The Reckoning Judge Cassandra and Jephthan ride through the remains of a once beautiful area of the woods. Now, the trees remain black, leafless, and dead with nothing but insects, mice, and owls left as the only living beings. They pull up to the castle and see the crater 10 meters to their left. [1] [Chapter 2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
By Mark Nieves
Chapter One
�What the hell is that?,� said Jephthan.
�Something that only a huge powerful force could have made,� said Cassandra.
�Then I guess it�s the welcoming sign because we�re here,� said Jephthan.
20 meters to the left of the crater, Manasseh�s army march through the open drawbridge dragging with them over 50 peasants bound in chains.
I better do something before we get discovered, thought Cassandra.
Cassandra lifts her arm and shoots out a disfiguring white burst from the palm of her hand. Clear blurry streaks swarm around the wagon turning them and it into a faded ghostly image shielding them from the sight of the army. The last of Manasseh�s men marches in the castle and the drawbridge is lifted. As the drawbridge slams shut, Cassandra lifts the faded image from their space. They both get off the wagon and stand in front of the castle wall.
�Now, how are we suppose to breach a wall this strong?,� said Jephthan.
�I suppose they wouldn�t be compelled to open the drawbridge for us, would they?,� said Cassandra.
�I seriously doubt it,� said Jephthan.
If we don�t get in soon, all those people will die, thought Jephthan.
Jephthan puts his on the wall and seriously burns himself followed by a loud scream. Cassandra rushes to his aid to find the hand completely covered in a third degree burn. She reaches into her pouch and grabs a pinch of glowing golden dust. She sprinkles it on Jephthan�s hand. The hand glows in a bright yellow then dims down as the hand miraculously healed.
�They put a fire wall of protection around the castle,� said Cassandra. �That�s how you burned your hand.�
�So how can we penetrate it?,� said Jephthan.
�We�ll have to search the foundation for insignificant gaps the fire wall might not have extended around,� said Cassandra.
�Agreed,� said Jephthan. �You go right and I�ll go left. We�ll shout if we find anything.�
As Cassandra walks, she searches thoroughly through the castle wall for a gap or weak point into the castle. She searches for about 5 minutes then she feels a presence. She looks back and see�s nothing.
That�s funny, thought Cassandra. I could�ve sworn I felt somebody in back of me.
As Cassandra turns around Manasseh is standing right in her path, which makes her stagger back in shock.
�Hello Cassandra,� said Manasseh. �It�s been along time.�
�Too long.� responded Cassandra.
Be careful, thought Cassandra. He�s capable of anything.
�Don�t be afraid,� said Manasseh. �If I wanted to kill you, you�d be dead already.�
�I was about to say the same to you.� said Cassandra.
She still has it, thought Manasseh. That drive, that ambition that nothing is going to stop her from doing what ever she has to do. She had that when she stood up to Jephthan for my life when I was a baby. How I�ve missed that. How I�ve longed for it.
�What do you want Manasseh?� said Cassandra.
�I�ve come to plea my case one last time,� said Manasseh.
�Plea your case?� said Cassandra.
�Don�t leave me incomplete with only one parent,� said Manasseh as his voice cracked. �Come, nourish me mother. By my words father will forgive and embrace you. Please, I beg you mother. Ever since you left me I�ve felt a great despair. When I was born you connected with me as all mothers do with their young. I love you mother.�
�Manasseh,� said Cassandra as she put her hand on his cheek. �When I first took your life--�
�It�s all forgotten my mother,� said Manasseh as he held her hand and shut his eyes. �I welcome you into my kingdom with a son�s love for his moth--�
�I regret not doing a more thorough job.� said Cassandra.
Manasseh widens his eyes and pushes Cassandra�s hand away. He starts walking toward the castle wall.
�So be it.� said Manasseh with a bitter voice.
Manasseh takes one last look at Cassandra as he went through the wall like a ghost with a fiery out line.
Cassandra goes back around the castle wall and to the wagon just as Jephthan walks to the wagon. They both stop in front of each other.
�Did you find anything?� said Jephthan.
If I tell him that I just spoke to Manasseh, thought Cassandra. He�ll let it interfere with his thinking and won�t be able to concentrate on the plan.
�I didn�t find anything,� said Cassandra. �But I just thought of a path spell which I can use with my astroportation ability that just might create an opening long enough for us to get in.�
�What are the chances of the spell not working?� said Jephthan.
�Minimal.� said Cassandra.
Cassandra may be powerful, thought Jephthan. But powers alone can�t get us out of this. Shiva is my responsibility. If I can fool her into turning against Manasseh then I stand a good chance at winning. Cassandra must not be caught in the crossfire.
�As soon as I�m in,� said Jephthan. �I want you to close the opening and wait for me out here.�
�What?� said Cassandra with surprise. �Jephthan, if you think that I�m going to stay out here while many innocent people lay at the mercy of Manasseh and Shiva, then your more bent on vengeance than saving the world.�
And on protecting me, thought Cassandra.
�It�s not about vengeance Cassandra!� said Jephthan trying to strongly reason with her. �I just can�t bare the thought of anything happening to you. This is not like any of the battles we went into before. We go in and we stand a very good chance of never coming out.�
�Nobody said that our paths would be easy ones,� said Cassandra. �In fact, the Lord himself has told us on many occasions that our humanitarian missions will lead the lives we touch into the kingdom of heaven and direct us into trial and tribulation that would make us stronger in the end.�
�But I have to be here,� said Jephthan. �I have to amend for my past deeds. You have nothing to make immense for. Your soul is clean.�
�Maybe,� said Cassandra. �But I still have to be here to use the powers God has gifted me with to protect the innocent and vanquish the darkness. I have to be here as much as you do. We had to sacrifice a great many things in our life to get this far. And we�ll still have to sacrifice more even if we make it out of here alive. But it�s God�s promise for a great plan in our lives. We shouldn�t falter now my love. We�re in this together. Right until the end.�
I hate it when she�s right, thought Jephthan. Because when she is, there�s never any way around her reasoning. She�s right and that�s it.
�Then promise me one thing,� said Jephthan. �If something should happen to me I want you to find love again.�
�Jephtha--,� muttered Cassandra.
�Let me finish.� said Jephthan as he puts his fingers on her lips. �A lot has happened to us over the years especially with Shiva and Manasseh in the picture. But in spite of all of that, I still continue to thank God everyday for sending you into my life. Shortly before I met you I was this cold-blooded animal engulfed in murder and fleshly desires. But you showed me the simple joys to life and your love redeemed me. If I should die, you should be able to bless somebody else as you did me. You gave my heart life and my days full of bliss. And we�ll be entwined forever. In life and death.�
�Oh Jephthan.� said Cassandra with tears filling in her eyes.
