"The Fall of Asmodius" by Jason J. Romein

The Fall of Asmodius

            “I know why you’re here, Talon.”

            The scarlet-clad mage turned back to the Dark Lord.  Atop the twisted table between them, the gray candle burned strong.  The mist churned slowly in the green crystal on the pedestal.  Flaming bubbles rose from the vial on the stand in the corner.  A griffin screeched in the stables below.

            Dark Lord Talon picked up a smooth glass sphere.  He examined it carefully, with excruciating patience.  He turned it, slowly, and lifted it to the light.  He glanced at the old man, smirked, and threw the globe against the wall, where it shattered violently.

            “Where is it, High Mage Asmodius?”  He said the title mockingly.

            The old mage shook his head.  “For the sake of the world, I will not tell you!”

            “Wrong answer,” Talon growled.  He moved his face closer to Asmodius.  The mage could smell the decay on his breath, and peer into the sunken bloodshot orbs which sat where there should be eyes.  “Where lies the amulet?” Talon rasped, “Where is Terael’s Amulet?”

            Suddenly, Asmodius drew heat from the air around him, brought his fist into the Dark Lord, and released the mana.  Flames erupted from the mage’s hand, and Talon flew back smoking and flaming.

            With a cry of rage, the Dark Lord waved his hand and extinguished the flames.  “So this is how you want to play, fool?  I’ll drag the knowledge I seek from your quivering lips in their dying breath!”

            Asmodius drew back, holding a fireball in one hand.  Talon readied himself to strike, but then paused.

            “No,” Talon said smugly, “Ever since Tir Droneth, I have waited for the chance to do this to you, and I won’t throw it away in a moment.”  The Dark Lord paced across the room to the window.  Half to himself, he continued.  “Eternal life has it’s downside, but it does allow you to see your enemies suffer and die…slowly…yes, ever so slowly…”  Talon grinned cruelly.

            “Eternal death, you mean.  Nevertheless, nothing you can do will save you.  If it is not I who kills you, it will be my brother, or his son, or his son’s son…”

            “So you know not…” Talon muttered mockingly.  He turned to face Asmodius, a wicked smirk on his face.  “Your brother lies dead in the ashes of Korabethe!  I killed him myself!”

            “No…”

            Atop the twisted table between them, the gray candle flickered.  Asmodius shook his head.  “My brother’s son will slay you if I fail.  Terence—“

            “Terence is sitting in my dungeon as we speak!  You see, my dear Asmodius, there will be nobody to avenge you.  Your bloodline ends with you.”  Talon began to laugh.

            The old mage’s face creased into a defiant snarl.  “You lie!” he spat.

            “You know I do not,” Talon said.

            Asmodius sighed exhaustedly, and fell to his knees.  “Then if all hope is lost, at least you will not have me.”

            “No…”

            “Do not think I am not willing to do this.  If the world is saved, it will be well worth the price.  The location of the amulet dies with me!”

            “No, you fool!” Talon shrieked, “You are mine!  Mine to kill, to destroy!  No!”

            High Mage Asmodius began to gather mana of all eight types from all around him, completely oblivious to Talon’s shouting.

            “Talon, it is done.”

            With a bright flash of furious white, Asmodius screamed, and then was gone.  The walls, floor, and ceiling were scorched black, and only because of magical reinforcements had they not been blasted away.  Talon screamed in fury, smashed the green crystal on the pedestal, and stormed from the chamber in a rage.

            Atop the twisted table, the gray candle went out.

Note to Reader:

            Asmodius lives!  He did not destroy himself as Talon thought, but merely teleported himself to the future (or something like that).  He will pop up some time during my book, Talon’s Legacy, and help to train Trevor Thistleflame.  Also, Terence had a son, and that son was hidden from Talon.  The line of Asmodius continued until it produced Trevor himself!

            On another note, when Talon was finally hunted down by the Legion of Sora’ Liss, he discovered Terael’s Amulet around the neck of one Ayura legionnaire.  After five hundred years, he managed to gain control of the amulet, and it’s wearer, Kyran.  Kyran was influenced by Talon, and turned to darkness to become Kyran Stormreaver, and he freed Talon from his prison in the Ethereal Plane.  Kyran Stormreaver is also known as “The Dark Betrayer”.  His current whereabouts are unknown, and he is believed dead (c’mon, it’s been a few thousand years).