The cost of a soul

[Riven]

Riven looked up from the book he had been studying at the body of the young boy laying in the glass coffin. "Has it already been ten years, my dear Timak?" Riven sighed to himself as he tossed another book into the corner, the pile not contained hundreds if not thousands of books. Out of frustration, Riven let out a growl as he slammed his fist into the table, the table spilttered, spending pieces everywhere.

 

Riven sighed again and walked over to the glass coffin and stared down into the lifeless eyes of Timak. Riven started to speak to Timak's lifeless body, "I have been able to restore your body, preserve it, I have given you the finest silk clothes and bed. What does any of the matter if I am unable to bring your soul back, my dear Timak?" Tears of hopelessness and sorrow rolled down Riven's face, this had been Riven's quest for the last ten years, for the last five he hadn't even left the tower.

 

Riven embraced the coffin, laying his head on it, "There is nothing I can do, there is no way for me to bring you back." He sighed and looked around the room, he felt like burning it, every inch in it's own way seem to mock him. Riven turned back to face Timak, "I only have a single hope left to bring you back but, the price maybe too high to pay." He shook his head, "No, you were willing to give everything for what you believed in, and for that I am willing to pay any price to bring you back."

 

Riven pushed himself off of the coffin, and with insane determination he readied himself for travel. As Riven slipped into his armor, it felt heavier then he remembered it. It had been five years since he had seen the oldside world, he wondered what had changed, would he feel lost out there, questions such as these ran through his mind. Riven fastened the cloak around his neck, as he headed for the large wooden door. The servent who had been with him for the last seven years stood by the door, "Get my horse ready, I am leaving immediately." Riven shot out his order, "But, Sire.." The servant was cut off by Riven who shot him a look, Riven's red eyes glowed under the shadow of the hood of his cloak. The servant paled as he sputtered out, "Yes S-sire..." With that the servant quickly left to prepare the horse.

 

There was one more stop to be made before leaving the tower, the armory. Riven marched towards the armory with inhuman speed. Riven pushed open the door, a cloud of dust whisp in the air to greet him. The smell of dust and musk was almost overwhelming. Riven pushed past the spiderwebs, home of the only residence of this room. He opened the case that housed his swords, lifting one up he unsheath the blade. He ran his fingertip down the blade, and nodded his approval as drops of blood fell to the floor. He did the same with a pair of daggers.

 

He looked ot the back of the room, there was a special case. Memories of his adventuring days came flooding back as he approached the case. "Ah, my old friend, it has been far too long." He opened the case, he run his hands over his warhammer. He stared at it for the longest moment before lifting it out of the case. A smile creeped onto his lips for the first time in years.

 

Riven quickly got the rest of his supplies ready, and left the tower. He travelled east for three days and nights without a break. His horse could travel no more, so he released it to join a herd of wild horses nearby. He was going to be forced to fly over the mountains that now loomed close. He packed his supplies into a small travelling bag. He gave his wings a couple of test flaps to make sure they still worked. Nodding his approval, he lifted off.

 

He flew over numberous mountains, and valleys. The cold air piercing his face reminded him that he was still alive, a fact that he had forgotten after being locked in the tower for so many years. He flew past the spot he need to land, he shrugged to him. He wanted to enjoy the flight somemore, he had forgotten how much he loved moents like these. He flew for about an hour longer before returning to the spot he was searching for.

 

To someone who didn't know the crop of rocks seemed like nothing special but, to one that knew, they formed a portal to other worlds and planes of realities. Riven shook his head as he remembered the promise he made himself a couple hundred years before about not returning to Morga. Morga was control by a demon lord, it was everything you would imagine it to be, and more.

Riven sighed as he began to chant the ten lines of the mantra that would open the portal to the point in space he wished to enter. Each of the ten rocks that would form the portal glowed a different color, the colors swirled together to form a black pool. Riven stepped into the portal.

 

Riven found himself in the middle of Morga's bazaar, it covered a third of the planet and you could have anything you wanted, for a price. The smell of roasted human flesh mixed with the smell of perfume of the whores down the street before reaching Riven's nose. He looked around, demons of all shapes and sizes were here. He frown as he pulled the hood of his cloak further over his head. He would need to be careful, the last time he was here he had killed a demon warlord, the warlord's gang could be anywhere.

 

The sound of sirens' songs in the distant caught Riven's attention for a moment. While distracted, he ran into something, he looked over the form. Whoever it was, was big at least fifteen feet tall. When his eyes fell on the face, he cursed his luck. "Quizz!" The monsterous demon lifted Riven by his neck, "The name's Quizzlain!" The demon growled out at Riven, "You got away from me last time but, I will kill you this time, Riven." With that Quizzlain punched Riven so hard he flew a hundred feet crashing through several of the stalls in the bazaar. Riven causally stood up, brushing the grey dust off of his armor.

