Origin of Evil

By Sinistral

 

 

Part One: Gods and Monsters

 

Chapter Four: The Evil of Menas

 

 

After his argument with Thoth and Anubis, Osiris had been searching the Citadel for Isis. He was deeply disturbed by her outright mistrust of Menas. The fact that his siblings were expressing doubts about their brother was beyond him. Menas had saved the Spirit World from the greatest evil force it had ever faced. Why were they not congratulating him? Why were they not ashamed of themselves for acting in such a despicable way towards him? In the corners of his mind he could not help thinking that there must be some validation for such suspicion. But why should there be?

 

“Perhaps it is time that I consulted the Book of Creation. I have the crisis on Earth to deal with. I do not need this other problem right now. The others had better see sense and cease their imprudent scrutiny of Menas. Isis should really know better. Where is she anyway?”

 

Osiris looked around the corridor he was standing in. All was deathly quiet. A door behind him suddenly creaked open and he whirled around.

 

“Isis! You startled me. Where have you been?” he asked, partially astounded.

 

“I have had a lot on my mind my lord,” she replied dreamily. “I needed some space.”

 

“I must speak with you on the matter of your misgivings about our brother. What has gotten into you? Why are you being so horribly cynical?”

 

“I will not take back what I said Osiris. I believe his behaviour to be suspicious and it doesn’t matter what you or Charmian or the others say.”

 

“But why my dear? What has he done? What has he said to put you on your guard?”

 

“Nothing and that’s the whole point!” she suddenly shouted in a frenzy. “The real Menas would not flirt with me in front of his wife. And he never used to smile nearly so much.”

 

“Menas flirted with you? No, this is nonsense. You must get these thoughts out of your head. He was probably expressing his joy at having saved us all from the jaws of the awful Asp. You know Menas has a strange sense of humour. Why don’t you leave him alone Isis?”

 

“Osiris, wake up! Your good nature has blinded you to the true facts. If you had looked carefully you would have noticed a distinct change in his personality. Charmian is just as blind as you. Her somewhat compulsive love for Menas has seen to that.”

 

“And what is wrong with that?” asked the King, beginning to feel angry with his wife. “I think that you are the one who is blind. I’m worried about you. You are the one whose behaviour is strange, not him.”

 

“You would side with Menas over me? How can you do that?”

 

“I am not taking any sides. I’ve had more than enough. I want you all to drop this now. I will not hear any more about it.”

 

“Very well then!”

 

Isis turned on her heel and marched off in the other direction leaving Osiris standing in the empty hallway. He shook his head and walked off to the chamber where his two children, Horus and Iras, were fast asleep. When he entered the children’s bedchamber he was rather taken aback to see Menas standing over Horus’s crib. When he heard Osiris enter Menas turned around to meet him eye to eye.

 

“Young Horus, the heir to the throne. He looks so helpless, so vulnerable at the moment. You always have to be careful when you have such young children. You never know what could happen them when your back is turned.”

 

Menas smiled a strange smile. For some reason the smile filled Osiris with a sharp coldness that shot up his spine. It was as if he did not recognize the brother he loved and knew so well. He began to feel rather uneasy, longing for Menas to move away from his children. But then the feeling subsided and he smiled back at Menas. How could he have even doubted him? He felt like such a hypocrite.

 

“Yes, you never know,” replied Osiris. “Menas, there is something I must speak with you about.”

 

“Perhaps we should leave this room first so as not to disturb the children.”

 

The brothers walked out of the chamber and faced each other in the hallway outside. Osiris sighed and began to speak with considerable difficulty.

 

“I don’t really know how to begin. Isis, Thoth and Anubis feel that, well, your behaviour is somewhat peculiar.”

 

He bit his lip after he said it. He dreaded Menas’s reaction.

 

“Oh yes, I was wondering when someone would question me about that,” Menas laughed. “Ever since my encounter with the Asp of Darkness I have pledged to live each day as if it were my last, to treat all with the respect and honesty they deserve. Perhaps my sudden change has been too much for some. Isis, in particular, I think.”

