The Southern Cardinal
Fantasy
Something was off. Teva soared over the Southern Gate of Hell in lazy circles, studying the monolith with the sharp eyes of a gargoyle. She had been flying her patrol near the Gate when she sensed that something was wrong with it.
The archway of black stone and portal energy stood encased completely in flawless, clear crystal. It had been that way for nearly one thousand years. Since the Gods had sealed off the four Gates of Hell and imprisoned their King in a jail created in a pocket dimension.
The only access to the Mortal Realm now was through accidental rips that formed between the two realms. They weren’t many and didn’t last long before closing themselves. Even then, only wraiths and minor demons like gargoyles could slip through them. But they couldn’t risk staying in the Mortal realm long, lest the rip close and strand them there.
If the stranded being couldn’t make it back to Hell, they would perish from energy loss before long.
Nothing appeared to have changed about the Southern Gate. It still stood there in solitary splendor in a clearing. Trees and other plants grew in a perfect circle around the structure. The ground inside of the circle was barren of life. Nothing would grow there because of the vast amount of energy that the Gate threw off.
Then the gargoyle realized what was different. It wasn’t a physical change. She could feel the distinct energies of the Mortal Realm. They were faint, but there. This was the first time that she felt anything since the Gods had sealed off the gate.
Teva circled the clearing once more and then spiraled down to land just inside of the clearing. She rippled and changed from the gray-skinned, winged, horned beast to her human form. It was smaller and easier for her to move around on the ground.
She walked around the barren earth to stand in front of the Gate. She leaned forward and peered closely at it, being careful not to touch it. To touch the crystal was instant death for any of the residents of Hell. Only the four Lords of Hell could touch it. And even then, they were seriously hurt and the lightest touch depleted their powers. The Gods wanted to make sure that no one figured out how to destroy the gate.
