The Formerly Dark Mage Read online

  A Formerly Dark Mage

  Author: D. L. Harrison

  Copyright 2014. This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Afterword:

  About the Author

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  I woke slowly, my surroundings were dim and dank. I couldn’t move my arms, they were tied down. When I felt the cold stone under my body, fear filled me. My pulse sped up and I tried desperately to calm down and clear my mind.

  I closed my eyes, my mind drawing a simple glyph of seeing, one I knew from childhood, when I released it I could still only see dimly, my surroundings still dark. I cursed my stupidity. I knew this place after all, no magic would work on the altar, or at least, not for the one tied down to it.

  Which was me.

  I heard the slow steps come toward me, a deep voice sounding both amused and satisfied, “So Silvia, you thought to betray me? It’s been a while since I sacrificed and took one of your power. So… thanks.”

  Smug bastard, damn right I tried to betray him. Frustration filled me but I suppressed the sigh of annoyance, I didn’t want to give him any pleasure. I was second only to my master in power, in three days time I would have summoned and enslaved a demon lord more powerful than my master could control. Then I would have been the master. It was the last step before I had the power to take over.

  I was so angry that he had caught on I forgot to be afraid for a moment. But just a moment. I knew what was coming, he would sacrifice me and take my power. Split it between himself and his demon lord familiar. I had failed, and now I would pay the price.

  I shook my head slightly in an absurd denial. Well, it would have been one way or the other. The kingdom I live in, Zual, is run by such as my master, a council of dark mages. Although calling it a council might be too kind. Really there was no cooperation except when the rest of the world decided it was time to try and stamp out our evil society again.

  There is only power, or I should say only power counts here. Only slaves and masters. Despite my power and authority being second in this place, I was still a slave. Now I would be a sacrifice.

  I could not have just left either, as I had fantasized about in the past when I was younger. He would have found me easily through the master-apprentice link and killed me. I would have never made it to the next kingdom, which is filled with those pathetic light mages. No, the only way to be free in Zual is to take your master’s place.

  I spat in the direction I thought he was and said angrily, “How did you find out?” I was dead anyway, and I really wanted to know. I figured he would gloat, and I was right.

  He snorted, “I didn’t, not really, but my familiar told me you were planning to enslave a rival of his, one that had more power. I just didn’t want to take a chance.”

  I shrugged in a detached way. That kind of made sense to me. I knew I was more powerful than most, as far as personal power went. I would have killed me too if I were in his place. With the added power of a demon lord I would have squashed him easily.

  He started chanting the ritual, building the complex glyphs to steal my power. He would then stab me through the heart to complete it. I knew how vulnerable he was right now. Any other magic, such as protections, would have fouled the ritual. Of course, that’s why the altar suppressed its victim’s magic. I screamed to try and distract him, then hated myself for it even as my panic built. I knew it wouldn’t work.

  After all, it had never distracted me when my victims did it. But I was getting desperate.

  Then it happened, I did something shocking, I broke the one law, outside of power is everything. The only real prohibition placed on all the people in the kingdom of Zual. He was coming up to the end and I was just so desperate, I did the unthinkable. I was so weak I disgusted myself, but I didn’t want to die. Especially not at the hands of my master, who had ruled over me for the last twenty years.

  I prayed for deliverance.

  How absurd. Yes, I was a slave who had been used and abused by my master over the last two decades. But I also learned from that master, I was evil. I didn’t have to go after power, or sacrifice those people. I summoned, consorted and enslaved demons. I could control the minds of others around me as easily as taking a sip of water.

  Granted, I never enjoyed it, I didn’t get the sick thrill my master did out of it. But, it was either kill or be killed, and I chose to live. That had been my choice, guilt or death. If I hadn’t done those deeds, I would have been killed out of hand. So I made my choice.

  Why the hell would a good being ever help me? So, needless to say, when my master and the room froze, and a gentle white light filled the room I was so shocked I mumbled, “Holy shit!”

  Ugh, the being just looked at me as if to say… “Language!” and I actually felt guilty for a second. I snorted.

  “So, can you get me out of this?” I asked softly, as if I was an innocent little girl asking for a snack. I truly disgusted myself at times. But anything was better than death… Wasn’t it?

  I waited and the being smiled at me, I wasn’t sure if it was male or female. It was, androgynous. Or so it seemed.

  The being got a serious look on his or her face and said, “I can help you, but I will require an oath. No more dark magic. You can use light or neutral magic, but no more dark.”

  That… would be a pain. No more mind control, or controlling demons would limit my reach quite a bit. It also meant I wouldn’t be able to establish control here. Oh crap, I would have to move to another kingdom and deal with light mages. I wasn’t really concerned with necromancy, or human sacrifice, since I didn’t really care for those all that much. Although I never let on, doing that would have gotten me killed. To have empathy is an invitation to be a murder victim around here.