They both embrace each other and start to make out. A light sound in the bushes is heard. Jephthan quickly draws his sword just as the person comes out the bushes finding the sword right in front of her neck. It�s the girl from the cottage.
�Wait! Don�t run me through! It�s me!� pleaded Amy.
�What are you doing here?� said Jephthan. �I thought we told you to wait at the cottage until it was safe.�
�You did but I thought it would be... noble of me to... honor the memory of my late fianc�e by hunting down these creatures so that they never kill again.� said Amy very dumbly.
Cassandra and Jephthan give Amy an obvious look that she has no idea what she�s doing since she thinks she can take on whatever their going up against.
She�s lying, thought Jephthan and Cassandra simultaneously.
They know I�m lying, thought Amy.
�Okay look,� explained Amy. �I�m very grateful to you for saving my life and I thought a lot about what you said. And you guys can�t take this evil on by yourselves no matter how skilled in battle you happen to be. It�s best that you let me help you.�
�Absolutely not,� said Jephthan.
�But why?� asked Amy.
�Because it�s too dangerous,� said Jephthan. �Besides, you have no battle experience, no spiritual training, and the fact that you have barely an idea about the forces at work makes it very likely that you�ll be dead within the first few seconds of the great battle about to take place.�
�That�s offal harsh,� said Amy.
�That doesn�t make it a lie,� said Jephthan.
�It�s not that we don�t appreciate your intensions Amy,� said Cassandra. �But this situation is very serious and we wouldn�t be very good people if we let you come along know you have no battle or mystical experience and knowing you�ll get yourself killed.�
�Well� maybe not,� said Amy as she pulls out a large old wooden staff made from a crooked piece of ashy wood.
�A shepherd�s staff?� said Jephthan.
�Yeah, I heard you can defend yourself with it,� said Amy thinking she did well.
Maybe this resourceful act will convince them that I�m worth taking on the mission, thought Amy.
�Only if you know how to use it,� said Jephthan.
Oh damn, thought Amy.
�Look, were running out of time,� said Jephthan. �You can come along but only to release the hostages to escape while we deal with Manasseh and his forces.�
�Oh thank you so much,� said Amy. �I promise you won�t regret this.�
�Oh, I have the feeling I will,� said Jephthan with a smirk. �Now listen up because I�m only going to say this once. When using the staff in combat, brace with both feet and lunge your body weight into the move when you strike. A strike to the profile, face, chest, stomach, groin, back, and legs are ideal pain inducing spots. Every move they make just avoid, block or counter it. And once they�re hit, hit them again and harder until they�re down. Do you understand?�
�I�ll do my best,� said Amy.
�I don�t want your best,� said Jephthan. �I want you to do what I say or else you�ll be left behind. Now do you understand?!�
�Completely,� said Amy.
�Good,� said Jephthan. �Now get on the wagon.�
Jephthan turns to Cassandra in preparation for battle.
�I�ve thought of a chant that will get us in,� said Cassandra. �But once we�re behind those walls, there�s no going back.�
�Then let us die the way we lived,� said Jephthan. �Serving the Lord our God.�
They both get on the wagon with Jephthan holding the reigns. Cassandra takes out a small wooded box from her bearskin saddlebag. She turns to Amy.
�I have something for you,� said Cassandra.
�Really?� said Amy feeling touched. �What is it?�
Cassandra opens the box to reveal a weird looking weapon. The handle was that of a dagger but the blade looked like that of a spear.
�What is that?� said Amy with confusion.
�The dagger of the covenant,� said Cassandra.
�Why does it look like that?� said Amy.
�That spear head,� said Cassandra. �Is from the spear the Romans stabbed Jesus with while he was dieing on the cross. It�s stained with his divine blood that he shed in order to save us from our sins. The person, who holds that dagger while in battle, will be able to defeat any evil force that forms against them.�
�So I�ll be an invisible battle master?� asked Amy with excitement.
�Well, no,� said Cassandra. �But it will keep you safe as long as you keep your senses sharp. I�m not giving you the dagger to fight the devil himself. The chains bound around the bodies of the sacrifices are laced with black magic energy fields that render the chains unbreakable accepts to Manasseh�s magic. Your to use the dagger to cut the chains and get those innocents out of there.�
�Will the dagger be able to cut the chains?� asked Amy.
�Like a hot knife through butter,� said Cassandra.
�It�s time,� said Jephthan.
Cassandra closes her eyes in mediation and uses her hands to form a triangle. Beams of sparkling light blue light form at the basis her hands and connect in the middle to form a small circle.
�Water, cold, and quenchers of fire,� chanted Cassandra. �Chill this heated barrier geyser. Allow us a door to unblock our path, to vanquish the darkness of Hell�s evil wrath.�
The blue energy ball consumes the triangle and sends out a thick beam of dark blue electricity. It hits the wall mixing with the fire wall�s crimson energy and in a thick white electric energy burst, blows a whole in the castle�s stone wall. Jephthan immediately pulled on the reigns and with a loud, �Yahhh!� entered the breach. As soon as they were in, the wall sent a huge pillar of fire to completely seal the breach as if it had never been opened. But the section of the castle they entered was the mess hall. 100 of Manasseh�s soldiers were feasting when they stopped due to a large war wagon crashing through the stone wall. The soldiers immediately knew who the ones on the war wagon were and assumed attack formations. Jephthan looks at the flight of stairs that led to the skylight room where the dark junction ritual was to take place, and saw he had to get through every soldier in that room. He looks at Cassandra and Amy.
�We�ve got a big problem,� said Jephthan.
Upstairs in the Hall of Light, as it used to be known, a dark celebration takes effect for the coming of absolute darkness. In the far right hand corner from the entrance of the room, a huddled mass of 150 peasants lay chained to the ground by their feet from a long intersecting chain. Thick rusted steel cuffs around their necks that were connected also chained them to each other by chains. Some of the peasants stare up into nothing awaiting their bloody fate. But most cry in agony as they feel the darkness building up in the room like warm heat. Four soldiers stand on guard in front and beside the peasants to keep them from escaping. To the far left of the room, a choir of fifteen black magic priests chants demonic spells in hormonal melodies as they each beat down on their own personal small drum. In the middle of the room, a craving of a large pentagram directly under the skylight decorates the floor, with a huge bon-fire erected in the middle. The pentagrams craving was six feet deep, so that the blood drawn from innocents can amplify the ritual. Around the fire are erected alters each with it�s own animal sacrifice on it. There were four altars and the four animals sacrificed were a black Cat, a black Doberman, a black racer snake, and a crow. Manasseh wanted to duplicate the black sorcery version of a pagan fire festival.
