Far high up in the gray clouds Jax circled down to land in a clearing just outside of the forest. There was a trail that he had seen from above that twisted its way through the trees. He pulled his cloak closed against the chill and started on his way in to search for his father and the others.
The forest was dark and cold. Every tree and blade of grass was gray and dead. From out in the shadows, Jax could hear things growling and creeping around. He could see eyes watching him as he passed down the trail. His hands glowed with power ready to blast anything that charged out at him.
As he walked, Jax looked up into the trees. There on a top branch, a single crow stared down watching him as he passed. Further on in the trees he saw a second and a third crow. All sitting quiet and just watching him. Pretty soon the trees were full of silent crows. None of them moved very much, they just sat there staring after him with their yellow glowing eyes.
Without taking his eyes off the crows, Jax stopped in the center of the trail. He removed his cloak and dropped it on the ground in front of him.
"I fear no dreams." He called out into the trees. "Or nightmares!"
As if on cue, the crows all started cawing and took to the air. Like a great black cloud they flew in circles over head then came together to merge into one giant bird and dived down at Jax. Raising himself up off the ground, Jax folded his arms across his chest and let the crow attack. With it's talons open, the crow dived down and reached out tried to grab him out of the air. When it touched him, Jax sent a surge of power out into the crow. With a scream the crow burst apart into small shadows and darted down into the trees.
Satisfied, Jax dropped back down to the trail. He picked up his cloak and dusted it off and started back down the trail. He knew Extremus would be here somewhere and if he wanted to save Rimnar and Aramis, he'd have to defeat the god of nightmares.
"You will have to do better then that." Damiceis said. "He doesn't look scared at all. I don't think your nightmares are affecting him."
"My nightmares affect everyone!" Extremus yelled. "They will drive him mad just like the others!"
"If you say so." Damiceis walked to a table and sorted through fruit in a bowl. "But I think maybe there's another way to go."
"What do you mean?"
"What if we were to weaken him with." Damiceis popped a grape into his mouth. "How about jealousy. That should make him be ready for your nightmares."
"Do your worse." Extremus smiled.
With Rimnar in the lead and Aramis close at his side, the two gods made their way through the dark city. They watched every shadow, every sudden movement from high or low. From the skitters that darted out to attack, to the over sized crows that kept watch from above. Every now and then, they would come down and get a little to close and Rimnar or Aramis would blast them, scattering them all through the blackened sky.
"There's something about them I should remember." Rimnar said eyeing the monster birds. "I've seen them before but I can't remember where."
"I know what you mean father." Aramis shook his head. "This place seems familiar, like I've been here before but I can't remember. My mind is so foggy."
"As is mine." Rimnar stopped and looked up at a crow that was watching them. "Maybe they are the answer. Maybe we should follow them and see where they take us."
"It as good a course as anything I can think of. But how do we get them to move? I think they're here to watch us."
"We do this."
Rimnar reached out and sent a blast at the closest crow. It jumped from the tree and took off into the air. As it took flight, Rimnar shot it down then he blasted three more as they tried to escape. Seeing what his father had planned, Aramis took aim and started killing crows. In a great swarm, all the crows in the trees took off. They kept blasting until Aramis noticed the biggest one and pointed it out.
It had taken off heading north.arms, Rimnar
"There!" Aramis pointed. "That one."
Spreading his arms, Rimnar concentrated and lifted himself up off the ground a few feet then fell back down onto the pavement. He stood up and tried again only this time he couldn't get off the ground.
"I can't fly!" Rimnar looked at Aramis confused. "I don't understand, what's wrong with me?"
"It's not just you father. I can't fly either. What do we do?"
"We run." Rimnar took off after the crow. "Hurry! We can't let it get away!"
Off through the grim city they ran. Past skitters and strange three legged four armed man like creature that tried to grab them as they passed. Though they were weakened, they still had the power to fight. Aramis blasted to the left while Rimnar took out anything to the right. It wasn't long until they found themselves standing at a rusted gate to a dark garden full of black and gray dead plants as the crow disappeared behind a dark mausoleum.
