Chapter 5: Planet of Darkness
"And did you believe him?" Corinn asked.
"Well, you did kind of leave me, and sign me into some kind of magical contract, and never asked me about anything and-"
"But I'm back now, aren't I?" he asked, looking confused. "Bekka, you must understand that I never meant anything like that to happen. If I hadn't done that, then Jarith and I would have fought right then. One of us would be dead by now, and the other would have dissolved to be reborn somewhere else. I never would have seen you again, Bekka..." he said, looking into her eyes.
"Oh...Corinn, I'm sorry for doubting you. I knew you really loved me, no matter what Jarith said!" What Jarith said...but why shouldn't I believe him? Bekka realized. I wonder who's telling the truth...I just can't tell anymore!
Perfect, Corinn thought. Bekka's heart belongs to me--she'll do anything I tell her.
"But, Corinn, why did you leave me with Jarith for so long? I mean, it's just, I can't tell who's telling the truth anymore!"
"Why? What did Jarith say about me?"
"Well...he's told me about how you acted in past lives, and I don't know anymore... you both seem nice. I just don't know who to believe anymore! And...and Jarith took me to a dance..." she said, blushing.
"Really? Well, who do you think is being manipulative and using you now, him or me? Did he take you to a dance because he likes you? Or because he wants you on his side?" Corinn asked in disgust. "He probably gave you that dress, too. It's exactly the kind of thing he'd like-all white and shining. But I'm not surprised you hate me, Bekka. Your world always has," he said. "I should just leave now--I'm sure you don't want the Lord of Darkness around." He half-raised one hand, preparing to teleport back to wherever he'd come from.
"No! Corinn! Don't leave, I'm sorry! I didn't mean that you should leave, I've really missed you! It's just that I was, well, kind of afraid that Jarith was right about you. But I still do like you--it's just that I like Jarith too, now. He's not as mean as you made him seem," she said defensively. "He's really just as nice as you are. But I'd like to see you again, really. I've missed you."
"Well, all right," Corinn agreed. Of course, that was what he'd wanted in the first place. "But I can't stay here, with Jarith around. But you could come with me," he said, looking directly into Bekka's pale blue-green eyes. They really were lovely eyes--why hadn't he noticed them before? What am I thinking?! he asked himself.
"I--I'd love to come with you, Corinn. But I should tell Jarith that I'm leaving--"
"Don't," Corinn interrupted. "He'd never let you leave. He still doesn't trust me, does he?"
"Well...no," Bekka admitted. "But do you mind if I leave a note?"
"Of course not! Here," he said, pulling a pen and a piece of paper out of thin air. The paper had the symbol for "darkness" down the left side-Corinn's personal stationary. I bet Jarith'll be really mad about Bekka leaving, he thought, stifling his impulse to snicker.
"Let's go, then!" Bekka said, having finished writing. Corinn held out his hand, and Bekka took it. They disappeared in a shimmer of darkness.
They reappeared on a distant planet. It was like a painting; Bekka could see millions of stars in a cloudless night sky, and there seemed to be three huge moons hanging in the sky. And there seemed to be a planet with many rings, like Saturn, low on the horizon below the bright purple moon.
"Wow...where are we?" Bekka asked.
"One of my favorite places in the universe," Corinn said. "My planet. I made it myself, and Jarith can't come here."
"You...made an entire planet?"
"Yes. It's almost always dark here, and the view is amazing. But I suppose that would be pretty depressing to you, always being dark."
"Is that what you meant when you said that "my world has always hated you?" That we hate the darkness?" Bekka asked.
"Yes... your people have always hated and feared the darkness. I am darkness. My only purpose, now, is to destroy the Light. Knowing that, can you truly say that you don't hate me and what I stand for?"
"But it's not your fault who you are!" Bekka said. "Darkness isn't evil in itself. You're not really the bad guy unless you want to be. I don't hate you for being what you are. If I could ever bring myself to hate you, it would be for what you consciously decided to do, not because of what you are."
Does she really mean that? Jarith wondered. No one's ever said that about me before. Everyone who's seen this world, the world that is my favorite place in the whole galaxy, has called it depressing and lifeless. Could she really like me for who I really am?
"Dear Jarith, Gone with Corinn. See you later. Love, Bekka," he read. He crumpled the note up and threw it on the floor.
"How could she? After all I've done for her, after I've warned her about Corinn, after everything I've said! How could she go and leave with him and-and not even say goodbye!!" Jarith shouted, stomping around the room. Then he realized just how much he was overreacting and stopped in mid-stomp. He blinked.
"This is silly. Why am I so upset? I never wanted to travel with Bekka in the first place. I should be glad she's gone, because now Corinn will have to worry about traveling with a human and not being able to teleport. I could just leave right now, go find Corinn and never worry about Bekka anymore," he said to himself. "After all, Corinn can't let anything happen to her." Then why am I so worried about her being with Corinn? Jarith tried to calm down. He knew he didn't have time to be worrying over things that shouldn't matter.
"Now I'm free to do what I'm supposed to--kill Corinn."
Image Gallery: : Characters: : Theme Song: : Link "Darkness and Light"