Purgatory

[Ascius]

((if anyone involved feels like writing something, feel free to.))

Ascius lay awake in the bed of the hospital. He couldn't sleep, but not because of the wound on his side. His mind made trouble, he had not yet andured the shock of the night. Gwendolin was sleeping next to him calmly. Ascius took a look on the deep wound on her shoulder, which was stitched by now, but still looked quite serious. She had lost a lot of blood and looked pale, but she was breathing.

Slowly, Ascius began thinking about what had really happened this day. His old enemy, Aecius, who was ment to be dead already, had come to the island and had kidnapped Edward, Aleytys and Gwendolin. What hurt most was the fact that Ascius had had the chance to kill Aecius when he was on his journey to Salkamar a few weeks ago, but he had not been careful enough. Leaving Aecius in a burning house with closed doors had been a good idea to give him a most horrible death, but it had not worked. Aecius had survived that day somehow and since then had planned his counter revenge on Ascius.

It was madness. Many years ago Aecius had betrayed Ascius and killed all he loved in flames, then, years later, Ascius had returned to Aecius to kill him with fire, and now Aecius had come to Gobiath, to burn Gwendolin, Edward and Aleytys and finally Ascius. Luckyly, it had no come to this and Aecius had been the one burning. At least Ascius hoped he did burn tonight.
He remembered the scene clearly, for it only happened a few hours ago. Nephud, the gnome that had claimed to be Ascius servant for some reason had been Aecius' spy. It was irony that the same gnome should safe them later on. First though, Nephud had obeyed Aecius' orders and somehow managed to lure Gwendolin, Edward, Aleytys and finally Ascius into a trap. Claiming that Gwendolin had broken a bone he had lured Ascius away from Trolls Bane, deep into the mountains. They had passed Silverbrand when they had reached a small spot on a cliff, the place where Aecius and his other human servant had kept the three. Ascius swallowed as he remembered the scene more clearly.

