Origin of Evil
By Sinistral
Part Three: Pandemonium
Chapter Two: The Hands of
Fate
Osiris’s mind gradually
drifted away. He felt himself floating away to unknown lands, far away from pain
and misery. His agony was so deep that he had become numb to all perception. He
knew not who he was or where he was. Time became a distant memory. All he could
see was the darkness, with perpetual flashes of light, which held some
incalculable meaning to him. When they passed near enough for him to see he
felt feelings and emotions that were familiar yet unclear, clouded by his
tears. Then a voice spoke to him. It was extremely vigorous in its tone.
“Osiris! You are the King of
the Spirit World! How dare you abandon your responsibilities! It is your sacred
duty to protect all that is good and pure from the forces of evil. If you will
not fight them then all hope is gone! You must make your last stand against the
dark!”
“But how can I fight them?”
he cried.
“As long as there is goodness
in the Universe then there is always hope. Our children need you. My last wish
was for you to protect them. Rise to you feet and drive out the shadow that
threatens our world. Get up!”
“
“Get up!” she shouted back.
“Get up!” cried another
voice.
Osiris was suddenly shocked
out of his reverie by a blast of red light. He keeled over in pain, grabbing at
the fresh wound to his side. His head gazed upwards towards the looming figure
of Menas.
“I said get up!” yelled
Menas. “Show me that you still cling on to foolish hopes. There is no point in
destroying one who has already given up. Fight me! Fight me now! Drive me out
if you dare!”
“For all that I hold dear,”
said Osiris. “I will face you Menas, face you once and for all. Evil cannot
last against good. It always must loose out in the end.”
“A ridiculous notion Osiris,”
laughed Menas. “I will be more than happy to prove that it is false.”
“Enough with your clever words
Menas. You wanted to fight. We shall fight. Let us end this conflict here and
now.”
“You have my eternal
gratitude, dear brother.”
Menas pointed the Dark
Destiny at Osiris and let loose a bolt of pure iniquity. The energy landed on
Osiris’s chest, winding him badly. He slammed against the opposite wall,
panting franticly.
Osiris looked over his
shoulder at his dark meretricious brother. A ray of brilliant blue surged forth
from his open palm in the direction of Menas. Menas held out the Dark Destiny
and blocked the attack. Again this happened. Menas was grinning all the time.
Osiris halted his bombardment.
“This fight is completely
unfair. You have the advantage with your sword. I am unarmed.”
“The forces of darkness never
claim to be fair, you fool,” laughed Menas. “Fairness stems from the concept of
equality. Equality is a virtue and virtues are unknown to me! How dare you
speak to me of fairness when you denied me power all those years ago! Virtues
are the filthy attributes of good people. They are everything I despise! No
Osiris the hypocrite, I will not lay down my sword.”
“Without your sword you would
be no match for me,” said Osiris. “The dark blade is a shield to hide your fear
of me.”
“I will not deny that you
hold supreme power,” said Menas, the blood boiling in his veins. “After all,
the Book of Creation did proclaim you our father’s one and only heir. The power
of the Book of Creation and the Supernova only enhance your strength. My
possession of this mighty blade, the Dark Destiny, at least gives me the power
to defeat you when you are without the Book’s aid.”
“So that was your plan all
along. To keep the Book of Creation at bay while you destroy us, using the Dark
Destiny to your advantage. How ever did you persuade your sons to help you?
Granted, I expected no less of
“Their destiny is tied to
mine. It was their duty to help me. The combined power of the Unholy Quaternity
is enough to stop the mighty Book of Creation. After all of you are defeated I
will destroy the wretched Book once and for all.”
“I spit on you scum!”
Osiris spat directly in
Menas’s face. Menas recoiled in a rage. To say he looked livid would have been
a severe understatement. He looked practically psychotic.
“Very well,” said Menas,
trembling with rage. “You are now at the threshold of your ultimate
destruction!”
Menas raised the Dark Destiny
above his head, ready to finally finish off his older brother.
“Then this is goodbye Osiris.
In another lifetime we may have been great friends. Go and join your pathetic
siblings in the Duat.”
A blast of light hit Menas’s
hand, causing him to discard the Dark Destiny. He whirled around. Horus was
standing behind him, glaring.
