Beyond the Infinite

The finale of Daniel’s adventure was approaching. Though he’d re-learned much of what he had chosen to forget, Daniel was a new man now. It was unlikely he could ever obtain salvation – The Shadow would no doubt kill him. But as long as Alexander came along for the ride, it would all be worth it.

Then there was the matter of my favourite head-in-a-bag, Agrippa. He requested I wait until the gate was open, and then send his head through it. I’m no master of the paranormal or occult, so I figured I’d let the talking head do the thinking.

Descending a narrow passageway brought me to the gate of the Inner Sanctum – closed. This area was very different from the rest of the castle, seemingly ancient. This had to be the start of it all – the entire structure existed to serve and shield this one place. In order to progress any further, a sacrifice was required. Alexander had set up safe-guards it seems; even at this late stage, more was required. I had to give an offering of body and mind. With no other volunteers, I gave my own.

My blood drained into strange symbols and my sanity decreased. I gave all I could and sure enough, the giant door opened. I wasn’t even crawling but instead dragging myself, inch by painful inch, towards the goal. My vision was blurred, stained with blood. Noises came from nowhere and everywhere, shapes and faces materialized out of thin air. None of it could stop me, stop Daniel, from reaching the Baron. After what seemed an eternity I passed the door to my goal. After everything that had happened, all the dangers I’d faced, all the horror I’d witnessed, I was finally here: The Inner Sanctum.

Daniel’s strength regained almost instantly, the magic in the air revitalized him. Three Orbs surrounded a pedestal, electrifying the object on it. Giant rocks floated above, gravitated by the power of The Orbs. At the other side of the room controlling it all was Baron Alexander. At long last, we met for the first time since Daniel was reborn.

He mocked Daniel for drinking the potion, for his short-sight. He asked if I was so sure he was evil, that Agrippa was good. The bastard was forming the portal, the gate, directly before my eyes.

He apologized, stating I couldn’t come, and that The Shadow would consume me. He was right about that, I was sure. There was no escape from the Guardian of the Orb, not anymore. But Alexander wasn’t going anywhere either. I had the option to let him go – I could have just let him leave. I also could have stopped it all – destroyed the pillars holding the Orbs. Deny Alexander his greatest wish and fulfil Daniel’s need for revenge. But I had made a promise and found a purpose beyond human vengeance. Helping Agrippa, a prisoner of centuries, pass through the gate himself would be the only worthwhile thing Daniel had ever done. I decided there that what little time Daniel had left in his new life wouldn’t be dictated or remembered as simple bloodlust. As the portal opened I retrieved Agrippa’s head and placed it inside. Alexander screamed, enraged, stating I had ruined us both. Everything the Baron was had been placed into this ritual, into the orbs. As the gate closed with its new occupant, Alexander screamed and was wiped from existence. He left behind no body, no trace. In a single instant Daniel’s former friend, mentor, corrupter, and deceiver vanished into the nether. Centuries of murder, torment, and lies were avenged in that singular act.

 

Yet the victory was short lived. Before I could even contemplate it being all over the room exploded in fury. The Shadow had finally arrived and it was time to pay it its due. With one attack the little strength Daniel had left in his legs gave out. His vision turned to black and he fell from life. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Or was he? Out of the blackness of death came light – distant at first, then moving past. Like the stars passing by, this strange vision continued as Daniel heard Agrippa’s voice. He spoke to his pupil, Weyer, pointing Daniel out to him. He states that Daniel deserves much more than this after all he did to help him. Whether he received it or not is beyond me, as the stars continued moving faster and faster past him. The screen slowly faded, and Daniel’s spirit travelled through infinity. 

And whatever lay beyond.