The tunnels beneath were entirely too smooth and even, curving in great circular loops, all leading gently downwards. After cajoling and praise of her ‘unique’ talents, Janaxia had been induced to open the doors, leading them through. Fortunately, the background magic of the place masked Janaxia’s aura, although Carissia seemed a little jumpy. Mercifully, she had returned to whispering rather than shouting, and was leading the way, a mote of fire giving better illumination than the eldritch crimson lights. Tunera stayed close to Stathis, cradling the spear, looking nervous, but determined. Stathis gave her what she hoped was a comforting pat.

‘Just stay at the back, and let us deal with the heavy lifting, OK? While you’re probably going to ignore me, try not to do anything that’ll get you hurt, or too stupid. Please?’ Tunera gave her a long-suffering look that Stathis remembered using herself, far too often in the past, and she briefly regretted not bringing shackles or something to ensure Tunera would stay out of trouble. ‘Try and stay with Hakara and then you can come out at the end. I promised your father you wouldn’t get harmed, so please try and stay safe?’

Luckily, despite being an ongoing, single tunnel, there was something strange going on with it, as distances seemed to shift and warp, the lights sometimes flashing, making Tunera nervous, and hopefully more receptive to warnings. Stathis started scratching marks onto the wall as they travelled, in case they looped back on themselves. But eventually, they reached an ending, the tunnel opening up. A stone barrier ten paces along blocked their path. It was shaped to resemble something monstrous, claws and tentacles and a fanged beak, seeming to writhe under the firelight.

Carissia blasted it with fire magic, either trying to get it open, or out of simple suspicion that it was a monster in disguise. The heat washed back at them, Stathis shielding her eyes from it, while the door seemed entirely unaffected. Slightly more carefully, Janaxia approached, making a play of setting out some ritual implements (mostly random junk from the castle), waggling a hand through the air in a show of doing something magical, before touching the door. It rumbled and shook, sliding into the ceiling.

On the other side, was a large, circular chamber, centred around a pit. Crimson gems, like those outside but the size of Stathis’ fist, studded every surface. There were still the tattered remnants of ancient warriors, shattered remnants of bones still in armour, most of it cracked and pitted. Above the pit was skewered a hulking mass of bone and chitin, far too many limbs and claws around a twisted and beaked maw, impaled on spikes of stone.

It twitched, insectile eyes, faceted and shining like rainbows opening. A voice sounded in her mind, dry and withered. A rabble of mortals come to end me? Then come, little puppets, and end this farce. It has been long since I fed; I will feast upon your souls.

The air shimmered as chitinous tendrils sprouted from the ground, grabbing at them. Stathis smashed through them before they could grapple her, Semari leaping clear, as Carissia unleashed her flames, a blast of fire shooting out. The creature’s skin shimmered like a sickly oil, as the burning spike was reflected, bouncing back towards Carissia. Stathis twisted and dove in front of Janaxia, trying to shield them from the blast of fire, Semari leaping well clear.

Ah, always so eager to purge darkness with fire. But such tricks shall not avail you here

The flames started to die down, revealing Carissia still stood there, her ash-grey robes now transformed into brilliant, radiant white, shining with divine power. A broken piece of armour on the ground started to melt, everyone else backing away from the intense heat.

‘THE DARKNESS SHALL BE BURNT FROM THE LAND! WHERE I STAND, EVIL SHALL PERISH!’ She grinned, one hand tracing a rune into the air, burning so brightly Stathis had to look away. Power streaked towards the monster, its skin still shining, rebounding back to Carissia. She continued to pray as she burst into flame, robes rippling around her, as the prismatic oily sheen slicking the thing’s body start to smoke.

Stathis took this as her cue to lead the charge, racing forward. Arrows and bolts of ice and darkness flew from behind her, before Semari reached it, ducking under a flailing tentacle-claw and ripping out a chunk of bone. Stathis swung, letting her sword blaze with divine power, cutting through a flailing limb. As it dropped to the ground, it smoked and burnt, the oily sheen melting away. She sliced again, this time aiming at the malformed trunk of the thing. As her attack connected, her power reverberated back into herself, a blasting shock of power as the sheen somehow reflected her attack back at her. The normally warm light blasted and seared her, a burning of the soul assaulting her.

Such power, such might! All for the empty promise of another dawn. And yet, the darkness shall return.

It twisted somehow, moving despite the spike impaling it, monstrous body glowing, becoming alluring and hypnotic. Stathis ignored it, hammering more blows home, Semari smashing and kicking away, narrowly avoiding the beak swinging down and trying to chomp her. Lightning arced into Semari, Melltgalwr zapping and empowering her.

