Demon Lord VI - Son of Chaos (28 page)

Bane fought
the smile that tugged at his lips, but lost the battle when
Drevarin poked him in the ribs, chuckling. Kayos glanced between
them with a smile.

“
You two have become firm friends, I see. You are good for
Bane, Drevarin. I am grateful that you are his friend.”

Drevarin’s
grin faded, and he looked at Bane. “I touched his soul when I
healed him of the damage the dark power did when he wore the
adamante shackles. I know him well, so I have no fear of him.”

Bane snorted,
and Kayos frowned at Drevarin. “You did not mention this before.
Tell me.”

Drevarin
related the tale of his healing of Bane’s spirit bond, and the
Demon Lord yawned. Kayos formed another couch and gestured for Bane
to rest upon it, which he did with a sigh.

Chapter Twelve

Child
Goddess

When Bane
floated up from the soft arms of sleep, Sherinias spoke to Kayos
and Drevarin.

“
Why is he such an enigma, Father?” she asked, and Bane
listened, curious.

“
In time you will learn about him, child, but for now it is
better that you do not know everything.”

“
He is mortal, so it must have been dangerous for him to travel
so far through the God Realm with you. Why did you bring
him?”

“
It was not so dangerous for him.”

“
Because you protected him?”

Drevarin
snorted, and Kayos said, “He was born a god, Sherinias. He has many
powers, some that even we do not possess.”

“
And you required these powers?”

“
Yes.”

“
They must be wonderful indeed, for you to require them. Will
you tell me what they are?”

Kayos sighed.
“Your curiosity is understandable, but do not tax me so.”

“
He is my brother.”

“
And your questions will be answered in good time, but not
now.”

“
I do not know how to treat him. He appears to have little
power, yet his is older than I. Do I honour him as my superior,
treat him as an equal, or regard him as inferior?”

Kayos did not
hesitate. “You will honour him as your superior, in age and power.
You will treat him with the utmost respect, and, if he commands
you, obey him without question.”

“
I will do as you wish, Father, even though I do not understand
it. You say he is a greater god, but his mortality lowers his
status amongst us. It confuses me.”

“
In time it will be clear.”

“
He has a strange name. Why did you name him a
curse?”

“
I did not name him.”

“
Then who did?”

Bane opened
his eyes, sat up, yawned and stretched. Kayos glanced at him with a
look of relief, from which Bane deduced that Sherinias had been
plaguing him with questions for some time. Drevarin smiled at him,
his eyes twinkling, and Sherinias studied him.

“
Who gave you such a strange name, Brother?”

Bane raised
his brows in surprise, for he had assumed that her questions would
cease once the object of her curiosity was awake. Kayos shot him a
warning glance, and Drevarin looked glum. Bane swung his legs off
the couch and summoned a cup of ambrosia to slake his thirst,
regarding her.

“
That is a long and amusing tale that I shall share with you
one day, but not today.”

“
Why is it such a mystery?”

“
It is not, but you have much to do, and no time for long tales
now, Lady Sherinias.”

She looked
startled, but lowered her eyes. “Of course, Lord Bane.”

“
Forgive her impertinence,” Kayos murmured, backing him up.
“She is young.”

“
Only a few hours old, and with much still to
learn.”

“
How can I learn when no one will teach me?” Sherinias
grumbled.

“
We will, in good time,” Kayos stated. “The origins of Bane’s
name are not vital to your work or existence.”

“
Yet the more you deny me, the more I wonder at the
secrecy.”

Bane stood up
and dismissed the cup. “Then wonder, but now I think we should
leave.”

Sherinias shot
Kayos a puzzled look when he rose and nodded, holding out his hand
to assist her off the couch they shared. “Come, child, it is time
to cast the mortals from your realm.”

“
All save one?”

“
Indeed. I would not try that if I was you.”

Bane smiled
and went to the door, where he waited for Kayos and Drevarin to
catch up. Kayos turned to Sherinias.

“
Drevarin will make us unseen until the mortals are gone, but I
think they should be allowed to see you. It will give them
something to ponder. We will be close by, should you need
us.”

“
Yes, Father.”

Kayos gripped
Bane’s arm, and Drevarin took the other as Sherinias headed for the
entrance. She stopped and eyed them with a slight frown.

Kayos waved
her on. “We must protect Bane from the wards, child.”

“
Of course.”

The beams of
white light flickered as Sherinias approached the doors. Bane
sensed Drevarin’s light shield envelope them as they followed her
through the portal. Outside, a gaping crowd had gathered, and many
men in stiff uniforms stood around, talking and gesturing. They
swung around as Sherinias emerged, and several reached for the
sleek black weapons on their hips. Bane stiffened in alarm, but
Kayos tugged his arm, steering him to the side.

“
They cannot harm her,” he whispered.

The men drew
their weapons and pointed them at the light goddess, who stood in
regal splendour in the ghostly radiance of her tainted realm. It
brightened all around her as white fire swept through the land in a
shimmering glow. Her hair gleamed like a raven’s wing, and her
sparkling raiment caught the light and split it into tiny rainbows.
Her skin glowed golden, and her dark blue eyes shone with cold
fire. She waited for a moment, allowing them to see her, and then
raised her arms in a graceful, sweeping gesture.

“
You are forbidden here. This is my realm. Begone!”

The crowd
vanished in a flash of radiance, along with all the garbage and
dirt they had tracked into the light realm. Bane glanced at
Kayos.

“
Impressive. Is that all of them?”

“
Only the ones she can see.”