When he arrived he saw Aleytys and Edward tied and Gwendolin unconscious on a stake. Next to her stood Aecius, his face burned and deformed heavily. His skin was red, looked like raw flesh, pus was coming from numerous cracks in the face. He was holding a burning torch in his hands, ready to lite the stack every moment. "The great Ascius!", he said with his insane voice. If demons had a face they would possess Aecius' face. The situation had appeared lost when Ascius had to give away his swords and seemed to be doomed to watch everyone he liked and loved die, when Nephud, the gnome who betrayed him before, saved them all. "I think I smell gnolls...", Nephud had said to Aecius. Reacting on that Aecius ahd send his other servant to check the area. Aleytys and Edward used this moment to loosen their ties and Nephud had tosses Ascius a sword.
The battle was hard and seemed to go on for ages. The stack had already cought fire, still with Gwendolin on it. Just in the right moment, when Ascius had to stumble back from a heavy atack of Aecius, Edward had managed to stab into his back and stopped him. The flames had already been high, but Ascius had managed to get Gwendolin off the stack. He didn't care much for Aecius from that moment on, since he had to care for Gwen. Ascius was sure Aleytys and Edward had ripped Aecius to pieces. They wouldn't do the mistake Ascius did – let him stay alive by accident.


~~~


Ascius looked to the ceiling of the hospital and shook his head, still lying in the bed. The night appeared to be calm now. Suddenly, the sun seemed to come up outside. From outside light fell through the windows and a moment later the door of the hospital was kicked open. There stood Aecius, with his deformed face, holding a burning torch again. He laughed. "This is my revenge!", he shouted and threw the torch onto the bed which quickly cought fire.


Ascius scared up in the bed. He was breathing heavily, his body wet of sweat. He looked around, especially to the door. The night was calm. Gwendolin was sleeping next to him. He had the feeling Aecius might come trough the door every moment. Ascius was sure Aecius was dead, but he was still hunting him. He simply had to make sure Aecius was dead. This was a nightmare, which he was even dreaming when he was awake. He had to make sure. He looked to Gwendolin. She was breathing weakly. He kissed her forehead and stood from the bed, holding his wound for a moment. He put on his light hunting armour as quietly as possible and also grabbed a sword. Opening the door of the hospital, he took a look back at Gwendolin. "I'll be right back, my love..", he whipered and left.

The street to Silverbrand was empty. This night had been delusive, and it still was. Though the sund would come up soon, the night still felt as dark as ever.

After a longer march Ascius reached the cliffs where Aecius had kept the hostages. His heart was beating in his chest when he moved closer. Was everyone there gone? Was Aecius finally dead? He moved closer. There was ash all around, and some burned raminings of wood. These were the remainings of the stack Gwendolin was ment to burn on, but taking a closer look on it, Ascius saw the difference. On the stack one could see burned pieces of armour and bones. It was the armour of Aecius. Ascius smirked slightly. "Well done, Ed and Aly", he thought. The demon was finally dead. Dead forever.


Ascius turned around to go back to Trolls Bane. In his back, the sun was slowly crawling over the horizon, filling the mountains cliffs with a warm light. Even the place with the stack would look friendly in that light. A slight wind blew the ashes of the demon away, and it was over.

[Alytys Lamar]

She awakes from the pain at her swollen face, with her body snuggled deep in Edward’s arms. She looks up and sighs quiet as she sees his tortured lips and the deep cut on his brow.

Aecius.. a name she would never forget in her whole life. The first time she met him he had broken her ribs and she was really near to death as she come home. But she thought and was sure that he was burned in his own house.. burned by Ascius. What a fault not to look and make sure he was dead...

She remembered the scenes in shards ... He stomped her side and struck his fist in her face several times. His cruel behaviour to Edward and worse... As he stabbed Gwen in her shoulder and dragged her on the prepared wood. It was as he stabbed her that... damn.. Aleytys realised that she liked this woman and she hoped she get well soon.

She had noticed a glitter, reflecting by a sunbeam behind Edwards back and she tried to show him with her gaze that she was prepared when he finally get over to Aecius. Nephud, this damn spy and traitor had finally changed the situation...

She sighs again, very quietly, hearing the screams of burning Aecius in her mind and an ice cold smirk appears on her lips.
She cuddles closer to Edward, gazing to the sky.

"Aecius.. I hope that you spineless rat, you coward of a man will burn without an end..... "

[Gwendolin Cad'ell]

Gwendolin woke up as she felt the sudden coldness at her side. As she opened her eyes it took her a while to remember where she was. And why she was here. The hospital.
Ascius had left her side and though Gwendolin worried for the fraction of a second where he would go to, she dismissed her worries. He would be alright, she knew it in her heart.

Her crystabl blue eyes raised to the ceiling that was slightly covered red du eto the dawning. The light that fell through the window was warm, but not warm enough to replace Ascius near. What she had experienced the day before was worse than any nightmare she had had. As she stood there, upon this mountain, feeling betrayed by a friend and facing this old foe of Ascius. For a moment Gwendolin felt like she was about to lose all. Again. Maybe this time even her life...

... but as she had noticed Aleytys and Edward and the danger they were in - it was a spark that enkindled her heart into flames of bravery. She cared deeply for both of them and they did not deserve to get pulled into this. Yet this was what friendship caused. Sharing the bright sides of life, and sharing the dark and troubled times.
And now it was finally over. In the end it were the bounds of friendship who saved them all. The bounds to the gnome Nephud, who first betrayed, but rescued them in the end.

Silently Gwendolin whispered her prayers as she laid upon the bed, thanking Zhambra for his presence and aid that she clearly had felt in that moment. Just like in her dream, that she had before. As she was walking through the fire. It all made sense now.

Her crystal blue eyes lingered upon the door, waiting for Ascius to return. And she smiled. Smiled about her heart that beated only for him. Smiled about that she knew for the first time of her life that she was on the right way.
... and that everything was good.