Around the fire danced five naked women all wearing wooden masks of demonic devil carvings. They�re movements is a black sorcery version of a physical exertion ritual dance shamans do to prepare themselves for summoning dark spirits. Surrounding the dancers, looking on aroused, standing just three feet from the pentagram is the rest of Manasseh�s soldiers, fifteen warriors ready to welcome the Prince of Darkness to Earth. In front of all this sits Manasseh on a twenty-foot stone plate-form. He sits on a throne constructed for him by his servants out of the bones of his fallen victims. Manasseh takes in the atmosphere as an evil joy filled the room. Two feet beside and one foot back from the throne stands Shiva bored to death. She stands there annoyed but patient as to how much longer she has to endure this stupid ritual. Manasseh gets up from his throne and approaches the edge of the plate form. Shiva follows but keeps a three-foot distance between them. As Manasseh approaches the edge, everything falls silent.
Manasseh�s flock looks at him with awe and affection. All of his worshipers were surfs, people below peasants. They had no meaning to their lives. No happiness to endure. They abused by the rich and mocked by the poor. Every worshiper in that room has contemplated suicide at one point in their life or the other. But then Manasseh comes along, performing acts no other man could do, promising them peace, power, and greatness if they followed him. How could they not refuse? A chance to fight a superior foe in a war that if won could make them the masters of the world. They yearned for peace and thought Manasseh was they way to achieve. That�s what Manasseh preyed upon, people who had no kind of hope to draw upon in their life. People whose spirits wondered the Earth in a void full of sadness and despair. If only they knew the truth. If only they knew that the innocent and righteous who die in this war enter everlasting beauty and paradise and all those who sided with evil will be doomed to ever-lasting despair and torment. It�s ironic, the very things that they tried to escape, will be the very fate they will have to endure for all eternity.
�Today my children,� announced Manasseh. �We accomplish the unthinkable. Today we will extinguish all that has hindered us in this world. Today our dark father will enter this world, so let today, be the day we rule the world!!�
Manasseh throws his hands up in celebration as his worshipers cheer in unbridled passion. For they thought they were on the verge of total freedom. Freedom from the lives and world they knew, to be reborn into a world where they mattered.
�All you who stand here today are my elect,� said Manasseh. �All who stand here today do so because the outside world rejects you. They ignore, laugh, spit, and revile you. You will be reborn into vessels of Satan, super human warriors that will have a function in his dark army. We will engulf this world with our essence as Satan rewards us for our service. All those who shunned us as insane and all those who opposed us will meet a brutal bloody fate. We will be responsible to spread our authority through the universe to conquer worlds like this. Our mission will be one of malevolent authority as Satan�s release comes closer at hand!!�
Manasseh throws up his hands once again and thick lightning bolts came out of them as he surrendered to the emotion that soon, he would�ve fulfilled his destiny.
Downstairs, a barricade of 100 soldiers traps Jephthan, Cassandra, and Amy. The soldiers start throwing daggers and shooting arrows at them. Jephthan begins to deflect them with his sword.
�We have to get to those stairs if we want to get to Manasseh!� said Jephthan.
�What are you waiting for?� said Amy. �Run the wagon through these guys!�
The horses neigh in shock at the noise, the people, and the atmosphere.
�They�re too scared!� said Cassandra. �It has to be due to the dark mystical content the castle is generating.�
�We have to stand and fight!� said Jephthan jumping from the wagon while still deflecting objects thrown at the wagon with his sword.
�There has to be another way!� pleaded Amy.
�There�s not!� said Cassandra as she got off the wagon and assumed an attack formation. Jephthan walks closer to the soldiers ready to attack as well, while Amy slowly gets off the wagon convincing herself under her fear that she�s walking toward the soldiers assuming an attack formation when she barely walked two feet from the wagon holding the staff with both hands hard up against her breasts.
Jephthan�s plight against injustice and the forces of evil has become one of the greatest legacies ever to form in the Castilian culture. The land of Cordoba never before had it�s own Herculean warrior legend. His skill is equal to none. Although his soul is one that�s changed and reborn by the light of the Christ and the acts of righteous nobility, it�s never a good idea to get him angry. For every time he fights or goes into battle, that blind ruthlessness that�s embedded in his fighting skill, reasserts itself and for that instant, even though his mind is free from dangerous anger and dark lust, that blood thirsty warlord resurrects himself in the heat of battle. Not only can Jephthan utilize a full arsenal of medieval weaponry, but also the time he takes in doing damage to his opponent says something about his fighting style. It signifies that whether he�s good or evil, battling human or monster, fighting one on one or a band of killers, his violent tendencies are like a thirst he needs to quench in order to maintain his self-stability. Which is why he smiles with a slight exhilaration as he fights. It�s sort of enjoyable for him.
A soldier runs up to Jephthan charging at him with a spear. Jephthan cuts off the spear head with his sword, kicks the spear staff up into the air, slashes the soldier in his stomach, catches the spear in his hand and quick deposits the sword in his scabbard. A soldier runs up to him and he knocks him out with it. Jephthan knocks out the second one, and hits the third one in the stomach then his upper back. The fifth one he hit in the stomach then his face. The next two came and he butt the staff in their face, put the staff on their chest, flipped over them using the staff as a support beam, and back kicked two soldiers running up behind him. As Jephthan took the staff he knocked out the two he flipped over. Two soldiers came up to Jephthan with long blades. They parried four times with Jephthan blocking both blades on the fifth perry. He pushed them forward and kicked the soldier in his front left in the stomach. The soldier on Jephthan's front left tried to slash his face. But as Jephthan dunked, the soldier slashed the face of another soldier running behind him. Jephthan stroke the hit the soldier in the stomach with the staff. They parried five more times. Jephthan swung the staff at the soldier in his front left but the soldier dunked then the soldier on his front right dunked too. Jephthan knocked the blade out of the hand of the soldier on his front left and knocked out the soldier on his front right. The soldier chops the staff in half, spin kicked Jephthan in his face, kicked him in his stomach, and then his groin knocking him down. Jephthan threw a dagger at his face, swept him to the floor, took a piece of the chopped staff from the floor, and plunged it into the soldier�s chest. Then plunges the staff piece in a backwards direction stabbing a soldier running up to him from behind in his stomach.
