The Demoness’s Lair  

Bane's sleek new longboat skimmed through the bay's swells under magical practised strokes. The warship Sea Raven rode at anchor beyond, its blood-red sails neatly furled. Bane stood with Amara and Hiwana in the bow, his unease was evident. But he held his counsel as the boat ran onto shingle shore.

Amara stepped out alone to face the huddle of Rhys's men. Their leader bowed as she approached.

"Mistress. What's your wish?" His eyes held wary respect now. The other sailors watched her closely with hands near weapons.

"We now share a quest," she told them plainly. "Your captain is taken by an evil beyond mortal ken. But together we may find and free him." At their stunned looks, she pressed on. "Will you join us and dare the attempt?"

The grizzled sailor glanced uncertainly back at Bane's boat and imposing warship. "Might be we'll need more than good intentions to face demonry, begging your pardon. But we're with you." He turned back and met Amara's eyes squarely. "Lead on for the cap'n's sake."

Heart soaring, Amara grasped his rough hand. "Bless you all. Come."

She led them back to Bane's longboat. The sorcerer's eyes clouded at the sight of his vessel crowded with lowborn sailors, but he held silent as they cast off again for the ruins. They took a shortcut via the twisting streams which carried them inland.

The unlikely company disembarked on the shoreline and filed through the vine-draped archways of the seaside temple under late morning sun. Amara led them back to the stone-lined chamber where she had first drawn Bane from the void. The sailors muttered prayers and gripped talismans.

Bane turned to Amara. "You have brought us full circle. To what end?"

She faced him squarely. "I know you and Hiwana keep oaths not to speak of some evil present here." She glanced at the uneasy sailors. "But lives now depend on the truth being known."

Bane's jaw tightened. Amara pressed on. "I beg you, my lord—if any part of your heart cares for me, break this compulsion and share what you know!"

Pain flashed in Bane's night-dark eyes. "You ask the impossible." His voice was raw. "I cannot..."

Amara grasped his hands as he struggled for composure. "If our quest is just, no curse should bind you. I free you from any vow made in my name." Around them, Hiwana and the sailors watched in mystified silence.

Bane closed his eyes. His body trembled with effort. Then finally he released a shuddering breath and looked up.

"It is done. Your grace has broken my shackles." He pulled Amara into a sudden fierce embrace. "Bless you for that alone."

Before she could react, he released her and turned to the others. "Hear me then. An ancient evil dwells here—one of the demon servants of the goddess of dark delights. Her name is Lilosis." Hiwana gasped but Bane pushed on grimly.

"In ages past we bound the foul thing in magical slumber. But now she wakes just as I have, and will gorge on souls to feed her mistress's power." His hands clenched to fists. "I lacked might alone to destroy her. But together we may force the fiend back into darkness."

Silence held for a dozen heartbeats. The sailors shuffled in dismay, looking to Amara. She mastered the chill fear Bane's words kindled.

"Have faith," she told them. "Darkness has not yet triumphed." They drew courage from her tone. But inwardly, she too felt the cold fingers of doubt. Were they rushing to doom? No, there could be no faltering now.

Squaring her shoulders, she gave Bane a resolute nod. "Guide us to this Lilosis. Let us see what strength we may array against her."

Bane's approval shaded to warning. "Her power thrives on mortal pain and fear. Recall that Light alone can break such hunger." He turned toward a shadowed archway and beckoned them to follow. "Keep pure hearts and guard your thoughts."

Amara whispered a prayer as they descended into the gloom beneath the ruins. The sailors still their clutched weapons and talismans. Hiwana drew up beside Amara, slipping a warm hand into hers. The sweet gesture rallied her courage. They would need faith in each other to withstand what lay ahead.

Bane led unerringly through a maze of tunnels. Fetid air washed over them, carrying bone-chilling echoes of anguish and manic laughter. The sailors' steps faltered. Even Bane seemed to steel himself before pressing deeper into nightmare made stone.

Ahead, crimson light seeped from a doorway cleft into the passage wall. The sadistic chorus of shrieks and begging screams rose to a crescendo beyond it. Bane halted, holding up a hand. He faced them bleakly.

"Her profane altar lies within. Those who dare may view it now—but stay back from the threshold lest she ensnare you." His eyes lingered on Amara in silent warning. She gave a brave nod. They had come too far to turn back.

Bane edged forward alone, peering into the lit chamber. He recoiled with a muffled curse as if struck. When he turned back, revulsion twisted his fine features. "Gods wept...even I was naive to her depravity. Lilosis has the pirate lord." He spat the name like poison. "She...toys with him."

Amara went cold. So her vision was confirmed. This fiend held Rhys in her clutches even now, tormenting him. Amara never dreamed true evil lurked so near.

Bane's voice broke into her anguished thoughts. "He yet lives, but his spirit cannot endure much longer." He faltered, sinking to one knee as if the effort to break his vows of silence was a physical weight. "We have scant time..."

Amara clasped his shoulder, pulling him back from the abyssal doorway. "Can we banish this demon?" She turned the question to each of them. "Some light yet shines here. All is not lost."

The sailors swallowed but assented. "We're with you, mistress," their leader managed.

"Sister." Hiwana squeezed Amara's hand in silent solidarity.

Lastly Amara's gaze met Bane's. "Please lead the way."

Slowly Bane rose. Some colour returned to his haggard features. He clasped each sailor's shoulder, sharing wordless strength. To Amara, he gave a final tender kiss.

"Stay safe." He turned toward the pulsing red light, straightening his spine. "Give me five minutes by this world's reckoning. Then come." Without a backward glance he entered the fiend's lair alone.

Amara pressed a hand to her mouth, choking back protest. She knew in her bones Bane marched to martyrdom. But she could not sway him from this course. They must only have faith he could buy them time.

Within the crimson chamber, Bane's voice rose in a sonorous chant. The pulses of light brightened and dimmed erratically. Then a shrill female scream resounded, infused with rage. The sailors were frightened by the noise.

Hiwana slipped her dagger into Amara's hand, closing her fingers around the hilt. "May you never have need of it." Her face was solemn.

Amara gave her a tremulous smile. No time for tears or second thoughts. The fateful moment was upon them. The horrors that lay within, they must face them together. For the sake of rescuing Rhys, failure was not an option.

With a shared nod, Amara and the others moved as one to the doorway. Ahead lay shadowy forms that she knew from horrific lore—the stuff of every child's nightmares dragged into waking light. Sightless things that feasted on souls. But she recalled Bane's words. If they held to their purpose, letting no fear or hate into their hearts, they yet might prevail.

Amara lifted her dagger high and yelled, "Let's go!" With her allies beside her, she plunged into the abyssal lair to turn darkness into dawn.