Part 12 (1/2)

Yaloom looked up and found the Book's eyes. ”You've got to help me, Gabriel. You have enough power to control the G.o.ds. Please forgive me, and allow me to stay. I'll give you anything. I'll even serve you.”

The Book's response was cold. ”What's done is done. Where would you like to live out the rest of your Peaks? I suggest you choose wisely since they'll be short.” A disgusted look appeared on the Book's face. ”According to the laws on my pages, you're to be granted one final request. What will it be?”

Yaloom thought for a long series of moments. Eventually, a smile appeared on his face. ”I still have a significant amount of power, despite being stripped of my immortality. I also have my memories. I may not be able to seek vengeance in this life, but I can steal my soul from your pages and seek revenge in another.”

The Book lowered to a height level with Yaloom's eyes. ”I a.s.sure you, once I have your soul inside your designated page, it shall remain there until the moment arrives for your rebirth.” The Book crossed his arms. ”You have failed to answer my questions. What is your final request, and where would you like to live out the rest of your Peaks?”

Yaloom thought for a moment on how to articulate his request. ”I would like you to harness what is left of my power and the memories that I shall list. Put them into a vial in the form of a potion. I wish to be taken to Sam's throne room on Southern Grayham and left with this vial in my possession.”

The Book frowned. ”Yet again, the Collective has failed to implement laws to govern another matter of great significance.”

Yaloom's eyes darkened as his smile spread. ”Yes, but the law states that you must grant my final request as long as I do not ask for the return of my immortality. You must give this to me, and you cannot tell the others what I've done.”

Gabriel sighed. ”List your memories, and then I'll take you to Brandor.”

The World of Luvelles The Kingdom of Lavan Just East of Crystal Lake Gage stood on a hillside, looking down at the village that he hoped to make his new home. This can't be it, he thought. It looks abandoned. The structures are uninhabitable.

But it was not his displeasure with the condition of the village that made the badger nervous and sick to his stomach. He knew that without the permission of the Ultorian King, he would not be allowed to stay. His only option was to make his descent to the beach of Crystal Lake at nightfall. This was when the Ultorians would leave their underwater city to come ash.o.r.e.

The badger tapped his cane against a rock near his foot. I hope I haven't made a mistake.

Ancients Sovereign Lasidious and Celestria's Home ”Do you think Mosley saw the stain on your gown?” Lasidious questioned as he sat near the green flames that burned inside their cube-shaped fireplace.

Celestria took a seat in her lover's lap, ”It appears the residue on my dress is gone. I wasn't the one who removed it, so I would wager the wolf saw our clue and got rid of it before the others could notice.”

Lasidious smiled as he removed a flower from the vase sitting on top of the table. He caressed Celestria's cheek with its petals, and after a soft kiss was exchanged, he responded. ”You've got to love that wolf. He's perceptive. But can you believe Yaloom's idiocy? How could he make such a mistake? I knew he wasn't the cleverest of minds, but to be made mortal over something as trivial as a poor choice of words is ridiculous.”

The G.o.ddess purred as she bit the top of the Mischievous One's ear. ”Yaloom wanted to use your creation against you, my pet. He wanted to rub George in your face to get a reaction. It appears you were under his skin even more than you antic.i.p.ated. Now we can forget about this part of our plan and move forward. I'm just glad it's over. He would've only complicated things.”

Celestria took a moment to glow in her enjoyment of Yaloom's demise. ”I know we spoke of getting rid of him, but I never imagined it would happen without working for it. I just love it when they do our dirty work for us, my sweet.”

Lasidious could only smile. ”As you know, Gabriel won't be able to draw from either Yaloom or Ba.s.sorine's power when the moment comes to stand against us. Whomever the Book chooses to replace Yaloom will be far weaker beings. This bodes well for us. We have only one more inconvenience to purge. Are we still in agreement that with him out of the way, we'll be able to draw from Garrin's power to hold the Book under our control?”

”We are.”

”Then we just need to give Garrin the moments necessary to mature.”

”Yes. It'll be delightful to watch his power develop, my love.”

Lasidious enjoyed the thought. He took a deep breath and then chuckled. ”There's one other matter that we need to discuss. I believe Mosley and Alistar are going to choose Shalee to go after the crystal since her power has grown so quickly. This is an unexpected twist we should use to our advantage.”

