Nero and Demetra

We now go back so many eons that even our ancestors begin to become faded shadows of the future, and by the side of mountain of Golemus Golemicarum we see a tall and muscular silhouette waiting for something to happen, or someone to arrive. The age of which I speak was not a peaceful one but there were currently no wars waged. Deathmarrow had risen from the earths and had taken the territory of Necrovion. The people still spoke of it as the Tainting...

``Nero!`` a strong and confident voice sounds. The silhouette turns.
``What are you doing here, Nero? Father awaits us both at the Estate! Why do you wish to anger him this much?``
The two people step closer to each other and a pair of silent but bright green eyes sparks as they hear their name.
``You should not call me by that name here! We are not at home, in the middle of those that know this Truth! Your trust in the Three Kings is too strong, my friend!`` he mutters and then pauses. ``And why would your father bother over a simple squire? What does he wish of me this time?``
``It is you who waited for me on the mountain and if I wish to speak your True Name, than I shall do so for YOU are MY Squire and not my father`s! And it is I who have business with you and not him! The long night approaches my friend and I wish to get back home at the Estate where we will both be safe`` the newcomer then spoke in a careful tone.
``Very well! You are right and I am sorry for my stubborn ways. Lead the way, Gabriel!``

As the two quickly paced down the narrow paths of the mountain they remained silent. Finally, as they crossed the bridge to the No Man`s Land they began to discuss what was both troubling them.
``You will be found out! And I will not risk losing my Squire to them, especially for such a foolish mission!``
``This is not a foolish mission! Your father and his ways are wise!`` Nero spoke ``The Berserkers are still a force to be feared but only IF they manage to enter the city!``
``That is not a city, that is a corrupted ruin of darkness!`` Gabriel spoke with hatred and spite in his tone.
``Whatever it may be, as soon as the long night is over, the wars will begin once more... Gabriel, look at me! Look at me! Look at my skin, at these eyes, listen to my voice as you did all these years and realize that you are just paranoid! I will be safe! I will get into Necrovion and I will get into Deathmarrow and come back to tell the tale! The plague that killed both my parents has left my soul distorted. The Liquid Dust the whispers of Deathmarrow will not make me succumb! Gabriel, my brother, I AM STRONGER THAN THIS!``

With that said, Gabriel resigned and as they reached the estate guarded by the small company of Aramors they could see the night eating at they sky`s light.
``It now begins once more!`` Nero slowly spoke to himself.
``You are wrong, Jack! Your naive ways leave your perception lacking!`` a thundering voice came from a balcony above them. ``IT never ended!``
With the coming of the long night... so did the silence come...

~ ~ ~

Drops of blood slowly dripped from a darkened above on a wet and dirty tile. Chants echoed through the cold air giving the impression of a perfectly homogenous entity, whispering away into Infinity.
``Lady Demetra,`` a dark and hissing voice came from a barely defined corner of the room that felt more like a crypt ``The long night has begun!``
``Alas, Taelleron, I am a Lady no more!`` Demetra replied while slowly and almost sensual licking off the blood from her slit wrist ``Death will soon befit me and become me. The Higher Ones have chosen me.``
``For me you will always retain your title, for the rest of this life and the other!`` Taelleron spoke in a more compassionate and caring tone.
``Thank you, my darling... Please step forward, as there is something I wish to give to you before the taking of my title...``
As the servant stepped into the dim candlelight and knelt, Demetra could see his face, a face she knew since childhood. Taelleron was but a child, no more than thirteen, a servant of the Tomnis bloodline.
``Yes, mylady`` he spoke in a timid voice ``What... What could this modest servant be given, when he has had the honor of gazing upon your beauty and strength and wisdom for so many years``
With an imperceptible, almost faded gesture, Demetra leaned over and as Taelleron`s lips felt her, he could also feel a burning in his heart that could never be matched.
``Your freedom, my darling`` she spoke and as the boy`s body fell limp she slowly pulled out her hand from within his chest, and along with it, the servant`s still beating heart.
As her smiling blood covered lips blew out the candle, the last slow three beats of the heart echoed into the now silent darkness.

