Meridian Chronicles: Keepers & The Soul Key (#4)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The events were falling into place, some better than others. Lahash had been hoodwinked by Echo, or was he? Valefor missed his opportunity to seize Meridian, and now she is reunited with her father and mother. Things were perfect except with Astaroth's little intrusion and stealing Aiden away once more. With the Quartz sword in hand, the fairies were finally uniting with the spirit guides. What else could be better or go wrong?

Lahash will have some explaining to do. However, there was one being who questioned his place in the plan. Warrick. After having had an unsettling exchange with Lahash, he adjourned to his quarters as he had remained in hiding now that the Etherians knew he was a hoax. After he returned to his quarters, a visitor showed up and one that he had taunted with the idea of having everything she wanted if she would join him.

Warrick moved toward his door and opened it up, "Astaroth, this is a bit of a surprise," Warrick turned away and walked back toward his chair where he had remained for some time, "The others have been secretive, it occurred to me you were of the same. Have I made a correct assumption, or would this be presumptuous?" Lahash leaned his chin on his hand as he stared at the demoness.

"Warrick, I have Aiden, here back in the dark realm. I went to Earth and found him at the witch's house. I managed to get him free from Meridian. She, on the other hand, escaped Valefor's grasp, and she and Echo escaped back to Etheria."

Warrick's eyes widened, "What of Lahash? I thought she was his prisoner.

"So did I. I am not sure why he and Valefor brought her to Earth, and I don't understand why Lahash or Valefor didn't destroy Echo here. But I do not think the others concerned with Lahash would be incorrect in their fears. I believe that Lahash is under her spell. He knows she draws her power from the fairy realm and Earth. She holds the knowledge of all soul keys. Why else would he have set her free on Earth?"

Warrick jumped to his feet and moved toward Astaroth, "What? This talk of the soul key. What do you mean?"

Astaroth ignored Warrick's quick questions, "Warrick, I want to take you up on your offer, if it remains."

Warrick paused, baffled he replied, "You want to go back to Etheria, alongside me, live a life where you cannot be who you are? You want to sit at the council?"

Astaroth turned away from Warrick and muttered, "I am not accepted at court, not anymore, anyway. I want to be with Aiden," she turned around, "If me going to Etheria is the answer, then I will help you. I want a guarantee that the Etherians will accept me at the council. How will I know that they will accept me?"

Warrick grinned a devilish grin as though he had gotten away with something, "Oh, they will accept you; it is for certain, and I have just what it will take to do so. In a matter of time, you will be a council member, spirit guide of Etheria, and Aiden at your side, and you will be loved."

Meanwhile, Lahash had lost his prisoner, or had he? Lahash stayed on Earth and went to sit in the senate with all the politicians to get his energy from, he would need it. There he sat at a senate meeting listening to the politicians fight it out over what Lahash considered, petty issues. He stared almost as if he were looking through the many suits in the room, but his mind was somewhere else.

He remained in quiet thought about Echo, and his last encounter with her, and how she made him feel when he kissed her lips. Maintaining a stare,, a smug smile erupted from his face for a moment until the played the recent event out in his mind where Astaroth escaped with Aiden, and he watched Echo portal with Meridian to Etheria. he came out of his stare and his thoughts brought him to a solution, one that he was unsure could work, but it was a shot.

In moments he left the meeting and portaled back to his only home, back to the dark realm where a meeting would be called soon. But first, Lahash went to Warrick's room and pounded on his door, and to his surprise, Astaroth answered.

"Oh, Lahash, yes, we thought for sure you wouldn't come back. What do you want?" Astaroth sarcastically asked.

Lahash looked at Warrick, his eyes were shifty, "Warrick, you want to return to Etheria? Right? Astaroth, you want Aiden?"

Astaroth and Warrick looked at one another in suspicion with where Lahash was going. Warrick cut his eyes back to the hasty demon, "Lahash, what do you want? Just before you weren't helpful at all, you were secretive. What has changed?"

"We all may not like one another, but one thing is for sure, we all want something, and I have just the idea that we all get what we want." Lahash moved toward Warrick, paying little mind to Astaroth, who stared at him with disdain. "Astaroth can keep Aiden, you can go back to Etheria, and I can keep Echo."

Warrick rose from his chair and snorted, "Oh, Lahash, you are under her spell, aren't you? Please, Astaroth and I have already worked out the details of how we will see to it, we come out on top, and I don't believe that plan includes you." Warrick remained dismissive as he strolled past Astaroth to join her in the dark one's meeting.

Lahash turned so his eyes could follow the pair leaving, "Do you think your plan will work with Caius released from the hall of souls?"

Warrick stopped his relaxed gait and turned, "How do you know that?"