The darkness surrounded Stathis completely, silence stripping everything away. There wasn’t even the expected feeling of the ground beneath her feet, simply something supporting her above an endless void. Or she was actually falling through nothingness, an absence so absolute she couldn’t actually tell.

She took a step forward, finding that at least there was something there she could walk on. The darkness around her rippled, somehow refracting and reflecting her movements, a queasy sense of motion in the nothingness. Statis strode forward, trying to move to where Janaxia had been, hoping her sense of distance was working. And that this place had any relationship to physical reality! There was no sound, not even the usual distant dots of light, just darkness, absolute and entire.

She stepped forward again, Janaxia suddenly appearing, as suddenly as if she had blinked into existence. She was still wounded, looking around with her blade in hand, twitching as Stathis stepped forward. She moved defensively, although her movements were slow, her wounds obvious.

‘Stay back!’

‘It’s really me, Janaxia. Don’t worry. Any idea where the hell we are? All I can see is nothingness, can you see anything?’

Janaxia made a show of looking around. ‘No! I don’t know! What’s going on?’

Stathis knocked her blade aside with an armoured forearm, stepping in close and taking Janaxia by the shoulders. ‘I have no idea! This is a lot more to do with you, I think? I don’t know if we’re even in the real world any more, or if we’ve been dumped into some weird other dimension or something. Again! And do you believe me about Skotadi now?’

‘Well, yes, I accept that there might be something perhaps a little unusual about her…’

‘She got her arm ripped off and she wasn’t really bleeding! We need to help her though, so we need to get out of here. I don’t know what your mother might do to her, but almost certainly nothing good.’

At the mention of Poratia, Janaxia’s head twitched, horns twisting from side-to-side, as though expecting to be attacked at any moment. Her shoulders hunched inwards, sword dropping. ‘She… she wanted to use me, for something. The altar, I think she wanted to steal its power?’

‘I’m guessing that wouldn’t be too healthy for you?’

She shuddered again. ‘She hurt me!’ Janaxia coughed, raising a hand to her mouth and spitting up a small shard of black metal, sticky with blood and spit. Stathis gave her a hug, pulling her in close. Janaxia tensed for a moment, horn scratching against Stathis’ helmet, before relaxing. Hmmm, this is rather pleasant.

Stathis pushed her away, then looked down at Janaxia’s arm, still pierced by the silver. ‘What’s that? It looks painful.’

Janaxia lifted her arm up, carefully pulling on the metal, her skin stretching and bleeding again, before yanking more strongly, ripping it away and tearing her own skin. She tossed the metal aside and it vanished into the thick inky darkness that surrounded them, blood running down towards her elbow. ‘I do not know precisely what it did, but nothing good.’

She moved towards Stathis again, one arm extending for another embrace.

‘This isn’t really the time. What do you know about what the hell is going on? This place is even worse than the last time you got me stuck in another world – at least that was bigger and had decent lighting. Don’t give me any “not your fault” crap either – whatever is going on, it’s pretty clearly something to do with you and Skotadi. Whatever the hell Skotadi is, beyond creepy, especially for someone of her age. Or her seeming age, at least – I’m getting the idea that some of the stuff she says isn’t just bluster. We need to get out of here first though. What do you know about this place?’

‘It appears to be, ah, infinite darkness?’

‘Thanks, I managed to figure out that much myself. Are we in the real world?’

‘I don’t think so? If we are, then time has been stopped or slowed, such that we are cast aside from the usual flow of the world.’ She poked at the darkness with her sword – it didn’t seem to be shadow as such, the blade not fading or anything, but there was simply no sign of anything there.

‘And Skotadi?’

‘Hmmm. I do hope that she has not come to further harm.’

‘She’d lost her damn arm! That’s bad enough. Although she wasn’t bleeding, or at least not blood. We need to get out of here and help her. Before your mother captures her! She seems to be fighting with Zarazonnia as well, so all of us together might be able to take her down.’

A twitch of fear crossed Janaxia’s face.

‘If you’re worried about fighting your mother, I think you need to get over it! I’m pretty sure she just tried to sacrifice you or something. Good job on attacking her before, she wasn’t expecting that.’

‘Yes, it was rather satisfying, I must say.’ Her fingers tightened around her sword, as she assessed her wounds, picking at a scab, forming bandages over where the bracelet had stabbed into her. ‘Although I hope that she is defeated, I would rather not find out what other plans she has for me. There are several very inventive…’

‘This isn’t the time for that, and I don’t really want to know anyway. Do you know anything that might be able to get us out of here? And don’t bother coming up with fancy sounding explanations – just any ideas as to where the hell we are, and what we can do to get out. And then we can figure out how we’re going to get out of this shit. I can’t believe that the snake-demon might be our best bet!’

