Demon Lord VI - Son of Chaos Read online

  “That’s impossible!”

  “Check the news reports. They have visuals.”

  The governor activated the vidscreen, and the same reporter he had seen earlier filled it, her face slack with shock.

  “...I repeat, the Great Gate has closed, trapping cars and people inside and out. This happened only minutes ago, and our mobile camera team has visuals of this astounding and momentous event.”

  The vidfeed showed an aerial view of the inside of the Gate as it swung closed, the lights of the city disappearing behind it. A faint chiming accompanied the Gate’s stately movement. A destroyer hove into view just ahead of the news station’s vessel and fired several bursts of light cannon at the Gate, but the blue fire had no effect. The reporter continued her monologue.

  “The president is urging people to stay calm, and has despatched a number of military officers to assess the situation, along with demolition teams to find a way to re-open the Gate. He assures us that the situation is only temporary. Civilian traffic has been banned from the area, which is now considered dangerous, but as yet no one knows how or why the Gate has closed. Stay tuned to this station for up to the minute reports on this incredible event.”

  Predoran gaped at the screen, where the Great Gate, glowing with soft light, was about to close, then the reporter reappeared and began her spiel again. He touched the mute button, silencing her.

  “There’s more, sir,” the officer said.

  “What?”

  “When the Gate closed, a number of ancient and extremely powerful weapons were activated outside it. The Dorilan Dome is gone, destroyed, and casualties are estimated in the hundreds. The weapons used the white power, and are located in artefacts our archaeologists examined years ago, but could never figure out what they were for. It’s all ancient stuff. We don’t even know how old it is, but it predates civilisation. We sent some ships to see what’s going on, and they say the weapons are still active, so they can’t get close to the Gate. They’re like light guns that use the white power, and the power source that sustains them must be massive.”

  Predoran sank into his chair while the officer spoke, his mind blank with shock. “The white light can’t be used. There’s no way to store it.”

  “We can’t use it, but whoever built the Gate could.”

  “The Gate was built by an advanced ancient civilisation. That’s what the scholars have always told us. Whoever built it left or died out, so why has it become active again all of a sudden?”

  The officer shook his head. “Perhaps it has something to do with that woman who appeared in Cloud World and evicted everyone, and everything. A tourist took a holo-image of her, which is quite amazing, I’m told.”

  “Do you have a copy?”

  “I could probably get one for you, sir.”

  Predoran nodded. “She must be a dra’voren, and she’s going to destroy our world while we’re trapped out here. Find out what they’re doing inside to open the Gate.”

  “Sir, we have no communication with Bayona, everything was cut off when the Gate closed.”

  “But...” Predoran gestured at the screen, where the reporter continued to talk.

  “That’s a local news station, and the visuals were sent out as the Gate closed. We’ve had no contact since then.”

  “We have to get a stealth ship in there and destroy that woman. Keep trying to find a way to open the Gate.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The officer saluted and marched out, and Predoran stared at the vidscreen, where the closing Gate was being shown again. After watching it twice more, he rose and left his office, heading for the prison.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Realm Gate

  Bane and Drevarin wandered through the crowd, watched the hubbub and listened to the people who addressed the odd instruments. The dazed tourists had been taken away, and crowds of curious onlookers had arrived to gawp at the crushed buildings. Invisibility would have been a problem amongst so many people, so they had donned illusions. Bane had made his face more ordinary, and his clothes were similar to the men around him, as were Drevarin’s, although he had not bothered to change his face.

  “They do not appear to have received your harbinger’s message,” Drevarin said.

  “Perhaps we should send another. Those people who talk so much seem to be spreading the news. I could use one of them.”

  “Good idea.”

  Bane turned to a man who talked to one of the machines, and he halted in mid-sentence, looked blank for a moment, then said, “The Gate will reopen tomorrow, and everyone from the city outside must return. The outer city is to be abandoned, and when the Great Gate closes again, so will the Golden Gate, after which time, no one will be able to leave this world. Your goddess, Sherinias, has been born. You should rejoice and pray to her for guidance, and praise her name. You must give up your evil ways and repent.”

  Bane released the man, who looked stunned, while the man holding the instrument frowned at him, perplexed. The first man shook his head. “Why did I say that? I don’t know what made me do it. I sounded like a lunatic.”

  Bane snorted and walked on.

  Drevarin chuckled. “Perhaps that last part was a bit much.”

  “It will give them something to ponder.”

  “If anyone heeds it.”

  A uniformed man stepped in front of them. “You can’t be here. This area is restricted. Get back behind the lines.”

  Bane glanced at him, and the man’s face went slack. He wandered off, looking confused.

  “There are a lot of demons here,” Bane said. “I have been thinking, this world is an ideal place for a dark god to dwell. No religion, a surplus of tainted people, and the dark realm must be full of damned, considering how many there are still alive. The Realm Gate has been standing open for centuries. There could be more than one dark god in this domain.”

  “Surely the Oracle would have told Sherinias if one had entered?”

  “Only if it knew. If a dark god came in with that flying traffic, disguised as an ordinary man, it might not have seen him. Nikira told me that her ship defeated three dark gods. If this was the closest domain, they would have entered the dark realm unknown to the Oracle.”

