"Aithama!" shrieked Amascut, and suddenly Aithama appeared beside her, blocking Zaros's attack. Amascut smirked. "And you thought I was alone."
Zaros nodded his head to the side. "And you thought likewise," he replied. On the horizon behind them, there stood Akthanakos and Spyridon, unharmed.
"What's the meaning of this?" gasped Amascut.
"You still don't get it, do you? I've grown beyond you. You have no power over me. I am a far mightier god than you, and I am far stronger in combat. There is nothing you can do to harm me. I'll give you one more chance, witch." Suddenly, a huge mass of cloud blocked out the desert sun, shading Zaros's face as he finished. "Leave, or die."
Amascut's eyes started darting around, as though it had just hit her how powerful Zaros had become, and she was trying frantically to find a way out. Then, her gaze returned to the Emperor. "I will never back down," she replied. "Not to you or anyone else."
Amascut's eyes turned indigo, and she grabbed Aithama'* head and made their eyes meet. Aithama's body went limp, and then she turned to Zaros. Her voice was no longer her own. "Die," she croaked.
"Spyridon!" Zaros ordered, and the assassin came in to block Aithama's attack. Their daggers clanged, sending sparks flying. Zaros looked beyond Spyridon and Aithama to the Devourer. "So, Amascut, now you control your servant's mind?"
"Not just mental control," Amascut shot back. "I can also give her some 'advantages.'"
Zaros's eyes widened. "Spyridon, get out of there!"
Aithama's eyes turned black, and a vortex of black magic circled around her. The demonic force lifted Spyridon from his feet and threw him thirty feet away. The Mahjarrat hit the sand behind Zaros with a bone-crunching fall, and yet he leapt back to his feet in no time.
Spyridon scowled and held his dagger high. He started to move forward, but Zaros stopped him. "Stay back," he ordered, facing Aithama. "This'll all be over soon enough."
30-Jun-2008 05:52:54