The Sorcerer's Abyss (The Sorcerer's Path) (19 page)

The Rook glided silently down the passage of Klaraxis’ gigantic citadel. Gaining entry had proven to be rather simple once he shed the body of his last host and traveled once more as a shade. His ethereal body was an advantage when it came to the ease with which he could move about and hide in the shadows, but it also put him lowest on the food chain. He would need to get another host soon.

His shade form allowed him to blend into and become one with any of the numerous shadows cast by the flames continually burning in the small stone basins sporadically attached to the walls. It was by sticking to and blending into those shadows that the Rook was able to traverse the labyrinthine corridors undetected. Ahead, he spotted the movement of a pair of demons and ducked down a narrower and darker side passage. The Rook thought himself safe until a form stepped out of the deepest shadows.

“You must be lost, shade,” the impossibly black creature said as it climbed down the wall toward the assassin. “Why aren’t you down in the warrens feeding your essence into the fortress like a good little shade?”

The demon was humanoid, but its limbs were unusually long and slender. Its skin was the blackest black the Rook could conceive, and it glistened like the scales of a freshly shed viper. The Rook tried to escape into a nearby shadow but his former sanctuary seemed to reject his presence.

“You will find no safety there, little shade. These shadows belong to me. As a full shade, I would normally take you back down to the warrens, but seeing as how our prince no longer involves himself in our affairs, I think I shall simply devour you.”

The demon lunged with startling swiftness and sunk its black claws into the Rook as if he were solid flesh. Pain flared from his wounds, but he was a veteran of combat and did not panic. The demon snapped at the Rook’s face, but the assassin thrust one of his spectral arms into its gaping maw, saving himself from a swift death.

Shades did not usually fight back, and this unexpected defense caused the demon to falter in its attack. It tried to pull back, but the shade’s arm sprouted thorns and lodged its appendage inside the demon’s mouth. The Rook extended his hand into a blade, thrust it into the creature’s heart, and forced his essence into the demon’s body.

Although the demon flailed madly about, the true battle was being waged inside its own body. Unfortunately, this was a battleground well suited to the Rook for the mind was full of shadows in which to hide and launch unexpected assaults against the host. All of those places where even demons did not like to go: doubt, fear, weakness, and shame were pools of darkness from which to strike. Even the Rook had these, but he had explored them, embraced them, and so they afforded his enemies no advantage. The demon never stood a chance once the assassin gained access to its soul.

The Rook liked this new body. The way it commanded the shadows made it feel as if it had belonged to him the entire time. He was able to move about and hide with exceptional ease, watching the denizens of the fortress going about their business from high along the top of the wall where shadows cast the ceiling in perpetual darkness.

Several times, he spotted his quarry walking the halls, usually to or from the chamber containing an assortment of books and artifacts. From the ramblings of what he assumed were conversations with his host, the sorcerer seemed bent on finding a way out of the abyss. The Rook was unsure if such a thing was possible, but if it were, he would need to strike before that happened. It was a fine balancing act of not letting the sorcerer slip through his fingers and not moving with undue haste. Despite his outward appearance, this was still the lord of the Fifth Circle, and he was arguably the most powerful creature in this realm short of the goddess. How much having the human in control affected his strength and abilities were an unknown, so for now he would have to wait and study his prey.

Azerick slammed the book shut with a curse. “Are there no more books in this cursed realm?”

None to advance your pointless quest,
Klaraxis replied shortly.
There are disturbances in my realm. I can feel it. You must stop wasting time with this futile endeavor and accept your position!

“You have been singing that same song since I got here and it is not improving with repetition,” Azerick replied dismissively. “How long have you lorded over this place?”

Nearly two thousand of your years.

“In all that time, no one has ever escaped? No one ever found a way out?”

No.

“You hesitated. Why did you hesitate when you answered?” Azerick demanded.

I did not hesitate.

“Yes you did, demon, now tell me the truth. Who got out? How?”

An elf foolishly found his way here and later escaped. It was a different situation and does not apply to you.

“Tell me how he did it!”

No!

Azerick delved into his mind and attacked Klaraxis with his will. When he was in his own body, it was a simple matter to force the demon to obey, but here, in Klaraxis’ body and his seat of power, the demon was a formidable opponent. Azerick struck at the demon and Klaraxis fought back, both engaging in a sort of mental wrestling match, trying to make the other submit.