Janaxia walked past, body slack, clearly entranced by the thing.

Ah, the broken child. Power, and potential, but flawed and simple. You were a pleasing morsel, but, as ever, insufficient. Before I am reunited with my mistress in final darkness, then allow me a final parting gift.

The tendrils flailed, smashing Semari and Stathis aside, before the beak struck towards Janaxia. Stathis couldn’t move in time as the beak opened, revealing serrated teeth. It stopped just shy of Janaxia’s head, incomprehensible not-words washing out, Stathis’ head hurting from what she could hear. Then Carissia’s spell overcame its resistance, and it burst into flame, howling in agony.

Foolish children of light! The Bell shall ring once more, and then my full glory shall be restored!

‘BEGONE FROM THIS REALM, FOUL CREATURE!’ Carissia was still wreathed in fire, eyes blazing with power. She flicked some powder through the air, magic catching it and accelerating it, slamming it into the creature’s body, burning through the oily sheen and embedding themselves into it.

‘Semari, run!’ Stathis just had time to run towards Janaxia and tackle her to the ground, raising her shield to protect them both as the stuff exploded in a cascade fireballs. Fragments of chitin and bone bounced off her shield, heat washing around her, as Janaxia went limp.

Even the fire of the gods cannot slay me, try though you might. It took the greatest heroes of an age to seal me here, and there is only one weapon that may dismiss this form.

The smoke cleared, revealing that the thing was even more broken now, a shattered husk of spines and chitin, barely intact. Stathis swung her sword at a tendril that lashed towards her, slicing through it.

‘Yeah, we know. Tunera, get in here!’

Tunera ran forward, spear at the ready, Semari running with her, jumping in the way of a lightning bolt, sparks coursing over her body. Her movements were juddering and strobing, her speed even greater than normal. Melltgalwr summoned winds, trying to speed the pair in their movement, pushing them forward.

You think a child shall kill me? Me, Koth’Mor of the Crimson Spiral, weaver of fates? I stood atop fallen Desandor and laughed as a millennia of peace was shattered, in fire and kinstrife. I broke the mind of Nimuran Farstrider. Countless heroes have succumbed to my magics!

An arrow streaked out, breaking one of the shining eyes, rainbow shards tinkling to the floor. ‘Ancient evil shall be destroyed.’ Parth kept shooting, hands a blur. Stathis blocked another attack, bashing back with her shield, giving Tunera an opening to thrust. Her form was perfect, feet solidly planted, as she thrust out with the spear, penetrating into the creature. Golden sunlight washed along the shaft, before blasting out in an explosion of power, continuing through and starting to melt through the surrounding stone.

Even if you destroy this husk, then I shall return. The Bell shall ring again, and I shall seek you out. Your souls shall be mine, or perhaps I shall simply destroy you.

It began to collapse, body no longer able to support itself, monstrous form turning to dust and ash. Carissia made a contemptuous gesture, wreathing it in fire, accelerating the process, until it was completely gone.

Stathis let a long breath. ‘You OK, Tunera? You handled yourself well.’

Her eyes were bright. ‘That was really cool! Although it was a bit creepy.’ She spun the spear, flicking ash and ichor off it, as Stathis bent to check on Janaxia. She was out cold, although seemed uninjured, despite her hair-lash being a muted tint. Stathis picked her up carefully, carrying Janaxia in her arms as they returned to the surface. Fortunately, the doors hadn’t resealed themselves, making it a long walk, but without anything to block the path.

Carissia was still blazing with power, too hot to be close to. This gave a convenient pretext not to speak to her, and fortunately she didn’t bellow conversation at them. Janaxia awoke when they were about halfway back, gently stirring in Stathis’ grip, eyes slowly opening. She tensed as soon as she realised where she was, going stiff and making it hard to keep walking.

‘You feeling alright? That thing did some weird magical charm stuff on you. You really should try and get better at resisting that stuff, you know.’

‘I can scarcely be blamed for succumbing to the arcane powers of such an ancient being! It clearly saw me as the biggest threat and so bent its full willpower towards myself. I doubt you would have fared any better.’

‘Sure. Anyway, is this carrying method more to your liking? As you seem to object to the usual one?’

Janaxia twisted and wriggled a bit, making herself comfortable, nestling herself close against Stathis. ‘It is definitely more dignified, I feel. And rather easier on the stomach than all that jolting and slamming around. This armour is not the most comfortable though, it is unduly rigid.’

‘Noted, although that’s sort of the point of armour. So are you going to walk now?’

‘Oh, I think I am still afflicted from that encounter. I wouldn’t wish to put myself under undue strain, so if you could kindly convey me to the surface?’

