Reflected Redeemptions Chapter 8

The room was quite impressive. More then large enough for just one person, the main area held a varity of chairs and couches, along with desks and even a table to eat off of. On the table was a selection of delicacies that even the best chef in the world would be hard pressed to get right. There was also plenty of jugs of wine and glasses, enough for an army if need be. To one side of the main room was a bath, holding a tub big enough for 10 people and constantly heated through an unknown process. The edges of the bath were lined with secneted soaps and candles while a pile of soft towels waited in one corner to be used. Opposite the bath was the bedroom. The bed inside could easily hold the people from the bath, plus all their cloest friends. The matress was impossibly soft, yet no one would sink in if they lied out. The covers and pillows were all silk and equally as soft as the bed while the canopy above had patterns of dots that rearranged themselves to the watcher's needs. The bedroom also had dressers and cloests of the finest clothes; silk dresses, satin pants and shirts. There was a never ending supply of choices for outfits. Through another door was the study, a solid oak desk claiming the middle of the room while two of the walls held the books, books from all over the world and from the past, present and future. Titles were constantly rotated or replaced to the reader's whim. Lamps hung in all the rooms, lighting each at night to a comfortable brightness. During the day light came in from the large lattice windows that lined one wall, giving the bath, main room and study plenty of sunlight, as beatuifully colored silk curtains fluttered in the occasional light gust of wind. And the view was always breathtaking, no matter how many times or how long you stared at it. Mountains lined the horizon, their purple peaks evenly spaced and all the same height so the sky was not obsturcted. In front of the mountains was a large lake, it's shimmering surface a lovely sapphire blue; just looking at it made you feel hot and the only way to cool off would be to plunge into it's waters. Surrounding the lake as a perfect green forest, the trees never losing their leaves no matter the weather. Here and there someone could be seen in the orchird area of the forest, plucking sweet fruits from each tree. Yes, it was a wonderful place to Othperin's royal eyes. Too bad it was all fake.

The mink pricness was sitting on one of the long and low couches when the heavy wooden door that lead out unlocked and opened easily. There was no hallway on the other side though, only an emptyness that seemed to suck all the light into it until her captor entered and closed the door. Covered in black armor, the figure's large body had to duck to get through the door. Until the helmet was removed, Othperin could not tell what species he was; but even when it was off, the creature was like none that the mink had seen or heard off. With an almost flat face and no fur, it looked like something from the elven ilk, but there were none that tall. Or evil looking.
"I hope everything is to your liking, Princess Othperin." he spoke with a deep voice as his eyes looked her over.
"I would rather be free and back with my Taareek then here." Othperin replied frankly. "I insist you let me go immediantly."
The creature smiled as he strode over to sit on the same couch, causing Othperin to shy away to the other side.
"Ah, but I can not do that, my dear. You see, you are part of my plan to reenter your world." He reached over to stroke her ears softly, chuckling to himself as she tried to pull more away.
The princess was too polite or scared to move off the couch. "What do you mean?"
"Why, just as I ment. I was banished to this underworld long ago when I tried to take over your world. I have been waiting and building my power just for a situation like what has come up with you and that Taareek elemental." He leaned in close to the mink. "Because he took part of the power that held me in check, then lost it because of you, I shall make my return and finish what I had begun."
Othperin reacted without thinking, smacking the male across the face, her small claws cutting his flesh just a little. This caused the creature to draw back, narrowing his eyes as they darkened.
"You dare strike me? You have no idea who I am, do you?"
Othperin's own eyes locked to the others, and though they were filled with fear, she did not look away.
"No. Nor do I care. I refuse to be part of your scheme."
Armor creaked as the figure stood and laughed out loud. "You do not have a choice. I am Kryton, Master of this underworld and..." here his armor glowed as black as his eyes and the room shimmered, changing from a scene of luxery to a hellish world of fire, torture and blood red skies. His body seemed to grow larger as he spoke. "And God of Nightmares in the realm you call home."

Othperin screamed as, with a hand gesture from Kryton, she found herself bound between two rock pillars, fire leaping threateningly to burn her fur. Another gestured and the room returned to what it once was, the princess dropping to the floor at the feet of the god.
He looked down at her once, then turned towards the door out, carring his helmet under one arm.
"Please, enjoy your stay in this crafted dream, Princess. I shall come to check on you again soon."
With that, Kryton was gone, the lock on the door clicking once more and trapping the mink inside.

