Red Sapphire

[focusedheart]

She glanced to him as he spoke. "Do you regret it?" She asks gently.

[gravitron]

"No. He taught me a lot. He was a good mentor, and I liked him. But do I regret it? No. Through all my life, all the horrible, evil things I have done, and all the lives I have saved..... I have no regrets. Everything I've done, I've done for a reason, and because I deemed it necessary.
"His death was most certainly necessary. Vital. And I could hardly let him kill you, now could I?"

[focusedheart]

She smiles a bit. "It's good to live without regret." She nods and looks ahead of them as they drew closer to home. "I'm not sure what to do about Matthew."

[gravitron]

"He has no idea where he's going or what he's doing now," Shalidor told her. "Everything he's doing is for his mother, who I can only assume is waiting in the Palace of Hell right now. I don't believe that he can find the entrance or she the exit, at least not without help from someone who knows.
"This means he has only one goal right now: Elininate the threats to her. Us. He knows he doesn't stand a chance, but this is Matthew we're talking about here. He'll attack anyway, basically acting as a suicide bomber, trying to deal as much damage as possible before he goes. I can't imagine him finding a way to do a worthwhile amount, though. He'll die for nothing."

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit. "He'll think it worth dying for...and his mother won't let anything go. I wish I could give them both peace." She says honestly.

[gravitron]

"Yeah, well, she's trapped in Hell right now anyway. Speaking of which...." He stopped walking.

[focusedheart]

She stops and looks to him. "What is it?"

[gravitron]

"I'm not sure how much you know about Hell, but it is a community. It's sort of like another world. I spent a lot of time there and, twisted as some may see it, despite being shaped by Lucifer.... It is a big place, with people, and communities..... It's a bit like Earth, just ruled by Lucifer. It still needs a ruler, or everything there will fall apart, and the ripples will reach Earth, I promise you. Whoever takes on the mantle of new King of Hell, they'll be influential. There'll be a lot of people down there going after the throne, and my guess is Isabella will be among them. None of the options are good. Except one.
"We need someone trustworthy to take the throne. Someone we know will turn it around for the better, prevent it from causing trouble up here. And it would obviously have to be someone who knows the place and its people, who's spent a lot of time there.
"What I'm suggesting is, well.... If you don't need me up here anymore, I would be very well suited for the job. As his apprentice, I would have even been next in line. I already have the respect of many there, and I know them all, and I've spent more time there than anyone else alive. If you have no further need of me up here, I could perhaps better assist as King of Hell."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire regarded him quietly as he spoke. She knew he was right, knew what he said was the truth. Yet her heart didn't want to listen. She pushes aside her emotions and nods softly to him. "You will make a great king and you are right. You know that place best and know what they need there. You have my blessings. I will miss you here. Do not think though that you can never visit. You will always be welcomed here. " she smiles softly to him.

[gravitron]

"If you ever need me, just ask. I'll always be ready to help. And I will always care about you. But, before I go." He held the staff out to her. "Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

[focusedheart]

She gently accepted the staff from him. She smiles softly to him and hugged him once more. "Be careful down there. Let me know when you get settled, so I know you are safe." She smiles softly.

[gravitron]

He nodded one final time, told her, "Lockhart can lead the Council again," and disappeared.

[focusedheart]

She smiles a little and stood there a moment more. Then she heads home. By the time she got there, the wound to her shoulder had healed. All that was left was the hole in her shirt from the blade and the stain of her blood. It felt good to be home.

[gravitron]

Alistair was standing outside and he breathed a sigh of relief when Sapphire arrived. “You’re back. Thank God. The rest of the Council is still assembled, waiting. So did we win? Is the devil dead?” His face dropped as he looked around, becoming upset and shocked. “And where’s Shalidor?”

[focusedheart]

Sapphire nods a little as she reached him. "The devil is gone. Shalidor is in hell to take over it to try and keep it in order."

[gravitron]

"Wait, what?" Alistair nodded carefully. "When I advised you to trust him, I didn't quite mean as King of Hell, but alright. I suppose you should tell the others. Like I said, they're still waiting where you left them.
"Actually- I want to ask, well. My son. He's not here."

[focusedheart]

She gazed at Alistair. She wanted to give him good news, she truly did. There wasn't any though. "He helped the devil try and set a trap and fought with us. I hit him but he took off before anything else could be done. I'm sorry Alistair."

[gravitron]

He nodded grimly. "And so it goes. Go on and tell the others. I'll continue to stand watch."

[focusedheart]

She nods a little to him. She did not want this for him. Gently she touched his shoulder as she walked by and headed to speak with the others.

[gravitron]

"Why, son?" he asked no one in particular. "Why?"

[focusedheart]

She didn't like seeing Alistair like this but felt it was her fault. Once she reached the chamber she stops as she enters.

[gravitron]

The eyes of the Council turned to her.
"Where's Shalidor?" asked McIntyre.
"And Matthew?" added Hunter.
Lockhart cleared his throat. "And, did we win?"

[focusedheart]

She shakes her head a little. "Shalidor is king of hell, Matthew took off after the devil was killed. So yes...we won. Also Lockhart, Shalidor said you have your spot back with the mages." She smiles a little. It still troubled her about Matthew and she would try to make things right for him and Alistair.

[gravitron]

Everyone seemed altogether excited, though Lockhart scoffed at Shalidor being king of Hell, and Hunter and McIntyre exchanged worried glances about Matthew.
Lockhart seemed taken aback by Shalidor's message. "That stubborn mule actually gave in? Ha! I should go check on my people." He stood to leave.

[focusedheart]

She nods gently to them. "Until things are resolved with Matthew, I want everyone on alert and cautious. We don't need any surprises. I do not know what his thoughts are currently and so am unsure what he'll do next."

[gravitron]

"Not much he can do," Hunter said. "His hopes were all riding on Satan. He knows he can't stand against us, or find anyone who can. There's nothing he can do. I'm just worried as to whether or not he's still within redemption, and will be in time for us to get to him."

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit. "I truly hope so.'

[gravitron]

Lockhart left.
"The people need to hear about this," McIntyre said.

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit. "Yes, we need to go a head and set it up so they will know what is going on." Then she needed rest. She felt exhausted but the people needed to know what was going on first.

[gravitron]

McIntyre looked toward the door. "Is Alistair still out there?"