DARK LORD.

Chapter:4

Athesmos has not been a happy man since the night he saw Xrysos. What infuriates him to no end was the way and manner he held that boy in his arms, the look in his eyes seeing that the boy was hurt and perhaps dying.

How he wished the boy had died that day.

Athesmos left the man and his lover when he realized just how broken and how much Xrysos loved the boy in his arms.

He felt betrayed.

He had lost it all.

But being who he is, he will never give up, not after Xrysos came destroying his Castle, killing almost all his men, and for what? All because Xrysos thought he was responsible for the missing boy.

Truth be told. Athesmos is more than glad that the boy had gone missing, although he hates seeing Xrysos suffer yet it brings great satisfaction to his soul knowing that Xrysos was alone and lonely yet again.

This is his curse.

To be lonely.

To never find love or be loved.

And since Athesmos could never have any of those things, he would make sure Xrysos stays miserable and does not find happiness either.

Xrysos had promised him.

He was the only one he ever submitted himself to.

How could he after all that they have shared amongst each other let him suffer this horrible fate alone?

***********

"My Lord, you don't look well."

Athesmos stared at the man riding alongside him and smiled weakly.

"I'm fine Vin." He answered him softly.

Vin hasn't been killed, lucky for him and to the amusement of Athesmos.

Although Athesmos has a great liking for the man and is the gossip, Vin still held most of Athesmos's secrets to heart and would not say a word to any. Athesmos admires the man greatly for that.

"I can smell the horrid stench of burnt flesh and bones." Vin's expressions held nothing but despair.

"That is the smell of death Vin and this you know too well." Athesmos laughed, his face doesn't seem the least better than the other man.

"I wonder why this place is always like this." There was a miasma of despair over the entire place and Vin would not stop talking as his eyes wandered about their surroundings. The tick black smokes that filled the sky were all around them. The air mingled with smoke and the disgusting stench was too difficult to inhale.

"Better hold your breath," Athesmos told him as they approached the entrance huge Gates.

Vin immediately stopped breathing and stared ahead as they neared the Gates.

"What Gives!" A low dark voice asked.

Vin searched for the owner of the voice but found none.

He has been here once with his Master and yet he would never get used to this dreaded place. He also knows that before Athesmos takes on a journey to this place he must be desperate.

Having just less than fifty men isn't what men like his Master Athesmos need.

Lord Xrysos had killed all his men and the rest of them had been forced to flee if they needed to stay alive since the crazed King would not stop at anything until he finds his lover.

It was clear to everyone that the king has gone mad.

"Lord Athesmos, I seek Gaad."

Vin stared at his Master in shock, having not seen anyone yet, which still scares him greatly.

"Who are you speaking with?" He whispered to his Master but Athesmos ignored his question and stared on as if seeing something he could not see.

"Darkness!" The unseen voice echoed once again, sending shivers down Vin's spine.

"Blood and Death," Athesoms responded as he brought out his sword and stroked Deon on the neck, the man's head fell into the smoke-filled earth and soon his headless body followed.

Vin's toes curled up in his boats and his eyes watered as he saw Athesoms stroke the other man they had ridden with all along. At a point there he thought Athesmos would kill him.

"Enter!" The voice echoed and the Huge Black Gates pulled apart, Athesmos and Vin jumped down from their horses as they walked into the Gates on foot.

Just as the Gates were about to shut, Vin caught sight of two dark figures pulling the horses away.

"You can breathe now." Athesmos chuckled at the huge breath that left the other man's mouth.

"I thought that was never going to end." Vin laughed nervously as he walked behind his master. "You just killed Deon like that," his eyes widened in fear. "He rode with us for three days!" Vin's voice cracked as he realized that Athesmos could do away with him any time without a care in the world.

"That was his purpose Vin," Athesmos stopped walking to stare back at the terrified man. "For what other purpose do you possibly think I asked him to join us in the first place?" He stared at the twenty-three-year-old man and smiled.

Vin remembered it had happened the first time they had been here. Athesmos had killed another one of his men that came with them before the Gates opened and they entered. He was about to respond when a huge Castle appeared a few feet ahead. His mouth fell open in shock.

The second time he's been here and yet he will never get used to this fucking place.

"Come on!" Athesmos pulled him as they walked towards the door. The moment they reached it, it opened on its own. Both men entered the Castle and stood to take in the beautiful place decorated with all kinds of gems and precious stones.

The outside may seem horrible but the inside was a place of wonder and a sight for sore eyes.

"You might want to close your mouth now Vin."

Vin's mouth fell shut and his face shone with embarrassment, he quickly went to his knees as realization sets at the moment he saw who had spoken to him.

"Always so obedient." Gaad smiled warmly and stared longingly at the boy.

"When you are done flirting with my Slave tell me so that we can discuss important matters." Athesmos laughed.

"What's the hurry old friend, you have only just arrived, and need I say you came at the right time although I am not pleased with you." Gaad took his sliver-colored eyes away from Vin and have them rested on Athesmos instead.

"I know, I did you wrong, I apologize." Athesmos felt bad.

***********

Years before he was able to conquer the corny Lord that held his cousin captive, he had come to Gaad and begged his help in other to succeed on his quest. Gaad had offered him powers and gave him men that would not be destroyed by swords.