A tall soldier came and kicked Jephthan in his face. Jephthan spun around and elbowed the guy in his ribs. Another soldier comes with a sword. He tries to slash Jephthan but misses and hits the floor. Jephthan elbows the soldier�s arms and backhands him in his face. Another soldier came trying to stick a sword through Jephthan. Jephthan caught his wrist; pulled him forward, elbowed him in his face, and flipped him over. Another soldier comes and backhands Jephthan in his face. As he lifts his leg to kick Jephthan, Jephthan quickly catches his leg, elbows the knee, and punches the soldier in his face. Another soldier jumps in front of Jephthan but he sweeps the soldier off. Another soldier comes and tries to cut Jephthan�s head off with a sword. Jephthan dunks, kicks him in his stomach, grabs his neck and throws the soldier back four feet. Another soldier comes with a sword but Jephthan catches his wrist and punched the soldier in his
face with his own hand. Another soldier came with a sword and Jephthan caught his wrist, folded his arm over the other arm he was still holding to hit the guy in his ribs. Another soldier came with a club. Jephthan held both wrist with one hand, caught the wrist of the other soldier, kicked him in his stomach, and pushed him into the other two as they all fall down. Another soldier comes up to Jephthan and throws two punches at
him. Jephthan blocks them both. He head butts the soldier, gives him a double combo, and knocks him out with a right hook. A chandelier with five spikes falls next to Jephthan. He looks back and see's a soldier with a crossbow running up to him. Four more soldiers join him and they all jump on Jephthan. One by one Jephthan flipped them all over so that they fell on top of the spikes of the chandelier. All in all, Jephthan just killed 30 soldiers.
Cassandra is not as� possessive, by her skill as her husband. Oh yes, no one is head of her skill, but Cassandra is the kind of fighter who doesn�t like to waste time. She preferred to do as much damage in as little time as possible to give her more time to think of effective strategic method plans for the more cunning opponents. In her mind, it�s the best way to increase the chances of the success of the mission. In essence, her attitude toward fighting was like a �wham-bam-thank you ma�am� kind of style. That and her gorilla like strength made her hits painful blows to endure.
Two soldiers hold Cassandra by her arms while another soldier stood in front of her and delivered a hard backhand strike across her cheek. Cassandra kicked that soldier in his groin, and used the two soldiers holding her as a support beam to muster a flip, which causes her to kick the soldier in front of her up his jaw, releasing the other two soldiers grip on her when the flip was completed. She the delivered a round house kick to the right soldier that restrained her and a jaw snapping front kick at the left soldier that restrained her. A big well-muscled soldier came running up to her. Cassandra dunks from his attempted punch and quickly delivers a right hook to his stomach, a cross punch to his profile and a front kick to his face. She kicks the next soldier in his stomach making him stagger back and hitting his head up against the stone wall. As the next soldier runs up to Cassandra attempting to grab her, she grabs him by his wrist, spins him around, cross punches then back hands his face knocking him out. Another soldier came running up to her. Cassandra kicked him in his stomach then face and knocked out with a cross punch. The next soldier that came running up to Cassandra attempted a cross punch but she grabbed him by the arm and flipped him over knocking him out as soon as he hit the stone floor. Cassandra immediately spins around delivering a knock out bone snapping back hand strike to a soldier running up to her from behind and a nose shattering right hook at the next soldier�s face.
A soldier from Cassandra�s left attempted to cross punch her in her face but she grabbed his forearm, pulled him forward, and elbow strikes his upper back. She then gave a right hook to the soldier in front of her, flicked her fist back into the face of the soldier running to her from behind, and sweeps the soldier running up to her on the floor. A soldier ran up to Cassandra with a thick wooden mallet. As he swung the mallet, Cassandra dunked and caught his arm when she got back up just as he attempted another strike. But the soldier kneed Cassandra in her stomach and hit her face with the mallet knocking her to the floor. As he tried to smash her face in, Cassandra caught his wrist and flipped him over. As she semi-flipped upright, the soldier got up as well and tried to strike her again but this time she caught the mallet and twisted it out his grasp. Cassandra then hits the soldier in his stomach with the mallet and spin kicked him in his face. Another soldier came running up to Cassandra with a long double-edged sword and tried to sweep her off the floor with it but Cassandra with jumped to avoid the sword, hits the soldier in the collar bone making him drop down on one knee, kicked the sword out of his hand, and smashed his face in with one bloody crush. The next soldier grabbed Cassandra by her shoulders from behind just as she lifted the mallet from smashing in the last soldiers face. She grabbed his hand and twisted it as she turned around to face him. She then delivered a jaw-snapping sidekick to his face knocking the soldier out. A soldier ran up to her with a dagger and attempted to stab her in her shoulder but Cassandra used the mallet to thwart his arm, picked him up by his neck and threw him back eight feet up against the stone wall. A soldier comes with a small axe and tried to slice Cassandra, but she shifts to her right to avoid the strike. He tries to slice her head off but she dunks and then catches the axe blade on the handle of the mallet as she blocks the soldiers attempted advance to chop her skull in with the axe. Cassandra kicks the axe out of his hand making it fly up into the air, squats down to hit the soldiers ankle with the mallet causing him to fall to the floor, and catches the axe in her hand. As the soldier gets up she gives him a forward sidekick to his face knocking him out.
As another soldier jumps in front of her, Cassandra tries to hit him in the chest with the mallet but the soldier catches the mallet, pulls it from her hand and hits her in the cheek with it. As he tried to hit her again, Cassandra dunked and kicked him hard in his waistline knocking him to the floor. Cassandra saw the next soldier running up to her, so she threw the axe at his chest killing him on the spot. As a soldier tried to jab Cassandra she caught him by the wrist and neck and flipped him over. She immediately jabbed the next soldier in his face, spun around and delivered a knock out backhand strike. A split second later a soldier came out of no where and crossed punch Cassandra hard in her face making her stagger back two feet. As another soldier approached her, Cassandra back-kicked him in his groin then face and spin kicked the soldier who punched her in her face. Another soldier came and side kicked Cassandra across her face making her loose her balance for a second. He then took that time to restrain her by the shoulders while two more soldiers came and started punching her in her stomach and face. Cassandra backhands the soldier to her right, backhands the soldier to her left, and elbows the soldier holding in his stomach then face knocking them all out. A soldier jumped out from the dept�s of the crowd, kicked Cassandra in her face and began to strangle her. Cassandra grabs the soldier by his biceps, uses her weight to spin him around and throws him back making him hit himself up against the stone wall. As another soldier ran up to Cassandra, she let out a spin kick to his face knocking him out. Two soldiers ran up to Cassandra and tried to restrain her on both sides. Cassandra back punches the soldier to her right very hard while she takes a couple of seconds to deal with the bigger soldier to her left. She elbowed the big soldier in his groin, punched him three times very hard in the stomach, and leap kicked him in his face. As the soldier at Cassandra�s right recovered from her painful strike to his face, he tried to cross punch Cassandra but she blocked it with her fist, flipped him over and kicked him in his chest to keep him down. All in all, Cassandra has just disabled 30 soldiers.