 

“I am very sorry Menas,” said Osiris, stunned with the civil reply to what he regarded as plain rudeness. “I have scolded Isis and the others on this matter.”

 

“No need for that my lord. They were just acting out of instinct. It was not their fault. You have not doubted me though. I am impressed Osiris. I have always admired and respected your excellent judge of character.”

 

“Thank you brother,” laughed Osiris grasping his younger brother by the shoulders. “I must go and find Isis now. We were not on good terms when we parted and I want to remedy that. By the way, that is a fine philosophy, living each day as if it is your last. It teaches you the true value of things.”

 

As Osiris walked off down the corridor Menas turned and walked the other way. As he was walking he laughed to himself. He had been even more surprised than usual by Osiris’s gullibility.

 

 “I am so very glad that you liked it brother for today truly is your last day. Make the most of the time you have left.”

 

 

 

 

That night Menas and Charmian lay together in their bedchamber, their arms around each other. Charmian looked into his eyes. They were a strange colour, one that could not be determined. They were his normal deep blue but occasionally she noticed flashes of purple. Or was it just that she was caught up in the moment? She did not care. She was with her husband, the one person she loved above all others.

 

“Menas, I must tell you something,” she whispered timidly. “It is rather a complicated matter.”

 

“What would that be my sweet?” he asked.

 

Charmian was trembling and Menas noticed. He brought her closer to him and tenderly kissed her several times.

 

“Leave it for now Charmian. I’m sure that it can wait until you are ready to tell me.”

 

Charmian nodded and closed her eyes. She gradually fell asleep. Menas held her in his arms until he too dropped off. At that moment all his thoughts seemed to disappear. He began to dream. He was in an unfamiliar place. Everything was white. He lay on the ground wondering where he was. Presently Charmian came to him and they began to make love. After what seemed like hours he looked up to see Isis looking over them with a look of utter rage. She pointed a finger at Menas. Menas looked back, rather confused. Her finger pointed to something else. Menas looked down and to his horror he was not holding Charmian but a horrible withered corpse. Menas leaped up with a cry of terror.

 

He awoke with a start. It was still dark and the room was still. He could feel the cold sweat dripping off his trembling body.

 

“By Ra! What was that!” he thought. “It was dream and yet it was so real.”

 

After several minutes a thought struck him and he nearly lurched forward in shock.

 

“The plan! I must signal Armon that we are ready to proceed before it’s too late!”

 

He looked at the sleeping form of his wife. She looked utterly peaceful, without a care in the Universe.

 

“I must admit that it was most pleasant to make love to Charmian one last time, even if it was just a dream. I will see to her first. Poor naïve Charmian, so oblivious to what awaits her.”

 

He moved the sleeping Charmian off himself and got up. He slowly crept out of the room and down the long corridor until he reached Armon’s chamber. He opened the door and stepped in. There was light in the room. He looked up and saw a lighted candle by the side of the bed where Armon lay, fast asleep. Menas walked over and shook him.

 

“Wake up brother, we have much to do,” he said hurriedly.

 

“Menas,” stumbled Armon. “What time is it?”

 

“It’s late and we must hurry. Get up and stand guard in the hallway while I see to Charmian. Make sure that no one comes near. If anyone does you must divert them. Do you understand?”

 

Armon’s stomach was turning and he felt as if he would be sick right then and there. He knew that the moment was inevitable but he was by no means prepared for it. Menas noticed and guessed that Armon was having second thoughts.

 

“Hey! Don’t you dare pull out now! You swore to me. You promised. If you break that promise I promise that you will either feel the blade of the Dark Destiny or the fangs of our mutual friend. Remember that he is at my beck and call.”

 

“I cannot do it!” protested Armon, running to door to escape his clearly deranged brother.

 

Menas charged after him and pulled him back. He slammed Armon against the adjacent wall. Armon tried to avoid his eyes, burning into him like the scorching rays of the noonday sun.