”Agreed,” Celestria confirmed. ”Let's plow the road before her feet. I'm sure she'll follow it to the crystal. Do you think you can convince her to abandon her morality?” The G.o.ddess moved to stand before the green flames of their fireplace and then rolled her hands overtop of one another. ”I do hope she chooses a darker path.”

Lasidious tapped his fingers against the table. ”Shalee is bitter after the loss of her child. She's vulnerable. There's no better series of moments to tempt her than now.” The Mischievous One changed the subject. ”Whom did you find to hold the crystal for us ... someone that'll be grateful, I hope.”

Celestria oozed. ”Oh yes, and he's gorgeous, my pet. His name is Geylyn Jesthrene. He's a hunter from Hyperia. Geylyn was quite debonair, and he handled himself like a true gentleman ... even inside Grogger's belly. He addressed me in a proper manner. I gave him the crystal and fixed his wonderful head of hair.”

Lasidious crossed his arms. ”Your l.u.s.t for this mortal is not shared by me.”

Celestria moved to her mischievous lover and kissed him. ”Your jealousy makes my loins moist, my sweet.”

”Hmpf! I bet! Let's change the subject.”

Lasidious stood from his chair and moved across the room. ”I imagine that Mieonus will choose George to go after the crystal. When she's unable to find him, she'll come looking for us. I think we should implement the next part of our plan.”

Celestria closed the gap between them and stroked Lasidious' face. ”I agree. But first, you have business to attend to.” The G.o.ddess took him by the hand. With her free arm, she used her power to clear the table and then encouraged her lover to lie on its surface. She spoke with a seductive voice as she opened the front of his robe. ”You have nothing to be jealous of, my pet. My heart yearns only for you.”

”It better.”

”Oh ... it does.” Her tongue found his...

The City of Brandor When the Book of Immortality appeared with Yaloom in Sam's throne room, the king was asleep. Sam's head was resting against the padding of his royal chair, and the body of his son was still cradled in the palm of his right hand.

Yaloom whispered, ”Thank you, Gabriel. This is perfect. Losing my G.o.dliness was unexpected, but I can still control my fate. It won't be long before I'm just another soul living inside a page within my name. I trust you'll give me pleasant dreams as I wait to be reborn.”

The Book did not respond. Instead, Gabriel handed Yaloom the vial that was filled with his essence and vanished.

”Perhaps not,” Yaloom shrugged. ”No matter ... my stay on your pages will be brief.”

Yaloom moved across the room and sat next to Sam. He was careful not to startle the king. ”Sam, wake up. We need to talk, King of Brandor.”

Sam's eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to open them. It took a short series of moments to collect his bearings and focus, but when he did, he recognized the G.o.d's face from pictures he had seen in the Royal Library. The king lifted from his throne, and then placed Sam Jr. on the cus.h.i.+on where the warmth from his body remained.

Without looking at the deity, Sam spoke. ”What do you want? I'm in no mood to visit with G.o.ds, Yaloom.”

”I understand, but I've come to help you.”

Sam's right eyebrow lifted. ”It's a little late for that.” The king turned to face his visitor. ”Exactly how do you intend to help?”

Yaloom opened his hand and revealed the vial the Book had left behind. ”I've been stripped of my G.o.dhood. This vial contains what's left of my power and many of my memories. If you were to give this to your queen, she could use it to save your son.”

Sam could only stare at the liquid inside the gla.s.s. It glowed light-blue, and it was mesmerizing. He stood fixated for what seemed to be forever before Yaloom snapped his fingers. ”Sam, are you paying attention?”

”I am. I'm just tired.” The king wiped the sleep from his eyes. ”So, if I give this vial to Shalee, you're saying she can use it to give our son life?”

”In a manner of speaking.”

Sam frowned. ”What does that mean?”

”The liquid could a.s.sist your queen in gaining the power she'll need to teleport to the hidden G.o.d world. Some Peak, after she meets with the Source on Luvelles, she'll be able to make the journey to Ancients Sovereign. She can pick the fruit from the nasha tree. Then, as parents, you could extract the juice from this fruit and use it to retrieve your son's soul from the Book of Immortality's pages.”

Sam took a seat on the steps leading to his throne. ”Are you saying my boy could live?”

”I am. But there are a few unknowns.”

”And they are?”