As they entered, they looked around. It was a dismal and grim place that looked sad and depressing.
Rose bushes with dried up dead flowers growing from long thorny stems were scattered all around the garden. Thick gray grass assorted weeds grew all around the mausoleum. As they walked through the garden, Aramis heard a sound that fit right into this dreary place. Soft sobs, someone was crying.
"Father." He stopped holding out his hand. "Do you hear that?"
Rimnar looked around for the source of the sad sounds. Over on the stairs of the mausoleum with her head down in her hands, sat a young girl in a long black dress. She was crying. Now in their life, both Rimnar and Aramis had seen thousands of people crying for many different reasons. Famine, sickness, war and the lose of a loved one, but this girl was different. Her cries touched something deep inside of them. It plucked at some note of sorrow deep down inside their soul. Aramis couldn't help but go to her.
As the two gods came close to her, she looked up at them. Aramis stopped as he stared down at her sad beautiful face. She had dark beautiful tender green eyes that seemed to just draw him in with sadness. Tears streaked down to drop from her perfect face. Her lips were red as ripe cherries that glowed against her pale skin.
"Sweet lady." Aramis knelt down to talk to her. "What could bring such sadness to someone so beautiful?"
"I'm lost." She said. "And this place scares me so much. I'm not sure what I should do."
"What's your name young lady?" Rimnar asked. He sat down beside her on the stairs.
"Matia." She answered wiping her eyes.
"Do you know what this place is?" He asked.
"It's where horrors come from." She told them.
Rimnar had no doubt of that. But where on Keanna were they? Or were they even on Keanna?
"There are horrible things all around us." She cried. "Always watching and waiting for a chance to attack. I try to fight, but I'm not very strong."
"We will protect you." Aramis reached down for her hand to help her up. "Stay with us, we'll find a way to get you out."
Matia looked up into Aramis eyes. She could see he meant what he was saying and she believed him. Could this be her chance to escape this worlds of nightmares?
[Your only chance isup and to do what I ordered.] Extremus sent to her. His words were like hot needles pressing into her mind. Matia shook her head. [Fail me and you will suffer.]
Matia pushed Extremus down and out of her mind. She had a decision to make. To follow his orders or to take a chance and help these two gods. She knew if they were to gain their freedom, they could help her be free of Extremus. But if they failed and Extremus managed to win, she would sentenced to an eternity of nightmares. The choice was easy. She knew what she knew what she had to do
"My lords." Matia stood and grabbed Aramis hand. "Come with me. There is something I have to tell you, but we must be in the mausoleum where he can't hear us."
"Who? Rimanr asked.
"Extremus."
With that name, Rimnar knew exactly where they were. Now everything they had seen made sense. They weren't anywhere on Keanna. They were on in an alternate dimension, one created and ruled by only one god. They were in Extremus's world of delusions and nightmares and getting out would not be easy.
Like a phantom, Damiceis drifted through the dark skies over the nightmare world with nothing but hate for Jax and the other gods of Fortis on his mind. For eons the others had ignored and dismissed him thinking he was forever below them. He was sick of it and he knew this was his chance to rise above them and see them all grovel at his and Extremus's feet. All he had to do was find Jax and fill his mind with jealousy and guilt. That should be easy he thought. The god of Justice should have many things in his past to feel guilty about. He had passed judgement over millions over the years and passed out many different punishments. There had to be many mortals he would felt guilty about. Or maybe jealousy. Damiceius knew Jax never really thought he was one of his fathers favorites. Not like Alee or Aramis. or even his warrior sister Serina. Damiceius smiled, he knew he had many weapons he could use against the so called righteous god.
From high overhead he spotted Jax's red hair and cloak as he moved though the forest. Gliding down, Damiceis carefully touched down and stopped to watch Jax to see if he felt his presence. Sensing nothing, Damiceis slowly made his way over to walk beside Jax. Carefully he tuned in to listen to his thoughts. He could sense his worry for the friends he had left behind to fight the war. He hoped they were safe but he was sure this was the only way to help them. Extremus had to be stopped if there was any chance for them to win. This could be something he could use.
