Evanescent

So it was that the nine Immortals met in The Otherworld, at the Eternity Pools, during the rise of the Stars of Mayhem. Capitalizing on the effect the stars had on Rhen and using the primordial energy of the pools they made the first barrier around Rhen’s sanctum. Suddenly the shifting stones began to slow, Rhen immediately noticed the change and was alerted to the formation of the barrier. As each Immortal added a layer to the barricade it not only made it more solid and impenetrable but also smaller. It became a compact fixed structure around a stone casement that held Rhen. The walls of the stone were etched with spells to contain and weaken Rhen, as the runes glowed to confirm their permanence the Immortals acknowledged each other than one by one left to return to their own sanctuaries, paying no mind to how calm Rhen seemed about the whole thing. When Dwern awoke the next morning, everything was gone, the fire was only ashes, the table with all the foods and wines along with the pelts and soft pillows had all disappeared, if it had ever been there at all. Dwern thought it possible he had just dreamt the entire thing, but then he saw the white fur Gya had used to heal him, folded neatly at his feet. An obvious token of his Nyte with the Immortal. He walked outside, remembering the tomb Rorik had created for his wife, the spell broke and the memories and grief came flooding back. He couldn’t think straight, he felt like he’d betrayed his wife, but at the same time he felt both blessed and confused by the Celestial’s favor. He didn’t know how to feel or what to think, everything was rushing through his mind so fast he couldn’t focus on any one thing. All he could do was gather up his belongings, return to the free cities and tell his son’s that their mother had died. He wondered for a moment whether he should take the fur or not. But Gya had obviously left it there for a reason, as he gathered the fur up and secured it to his pack. Gya was understandably scared and ireful, she’d been manipulated in the most private way. Now the child that grew inside of her could, potentially, wield a power strong enough to destroy the realms and everything in them. A Celestial, coupling with a Demi-Spirit that was possessed by Daemon magic… it had never occurred before. All the Immortals were a bit on edge about the situation. They argued and deliberated on what they each thought would be the best course of action. Some suggested binding the child’s powers at birth, while others wanted to remove the seed of magic entirely. As the Celestials and Daemons bickered with one another Gya slipped away. She went directly to the Otherworld, to Rhen’s prison. As she approached the sealed stone cage, she heard Rhen inhale deeply, then his deep voice rang out, “Well, well, well, look who it is? Come to give me another show? I do so relish those images of you in the throes of such passion.” He licked his lips as he spoke but Rhen’s vulgarity and derision didn’t seem to effect Gya as she calmly asked, “Did you know he was a Demi-Spirit, before you infected him with your love spell? Did you know what would conceive in me?” Rhen leaned as close to her as he could and he whispered, “Like I told Tauin… the gamble is what makes it ‘fun’, however I did not expect my magic to infect the child upon conception. That was just a delightful bonus.” Rhen paused for a moment then added, “I must admit, seeing you with that mortal made me a bit jealous…I wish I had planted the Chaos in you myself.” Gya began to tremble, at first Rhen thought she was crying, but as he looked on, he didn’t see tears in Gya’s eyes, “My child will never be the seed of Chaos.” Rhen inhaled deeply and almost whirred as he said, “Ah, but I can smell the chaos, already inside of you. The seed will grow, and the fruit shall be mine.” Gya looked up at Rhen and he realized it was rage in her eyes as they glowed with a white light and she began tightening her fists like she was clenching something in her hands. All of a sudden, the stone walls began to shake around Rhen. He chuckled to himself as he said, “Go ahead little Gya. Show me your darkness!” Gya clenched her teeth and tightened her fists as the stone turned into liquid and closed in on Rhen until it was molding around his skin, coating him in the stone as Gya’s voice echoed on the wind, “Here you’ll remain, Lord Rhen. Chaos itself trapped in perpetual tranquility. Only my power can free you now… Care to gamble on that, my Lord?” Rhen smiled through the pain, as he looked at Gya. He almost looked pleased with her reaction as he said, “I always knew you had it in you…” he groaned as the stone completely covered him and hardened, rendering him inert.