The Demon Soul (37 page)

A slight hiss from behind him made Neltharion whirl. Despite being unable to move save at his command, Alexstrasza had managed to give one hint of her anger and contempt.

“And you…” the black uttered, those below momentarily forgotten. “You, the rest of these traitorous 'friends’ of mine, you will live by my sufferance alone! For your conniving, your plotting, you deserve nothing better!”

Alexstrasza struggled to speak. Deciding to be magnanimous, Neltharion granted her that ability.

“What have you wrought, Neltharion? What evil have you perpetrated? You call us traitors, but I see only one for whom that title is deserved!”

“I give you permission to speak, dear Alexstrasza, but you should use it to plead for mercy for your crimes! You dare condemn me?”

She snorted at such words. “There is no one here among us who has committed more horrendous crimes than you!” Alexstrasza hesitated, then her tone abruptly softened. “Neltharion…this is not you! You always sought to make the world one of peace, of harmony…”

“And I will! When all obey my dictates, there will be no more chaos, no more war!”

“And no more death? How many must die to create your 'peace,’ my old friend?”

“I—” The voices grew insistent, demanding that he put an end to her words, and to her. The black dragon shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “Alexstrasza…I…”

“Fight what madness has overwhelmed you, Neltharion! You are strong! Recall what you once were…and destroy that abomination before it’s too late for all of us!”

She had said the wrong thing. The Earth Warder’s crimson orbs hardened again and he clutched the disk protectively. “No! So, your betrayal worsens! You would take what is mine, what I’ve created, for yourself! I knew it! I knew that none of you could be trusted!”

“Neltharion—”

“Be silent again!”

Alexstrasza’s jaws froze. She clearly struggled to speak, but the power of the Dragon Soul was too much.

Dismissing her as of no more consequence, the dark giant again stared down at the throngs held still by utter fear of him.

“I have decided!” he told them. “I have decided that this place is best with none such as you befouling it!”

He held out the Dragon Soul.

The disk flared—

And a crimson juggernaut suddenly crashed into him.

They had arrived to find a scene of utmost horror—wholesale destruction below and, above, the dragons snared in a trap set by one of their own.

Krasus swore. “It is too late! Neltharion has committed his betrayal!”

No sooner did he say it than the mage realized the geas the Earth Warder had placed on him no longer existed. Why should it? Neltharion himself had revealed his treachery; there was no point to the spell anymore.

“This is monstrous!” roared Korialstrasz. “He has Alexstrasza prisoner! How dare he? I will slay him for that—”

“You must calm yourself!” Krasus interjected. “Neltharion is too powerful now that he has unleashed the Demon Soul!”

“ ‘Demon Soul’? Aye, a better name than that which he called it! Truly it is a demonic creation, more befitting the foul creatures of the Burning Legion!”

Krasus had not meant to say the name by which the disk would become known later in time, but it was too late. Perhaps this had even been the way the name had changed. The mage no longer knew what was a part of the original history and what had been altered by his interference. At this point, it hardly seemed to matter anymore. What did matter was that Kalimdor was in danger from a threat that made even the demons seem insignificant by comparison.

“What can we do?” asked Malfurion.

“The Dra—Demon Soul is not invulnerable! Neltharion is the key! He is its creator, and its weakness!”

“Do you mean to destroy it? We could use it to save my people!”

Krasus grew grim. “Druid, any other path to survival would be better than wielding that abomination! It is a corrupting influence! Surely you can sense that even from here!”

The night elf nodded. Anyone but apparently Neltharion could likely sense the evil within when the disk was in use.

Korialstrasz shook his head. “I can stand this no longer!”

Without warning, the red dragon descended toward a hilly region behind the defenders’ lines and out of sight of the insane black. He dropped down with such swiftness that neither rider could protest.

Only when Korialstrasz had landed and his two riders dismounted did Krasus have the chance to say anything. “What is it you intend?”

“You know me as well as anyone. You know what I intend.”

Krasus did and vaguely recalled that decision now. Yet, what had once been set in stone no longer was. Korialstrasz had all but died once; a second time might prove permanently fatal.

Yet, even knowing that, he could no longer argue against the dragon’s action. The love Korialstrasz had for his queen and mate was one that Krasus also felt.

“Strike low and to the back, then,” he told his other self. “And do your utmost to break his grip on the disk.”

The behemoth dipped his head in appreciation. “I take your wisdom to heart.”

With that, Korialstrasz took to the air once more, wings beating rapidly as he sought to quickly gain speed before attacking. The two watched the dragon depart, Krasus particularly keeping his eyes on the red until the latter had flown off.

The moment it became evident to him that the die had been cast, the mage turned, saying, “Come, Malfurion! We must make with all haste for your people!”

Krasus raced along the landscape, all sense of dignity forgotten. Dignity was for those with both time and patience, commodities not available to him and his companion. All that mattered was reaching Rhonin and the others.

Of course, then the question would be…exactly what could they do?

On and on they ran, but to the mage it seemed that the night elves were as far away as ever. “This goes much too slow!” Krasus snapped. “By the time we make it there, it will be too late!”

“I could try to summon something! Perhaps Cenarius will be able to send hippogriffs again!”

“I doubt very much that we shall be so fortunate as previous! Perhaps…perhaps if I can reach Rhonin…”

He paused. Taking a deep breath, Krasus tried to reach out to his former protégé. But although he sensed the human, there was too much turmoil going on. Krasus doubted that Rhonin even noticed his touch.