Amy has been painfully struck by the fear of God. She watches in heart racing observation as Jephthan and Cassandra try to fight through a whole army of black magic soldiers just to get to a flight of stairs. Her heart is telling her to help them fight but her mind has the rest of her body too paralyzed with fear to move or do anything about the present situation. But the protection of her safe distance soon wore off as a big soldier made his way to her. As Amy attempted to swing the staff at his profile, the soldier grabs the staff, pulls it from her hands, spins around and hit her across the face with the staff. Amy lets out a loud painful whimper as she falls to the floor clutching her bleeding cheek and sobbing with the fear of death.
I can�t do this, thought Amy. I�m just not cut out to be a fighter. I should�ve stood out of harms way like the little weakling I am. But Jephthan and Cassandra are depending on me to save those hostages. I have to try, for them, and for God.
Amy holds on to the wall getting up as the solider laughs at her.
Now just remember, thought Amy. Every move they make just avoid, block or counter it. Simple. And once they�re hit, hit them again and harder until they�re down.
Amy stands in front of the solider with a serious but still semi fearful face. The solider laughs as he thrusts the staff forward hitting her stomach. Amy feels all the air expel from her stomach as she felt light headed.
No, don�t fall down, thought Amy. Use this opportunity.
Amy grabs the staff using it as a support beam to keep she standing while she musters enough strength to kick the solider in his groin. As he lets go of the staff, Amy thrusts the staff forward hitting his face, spins around hitting the back of his knee making him fall backwards, she hits him in the stomach and the face as hard as she can and knocks him out.
I did it!!, thought Amy as she was extremely happy and proud of herself for successfully over-coming her first hand to hand combat obstacle. But her victory celebration was soon cut short as the soldiers approached her. Uh-oh, she thought. Just remember, do what you did just now. Aim for the painful points as hard as you can and if you get hit, deal with the pain and don�t go down.
As the two men approach her, with a tiny yell of surprise Amy swings left hitting the solider to her left in the face knocking him out. She spins around hitting the solider to her left in his face, squats down and runs forward making him trip over onto the floor. Another solider comes running up to Amy. She charges forward letting him run into the staff, spins around hitting him in his face, as he tries to punch her, she dunks and as soon as she�s up straight she hits him in the back knocking him down. A soldier with a sword comes charging Amy. He tries to run her through but Amy blocks it downward with the staff. He tries to chop her head but Amy blocks the sword upward. Amy then kicks the guy in his stomach and hits him with the staff on his shoulder knocking him down. (5 soldiers knocked out.) A soldier twirling 2 axes approaches Amy.
I think I�m in way over my head, thought Amy.
Cassandra noticed the manpower down to half strength so now seemed as good time as any to try out the new chant she had wrote.
�In this dark shrine, and dark nearing plunder,� quickly chanted Cassandra. �I call upon the heavenly thunders. Evil vessels stand their ground, in the name of Yahweh, let their powers be bound. Sweep this room killing evil�s blood from spreading through air like a dark carnage flood.�
Cassandra holds out her arms and white balls of light form at the base of her fingers. They travel to the tips and get larger. They then shoot out and grow into big sharp twirling white energy shredders. They go around the whole room passing through the soldiers� hearts killing them. Ten of them going through out the room killing the evil soldiers at random. One kills the soldier in front of Amy and she runs over to Jephthan and Cassandra. A flame passes through Amy and one also passes through Jephthan not harming them at all.
�You did good Amy.� said Jephthan putting his hand on her shoulder.
�Thank you.� said Amy with surprise.
�Quickly, up the stairs.� said Cassandra.
All three went up the stairs and through the access. The white energy balls came together and let out one big white burst. All the soldiers lay dead on the floor with severe burns. Jephthan, Cassandra, and Amy stand catching their breath in the hall.
�We haven�t much time. We have to make it into the hall where the ritual is taking place. Which way?,� said Cassandra.
�Straight up.� responded Jephthan.
�Oh my God,� said Amy with fear. �What on God�s Earth is that?�
3 human like creatures with facial features of demonic origin, glowing red eyes, zombie pale skin, and chalk white fanged teeth come out of the shadows.
�What are they?,� asked Amy.
�Vampires,� answered Cassandra.
Manasseh must have called upon the creatures of the dark to help him in his mission, thought Cassandra.
�We can�t let these creatures roam the land,� said Jephthan. �We have to stop them here and now.�
�But--,� said Amy
�It�s out duty!,� said Jephthan cutting her off.
Jephthan whip�s out a cross bow and quickly shoots the arrow to the middle of the vampire�s chest. The arrow penetrates the vampire�s heart and it�s body burst into ashy flames. The first vampire grabs a torch from off the wall and moves toward Cassandra. He swings the torch at her head but she dunks, tries to sweep her with it but she jumps to avoid it, he tries to hit her with it twice but she shifted from left to right to avoid it. As he tried to cross hit her face with it, she grabs the torch twist it out of his hand and swings it at his face knocking him to the floor. Cassandra breaks the tip off with her knee. As the vampire charges Cassandra, she kicks him in the stomach, cross punches his face with her right hand then back hands him with the left, and then delivers a round house kick to his face. As he staggers forward to punch her, she grabs his arm and pinches a nerve in his wrist so that he tilts back and drives the torch tip through the middle of his chest. The vampire combusts into fiery ash.
The second vampire moves toward Jephthan. Jephthan kicks the vampire in his face, punches him in the chest, right hooks him in the face, kicks him in the groin, grabs him and gave him a nose breaking head butt. Cassandra tosses him the stake and Jephthan drives in through the middle of the vampire�s chest and it combusts into fiery ash.