 

“Listen to me brother,” he said, surprisingly calmly. “It is I, Menas, your older brother, the one who has always protected and looked after you. When Thoth and Anubis bullied you as a child, who stood up to them for you? Who always spoke up for you when you were ignored?”

 

Armon looked at Menas thoughtfully. He reminisced his early days when he and Menas would run a havoc amidst the halls of the White Citadel, scaring Charmian and annoying Thoth. It was almost as if they were back there.

 

“Yes brother,” he replied with some vigour. “It is for a better future that we do what we do tonight.”

 

“Thank you Armon. I will not forget this. Now quickly. Take your post in the hallway. I will deal with my beloved wife and then contact you again.”

 

Armon simply left the chamber without a word. Menas then raised his hands and swiftly vanished in a cloud of black smoke.

 

“So it begins.”

 

 

 

 

Charmian was still lost in a deep sleep. So lost, in fact, that she did not stir at all when a slight crack of red lightning stuck and the form of her husband materialized at the foot of the bed. Menas looked down on his sleeping wife.

 

“So peaceful, so unaware of the inevitable. Let the opening deed be quick and painless. But first I must prepare myself,” said Menas, raising his arms. “Blade of evil from the darkened land, bring your power to my open hand. Creatures of malice here erupt and pure of heart forthwith disrupt.”

 

Menas began to glow a sinister dark red and when the light had subsided he stood wearing the garments he had worn while defeating the seraphs several weeks before. His cape strangely fluttered in the wind although there was none. The gleaming Dark Destiny was in his hands. He advanced towards Charmian’s bedside and raised the sword, ready to strike resolutely. But he could not. He shrank back and lowered his head.

 

“It is so crude and unpleasant. I just can’t. She is my wife, my beloved. I love her like the…”

 

“May I be of assistance my lord?” interrupted an all too familiar voice.

 

The voice had come from the Menas-Rouge on the blade of the sword. Menas knew it to only be the ubiquitous Noxious.

 

“I feel no emotion, no sentiment,” Noxious continued. “Let me do this for you. There will come a time when you will not give in to sentiment so easily. Evil is a force that takes time to multiply throughout the corners and chasms of the body and mind, be it divine or mortal. Feel no shame in displaying a benign characteristic even though your transition to the dark side has already come to pass. You are no less the Dread Lord of Darkness for it.”

 

“I was a fool to falter,” sighed Menas. “I am destined to rule this kingdom. Nothing can stand in my way. Not even love. Very well Noxious, she is yours. I will go to alert Armon.”

 

“Yes! I will administer the first move and then make my way towards more victims!”

 

The dreadful two-headed snake emerged from the dark arcane symbol. Noxious was much smaller than usual, about four feet in length. It crawled up the bed towards Charmian’s neck and, without hesitation, sunk its fangs deep into her neck.

 

She shrieked loudly and jumped up, clutching her neck and trying to dislodge Noxious, who was still clinging on. In her struggle she looked up and saw the menacing Menas watching above her. At that very moment she knew that everything Isis had said was true. Her world came crashing down before her and she lost all desire to resist the evil making its way into her vulnerable body. Her heart was in pieces, irreparable for all eternity.

 

“Why?”

 

That was all she could say before she collapsed in a heap upon the bed. Menas could no longer watch and he raced out of the room, the same cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

 

Armon waited anxiously in the hallway. He saw Menas approach and was gladly reassured. When he saw the expression on his face he felt as if he had been dealt a blow with the Dark Destiny itself.

 

“It is done brother,” said Menas with a look of pallid relief. “Now is the time to purge ourselves of the rest of them.”

 

Armon nodded and the two dashed up the corridor leading towards Osiris and Isis’s quarters. Osiris and Isis had, meanwhile, been awoken by the deadly scream. They looked at each other desperately. Isis gave Osiris a shrewd look.

 

“That’s Charmian!” cried Isis. “That fiend must have done something! I told you to be on your guard!”