Sherinias
glanced back at the birthing chamber, as if seeking the presence of
her father, then set off along the path towards the Realm Gate.
Kayos and Drevarin released Bane, and they followed. The journey
back through the light realm was an enriching experience, Bane
found. The land brightened as Sherinias walked through it, and she
banished the people with graceful gestures, their dirt, garbage and
dross buildings vanishing with them. The clouds swelled as she
passed them and the silver filigree trees burgeoned with glowing
mist. The sky lightened and shimmering rainbow hues appeared in it,
bringing warmth and radiance to the land.

“
The light realm is awakening,” Kayos said, smiling.

Sherinias
banished the playgrounds, inns and entertainers, and the broad
avenue narrowed behind them as clouds rushed in to fill it. By the
time they reached the Gate Hall, the sky had taken on its proper
scintillating brilliance and the glowing clouds made Bane squint.
Sherinias paused beside the open Gate to glance through it with a
shudder.

“
Father?”

“
Leave it, child.”

“
Yes, Father.”

Sherinias
walked on, banishing crowds of frightened, wailing people, and
discovered that her gazebo had been turned into a bandstand. Flying
vehicles still passed overhead, coming through the open World Gate.
Sherinias headed towards it, her brow furrowed with anger. Drevarin
loosed the light shield, and Kayos stopped beside the gazebo.

“
Sherinias.”

She turned,
her frown fading at the sight of him. “Yes, Father?”

“
Leave that one for now. The people outside must pass through
it.”

“
Of course.” She approached them. “They anger me. Such
arrogance, to invade my realm and disport themselves like demons
within it.”

“
Some of them were demons,” Bane said.

She cast him a
startled glance. “But I cannot banish demons.”

“
They left when they saw you.” Bane turned to Kayos. “I will go
to Nikira and send our message. She cannot do it alone
now.”

“
Perhaps I should go.”

“
Where do you go?” Sherinias enquired.

“
Into the God Realm.”

She looked
alarmed. “It is dangerous out there, Father.”

“
I can take care of myself. Do not be concerned.”

“
Please stay with me.”

“
I will go,” Drevarin volunteered. “What must I do?”

Bane snorted.
“I will go.” He swung away and headed for the Realm Gate.

“
Remember, when you come back...” Kayos called after
him.

Bane waved a
hand. “I will remember.”

“
Be careful, Brother,” Sherinias said.

The Demon Lord
strode out of the Realm Gate and paused to summon the shadows. When
he had Gathered enough for his purpose, he formed an Eye and found
Nikira’s location, then became invisible and flew over the
glittering city to a tall, bright tower. Entering it close to the
prison cell that housed her, he walked along polished corridors
that smelt of antiseptic and old sweat. When he encountered
soldiers dawdling in the halls, he took a more direct route,
passing through the walls. He found Nikira seated in her cell, her
face tear-stained. A glance at the corner of the ceiling found one
of the tiny glass eyes that seemed to be everywhere, and he
wondered if they were listening too. He stopped beside Nikira and
extended his shield to envelope her, becoming visible to her. She
gasped and fell to her knees.

“
Lord!”

“
Get up.”

She stood,
gazing up at him with rapt adoration.

“
I am going to take you to your leader, so you can deliver
Kayos’ message.”

She nodded,
her eyes bright, and gulped. “Anything you want, Lord.”

Bane studied
her. “This will feel strange. Do exactly as I say. We are going to
walk through the wall, but do not be afraid. Close your eyes if you
need to. I have not tried this before, so to be safe, I need to be
in as much contact with you as possible. It will be unpleasant for
you. You will feel ill, but I cannot prevent that.”

Bane bent and
scooped her up, and she wound her arms around his neck. He muttered
the harsh word that invoked the power of rock walking, as he did
each time he stepped through something solid. She shivered,
retching as the dark power invaded her and made her flesh
incorporeal.

Bane strode
through the wall, finding the slight tug of solid matter far
stronger when burdened with a person. He put her down in the
corridor, and she staggered and bent to vomit a pool of bile. She
clamped a hand over her mouth and swallowed several times, while he
waited for her sickness to wane. When it did, he led her along the
corridor towards the building’s outer wall. She remained pale after
the gut-roiling power of rock walking.

“
Where is your leader?”

“
Building Five, Orderan Street.”

“
That means nothing to me.”

“
If we go to a window, I can show you.”

Bane nodded,
and Nikira guided him to a window that looked out across the huge
city, where she pointed to a distant tower. “That one; on the
fifty-fourth floor.”

“
Damn. We will have to fly.”

She cast him a
tremulous smile.

“
It will not be pleasant for you. My power will sicken you,” he
warned.

“
I can handle it.”

Bane glanced
around as a man with a humming machine entered the empty room,
polishing the floor. Nikira looked nervous, but the man ignored
them.

“
We’re invisible?” she asked.

“
Yes.”

“
Amazing.”

“
Will your leader be there now?”

She glanced at
a clock on the wall. “Yes, he should be. It’s the middle of a work
day.”

“
When we get there, I will speak through you, all
right?”

“
Whatever you want. I’m glad to see you, and I’m sorry
-”

Bane bent and
picked her up again, and she clung to his neck. Muttering a harsh
word, he stepped through the window, experiencing again the slight
tug. Outside, he directed the black fire downwards, hovering on a
column of searing shadow. He glanced down at her, and she managed a
wan smile.

As Bane flew
towards the distant building, Nikira gazed down at the glittering
metropolis, her face filled with wonder. She seemed to tire of the
scenery in a few moments, and buried her face in his neck. He found
that rather discomfiting, but there was nothing he could do about
it. As he approached the tower’s fifty-fourth floor, he invoked
rock walking again and swooped in through a window. His feet hit
the floor, and he put her down, supporting her as she tottered,
clinging to him. She retched again, and when she straightened, he
glanced down at her.

“
Where to now?”