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Kema stood at the base of a mountain that looked very out of place in the surrounding desert. Meikai and Bua were already heading towards one of the entrances as the hybrid gawked at the structure.
"What's the holdup, cutie?" Bua stopped and called back to him. "It's just your new home."
Kema catched up with the other two, stepping from the hot outside to the cooler feeling of cave entrance.
"This is where Taareek ruled from? It must've taken a long time to build."
The trio started up a flight of stairs that winded it's way along the inside of the mountain to the top. The width was enough so that two people could walk side by side. As Bua hung back, Meikai moved up next to Kema.
"Actually, he made it in a day, from what I've heard." the sidhe explained as they climbed higher. "Back when his power was new and at it's peak, really."
Bua laughed from behind. "Oh, yes. Those were the days. Nothing could stop him. He was even called on to stop a rampaging god once."
Kema nodded over his shoulder to the clear vixen. "And he created the both of you?"
Bua smiled. "Well, I was one of his orginal ideas. He found the best sculpter at the time, provide the block of crystal, then brought me to life. Meikai on the other paw was found near death one day. So he helped her and got her to serve him ever since."
Meikai nodded. "He infused my body with a fire elemental." She held out her hands, a flame leaping from palm to the other. "So now I should be able to live forever, though I understand the transfer wasn't complete and he wanted me to prove myself before he did finish it."

They came to the top of the mountain and entered the throne room as Kema listened to the stories.
"I see. Well, perhaps we can find a way to do what he didn't, or couldn't, want to do." He looked around the room and nodded. "He had some great power obviously to create all this."
Bua nodded as she leans against one of the arms of throne. "Yep. He still does, I think, but something has been sapping it. We believe it's because of the bitch-ess."
Kema shrugged as he sat on the throne, wriggling a bit against the stone surface. "Well, they're out and I'm in. He also has others helping him rule?"
"Had." Meikai reminded. "Yes. There are seven lesser lords, each looking over different territories that Taareek has claim on, right up to the Hort forest. He was going to take over Yonghilt, but stopped short after meeting Othperin."
Kema nodded, flicking his feathered tail a little. "Okay. Call these other lords to here; we need to go over some things. And remind me at some point to get this throne some cushions or something."

It was a few hours later when Meikai entered with the last of the lesser lords, the other six sitting at a long table in one of the meeting rooms. A representitive from each territory and different species, the lords were all well dressed and each looked down at the others, thinking they were the best and most in favor with Taareek. As the minutes dragged on, the assembled started to get anxious. Finally a member of the equine race stood and shouted to the two women by the outer door.
"You called us here for important news from our Lord and he makes us wait? This is not like Master Taareek at all!"
Bua just smiled brightly, candle light reflecting off her clear teeth. "Things change. Quite unexpectedly too." she replied as the door started to open. "Ah, here he is now." She stepped to the table as the others stood. "Gentlemen, I give you our ruler:Kema." She grinned to herself at the looks on the faces at this news and of the feline/bird that entered and sat in the chair at the head of the table. A moment of silence followed, then each of the lesser lords yelled out, each tring to drown the other out.
"What is this?"
"Who is this imposter?"
"A hybrid? Here? Kill him!"
There were numerous other threats and questions shouted all at once, none that seemed to make the hybrid react. Meikai came over to the table now, opening her mouth to shout back, but was stopped by one of Kema's paws. As the lords grew more angry, a couple even standing and starting to the feline in a threatening manner, a flash of light came from Kema's chest as he spell he was reciting took effect. It paused the others in their spots, eyes widening in a questioning manner as the hybrid removed a stone from the tunic he wore and set it against the front.
"Now, if you're through with your tantrums, everything will be explained." He looked right into the eyes of each, watching for any signs of hostility as he released them one by one. Each sat back in their chair, mumbles of complaint rather then obedience coming from most. When they were back in place, Kema stood and resting his large paws on the table.
"I'm sure none of you were expecting this," he started, his stone's glow dying down. "But your Taareek has lost some or most of his power, allowing a stronger one to enter this realm." He was reciting what he learned of the situation from Bua and Meikai. "This left a void that needed to be filled by another power, stronger then Taareek is now. You all just saw but a small part of mine." Actually it took Kema three years to get that one right, attempts before making those held explode.
A rotund badger spoke up. "And what about Jinko? It was in my territory and I demand restitutions for the loss of gold."
Kema glanced at the badger. "I heard about what happened there and we're looking into who did it. As that was under the previous ruler, I am not responsible for your loss." He looked to the others, ignoring the growls from the badger. "I'm still going over the laws that were decided on before, and while I'll be keeping most of them, we will be making some changes...."