 

She ran out of the room before Osiris could answer. He was still not entirely convinced of Isis’s accusation but the scream had been clear enough. He got up and was about to follow his frantic wife when a booming voice suddenly reverberated throughout the entire Citadel, making him jump in surprise.

 

“King Osiris! There is unspeakable evil in the White Citadel! Stop it before it is too late!”

 

“The Book of Creation! What in the name of Ra is happening in this place?”

 

He roared out of the room in the direction of the northwest tower. When Osiris reached the tower chamber the Book was glowing brightly. He had to shield his eyes from the light. He ran towards the Book and addressed it, his heart pounding all the time.

 

“What’s going on?” he asked. “What is the aforementioned evil force within the Citadel and what was that shriek we just heard?”

 

“That was your sister Charmian,” the Book answered. “She is fatally wounded and will not survive I’m afraid.”

 

Osiris felt as if he had been struck through the heart with a burning stake. He looked desperately at the Book.

 

“Who by Ra did this unspeakable deed?”

 

“I cannot tell. There is much black sorcery here and it is blocking my powers. All I can tell you is that whatever it is it is incredibly powerful. It attacked me yesterday in this very room. I managed to subdue it but not indefinitely. I learnt one piece of information though. Whatever the evil force is its powers stem from a dark dimension known as the Demon Realm.”

 

“The Demon Realm? What is happening?”

 

“Go quickly and root out this evil before it destroys us. Go now!”

 

Osiris nodded and ran out of the room, not knowing exactly where he was supposed to be heading. All the new information echoed about his cranial caverns like angry tigers in a small enclosure. His sister was dying and the Citadel was in danger from some unknown evil force. What more was there to come?  

 

Menas and Armon had reached Osiris’s chamber and found it empty. They searched around but found nothing. Menas understood that the commotion had alerted them to the situation. He pulled his face into a particularly animated grimace and angrily sliced the head off a bedpost with his sword.

 

“Ra!” he yelled. “They must have been alerted when that blasted Book decided to wake the whole Citadel. We must find them both. Armon, you search the Citadel for Isis. When you find her dispatch her quickly. I will go after Osiris.”

 

“But Isis is powerful Menas. She could defeat me easily!” squirmed Armon.

 

“Nonsense! Get going coward or do you want me to run you through! By Ra, I will! Move!”

 

Menas grabbed Armon by the scruff of the neck and hurled him in the direction of the east hallway. He hurried off, shaking slightly. Menas turned towards the west hallway, the one that led to the northwest tower.

 

“Osiris! I’m coming for you. You’ll be gone before sunrise, I guarantee!”

 

 

 

 

Isis burst into Menas and Charmian’s quarters and saw Charmian lying on the bed, motionless. A fresh wound was on her neck that did not seem to be loosing any blood.

 

“My dear Charmian!” she cried in despair. “What has that monster done to you?”

 

She knelt by the side of the bed and wept silently. After a few moments she focused herself and took another look at her poor sister. She was still the same. Suddenly she noticed something peculiar about the gash on her neck. It looked as if she had been bitten.

 

“But these marks don’t look like they could have been made by Menas. It looks like a snakebite,” she said, as a thought struck her like a hard slap in the face. “Snake. Asp! The Asp! It can’t be here! Menas destroyed…”

 

She stopped mid sentence as the terrible reality of the situation sank in.

 

“The beast. He has brought the Asp of Darkness back with him! I’ll bet he has. This will require strong magic to counter. The Book of Creation.”

 

She bared her teeth and ran off to find Menas. She was running blindly up one of the corridors when a blast of energy hit her square in the stomach, balling her over. Isis looked up in pain to see Armon looking at her with an evil grin on his face.

 

“Going somewhere sister? Well I’m afraid I can’t let you go any further. Menas has instructed me to stop you at any cost.”

 

Isis struggled to come to terms with this revelation. She had had her misgivings about Menas and even though she had suspected Armon she would never have believed he would actually turn against them.

