Delver Magic Book VII: Altered Messages (54 page)

The tug of influence brought the blurry memories of the demon into a sharper image. It began to recall its actions and realized its recent decisions were not its own. In a fit of rage, it fought furiously against serp control.

Haven strengthened her spell and once more forced any hint of influence away from the monster. She then revealed a basic truth.

"You cannot fight against the serps. There are five and they are united. That is how they were initially able to take control. It is only through my spell that you retain awareness of your situation."

"What is it you want, sorceress?"

"You have a choice. You can fight us, you can fight the serps, or you can leave this plane of existence. My friend can open a portal to the dark realm. Once you leave you will be free of the serps."

"And if I choose to fight the serps?"

"They are inside the mansion behind you, but I do not believe that would be a wise decision. There are two powerful magic casters with them. I believe the serps would eventually regain control of your thoughts. Escape is the safest choice."

The demon gave one last look to the mansion. It snarled with hate, but it turned back to the elf.

"I will leave, but I do not choose to escape. Do not open a portal to the realm of dark creatures. Open a portal to the deeper dominion of pure demons. Send me to Demonspawn."

"Are you sure?" Haven asked, understanding the request and its consequences. "Once you are spawned and leave, demons are not to return. You will be destroyed."

"That may be so, but I will have my vengeance on the serps. My masters must know of creatures that dare to subjugate demons in this realm."

"Very well." Haven then nodded to Jure. "Will you open the portal?"

"I will, but only for a moment. I won't allow an entrance to Demonspawn to remain open for long."

"That is all I will need, wizard," the dieruhne hissed.

Jure concentrated first on the dark realm and then allowed his awareness to slide deeper into the bleak lands. The dominion of full demons encompassed its own layer of existence within the realm of dark creatures. It was a realm of pure hate and fury. To languish too long in such a place created immense pain, even when only reaching out with magical perception.

Full demons were not like goblins, shags or hook hawks. Dieruhnes could not easily step from their own twisted realm to one of a more physical nature. In order to interact with the living, their initial passage into a land such as Uton required a certain transformation.  It was like removing a monster from a nightmare to walk in reality, but once it exited a dreamlike existence, going back to its bleak home held its own consequences.

The one thing Jure knew for certain was that the dieruhne would not return. He took hold of a point in Demonspawn and then cast the spell to open the portal. He placed the rift directly in front of the demon and prepared to close it immediately if the dieruhne went back on its word.

The demon leapt through with one bound and an agonizing scream. When it passed through the rift, the corridor between realms trembled violently. The portal closed on its own.

Birk Grund rushed quickly to Haven's side.

"Is that all of them?" the captain asked. "Do you sense any more?"

"There were only the two," Haven responded.

"I think the only ones left in the mansion are the serps and the two spell casters," Ryson offered as he joined the others.

"I would agree," Jure confirmed, "but I don't think they're done with us."

#

Inside the mansion, the serps contemplated their own situation with growing alarm. Petiole was lost, and with him, any chance of creating a greater conflict between the dwarves and the elves. Worse, a dieruhne had been freed of their control and actually requested to return to Demonspawn. Such a request was monumental in nature. The beast was willing to sacrifice its own life to gain vengeance against the serps. As their losses mounted, a growing sense of vulnerability overwhelmed the council members, and Macheve offered the most accurate summary of their dilemma.

"This is a disaster!"

Desiv found it extremely difficult to argue with the conclusion, but he was not ready to accept defeat. It was not time to argue over perceptions. He had to recognize the reality he faced, but he was also serp. He saw opportunity in the potential ruins of their schemes.

"And how we cope with disaster is what separates us from those of lesser intelligence! We are five serps joined together, and this is not a defeat. It is an opportunity."

"For what? Our complete destruction?"

"No, just the opposite. This is where we take control as only serps can. The battle is not over. We must not look to simply survive this assault, but we must turn it against our enemies. We will prove to every inhabitant in the land that we are dominant above all else. This is their ultimate stand against us. Let us destroy them and reclaim our control over their pathetic lives. It is what serps do!"

Macheve was not stirred by the emotions of the speech but rather by its intrigue. If they could reestablish dominance under such conditions, they could quickly turn a disaster into a colossal victory. Such an effort would send a message to any that dare oppose them in the future. They could become the prevailing force in all of Uton. In order to win, however, they had to do more than defeat dozens of elf guards and two powerful spell casters. They had to remove the one clear obstacle to their supremacy.

"Very well," she agreed, "we take the fight to them and kill Ryson Acumen. He is the one who has led them to our doorstep, and he cannot be allowed to live. No more games, just his death. It is time to use Rivira."

"I agree," Desiv replied without hesitation.

The sorceress could not help but overhear the conversation. Rivira was not against using her magic against the delver, but the odds were clearly stacked against her. She had witnessed Jure use his magic, knew the wizard cast in a perfect circle of white. The elf sorceress was also powerful and the two together would most likely overcome even her most potent spells. She began to wonder exactly what was in store for her.

"Use me?" the sorceress asked suspiciously. "Use me in what manner?"

"Use you to overcome the forces against us," Desiv replied.

"Jure is a powerful wizard," Rivira protested. "I have seen him in battle before. If I faced him alone, I might be able to overcome him, but he has allies. I have no chance."

"In your current state that would be correct, but you overlook the basis of your strength. Your foundation is blue magic. The power of water courses through your core, and we are near the sea."