~ ~ ~

``You look ridiculous!``
``You`re one to talk? At least I`m not hiding in a bush!``
``It`s called camouflage!``
``It`s called cowardice! Out of all the Berserkers in the Realm, I got stuck serving the one that like to `camouflage`!`` Jack sighed as he walked on alongside the Road of Battles...
``You know...`` Gabriel softly spoke from within the mobile bush ``these catapults look really strong! I think they`ll still be standing here even in a thousand years!``
``In that case, maybe I should get my dagger and carve into one of them the tale of Gabriel Wind, the man who preferred bushes to linen!``
``I said it`s camouflage! I don`t want HIM to see me!``
``I think he`ll still know you`re there... I mean it is HIS house on HIS domain``
``Why do we need to see him again?``
``Because he can tell me if this outfit fits Necrovion, he has been there many times, both as an ambassador and a general...``
``Fine, fine... But why did you want me to come with you?``
``Gabriel, your memory seems to go screwy from time to time! I wanted to go alone and then father said you would do my chores. Thus, you offered to accompany me to the Paper Cabin!``
As Gabriel remembered, he silenced himself.

From within the Paper Cabin, I waited for them both to get there and see for my own eyes the boy who was braver than any other Berserker. Even through the thick night I could see his tall thin body walking along the path, the torch in his hand making his pale skin almost shine... and then there was a bush following him...
As I stared at the almost unbelievable sight, I told myself that Gabriel Wind needed to grow up before the Wind Citadel in the Eastern Chaos Woods would be finished... Without being able to help it, I also imagined a bush reigning over a thousand Berserkers in while sitting on top of a warlord`s throne.

``Ah... I see you have been expecting me...`` Nero spoke in a timid and cold voice.
His voice showed no feeling, no expression. It was like an animated corpse was talking to me... As I stared into his eyes and saw the sadness, coldness and lack of life, I began to fear that this was not a Berserker pretending to be a Necrovian but the other way around. I reached out my hand and shook his. This teenaged towered above me and his grip was as strong as a hammer. It felt like a blacksmith`s grip.
``I`ve been expecting both of you... Please, come in... I don`t want to keep you outside, especially during the night-time...``
As Nero chuckled and Gabriel got up and shook away the leaves from the bush, I could see in Wind`s eyes so much worry and concern.
``Son of Wind, go back home!``
``What?`` they both spoke in a voice of shock.
``This does not concern you! Go home, or go help the Berserkers with the Citadel but I do not want you here. You will only drag Jack down!``
As the two of them gave each other a last look of farewell, I led Jack Willow into the Paper Cabin.

``You look dead!`` I spoke in a still tone.
``Uhm... I`m... sorry?``
``Don`t be, the Plague has left its mark on you... The fact that you aren`t dead is something close to being a miracle...``

I looked at his features and then at the clothes he had chosen. From every careful detail I could see he had read my letter many times, making sure that no accident would betray him once inside the dead plains.

``Can you use Magic?`` I asked him.
``No, sir. I cannot!``
``Don`t call me, sir, it feels awkward... especially since you`re taller then me`` I told him and smiled (people were somewhat shorter in that Era). He was the perfect spy.
``I`m sorry... sir`` he slowly said and then looked at me, afraid.
``It is good that you cannot use Magic, at least for now. Wielders tend to go insane once they step through the Howling Gates``
``But si~... But... you`ve been there several times!`` he exclaimed.
``This story is not about me and my adventures in Necrovion!``
``What? What... what story? I don`t... understand...``
``Nevermind it! Forget I said it! Your clothes are good, your manner of speaking is good, and your physical appearance is good!``
``So... I will fit right in and be able to get in Deathmarrow?``
``Indeed so... Have you read all the manuscripts I`ve sent you, the ones related to their habits and the mannerisms?``
``I have.``
``Good. I have written and said it many times, and I will once more! Necrovians act as if they are one and the same person, a living organism... but they only act like this. They ARE separate individuals that have to all wear the same mask. Remember that there are times in which you must wear the mask and times when you must take it off. Do this in order to deceive and to retain your identity!``
``Thank you!``
``Are you ready?``
``I am, sir!``
``Then... go back to where you belong, Necrovian! My domain does not welcome you and I do not welcome you!``

~ ~ ~

``The night is still.``
``Indeed Demetra. Are you prepared for the ceremony?``
``Hold your tongue, fool! To you and all your blood I will still be a Lady! Remember that it was I, and not my mother who made the mistake of letting you live!``
``It matters not! You will die this night... Demetra! Perhaps, the only good thing you will do in your wretched life!``
``YES!`` Demetra exclaimed and began to laugh ``I will die and be rid of all you fools! But my greatest satisfaction is that I will die by the hand of the Timeless One and not of your filthy blood, Armatheus!``

Armatheus grinned and waited for her smile to vanish.

