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“So often times it happens
that we live our lives in chains
never knowing we had the key”
The Eagles - “Already Gone”
William drew the curtain aside as the small crowd below cheered the passing parade. The October clouds were in check this afternoon, though the streets still remained damp from their outbursts of the previous day. Now, dozens of regular patrons at the Beltine inn stood as the captain of the guard led a simple wagon down the street before them. Tied to a post in the center of the wagon was the blackened corpse of a long-dead man, its hair matted and covered with filth, its dried skin scraped and torn, in places exposing bare bone. Were it not for the recent rumors of undead in the sewers, the crowd would surely have been sickened by the sight. Instead, they praised the captain's courage and breathed a sigh of relief at what could have happened had the creature not been defeated.
Above, in his second floor corner room, William's face was expressionless. “You meddling idiot,” he said quietly, though nobody was in earshot. The plans William had made were vague at best, and neither easy nor certain, but now they were useless. Since Wizard ran off on him four days ago, the local citizens had begun to spy him with more suspicion. Now, with the wight neutralized, his only reason to stay in Spindrift was gone. It was time to pack up and head for fresher hunting grounds. Only two months remained before the deadline and his second sacrifice had slipped through his fingers. First Rana, now the wight. But William would settle for no less than the best. So much depended on this!
Below, in the street, the captain had paused his wagon and was speaking to the crowd. “With this victory, the city is now safe from the conjurations of the deranged summoner. You may all rest easy now. The worst is over.” His words spoke true. In the past few days, the hidden evil had crawled from its sewer home to strike out and feed on those unlucky enough to walk in the wrong alley. Fully ten people were killed in such a manner and only by carefully consecrating the bodies were those ten spared the fate of becoming undead. The man the captain felt was responsible for this atrocity as well as the murders of nine others was still at large, though. The captain glanced casually up at William's corner window. A smile formed on his lips. “Tonight, your reign ends, William,” he thought to himself.
With the tattered remains of her clothing all that protected her from the unnaturally cold, stone floor, the cat-goddess Bast had little faith in her future. She had been a fool to confront Hades directly, she admitted to herself, but her reasons were just. Now, though, with heavy iron manacles pinning her back to the floor, her sense of right and wrong meant little. Deep inside, she cursed Hades yet again, but outwardly all she could do was weep.
It had been three days since Hades defeated her in combat so easily, though in the dark, windowless cell, the passage of time was not visible and to Bast it seemed an eternity. Though her mind played tricks on her perception of time, two things stood out with crystal clarity. The first was the visage of Hades, his gleaming sword stained with blood as he stood mockingly over her bleeding form. “You shall not die today, goddess!” he had said before her consciousness finally failed. “No, you shall remain in my possession until such a time when your body ceases to amuse me, or your mind submits to my rightful mastery. In either case, you shall never have a case to submit before the council.”
Secondly, the very room which imprisoned her also had drained the mana from her system. Without the magical energy, she was isolated from her spells. She could not change shape to slip free of her bonds, nor could she assume her battle form of a cat-headed warrior. Had she the confidence, she could slip from the manacles but even then the tiny room confined her. She truly was here at Hades' whim, a realization that had only recently set in, despite the god's frequent visits to gloat or worse.
The lock on the great iron door clanked to life outside. Bast snapped from her reverie and strained against the chain to watch the door. A few seconds later the door creaked open, flooding the room with a dim light. It was, of course, Hades come again to gloat.
The god stepped in, a sinister smile on his lips. His garb was more casual than that which he so often wore, yet under the loose shirt, his ever-present chain armor could still be seen. Its magical properties, combined with a helmet which allowed him to go invisible, made it difficult for any one to challenge him. In a fair fight, the god could surely be overcome, but rarely did Hades fight honorably. Many a victim fell to a sword blow from the rear.
“Ah, Bast!” Hades exclaimed, spreading his arms wide. “You look lovely today.”
“What do you know of beauty?” Bast snapped, angrily straining her head into a position in which she could glare at her captor. “You live in this abomination of a land by choice!”
“You speak without experience, Bast. This land can be as lovely as your precious Heliopolis if you but take the time to appreciate it.”
Bast relaxed, letting her head slump back to the floor. She now no longer was looking at Hades, though the change suited her. “I could say the same to you of my city, Hades, though I fear you may actually visit there someday and that fate I could never tolerate.”
Hades grinned. “Defiant throughout. I like that in a woman.”
Bast closed her eyes tight, her frustration and anger welling up inside her. A tear formed in her eye and, though she tried her hardest to subdue it, she began to cry.
“There, there, Bast,” Hades said soothingly as he kneeled beside her, positioning himself so that Bast could watch him without strain. “You will learn to like it here. I know you will.”
His voice had so dramatically changed that Bast was taken aback. For a second, she wanted to believe in him, but only for a second. She turned her head away, though now it was a task to keep Hades out of her field of view.
Hades sighed in disappointment and stood back up. “Your stubbornness will fade soon, my lovely. Then, you will learn to love this place and me as much as you have ever loved in your life.”
Bast twisted her head back to face Hades, her hatred more than obvious. “Just as Persephone learned to love you on Earth?”
Hades expression, calm and steady before now flashed to one of rage. “Never mention her again!” he shouted quickly. “You speak of that you know nothing about!”
“I know that she was brought to your realm against her will,” Bast continued, ignoring Hades' order. “I know that she was forced to live part of her life in your sickening realm.”
Hades hand went high, and he dropped to a knee and brought it down in a mighty slap across Bast's already bruised face. Her skin cut and a trickle of fresh blood welled up. “What you do not know,” Hades said as he stood, “is that she loved me!” The god quickly turned and stormed from the room, his confidence visibly shaken and his reason gone.
Bast closed her eyes as the great door slammed shut behind him, her dignity finally giving way to her tears. Where normally there came the clanking of great locks being set, there now came only the sound of the angry god's heavy footsteps echoing down the hall.