Chp.2 So it’s like that?

The ship flew closer and entered the grey atmosphere of the once prosperous world of Hollow Bastion. Floating islands and lifts were amongst the surroundings. After flying over the islands and lifts, the ship docked near the main doors into the dark castle. In front of the doors, two large Elites stood guard.

“Aw crap…the Elites are here already?” Azaelus groaned. “They won’t be easy to defeat at all. Maleficent makes sure that her army is well trained, especially the Elites.”

“I can stay in the ship.” Talla said.

“Not gonna chance it; they’ll search around in here.” Azaelus said. “And if they find you, we’ll both be trouble.”

“Well…I could be a prisoner of war…” Talla offered. “You could take me to the dungeons and release your mom.”

“Yeah, and we’ll all get out in one piece!” Azaelus added. “Nice plan.”

“I try my best.” Talla replied.

“Ok, this will have to be carried out carefully.” Azaelus said. “Take off your armor.”

Outside the ship, the two Elites stood in front of the hatch and waited for the ship’s occupants to come out. Azaelus opened the hatch door and walked out with Talla in front of him. Talla had no armor on and her arms were cuffed behind her back. The Elites grunted, stood back, and watched silently as Azaelus and Talla walked by. Azaelus gave both of them a nod of recognition before walking by and into the dark castle.

Inside of the castle, green torches were lit around the main hallway into what used to be the ballroom. There, a decorated officer stood tall with two guards standing behind him.

“Well well well…if it isn’t the Dark Hero…” The officer laughed. “So how was the final battle?”

“I don’t know…I just sliced my way through about six hundred soldiers before getting knocked out.” Azaelus replied sarcastically. “But I didn’t intend on sticking around.”

“From the pictures we caught from the satellite, it seemed that the Nomads were warring on Kraas as well.” The officer chuckled. “It’s good that you wiped them out…they were getting very annoying…”

“Well, I’m glad I was of some help to you…” Azaelus said.

Azaelus tugged Talla along and they proceeded to walk by the officer and his elites. But the officer stopped Azaelus for a minute with a hand on the shoulder.

“So what happened to Uccle?” The officer asked. “Did he die during the fight?”

“Yeah, thanks to this little bugger.” Azaelus said, referring to Talla.

“Oh really?” The officer chuckled. “It seemed to me that you wanted him dead more than anyone else. And this young…wench…destroyed your chances of doing so?”

Talla turned around and glared at the officer with killing intent filling her eyes. But Azaelus kept her close to him; he knew that this officer wouldn’t have second thoughts about killing her.

“Don’t worry, Azaelus…I wouldn’t think of destroying one of your little playthings…” The officer said. “That is…if she will be keeping your mother company in the dungeons…”

The officer chuckled, whirled around on his heel, and walked off towards the entrance to the castle. His guards followed close behind after giving Talla reproachful looks. After they left, Azaelus continued to lead Talla through the castle’s paths and corridors until they finally reached the dungeon on the lower level. There, many cells were lined up on the walls. But only one cell was occupied. Inside of the occupied cell, a lone woman sat in a corner hugging her knees. It appeared she was crying.

When the woman heard the door into the dungeon open, she looked at Azaelus as he brought Talla over to her cell and unlocked the door. Azaelus stepped inside of the cell and hugged the woman close. After realizing who he was, the woman hugged Azaelus back. Talla stood confused for a moment, but then quickly realized whom this woman was. She was Klea, Azaelus’s mother. Talla couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. Her long red hair glistened in the stark sunlight from the window in her cell. Her clothing looked Atlantian, but amazingly, she didn’t look a bit like a true Atlantian. Yellow eyes glowed fluorescently in the dim light of the cell, her skin was a dark tan, white torn robes covered her form and barely came down to her knees. She looked like she put up quite a battle before she was captured. Cuts, scrapes, and bruises dotted her arms, legs, and back.

“My son…you’ve returned…” Klea said exhaustedly.

“Of course, mom.” Azaelus replied. “I wouldn’t think of leaving you in this place.”

“Did you find the one you needed to…?” Klea stopped and looked at Talla. “Is this the one you’ve been looking for?”

“Yep…this is my old friend, Talla.” Azaelus said. “Talla, this is my mother, Klea.”

“Nice to meet you.” Talla said.

“Same to you.” Klea replied with a weak smile. “So how do we plan to escape?”

“We’re escaping now…” Azaelus said. “I’m not going to leave you in this atrocious prison another night.”

Azaelus quickly got his mother up and escorted her and Talla outside of the dungeons. Once outside, Azaelus slashed the Elites to shreds with his sword. As soon as the Elites were dead, more started to pour in from every direction; It was as though Azaelus’s betrayal was to be expected. The Elites surrounded the three, but they did not attack. The same decorated officer walked forward and started laughing.

“Well well! Look who’s a dirty backstabber!” The officer said. “I knew you still had malice for the darkness in you, I shouldn’t have thought differently for a second!”

The officer was about to order his men to kill the three; time slowed as he gave the order. Azaelus’s view of things around him started to melt, morph, and decay as the scene slowed even more. He slowly blacked out.