They hear a whimper from behind. Cassandra and Jephthan look back and see Amy in the grip of what looked like a hairy elf beast with the face of a dog. It was dressed in the black cowl of a black magic priest with dark brown fur where there should be skin, long black nails, yellow fangs, dark yellow cat eyes, pointy ears and an evil growl. As Cassandra and Jephthan began to move towards them, it�s growl got louder.
�Stay where you are!,� said the creature in a garglely demonic tone. �Unless you want this pretty thing to be Satan�s first sacrifice!�
�It�s a werewolf,� said Cassandra.
�If you don�t let her go right now,� said Jephthan. �I�ll make sure you never see Satan brought into the world.�
�I don�t think you in the position to make threats foolish mortal!,� said the werewolf.
�Oh, but I am,� said Jephthan. �You see, I need only to break the rope to that chandelier and you�ll be disabled long enough for me to make the kill.�
The werewolf looks up to see nothing but Jephthan immediately throws the stake to its neck. The werewolf screams in pain and Amy runs to Cassandra�s embrace. The werewolf yanks the stake out of his neck and pounces at Jephthan tackling him to the ground. He grabs Jephthan by his shoulders and bags him against the cold hard stone ground 4 times. Jephthan elbows the werewolf in his face knocking him to the floor then side kicks it in its stomach and quickly gets up. The werewolf semi-flips up straight and gives a snapping right hook at Jephthans jaw that sends him falling to the ground again. As the werewolf tries to pounce at him again, Jephthan rolls out the way and quickly gets up. He kicks the werewolf up straight, does a round house kick at the werewolf�s head but it dunks, and squats down to give an upper cut punch to it�s stomach. The werewolf falls to the floor but then sweeps Jephthan off his feet. The werewolf then picks Jephthan up by his neck ready to kill him. Cassandra desperately looks for a silver head arrow in her bag and finds one just in time. With all her might she throws the arrow at the werewolf and it penetrates it�s skull. The werewolf screams as a white mist erupts from its mouth. As the werewolf drops dead, it reverts to its human form. A beautiful blonde haired woman. Jephthan gets up and walks over to Cassandra and Amy.
�The castle is swarming with creatures like these,� said Jephthan rubbing his throat.
�Manasseh summoned them as safe guards to stop any force of good from stopping him,� said Cassandra.
�Then it is of the utmost importance to head straight for the main hall as fast as we can,� said Jephthan.
�If we stop the dark junction ritual from happening these creatures of the night will go back to the shadows from where they came,� said Cassandra.
�Then we better get moving,� said Jephthan. �Time is not on our side.�
They head down the long stone walled corridor. A breeze fills the hall as Amy began to get goose bumps on her neck and upper back. She didn�t know weather it was the breeze that most castle�s come with, the breeze of evil spirits floating in the air doing everything they can to stop them, or just a mental response to the battle they are about to face. But she knows she feels a chill, that�s for certain. As they reach the end of the corridor, they stop in front of a small wall with what looks like a wooden dungeon door. Jephthan and Cassandra exchange a glance of acknowledgment and proceed to open the door. A huge flight of stone steps stood before them. Base on his sight, Jephthan measures a 30-step climb to the duplicate dungeon door that stood atop the flight. Within less than a minute they were up the stairs and going through the door. They stood in another long corridor but 15 feet in front of them were 2 large light purple painted, golden outlined doors. They were able to see fire light through its cracks and they heard faint musical chanting and drum beats.
�This is it,� said Jephthan. �We made it with only moments to spare.�
Jephthan looks at Cassandra with a stern ready for battle face. But his heart is over flowing with despair and fear. Fear that he might never see her again. If they both died it wouldn�t matter for they will still be together in the Kingdom of Heaven. But if she were to die or if he were to die, they would have to wait until the other died to see each other again. But Jephthan hopes that he is the one who is taken because Amy is no more than an innocent trying to help out. And if anybody deserves to live out their days and die in their warm bed of old age, it has to be her.
�What�s the plan,� said Cassandra.
Cassandra is as much of a wife as a wife can get. She knows her husbands heart as if it were her own. Something only a wife would notice. She prays that all three of them make it out alive. But she knows that if 1 or all of them die, that it�s for the greater good. Their trying to make sure the Earth lives on as it�s suppose to and not be under the rule of the prince of darkness.
�Since your the one with the powers you should lead the assault,� said Jephthan. �You use your powers to hold off Manasseah�s forces, while Amy frees the peasants. I�ll go after Manasseh and Shiva.�
�That�s crazy,� said Cassandra.
If he goes after both of them, he�ll get himself killed, thought Cassandra.
�How so?,� asked Jephthan.
�Even with my powers I can�t handle Shiva,� said Cassandra. �And Manasseh is also very difficult. How can you take them on?�
�Because I�ll be diverting all my attention to them,� said Jephthan. �Have a little faith.�
�Don�t test God because only when you do so will you truly die,� said Cassandra.
�So what do you suggest we do Cassandra?,� said Jephthan. �There�s too many of them and I can�t seem to think of any other way accept one.�
�And what�s that?,� said Cassandra.
�You call upon the power of the Holy Spirit,� said Jephthan.
�Jephthan, no!,� said Cassandra.
�The Holy Spirit?,� said Amy. �Can he actually help?�
�Not very many people know this,� said Jephthan. �But the Holy Spirit can baptize you in his essence. When that happens, one is capable of doing the impossible. The Holy Spirit will give us the advantage we need in stopping Manasseh and Shiva in their tracks.�
�Yes it�s true,� said Cassandra. �But you know as well as I do that the holy baptism takes preparation. Something we don�t have time for. I can�t just invoke his name and make him appear.�
�Then, me and Amy will hold them off and give you that time you need,� said Jephthan.
�Do you honestly think that only two people will be able to hold off a super warlock, a goddess, a squadron of warriors and a coven of black magic sorcerers?!,� said Cassandra.
�Well, we either do something now or the world as we know it is gone,� said Jephthan.
�Okay,� said Cassandra. �But I�m gonna give you a fighting chance.�
�Proceed,� said Jephthan.
I wonder what she�s going to do, thought Jephthan.
Cassandra raises her hands and begins to meditate. Faded colors of white, blue, purple, and pink form a big circle in-between her hands.
�Vibrations of the universe from the Trinity�s powers,� chanted Cassandra. �I invoke thee in this critical hour. Mortals will die and turn to dust but your pure powers will build them up. Enter this vessel with the powers that be, for he�s God�s servant, now and for eternity.�
In the darkness of space, the sun shoots out a pillar of fire toward the Earth. The fire speeds through the storm surrounding the castle and mixed with the lightning. The fire goes through the castle roof as if it was in spirit form and mixed with the faded energy in Cassandra�s hands as it enters Jephthan�s body. Jephthan is pushed up against the wall. He grunts under the pressure but feels no pain. As the fire has engulfed his insides, Jephthan falls to the floor. Faded colors of white, blue, purple, and pink shine all over his body.