  Drevarin nodded. “But then they would have destroyed this domain.”

  “Not necessarily. Not every dark god wants to destroy domains. Most would rather rule one, since once they destroy it, there is nothing to do. Many do not even want that, they just use it as a playground. They would have preferred to have enslaved Sherinias, but, since they could not, they might be content to amuse themselves amongst her people, which could be why they are so tainted.”

  “How could we find out?”

  Bane shrugged. “I could summon a demon and ask it, but it would only know if a god had gone into the dark realm, or if it had encountered one in the mid realm, or perhaps heard of one, but it will not know everything.”

  “It is worth trying.”

  “But once I summon one and dismiss it, it will know about me, and then it might be questioned by the other dark god, if there is one.”

  Drevarin caught Bane’s sleeve and stopped him, his brow furrowed with concern. “But if there is one, or more, Sherinias is in grave danger. The World Gate is open. She is defenceless.”

  “Kayos is with her, and he is more than capable of defending her until I get there. If, however, they find out about me, they may choose to conceal themselves until we leave, then breach the World Gate when she is alone.”

  “You are right,” Drevarin agreed. “What if you do not dismiss the demon, but order it to find out how many dark gods there are in this domain, if any?”

  “I could do that. And I will be surprised if there are none here.”

  “If there are several, they could band together against you. Will they know about Sherinias’ birth?”

  “Probably. They will know about you and Kayos too.”

  Drevarin’s frown deepened. “Why did you not say someth
ing before we came here?”

  “I did not think of it. A regrettable oversight.”

  “Neither did Kayos or I, so we are as much to blame. We must find out. I think you should ask a demon. If there are any, will you destroy them?”

  Bane pulled a face. “No rest for the wicked.”

  “That will be dangerous for you, especially if there is more than one and they band together. You could be killed.”

  “I might not have to destroy them if they are not too powerful. I might be able to cast them out of the Realm Gate.”

  “Then they will enter other domains, and enslave light gods.”

  “You would rather I destroyed them, of course,” Bane said.

  “I would not ask it of you. It risks your life, which is worth too much to endanger.”

  “If I do not destroy dark gods, what use am I?”

  “We do not value you only because you can destroy dark gods, Bane. You can free enslaved gods and trap dark ones in their realms. But aside from that, you are a noble and powerful god, and you are my friend. Nothing is worth risking your life.”

  Bane sighed, gazing at the crowd. “If I defeat them, I could set wards to trap them below, but if they are weak they will avoid me. Then it will not be easy to confront them. If they are powerful, it will be even more difficult, and I might lose. There is also the chance that while I am battling one, another will come after you or Sherinias, if there is more than one.”

  “We should speak to Kayos, see what he thinks. Perhaps we should take Sherinias and leave this accursed domain.”

  “That will cause her much distress.”

  Drevarin bowed his head, his expression doleful, then looked up at Bane again. “I would rather cause her distress than lose you.”

  “I shall rise again.”

  “As a true dark god, yes, but you will lose so many advantages. I would not ask you to risk your mortality for the sake of these people, and that is what it boils down to in the end. None of us are enslaved or in danger. It is only for them and so Sherinias can keep her domain. I am not sure it is worth the risk.”

  Bane smiled and clasped Drevarin’s shoulder. “Let us find out if there are any dark gods here before we debate the issue further. Move us somewhere remote.”

  Drevarin nodded, and warm white light engulfed them. When it faded, they stood in a narrow belt of cultivated forest, the trees planted in orderly rows that made Bane frown at its unnatural air. Spreading his hands, he drew in just enough power for a summoning, and then spoke the words, followed by a name. Drevarin stepped back as a black circle formed on the leafy ground, the dead leaves crisping and smoking as they turned to ash. An earth demon shot up from the soil, writhing as it took on a man-shaped mud form that lacked the common three-armed, three-eyed aspect. It towered over eight feet tall, and bowed to Bane.

  “Lord.”

  “Eslason. I am Bane, the Demon Lord. Assume a man’s appearance.”

  The demon shrank to the size of a big man, its earthen muscles vanishing under mundane clothes and skin. It formed a bland, ordinary face with a thatch of dark hair and pitch-black eyes, the only outward sign of its true nature.

  Bane asked, “Are there any dark gods in this domain, apart from me?”

  “Yes, Lord.”

  “How powerful are they, and what are their names?”

  The demon eyed him. “There are three. Two are less powerful than average, one is more. They are Scryon, Shadow Lord, Jerriss, Mistress of Fire, and Tolrar, Lord of Darkness.”

  “Which is the most powerful?”

  “Tolrar.”

  “Where do they dwell?”

  The demon’s eyes flicked to Drevarin. “Amongst the people.”

  “Be more specific.”

  “I cannot. They move from place to place, assuming different identities, amusing themselves in many ways. I have given you their true names, but at any time they could be anyone they choose; I have no way of knowing. I have even heard tales of another, supposedly a beast god, who dwells in the mountains to the south, but that might only be rumour. Is this one your slave, Lord?”

  Bane frowned. “Do not question me. Are any of them in league?”

