Post by Stardrifter on Nov 11, 2012 14:34:11 GMT -5
by
Stardrifter
#3 - Corruption of the Soul Pt. 3
Consequences
"Time to die!"
Dawn's voice is high pitched and other-worldly. She rears back with her right arm, preparing to blast Jason with magical energy. His head still foggy from the magical trap, Jason simply reacts. He instinctively pulls the energy from the most abundant source around him and creates a shield to block the blast. Her attack done, Dawn stares blindly, clearly not expecting Jason to still be alive. The sudden change in temperature, coupled with the lightly drifting snow throughout the locker room, doesn't help alleviate the confusion.
In order to create his shield, Jason had taken the energy he needed from the steam filling the room. The heat gone, the water vapor turned into ice and snow, leaving the room freezing cold. Even the showers had stopped, the water in the pipes frozen solid.
Without a word, Jason reaches back to use the dented lockers to help him get to his feet. He turns his head back and forth, cracking his neck. Looking into Dawn's eyes he sees the fear inside the Zenoin.
"You're good," the demon inside Dawn's body whispers. Her breath is visible in the air. "You're no ordinary sorcerer. Makes no difference. I will kill you!"
Rather than wait for an attack, Jason makes use of the already frigid environment and sends a blast of ice at Dawn, hoping to capture her. The demon dodges, rolling out of the way and running behind a row of lockers. When Jason starts to pursue, he finds a bench flying through the air toward his head. He ducks at the last moment, one of the bench legs brushing through his hair.
The demon follows up by smacking the floor with it's hand, sending a wave of fire along the tile toward Jason. With no time to dodge, Jason rips the tiles in front of him up, forming a wall. The wave of fire smashes into it with little effect. Jason lets the wall of tiles fall and dispels the night vision enchantment, the fire along the floor interfering with his sight.
Dawn prepares to cast another spell, so Jason rushes behind a row of lockers. Realizing he needs to go on the offensive and fast, he looks around at his options. In the corner he notices a bunch of lacrosse equipment in a messy pile. It takes a moment of concentration, but just as Dawn comes around the lockers to continue the assault, three of the lacrosse sticks spring to life. Floating through the air with a mind of their own, they circle around Dawn and swing themselves at her.
"Argh!" the demon growls in frustration as a stick smacks her in the face. Rage taking over, the demon swats at the sticks with her arms. "Are you a sorcerer or a parlor magician?!"
Taking advantage of the distraction, Jason gathers all the energy he can and casts an entrapment spell. The demon stops, frozen by the glowing green field. The lacrosse sticks fall to the floor, the spell ended. Jason slowly walks over toward the demon, keeping his guard up so as not to repeat what happened at the morgue.
When he reaches Dawn, Jason inspects her and his spell closely, making certain it's holding. The demon, unable to do anything but move it's eyes, follows his every move with a burning glare of hatred. Jason pays it no mind.
Finally satisfied that his spell will hold, Jason let's out a long sigh. Running a hand through his messy brown hair, his hand comes out slick with sweat. "You've certainly put up a fight, Zenoin. More so than any demon of your kind should. I'll give you that."
The air is still cool from Jason stealing all the heat for his spell earlier, yet all the exertion has left him hot. He takes his trench coat off and lays it down on a nearby bench. Taking one last moment to breathe, he walks up to Dawn and looks directly in her eyes. "It's time to go home, demon."
Placing both his hands on the sides of Dawn's head, Jason closes his eyes and concentrates. He weaves his thoughts inside Dawn's already crowded mind, trying to find the demon itself. Her mind is a minefield of conflicting emotions. As he travels the currents of thought, Dawn reaches out to him.
"Please help me! Oh my God! Whoever you are! Help!"
"It's okay Dawn. My name is Jason. I know you're scared, but it's over now. In a moment your mind and body will be your own again. Just hold on."
He can feel her thoughts clinging to him like a drowning victim trying to pull the lifeguard down with them. It pains him to push her away, leaving her to float alone once more, but he has to continue on to find the Zenoin. It doesn't take long, the rage and evil emanating from the demon like a flare in the darkness.
"Fuck you! I won't give up the this body! I'll eat your face and shit down your soul!"
Jason smirks, oddly amused at the demon's impotent rage. Rather than engaging it, Jason just begins the process of exorcism. He starts to imagine a ball of light around the demon's essence, forming it piece by piece, encasing the demon. As it builds, it shrinks down, tightening it's grip and cutting the demon off from Dawn.
"Ugh," Jason grunts, a strange feeling coming over him. A tinging sensation runs over his body. Something's wrong.
"You fool! You're dead now! Die die die!"
He realizes what's happening too late. The demon is using Dawn's gift, taking advantage of their connection to gather the energy for a spell directly from Jason's body. He cuts off the connection as fast as he can, but it's too late. When the demon uses the energy to reverse the entrapment spell, Jason is too weary to defend. The spell backfires on him, trapping him in the green magical glow.
Jason looks on, frozen in place, as the demon laughs maniacally. He struggles against the hold on him, but it's no use. Trapped by his own spell. As the demon finishes its revelry and turns it's attention to him, he can see the murder in it's eyes. With his death, Dawn will be forced to live trapped in her own mind until the demon finally burns her out. Countless lives will be lost as the demon murders again and again.