“You!” cried Menas, reaching out
his arm. “I thought that I had missed someone. Allow me to rectify that. Come
to me Dark…”
Osiris and Horus
simultaneously sent forth shafts of light towards Menas. Menas cried with pain
and covered his head with his hands. The Dark Destiny stayed where it was,
unmoving.
“Horus!” cried Osiris, in the
midst of the fray. “I can handle this wretch. With Menas’s powers weakened his
magical barrier will be fading. Go to the northwest tower and try to retrieve
the Supernova. I cannot stop Menas indefinitely.”
“But the Supernova only
answers to you.”
“It will sense the urgency of
the situation. Also, beware of your cousins. They surround the Book at
present.”
“Yes father!” he shouted
back. “Where is mother?”
Osiris gave him a look that
conveyed more than enough to make Horus’s hatred of Menas grow even more. He
tried to hold back his tears. Osiris could see what was going on.
“Fight your feelings for now
Horus. You must do what I tell you before it is too late. Now go!”
Horus nodded heavily and ran
out of the room. Despite his misery he was as determined as ever. His deep
hatred kept him going.
Meanwhile, in another quarter
of the Citadel, Iras was beginning to stir from her temporary unconsciousness.
Unfortunately her overpowering fatigue hampered any attempts at movement. She
felt intense warmth surrounding her, which slowly filled every inch of her
body. Her weak and immobile body began to surge with renewed energy and she
gradually started to move again. After several minutes she opened her eyes. She
was lying on the floor of the nursery and her four daughters surrounded her,
pointing their tiny arms in the direction of her body. As she focussed more
clearly she noticed that small rays of blue light were travelling from their
little fingertips towards her.
“That’s impossible,” she
exclaimed. “How could they do that? They’re so young. I cannot believe it.”
With great difficulty, she
stood up and, one by one, returned the children to their cradles. She then sat down
on a nearby seat and tried to collect her thoughts. Exhaustion still prevailed
and she felt as if she was going to collapse again.
“I was talking to Uncle Thoth
and then we heard the crash. Yes, and then Uncle Thoth went to investigate.
After that I can’t remember. But I’m sure there was something else. I could not
have been unconscious for no reason.”
She stood up and paced the
room. After several minutes she approached the door. She noticed that there was
a hole in it as if someone had forced a weapon through the wood. Then she
jumped back in shock. She could not move. All over her body was an icy cold
sensation.
“Menas! And he’s after the
others! I must alert everyone to his presence!”
She looked back at her four
daughters. They lay peacefully, without a care or concern. She shook her head
again.
“I still don’t understand
what happened just now. But I can’t ponder on this now. I shall return to the
subject later, if there is a later.”
She walked out of the nursery
and looked down the hallway. She was ready to race towards the throne room
until she heard the sound of footsteps running in her direction. In her
confusion she believed that Menas was after her.
“He’s back to finish me off!”
She ran back into the nursery
and closed the door shut. She bolted it firmly and waited in terror. She knew
full well that the door would not hold Menas but there was a distinct lack of
options. The footsteps reached the door. Iras breathed deeply and stood in
front of her children. She was ready. He could take her, but not without a
fight.
“Iras! Are you there?”
The voice was one that she
knew all too well and she sighed with relief. After her ordeal there was no one
in the whole Universe that she would rather have seen. Her heart began to beat
quickly as her fear subsided.
“Horus! I’m coming!”
She rushed to the door and
opened it. Horus walked in and the couple embraced. Iras would not have minded
a little longer but Horus pulled away after several seconds.
“Iras, what happened?” asked
Horus franticly. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine Horus, really. You
will never believe what happened here. I can scarcely believe it myself.”
“Menas has returned.”
“You know!” she cried. “Then
where is he now?”
“Father has him at bay in the
throne room as we speak. But what did he do to you?”
“Menas attacked me but I
assume that I was not seriously hurt.”
“That monster! I hope that
father gives him what he deserves, especially after what he did to mother.”
Horus stopped talking and
gave his wife a grave look. Iras gazed back, innocently at first. But then
Horus’s implications sank in and she burst into tears. Horus tried to calm her,
himself crying softly at the same time.