"But Jure can summon the same energy."

"He won't dare do so in the same manner in which you are about to."

"Manner?"

"Yes, we need you to destroy them all. You won't be able to do that with a simple spell. You must do much more. You will become one with the sea, mix your essence with all of the raging power that is to the west. Once that is done, they lack the power to stop you."

And suddenly, the serps' intentions became very clear. In battling the delver and his allies, she could become a victim of her own magic. If the serps had their way, it would be the last spell she would ever cast.

"I can't do that! I would lose my ability as a sorceress, lose my very identity. I wouldn't be able to come back."

"That is true, but unfortunately, it is necessary."

Realizing the serps were intent on their plan, Rivira backed away and prepared to defend herself.

"Nothing is necessary," the sorceress snarled angrily. "I will not listen to you, and you have no one left to defend you here. Your magic is nothing against mine, and Neltus would not dare attack me. Your dieruhnes are gone and your army is in Burbon."

"I have no need of Neltus or an army," Desiv responded with a dismissive wave of his hand. "The council is in need of your extraordinary connection to the sea. Why do you think we brought you here?"

"You're right," Rivira stated defiantly. "The magic is powerful here, and I will not be overcome. All you have is your manipulations and you are not strong enough to control me."

"If it were just me," Desiv allowed with a sly grin," that would be true, but I am not alone. There are five of us here and we all understand the necessity of the matter. It is regretful that we must lose you in such a way, but you were always considered expendable if the need arose. The need is here. The need is now."

Rivira felt the numbing fog of serp manipulation slip into her mind. She tried to cast a spell to shield herself from the invading influence, but she could not even raise her arms to focus the magic within her. As her thoughts of rage slowly drifted off into a murky haze, she could hear Desiv's final words to her.

"You never had a choice in the matter. Unlike Okyiq, you will not be able to resist or break free. We have been preparing for this since we invited you to join us. We have been analyzing your magic and your spells. We know exactly how to manipulate you. You cannot possibly overcome all five of us at this range. Now, cast the proper spell and become the tool of destruction you were destined to be."

Rivira's true consciousness was buried under serp control. The spell she cast was one of immense power, but not one of her own bidding. With her hands raised high over her head, she spoke the words that would reshape her body and essence into a new existence, one that would forsake flesh and blood and become pure in the element of her essence.

A brilliant ring of azure energy slid down Rivira's arms and wrapped itself around her torso. As it surged throughout her body, it triggered an amazing metamorphosis. The sorceress' body disintegrated into the deep blue energy, only a shadow of her figure remained in its place. Her soul was no longer connected to a mortal body, but to a magical vessel of pure water.

Even after the transformation, the serps retained control. They could feel the intoxicating explosion of sheer energy surge through the new entity that was once Rivira. Though they could sense the being's strong connection to the ocean, they knew it was insufficient for the foes she would face. It had to be strengthened further, and for that, she needed to join with the sea.

Upon receiving the command, the entity did not hesitate. The form that had initially retained Rivira's shape broke apart into a cascade of raindrops. They did not, however, fall to the floor and form a simple puddle. Instead, they defied the natural laws and rose higher in the air. Once they began to move, they rushed with great speed out of the mansion, across the surrounding grounds, and over the high cliffs. With one downward dash, the essence of Rivira splashed into the surf just beyond the rocks and became one with the sea.

#

Jure felt it immediately. His connection to the sea was so very strong. The water added to his power and it augmented his sensitivity to the magic. When the energy to the west began to pulsate with a strange new vibration, he attempted to follow the anomaly.

Strangely, it resisted him. He looked out over the cliffs and toward the vast ocean. He saw the surf begin to churn with great aggression. The sea had become more than just violent, it had become obsessed, stirred by an energy beyond a vast and raging storm. He could sense some alien desire shaping the foam of the waves.

"This is not good," he whispered, but all around him heard the warning.

Haven felt it next. She could not have missed it, for just as the churning disturbance wrought the seas, it bent the light with the same growing menace.

"Something is in the ocean," she warned.

"What is it?" Birk Grund demanded. "What are we facing?"

Neither Haven nor Jure could respond before the sea gave its own answer. The waves rolled together near the shore but did not crash upon the beach. Instead, they rose upward, reaching high above the cliff ledge. A wall of water towered above them all. It took no specific shape. Its form swelled and heaved as ripples of waves continued to roll up and down the massive crest, but the shifting mountain of water refused to subside back into the sea or spill out over the land. Its raging fury was evident even to those not attuned to the magical energies.

"What is that?" Ryson asked, amazed at the sight before him.

"It's a pure water elemental... a water mammoth," Jure answered, "but it's more than that. It's Rivira. I can feel her in the magic. She didn't just conjure an entity, she merged herself with the water."

"Can you communicate with her? Reason with her?"

Jure made the attempt. He tried to ride the waves of azure magic that linked his inner core with the sea, but the moment he tried to reach Rivira's essence, he was almost immediately repelled. He was, however, able to glean the intentions of the serps and the desires they placed into what remained of Rivira's consciousness.

"No, I can't get through. The serps have total control over her, or rather what's left of her. They want her to destroy us."

"We cannot just stand here," Birk advised. "It continues to grow. Once it reaches full strength. It will most likely attack. We have to scatter, give it several targets and force it to expand further to reach us."

Ryson, however, countermanded the order.

"Jure, you have to take control. Tell us what to do."