"What�s happened to him,� asked Amy.
�He�s been granted with a high degree of mystical powers,� said Cassandra.
�You turned him into a god?,� said Amy.
�No,� said Cassandra. �He has within him the mystical vibrations that God has blessed the universe with. These vibrations create, guide, and destroy life. These vibrations are not the same, as paganism would have you believe. These vibrations originated from Heaven�s dimension and God used them to create our dimension. Not even the devil himself can mimic these powers. He�ll now have a fighting chance.�
Jephthan gets up with a serious look of rebellion on his face. He feels more in touch with his warrior instincts than ever before.
�Are you going to gift me with anything?,� said Amy.
�No,� said Cassandra. �Your job will be to free the peasants and run like hell. We can�t have any innocent people caught in the cross fire.�
Awww, thought Amy. I never get to have any fun.
Inside the doors, the nude dancing women and the chanting black magic priests have the ceremony in a frenzy of celebration. The peasants sob in horror as their brutal fate awaits them. Shiva stands bored wondering when she�s gonna die already. Manasseh looks up at the skylight and saw the dark clouds of the storm moving out. He gets up and walks to the edge of the podium. Silver rays of energy shine around the moon. Thick electrical currents of yellow, orange, red, and gold energy swarm through Manasseh�s body as his skin turns a chalk white mixed in with gray skin blemishes that look like healed pieces of burned skin, as if he was once in a fire. His nails turn dark gray and extend to 5 inches long and widen an inch and a half. Resembling sharp blades. His eyes turn demon shape red, his teeth become stained with dark green, brown, yellow and black corrosion as they grow pointy sharp fangs. Pillars of fire rise up in back of Manasseh as he lets out a prideful growl. Contorted features form at his profile extending to his forehead and down to the arch of his noise. His ears become pointed like and elf and black goat horns pop out his head. As a burned-in pentagram appears on his forehead, he grows in height and size. From his 5 foot 11 standing he grows to 6 foot 6. His body features grow as muscles bulge out of his silk black cloak. The crowd cheers at Manasseh�s demonic metamorphous.
�It has begun!!,� announced Manasseh. �The dark�s force will now entire my world!!�
Abruptly, the doors blow off it hedges in a blue and purple energy burst. Jephthan and Amy then walk through the door. Shiva rushes to Manasseh�s side with a vicious look on her face.
�I don�t think it�s yours just yet,� professed Jephthan.
Jephthan shoots a shiny silver energy ball at the foot of Manasseh and Shiva. What looks like crystal clear liquid globs up similar to a pillar of fire surrounding and trapping Manasseh and Shiva with in. Manasseh touches it only to be shocked. Shiva shoots fire at it with no effect. Together, they both try to destroy it. Shiva shoots thick white thunderbolts as Manasseh shoots a thick red energy beam from his eyes. Amy approaches the peasants that are chained down. She swings her staff at a solider on the left and then right in their faces knocking them out. She pins around hitting another solider in his face knocking him out. Then hits another solider behind her in the groin then face. Amy takes out the glowing dagger Cassandra gave her and begins to cut away at the restrains.
A priest in a long black cowl is firing burning flare at Jephthan. Jephthan blocks the flares with his wrist. As the flare gets closer, Jephthan lets it consume him. The flare around his body turns into a violet color and he shoots it back. Jephthan waves his hand and as blue and yellow beams of energy fly out, he blows away the four priests running up to him. Five priests shoot thunderbolts, fireballs, and yellow energy beams at Jephthan. Jephthan absorbs them all. A white faded energy field forms around Jephthans body. A thick white energy beam revolves around the field and starts shooting white energy pulse shooting down fifteen priests and exploding their bodies. Jephthan draws his sword. A solider runs up to Jephthan and grabs him by his neck. Jephthan hits the soldier�s arm with his sword handle. The solider is armed with two axes. They perry twice. As the solider tried to cut off Jephthans head, Jephthan dunks, spins around for a third perry, then kicks him in his stomach, and face. As Jephthan twirls his sword, three priests come up to him with triple pointed spears and one with a sword. Jephthan parries the one with the sword three times, kicks him in the groin then stomach, jumps as he punches and hits him with the sword handle in the face, sweeps the solider with the sword off the floor and stabs him through the heart. The three with the spears come up to Jephthan. Jephthan cuts all the spear heads off with one fast wave with his sword and punches the two side soldiers in the face and knocks them to the ground. The solider left standing tries to hit Jephthan with the spear stick but Jephthan dunks, backhands him in the face, kicks him in the stomach, and slashes his stomach twice. One of the soldiers flips up into the air and lands in front of Jephthan. They perry with the sword and spearhead four times. The solider tries to cut off Jephthans head but Jephthan dunks and tries to sweep the solider but the solider jumps out of the way. They both simultaneously flip in the air. They perry five times and on the sixth, the solider knocks the sword out of Jephthans hand and spin kicks him in the face. As the solider tries to behead Jephthan, Jephthans eyes glow a bright white. The solider screams in agony as his skin begins to bubble and he explodes in a fiery burst. Another solider tries to slash Jephthans arm but Jephthan moves out of the way. Jephthan dunks from another dagger swing, kicked the solider in the stomach, head butts him, and punches him with a flaming fist. The soldiers body flew back hitting the wall as it burns up.
Amy frees all the peasants but waits for the doorway to clear. Jephthan is still engaged in battle and both he and Cassandra made it perfectly clear that they want no innocent people caught in the cross fire.
Cassandra meditates in the hall. Going as deep as she can in prayer, concentrating on the face of God and pleading with him for her to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Cassandra looks up and see�s a ball of cloud-white fire flaming above her head. She then feels a calming essence engulf her body like the flows of a waterfall. In that moment, her mind went completely blank and all she had access too were her fighting skills and her mystical powers. She felt as if she could remember about nothing else. And in that moment she knew that she was ready for Manasseh.
