Sandorin paced as he stared at Colin's motionless body. It lay suspended, inches above the floor of the study, held in stasis by a shimmering transparent field. "How could this have happened." he wondered to himself. The plan had seemed flawless. Years ago, as Sandorin had grown wiser he had begun to realize that no matter how much knowledge Visha may have been able to offer, he was just too dangerous to be allowed to continue to roam free. After all, Sandorin had a family to protect, as did so many others in the realms. He had felt it his duty to do something. Tricking him into being locked in this body, incapable of evil acts, even evil thoughts... it was a perfect solution. Sandorin had been so sure of himself.
How could he have known this body would actually become alive. Sandorin's enchantments were flawless on an animated corpse but on a living being... It just wasn't supposed to be that way. And now, to find Visha here, right in the midst of his family, married to his niece, the father of her baby even! The irony of the whole thing was sickening.
Yet, there was something more than that here. He wasn't just dealing with the same Visha in this body. Somehow there were two within this one mind. The Colin that Emalia loved, who had answered Sandorin's questions so truthfully, and Visha just as demented and treacherous as ever but now seeting with a long cultivated hatred. Sandorin didn't know exactly what interaction of magic and lifeforce could have caused this to happen but there was one thing he did know. Emalia loved Colin and Colin felt the same for her.
There was only one thing for Sandorin to do. He had gotten them all in this situation by his actions, now it was going to be up to him to make things right.
Sandorin stopped his pacing at Colin's head, the large man's eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. With a gesture of his hand the body, still contained within the stasis field, rose higher off the floor to chest level. Sandorin looked down into the face before him. The expression was so serene and peaceful, belying the schism contained within. Love and hate, protection and malice. It was up to Sandorin to seperate these two.
At times like this Sandorin was grateful for how many years of his life he had dedicated to finding strength and power in all its forms. He may not have a wife, or children of his own to show for it, but he had knowledge and now that could be used to protect those around him.
Though posessing no particular natural psionic talent of his own he had studied the subject thoroughly. He had a feeling he was going to need every bit of that education now. Sandorin raised his opalescent right hand, reaching through the shimmering field, and laid it gently upon Colin's forehead. Though it was the result of a great tragedy, this magical apendage of his had aided him greatly through the years. Now, just as much as his knowledge, Sandorin was counting on its affinities to get him through this.
Sandorin took several deep breaths to steady his body and focus his resolve. With the final cleansing breath he closed hs eyes. The pearly white hand resting on Colin's head began to glow, pulsing slightly with the beat of Sandorin's heart. A moment later the fingers began to shimmer and then spread, almost as if melting upon the large man's skin, before sinking entirely under the surface.
Sandorin was immediately immersed within a turbulent malestrom. Light and dark swirled about in a chaotic dance. The dark thrashing violently against the light. The light momentarily broken apart before rejoining and repulsing the dark. The dark was viscious and dominating, the light resilient but fractured. Sandorin could tell that it would only be a matter of time before the light would be broken apart entirely, leaving only the dark as a cohesive whole.
Sandorin took action. He focused his will into a shimmering, pearly net. It swept through the expanse before him to collect the darkness. But something was wrong, it wasn't working. Like trying to collect oil floating in water the darkness was slipping through, trailing like little beads that quickly rejoined. The new presence was now noticed and the darkness reacted. It attacked the net, crashing in waves against it, threatening to snap the shimmering strands.
A stabbing pain shot through Sandorin's mind but he steadied himself. With a supreme effort he refocused his will and the shimmering net tightened, forming into a tighter weave. Again it swept through the expanse, this time collecting the dark as it went. But the darkness did not go quietly, it thrashed and plunged mercilessly against the shimmering weave and for Sandorin the pain was excrutiating. For a moment he faltered, and a hole opened.
Just as the darkness began to spill through the light finally came into action. It slammed into the darkness forcing it back through the opening and enveloped the weave, pushing it along. The pain immediately lessened for Sandorin and he quickly enveloped the last of the darkness within the weave. With one tremendous strain that felt like lifting the dead weight of a horse Sandorin pulled himself back from the expanse.
He opened his eyes and blinked, momentarily blinded by the sting of sweat running into them. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath and his robes clung to his damp skin. He quickly wiped the sweat from his eyes with his left hand and looked before him. Colin's motionless body still floated there and above it Sandorin held his pearlescent right arm aloft. Clenched tightly within his fist was a writhing, smoky black mass. Sandorin permitted a small smile to crack his lips before collapsing to the floor.
