I hate you too

"Friends?" Michael let out an incredulous laugh, "Even if I had friends, you would never be one of them!"

"I had a feeling you might say that," Silthus said quietly, "luckily, I have a solution and I think you are going to help me,"

Silthus produced a large dark tomb in front of Michael. A book with a single star upon the cover.

"The book of stars," Michael exhaled apprehensively.

Silthus stood with the book in hand and retreated to the fireplace. He dipped down and placed it just an inch from the fire. Michael's eyes widened anxiously.

"Wait!" he said quickly, "Let's...talk a bit more. Tell me what you want,"

"What I want is for you to be at my side, but I know the moment I release you from those binds, you're going to try to kill me. So here's what I propose - You show me I can trust you and I'll think about letting you read this book," Silthus smiled darkly.

"How?" Michael's eyes narrowed.

"It won't be that hard, I promise," Silthus answered reticently.

"And Ace?" Michael questioned.

"I'm going to deal with Ace," Silthus said quietly, "he's not your concern. I know the only reason you're helping him is to get this book. Well, join me for me and you can have it instead,"

"Are you going to kill him?" Michael interrogated sharply.

Silthus rose slowly, "No, I'm not going to kill him. Not if you do what I ask,"

"I don't believe you," Michael returned viciously, "you see, I've met your kind before Silthus. You think you and your ancestor are so different? You're not. To survive in the Emperor's court, I quickly learned how to see through men like you. I know you won't give either of us that book. And as for Ace, he could already be dead. I have no reason to help you,"

"Hmm," Silthus tutted, "well, you are quite right to be suspicious. I think it will be quite difficult to convince you. Never mind, we'll try this another way. Cora, would you come here please?"

On request, the door to the dark room opened and Cora stepped inside with a bow.

"Yes, my lord?" she answered with a cruel smile.

Silthus turned to her with one hand leaning against the fireplace, his huge frame blocking out the light.

"Come and get me when Michael decides to say yes," he instructed. He glanced over at Michael, "you may not be afraid of death, but there are far worse things in this world,"

With that, he left Cora standing opposite Michael. He stared up at her wildly. Cora gave a smile as she strolled up in front of him. She placed her thumb between her teeth and bit down until it drew blood. She began to form a sigil upon Michael's brow.

"Blood magic," Michael snarled, "I should have known,"

"You recognise it?" Cora giggled.

"A weak and ugly form of magic," Michael sneered, "Just like you. I made sure to drive all of you out of the empire,"

Cora threw her head back with a loud bellowing laugh, "Well you didn't do a good job. Since then, we've even improved our craft somewhat,"

As she said this the sigil on his brow began to glow. Then she placed her hands on his temple. Michael's face contorted in pain. He threw down his head with a gasp. His arms and legs rattled against the chains. His body convulsed and a stifled scream escaped his lips. Cora lifted his face to hers. His eyes were wide and his face red with exertion.

"What do you think of blood magic now?" her eyes surveyed him with ecstatic delight.

Finally, she released her hand from him and Michael slumped forward not moving.

"Now, wizard," Cora stared down coldly, "the only thing I want to hear is 'yes'. Until then, you will have the pleasure of my company. I do have better things to do, you know. So, let's make this quick. What is your answer?"

For a moment Micahel was quiet, then a low chuckle exploded into a wild and savage laugh. He threw back his head in condescending spite, "Oh, you stupid girl. It's a hundred years too early for your magic to break me,"

"I was hoping you'd say that," Cora smirked.

She placed her hands upon him again. Once more his body shook terribly. Michael gripped the armrest with a scream but did not relent. Cora's nails dug into his temples until his eyes began to roll back.

She pulled back her hand and asked again.

Michael looked up with dark eyes as tears of blood fell down his cheeks, "I'll see you in the underworld, witch,"

Cora caught hold of him with agitation and continued on for the following hours. When morning hit the dark cell, the light fell from the barred square window. When Michael was no longer moving, Cora had left him locked up with the dead men. However as soon as the door closed behind her, Michael pulled himself upright with a grunt. He released a pained breath as he surveyed the room.

He cast an eye at the darkening bodies at his feet and inhaled sharply. He gritted his teeth against the pain and pulled with full force forward. The chair overturned and he fell straight into the faces of the dead men. There was blood crusting around their heads and their bodies were stiff and distorted in pain. Michael reached to the ground with his hand still bound against the chair. He could just barely touch the surface of the congealed blood and began to describe a ruin against the stone floor with it.

Suddenly, the place marked with blood caught fire. It began to burn the restraints and his flesh as well. He gritted his teeth with a cry and finally pulled back his hand. He undid his bindings and came to an unsteady stand. His hands went to the metal ring, but it was firmly locked around his neck. He went to the far end of the room where a selection of blades had been laid out, no doubt a glimpse of what was to come. He snatched one from the table and went to the door.

Of course, it was locked. Michael knelt down with the blades and inserted them into the lock. After several attempts and one broken blade, the lock turned and the door at last opened. Beyond the door was a long stone corridor of enclosed brick. Michael started down it hastily.

He reached a set of stairs and began up it without delay. Upon reaching the top, he found another closed door. This time it wasn't locked. He slowly opened it and found himself in a candlelit hallway. It was a grand, high ceiling expanse. Upon the walls, extravagant paintings were hung and glowed menacingly under the orange candlelight. On the other side a series of doors.

No sooner had Michael reached the end of his exploration of this passage. He heard steps approaching from ahead. He pivoted back and turned into one of the rooms. He leant back against the door with breath unhinged. Soon the steps passed and he let out a breath. Only, as he did, a rip of pain tore through his chest. He fell forward into the darkness of the room and covered his mouth. He found himself just in between a curtain and balcony as cough full of blood splattered against his hand. As he pulled back the curtain, the light poured into the room revealing a single table with the book of stars placed upon it. He snatched it at once with an uneasy breath and turned to the balcony door. He burst out into a dark clouded night. From the edge of the balcony, he stared down in disbelief.

Below was a vast dark canyon so high it was surrounded by clouds. Where was he?

Michael fell back against the wall of the room with a scoff. He slid down against the wall with eyes looking on into the darkness. He opened the book, but his eyes could barely make out the words. He released another cough and more blood dripped down his lips. He stared up at the sky resentfully. It cracked as forks of lightning spread like veins over the black canvas. Somehow alive yet inhumanly so.

"So, this is how it ends," Michael said to himself, "typical - fucking gods must hate me, huh? Well, guess what? I hate you too. I hate you all. What did I do so wrong? I tried...I really did, but you never gave me a chance. Not this time nor last. Why did you give me this life if it was just to suffer like this? I wish...I wish just for once...you could..."

Before he could finish, his consciousness began to fade. Everything went black. Michael's head fell forward just as the door inside burst open. A cluster of guards began to riffle through the room.

"He's here!" came a cry.

They pulled Michael up roughly, still with book in his hand.

"Take him to Silthus."