  “Jerriss is Tolrar’s mistress, Scryon avoids them.”

  “How did they come to this domain?”

  Eslason glanced at Drevarin again. “Tolrar and Scryon entered through the Realm Gate, Jerriss arose from the dark realm.”

  “You will find Tolrar, Jerriss and Scryon. You will find out if there are any others. You will not harm anyone or anything. You will not disclose my presence in this domain, or that of my companion, to anyone or anything. You will maintain the aspect of a man at all times. When you find Tolrar, you will report to me. When you find Jerriss, you will report to me. When you find Scryon, you will report to me. If you find another, you will report to me.” Bane paused, wondering if he had forgotten anything. Ordering a demon had to be done specifically, for if they found a loophole in the orders, they would exploit it. “You will do nothing else.”

  Eslason bowed, looking sour. “Yes, Lord.

  “You may go.”

  The demon turned and marched off through the forest, and, as soon as it had been swallowed by the trees, Drevarin glanced at Bane.

  “Anyone or anything?”

  “A demon does not consider itself a person, although they do prefer to be known as male, since that is the more powerful gender. In fact, they are sexless, although, disguised as human males, they do enjoy fornicating with women. A few even choose to become women. Had I not specified anything, it would have told another demon.”

  “I see.” Drevarin managed a weak smile. “I am glad you know what you are doing.”

  “The knowledge comes from the dark power.”

  “Right. Well, it is worse than we thought. Three of them.”

  Bane nodded. “Perhaps more, and a beast god.”

  “You cannot fight three of them. I have seen how destroying one exhausted and injured you. If the others attack before you recover, you will have no chance.”

  “The World Gate will have to be closed first, then I can recover in the light realm.”

  “Yes, that would work, but even so, it is a lot to ask of you for the sake of these tainted people.”

  Bane gazed through the trees. “I do not think I would do it for them.”

  “It is settled then. Let us tell Kayos.”

  Bane forced the dark power out of his flesh, letting it pour from his hands in streams of shadow. When it ceased, Drevarin rested his hand upon Bane’s shoulder and soft white light engulfed them again. They rematerialised in the gazebo, and Kayos glanced up from his Eye, raising his brows. Sherinias rose and inclined her head, smiling.

  “Your return gladdens my heart, Bane, and you, Lord Drevarin.”

  Kayos shot her a hard look. “That is not how you address a superior, Sherinias.”

  “But Father -”

  “Do as I say.”

  “Yes, Father.” She turned back to Bane and inclined her head again. “Lord Bane.”

  He nodded. “Lady Sherinias.” His eyes flicked past her to the Grey God. “We need to talk.”

  Kayos waved away his Eye and rose. “Sherinias, stay here.”

  Sherinias pouted, but sank back onto her couch, gazing after them wistfully as they left the gazebo and went into the cloud gardens.

  ***

  Nikira stood up as Predoran entered her cell, almost saluted, but caught herself in time.

  He glared at her. “How did you know about the Great Gate?”

  “I... Has it closed already?”

  “Answer me!”

  “I told you, that message came from the Grey God, Kayos.”

  Predoran shook his head. “You’re lying. This Kayos is a dra’voren, like the one you captured, or perhaps the same one. We’ve got no idea how much power they truly possess, and no one’s ever captured one before. You found an unusual one, with unusual powers, and he duped you.”

&nbs
p; “He split himself into three?”

  “He was probably an illusion, who knows? Maybe there are three. The point is, you brought him, it or them here, and now the Gate is closed.”

  Nikira longed for a way to persuade him that what she said was true. Bane’s group would back up her story, but if she revealed the refugees’ location they would be arrested as well and probably imprisoned for espionage or some other ridiculous, inflated charge. Clearly the governor was enraged, and now, cut off from the central government, he was a law unto himself, one in whom she did not have any faith.

  “They’ll open it again. They said they’d allow the people in the city to go back into Bayona. This is probably a warning, because you wouldn’t listen.”

  “They closed an ancient, never before used gate and activated deadly weapons that use the white power, destroying the Dorilan Dome, as a warning?” His face purpled as he shouted the last word.

  Nikira’s heart sank. “They’re gods, Predoran. To them, it’s probably easy.”

  “They killed hundreds of people, and injured even more. That’s what dra’voren do!”

  Nikira nodded, stunned. “According to legend, yes, dra’voren are world destroyers, but they’re not dra’voren.”

  “Your instruments told you that the one you captured was a dra’voren, but you listened to his lies, and now our world is going to be destroyed, because of you!”

  “No, he destroyed a dra’voren, we all saw him. It’s recorded, watch the data sticks.”

  “I’ve seen them. It looks convincing, but it could be an illusion.”

  “No. The shockwave -”

  “He could have done that!” His face twisted. “You’re supposed to be a trained stealth ship commander, not a gullible fool. Maybe there are two of them, and the second one freed your prisoner, but why the hell did you bring them here?”

  “I was convinced, so was my crew, that they weren’t dra’voren.”

  “Well you and your crew were wrong, but the burden of responsibility falls on you. They followed your orders, and you were too stupid to see the truth even after he assaulted Drontar.”