--

“Azaelus? Azaelus?” A voice asked. “Wake up, dear…”

Azaelus awoke in Hollow Bastion. He was a child once again…and just missed the sunset. Looking to his left, he saw his aunt smiling brightly at him.

“It seems you dozed off.” Lollahec laughed. “Are you alright?”

Azaelus didn’t seem to understand. Was that a dream that he just had? Or did it really happen? He was confused, but he nodded and smiled at his aunt.

“I’m ok, auntie.” Azaelus replied. “I guess I did fall asleep.”

“Well, we’d better get going before the maids throw a fit.” Lollahec said.

“They don’t let you have any fun, do they?” Azaelus laughed.

“No, I suppose not.” Lollahec said. “But they care for our safety.”

The pair walked back to the castle and into the dining room. There, Ansem waited with a smirk on his face.

“You know what the doctor said about your activity after the seventh month…” Ansem said.

“I know…” Lollahec said.

“It was my fault, uncle.” Azaelus interrupted. “Aunt Lollahec saw how bored I was and took me out to see the sunrise.”

“Well, Azaelus, I certainly wouldn’t have expected you to possess the ability to convince your aunt to disobey the orders of a respected doctor.” Ansem said. “Nice try.”

“You always get me…how do you do that?” Azaelus asked.

Ansem got up from the table and rustled Azaelus’s hair with a chuckle.

“When you’ve been around as long as me, you pick up on things.” Ansem replied. “I know that Lollahec did it to cheer you up, but you must remember that she has to stay inside for a while. At least until our little baby girl is born.”

“So it will be a girl?” Azaelus asked. “I guess you were right, auntie…”

“I call it women’s intuition, Azaelus.” Lollahec said. “Now go ahead to the library; you need to begin your studies for today.”

Azaelus nodded and darted off to the library, where his tutor waited. His tutor was Alexis Vordeau, a smart and slightly strict young woman of eighteen years. Her eyes were blue like the ocean and her hair was dark green like the needles on a pine tree. In the time that Azaelus spent at the castle, Alexis was the only one that FULLY understood him. With each passing day, the bond between the two grew stronger and stronger. A gentle smile spread on her face as she watched him enter the library.

“Hello, Azaelus. How are you today?” Alexis asked.

“I’m fine, Ms. Vordeau.” Azaelus replied politely. “I was just enjoying the sunrise with my aunt.”

“Wasn’t the mother-to-be supposed to stay inside of the castle now that the baby is nearly here?” Alexis inquired.

“Yeah…and it was my fault she was outside in the first place.” Azaelus answered. “I shouldn’t have let her take me out there…”

“Well, don’t blame yourself entirely.” Alexis chuckled. “Plenty of people would get bored in a large castle with nothing to do. It’s just common habit to want to explore the outside world; at least then you can see things that you can’t see inside of a book.”

“That’s true…” Azaelus said. “So what are we going over today?”

“Not much…you did so well with every other subject on the high school level.” Alexis said. “There’s only one thing left…”

Alexis pulled out a large book from the shelf closest to their table. It was an old and nearly decayed anthology of unknown origin. She sat down at the table, blew the dust off the book, and placed it in front of Azaelus. The book itself looked as though it survived a gigantic war and then some. On the worn down cover, the title was written in another language. Azaelus’s eyes widened with wonder as he looked over the large dusty book.

“It’s an interesting volume about the most dangerous beast in existence.” Alexis said. “You know most of it already, but this will be our final study together…”

“Before you have to go home?” Azaelus asked.

“Yes…” Alexis replied.

“I wish you could stay longer…” Azaelus said. “You always seem to understand…the changes I’m going through.”

“Yes…but all good things must come to an end…” Alexis said. “That reminds me, I need to check your circles.”

Azaelus already knew what she meant. He removed the bandages on his arm to reveal glowing orange circles covering his arm. The circles were in an obscure pattern and connected with lines of the same glowing color. Azaelus stuck out his arm so Alexis could get a better look. Her eyes looked about his arm in sheer terror as she examined the arm closer.

“The circles are even larger than before!” Alexis whispered in fright. “I can’t believe your transformation has progressed this much!”

“I-is that bad?” Azaelus asked.

“Well…I don’t know.” Alexis answered. “I’ve never seen any transformation this advanced. In the least, you will transform sooner than predicted.”

“So I’ll transform in less than three days?” Azaelus inquired.

“Much less than that I’m afraid…” Alexis answered. “Based on your speeded up growth, you should start changing…tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” Azaelus asked worriedly. “But…the baby won’t be here until next week!”

“I’m sorry Azaelus…but if you stay any longer than a day after your transformation, the consequences will be calamitous. Not only will you attack and kill your family, but every sentient being on Hollow Bastion as well…” Alexis said. “We cannot risk that…it’s the same reason why you can’t tell your aunt and uncle what you truly are…the same reason I haven’t told them about me yet.”

Azaelus looked at his glowing arm and then at the dusty book on the table. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be dangerous after his transformation. But it came at the hefty price of not ever seeing or knowing his cousin. It caused him great pain…but he had to do it…he had to leave Hollow Bastion forever tomorrow night.