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Chapter 5: A Gathering of Heroes

The former Immaculate Temple was looking very different, and in such a short time. Lysadara sighed quietly, looking around. Artisans were already hard at work transforming the dragons, reshaping their heads to resemble Lord Juriakar, and adding terror to the majesty that the statues already possessed. Juriakar had already pronouced the work done so far “exquisite”.

Lysadara just thought it was predictably arrogant.

She was far more concerned about what was happening within the Lord’s new throne room. Juriakar had been grilling Amanda for over half an hour, learning everything he could about her life, and had long since discovered that she was connected to the Solar through romantic lines. It seemed a foregone conclusion that she would be used against the Solar in some way.

Lysadara just wished she knew what had happened in the vision that had been given to Juriakar. No one else had been able to see it, and she once against questioned whether it had been a true seeing of the Pentacle, or some sort of plot designed to bring Juriakar down from beyond death. Either way, there was little chance of the man-child escaping unscathed.

“So, that is your life. How… quaint.” Juriakar chuckled, and Amanda bowed from where she knelt on the floor, her eyes faintly unfocused and a wooden smile on her face as she stared downwards.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

“Tell me, mortal. Knowing what you do of this ‘Bryce’, what do you imagine his next move to be? Will he flee, or fight?” Juriakar’s smile turned unpleasant. “I rather hope that he will try to fight Me, but I do not know for certain.”

“He will, my Lord, unless he understands the Law.” Amanda kept her gaze steadily on the floor. “He and Lani are both very dangerous. They will probably try to meet with the Dynasts that are coming here and convince them to join forces against you. They cannot succeed, of course.”

“Of course.” Juriakar’s amusement died as quickly as if Amanda had run it through with a sword, and he sat back thoughtfully. “A Solar, a Lunar, and a Dynast. Foolishness to think that they could stop me.” In the back of his mind, he could hear Reverga’s laughter booming, and his expression turned thunderous. “Three young Exalts, against the might of the Lord and the Law? Impossible.”

The hobgoblins standing guard on the dais began to edge slowly away from Juriakar, recognizing the warning signs. Even the artisans paused fearfully in their work, and Lysadara stepped backwards, out of his line of sight, as she watched wide-eyed. The only one who failed to react was Amanda, still looking down. “But Lord, there will be more than one Dragon-Blood. Two, at least. Maybe three or four.”

“Only one that matters. And you, man-child? What magics lay waiting in your blood?”

“My Lord?” A hint of confusion entered Amanda’s voice, and she looked up as far as Juriakar’s boots.

“Oh, Reverga thought he was so clever, showing you to me.” Lysadara’s face shot up, and she stared at Juriakar in dawning comprehension, thinking back to that horrible battle. “But he was wrong. There is no Exaltation in your blood, is there, girl?”

“No, sir. I am but one of your humble servants.” Amanda looked down again, and Juriakar rose, stepping off the dais and striding forwards. He stopped in front of Amanda, looking down at her with a grim expression, and then his face split into a broad, manic grin.

“Well, then, my servant. Rise, and look at me.” Amanda slowly rose to her feet. The throne room had fallen absolutely silent, as everyone watched, trying to imagine what had happened to earn the Lord’s displeasure. Lysadara felt a sickness spread within her, as her brief glimpses of the Pentacle before Juriakar had become her Lord came to her aid, showing her the hopeless ending before her.

“You are no Exalt. You are my servant. I have summoned you here, and you came, and you spoke. And now, I think I will make sure that this vaunted prophecy will never come to pass.” Juriakar’s arm shot out, gripping Amanda’s throat. Fear finally penetrated her mystically-enforced calm, and she began to twitch, looking up at him in shock.

“My Lord, I will never…” Amanda’s voice cut off abruptly, as Juriakar’s hand clenched convulsively.

“No. You will never.” Juriakar laughed, lifting Amanda off the floor as he squeezed. “You will never live long enough to stand against me. I WILL forge my own path.” He watched her for a moment, and then, with one final squeeze, he let Amanda’s body fall to the floor, her throat crushed and her eyes staring into space. Lysadara looked away, and the throne room was completely silent, save for the ever-increasing laughter from the raksha Lord.

As her life fled, Amanda felt the spell fading, and the horror of her death pressed in on her. She felt herself fading away, and resigned herself. “I’m sorry, Bryce.” Her whisper went unheard, and the world faded into the darkness.

And then, from the darkness, there came a voice.

“Finally. I thought you’d never die.”

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Comments

Wicked. *claps* If not too rude, I demand more! -- GreenLantern

I'll try to get the next page written up today or tonight. Thanks! :) - FrivYeti