“Tell me about how he got out!”

There is nothing to tell, now stop this!

Azerick had the demon “pinned” but was unable to hurt him enough to make him reveal whatever secret he was holding back.  Azerick had one more card to play, but he was unsure what effect it would have given his and Klaraxis’ close bond. Deciding it was the only way to get what he wanted; Azerick used the demon’s soulname—and immediately regretted it. Azerick and Klaraxis both cried out as agony coursed through their shared body and soul.

You incredible idiot! I hope that teaches you a lesson
, Klaraxis seethed.

Azerick threatened through clenched teeth as he gasped in pain. “Nope. Now tell me what you know, or I will do it again.”

Not even you would be that stupid or hard-headed.”
Klaraxis scoffed, calling the human’s bluff.

“Wrong again. You should know me better than that by now.”

Both creatures screamed once again as the fiery whip of Klaraxis’ soulname scourged their entwined spirits. The Rook watched the human form of the demon lord fall into some sort of fit. The assassin surmised there was some internal battle being waged between the two creatures. This was probably the best chance he had at delivering a mortal blow. He would not attempt a possession, despite how much the thought of owning such a powerful body pleased him. Both were creatures of extraordinary will and either of them would likely tear the Rook to pieces. No, this would have to be swift and decisive.

The Rook crept along the dark ceiling and down the wall to get near the preoccupied human’s back. He pulled the shadows around him and wore them like a great, voluminous cloak. The assassin formed his shadow blade and infused it with a substantial amount of his life force, enervating it into something far more deadly than a simple knife. He locked his eyes on his target’s back where the heart laid beating beneath a few inches of bone and muscle. The Rook launched himself from the wall like a coiled spring, arm cocked back and ready to strike.

The room filled with the smell of brimstone as Skulk popped into existence only a few feet away. “Great Master, faithful Skulk has brought you urgent,” the demog began then screeched when he saw the black demon flying toward his master’s back.

Azerick turned the instant Skulk apparated into the room. He twisted and leapt away at the last instant. Icy pain flared across his chest as the Rook’s ghostly blade cut through his body, narrowly missing his heart. Azerick ignored the searing pain and grabbed the attacking demon by the wrist before he could finish bringing his weapon around. The Rook flung a glob of shadows at his prey’s face and blinded him as it wrapped around his head like a wet towel.

Unfortunately, for the Rook, Azerick’s human form belied the demonic strength he possessed, and the momentary loss of vision did little to hamper his reply to the assault. Azerick whipped the Rook around by his arm, smashing him against the floor and wall like a washerwoman beating her laundry against a rock.  Fury filled Azerick at the demon’s audacity. When the creature ceased its struggling, Azerick placed his hand against his attacker’s chest and poured black energy into it long after there was no further sign of life.

Klaraxis felt the accursed human’s control slip the more he channeled his rage and unleashed his abyssal power. The demon subtly added fuel to that rage, teasing it from a fire into a raging inferno. The more anger Azerick felt and used to energize his magic, the more his control slipped and the closer Klaraxis came to gaining possession of his body. Fear and anger were to demons like air and water was to most other forms of life. They ate and drank it in, gaining sustenance from its consumption. Azerick felt this as well and forced himself to return to a sense of calm. He shuddered as he shook off the demon’s influence.

Sensing his host’s imminent demise, the Rook fled his physical form just as the black fire tore through it. He willed his shade into the dark cleft between the floor’s stones and escaped, though not without feeling the scourge of the human’s abyssal power as it destroyed the demon’s black body.

You see! Even your own minions turn against you!

“Shut up, demon!” Azerick turned to the demog. “What urgent news do you bring, Skulk?”

The little demog looked at the body of the demon then up at Azerick. “Glorious Master, Fourth Circle demons invade through the Omega Gate. Messenger says horrible succubi betray you and let them through.”

You see! I told you something was wrong, and you did not believe me!

“I never said I did not believe you. I said I did not care.”

Klaraxis screamed his fury at the obstinate human.
You must do something—now! Drak’kar will be heading this invasion, and when he gets here, he will take this realm for his own.

“So let him have it. I have no interest in it.” Azerick dismissed the demon’s complaining.

You cannot be this stupid. Drak’kar is the lord of the Fourth Circle and very powerful. He will seek to destroy us both or, if he is truly foolish, enslave us long enough to consume our souls.