[There's no chance.] He whispered in Jax's ear. [You left them to fight against one of the most powerful gods alone. No magic they knew could defeat Extremus, and you just left them. You should be with them. You can't help Rimnar.]
Damiceis felt a cold streak of fear run through Jax. Fear for his friends. Sarella could be attacking right now and killing everyone he loved.
[And for what?] Damiceis asked. [For Rimnar and Aramis? For Fortis? Did they ever really care for you? Aramis was his favorite, he held him so far above you. He held them all over you. Atol, Serina, Alea, even Muerte had a higher place then you and she tried to kill him!
Jax stopped and stood there looking down at the ground clenching his fist in anger. Damiceis smiled. He had him. The jealousy and guilt was working.
[You should let Extremus have them. What have they ever done but hold you back. You're just as important as any of them. You deserve justice too. Turn and walk away. Leave them to die here, then you could be the high one! Jax, High lord of Fortis. King of the gods!!]
"THAT IS ENOUGH!"
Jax turned and reached out and grabbed Damiceis by his throat and lifted him off the ground. Caught in his vice like grip, Damiceis lost his concentration and appeared struggling to breathe.
"Did you really think I didn't know it was you?" Jax yelled in his face. "Did you really think your jealousy could effect my mind? I have stood in judgement over gods and men and you thought you could turn my heart to betray my father and my family? Guess who gets judged now!!!"
"FForgive me please! Extremus made me do it!!"
Releasing Damiceis, Jax stepped back as he dell so far above you. He held them all over you. Atol, Serina, Alea, even Muerte had a higher place then you and she tried to kill him!
Jax stopped and stood there looking down at the ground clenching his fist in anger. Damiceis smiled. He had him. The jealousy and guilt was working.
[You should let Extremus have them. What have they ever done but hold you back. You're just as important as any of them. You deserve justice too. Turn and walk away. Leave them to die here, then you could be the high one! Jax, High lord of Fortis. King of the gods!!]
"THAT IS ENOUGH!"
Jax turned and reached out and grabbed Damiceis by his throat and lifted him off the ground. Caught in his vice like grip, Damiceis lost his concentration and appeared struggling to breathe.
"Did you really think I didn't know it was you?" Jax yelled in his face. "Did you really think your jealousy could effect my mind? I have stood in judgement over gods and men and you thought you could turn my heart to betray my father and my family? Guess who gets judged now!!!"
"FForgive me please! Extremus made me do it!!"
Releasing Damiceis, Jax stepped back as he fell to the ground. Rubbing his throat, Damiceis looked up at Jax and smiled with a wicked tint in his eyes. As he got up, he reached for his cloak to wrap himself and disappear when Jax cast out and pulled it away from him leaving him standing there dressing in an ugly green toga.
"I'm lost." She said. "And this place scares me so much. I'm not sure what I should do."
"What's your name young lady?" Rimnar asked. He sat down beside her on the stairs.
"Matia." She answered wiping her eyes.
"Do you know what this place is?" He asked.
"It's where horrors come from." She told them.
Rimnar had no doubt of that. But where on Keanna were they? Or were they even on Keanna?
"There are horrible things all around us." She cried. "Always watching and waiting for a chance to attack. I try to fight, but I'm not very strong."
"We will protect you." Aramis reached down for her hand to help her up. "Stay with us, we'll find a way to get you out."
Matia looked up into Aramis eyes. She could see he meant what he was saying and she believed him. Could this be her chance to escape this worlds of nightmares?
[Your only chance isup and to do what I ordered.] Extremus sent to her. His words were like hot needles pressing into her mind. Matia shook her head. [Fail me and you will suffer.]