Fear fills Jason's eyes, causing the demon to laugh again. It's not fear of the Zenoin, however. It's fear of his final option. Fear of the choice he's about to make.
****
-The Past-
The halls of Camelot echo as Jason briskly walks, his dark green cloak flowing behind him. His hair is long, down to his shoulders, and his beard full and thick. His clothes are covered in dirt and mud from the long journey along the King's road.
Having finished his training under Merlin almost a year ago, Jason has become a full member of the King's court. When a barbarian horde began assaulting the kingdom to the north, Arthur was quick to raise his knights to personally see the invaders defeated. With Merlin off doing some business only he knows, Arthur had commanded Jason to ride with him.
At first it was an exciting prospect. Riding off to adventure with the Knights of the Round Table. It had even given Arthur and him some time to bond a bit. The reality sunk in when the first barbarian scouting party had attacked. The bloody battle left the scouting party dead, with one knight and two squires on their side as well. The violence was unlike any story Jason had grown up hearing. This wasn't some chivalrous adventure. This was war.
In the end the barbarians were defeated, in no small part thanks to Jason. The barbarians had a witch among them. Her magic was simple, uneducated, yet more than the Knights were trained to deal with. Their battle had been brief, yet one Jason will never forget, as he was forced to kill the woman to save another. Her eyes still haunted his dreams, a mix of hatred and fear as the life slowly faded away.
For weeks Jason's only wish was to return to Morgaine. Despite his weariness from the long journey, he wouldn't rest until he was back in her arms. Yet a strange feeling came upon him as he neared their quarters. Too tired to give it much thought, he rushed in through the door and called out for her.
"Morgaine! I'm home!" Quickly untying his cloak, he let it fall to the floor in a heap. A strange smell hit him. Smoke and brimstone. Worried, he rushed over to the bedroom, coming to a sudden stop, dumbfounded at the sight in front of him.
A large table stood in front of their bed. In the center was a pentagram painted in what he knew to be blood. Around it sat an array of mystical items. Many he recognized to be items of darker magic that Merlin had warned him about. A bloody carcass, a cat he believes, is discarded on the floor, its chest ripped open. The heart is burning in a bowl on the table.
Standing behind the table, his wife. Blood staining her hands and black dress. On her face she has drawn symbols in blood under her eyes. Eyes now staring at him blankly. Eyes not filled with surprise, but anticipation.
"Hello husband," she says, her face remaining as still as stone. "How was your trip?"
The whole situation has left Jason stunned. His weary mind can't grasp what is happening. He looks back and forth between the table and the blank stare of his wife, unable to process any of it. After what seems like an eternity, the only thing he manages to utter is, "What?"
Morgaine's blank expression finally breaks, changing to one of pity, like an adult trying to explain something to a child. "What is going on, dear husband? I've decided to take what is mine. And you're going to help me."
"Take...? Help...?" Jason stammers, the wheels in his mind beginning to turn. "Morgaine what the hell are you doing?!"
"What the Hell indeed," she smiles.
Jason rushes over and grabs Morgaine by the shoulders. Not hard, but firm. He looks in her eyes, searching for signs of the wife he knew, not certain who is standing before him now. "What is yours? I don't understand. Talk to me, my love! Please!"
"Tried. Failed." Her expression and demeanor baffles him, completely unconcerned about what is happening. "You taught me everything I needed to know, but you're not prepared to go any further. I am...sorry, my love." Her tone finally changes, betraying some truth behind those words. "I would have preferred it another way."
Jason feels a sudden jolt and the breath rushes out from his lungs. A warm sensation wells up in his chest and he looks down to find a dagger sticking out of it. He looks back up into his wife's eyes, silently pleading with her for it not to be true. In her eyes he sees the faintest hint of sadness, swallowed up by determination.
His strength fails and his knees buckle. As he falls, Morgaine catches him and lowers him gently onto the floor. "Goodbye, Jason."
After giving him one last kiss, she whispers softly in his ear, "Gone, gone the form of man..."
****
-The Present-
"BEHOLD THE DEMON ETRIGAN!"
Jason's words reverberate through the locker room, seemingly coming from his lips and the air around them all at once. Dawn looks about, confusion and fear overwhelming her. Her eyes snap back to Jason as he's engulfed in flame. The Zenoin raises it's arms to shield it's face. When the flame finally dies down, Jason is there no more.
In his place stands a Demon. Clad in a red tunic with chainmail over it and a long, black cloak. The Demon has yellow-green skin and glowing green eyes. Pointed ears reminiscent of bat wings sit on a bald head, it's mouth full on sharp teeth. The Demon is large and muscular, standing with a slightly hunched back. Despite it's demonic nature, there's a regal sense about him.
"Etrigan..." Dawn whispers with fright. Not waiting to see what the other Demon will do, she lashes out, sending a bolt of lightning from her hand at Etrigan. He raises his arm and catches the bolt in his hand, the electricity dissipating with little effect.
