Marius felt the wave of alarm from Ennias even as he turned his gaze back upon the man. The fear was sweet now, easily tasted with the power he felt swelling on his side of the triangle. It was as though there was a cord drawn between him and his mother, something that pulsated with an energy born of will. It was a refreshing sense, like a bite of food when one was starving. It made his head go light, made his pain disappear, replaced with some heady sensation of control.
Of power.
The fear radiated off of Ennias, and he seemed to shrink before Marius’s very eyes.
No, Ennias said. No, I will not—
“YOU WILL,” Marius said, but his voice was deeper and sounded like a chorus to his ears. “YOU WILL BREAK BEFORE US, YOU WILL SUFFER UNTIL YOU DO, AND YOU WILL SCREAM UNTIL YOU YIELD.”
An aura of light blazed in the darkness, emitted from Marius’s own flesh. His mother was gone—no, not gone. She was there, she was with him, she was the fire under his skin, the light taking away the dark. He swelled in size, growing larger and taller as Ennias shrunk before him. He breathed out and felt fire lick his lips. He reached down and grabbed puny Ennias in his hand, pulled him up to looking him in the eye, and a screaming filled his ears.
Nononononononononono—
“SILENCE,” he commanded in that deep voice, and Ennias was forced to obey. He could feel the pain of the man, could feel his agony. This was a man who thrived on pain, delighted in the infliction of torment on others, on innocents—
The righteous fury caused Marius to burn even hotter, sending the ripples of his anger directly to Ennias’s soul. He could feel his mother’s rage coupled with his own and it was like a tidal wave crashing upon the shores, destroying all before it. Ennias screamed for hours, for days, and Marius could feel his will simply shatter. For a man who enjoyed the infliction of pain, he had no enjoyment for the weathering of it, and Marius let himself hurt the man a little longer out of sheer spite before pulling his tendrils back, before releasing the husk that was Ennias.
Whaaat … do you want … from me? Ennias asked. He was sobbing gently, face buried in his arm, which was still unnaturally bent.
Marius considered it carefully. “DO YOU WISH TO MAKE THE PAIN STOP?”
The answer was instantaneous. Yes, yes, please, Ennias begged. Yes, I would do anything, anything—
“SILENCE,” Marius commanded, and Ennias obeyed. He felt a smile somewhere deep inside, knew that Ennias would do it, would do anything to keep his word, if it meant the pain would stop. “You will … obey me from now forward.”
Yes, yes, came the reply, filled with eagerness.
“You will serve me from this day forward,” Marius said, his voice returned to normal
Of course, Ennias said. He bowed his head and placed it upon Marius’s sandaled feet. Of course, my master.
“If you are not with us,” Marius said, “YOU ARE AGAINST US.” The chorus returned with all force, fearsome in its sound, and the world shook around him with the raw will.
Ennias shuddered and kissed his feet. I am with you. I assure you, I am with you. In whatever you command.
Marius looked down at the man. He was pathetic, but he had use. A sob nearly broke free of Ennias, but he cut it off halfway through. “Good,” Marius said. “Now … give me your power.”
“Marius,” came the voice from somewhere outside. Marius felt his eyes close, then he opened them once more.
Janus stood next to him, and they were in the same room where he’d ailed by the fire. Janus wore a broad grin, his teeth wide beneath the cover of his dark beard. “You have done well, my son.”
He looked down and realized he stood inches off the floor, his toes hanging in midair as though he were held aloft by an invisible rope. He took a breath and moved left, then right, as easily as if he were walking. Yet not one of his limbs moved. “I have him,” Marius breathed. He gave a nod, once, then twice, as he felt that confidence and power return to him here, in this place, as it had when he’d been in that dark space with his mother. “I have it now.”
“Oh certainly,” Janus said, and he was still grinning. “You do, indeed.”
We have it, his mother whispered in his thoughts.
Marius stared at Janus, and Janus nodded once more before clapping him on the shoulder. “I will let you rest. Tomorrow … we continue by taking the next step.” He paused at the door to give Marius one more reassuring smile. “You have truly done a wondrous thing here today. I feel certain you have a bright future before you, one that will change the very world.” He shut the heavy door behind him, leaving Marius alone.