Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [79]
As one, the assembled dragons screamed, but Abdel never heard the sound. The material world had already begun to dissolve.
Abdel found himself prostrate on cool, brown dirt. His body was still covered in burns, but he could feel it healing. Within seconds he felt strong enough to stand.
He was back in the Abyssal realm of Bhaal. The great empty plains still stretched before him, but somehow they looked less barren. The earth was a dark, fertile brown, and in the sky were wisps of what might have been rain clouds beginning to form. Before him stood the familiar free-standing doors, but now they numbered only three.
The big sellsword cared little for the magical or mystical, but even he could plainly see what was happening to this world. With the death of the Bhaalspawn, the Lord of Murder's essence was returning to the Abyssal plane from which it had first been born. The dead world was slowly being resurrected-though what hideous forms of life might sprout up in the accursed realm was anyone's guess.
He heard the sound of someone walking behind him and spun to face his unknown companion. Abdel didn't know who or what to expect. Had Sarevok followed him? Perhaps it was the spirit of the recently slain Abazigal, whose spirit had led Abdel here. Maybe it was the other star-covered being, waiting to taunt him with more maddening prophecies or eager to offer more shrouded, secretive, useless advice. Whatever awaited him, Abdel was ready for anything. Except what he saw.
"Jaheira!"
The half-elf smile at him. "I prayed to Mielikki you would come before it was too late," she whispered.
Abdel pulled her close, clutching her to his chest, relentlessly pressing himself into her body as if he hoped they would become one and he might never lose her again.
"I thought you were dead," he said, tears of relief streaming down his face.
The druid clung to him as fiercely as he clung to her, but when she spoke her voice was filled with grief. "I am dead, Abdel. That is why I am here."
Reluctantly Abdel loosened his grip so that he could look into his lover's eyes and see if she was joking. What he saw was a longing so deep it made his heart want to rend itself in two.
"You… are you a ghost?"
She brushed her long, delicate fingers across his brow, smoothing out the wrinkles of confusion on Abdel's forehead. Her touch was warm and soothing. "This is but my spirit, my love. My body is no more, though in this world my spirit is as real as my physical self was on the material plane."
"No!" Abdel declared, his voice rising in angry denial as he pulled Jaheira's taut, muscular form tight against his own. "No, this cannot be!"
The half-elf nestled her head against Abdel's powerful chest. The subtle scent of his lover's hair filled the sell-sword's lungs.
"It is true, my love," she whispered. "We must accept it and make the most of my time here. I begged Mielikki to grant me this time, but I cannot stay for long. My link to you keeps me here, but soon my soul must become one with the whole of nature."
Abdel pushed her away, refusing to give up. "No, it doesn't have to be like this! I brought Sarevok back to life. I can do the same for you!"
Jaheira gently shook her head. "No, Abdel. That cannot be. I am not a child of Bhaal, I do not possess the same essence you and Sarevok share. You cannot give me a piece of your soul to make me live again."
"Why not?" Abdel demanded. "It might work. It's worth a try." He turned and marched toward the nearest door, determined to return to the material plane and reenact the ritual that had reincarnated Sarevok.
"I beg you, Abdel, stop this madness." The soft pleas of Jaheira caused the big sellsword to freeze in midstride. Part of Abdel knew what she was about to say.
"Even if you can perform the ritual to restore me, what will that accomplish? You have seen Sarevok. He is not truly alive anymore. He is a thing, cold and passionless, without emotion. Is that what you would wish for me?"
Abdel dropped his head and turned back to face his lover, desperate