This brought the lords to question him again at the top of their lungs. Kema planned to wait them out, but this changed as the badger suddenly drew a short knife from his clothes and jumped onto the table.
"I will not let this...freak change what we have worked so hard for!" he shouted as he brandished the knife in Kema's direction. The hybrid didn't hesitate in leaping on the table as well, wings spread wide as his tail whipped around behind him.
"And I will not let you take the chance I was given!" His long claws unsheathed as he faced off against the lesser lord.
The other lords had backed away from the table, waiting to cheer on whoever seemed to have the advantage after the fight started. Bua tried to get Kema's attention from behind.
"Let me or Meikai take him. The fat bastard is hardly worth fighting anyway." she suggested, then paused as the badger started to glow, his body distorting a bit until he more represented an old corpse. The knife changed as well, growing into a curved sword, it's blade chipped, but still sharp looking. Meikai used her wings to lift a little off the floor, a ball of fire forming in one hand.
"A spy." she said as she hurled the ball towards the new creature. The fire impacted on his chest, but did no damage as the sphere broke apart around him. The once badger laughed, which coming from a broken body did not sound right.
"Nice try, bitch. But my new Master's power protects me." He waved the sword in the air before Kema's face. "And now I will take care of you, freak. You will stand in the way of Lord Kryton's plans."
Kema growled deeply, his fingers flexing as he eyed the creature. "A freak I may be, but at least I will be a living one!" he shouted. He lunged forward as quick as only a cat can, only to dodge to the side at the slightly faster blade.
"You don't stand a chance against me, hybrid." The badger slashed at Kema again, taking a couple of feather tips off of one wing. "I was a champion fighter when I was first alive."
Kema danced out of the way of the sword, standing near the edge of the table. His green eyes narrowed, his breathing a little faster then normal now.

He spied Meikai forming another sphere of flame in her hands, then looked back to the menacing sword fighter.
"Then I'll make sure you don't get a chance to repeat that." He willed his parent's stone to light, the normally dark surface starting to brighten quickly.
"I call to my parents who gave their lives for mine
Your souls were sealed in here for all time.
I find myself in a fight with an enemy that is not harmed by sword, axe or bow.
I ask you use what is available to turn back time on my foe."
Kema called forth a spell as he easily avoided repeated attacks by the sword, the stone glowing more brightly now. Meikai wasn't sure if she should attack now or not, but decided to anyway, which is what Kema wanted. His concentration was on the spell and the fire ball, the two acting together to change the sphere into a small whirlwind of fire. The badger spy was caught up in the gale, howling in pain as it did just as the spell suggested, reversing the body in time. As the whirlwind died away, all it left was a broken and decaying corpse of a badger, any features he had in this present time wiped away.
Bua let out a shout of joy, joining Kema on the table to hug him, but first giving the corpse a well placed kick. The remaining lords had watched the whole fight and were now cowering close to one of the far walls. Meikai joined the other two on the table, giving the hybrid a quick hug as well.
"Good job, Kema. Nothing impresses like a show of force." she whispered in one of his ears. Kema nodded and turned to the other lord, hopping off the table.
"Any more of you want to challenge my taking Taareek's spot?"
None of the lesser lords stepped forward, instead each bowed his head towards the feline, who smiled in return.
"Good. Now get back to your homes. We have work to do here to keep things like that," he pointed to the body as Bua and Meikai kicked it off the table. "from coming here to try something again. I'll call you all back when it is over."

Later that night, as Kema adjusted to the new padding on the throne, the three discussed the day's events.
"Lord Kryton." Meikai started reading from a book they found in the library. "The god of nightmares. He lived in this realm and tried to take control by invading people's dreams. He was finally banished to an underworld a thousand years ago, his control over those he had taken broken."
Bua sat on one of the throne's arms next to Kema. "That was Taar's first show of his true power. He survivied, but had to rest for weeks from using so much."
Kema used his wings to cushion his back from the throne's stone back. "Okay. So, this Kryton is tring to get back and is using Taar's weakening power over him to break in. We need to find a way to mimic that original power or create a new one."
Meikai closed the book. "It may not work the same this time. Even if you get stronger then him, Kema, he just has to wait for you to die before tring again. We have to find something to take away the power he has."
It was true. Just sealing the god without weakening him would be pointless over the years. Kema pulled out one of his cigerettes and lit it with his stone.
"If he is the god of nightmares, his control of dreams is actually limited. What makes up a nightmare one dreams then?"
"Power." Bua answered first. "Power that others might have over you."
"Fear." Meikai said. "Fear of the unknown."
"Justice." Kema came up with after some thought. "Those that do wrong, fear the power of anyone that might bring them to justice for their crime."
They tried to come up with other ideas, but each one lead back to the three first suggestions.
Kema sipped from a cup one of the servants had left for them, wrinkling his muzzle at the taste. "I'll have to get some rana fruits in here." he mumbled, then to the other two. "Well, we have what we need to draw from Kryton. Now the question is how do we seal each of them?""A statue for each should do it, enchanted to hold each power in place and seperate from the others, even when brought together. The problem will be finding the right enchanment to use."
Kema nodded. "I may have a few ideas on that." He stood up from the throne. "But not tonight. Don't know about you two, but I need to sleep."
Bua stroked the fur between Kema's ears as she grinned. "Actually, that's a good idea. We'll show you your room...." She winked over at Meikai, who rolled her eyes.
"After what happened today to it looks like you'll be fun to have around," the vixen continued as she pulled on an arm of the others and lead them down one of the hallways.