 

“You are in league with Menas? Why? What do you hope to gain from this?”

 

“Once you are all destroyed we will rule the Spirit World together, forever. None shall stand between us and our destiny.”

 

“His destiny you mean. Can’t you see that Menas is using you? He will do the same to you once you have served your purpose. But anyway, if you are stupid enough to follow him then I guess you deserve everything you get.”

 

“No! Be silent witch!” he shouted as he kicked Isis hard in the side of the head, knocking her unconscious. “You will not meddle again! Lie there and wait for me to return to finish you off. But before I destroy you I will hurt you in a way that will make you beg for destruction.”

 

In the west wing of the White Citadel Thoth and Anubis were fully alerted to the commotion. Both had raced out of their chambers and met in the hallway outside. They looked at each other and nodded.

 

“Methinks that our sister may not be as crazy as Osiris had made us believe,” said Thoth, rather sarcastically.

 

Anubis did not appreciate his brother’s tardy humour and looked around him. He glanced at Thoth with a frown.

 

“You heard what the Book said – ‘evil in the Citadel’. But whatever we may think of Menas we cannot be entirely sure that he is behind this. Remember what Osiris said. I would advise caution.”

 

“Of course I heard the Book Anubis. It woke me up in the first place. As for Menas, well, I don’t trust him but I guess you are right. However, we may feel that if there is no evidence, then there is no crime, but all I can say is that it’s an extraordinary coincidence that this should all happen the night after Menas returned.”

 

“Yes, you’re right brother,” agreed Anubis, nodding. “It does seem strange but I think we should see for ourselves. No good throwing accusations just like that.”

 

The brothers ran towards the end of the corridor, moving eastwards, in the direction of Menas and Charmian’s quarters. Suddenly the ground began to shake and they lost their footing. As they stumbled to get up again a loud laugh broke the silence.

 

“I know that laugh and the way the ground shakes like that!” said Anubis in alarm. “But it can’t be! It’s been destroyed!”

 

“What are you talking about?” questioned Thoth.

 

“The tremors. They’re just like the ones in Seraphina. And you know what that means?”

 

“The Asp? No!”

 

His question was answered for him as the huge creature came crashing through the wall in front of them, snarling and spitting. Dark purple flames were everywhere and a pungent smell of fetid smoke engulfed the passageway.

 

“It is the Asp of Darkness!” coughed Anubis. “Run quickly! Come on Thoth!”

 

“No. I’m not running from this vile reptile. It threatens our home. I will teach it some respect.”

 

“No Thoth! This is no time for heroics! Your powers will be useless against it!”

 

“We shall see about that. Let’s see how you like this reptilian.”

 

With that Thoth pointed his arms towards the snake and released a charge of bright energy in its direction. The light hit the creature and seemed to just dissolve on impact. Thoth was taken back with surprise but did not give in. He continued to pummel the Asp with all the power he could muster. It was to no avail.

 

“What!” stammered Thoth.

 

“I told you! Come on!”

 

The brothers raced passed the Asp and towards the eastern wing of the White Citadel. While they were running Thoth noticed something in the hallway in front of them. It was motionless, a calm entity surrounded by frenzied conditions.  

 

“What’s that? It looks like a body.”

 

As they got closer they realised that it was the unconscious Isis sprawled out on the floor where Armon had recently left her. Isis’s long black hair outspread across the hallway floor. Thoth bent down to examine her visibly injured body.

 

“Thank Ra,” he sighed in relief. “She’s just unconscious so I can carry her. We must find Osiris.”

 

“But where is Charmian?” cried Anubis.

 

“Quickly, check her chamber. I’ll wait here with Isis.”

 

Thoth picked up the limp body of his older sister and held her close. After a few minutes Anubis returned, cradling the body of Charmian in his arms. He was clearly distressed and gave Thoth a desperate glance.

 

“She’s just the same. Look! We’ve got to get to Osiris.”

 

 

 

 

Menas continued to search the citadel for Osiris. Down every hallway and through every chamber he went, not finding a trace of his older brother. He stopped where he was and glowered.