“Iras, I wish that I could
comfort you more but I cannot hesitate any longer. Father cannot hold out
against Menas for long. I have to get to the northwest tower.
“He has slain Uncle Thoth as
well,” sniffed Iras. “I am sure that Uncle Anubis has been killed as well. I
can feel it.”
“There will be time for our
sorrows later my love. But so much now depends upon my actions. We could be
talking minutes now.”
“I understand,” said Iras,
trying to nod. “But I must help you.”
“You can help me by staying
here with our children. I want you and them to be as safe as possible. Do not
fight me on this please.”
“Very well.”
Horus kissed her briefly and
left the room, intent on bringing what harmony he could back to the Spirit
World. There was nothing left that he could do. His mother and uncles were gone
and he had to accept it. At least he could fulfil his father’s wish.
“And I will!” he shouted.
Back in the throne room Osiris
was beginning to weaken. It had been a terrible strain on his powers and he
felt the pressure. During the attack Menas had been motionless, fixed in his
position. There was nothing he could do against his older brother’s superior
strength. But as Osiris began to tire Menas found it far easier to move again.
He tried to reach out and call the Dark Destiny to his hand. It was still
futile.
“Do not attempt to do that!”
shouted Osiris. “There is no escape for you, you worthless wretch!”
“Your powers weaken brother,”
he sneered back. “Soon you will be at my mercy and I will finally send you to
your doom.”
“So confident Menas. I think
that it is you who is at my mercy.”
“We shall see.”
The brothers remained locked
in their places as the battle continued. Osiris grew weaker and weaker. In his
heart he knew that the fight would soon be over. Its outcome was entirely in
the hands of fate.
Horus had, meanwhile, reached
the northwest wing. He saw the tower room door and bolted towards it. When he
reached the door he tried to open it. To his surprise the door opened without
any difficulty.
“Well that was unusual,” he
said to himself. “If these spells were controlled by Menas then he must be
weakening. Perhaps father is winning the fight.”
Then his eyes fell upon the
scene within the room itself.
“Stop this!” cried Horus.
Nothing changed. The brothers
did not even turn to look at their cousin. They had not even noticed him. The
Book of Creation had, on the other hand. It spoke to Horus.
“Prince Horus. You must break
the chain. It all depends upon you breaking the chain.”
“But what chain?” asked the
young Prince.
“The combined power of the
Unholy Quaternity prevents me from moving or using my powers. If one of the brothers
was removed, I would eventually be able to break free from their black magic.”
Horus acknowledged the
information and suddenly fired a bolt of bright light at
“Horus!” he yelled. “How can
this be?”
“Your father’s powers are
waning
“And just as my father will
destroy yours, so I will destroy you.”
The cousins became engaged in
a ferocious battle, each calling on powers manifested by their hatred. The
person whom Horus was really attacking in his mind was Menas, for the murder of
his mother. Likewise,
All the while Horus was
watching the Book of Creation. Was it beginning to move? Or was that just
wishful thinking?
Horus and
“You cannot win,” wheezed
“I will never surrender,”
coughed Horus. “Even if I have to die in the attempt.”
“But poor Iras,” mocked
“Don’t you dare talk about
Iras! You have no right!”
“But there she is now,” said
Horus turned around to look
where
“You fell for the oldest
trick you fool. Now is the time for you to yield and die.”
“Why do you struggle on when
you can see that you have lost?” said
“But that hope is not false
at all!” said a new authoritative voice.
“Who was that?” yelled
“It is the voice of the Book
of Creation,” said the voice.
“You are not long for
existence,” said
“Do not be too sure of that,”
said the Book. “You may be able to delay my powers but you can never destroy
them. Your foolishness has cost you everything. Had you not turned to face
Prince Horus, then I would still be unable to act.”
“
“Stop it you fools! Stop it
before it’s too late!”
But it was too late and the
Book of Creation began to rise above its pedestal, still shinning like a
flaming star. The brothers stopped their bombardment and watched in awe as the
Book started to transform. It began to slowly change from its normal form into
a mighty sword, greater than the Dark Destiny itself. The omnipotent Supernova
flew towards the outstretched hand of Horus.
The four brothers backed off
in trepidation. They looked at each other and then back at the Prince and his
gleaming weapon.