“I have failed,” he finally said. “It seems that we must keep running.”

“Let me try. Surely it can’t hurt at this point.”

Krasus eyed the druid. “Who do you think to contact?”

“My brother, of course.”

The slim spellcaster considered the choice, then said, “May I suggest another? Tyrande, perhaps?”

“Tyrande?” Malfurion’s cheeks darkened.

Trying not to embarrass the night elf more, Krasus added, “When we sought you in the palace, it was through her that the link became quickly established. I think, with my aid, you can do it again. Besides, she is more likely to have transportation for us.”

Malfurion nodded, accepting the logic. “Very well.”

Still facing each other, the two seated themselves. Krasus stared into the night elf ’s eyes as both concentrated.

“Tyrande…” Malfurion whispered.

Krasus felt him reach out to her. The druid and the priestess touched minds almost instantly, verifying his assumptions. They might not yet realize it themselves, but he could sense the deep feelings between the two as Malfurion again called to her. Tyrande…

Malfurion? She sounded both startled and relieved. Where—

Listen carefully! I can’t explain much, he replied, stressing the urgency as best he could. Krasus and I need mounts! Can one of your sisters head toward the southern hills? He envisioned them as best as he could for her and felt her acknowledgment of the location.

I will come myself! the priestess said.

Krasus broke in before Malfurion could protest. She will be able to follow the link directly to us. Another might ride around this area too long and still miss where we are.

The dragon mage sensed her agreement and, finally, Malfurion’s submission.

I must find mounts first, but I’ll be there quickly! With that, Tyrande receded from the link. She remained bound to Malfurion, but in a manner that would permit her to act on the situation without being distracted by his thoughts.

“Praise the Aspects!” Krasus announced as he severed himself from their connection. Helping Malfurion up, he declared, “We have a chance now.”

“But how much of one? First the demons and now this! Surely Kalimdor is doomed!”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. We do what we can do.” The mage suddenly looked up to where Korialstrasz had flown. The hills prevented the pair from seeing the upcoming struggle. “As do others,” Krasus added bleakly. “As do others…”

K
orialstrasz collided with Neltharion as hard as he could, aiming for the areas least protected by scales. At the same time, the red unleashed a burst of flame toward the insane Aspect’s eyes.

He succeeded in startling the Earth Warder, but Neltharion did not lose the disk as Korialstrasz had hoped. The black dragon had a death grip on it. Even as Neltharion went rolling through the air, he kept enough presence of mind to prevent the loss of his cherished creation.

Korialstrasz hissed at his failure. Alone, he stood no chance against the much larger dragon. Worse, the red felt the pull of what Krasus had more rightly dubbed the Demon Soul and knew that, as he had done with the rest, the Earth Warder would be able to make Korialstrasz, too, a slave.

But still Alexstrasza’s consort refused to back away. He had committed himself and he would fight until he died, if only to perhaps save his mate.

Before Neltharion could recover, Korialstrasz slammed into him again, this time driving his head into the black’s torso. The Aspect gasped as the air was driven from him. His paw jerked open, and this time the disk slipped free.

“Nooo!” thundered Neltharion. With a frenzied show of force, he shoved back the other dragon, sending Korialstrasz hurtling. The Earth Warder dove quickly after the piece. Wings pressed behind him, Neltharion dropped so quickly that he managed to grab the Demon Soul before it had fallen very far.

Pulling up, the black behemoth roared in rage at the smaller beast. “How…dare…you?”

Korialstrasz tried righting himself, but moved too slowly. To his horror, he saw Neltharion hold the disk toward him.

“You will bare your neck to me!”

The flash of light overwhelmed Korialstrasz. It burned as nothing he had ever before experienced. It felt as if his scales melted, his bones seared. He cried out in agony.

But still the red forced himself forward, not back. He fought against the pain, closing in on Neltharion. The Earth Warder bellowed his frustration. In his madness, Neltharion had sought to destroy, not enslave, and that now worked against him.

They clashed. So close, the Soul did not prove as useful as Neltharion might have imagined. Both dragons were momentarily reduced to claws and teeth, and Korialstrasz held his own.

Neltharion snapped at his throat. The red inhaled, sending a full blast of heat into the Earth Warder’s face. This time, the attack proved more successful. The black dragon spun back, his head smoking.

But Korialstrasz’s victory proved short-lived. Fluttering just beyond his reach, Neltharion pressed the Demon Soul to his heaving chest and grinned madly at his opponent.

“You are no longer amusing, young Korialstrasz! You are a gnat to me, an insect which must be squashed! Enslavement is too good for you…”

As he spoke, the disk glowed bright. Its golden aura spread out, encompassing Neltharion. His laughter held no more sanity. The Earth Warder’s eyes blazed, and he seemed to swell out of proportion.

“An insect!” he repeated almost merrily. “All of you, nothing but insects to me!”

The black dragon now shook as if almost ready to explode. He held out his free paw and pointed at the distant ground.

The earth buckled. Demons and night elves scattered further from one another as volcanic eruptions began. Magma and fire shot high in the sky, raining down on those unfortunates not swift enough to escape. The very power of the earth that he had sworn to wield wisely, Neltharion now used to kill indiscriminately. Before Korialstrasz’s eyes, the Earth Warder perverted his role, transforming himself from an Aspect of the world to its antithesis.