Matia pushed Extremus down and out of her mind. She had a decision to make. To follow his orders or to take a chance and help these two gods. She knew if they were to gain their freedom, they could help her be free of Extremus. But if they failed and Extremus managed to win, she would sentenced to an eternity of nightmares. The choice was easy. She knew what she knew what she had to do
"My lords." Matia stood and grabbed Aramis hand. "Come with me. There is something I have to tell you, but we must be in the mausoleum where he can't hear us."
"Who? Rimanr asked.
"Extremus."
With that name, Rimnar knew exactly where they were. Now everything they had seen made sense. They weren't anywhere on Keanna. They were on in an alternate dimension, one created and ruled by only one god. They were in Extremus's world of delusions and nightmares and getting out would not be easy.
Like a phantom, Damiceis drifted through the dark skies over the nightmare world with nothing but hate for Jax and the other gods of Fortis on his mind. For eons the others had ignored and dismissed him thinking he was forever below them. He was sick of it and he knew this was his chance to rise above them and see them all grovel at his and Extremus's feet. All he had to do was find Jax and fill his mind with jealousy and guilt. That should be easy he thought. The god of Justice should have many things in his past to feel guilty about. He had passed judgement over millions over the years and passed out many different punishments. There had to be many mortals he would felt guilty about. Or maybe jealousy. Damiceius knew Jax never really thought he was one of his fathers favorites. Not like Alee or Aramis. or even his warrior sister Serina. Damiceius smiled, he knew he had many weapons he could use against the so called righteous god.
From high overhead he spotted Jax's red hair and cloak as he moved though the forest. Gliding down, Damiceis carefully touched down and stopped to watch Jax to see if he felt his presence. Sensing nothing, Damiceis slowly made his way over to walk beside Jax. Carefully he tuned in to listen to his thoughts. He could sense his worry for the friends he had left behind to fight the war. He hoped they were safe but he was sure this was the only way to help them. Extremus had to be stopped if there was any chance for them to win. This could be something he could use.
[There's no chance.] He whispered in Jax's ear. [You left them to fight against one of the most powerful gods alone. No magic they knew could defeat Extremus, and you just left them. You should be with them. You can't help Rimnar.]
Damiceis felt a cold streak of fear run through Jax. Fear for his friends. Sarella could be attacking right now and killing everyone he loved.
[And for what?] Damiceis asked. [For Rimnar and Aramis? For Fortis? Did they ever really care for you? Aramis was his favorite, he held him so far above you. He held them all over you. Atol, Serina, Alea, even Muerte had a higher place then you and she tried to kill him!
Jax stopped and stood there looking down at the ground clenching his fist in anger. Damiceis smiled. He had him. The jealousy and guilt was working.
[You should let Extremus have them. What have they ever done but hold you back. You're just as important as any of them. You deserve justice too. Turn and walk away. Leave them to die here, then you could be the high one! Jax, High lord of Fortis. King of the gods!!]
"THAT IS ENOUGH!"
Jax turned and reached out and grabbed Damiceis by his throat and lifted him off the ground. Caught in his vice like grip, Damiceis lost his concentration and appeared struggling to breathe.
"Did you really think I didn't know it was you?" Jax yelled in his face. "Did you really think your jealousy could effect my mind? I have stood in judgement over gods and men and you thought you could turn my heart to betray my father and my family? Guess who gets judged now!!!"
"FForgive me please! Extremus made me do it!!"
Releasing Damiceis, Jax stepped back as he dell so far above you. He held them all over you. Atol, Serina, Alea, even Muerte had a higher place then you and she tried to kill him!
Jax stopped and stood there looking down at the ground clenching his fist in anger. Damiceis smiled. He had him. The jealousy and guilt was working.
[You should let Extremus have them. What have they ever done but hold you back. You're just as important as any of them. You deserve justice too. Turn and walk away. Leave them to die here, then you could be the high one! Jax, High lord of Fortis. King of the gods!!]
"THAT IS ENOUGH!"
Jax turned and reached out and grabbed Damiceis by his throat and lifted him off the ground. Caught in his vice like grip, Damiceis lost his concentration and appeared struggling to breathe.