‘Really? Did you even get hit? You just went weird and got entranced pretty much straight away.’

Janaxia looked at her, green eyes glinting in the crimson light, colour starting to return to her lash. ‘There are times when, after a conflict, a lady of gentle birth may be in need of assistance.’

‘Fine, you want me to carry you. Just don’t make a thing of it. Anyway, what did that thing say to you? And please don’t go all vague and mysterious.’ Janaxia groaned, falling back into a stupor. ‘Seriously? This is really not helping matters.’ She bumped Janaxia up and down a few times; either she was really unconscious, or committed to her acting. Well, if she was out again, then she couldn’t object to how she was being carried, so Stathis changed grips, slinging Janaxia over her shoulder and continuing to the surface, finally emerging back into sunlight.

As Carissia’s power and heat faded, it was possible to get close and talk to her, as Tunera ran over to her father, gushing about her adventure.

‘That thing’s dead-dead, right? This place uncursed, all good?’

As the power left her, Carissia’s robes were fading back to ashen grey. Thankfully, she seemed to be whispering again as well.

‘Yes, this place is now cleansed. Although that creature may be re-summoned to the material plane, if that happens we will have more important issues.’

‘OK, but that’s not likely, is it? And we can always murder it again, right?’

‘Yes, I would imagine.’

Carissia reached out to stroke Janaxia’s hair. ‘When she recovers, kindly bring her to my chambers. I would like to question her, most… thoroughly… about what that creature said to her. It seems that she is destined to be dragged into these events, although not, perhaps, as much as yourself. Although with this affair resolved, I can be done with this particularly irksome set of restrictions.’

‘Any idea where you’ll be next? And what god you’ll be with?’

’I think perhaps something more straightforwardly martial. Armour, I think, may be useful in the times to come. Matters are escalating. Speaking of which, you really should go and see Mother, you know how she worries. Perhaps a route through the Breakspires?’

‘She never seemed particularly worried when throwing me into combat back home! Next time I see her, I’ll be sure to mention that you’re still changing gods all the time as well.’ From Carissia’s wince, that barb struck home. ‘Any why the Breakspires?’

‘There is a task there that I believe needs your… unique skills. Sainted Hirata is still afflicted with assorted problems.’

‘It’s a holy city, shouldn’t they be able to deal with any demons themselves?’

‘If you were to travel there, I believe I may be able to negotiate some leeway on your debt.’

‘Eugh, fine, I’ll see what I can do. Anything else you want to blackmail me into doing?’

Carissia smiled at her, suddenly all beatific charm and innocence. ‘That should suffice, I believe. Although it may well be that you find yourself drawn that way anyway. Although perhaps try to avoid destroying any more holy relics?’

‘Hey, you could have pitched in! If you hadn’t buggered off out of town.’

‘That is fair, I suppose. Regardless, do be careful.’ She reached out, running a hand down Janaxia’s back, producing a shudder, despite Janaxia’s unconscious state. ’And do look after this one, she really is quite the find. Given she appears to be a touch afflicted at the moment, if you would convey her to my chambers, that I may tend to her wounds?’

‘At least let her wake up first!’

Carissia rolled her eyes. ‘Very well. But it would be a pleasure to talk to her when she recovers somewhat. I believe I may be able to spare a day or so here, before having to journey onwards. And she is such a delight, it would be a waste to squander the opportunity.’ She ran her nails along Janaxia’s back, harder this time, prompting another spasming gasp. ‘Oh, before I forget, I suppose I should remove that spell from you.’

‘Wait, what? What spell?’ Without clarifying, Carissia gestured, bands of fire sparking into existence around her forearms, burning her flesh before winking out. ‘What the hell was that?’

’Just a geas, binding you to slay the witch. Now that she appears to be an ally, it seems unnecessary to maintain it.’

‘Could you not bind me with spells please? At least without telling me first? What if you had forgotten?’

’Then you would have suffered some unpleasantness in a few weeks. Nothing you wouldn’t survive, I’m sure.’

‘That is less than reassuring.’

’You are meant to be a saviour and hero are you not? This is scarcely the sort of thing you should require inducement to do.’

‘Just don’t slap binding magic on me? Please? Anyway, I should go dump this one somewhere until she wakes up.’ She patted Janaxia. ‘If you could try to avoid blowing anything up?’

Carissia shrugged, ambivalent as to the necessity of destruction, as Stathis left. Probably better to try and avoid letting Janaxia and Carissia hook up – Carissia’s reaction would probably be excessive. She pinched Janaxia’s rear, which didn’t elicit any reaction, so she probably was unconscious. Well, Janaxia was normally easy enough to distract, or at least get drunk.