Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 47

It had been several nights since Bane had had a proper night's sleep. He kept reliving his mother's final moments in his sleep, which caused him to wake up abruptly, and unable to go back to sleep afterwards. The moment Zorak had struck her in the chest because she'd got in the way of an attack meant for him. He kept seeing her body fall down, her eyes widening in pain. Her broken, shallow breathing, Zorak's hateful look which then turned to laughter...

How dare he laugh at her death? Bane snarled to himself as he lay awake, yet again, in bed. I knew he never truly loved her but he got her pregnant! Seduced her, chose her to carry his heir! How could he just... take her life like that and laugh about it?

He had never felt so desperately empty and full of rage at the same time. It was almost a miracle that he was able to keep from kicking and smashing everything in sight. And he wasn't just furious at Zorak, or at the injustice of his mother's death, but at himself. For not protecting her better, and especially, for letting Andie fight Zorak, when it should have been him.

He couldn't stop thinking about the whole thing, and the more he did, the more angry he felt. He lay curled under his bed covers, his fists clenched into white balls. He wasn't the little boy he'd been the first time his mother had been taken from him. He'd been weak, that night. He'd stood in a corner and done nothing then, because he'd been so young and the shock had been too brutal. But not this time. Zorak had plagued their lives for far too long already. It had to stop.

The idea had been gnawing at the back of his mind for a few days, now. Try as he might, he'd never been able to shake it. Of course, he'd not voiced it to anyone. They would sympathize, but they'd never understand. They'd just try and talk him out of it, or go with him. And he'd endangered them more than enough. And besides... this fight was his. No one else's.

Unable to stay still any longer, Bane climbed out of bed. Yanking off his pajamas, he changed back into his clothes. As he stood up from tying his shoes, his eyes fell on the pictures resting on his nightstand. One was the same photo of his mother he'd always had for as long as he could remember. The other was more recent. It had been taken that summer.

Andie, Robert and Bane had gone over to Chambers Lake Park for an afternoon. They'd asked a passerby to take the picture. Bane had his arms around Andie's waist, who had one hand over his, the other reaching up behind his neck, both smiling broadly. Robert stood quietly beside them, smiling too. Lisa had initially been invited too, but Nina had come down with mononucleosis.

Quietly as he could, he gathered his weapons and tied them around his back. Then, with one last look at the pictures of his family, he sneaked into the hall. When the door creaked slightly as he closed it, he froze. But there was silence. Exhaling quietly in relief, he went down to the few steps to the living room. There wasn't a sound, even from outside.

Robert had forgotten to lower the binds, and a bright moonlight filled the room. Bane almost flicked the light on reflexively, but caught himself just in time. There was already a good chance he would draw their attention anyway, no point in making it quicker. He positioned himself in the center of the room, trying to remember what Zorak had showed them.

He closed his eyes, picturing the Demon Realm, and more precisely, the study. His first thought had been the throne room, but then, that might be too risky. He'd sense him coming much faster. It would have to be the study. Once he could see it in his mind's eye, he slowly held out his hands. They glowed, but bright instead of purple like Zorak's had.

He'd never done this before, but Andie and Jessica had been able to do it, so he could too. Soon, the light formed a whirlpool under his feet. Just then, a door burst open and Zarias charged into the room. When he saw the portal, he stopped dead.

"Bane!" he called. "What on Earth are you doing?!"

The young man didn't move, his face set with determination.

"Avenging my mother," Bane replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Zorak's taken her away twice. He's not getting away with it this time."

Zarias's eyes widened.

"Bane, that's suicide!" he retorted, a look of genuine concern in his features now.

"Maybe, but I can't just do nothing."

"Don't be an idiot! We can talk about this!"

"I'm done talking. This time, I'm being proactive."

The light brightened and he felt himself lowering into the portal.

"Bane, don't!" Zarias called.

But it was too late. Seconds later, the portal had closed, taking Bane to Zorak.