"Did you really think I didn't know it was you?" Jax yelled in his face. "Did you really think your jealousy could effect my mind? I have stood in judgement over gods and men and you thought you could turn my heart to betray my father and my family? Guess who gets judged now!!!"
"FForgive me please! Extremus made me do it!!"
Releasing Damiceis, Jax stepped back as he fell to the ground. Rubbing his throat, Damiceis looked up at Jax and smiled with a wicked tint in his eyes. As he got up, he reached for his cloak to wrap himself and disappear when Jax cast out and pulled it away from him leaving him standing there dressing in an ugly green toga.
"You didn't think I was going to let you just go, did you?" Jax said holding his cloak of jealousy. "What punishment would that be."
"I'm a god." He waved Jax off. "What can you really do to me?"
"You're not the first god I've stood in judgement over." Jax took the cloak and threw it on the ground. Damiceis tried to grab in but he was shocked when he touched it. He stepped back rubbing his burned fingers and looked at Jax in shock.
A GOD YOU WERE BUT NOT ANYMORE.
I TAKE FROM YOU THAT WHICH YOU WORE.
YOUR GODLY MANTLE, I TAKE FROM THEE.
FROM GOD TO MAN, I SENTENCE THEE.
TO WALK KEANNA AND LEARN OF THE EFFECT.
OF GUILT AND JEALOUSY, TO LEARN RESPECT.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Damiceis screamed as he faded away to start his sentence as a beggar in the cities of Keanna. With Damiceis gone, Jax picked up his cloak and sent it off to the small temple Damiceis used in a lower part of Fortis.
[You won't defeat me with such ease.] Extremus sent as thunder roared. [I will crush you and your father and take Fortis for my own.]
"We'll see about that Hate master." Jax called out to the dark thunder clouds over head. "I'm coming for my father and brother, and for you."
[Come on then Justice.] Lightning crashed and hit a tree off on the side of the trail. It exploded into flames. [Welcome to my Nightmares.]
"So Extremus is behind this." Rimnar said as they entered the mausoleum. They walk to a large marble altar "And this is his Nightmare world. I should have known."
"You would have if you weren't under his nightmare blight." Matia told. "Both of you."
"And what is this blight?"
"Extremus has you under a powerful curse." She told them. "Right now your bodies are really back in Fortis under his spell dying. Your own power is burning you to death and only Extremus knows how to remove the blight and save you."
"Is there nothing we can do to fight him?" Aramis asked. "Are we to die here like some crazy sacrifice to his hate? There has to be something we can do."
"I'm sorry." Matia sat down on the edge of the altar and looked at them with remorse. Her eyes sparkled as a tear ran down her face. "The blight is sapping your strength, and weakening you. The more you fight it, the weaker you get. Soon you will be to weak to fight."
"Then we should conserve our strength." Rimnar said. "Use as little as possible."
Walking around the altar, Aramis sat down next to Matia.
"How did you get here?" He asked.
She told him of her death and how Extremus had brought her to the garden. He named her the goddess of remorse and use her like a slave to help him haunt people. But there was more she had to tell them.
"I'm not sure if you know this but, your not the only one he has trapped here. Nestor and Alea are also here fighting the nightmares."
"WHAT??" Rimnar exploded in surprise. "Where are they?"
"They're in another part of the garden." She explained. "Fighting just like you."
"Then we have to find them." Aramis said excited. The thought of help against the hate god encouraged him. "Together we can defeat Extremus and get out of here."
"You forget." Rimnar pointed out. "They are under the blight too. They will be weakened just like us, I know my brother Extremus very well. He may not be that strong on Fortis, but here, he rules supreme. We need someone who's not under his spell to fight him. But who?"
"There is someone that would help us. Someone who has always been at my side when I needed him."
"Yes." Rimnar agreed thinking of his red haired son. "I know who you mean. But will he come?"
"He's never failed me before." Aramis said with pride. "He fought death for me. I have faith in him. He will come."
"Then we should find Nestor and Alea and be ready." Rimnar turned to Matia. "Can you find them?"