‘Zarazonnia I suspect is less likely to betray us, and has some rather extensive plans. She does want to conquer the world, which may present some issues. At least I would assume that is something you would find problematic?’

‘When were you going to tell me this?’

‘Well, it didn’t seem hugely relevant…’ Janaxia trailed off, looking away.

‘Not relevant! That seems pretty damn important. That explains the armour, if she wants proper troops. And she’s trying to unify this place, isn’t she?’

‘Well, that is her plan, yes. That place is rather disorderly, as you may have noticed.’

‘When were you going to tell me any of this!? I know this place is miles from anywhere else, but the last time a demon army attacked, they almost conquered the world.’ She pushed Janaxia away, looking her in the face, Janaxia still refusing to meet her eyes. ‘Were you just going to go along with this?’

Hmm, well…

‘Use your actual damn voice!’

‘No need to shout. Very well. Zarazonnia seems to regard me as a potential ally, and your prowess seemed to convince her that I was skilled in identifying potent warriors. And, of course, my own skill as well.’

‘So you were going to join up with a demon army?’

‘Well, I think a rear command position. Safely away from all the fuss at the front.’

‘Do you just go along with whatever people tell you to do? Right, we need to get out of here first, then we can figure out what’s going on. And try and get the hell out of here. Before you get entangled in any more demonic politics and get yourself killed.’

‘Hmph. You seem very concerned all of a sudden.’

‘This really isn’t the time. Also, this is not something you’re great at. You were going to be killed by your mother, Zarazonnia might like you but would probably throw you away if it was convenient, and you don’t actually know anyone here other than Sen. And you have no battlefield experience and don’t actually know anything about tactics or logistics.’

‘You seem intent on dragging me down! I am not merely your minion, to be ordered around. Perhaps I will forge my own destiny.’ She drew further back.

‘Janaxia, I appreciate you, but you really are a pain sometimes. There’s something going on with you and that book, and Skotadi as well. And you’re my friend, I’m not leaving you. Not that I could at the moment, as we’re stuck here, but you get the idea, hopefully.’ She moved in close again, ready to grab at Janaxia in case she tried to run away. ‘How do you think we get out of here? There’s definitely worse people to be stuck with, but this place is a bit shit.’

Janaxia looked around again, still looking skittish, but at least she didn’t retreat away. ‘It is rather inhospitable, yes. I do hope there won’t be any more unfortunate transportation incidents, as we seem to get flung about the place far too frequently for my liking.’

‘Might be better than being recruited into the demon army! So, getting out of here – any ideas?’

Janaxia took another step away, then winced, holding her arm, a wound having reopened, blood starting to ooze and flow. Stathis leaned in close – Janaxia’s tattoo was so pale it had virtually disappeared from sight. A fitful burst of golden light shone out, the darkness sucking at Stathis, pulling heat from her body, light momentarily appearing around her body.

Pained whimpers could be heard, Skotadi’s voice coming from everywhere and nowhere. She snarled and spat incomprehensible words, suddenly cut off with a pained gasp.

She says she’s hurt! The whimpers faded away. ‘Do that again, see if it brings her back!’

Stathis could feel that her reserves of energy were running low, but obeyed. Another wash of golden light tinged outwards, doing nothing to illuminate the abyssal darkness. But Skotadi’s voice returned again, saying something else that burned itself from Stathis’ memory. ‘Again!’

‘I’ve not got much left!’ But she focused, the solar light wavering before intensifying, Skotadi’s voice coming from all around them, desperate and urgent. Did she sound stronger now? Janaxia shouted something back, the sound swallowed up in the void. Then she stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Stathis’ waist, fingers flickering.

‘Uh, what are you…’

The world inverted, at least as much as it was possible for an absence of everything to invert. All sense of position and space vanished, except for Janaxia’s grip around her waist. She couldn’t even see her, but she could at least still feel her, as her eyes tried, and failed, to make sense of the absolute nothingness, her head starting to throb and ache.

I’m not sure how long this will take.

Stathis tried to speak, but couldn’t make any sounds come out, as Janaxia continued to hold her.

I would advise against letting go. I’m not entirely sure where we are, or where you might end up. I, ah, think we may be somehow ensnared within, or by, Skotadi, in some fashion? I shall take her to task for inconveniencing her master.

Stathis grabbed Janaxia back, not wanting to be left in the depthless dark. And hoping that Janaxia would just tell Skotadi off, not anything harsher! Now to find out what the hell Skotadi actually was.