“Curses!” cried Anquat. “It’s
finished! He has the Supernova and there’s no more we can do!”
Horus pointed the blade at
the devious brothers.
“We may have failed to stop the
Book of Creation but we can still save ourselves!” shouted
The brothers simultaneously
disappeared in flashes of red lightning. However, the odds were not on their
side as they rematerialized only a few yards up the hallway, still in range of
Horus and the Supernova.
“Wretched teleportation
spell!” barked
“Perhaps I underestimated you
Horus. When we meet again I will finish you for sure. However, due to the
circumstances we must take our leave now. Make for the portal and be quick
about it!”
“Run!” yelled Arbchee, as
Horus began to raise the Supernova in their direction.
The brothers made off down
the west corridor with Horus in pursuit. Occasionally the young Prince released
shards of light at them but all blasts seemed to miss their targets. They were
soon in the west wing of the White Citadel.
“They are making for their
chamber,” informed the Supernova. “There is an open portal to the Demon Realm
in there. They will try to use it to escape.”
Horus continued after the
renegade quartet until he could see them entering their chamber. The Supernova
suddenly became very hot. Horus dropped the white blade with a start.
“What’s going on!”
“Forget about the brothers.
They are no longer a threat,” said the sword. “But your father, the King, is in
great danger. I fear that we may be too late.”
Horus turned around and
headed towards the central vestibule with all the speed he could summon. His
legs felt as if they would give way at any moment. Then, just before he
collapsed, he saw something that made him utter a cry of relief. Osiris stood
in the hallway with a triumphant look on his face.
“It is over,” said Osiris,
who looked absolutely shattered. “I have destroyed Menas once and for all.
Never again shall he threaten this world.”
“How did you do it?” asked
Horus. “Menas looked unbeatable, especially with that black sword of his.”
“Menas’s fatal flaw was his
overconfidence. It was his undoing, although I must thank you for your part. If
you had not distracted Menas for those few moments then I would never have been
able to disarm him. It was a real team effort.”
“But the price we had to pay
for it,” said Horus. “Mother, dead. I can’t believe it to be true.”
The Prince looked at the
floor, wanting to break down. But he realised that he had more to consider than
just his own feelings. He gave his father a desperate look.
“I know my son. Her passing
is hard to accept, I know. It will not be the same ever again. But we must
remember that out of all this negativity came the purging of evil from this
realm for all eternity. The victory is ours.”
“I understand father, but I
don’t find there to be much to celebrate. By the way, I have brought you the
Supernova.”
Horus held out the mighty
sword so that his father could take it. Osiris stepped back rather
uncharacteristically.
“No Horus, you hold onto it.”
“But I am yours to command my
lord,” said the sword. “Take me in your hands and feel my powers.”
The Supernova left Horus’s
hand and flew towards the King.
“Get back!” he cried.
“But I am your loyal
servant,” said the Supernova. “Surely you do not fear my touch.”
Horus looked at his father
and suddenly gasped in horror. Osiris’s face was horribly contorted and his
eyes flashed like burning flares.
“Father, what is the matter?”
implored Horus.
“Your presence, tiresome nephew,
is rather redundant now,” replied Osiris, and now his voice had changed.
With the Supernova still
hovering over his head, Osiris let loose a bolt of energy in the direction of
Horus. The young Prince was hit directly in between the eyes and fell against
the opposite wall. He was not completely unconscious but hardly cognisant.
“You will pay for that!”
cried the Supernova. “Let us see you for what you really are!”
The counterfeit Osiris
vanished to be replaced by the frightening figure of the Dread Lord of Darkness
himself. Menas looked angrily at the Supernova but then his face broke into an
evil smile.
“Menas!” cried the benevolent
blade. “Where is the King? What have you done?”
“My temporary blocking spell
must have been truly effective,” laughed Menas. “Up until now you believed me
to be Osiris. Perhaps I should make you guess where he is.”
“He is no longer here,” said
the sword, as if it had just processed the information. “You have murdered
him.”
“As I had intended to,”
replied Menas. “I will have my victory over you all.”
“But you are no match for my
powers. You are alone and defeated.”
“Not quite alone you’ll
find.”
The Supernova fell to the
floor with a clatter. It became submerged in a foul red light. The Unholy
Quaternity were back and once again had control over the Book of Creation.