"Yes." She said. "I can feel every soul trapped in the garden. Alea's fear is like a beacon. But I'm afraid. I've felt his anger before. I don't know if I can take it again."
"I promise." Aramis held out his hand. "I won't ever let him hurt you again."
Matia smiled and took his hand.
"I will be strong." She said. "For you."
"I'm a god." He waved Jax off. "What can you really do to me?"
"You're not the first god I've stood in judgement over." Jax took the cloak and threw it on the ground. Damiceis tried to grab in but he was shocked when he touched it. He stepped back rubbing his burned fingers and looked at Jax in shock.
A GOD YOU WERE BUT NOT ANYMORE.
I TAKE FROM YOU THAT WHICH YOU WORE.
YOUR GODLY MANTLE, I TAKE FROM THEE.
FROM GOD TO MAN, I SENTENCE THEE.
TO WALK KEANNA AND LEARN OF THE EFFECT.
OF GUILT AND JEALOUSY, TO LEARN RESPECT.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Damiceis screamed as he faded away to start his sentence as a beggar in the cities of Keanna. With Damiceis gone, Jax picked up his cloak and sent it off to the small temple Damiceis used in a lower part of Fortis.
[You won't defeat me with such ease.] Extremus sent as thunder roared. [I will crush you and your father and take Fortis for my own.]
"We'll see about that Hate master." Jax called out to the dark thunder clouds over head. "I'm coming for my father and brother, and for you."
[Come on then Justice.] Lightning crashed and hit a tree off on the side of the trail. It exploded into flames. [Welcome to my Nightmares.]
"So Extremus is behind this." Rimnar said as they entered the mausoleum. They walk to a large marble altar "And this is his Nightmare world. I should have known."
"You would have if you weren't under his nightmare blight." Matia told. "Both of you."
"And what is this blight?"
"Extremus has you under a powerful curse." She told them. "Right now your bodies are really back in Fortis under his spell dying. Your own power is burning you to death and only Extremus knows how to remove the blight and save you."
"Is there nothing we can do to fight him?" Aramis asked. "Are we to die here like some crazy sacrifice to his hate? There has to be something we can do."
"I'm sorry." Matia sat down on the edge of the altar and looked at them with remorse. Her eyes sparkled as a tear ran down her face. "The blight is sapping your strength, and weakening you. The more you fight it, the weaker you get. Soon you will be to weak to fight."
"Then we should conserve our strength." Rimnar said. "Use as little as possible."
Walking around the altar, Aramis sat down next to Matia.
"How did you get here?" He asked.
She told him of her death and how Extremus had brought her to the garden. He named her the goddess of remorse and use her like a slave to help him haunt people. But there was more she had to tell them.
"I'm not sure if you know this but, your not the only one he has trapped here. Nestor and Alea are also here fighting the nightmares."
"WHAT??" Rimnar exploded in surprise. "Where are they?"
"They're in another part of the garden." She explained. "Fighting just like you."
"Then we have to find them." Aramis said excited. The thought of help against the hate god encouraged him. "Together we can defeat Extremus and get out of here."
"You forget." Rimnar pointed out. "They are under the blight too. They will be weakened just like us, I know my brother Extremus very well. He may not be that strong on Fortis, but here, he rules supreme. We need someone who's not under his spell to fight him. But who?"
"There is someone that would help us. Someone who has always been at my side when I needed him."
"Yes." Rimnar agreed thinking of his red haired son. "I know who you mean. But will he come?"
"He's never failed me before." Aramis said with pride. "He fought death for me. I have faith in him. He will come."
"Then we should find Nestor and Alea and be ready." Rimnar turned to Matia. "Can you find them?"
"Yes." She said. "I can feel every soul trapped in the garden. Alea's fear is like a beacon. But I'm afraid. I've felt his anger before. I don't know if I can take it again."
"I promise." Aramis held out his hand. "I won't ever let him hurt you again."
Matia smiled and took his hand.
"I will be strong." She said. "For you."
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