Dark God by T C Southwell Read Free Book Online

Lord's talent. Mirra does not know
hate, she is devoid of those emotions. She knows only the good
ones, which you have never heard of. We know hate, and you deserve
it, just as you deserve our pity."
    "I do not want your damned
pity!"
    "That has
always been your war cry, has it not, Bane? Raised in Hell, you
learnt only hatred, and the little boy in you still cries out
against the cruelties and injustices you suffered. Demons love to
taunt, do they not? Your only defence was defiance. 'I do not want
your pity! I do not want your help! I do not want your mercy!' Is
that not so, Bane ?" She spat his
name as if it was dirt on her tongue, making Mirra cringe at her
unusual vindictiveness.
    The Demon Lord became ashen, his
eyes haunted. "That is a lie."
    "No it is not. I know. I was
there, with you, all those years. I shared your trials; I witnessed
your humiliation. I understand you. You have never known love,
never been touched in kindness, never been held in comfort. That is
why you are incapable of it. I wept for you, all those years. I
loved you, held you in my dreams when you crawled into a dark
corner and cried, a small boy, lost and alone, afraid."
    As she spoke, the harshness left
her tone, as if telling the story of his torture reminded her of
the suffering he had endured. The memory seemed to banish her
animosity, and her face creased with sadness. She hated what he had
done, that much was obvious, but at the same time she pitied him,
and the pity overwhelmed her. Tears overflowed Ellese's eyes, and
Mirra stared at her in amazement.
    Elder Mother wiped her cheeks.
"I suffered with you, trapped in Hell. I longed for your freedom.
For twenty years I have waited for this day. Mirra brought you to
me, and you do not even know her name. You have a heart, you were
born with it, and the Lady created your spirit.
    "You were conceived from love
and raised without it. The Black Lord named you a curse, but you
are not. I have stood by you, all these years, I believed in you.
You come here at long last, and my heart's desire was to look upon
your face, yet you look at me as if I was something you just
scraped off your shoe."
    Ellese stepped closer to the
Demon Lord, who recoiled, looking confused. Mirra wondered if
Ellese was being fair. It was too sudden. She touched his arm, and
he jerked away as if burnt, his eyes hunted. He did not understand
what he was being offered, having never experienced kindness or
love. The dark magic within him filled him with suspicion and
hatred, rejecting any kindness as trickery or worse, throwing him
into a confused emotional quagmire.
    Ellese smiled wearily,
recognising his inability to accept what she wanted so much to give
him. "I know you cannot possibly understand this. You have a lot to
learn about love and friendship, trust and kindness. You will learn
to be human."
    Bane had the look of a wolf who
had just found himself in the midst of a flock of exceedingly
hostile sheep. He backed away as Ellese moved closer still, his
confusion giving way to anger, clearly expecting more violence. All
of a sudden he looked his age, just twenty years, only a young man,
barely more than a boy.
    "You have no right to lecture
me, or insult me."
    "I do, but you
have nothing to fear from us. We mean you no harm." Elder Mother
stopped when the healers behind him hemmed him in. Mirra held her
breath, knowing how dangerous Bane could be, when trapped. Be careful, Mother, she thought. Ellese looked up at
Bane, who stood a full foot taller.
    She smiled. "I offer you our
friendship, Bane." She held out her hand. "We forgive you for what
you have done, and welcome you to the Goddess' Temple. You cannot
be blamed for what the Black Lord made you do. He stole you from
your mother's womb and moulded you to do his will."
    Her hand remained poised between
them, but Bane's stayed at his side. He glanced at Mirra, then back
at Ellese. Her words clearly did little to reassure him, and
suspicion darkened his