He defeated that great city and took his cousin who is now an enemy of him.

If only he had known it will all end up this way. He would have left the boy there to die.

"There is no use for regrets now old friend," Gaad spoke softly. "You did what you did for your own selfish interests." Gaad smiled when he saw Athesmos shake his head with a smile plastered on his face.

"Aren't we all," Athesmos told him.

"The boy did serve you a great deal, look how mightily you conquered and grew during those years."

"I know, but what use is all that now that I am back to square one?"

"You shall have your moment again," Gaad assured him.

Vin chanced a glance at the Dark Lord's throne and his mouth fell open once again. The man has been filled with nothing but Darkness and evil yet holds this charm and beauty that made him look less harmless. Anyone can easily be fooled by just looking at that angelic face, but he knew better.

There was nothing angelic about that face or the man that wore the face.

As far he was concerned Lord Gaad wore different faces at different times and for different reasons.

"Do you wish to speak openly Vin?" Gaad asked and Vin cursed loudly for being so stupid.

He has completely forgotten whose presence he kneeled.

The man knows your thoughts and he sees through you.

"I-I'm sorry." Vin apologized, his eyes wet with tears.

"Youths, they never learn." Gaad stared back at his friend. "What brings you to my Castle?"

"There is nothing much to tell you as it is for as long as I am seated right before you, you already knew." Athesmos smiled when he saw Gaad nods his head.

Satisfied with Athesmos replies.

"It was indeed sad what Xrysos did to you, and yet you are still weak for the man," Gaad stared at Athesmos but he would not look up to him. "When will you let go of the past Athesmos?" Gaad pitted the man.

"I tried, it is just so hard to not remember." Athesmos sounded like a weakling.

"This is not a man that will conquer the Gates." Gaad's silver eyes changed in color as they turned red. "This is the man that will be killed by the man he so foolishly still loves."

This shocked Athesmos and he stared into Gaad's burning eyes with his mouth wide open. "He will kill me?!" He asked, the shock evident in his voice.

"He is in love with that boy, his soul bleeds for the young lad and he will Kill even you if it comes to that, and it will!"

"No!" Athesmos yelled.

"Easy friend, I have a solution to this madness in your heart," Gaad gently came down from his throne and stood before Athesmos. "Give me your left hand." Athesmos immediately outstretched his left hand towards him and as soon as it touches the burning ones of Gaad, a heart-wracking yowl escaped his mouth, his eyes darkened, his face pale and turning white, his head throbbing painfully and his eyes teared up instantly.

By the time Gaad let go of his hand, Lord Athesmos was on his knees and trembling so much that his entire body shook.

Gaad moved to his throne and sat, his feet made no sounds as he moved to see as they never touched the earth.

**********

Vin made to go to his Master but was stopped when Gaad shot a death glare his way.

"Let him be!" He spoke and Vin watched the man's eyes return to their sparkly silver once again.

"Dear Cousin!"

Vin averted his gaze from Gaad and fixed them towards the voice that had just spoken but froze when he recognized who it was.

"Atlas my beautiful sister!" Gaad was hugging the woman by the time Vin took his eyes away from the Queen.

He will never understand how that man moves so quickly and silently.

"You haven't visited me in ages!" Gaad smiled at the beautiful Queen as he made her sit before returning to his throne.

"I bring the important matter before you-" Atlas's eyes caught sight of the man that has only just regained his body back and was now standing on his feet. "Ahh, the enemy of my enemy." She smiled at Athesmos and the man laughed.

"Not very pleased to you to Queen Atlas." Athesmos chuckled at the woman's facial expression.

"Now, now children this is not the time for child's play," Gaad laughed. "Why is this matter important?" Gaad asked Atlas having just read her intentions for coming to him.

"I just want to be certain he's dead!" Atlas spoke honestly.

"With the Wish Maker it is really hard to even for me to tell Atlas, you know this," Gaad frowned. "The man you assigned to kill the boy came back with the news that he killed him, why worry now?"

"I just have this feeling that won't go away!" Atlas's eyes were wet.

Athesmos was no fool, he knew whom they speak off and he was more than shocked to learn that it was Atlas who had kidnapped the King's Lover and had him killed.

"I lost my men and empire because of you?" He asked Atlas.

At first, the woman stared at him with confusion, then her eyes softened and she smiled. "Then we are on the same boat because I lost my empire because of this same boy. He ruined my marriage and my life as Queen Of The Golden Gates, the richest in all the lands even Gaad was jealous of the wealth and power that the Gates held. Yet I lost it all and for what? A boy!" Atlas's anger was clear in her tone.

"I have filled your heart and memory with nothing but anger and hatred towards Xrysos, now you can rest assured that you will no longer have any feelings whatsoever towards the man. You can take your revenge and kill him." Gaad informed Athesmos and he felt it in his heart that he held no emotions to the thoughts of killing the man and so he knew he will never again. "My sister will give you men and you both will fight to victory but remember before you can succeed the Gates you must Kill Gouria first."

Gaad stood up and vanished from their presence.

"I have a plan," Athesmos told the Queen as they exist the Castle.

"It better be Good," Atlas told him.