  The being prompted me again, “Well?”

  I sighed. I guess it was dumb but I was still thinking about it. When I killed my master I had planned to use demon and mind control magic to take over. The thought of all those self righteous light mages disgusted me, but really, what choice did I have. It would be better than dying…

  Wouldn’t it?

  I nodded to the angel and said, “I swear if you set me free I will never use dark magic again. I will only use light and neutral magic.”

  As I was wondering if I could get away with lying and do it anyway, I felt the beings power put a geas over me as the chains fell off my arms and legs. Guess not. I imagine if I tried dark magic something bad would happen now.

  The being said to me gently, “Get ready, when I leave time will resume.”

  I grinned evilly and nodded as I got up, at the same time I started building a living fire glyph in my mind. Elemental magic was neutral, neither good nor evil. Just power. Light magic wasn’t really all bad either, after all protection and self healing was a necessity in this kingdom. It was just
the light spells that helped others were frowned upon. And by frowned upon I mean they could get you killed.

  I did have to kill my master, I couldn’t escape without doing so. Plus, it would feel kind of good, he was a real bastard. I saw the being shake its head, it was probably wondering if it had made a mistake. I winked at it. The being faded away and I saw my master’s eyes widen, though he was too disciplined to make a mistake in the ritual. He was only seconds away from finishing it.

  I suppose, in his greed he thought he could finish and stab me before I attacked.

  He was wrong, I had more than enough time. I released the living fire glyph while also specifying a shape in my mind. A large snake appeared made of pure living flame. A fire elemental. The snake wrapped himself around my soon to be former master, and squeezed. I smiled and waved.

  I watched, wondering if he would burn to death or suffocate as the snake squeezed the life out of him first. It was a little twisted of me, as every bone that I heard snap made my smile larger. I decided I just hated my master that much, no other death had ever filled me with pleasure.

  Turns out, he died from body compression, but I stayed and watched, until his body was ash. I dismissed the fire elemental then cast a series of glyphs. Healed, protected, and feeling refreshed, I headed to my rooms to pack. I was fairly safe now, but I knew I would not be if I stayed overly long. But I needed to be prepared to make it past all the other masters before getting into the next kingdom.

  I frowned, wondering if that would be a problem. I would probably not be welcomed with open arms by the border guards, I needed a plan. If I had dark magic it would have been simple. Have a few minor demons attack then sneak by, or use mind control to make sure they didn’t notice me. But that was out of course. This would require a shift in thinking, leaving behind the methods that had been beaten into me for the last twenty years.

  I absently stared into my full size mirror as I pondered my future. I had long strait blonde hair, light blue eyes and a light complexion. My body was in good shape as well, I knew I was attractive, but not excessively so. I may have looked nineteen but I was actually twenty five. Mages age about three times slower than normal humans do once they reach maturity. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts I started working on plans.

  I enchanted a backpack to increase the size and decrease weight before putting all my spell books and clothes in it. I had my staff, but then put it aside. It was worthless to me now as it only enhanced my dark magic. I shook my head, as I really didn’t have a plan yet. I wasn’t too worried about moving about the kingdom. It would be dangerous, but a danger I was familiar with. Hmm, maybe if I checked the dungeons there would be someone to take with me, possibly the border guard would let me pass if I rescued someone?

  I snorted at the thought. It was quite a ridiculous plan, but then they were do-gooders right? It just might work. I started down to the dungeon, passing by the slaves on the way. They were all whimpering in fear and shying away from me in terror. I was confused until I realized I was smiling. I cackled, that had them absolutely terrified. Being free, filled me with a strange giddy feeling. Something I hadn’t felt for twenty years, since I was five years old. That was when I learned how things really were.

  Looking through the dank cells, I only found two people. A male and female about my own age or a little younger. They were filthy, but the clothes themselves were finely made. The woman had long brown hair, hazel eyes and was quite attractive. The man was built, definitely a warrior. Short blond hair and green eyes. The two of them would have to do, the weaker apprentices were probably on a raiding mission right now, to refill the cells for future slaves or sacrificial lambs.

  I opened their cell and said peremptorily, “Come with me, I’ll get you out of here.”

  I heard in reply, “Foul witch, get away from us.”

  I glared and prepared to control them with mind magic, then of course, I internally counted to ten for patience, since I couldn’t do that anymore, and killing them would not help me. I admit, what I said was probably naïve. After all, I never talked to a prisoner without mind control backing up my orders before. I softened my countenance and said while trying not to roll my eyes, “No really, I’m escaping too, figured if I make it to Lethia I might as well take you with me.”