There was a long, or possibly short, silence, before Janaxia shifted her grip. I suppose I should thank you for your loyalty. You have been steadfast throughout all these challenges. And you haven’t betrayed me, which is gratifying.

Stathis grabbed Janaxia more tightly, not sure if she was comforting her or protesting. And really hoping the journey would be over soon.

And… thank you for looking after me. Your healing is appreciated.

Stathis gave her another squeeze.

That is a little too tight, and your armour is rather pokey. But the sentiment is appreciated.

It would be helpful to talk back, and tell her to improve her behaviour, but the darkness was still absolute and entire.

And then the darkness broke, blessed light erupting around her, sweet and way too damn hot, but still better than endless darkness. Stathis shifted her feet, making sure she was securely planted on the ground. Janaxia’s arms were still wrapped around her, her eyes closed.

There were sounds of panic and alarm – they were in the Colosseum again, with the crowd yelling and rushing about, trying to get away. Zarazonnia had all six swords drawn, metal singing and flashing as she fought off spectral wraiths and cloaked figures. Stathis spun around, wrenching Janaxia with her to face the raised-up altar.

Poratia was stood there, staff still raised high, black lightning crackling around her. Blocking her path to the altar was Skotadi, still missing an arm, but alive, her hair hissing and seething around her head. Her fangs flashed as she raised her remaining hand, fingers twisting and bending.

‘This power is mine! You shall not pass to steal it!’ Bolts of darkness shot from her fingers, Poratia having to move her staff to deflect them away and protect herself. She looked even more haggard than before, and her attention was split between Skotadi and Zarazonnia, fearful of being attacked again.

‘Foolish girl! To think you were so close, hidden behind that useless daughter of mine. But I shall defeat you, and then the power of the Book shall be mine.’ Poratia took a step forward, lightning spitting and sparking, lancing into Skotadi and making her hiss in pain, her skin smoking and steaming.

Skotadi stepped backwards, touching the altar again – the slab of darkness warped and shifted, flowing around her body, the darkness tinged with rust-tinged blood. It seethed around her, forming into uneven shapes and protrusions, before whipping forth into a razor-tipped tendril. It struck at Poratia, exploding into a thick cloud of darkness, Skotadi leaping forward and vanishing into it.

‘Janaxia, can you see into that?’ Stathis raised her shield as a hissing dart of acid flew from another combatant towards them.

‘No!’

‘We need to help Skotadi, then we can find out what the hell is going on!’

Zarazonnia slapped her tail against an attacker, their body getting hurled backwards and shattering against a wall, hard enough to crater the stone. They started to pull themselves up, Stathis catching a glimpse of a broken and shattered body beneath, the skin warped and scarred as their wounds healed.

‘You go help her, I’ll cover you!’ She gave Janaxia a shove forward, trying to work out what was going on – Zarazonnia seemed to have a number of followers with her, although she loomed over them, moving at full-speed now, her blades slicing and singing through the air. Loose clouds of ghosts, probably summoned up by Poratia, swooped through the air and attacked anyone that go too close. Patches of the ground seethed, skeletal limbs fumbling around. Fresher corpses were shambling about, attacking at random – several had swords or other weapons already stuck through them. No-one seemed to have a focused plan, other than Zarazonnia bellowing orders to her followers.

Stathis gave Janaxia another shove as she started to move faster. Stathis sliced down at a zombie, the thing too slow to block her attack, neck getting sliced open before it collapsed to the ground, still twitching. Janaxia moved faster, flinging bolts at the sphere that had consumed Skotadi and Poratia. The outside rippled, red haze gathering around the impact points. A blast of lighting shot upwards from the thing, distracting everyone for a moment.

Janaxia swung her sword at the darkness, before stepping inside. She vanished from view entirely, as a group of gladiators charged at Stathis. It was impossible to tell their affiliation, but the one at the front swung a double-headed axe towards Stathis. It slammed into her shield, breaking a chunk off. The others tried to attack as well, several blows glancing off her armour. She fought for time, keeping them away rather than trying to defeat them, making sure none of them got past her.

She blocked another attack, chopping back, feeling her blade cut through ornamental armour and into skin, cutting into muscle. One of them fell back – they weren’t crazed or berserk, at least! They had no group skill either, moving without order to attack her, and without seeming to be trying to press around.

‘We’re loyal to Kalisparax, those that follow Zarazonnia will die here!’ One of them pointed at Stathis with a sword covered with savage spikes and protrusions. Stathis stabbed another one of them, trying not to maim them too badly, glad when they dropped back to support, rather than pressing the attack.

