Intermission 5: Dark Embrace
Date: 23 human years before present time.
Location: Tower of Zot.

“I want to go home.”

The trappings of his room in Zot were more luxurious than any Ben had ever seen in Mysidia. There was a large bed in one corner which was piled with thick downy pillows and crowned with a soft inviting blanket. A brazen fireplace was built into the far wall, a blaze crackling pale orange in its depths. The walls were high and adorned with long ancient looking tapestries. There was a huge oak wardrobe in the far corner. All the clothes that were inside looked to be able to fit him. Despite this, he preferred the tunic and trousers from back home. The clothes inside the wardrobe were all a deep black hue. There was an overwhelming feeling of wrongness that hung in the air. It clung to his skin like a pinprickled sweat.

Father…

The day wore on, the light on the wall shifting to stretch across the far corner, casting a glow upon the tapestry there. Upon it were woven images of some sort of paradise land. The sky was very blue and the flowers were bright and colorful. The people looked very happy. They all had wings.

Where are you?

Ben startled as the door opened, a large gaping darkness from the other side. His tiny fists balled, clutching at his knees. There was a man there. He was tall, handsome, with striking white hair drawn back in a loose ponytail, a cold smile pasted upon his lips as if he really wanted to mean it.

His hair… it’s white…? He looks somewhat like Father?

The man approached slowly, long violet robes rustling with his movements. The child found himself sliding away across the floor until his back was pinned against the wall.

There’s something about him. Something very very wrong…

The voice smooth like warm honey, “Hello Golbez. How do you like your room here in the Tower?”

How does he know my name? I’ve never met him before.

The boy did not answer. He simply drew his legs up closer to his chest. The wall was cold against his back.

The man did not seem to even cast a gaze about the room, but said, “You did not touch your meal. Was it not to your liking?”

Father… where are you? Please come and get me. Come take me away from this place.

The child still did not answer. His green eyes blinked up at the man, uncertainly. On first glance, the man did not seem to want to hurt him. But…

…But the feeling I get when I look into his eyes… Makes me dizzy.

“Were you not hungry?”

Ben shook his head.

“Now come, certainly you must be. You’ve had such a long trip.”

The boy wanted to ask where he was. And how he had come to be there. Instead, he said, “I want to go home.”

“Golbez.” The man chided softly. “You are home.”

Ben felt his lip quiver ever so slight. “Where is my Father?”

“Father?” his grin seemed to turn sharp as the question rang across the chamber.

The boy’s green eyes hardened, “My father, KluYa! Where is he? I want my father!”

“Oh… KluYa?” the man turned away, face stricken by what seemed genuine pain that did not touch his voice. “He’s gone.”

Gone?

Ben struggled to his feet, “G-gone? Where?”

“Away.”

No… He can’t be.

“Well… wh-when… will he be back?”The man drew a deep, hard breath, reaching a hand slowly out to the boy. The child flinched slightly, but allowed the hand to settle softly upon his forehead. “Golbez… He’s not coming back.”

What? I don’t believe it!

“What? Why?”

“He… left you.”

Left me…?

Ben’s green eyes reflected upward, misting with confusion. The pain behind his eyes kept the images from growing clear. “He would never leave me.”

There was a strange feeling as the man smiled down from above, like a twisting in his mind. “But, Golbez, he has.”

-He’s gone. Not coming back.-

“W-w-w-” Ben took in a sobbing breath. Something was happening to him. Something was not right… but… he… was much too sleepy to try to figure it out.

- It is not your fault he didn’t want you, Golbez…-

“Father..” the child hissed from between dry lips. “Didn’t… want me?”

-But… I do. Let me show you… let me teach you… so much you have yet to learn. You will be my dark star.-

“Golbez… I… will be your Father now. Let me show you the way.”

-I will never leave you… never let you go…-

The man reached out, and drew the mesmerized child into his dark embrace.

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