You see,” continued Menas. “I
always knew that there was a small chance of my original plan failing so I had
my sons fool you into believing that they had left the scene. And it seems to
have worked, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Not just yet!” yelled
another voice.
In their surprise, the four
brothers whirled around to be confronted by Iras, who stood in the hallway
glaring at them.
“Iras, you’re still here?”
laughed
“Why don’t you see for
yourselves,” she said, giving them a knowing look.
There was a sudden terrible
cry of pain from behind.
“Your time is up,” spoke the
sword. “I banished you before Menas, but this time your punishment will be much
more severe. For your heinous crimes your penalty can only be death now. While
you exist you may still be a threat. I need to obliterate all threats to my new
lord and master, King Horus.”
Menas began glow bright
white. He screamed in torment, writhing about, grabbing at his throat. It was a
ghastly sight, and all who bared witness were transfixed by its wretchedness.
Iras covered her face with her hand.
But then something happened
that nobody had expected. A gust of warm air filled the corridor. The air became
stronger and soon a vivid crimson smoke appeared, blinding everyone to its
intention. Its aroma was awfully pungent and caused everyone to choke
violently. Horus began to become aware of what was happening and then noticed
Iras in distress. He crawled over and tried to shield her from the red storm.
“What’s happening!” cried
Iras.
“I’m not sure,” shouted
Horus, cradling his wife in his arms. “Whatever this magic is it is attempting
to counter the power of the Supernova and its magical hold over Menas.”
Iras looked to where she
could still make out the form of the squirming Menas. The sword in his chest
was shining brightly and his cries were still very loud. Then, quite abruptly,
the red smoke formed itself into a perfect column, surrounding the body of
Menas. The light from the Supernova became very bright. Horus and Iras hid
their eyes. After several minutes they heard the sound of a metallic object
fall to floor.
They opened their eyes to
find the Supernova right next to them. The now unconscious body of Menas became
caught up in the column of red smoke and began to spin about within it, like a
viscous substance in a centrifuge. The column then moved quickly up the
corridor to where the four brothers still stood. They attempted to run but also
became submerged in the smoke. Horus quickly got up and grabbed the Supernova.
“We cannot let them escape,”
he cried. “Supernova, give me power!”
The sword let loose a ray of
light at the foul smoke. The energy hit the column sending a shaft of red
lightning back at the Supernova. Horus had to drop the sword. He gazed at the
unnatural wind. Even as he looked the smoke column began to slowly rise into
the air before fully disappearing from sight.
“Damn!” yelled the new King.
“What hope do we have if the mighty Supernova cannot prevent such evil from
getting away?”
“Easy Horus,” comforted Iras.
“Things may seem terrible but at least we have each other and the children.”
“Thank the Book of Creation
for that. I’m only upset that it had to be this way.”
“It could not have been
avoided,” spoke the Supernova, which was beginning to change back into the Book
of Creation. “But we have gained something from this.”
“What can we have possibly
gained from this?” shouted Horus. “Our entire family is gone, the culprits have
escaped and our powers are vulnerable to this unknown foreign magic we have
encountered! I mean, what was that red mist that so conveniently carried them
off? Tell me!”
Horus was trembling with
anger and misery. Iras rushed to his side and tried to console him.
“Please Horus,” she cried.
“Please calm down. I am just as distraught as you are.”
“But where do we go from
here?” despaired the King. “What hope do we have.”
“That is enough!”
The Book of Creation had
spoken and the newly anointed King and Queen fell silent.
“As I was trying to say
before, we now have the advantage over our enemies and we shall have it for a
long time.”
“What do you mean?” asked
Iras.
“What I mean, my young
mistress, is that I have discovered the source of Menas’s new powers. He has
powers of his own, nurtured and improved over the years he spent in the Demon
Realm. But these powers, however great, would still be no match for mine. That
is where the anomaly struck.”
“And this anomaly?” asked
Horus.
“I found this out only by
chance,” continued the Book. “If I had not been struck in the battle against
the mysterious blood-coloured wind, I would never have known. While trying to
comprehend all the new information, I had to let them get away.”
“But what is the information?”
“A name came to me.”
“Who?”
“Lord Tartarus.”
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