"Long has it been since Etrigan last walked the Earth. Only to find a petty demon trying to prove it's worth."
Fire burns in Etrigan's eyes as he slowly walks toward the Zenoin. Dawn continues to throw magical attacks at him. Fire, ice, wind, Etrigan waves each attack off as if they were flies. Dawn walks backwards, delaying the inevitable, until she backs into the wall.
"Lord Etrigan, please!" The Zenoin pleads, bringing it's hands together, as if in prayer. "I had no idea! I meant no harm! Why hurt a fellow demon?"
"Enough mewling to get in my good grace," Etrigan bellows. "Lowly bugs like you should know their place!"
Dawn cries out in fear, for once the demon and the girl sharing the same thought. Etrigan grabs her by the throat, his claws digging into her flesh, and rears back with his other hand. Before he can deliver the killing blow, a voice rings in his head.
"No Demon! I will not let you kill the girl!"
"You call on me, after years of silence, to come to your aid. Now that the battle is won, the deed done, you would have my hand stayed?"
"The girl is innocent! Set her free!"
"No! Enough of your meddling, Jason Blood! The Lord Etrigan will do as he would!"
The Zenoin writhes in Etrigan's grasp, not understanding the inner battle going on inside his mind. It stares at the demonic face just inches from it and watches as it begins to twitch. Finally, with a frustrated growl, Etrigan lowers his arm. Keeping his grip on Dawn's neck, he takes a deep breath in. When he lets it back out, flame erupts from his mouth and engulfs Dawn's head. The Zenoin shrieks in terror as the flames wash over. When the shrieks die out, the flames do as well, revealing Dawn's face and hair completely undamaged.
Etrigan releases his grip on the girl, now unconscious, letting her slump down on the floor and up against the wall. Anger and disappointment well up inside the Demon, frustrated at it's lack of control. It's been so long since he's last been free that his will has no hold over Blood. For now.
"Begone, begone, O' Etrigan!" The Demon spits out with disgust. "Rise again the form of man!"
Engulfed in fire once more, the Demon departs and Jason Blood returns. He sinks down onto his knees, covered in sweat and grime, breathing heavily. Looking up he sees Dawn slouched up against the wall, the Zenoin finally exorcised, and reaches out toward her. He stops when he notices the shaking of his own hand. He clenches it into a fist, trying to regain control. He thought himself finally through with the Demon.
"Through with me, you'll never be. I'll be free, wait and see."
****
Jason gently lowers Dawn onto his bed. It's been two hours since the battle ended, but it will be some time still before she awakens. The toll of such an ordeal will not be so easily overcome. As he tucks her in under the covers, he feels sorry for the all the pain that still awaits.
Jason stands back up, a little shaky on his feet. Exhausted as he was after the battle, he still had to clean up any trace of him or Dawn in the locker room. A few simple spells that felt like the most intricate and difficult incantations in his state. Even then, he wasn't finished, having to carry her body back to her dorm room to gather some things. He wasn't shocked to find the dead girl awaiting him. He simply gritted his teeth and cleared away any trace of that murder, lest Dawn be left to take the blame when the police arrived.
Despite the sudden disruption of his life and suffering it caused him, looking down at Dawn's sleeping face, he can't help but feel some joy at having saved her. That one ray of light in an otherwise dark turn of events is all that keeps him from falling into despair.
Quietly walking back out of his bedroom, Jason begins to shed his soiled clothes on his way to the bar. Pouring himself a generous glass of scotch, he drinks it all down in one gulp. Then he pours another.
"If I knew all it would take to get you back was to threaten the life of one innocent girl, I would have done it decades ago."
Jason doesn't turn to the unexpected voice behind him. A silky, sing song voice he's come to know quite well over his lifetime. Despite having not heard it in years, it's not unexpected.
"Though I dare say, this girl is certainly special. Perhaps it was 'divine intervention?'" the voice remarks, sarcasm heavy in the last words.
Taking down the second glass of scotch all at once, Jason finally turns around toward his guest. A beautiful, blond man sitting in Jason's leather chair with a carefree smile on his face. His hair is cropped short and almost glows in the darkness of the room. The man is dressed in the finest of tailored suits.
"What do you want?" Jason asks bluntly, too tired for word play.
"Jason, I'm hurt," the man says, mockingly. "I heard you had a brief stay in my realm tonight. Had I not been otherwise occupied, I would have welcomed you personally. I do so miss our talks."
"I don't," Jason mutters, turning back to pour another drink.
The man smiles, a genuine smile that shines with an otherworldy beauty. "I'm sorry to hear that. Nevertheless, events are in motion Jason. The mortal world is on the cusp of a new age. An age of what, well whose to say? You know these things never go easily, and there are so many players right now, even I don't know what to expect. Frankly it's the most excitement I've had in some time."
"Is that all?" Jason asks, his dismissive tone trying the mask the thoughts racing through his mind.
"It's enough," the man says, rising to his feet and straightening out his suit jacket. He walks up behind Jason and puts an arm around his shoulder. "Welcome back to the game."
Jason's head jerks to the side to look at him, only to find empty space. Jason gulps down another glass, alone once again.
-The End-