Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 31

That night, Bane had a dream he would never forget. He opened his eyes to find himself in his bedroom, except it wasn't. Or more accurately, it wasn't any more. He hadn't seen it in years. The Spiderman poster on the wall, the small car models next to his race track on the floor... the white walls and thick blue carpet, the moonlight pouring in through the window... There was no sound of any kind. Bane yawned and caught sight of his reflection. He was his ten year old self, again. And yet... his mind was the one of his present self. It didn't make sense to him. But then, dreams rarely did.

Thinking he should probably just "go back to sleep", he closed his eyes, not sure why he was dreaming of this. All was quiet. He was just relaxing, when he hard a small noise that sent a jolt through his whole body. And it took all his willpower not to jump up and run. It appeared his mind still partially thought like a ten year old, he noticed. But he stayed very still. He had heard that sound only once before, and he would forever be etched in his mind.

Instantly, he curled up, but knew it wouldn't change anything. Mentally, he forced himself to calm. He was an adult, now for crying out loud! So, he opened his eyes again. Sure enough, just like he remembered from the first time, the shadow was there, blocking the moon. Steeling himself, he turned around. His heart hammering, his small hands sweaty and shaky, he looked up, short of breath., As Zorak towered over him.

Bane jerked upright and backed away, but soon ended up against the wall, knocking his lamp over in the process. It fell to the floor with a clatter. A small part of Bane knew what would happen next. Another was yelling at him to get out before it did. But the rest of him was too stunned to move a muscle. The moon cast an eerie glow on Zorak who was eying him coldly.

"Hm. You look rather cowardly. But I'm sure a little training will fix that soon enough."

He reached out. Bane couldn't help the panic coursing through him.

"No... no, get away!" he stammered, his voice much higher than was natural.

"Get away from him right now!"

Bane's head jerked to the right. His mother stood in the doorway. She looked positively frightening with that dangerous look in her eyes, but Bane wasn't worried. He knew the glare wasn't directed at him.

"He's just as much mine as he is yours, Camille," Zorak commented.

"You can keep telling yourself that," Bane's mother snapped. "But you will not touch him."

Zorak's eyes glinted with amusement.

"Oh, won't I?" he asked interestedly. "And who, might I ask, will prevent that?"

"I will," said a new voice.

Bane suddenly noticed something was glowing near him. Looking around, he suddenly realized he was the one glowing. Frightened, he closed his eyes as the light brightened. After a minute, he opened them again. The ghostly figure of a man stood before him, glaring at Zorak.

Balon... Bane thought. Just like that night...

Still confused, Bane watched as Zorak and Balon sized each other up.

"You are powerless in that form," Zorak said haughtily.

"Maybe," Balon agreed, "but I'm not alone."

And with that, he soared towards Camille, entering her body. She gasped, and suddenly, began to glow.

"... Mom...?" Bane's child voice asked nervously.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Don't worry."

And as though she'd done it all her life, she took on Zorak. He wasn't expecting it, and for a few seconds, it looked like she just might win. But of course, Zorak was nothing if not persistent. Deep purple electricity shot through his arms, hitting Camille/Balon right in the chest. Bane let out an involuntary gasp. He watched as his mother hit the floor, crashing into his closet.

Balon's spirit was shoved out of the body. Zorak wasted no time and a bright light filled the room. Bane fearfully hid under his covers. After a moment, Balon's voice said:

"Bane? You can come out, now."

Slowly, he did. Balon was crouching next to the spot where his mother had been seconds before. But she was gone. All that was left was her silver pendant.

Bane jerked awake gasping for breath. His back was drenched in sweat, his heart felt about to burst out of his chest, and he felt almost certain he would throw up. He had never had such a dream. But why was he now? Something bugged him... that light when Zorak had left... he didn't know why, exactly, but he was almost positive he knew that light from somewhere. He sat still, trying not to panic. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

When he was satisfied, he jumped out of bed and hurried down the stairs. A part of him that sounded suspiciously like Balon chided that he would wake his uncle, but Bane didn't care, right now. It was too important. He hurtled towards Zarias's room and opened the door.

"Zarias!" he hissed. "Zarias, wake up!"

He shook him ruthlessly.

"What...?"

At last, Zarias opened his eyes. He squinted sleepily at Bane, switching his side lamp on.

"Bane?" he asked tiredly when he saw him, blinking to adjust his eyes to the sudden brightness. "What in the Realm are you doing?"

"I want to ask you something." Bane said urgently.

Zarias sighed wearily as he sat up.

"Couldn't this wait till morning?" He asked, sounding very human.

"No, it really couldn't," Bane said.

"What's this all about?" Zarias asked, rubbing his eyes. "What is so important you'd wake me up in the middle of the night?"

"I had a dream," Bane began.

Zarias shot him a dark look.

"Are you serious? A dream? What am I, a babysitter?"

"Let me finish, and I'll explain," Bane replied patiently, though he rolled his eyes. "I was reliving the night Zorak tried to abduct me when I was a kid."

"... What about it?"

"Well... I always assumed my Mom had died because there was nothing but the pendant she'd been wearing," Bane explained. "But tonight, something felt strange."

Zarias, finally listening, frowned.

"Strange, how?"

"Or I should really say familiar. Remember when you used a portal to get us to the Demon Realm, the other day?"

Zarias nodded. Bane sat down on his bed, his eyes wide.

"Well... Zarias hit my mother, that night... but then, there was a bright light. And I didn't look any further because of the pendant, and neither did Balon... But what if..."

Zarias was silent as he deciphered what Bane was saying. It was really frustrating to watch, too, Bane thought. He was being pretty clear, wasn't he?!

"You think Zorak pretended to kill your mother... but in reality only took her with him to the Demon Realm?" Zarias finally asked.

Bane nodded.

"It's possible, isn't it?"

"Well... yes, I suppose, but... why would he do that?"

"He must have had some semblance of attraction to my mother for getting her pregnant rather than the billions of other girls he could have picked."

"That is true," Zarias admitted. "But what do you want to do?"

Bane looked right at him.

"I need you to help me get to the Demon Realm."