 

Riven smirked, knowing the one thing Quizzlain and most other demons on this world feared. Riven chanted a mantra, the holy energy formed a beam that flew from his hand towards Quizzlain, who dodged it in time. With just that single act the entire street had cleared expect for Riven and Quizzlain. Quizzlain looked around for his gang, who had flew with the rest of the demons. "I will be back for you, Riven, and next time I will bring devourers!" He growled out as he spit towards Riven before storming off.

 

Riven felt a hand on his shoulder, glancing to the light bluish hand with black fingernails he knew insteadly so owned the hand. "Alzra, just the demon, I wanted to see." Riven watched the other demon from the corner of his eye. "Yes, I know Riven, I had been expecting you." Alzra was a demon lord, his powers rivals that of the current ruler of Morga, he was a dangerous foe. "So, you have come here for the soul of Timak?" Alzra shook his head, "I see you are still trying to be human. I have always told you to embrace your demon side, when will you listen to me?"

 

Riven growled, brushing Alzra's hand from his shoulder. He turned to face Alzra, "Stop the games, can you help me or not?" Alzra smiled, and tapped his lip as if he were thinking, he loved to torture others, and he could see this was driving Riven crazy. "Of course, for a price though." Riven watched Alzra closely, as he waited for the terms, "My normal fee for a soul is two enemies slain and a contract for the soul of the person wishing to purchase the other soul but, because you are an old friend and worked so well for me in the past, I am willing to give you a bargain." Alzra lowered his head, watching Riven out of the corner of his eye. Riven tried to probe Alzra's head for some idea what his plan was. Alzra smirked a bit, "Don't go playing around in there, Riven. I am not as dimwitted as the other demons on this world." Pulling his mind away from Alzra's, he replied, "I had to at least try, tell me what the price is, Alzra."

 

Alzra broke into a smile as he heard Riven's reply, "I need you to kill a cleric named Girald, he killed my bastard of a father centuries ago. Thus, not allowing me the honor, and no one has yet to be able to give me my revenge, and of course, a contract for your soul at a later time." Riven knew the name Girald, he thought for a moment, "Girald? The one rumored to be a plainswalker?" Alzra nodded, "No longer rumored though, it is a known fact." Riven chuckled at Alzra's request, knowing full well that a plainwalker is next to impossible to kill, even harder then a god. "Alzra, you are sending me on a fool's errand, and how many fools have you sent on this mission." Alzra studied Riven a moment, he knew Riven was no fool, "Thirty or forty so far but, they didn't fit the prophecy like you do. I sent them mostly because they were more annoying then he is." Riven looked puzzled, Alzra continued, "The prophecy that he would be killed by a demon with holy powers,"Alzra, "a demon just like you."

 

Riven shook his head, "See you are wrong, I am only half a demon.." Alzra laughed softly, "That is what you wish to believe Riven...but you are a full demon, both of your parents were demons." Riven was not sure if Alzra was telling the truth or a lie, his mind scan revealed nothing. "Fine, I'll do it but, how do I get to Girald's world?" Riven was starting to tired of Alzra's company, and just wanted this ordeal to be finished. Alzra held out a necklace, "This necklace will open a portal back to Morga from Girald's world, "Alzra snapped his fingers, "and there is the portal to his plain of reality."

 

Quizzlain's voice boomed, "Riven, you are not leaving Morga until we are finished!" Quizzlain and a group of devourers advanced toward Riven and Alzra. Alzra turned to Riven, "Do not worry about them, just get onto your mission." With that Alzra pushed Riven through the portal, the last words Riven heard before the portal close were, 'Quizzlain, you never learn..."

 

Riven stood in the middle of a field. Riven took a seat, trying to remember as much as possible about Girald and his planet. Rumors had it that Girald created this planet between plains of reality to have a place to retreat to. It is also rumored to take three days to walk around the whole thing. Riven feel back onto the grassy field, just letting the sun warm his body, "I haven't slept in five years, maybe I should take a quick..." Before he could finish his words, he was fast asleep.

 

Girald came to Riven in a dream, he was a simple old man in white robes, "I am Girald, Riven, and I know why you have come. You will find me a day's walk west of your current location. When you arrive, you and I will have dinner together and talk, I have a few things for you. Then you will complete your mission." Riven woke with a start, it was now in the middle of the night. He had no idea how long he had slept, images of the dream wondered through his mind as he got up and walked in the direction Girald had instructed him to.

 

Riven walked until midmorning when he ran into the old man from his dream, "I am.." The old man cut him off, "Riven, I know, I am Girald. Come on, you must be hungry. We must hurry we don't have much time." Girald led Riven to a small cottage on the foot of a mountain, "breathtaking, Girald." Riven stood in awe for a moment, "I know, I did create it..come along now, you will have plenity of time to stare at that mountain after my death."