A cold wave blasted out, her attackers all pausing and readying themselves to defend. Stathis risked a glance backwards over her shoulder – the darkness was expanding into thick mist, blocking the sun, Janaxia appearing just as she attacked Poratia, blade shattering through a spell-shield. Skotadi was in mid-air, standing on a platform of darkness, looking even more battered than before, one arm still missing, her clothing shredded to rags. She stumbled forward, Stathis taking the chance to turn back and stab another attacker before they could recover themselves, then starting to run towards them.

The thick mist made it seem as though twilight had suddenly fallen, but she saw Janaxia continue to assault her mother, even as magical beams shot from Poratia’s staff, striking Janaxia dead on. Skotadi staggered, then lurched forward, body somehow propelled directly towards Poratia. She grabbed hold of Poratia with her remaining arm, bringing her head up and biting into Poratia’s neck. Another magical protection shattered as her teeth sank through Poratia’s cloak and into flesh.

As Stathis ran towards them, Janaxia took the chance for some more attacks, a blow to Poratia’s leg making her stagger. With the extra weight on her, Poratia’s movements were slowed, blood starting to well up and show on her clothing. With one hand, she reached around towards Skotadi, dark fingers pressing into Skotadi’s flesh. Her teeth released for a moment and she spat, bloody spittle arcing out before biting again.

Poratia swayed, darkness pulsing through the veins of her neck, before gathering herself. A green lance of energy appeared and shot towards Janaxia, catching her in the chest and shoving her backwards, before Poratia pushed her hand forward, pushing it into Skotadi’s chest.

Stathis charged as Skotadi screamed, an ear-piercing sound that echoed around inside Stathis’ helmet. Poratia’s hand was still inside of Skotadi, black ichor running down her arm. Skotadi kept chewing, her hair seething as Stathis tried to summon up energy for a spell of her own. A wan glimmer shone along the blade as she thrust forward, Janaxia attacking at the same time. Several of Poratia’s gemstones cracked, a shockwave of magical power blasting outwards, pushing them both away.

Another gemstone popped, a silvery light washing over her body, mingling with the black ichor from Skotadi. She kept twisting her hand within Skotadi, slowly pulling it back out as Skotadi kept chewing through her neck.

Then she blinked out of existence, Skotadi dropping downwards. Janaxia managed to grab her before she hit the floor. Her body was a mess – one arm messing, her chest partially torn open, black paste oozing out rather than blood, part of her rib-cage exposed. She was still breathing, but was obviously pained as Janaxia tried to comfort her.

She looked up at Stathis. ‘Heal her!’

‘I’ll try, but I’ve never tried healing anyone this badly injured.’ She touched Skotadi, the black blood-paste icy cold as it touched her gauntlet. Skotadi’s eyelids fluttered, her remaining arm reaching up. Her lips were red with Poratia’s blood still, along with her own black blood.

‘Don’t worry, Stathis is here now! She’ll save you.’

Stathis tried healing Skotadi, but could only raise the faintest of glows, and even that was snatched away, like a single candlelight in a torrent of icy water. Skotadi’s hand came up, nails extending into claws, scratching against Stathis’ armour, leaving marks in the metal.

‘Thank you… for trying…’ Her body was fading and melting, vanishing into shadows. Janaxia stroked her head, tears falling from her eyes, still looking at Stathis.

‘You can help her, can’t you? Please?!’

Stathis tried to heal her again, but the light she could summon up was even more pitiful now, doing nothing to halt Skotadi’s fading away. Her legs were already gone, most of her torso starting to melt, her hair turning to wisps of shadows.

‘I… think this is more than I can heal…’

Skotadi managed a chuckle, before coughing and spluttering. ‘I thank you, Janaxia. You have been most entertaining! Although that wretched bitch stole some of my essence…’ She coughed again, sounding pained. ‘She seeks power beyond any mortal! Although may have difficulty talking for some time…’ She chuckled again, before it turned into a spluttering cough. ‘This form shall perish. But I shall live on inside of you.’

Her body had almost entirely vanished, little more than her head left. She smiled, as Janaxia stroked what remained of her hair. ‘But you can’t die yet!’

‘Seek vengeance on my behalf, Janaxia. And stop your mother’s plans, she is meddling in things behind any mortal’s power! Such power should be for me, and such as you, alone, not any meddling magus…’ She managed to look at Stathis. ‘Despite your meddling attitude, you are worthy to serve.’ Her head faded away, leaving nothing but a thin sooty film on Janaxia’s hand.