``I hope it is the madness and the priests that will defile your body and not the Liquid Dust``
``You may only dream of defiling me, priest!``
``Or so you hope... Alas, the time to end your beating heat nears! In truth, I wish your death to be an exalted one! Farewell... sister!``

~ ~ ~

The fire burned and faded into the night. Hooded priests chanted around the fire and threw their manuscripts into the flames. The smell of death and burning ink made it impossible to breathe. The chanting stopped.

``We are here! Now and eternal!``
``Now and eternal!`` all the priests repeated in unison. The crowds began to gather.
``Death becomes us and death befits us one by one!`` The priests chanted!
``It is the Liquid Dust that will decide if we are corrupted enough to be granted pure death and a reawakening!``

The chant of the priests continued. Through the crowd of people a tall figure could be seen, the fire reflecting in his cold dead green eyes. Slowly he strode further away from the priests in the sea of cloaks... The chanting stopped and Jack turned frightened at the priests. Had he been found out? Had his feelings of repulsion and disgust given him away? Was the complete lack of fear a sign of the madness crawling within him?
The Timeless One carried one in the night`s silence!

``My beloved ones! My brothers, my sisters, the curse of flesh and bone and blood has befallen us! However... The long night is upon us once more as a result to the endless efforts of those of us embraced by Deathmarrow. War will soon begin and death will rain down and cleanse us of our flesh, of our blood, of our fears. We are now here to begin the ceremony of exaltation and bring Death closer to all of us. Demetra Tomnis, sole heiress of the strongest lineage of DeathMarrow has been chosen by the Liquid Dust. Let her blood bless the Dust and let her Spirit lead us all to our Deaths!``

The priests once more began to chant and the sound of drums begin to rage from the fire itself. From the shadow a girl was brought. She wore ragged dresses entirely covered in blood and the iron signs of Necrovian Nobility.
As Jack looked into her maddened eyes he could not believe the beauty a creature of wild death could have ``Have I truly gone insane to gaze in awe at such a woman?`` he thought.
The Timeless One raised a goblet into the air and then using a spell he poured liquid fire from the pyre into it. He then took a ceremonial blade made of bone and stabbed himself in the heart. As if nothing had happened he then filled the rest of the goblet with blood and removed the blade from his chest.

``Demetra Tomnis, the Liquid Dust wishes to judge you before death becomes you! Empty the goblet and speak for all of Deathmarrow to hear!``
``No`` Jack wished ``Don`t do it``

As she drank the contents of the goblet until it was fully empty, a feeling of static began to rise... the earth underneath Jack`s feet seemed to become alive and waiting for something. Her eyes closed and then opened. Her milky white eyes, another sign of Necrovian nobility, turned into a bright golden color. Her white long hair instantly turned pitch black. To Jack, she now looked like he always imagined the Chaos Wraiths of the Chaos Woods would look like. Wild, demented, not dead, not alive, and abundant with mystery and magic. The earth grew silent, still waiting.

As she looked around at the masses of hooded people around her, Demetra`s eyes fixed on a tall shadow its bright inhuman green eyes, gazing straight into her soul. And then she felt it. Her Soul. Her heart. The potion had stripped her of madness and returned to her all her human fears. This was the final test. If she did not display any sign of humanity while in this state of terror, she would be chosen by the Liquid Dust as a host.
The green eyes stared through her and she could not look away and in the crowd of Necrovion. She spoke her deepest darkest fear... to him.

``I do not want to be alone. I do not wish to die.``

The earths wailed and trembled and crowd began to shriek. Panic began to flood Jack but in the same time courage. He would fail his mission... He would forsake all he had prepared for... He would save the girl from Death. Demetra was immediately grabbed by a few priests and dragged towards the pyre. The Timeless One seemed to be in a trance of prayer, pardoning his error towards Deathmarrow. And, as the priests lifted her body, and threw her in the fire, silence befell the stage.

With incredible speed Jack jumped between the priests and the fire. As soon as he caught her in his arms, he came to see he would be hurled into the flames by momentum. But... with incredible precision his fortune saved him. During the events before catching Demetra, a state of madness began to overcome the priests and they started to fight each other with killing intent. As soon as Jack had leaped into the air and caught her, a priest had been stabbed and fell over the pyre, thus action as a corpse pillow for Jack. The wailing continued and Shades began to raise from the ground.

``Look at me!`` Demetra demanded of her rescuer ``Look at me and think with all your being to a place where Necrovion won`t reach us!``
As Jack heard Demetra`s voice, he felt forced and also honored to do as she demanded of him.
``It is done.`` the words left his mouth and the two felt as if hurled and stretched through space...

~ ~ ~