unzipped it completely, giving Myles one. Omar fell asleep still sitting against the brick wall.
~*~
Thanatos, an Arch-Demon, had never entered the Great Red Dragon’s domain on Musterion before. He’d come through a portal on his world, BioNekros—a world of undead managed by demon overlords. All of humanity in this alternate dimension of Earth had contracted a virus that had turned them into mindless task-doers. The humans walked around BioNekros doing the same mundane things they had done when they were alive, but now they did them without any meaning or purpose.
Thanatos had always proven his worth to the Great Red Dragon, whom all demons and evil creatures referred to simply as "Master". Thanatos had been summoned to a meeting but didn’t know what to expect. The master could take almost any form when he’d appear, so you might not know if it was him at first. Thanatos chose a human form for himself when he entered through the portal because he wanted to show the master proper respect. The human form was about the lowest form you could take as far as the Great Red Dragon was concerned.
After coming through the portal, Thanatos found himself standing in a throne room. Thanatos knelt before the throne as he waited for the master to appear. After a moment, an ordinary man walked into the room and sat down on the throne. The man wore spectacles and had black, shoulder-length hair graying at the temples. He had brown eyes, an olive complexion, and wore a lab coat. Thanatos lowered his head and waited for the master to speak, but risked a peek. The man smiled a charming, almost enchanting smile.
“It’s a good day, Thanatos.”
“Yes, Master," Thanatos said cautiously. "It’s a good day.”
The man in the lab coat clapped his hands as if in joy. “It’s not often that an opportunity like this comes by- an opportunity to gain power and win a great battle in the war to come.”
Thanatos nodded in agreement, even though he didn’t know what the master was talking about.
“As you know, my friend, my focus of late has been on Soterion, and I’ll return there after this meeting. But first we must discuss a matter that I need you to take care of for me.”
“How may I serve you, Master?”
“Do you see this form? Look closely, Thanatos. The man who wears this shape is called Omar Metzger. He’s soon going to enter the Core of Musterion. There’s an ancient prophecy that a woman from Earth will bring a sword from Musterion to Soterion. Thanatos, this must not happen! Omar Metzger is from Earth. He is somehow a catalyst in this event, so watch him closely.”
The master's arms stretched out to his sides and he shifted his form, into a human wearing a black western outfit. “This is Myles Callaghan. He’s also from Earth, and this makes him dangerous, so he must die. I don’t know who the woman is yet, but she will eventually make contact with Myles and Omar, and she’ll side with them in a conflict. When this happens, you and your minions have to be ready to kill her too.” The master stepped forward. Red scales erupted through Myles' face as a dragon snout lengthened and wings sprouted, grew, and shadowed Thanatos like a giant, leathery awning. By the time he reached Thanatos his talons raked an inch from his face. The Red Dragon snarled, “Do not underestimate them, Thanatos. They’ve already proven themselves to be powerful. Myles and Omar alone killed one of the ancient mother spiders in the maze.”
Thanatos had crouched again at the dragon's burst of rage but nodded. “Yes, Sire.”
“And Thanatos, if the sword is found, you must bring it to me. When I take Soterion as my own, I will give Musterion to you, because you have been faithful.”
Thanatos rose with a smile. “I will not fail you, master.”
“I’m counting on it!”
5
Seven
Myles tried to sleep but for once he couldn’t do it. Where am I? How did I get here? He knew he ought to be bloodied, lying on the floor of his
~*~
Thanatos, an Arch-Demon, had never entered the Great Red Dragon’s domain on Musterion before. He’d come through a portal on his world, BioNekros—a world of undead managed by demon overlords. All of humanity in this alternate dimension of Earth had contracted a virus that had turned them into mindless task-doers. The humans walked around BioNekros doing the same mundane things they had done when they were alive, but now they did them without any meaning or purpose.
Thanatos had always proven his worth to the Great Red Dragon, whom all demons and evil creatures referred to simply as "Master". Thanatos had been summoned to a meeting but didn’t know what to expect. The master could take almost any form when he’d appear, so you might not know if it was him at first. Thanatos chose a human form for himself when he entered through the portal because he wanted to show the master proper respect. The human form was about the lowest form you could take as far as the Great Red Dragon was concerned.
After coming through the portal, Thanatos found himself standing in a throne room. Thanatos knelt before the throne as he waited for the master to appear. After a moment, an ordinary man walked into the room and sat down on the throne. The man wore spectacles and had black, shoulder-length hair graying at the temples. He had brown eyes, an olive complexion, and wore a lab coat. Thanatos lowered his head and waited for the master to speak, but risked a peek. The man smiled a charming, almost enchanting smile.
“It’s a good day, Thanatos.”
“Yes, Master," Thanatos said cautiously. "It’s a good day.”
The man in the lab coat clapped his hands as if in joy. “It’s not often that an opportunity like this comes by- an opportunity to gain power and win a great battle in the war to come.”
Thanatos nodded in agreement, even though he didn’t know what the master was talking about.
“As you know, my friend, my focus of late has been on Soterion, and I’ll return there after this meeting. But first we must discuss a matter that I need you to take care of for me.”
“How may I serve you, Master?”
“Do you see this form? Look closely, Thanatos. The man who wears this shape is called Omar Metzger. He’s soon going to enter the Core of Musterion. There’s an ancient prophecy that a woman from Earth will bring a sword from Musterion to Soterion. Thanatos, this must not happen! Omar Metzger is from Earth. He is somehow a catalyst in this event, so watch him closely.”
The master's arms stretched out to his sides and he shifted his form, into a human wearing a black western outfit. “This is Myles Callaghan. He’s also from Earth, and this makes him dangerous, so he must die. I don’t know who the woman is yet, but she will eventually make contact with Myles and Omar, and she’ll side with them in a conflict. When this happens, you and your minions have to be ready to kill her too.” The master stepped forward. Red scales erupted through Myles' face as a dragon snout lengthened and wings sprouted, grew, and shadowed Thanatos like a giant, leathery awning. By the time he reached Thanatos his talons raked an inch from his face. The Red Dragon snarled, “Do not underestimate them, Thanatos. They’ve already proven themselves to be powerful. Myles and Omar alone killed one of the ancient mother spiders in the maze.”
Thanatos had crouched again at the dragon's burst of rage but nodded. “Yes, Sire.”
“And Thanatos, if the sword is found, you must bring it to me. When I take Soterion as my own, I will give Musterion to you, because you have been faithful.”
Thanatos rose with a smile. “I will not fail you, master.”
“I’m counting on it!”
5
Seven
Myles tried to sleep but for once he couldn’t do it. Where am I? How did I get here? He knew he ought to be bloodied, lying on the floor of his
Similar Books
