Feast of Veritas (Continued)

Suddenly Konbei charged Nuala with a powerful uppercut punch aimed at her middle. She tried to dodge but he was too quick.

"Konbei!" She said just before the punch connected, completely winding her. Konbei grabbed Nuala neck at the same time and forced her to the edge of the abyss where her foot slipped on the edge. She somehow managed to slash back at Konbei in an attempt to make him let go so that he too didn't fall over the edge when she did. There was nothing she could do to save herself, but was at least her last minute plan worked and Konbei released her and stepped back away from the edge as she fell to what looked like her death.

With all the heroes dead, Veritas' influence was lifted and Konbei and Dalikos back to normal. They were now free to mourn and regret the terrible crime they had just committed.

Veritas silently called Macabre back to his side. He wanted to watch the two murderers wallow in their own suffering.

((I'll continue the plot in a little bit. Be right back! ))

Macabre backed away to Veritas' side.

Dalikos felt his vision fade, then go back to normal. He looked around and saw only Konbei.

"Ah- What happened?" Dalikos looked around again, and recalled what he last remembered.

"Ok... Deserax dying, sinking ship, turning will over to Veritas..." Dalikos then got hit with the memories of what just happened so hard, he was glad he had a wall there, or he might have fallen on the ground.

"God damn it! This is what i was talking about! I got... ugh!" Dalikos hit the ground.

"God.... i did it this time... Fuck!"

Three. That was the number of times Konbei had lost Gwene today, and his most recent memory was of him killing his own mother.

He felt completely empty, emotionally drained. The abyss looked so inviting, he wanted the darkness to swallow him up so he could be with the people he loved.

Konbei looked at Dalikos getting angry. He didn't even have the energy to do that. He just stood there, feeling like the empty space that stole Gwene and Nuala.

Dalikos stood up, fist bleeding from hitting the ground so many times, and so hard. This time, he had tears in his eyes.

"What now?" He said in a quiet whisper. "Even if we make it out, Whats the point... I don't have any one. Family, or friends..." He fell to his knees, tears streaming full force.

"He-He's already one... he took so much in just the span of an hour..."

Dane woke up in the enveloping nothingness. He had the sensation of floating, as if he were breathing underwater. The gentry closed his eyes and then opened them; he swore the darkness he saw with his eyes shut was brighter than the abyss in front of him now.

And then they began to descend: faint little balls of light; small flames that softly rained down from invisible heavens. Dane held out his hand to catch one, but if fell through his hand and continued downwards. Some of the fires floated around him, as well as the other guests that they illuminated. The lingering lights whispered in each of their ears:

Fallen Heroes, hear our plea!

Gwene's eyes slowly opened, hearing the voice's around her "Huh? What... What's going on?"

Cyrus also opened his eyes, watching the lights and listening to their call.

Deserax opened his eyes and looked around.

"I... I'm... supposed to be de-" He was interrupted by the voice.

"Where are we?"

This is where he threw the sacrificed away.

"The... sacrificed?"

We were the first victims... the lights whispered, bodies to pay tribute to his demonic god. We were flies coaxed to the spider's parlor with food and drink. He was our host, our friend, our brother...

The air seemed to grow tense as the lights floated faster ...but it was all a ruse! He picked us off one by one and murdered us with glee! He offered our bodies to his demon lord as norishment, and tossed our souls in the pit you stand in now! Fallen Heroes, you are the first to escape his wrath so easily; but your task is only half complete...

Gwene and Cyrus listened intently.

Deserax started to float on his belly, listening to the conversation.

"Half complete?" He asked.

((Why isn't Tango posting? ))

"Veritas vos Liberabit": the Truth will set you free. This is a message that shell of a man takes literally; only Veritas has the power to free you from his prison. To truly be out of his reach, you must kill him. To kill him, you must turn his greatest weapon against him...

"Greatest weapon... His illusions?" Deserax asked, trying to figure out the awnser.

His eyes... the spirits replied. Those dreadful gifts from his god, the source of his True Sight, the key to his destruction! Veritas only holds the eyes in spirit; he cannot fully protect the lens carved out from his corpse...

"The Lens of Truth..." Dane muttered.

Yes...Find the Eye of Truth, and it shall lead you to Veritas! Find the Eye of Truth, and it shall lead Veritas to his doom!

"So, the eyes of truth are where exactly?" Deserax asked.

Verron listened to the spirits. "or first problem is how to get back" she pointed out. "we don't even know where we are!"

You are safe from his gaze, but only for the moment. He is too focused on the mourning of your friends to notice us. That is why we must be quick; his eyes could turn to us at any moment.

There is a passage somewhere you passed but never noticed. The Eye of Truth lies beyond it, hidden in plain sight. We will return you from where you fell, but we can do no more.

There was a quiet rumbling from beneath the group, as they were suddenly lifted up to the platform above with great force. They were fung onto the ground as if a fish had spat them back out.

The spirits voices were weak and dying away. Fallen Heroes, when you face Veritas at the end, please stab through his black heart...for us.

Gwene landed back on the platform with a little force, she was slightly winded but otherwise fine.

Cyrus landed on the platform, he picked himself up and looked around for Verron.

Verron rolled to the ground, stopping on her hands and knees. She stood up, though a little wobbley. She saw Cyrus looking her way, and smiled weakly. "i'm fine"

Cyrus immediately went to her and held her tightly "Oh thank goodness, you are alright."

She hugged him back. "you worry too much" she muttered sheepishly, but hugged him tighter. "...i'm fine as long as you're here"

Cyrus kissed her on the forehead "I'm fine. You're here, and that is good enough for me."