 

Girald offered Riven a seat in the humble abode, "Girald, if you know why I am here, and believe I will kill you then why are you treating me like an honored guest?" Girald smiled at Riven warmly, "Riven, I am old, I have seen realities come and go, I have lived millions of years...I am tired." Girald sighed, "Plus it is fate, I nor any other plainswalker can do anything against fate, she is all powerful." Girald walked to the fireplace,lifted the lid off of a pot, and filled a bowl with stew he had made. Girald placed the bowl in front of Riven, "Eat up." Girald excused himself for a moment as he went into one of the back rooms.

 

Girald came out carrying several books, "I told you I had somethings for you." He placed one of the books in front of Riven, it was sealed with a ward. "Only Timak will be able to open this one and only when the time is right." Girald placed a second book in frotn of Riven, "This one is for you, some spells that you have yet to learn." Girald patted Riven on the back as he placed the third and final book in front of him, "This is the book of my travels." Girald nodded as a question formed in Riven's mind, "Yes, it is a small book but, it's magical so, it contains millions of books within it's self." Riven let out a sad sigh as he thought about the duty he would have to perform. "Do not regret your actions, Riven. Let us tonight exchange stories, and enjoy each other's company, tomorrow we will face each other in battle." The two of them spent the whole day talking, that night Riven was given the most comfortable bed he had ever laid on, and was still unable to sleep. The thoughts of the next day kept him awake all night.

 

The next morning came too soon in Riven's view. He got his things together and walked out of the cottage. Girald was already outside waiting for him, "Sorry, I was just taking a last look around the place." Girald looked to Riven with a smile, "Shall we begin?" Riven nodded gravely at Girald, as he launched into the air. Girald closed his eyes, and began to pull magical energies into his body. Girald sent spell after spell after Riven each one not seeming to have any effect on him. Girald nodded to himself reassurringly, "He really is the one from the prophecy." Riven circled around for awhile, noticing Girald's magic didn't seem to have an effect. Riven drew his sword and with great speed drove towards Girald, Riven noticed the smile on Girald's face and the slight nod as Girald tilted his head to expose his neck to Riven. Without any effort, Riven sword sliced through Girald's neck, removing his head from his body. The head rolled onto the ground, and the body fell as it did, a small particle of light left the body. Riven quickly landed and ran over to collect the head as he did that a voice from the sky spoke, "Thank you, Riven. Trialing times are ahead of you, you may even fall into darkness but, I will always be watching over you."

 

Riven looked over the cottage, taking in the mountains, to him at least they seemed to have lost some of their splendor. Riven entered the cottage to gather his things before heading outside and grabbing Girald's head. Alzra smiled as he watched what Riven had done. He knew once Riven was under his control, there would be to stopping his army from taking over all the plains of reality. Riven took a deep breath, and used the necklace to open a portal to Morga.

 

Stepping through the portal, Alzra was there to greet him. "Wonderful job, Riven." Alzra, placed an arm around Riven's shoulder. Riven shot him a look of disguest but, that was the end of his protest, "Come, let you finish our business, Riven." Alzra led Riven to a dark temple. "Isn't this a little cliche for you, Alzra?" Riven asked with a amused smirk. Alzra shrugged a little, "I don't own it, I am just renting it for our little ritual." Alzra snapped his fingers and four lesser demon carried in the glass coffin that held Timak's body." Alzra got down to business, "Your soul first or his, Riven?" "Mine." was the only thing Riven could force himself to say at that point. "Very well." With another snap of his fingers, Riven was stripped down, and placed on the dark alter.

 

A group of priest entered the room. The head priest stood over Riven with the ritualistic knife. "Just remember, Riven, this is just a contract on your soul, I will be collecting it at a later date." Alzra cracked a smile feeling victory was at hand. The priest started to chant, as the head priest cut a rune into Riven's chest just above the heart. Riven tried to tune out the chanting as best as he could. Riven blacked out at the midway point of the ritual. Riven woke up in his bed chamber. Was the whole thing a dream? He looked around, and next to his bed was a note that read, 'Soon I will be collecting that which you own me. Your eternal master, Alzra' Riven torn the paper to pieces. Riven got out of his bed and quickly made his way to the room he had design for Timak all those years ago, he swung the door open. Timak was no where to be found, Riven yelled at the top of his lungs "Alzra!" "Who's Alzra?" came a familar voice. Riven turned and saw Timak there with a smile. Riven ran and swoop Timak into his arms, "No one for you to worry about now, Timak." Alzra watched the scene unfold, and stepped into the portal back to Morga, waiting for his plans to blossom.

[Riven]

Please leave comments or feed back.

 

 

Girald can be used in other story as you wish, since he has millions of adventures to be told.

 

Alzra can be used as well, he is a salesman, he is power hungry and very cunning.

[dragonqueen]

You have a very entertaining style of writing. It kept my attention long enough to read it through, which is not an easy feat. Half-demons and planewalkers aren't really my thing, but your story is well-written. At least, that's what I think. The only thing I can say is that you might want to look into the proper use of comma's.