 

“Show yourself coward! Perhaps you fear me? I would not blame you. Or perhaps you are still blind to the reality. I would not put it past you to still be singing my praises Osiris, the gullible fool that you are.”

 

The silence remained. Menas was about to shout again when the ground shook slightly and the monstrous form of Noxious appeared before him in a torrent of purple flames. The smell of sulphur was overpowering.

 

“Menas, I must warn you,” said Noxious. “Your brothers, Thoth and Anubis, are aware of my presence in the Citadel. They have discovered the bodies of your sisters and are making their way to Osiris as we speak.”

 

“No matter,” said Menas, rather haughtily. “I will destroy them all eventually. How did Isis come to be injured? Aha! My younger brother has finally overcome his conscience!”

 

“That assumption would be correct,” answered Armon, who had just appeared behind him.

 

“What news?” demanded Menas.

 

“I would think that the entire Citadel is aware of something by now. However, I don’t think that any of them know that we are the source of the calamity. That is except for Isis.”

 

“Thoth would accuse me without evidence,” growled Menas. “He is such a sanctimonious wretch. Anubis would think likewise I’m sure. But at least we need not worry about the Queen. You dealt with her, did you not Armon?”

 

“Well, I didn’t destroy her as such, but…”

 

“You unbelievable fool!” interrupted Menas in a rage. “You should have destroyed her while she was at your mercy! Now you have left her to raise the alarm. They may be preparing their defences as we speak!”

 

“Highly unlikely,” said Noxious. “Isis is still unconscious and Charmian will never speak again. Thoth and Anubis know of me but nothing of your involvement. And Osiris knows nothing.”

 

“Except for the fact that there is evil here. I would rather Osiris was alone and ignorant when I strike him down but there was no stopping the Book of Creation. Nothing gets past it.”

 

“Beware of the Book Menas,” said Noxious, suddenly recoiling. “It has great powers that could be used against us. It could destroy us.”

 

“I will destroy it when the time is right and a new chapter in history shall begin. The era of Menas the Malevolent, Lord of both the Spirit World and the Demon Realm!”

 

“Again I must warn you not to underestimate that ancient volume. Its benign methods are most subtle.”

 

Noxious had never shown such avid fear before and Menas nodded to appease him.

 

“May I make a suggestion Menas,” asked Armon, wincing as Menas looked at him contemptuously. “In my opinion, they key to Osiris’s weakness is his children, Horus and Iras. If they were threatened in any way he could be forced to do anything we ask.”

 

“Like agreeing to be destroyed perhaps? Masterful Armon,” said Menas, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

 

“That was why I did not destroy Isis. I told her that I would destroy her children so that she would lose all desire to exist. More malice rests in such a plan of action, would you not agree?”

 

“And yet the children remain,” snapped Menas.

 

A thought suddenly crept into Menas’s mind. The children, the heirs to the throne, they too would be totally vulnerable in such an atmosphere of confusion. What better way to exact ultimate revenge than by obliterating them before the very eyes of their father?

 

“I apologise brother, I judged your suggestion hastily. We will use the children as bait to lure Osiris and the others into my trap. Then we will have full glory at last. Armon, Noxious, listen to me. I will make my way to the children’s bedchamber and barricade myself in, using my dark magic. Meanwhile you two will attack the others. Destroy all except for Osiris. Leave him to me. Do you both understand?”

 

“Yes, my lord” uttered Armon and Noxious simultaneously.

 

“Good. You have your orders. Obey!”

 

“We will attack from both sides,” said Noxious. “Myself from the west and Armon from the east. That way we can cut them off completely. They will have nowhere to run.”

 

Noxious dematerialised in a column of sulphurous smoke and Armon ran off down the corridor heading westwards. Menas slowly made his way towards the children, the smile on his face growing wider with every step.

 

“Soon it will all be over. Soon I will rule.”

 

Continued

 

Back to Fanfic Archive