The Temple of Apep

Amias Teagan stood on the crest of the dune, his solid black eyes squinting into the blinding desert sun.

“Magnificent isn’t it?

Coming to stand beside him, his scarlet hair and robes worn over his leather slacks flapping in the wind, Drakon looked out over the arid plain and the derelict temple rising from its base, half-submerged in the sea of sand.  A massive foreboding place that exuded an aura of darkness even at the brightest time of the day.  An unholy shrine dedicated to the God of All Evil, it filled the basin with an atmosphere of such vileness it reviled any creature pure of heart or even neutral.  The soulstones perched atop each of the obelisks along the massive circular outcropping that formed the border of the plain’s base gleamed like foul blood in the sunlight.

Born and raised in the Shadow Realm of CernZaviest, he found the complete and utter lack of shade at midday uncomfortable at best.  Furthermore, he found no personal attraction to the distant temple.

“It is…sanctuary from the sun, my king.”

“An ultimate power in the world and that’s all you can think of saying?”

“It is perfectly suited to your purpose, my king."

“And it will soon be mine.”

Drakon’s colorless eyes flicked to Amias.

“You will still need an army, my king.  Even you cannot accomplish your goals alone.”

“True.”  Tugging on the jacket of his fine black suit to straighten it, Amias grinned.  “The priests of the temple will be easy to cow.  After all, I have the power of darkness itself at my disposal and all light dies at some point.  They will be my new slaves and my new army.  Go forth and herald my arrival.”

“Yes, my king.”

Bowing low, his form vanished in a burst of thick, swirling shadow as he withdrew into the Tehn Tkahn, the Great Shadow Web, and traversed it into the temple.