  I paused a moment, then offered them my name, hoping to engender trust. I wasn’t sure what else to do at this point, my social skills involved torture, slavery and sacrifice after all. The man just looked at me suspiciously, then he said, “I am Jason, the woman is Maria. Why should we believe you? This must be some trick.”

  I smiled and said confidently, “To do what? If I had bad intentions I would just have a demon torture you or control and search your minds. Clearly this is a rescue.” I was absolutely sure that would work, until he glared at me. Seems I have a lot to learn about not being evil, plus the whole engendering trust thing.

  I asked, “What?” my tone sullen. I felt out of my depth and that made me angry. Stupid good being! It would be much easier if I could just take charge.

  Jason sneered, “Why would you want to escape?”

  I was truly baffled by that and said, “Why wouldn’t I? I just couldn’t do it until now, at least, not without dying.” I was truly starting to wonder if I should rethink my plan, however I was quickly realizing even if I crossed the border successfully I wouldn’t have a chance at blending in. I firmly reminded myself that being dead was worse than dealing with these people while I waited for his response.

  He turned to Maria and said, “She’s probably full of crap, but what do you think?”

  Maria replied cautiously, “Well, at least we will be out of the cell.” She wrinkled her nose then shrugged.

  How the hell do the Lethians get anything done, it felt like I was down here for hours already.

  “We should get moving,” I bit my bottom lip in thought, “Do either of you have magic?”

  Maria shook her head in the negative.

  I used a clean glyph on them, it actually took thought on my part, I had only targeted myself before now. It was weird, but it worked fine. I shook my head though, at their clothes.

  I said, “We won’t make it ten feet without being attacked in another demesne if you wear those clothes. Follow me.”

  I led them through the dim halls to the slave quarters. Some of the apprentices gave me a funny look, but didn’t dare question. That wouldn’t last long, we needed to move. I grabbed a breeches and shirt for them both, plain black.

  “Change and give me your clothes, I’ll return them at the border.” As an afterthought I grabbed a sword and handed it to Jason. All our male slaves were armed so he needed it to complete the disguise. When they just stood there staring at me I had to suppress rolling my eyes. Privacy, right. I shrugged and walked out into the corridor to wait.

  When they came out, he had a pile of neatly folded clothes in his left hand, and his right hand on the pommel of the sword. I could see the conflict in his eyes, so I waited patiently for him to decide. His sword of course, wouldn’t hurt me with the protections I had around me. An enchanted weapon might, if the caster was strong enough, but his sword was not enchanted. He seemed to make a decision and removed his hand from the pommel before handing me their clothes.

  I tucked their clothes in one of the backpack pockets and nodded. The peace was uneasy, and I knew he was prepared for betrayal, but apparently he wouldn’t betray me first? I almost giggled at that, it was so foreign to my thinking.

  Giggled? Freedom was doing weird things to my mind. I focused myself and we walked right out the front door, we were almost to the gate when I saw them waiting there, with a pair of demons, Blaise and Friedrich, two lesser apprentices had evil smiles on their faces.

  Chapter 2

  I wasn’t too worried; my power quite outstripped theirs, even with demonic assistance. They weren’t aware of that though, the master did the rankings but never told others the power differences. I was actually quite annoyed. Th
e thought of killing them brought no pleasure to me at all. In fact the thought of just walking out without violence had made me happy about things. I stopped about twenty yards from them and waited.

  Blaise challenged, “Where do you think you are going Sil, and with these slaves.”

  I sighed and shook my head, “I am leaving, and these two slaves are mine to do with as I please. Don’t waste your energy on me, I killed the master but have no intention of taking his place. You’ll need all your power to fight the other apprentices.”

  At least I tried, I knew they wouldn’t listen though, I thought their demons had probably told them of the deal I made about dark magic, so they felt emboldened. I muttered under my breath to Maria and Jason that they should get down if they attack and let me handle it.

  Friedrich said contemptuously, “I don’t think so, we know about the deal you made,” turning to the demons he commanded, “Take her, and bring her to the sacrificial chamber.”

  Now, normally I would have been able to take command of his demons, but like he said, I couldn’t do that anymore. What he didn’t know, was the master taught his promising pupils the banishment spell, which sent demons back to their plane of existence.

  Banishment is light magic.

  Demons move fast, but not fast enough. They both screamed in pain as they were surrounded by a bright white light and forced out of my world.

  I yawned as if I were bored and said lackadaisically, “Last chance boys, move aside, or die.”

  Blaise questioned, “Why would you let us live?”

  I shrugged, “Why not, I have no need to kill you. You are not a threat to me.”

  Granted, I was laying it on thick. I wasn’t invincible, but I was strong, and I really didn’t want to have to kill them. Arrogance works sometimes. I only killed to preserve my life in the past, I wasn’t going to change that now that I was free. They wouldn’t understand that part though, they both loved the torture and the kill. So instead I had to act bored with the whole idea.