Jephthan drives his sword in the stomach of the first naked dancer running up to him. He cuts off the wrist of the next dancer then slits her back as she fell forward. He slashes the chest of the next dancer running up to him, spins around and cuts her in half by the waist. Jephthan sticks his sword in the right chest of the dancer that jumps in front of him, lifts his sword out cutting off her arm by the shoulder, quickly spins around and chops off the head of the dancer running up to him from behind. Jephthan slashes the chest of the next dancer twice and spins around on the last slash and back into another dancer in which he sticks his sword in her neck and lifts it up slicing the head in two. He sticks his sword in the chest of the next dancer then kicks her off and back hands the next dancer, turns her around and slits her throat. He shoots a thick white electrical pulses at 4 other dancers. They get shocked as the electricity swarms through their body and their heads pop off in a bloody burst. (total number of people killed: 35) Jephthan had killed everyone in the room, the only ones still alive where Jephthan, Amy, the peasants, Manasseh, and Shiva.
The clear glob entrapping Manasseh and Shiva hardens into a white crystalline composite and explodes in a fiery burst. Manasseh shoots Jephthan with the thick red energy beam from out his eyes and slams him up against the hard stone wall.
�If you think that you would be able to stop me with your new found mystical powers, you must greatly underestimate the powers of the dark,� said Manasseh in a deep demonic tone.
With a thrust of his fist, Manasseh made the pieces of the crystalline composite kill six of the peasants. The pieces went straight into all of their hearts. They fell right at the carving of the pentagram. The blood trickled from their lips and began to fill the pentagram. 6 waves of orange energy signatures shot out of the pillar of fire in the center and the fire began to rise to the skylight. Manasseh laughs in a sinister out burst.
�Arise my children!!,� declared Manasseh.
All the ones whose bodies were not exploded and who weren�t beheaded rose from the ground. Manasseh laughs as he thrust his fist five more times to use the rest of the crystalline composites to kill twenty-four more peasants. Blood fills up the carving of the pentagram on the stone floor. White beams of light shoot out of the blood and into the fire. The fire bursts into an intense bon fire pillar as yellow thunder began to crackle around it and it sent out twelve waves of yellow energy bursts shaking the entire hall. It soared past the skylight and into the sky. The fabric of the sky itself began to burn like paper. As it burns, a red light is seen on the other end. Millions of painful screams are heard coming out of the portal. Huge rock formations, black smoke, fire, lava, and brimstone are seen on the other end of the portal. Manasseh sinisterly laughs in an uncontrolled manner as a huge staircase made of fire extends from out the portal and on to the stone podium. Amy and Jephthan watch in horror as a big red demon with green cobalt eyes, goat horns, dark gray claws, hoofed legs, and a big muscular body came down the stairs. A pillar of fire extends over the demon and transforms it into human form. A tall handsome man, in a naked form his muscular definitions the epitomy of physical and athletic prowess. The form is of a tall man six feet in height, pale skin, dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
�Father,� said Manasseh. �In the name of all darkness that has been spawned from you, I welcome you to this world.�
�Enjoy it while it last,� said a booming female voice coming from behind.
Manasseh, Shiva, Satan, and their worshipers look strangely at Cassandra.
�In the name of Jesus!,� yelled Cassandra. �And all the powers of the trinity!, I command the dark forces in this room to be CAST OUT!!!�
A strong wind sweeps around the room making the torch and candle fires lighting the room flicker. From all four corners of the room, glowing white faded images of hideous demons were collected and in a huge fireball the demons were blasted out of the room. Shiva forms a thunder ball in her hand to shoot at Cassandra but all Cassandra did was look at Shiva and Manasseh and a harsh wind propelled badge mist knocked them to the floor with a forceful push. Cassandra looks at the worshipers and they were all pushed and knocked to the ground as well. Satan snarls at her as they made eye contact. A very bright light shined from within Cassandra�s heart. The beams of the light within her shined out her body and everyone in the room covered their eyes. The light was so bright that not even the rays on the sun could compare. The portal leading to Hell turns pitch black. Blue electrical sparks crackle within the edges portal. A thin glowing dark gray mist forms at the outer edges of the portal. The electrical sparks within the portal collide with each other in multiple thrashes of thunder and the glowing thin mist bursts outward covering the sky a mile in diameter making the entire complex of the castle tremor greatly. The fire stairs carrying Satan immediately extinguished following the burst and Satan hit the stone floor hard. The torches and candles that lit up the hall all go out as hurricane-like winds accompanied the energy burst come in and everyone in the hall, accept Cassandra, began to feel the physical stress of gravity against the pushing winds.
Three thick white electrical energy strips poured out the portal and grew the length of the mist as it begins to rotate. Although the hall was dark, the light from the portal provided light from its glow. Chucks of rock, stone, and dirt begin to fall about as the castle�s structural durability weakens against the stress of the portal�s mystical intensity. The cries of the lost souls in Hell increased in sound level as even Shiva herself along with the peasants cover their ears from the ear throbbing scratching sounds of horrible torment. Nine ghostly hands of green glowing color come out from the portal lowering to Satan�s position on the floor. One hand grabbed his neck, two grabbed his shoulders, two grabbed his wrists, two grabbed his knees and two grabbed his ankles. As they began to pull Satan up, he struggles and surrounds his body in a crackling aura of red energy. The screams of the tortured souls grow louder as the glowing ghost arms intensify into glowing green strips of fire and recommence pulling him up. As they pull him two feet before passing through the skylight, Satan snarls as his red energy aura turns into red fire and slowly begins to descend. Then, out of Cassandra�s chest, white fire, blue thunder, yellow energy beams, and tornado like winds all blew at and in Satan�s direction. Satan reverted back to his demonic form as he hissed. He screams as he�s painfully pushed back in through the portal. In one huge burst of white energy the portal closes. A pink energy field covers Cassandra, Amy, Jephthan, and the peasants as the roof collapses in on itself. The field fades away as the smoke begins to clear.
�Amy,� said Cassandra. �Get those people out of here now.�
�But what if I run into any trouble?,� asked Amy.
�The dark junction ritual has been stopped,� said Cassandra. �There are no more warriors and creatures out there. But we still have to deal with Manasseh.�
�I understand,� said Amy. �God bless you. Good luck.�
Amy directs the peasants out the door and Cassandra goes over to Jephthan to help him up.
�I take it that it�s still not over?,� said Jephthan.
�Not exactly,� said Cassandra. �We still have to make sure that something like this will never happen again.�
A huge pile of rubble explodes in a fiery burst and Manasseh and Shiva emerge from the rubble. Cassandra goes over to Manasseh while Shiva makes her way to Jephthan. Old enemies stare each other down using their hatred for one another to prepare for the task at hand. For the four people left in this room has put themselves in a position where there can be no second thoughts and no turning back. This will be their final battle!
