Hellstone

Patrick crept into the room, covering most of the candle's light with his hand. He knew his master was asleep two floors above him, but a certain feeling lingered in the air. His unease rose as he entered the chamber, but there was nothing for it. The Revolution had gotten word that Lyodesh was working on an ultimate weapon- he heard it straight from the wizard's mouth. If they couldn't use the device to their own ends, the least they could do would be to remove the threat.

He glanced around the study, which had grown all too familiar these past few weeks. The chamber that normally held his fascination grew menacing in the candlight, but he shook it off. All he had to do was find the new item, and take it back to headquarters.

There it was, sitting right on top of Lyodesh's desk. No lock, no protective barriers, nothing. It wasn't a matter of trust- you'd have to be mad to try and steal from a mage.

Well, maybe he was mad. Patrick took one last look at the crimson stone, and snatched it in his hand. Everything went black.

Patrick awoke to find himself staring into his own face. He tried to move, but his body had been bound by imp flame. No, not his body...Lyodesh's body...

"So, stealing doesn't look like a good idea anymore, now does it?"

"What the hell did you do to me!?" cried Patrick, hating how sinister his voice sounded when wielded by a new owner.

"Come now, boy. Did you really think you could get away with this for so long? Most of my artifacts have been made by hand. Once I realized my own spear was being used against me in the battle of Cysneah, I knew right away I had a leak giving magic to the enemy. And now, you're going to pay."

Lyodesh walked over to his desk, and grabbed the crimson stone in his hand. "Funny thing, this. It's not a weapon with the power to decimate you worthless trash. It's not a weapon at all. It was a trap; one I knew you wouldn't be able to avoid."

"Demon," he said, turning to the imp at Patrick's side. "Make sure he touches the stone. Then we'll both get what we want." The mage tossed the stone in the air, and caught it in his palm. As soon as the stone made contact, Lyodesh disappeared. Patrick's body was gone, and the stone fell to the floor.

"You heard him," shrieked the imp. "It's time to reap your rewards for service in the name of change- damnation!" The imp flames surrounding Partrick jerked forward, flinging him to the ground. The side of his cheek brushed the stone.

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