Rated "M" for language. Eclipso is property of DC comics. More Pyromania here. Pyroverse library

Authors note: This is my first try writing in first person.

Rage of Eclipso. Pt 1

"I always found it odd how in legends and myths the gods, and higher beings are subject to petty human feelings. Like anger. And revenge. Even more odd how these guys can fall. Can forget their purposes. I used to assume this was the storyteller making the characters more accessible to the listener. I know better now. I know that even the higher powers of the universe are fallible. That no one is beyond the seductive whisper of darkness...."

"KAALA. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" The voice was not loud, but Kaala felt it in his entire being.

"I have done that for which I was created. I have judged the wicked, and delivered righteous punishment."

"YOU HAVE OVERSTEPPED YOUR BOUNDS, AND JUDGED THE VERY EARTH. YOU HAVE BECOME CORRUPTED KAALA. THIS CANNOT BE IGNORED. YOU, THE VESSEL OF PUNISHMENT, MUST YOURSELF NOW BE PUNSIHED." A large black diamond was formed then to be Kaala's home and prison for all of time.

"No!" He had shrieked. "I was deceived. The son of the morning swayed my heart! No!" He had tried to flee then, but for all the power he possessed, he could not escape his judgement. No one can, he would later tell me. Didn't tell me exactly, but I got a lot of his thoughts. And his dreams. We were joined body and soul after all. You would assume he would be all rage and hate. But he wasn't. He was just cold. He had gone insane with rage eons ago, and revenge was all he had now. But perhaps I should start at the beginning. And explain my part in all this. And explain the power of anger.....

* * *

The sun was blistering and unforgiving that day. My face was streaked with dust and sweat, mingling into an itchy mask of mud. Normally we would have braked for lunch by now. But we only had the dig site another day and I was hoping to find something to justify an extension on our arrangement. Not like the world was hurting for another strip mall.

"Good day to dig in the dirt, eh?" That was Douglas Devon. Of Devon realty co. He looked more miserable then my students, his fat face pouring sweat, and his shirt soaked through. I silently wished he would have a heart attack already. I know, that's horrible. I guess the seeds of rage were already sprouting inside me.

"Everyday is a good day for digging Mr Devon." I smiled so tightly it hurt a little. He wasn't supposed to be treading over my dig site and he knew it. He also knew I wouldn't say boo about it. It sucks when life has you by the nose. Especially when "life" is a fat, sweaty, white stroke candidate. "We'll be cleared out sundown tomorrow." I told him, wiping grime off my face with one fingerless garden glove. I really hoped he would leave then. I didn't want him starring at my a$$ while I was digging.

"Ms Holmes!" One of my students called, and I thanked the powers for hopeless students. Any excuse to get away from Devon. I wasn't really expecting anything. We had found some shells, and some old pottery. But nothing impressive. Or overly interesting. That was about to change....

Some people personify fate as a person. As a thinking, feeling entity. Just think about that for one second. What kinda sick mind plans child rape, and plane crashes, and mass suicides? Fate would have to be either very indifferent. Or very cruel. Maybe both.

I think back, and wonder if things were supposed to happen this way. Wonder if all this hell was for some greater purpose. Or were the higher beings just bored and wanted to shake things up? Eclipso for all his faults was (thankfully) not a philosopher. That would have really been hell. Nope. He never bothered with the why of his escape. He was very forward thinking like that.

And what did my wonderful little student find you are probably wondering? A diamond. A goddamned diamond. And that's not me swearing. It literally was damned by God. At first I was sure it was fake. Made of glass or something. It was the size of a tangerine for one thing. It was solid black for another. A lovely bauble, no doubt. But junk just the same. Innocent packages and all that.

I took the thing from my student and wiped it gently, just in case it was something of value. I don't know why Eclipso didn't try on an Andrea Holmes body suit right then. I was certainly angry at the fat goober who had decided to follow me. Maybe it was the gloves. Or maybe it was the bright sun. I think Eclipso just wasn't ready. Maybe he didn't know he could escape so easily. Maybe it was all the above.

"Found another bottle cap?" Devon chuckled a privileged chuckle. "Hold the asphalt trucks. Y'all found Geronimo's garbage can." I wanted so badly to smash that peace of rock into his face right then.

"Nothing interesting Mr Devon." I quickly replied before the student could reply. And stuffed the rock into my pocket.

The rest of the day was more heat, and dirt. I will skim over it to save tape. I know, lazy narration, but I can't just get a fresh tape. Rambled too much already. That night was an average one. It should have been pitch black and moonless. But no, it was cloudless. The moon was half-full if I recall properly. Not that it matters. Just pointing out how untheamatic it was that night. I remember sitting in my tiny apartment with the lights off. Sipping a glass of wine and rolling the "diamond" in my hand. The pawn shop I stopped by had used jargon I won't bother repeating here, but basically the diamond was worthless. As I had suspected. I had a decent buzz going, and was watching the shadows on the floor dance and change. Becoming faces, and demons, and hands. Hating my apartment. Hating my crummy life. My career choice. And most of all, Devon. Angry at life in general, and the world in particular.

I remember the flash then. Then everything went dark.

The next few days are blurry to say the least. I remember killing Devon. I remember being powerless to do anything I wanted, which sucks as much as it sounds. I asked questions, made threats. Prayed. All for zip. Eclipso pretty much ignored me. I do remember him calling me an "inadequate" host. I was asleep for a lot of it. Playing host to godlike being takes it out of you.

I remember when those other magic guys showed up. Remember Eclipso's--cough--amazement that anyone would dream of opposing him. The fight was fast and hazy. But I felt the spear in my stomach. A magic spear, Eclipso was kind enough to scream out. That hurt like hell, let me tell you. It was like being inside out, and on fire. Whoever they were, they hurt him. And that pissed him off.

But even injured and enraged, he was still tactical, and pulled a fast escape even as his powers leaked out. A lot more stuff happened. But I'm tired, and this ally is so cozy. I'm really bleeding now. Think I'll lie here just another minute. If someone don't happen by, I'll try calling for help again. Someone will come along. This city's lousy with hero's. Someone will find-----

End of tape.

To be continued in PyroVerse: Shadowpact.