The Hellhound's Return

Heir Apparent, Part II

Leanbow cocked his head to the side.

"Ignore her," said Xander. "She's grouchy."

Kali glared at him.

Leanbow chuckled. "It happened in the last battle of the Great War," he said.

"You closed the gates to the Underworld and we all thought you were gone forever," said Udonna.

"Yes, but that's when the story just begins," said Leanbow. "My plan had worked, and the master was sinking into the depths. But he used the last of his dark magic to take me with him, and turned me into Koragg, the knight wolf, his most obedient soldier."

Kali glanced up at Nick. "What happened to Eithne?" she asked, earning herself Leanbow's attention. "You sealed the gates, but we know she got through before they fully closed. What happened to her before or after you became Koragg?"

"After he turned me into Koragg, wiping away any memories of my previous life," said Leanbow. "He pit me against Eithne. Told me that she was there to stop him from coming back. I didn't remember her, even though she tried to fight his dark magic. But, from that moment on, I was the Master's puppet. I did everything for him."

"That doesn't answer my question," said Kali. "What happened to my mother? What did you do to her?"

Leanbow stared at Kali with wide eyes. "You're Maeve?" he asked. "Yes, I see it now. The one thing that Koragg has been trying to figure out for months - how the Hellhound exists here when she was buried deep within the pit."

"So she's dead?"

"I never said she was dead," said Leanbow, shaking his head.

Kali frowned and stared at Leanbow in confusion. How could Eithne be buried deep within the pit and still be alive?

"You said that you didn't remember anything from your previous life after you became Koragg," said Chip. "Then how do you remember now?"

Leanbow shook his head. "It must've been the virus that infected my titan mode," he said. "It began to break the memory spell."

"Then you must remember how many times you tried to destroy us, and Udonna, even your wife," said Nick. "You almost destroyed her, then stole her snow staff. Is this ringing any bells?"

"Yes," said Leanbow. He looked ashamed at his actions. "I remember it all, and I cannot tell you all how sorry I am."

"Words mean nothing," said Kali, shaking her head. "You can say you're sorry a thousand times, but it doesn't change what you did."

Nick nodded his agreement.

"Nick, Kali, no one could withstand the full power of the Master's dark magic," said Udonna.

"No offence, Udonna, but I think you're just looking for a reason to justify his actions because of his real identity," said Kali. "Just because he's Leanbow doesn't change what he did to us as Koragg."

"She's right," said Leanbow. He nodded at Kali and Nick. "You're both right. But, if there was any way you could forgive me, all of you..."

"Forgiveness isn't exactly my forte," Kali muttered.

Udonna, however, smiled and took an uneasy step towards her husband. "Of course, I -" she broke off as she collapsed.

"Udonna!" Xander exclaimed, catching the white sorceress before she could hit the floor. The others crowded around.

"You're injured," said Leanbow, grasping his wife's hands.

"I.. used the book of Dark Magic to get to the Underworld," Udonna admitted. "I'm afraid I'm as vulnerable as any human now."