started chewing much more slowly and looked at him like she was deep in thought. If Paarathax had a wife, where was she? Why was Paarathax traveling all over the place instead of being with her?
“There may not be another time,” Venitia laughed. “It seems that someone needs to be on the other side of the portal, yet again.”
Xion looked up at Paarathax. His face was dark, worry and sadness filled every line of his face. He could see Paarathax trying to think of a way out of it, but he was struggling in vain.
“Venitia, you know I would take your place…” Paarathax began.
Venitia laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. “Over my dead body. You wouldn’t last a day in the Hells.”
Paarathax grinned. I think I’d be alright. A lot has happened since we last saw each other.”
“Oh yeah? Have you stopped your whining and complaining?” Venitia teased.
“You remember the Dragon Fire Prophecy?” Paarathax asked.
Venitia’s smile disappeared. “How could I forget, we spent all that time trying to stop it.”
Paarathax nodded. “Xion. He’s the halfborn the prophecy speaks of.”
Venitia looked at Xion in surprise. Xion quickly grew uncomfortable again and returned his eyes to his half eaten bread.
“The dark ones the prophecy mentions. That must be the demons,” she said with certainty.
Paarathax laughed. “Do you remember the last time we tried to guess at prophecy?”
“You’re right, but what else could it be?” Venitia asked.
“I’m not sure, but there is still time before Xion comes of age. Many things could happen between now and then,” Paarathax pointed out.
Venitia hesitated. “You all need rest,” she called to the rest of the group, “finish eating and try to sleep. Tomorrow, at first light, we will close the portal.”
Xion was so distracted by the strange conversation that he had forgotten to eat. He had just sat and stared at his bread while trying to work out what the two were saying. He quickly devoured what we left of his bread, having finished the berries already, and tried to find a comfortable spot to lie down.
Aurum quickly buried herself against his chest. He could feel across their bond that it was less out of affection, and more of a desire for his body to block the rain. It was comforting, nonetheless.
Sapphire laid down near him, with their heads just far enough away that they did not quite touch. Her being so close was just as comforting as Aurum snuggled against him.
He had known that he was tired, but he doubted that he would be able to sleep in the mud, with the rain pouring down and thunder rumbling through the forest every minute. At first, he did not think he would ever fall asleep. It took him several minutes to realize that he already had.
His consciousness had expanded around him, and he could feel every person and every tree that was nearby. He lay in his waking sleep for several minutes before he felt one of the people, either Ava or Laira, stand up. It had to be one of them, because the body had been leaning against Tenebris before it stood.
The person walked over to where Venitia and Paarathax stood whispering to each other, and then Xion heard Ava’s voice say, “I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll go scout the portal, I’ll be back in no longer than an hour,” Paarathax said. Xion felt his presence move into the forest, and then pass beyond where his consciousness could perceive.
“What is it, Avalon?” Venitia asked.
“First off, it’s Ava,” Ava said roughly. “Second, I want the real story of what happened that night.”
“What do you mean?” Venitia asked in surprise.
“Father said that you were kidnapped by orcs and thrown into the portal. That their god had commanded it, and the portal closed because you passed through it. Paarathax said you went through it and you closed it from the other side. What really happened, I have to know.”
Venitia sighed. “Your father must have guessed at what happened. Paarathax was right.”
“So, you just left me, all on your own?” Ava demanded.
“Avalon…”
“Ava!”
“Ava,” Venitia corrected herself, “you must understand, the demons that choose to come through hate humans beyond anything. Humans can summon them to this plane, bind them, steal their power. The demons feel that this is a mockery and an insult. The ones that want through the portal want to destroy all humans just as much as Draxis does.”
“You aren’t answering the question,” Ava growled.
Venitia laughed. “I’m trying, just listen.
“When the portal was last opened, I discovered what they were doing, and I felt it was my duty to close the portal. I had to act in the benefit of both the elves and the demons. I am half of both sides.”
“You just said the demons were attacking humans, not elves,” Ava pointed out.
“Yes, but how well will the elves fair if the entire human kingdom falls?” Venitia asked. “The fate of all races are intertwined. When the dwarves disappeared, the economy of every city was impacted for centuries. And, the humans are far more numerous than the dwarves were. Ustama, Qua’ke, and every other nation in the world would fall if humans were wiped out,” Venitia explained.
“That doesn’t mean it had to be you,” Ava insisted.
“It did have to be me,” Venitia pressed. “Only someone who can withstand the fires in the Hells could have done it, or they would have been burned alive trying. Paarathax had been trying for months to get me to help him close it.”
“He’s the one who made you get locked on the other side?” Ava nearly screamed with rage.
“No,” Venitia chuckled. “His plan was for him to be the one locked in the Hells. He was always ready to sacrifice himself for the good of everyone else. And… I believe he still is.” Venitia hesitated for a moment. Xion got the feeling that she knew something important that she was not saying.
“His wife and I decided together that he must stay on this side, we only told him once we reached the portal,” Venitia continued. “He was very upset about it, too.”
“Paarathax sounds a lot like Xion,” Ava commented. The way she said it, Xion did not feel was a compliment to either of them.
Venitia laughed. “I noticed the similarities, as well.”
“So, the night the orcs attacked?” Ava pressed.
Venitia sighed. “The orcs attacked, planning to kill me in the name of their god, I am sure. I used a diversion to r
un to the portal with Paarathax and his wife. I feared your father might try to stop me if he knew what I was planning. We made it to the portal, convinced Paarathax to stay on this side, and I shut it from the other.”
“You left me,” Ava concluded.
“I tried to save you, My Love. The world would not have lasted long, it took them decades to slay the few demons that came through,” Venitia corrected. “If the rest of them had discovered the portal was open, it would have been chaos.”
Xion could feel his consciousness retreating back into him, he tried to urge it back outward, he wanted to hear the rest of what Venitia had to say. Struggling with all his willpower, Xion tried to fight the dream that was overtaking him, but in the end, his world faded to black, and then lit up again.
Xion stood in a grassy field, the sky above him was clear and lit with stars. The forest where his body lay was in the distance beside him, with great grey storm clouds sparking with lightning, and thunder that traveled the distance to where he stood.
Draxis was sitting on a large stone, not ten feet in front of him. He was facing a man Xion did not recognize, who stood tall and proud. He wore light, leather armor, but not the kind The Hand wore. This was brown and faded, with notches taken out of it. He wore no helmet, and Xion could see his pale face with shoulder length, dark brown hair. His irises were blood red, and when he smiled, he revealed large, pointed fangs that looked much too large for his mouth.
“...demons to come forth?” the pale man asked Draxis.
“Oh, surely not,” Draxis smiled. “No, the chosen one will stop them, I am sure.”
The man did not look surprised by Draxis answer. “Another intricate plan, my lord?”
“Not so intricate, no,” Draxis chuckled. “The boy is self-sacrificing to his core. He will shut himself on the other side, and there will be no one to oppose my rise.”
“What if he doesn’t?” the pale man asked.
“He will, I am sure that he will do everything in his power to make sure that he loses nobody to the portal. And, if one of his allies sacrifices themselves before he can, he will be distracted trying to get them back, and I will have time to act without his interference.”