| Sect twelve: victory and defeat By Richard LeBlanc Within the swampy forest - the forces of the dead slowly advanced. Drake dismounted his horse and drew his weapon. "Do you know how to kill those things?" she asked. He looked over at her and smirked. "Unless you have a better idea I planned to keep hitting and cutting the things until they stop moving," he sarcastically replied. Julia hopped off the wolf and stepped back. The wolf growled at the staggering horde of walking dead. Drake looked over at the wolf. Of all the things he had to have watching his back - it would have to be a wolf. He shook his head and focused on what needed to be done. He returned his attention to the horrors that were almost at them. "I do not know how it is that the dead walk here - but from whatever grave you come - I will send you back!" he shouted. Both he and the wolf leaped at the slow moving zombies and skeletons. Julia watched as the wolf and Drake tore into the shambling horrors. The undead monsters seemed unable to stop the team of wolf and man. It was then that she noticed something very disturbing. From the pile of corpses - and bones - new zombies and skeletons began to rise. "More of them are rising up!" she called out. the wolf and Drake looked around and saw it too. It was then that Drake closed his eyes and concentrated. He then turned around and saw a withered looking man watching the battle from atop a fallen tree. "I see the source. Wolf! Keep these things busy! I'm dealing with their master!" he stated. He leaped up and away from the skeletons and zombies and began to charge towards the withered old man. "You will deal with nothing," the necromancer retorted. With a wave of his hand a thick mist began to swirl around the death mage. Drake growled at leaped at the center of the mist - cleaving his sword across it. He landed on the other side. He looked over his shoulder and saw the mist vanish - the necromancer was unharmed. "Cute trick - won't save you though," Drake retorted. "I have other tricks as well," the necromancer retorted. He blew against his open hand - a black dust blew towards Drake. There was no time to dodge. Drake closed his eyes and concentrated. The necromancer laughed as the dust exploded into a thick choking fog. "Drake?" Julia muttered disheartened - fearing the worse. Just then the fog exploded! Drake leaped out and brought his arching blade down beside the death wizard. "You missed," the death mage taunted. "Did I?" Drake asked darkly. The arm of the necromancer fell to the ground. The wizard staggered away from the man that slowly moved the blade up to his chin. "I don't recall telling to you move," he pointed out. The wizard stopped. "Then finish it! Death would be a welcome change from serving that madman!" the wizard hissed. Drake studied the man's expression and could see a note of sincerity. "The one residing in the ruins of Triar?" Drake asked. "If you think you can stop him - think again! My master - my old master led an army of undead forces to his sanctum - hoping to gain mastery of the dark powers he possessed," the wizard began - holding onto his bleeding wound. "He lost?" Drake asked. "Quite the contrary. He shattered the fragile body of the daemon Dranih. And through dark rituals and ancient pacts drank in the daemon's soul. Or so he thought. I watched as my master fell screaming to the floor. His body changed. My master - didn't take the power of Dranih - he became Dranih," he stated. Just then the wolf cried out. Drake and Julia looked over and saw the zombies and skeletons mobbing the giant wolf. "Fools! The master knows all! He will slay," the wizard began. Drake spun around and cleaved the head from the death wizard. With the wizard gone - the dead fell back to the ground. He watched Julia race over to where the wolf had fallen. "Get up," she muttered. The wolf panted a bit - but then stopped moving. Drake walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "He can't be dead," she muttered as she turned around and began to cry. He put his arms around her and looked at the dead wolf. "Come on - we have to be strong," he whispered. She sniffled and nodded. She tightly hugged him. "Let�s get this over with," he suggested. She let of him and held onto his arm - afraid to let go - fearing she would lose him like she had lost everyone else so far on her quest. "I would say I want to go home - but I no longer have one," she sniffled. "Where ever we go - we will be home - so long as we are together," he reassured. The two made their way through the murky forest. Julia did not look back - remembering what the village elder told her - remembering what had happened when she did. After a short walk through the dead forest - the two found themselves atop a hill. before them was a desolate valley that led to the ruined castle of Triar. All around the castle were the littered corpses of the hundred of soldiers living and otherwise that had tried to regain the keep. And unlike the other castles they had encountered - this one was surprisingly intact. "Triar - home to Dranih - the daemon vampire," Drake said to himself. He looked over at Julia who still looked heartbroken because of the wolf's death. "This one can't be harder than that sphinx or snake," he reassured. "I believe in you," she replied quietly. He smiled as they slowly made their way towards the grim looking keep. Within moments they were at the large iron gates. To either side of them were two suits of armor that seemed to be standing guard. "Hoping they are decorative," Drake muttered - free hand near his blade should anything happen. The helmet of one turned and faced him. "The master - is expecting you. Enter," one said in a bone chilling voice. The large doors slowly opened inward. Drake shuddered as they slowly made their way inside. The halls were lined with similar suits of armor. If it was going to come down to a fight - it would be a long tiring one. As they walked down the hall - they saw two more large doors slowly open up. They hesitantly walked in. On the floor was the stain of the blood of countless victims and would be heroes. And across the room - sat Dranih - who was gazing with sincere amusement into his crystal ball. He then looked up and smiled at his two guests. "I bid you welcome. Hope you don't mind the d�cor - the maid - well - she died many years ago," the daemon vampire remarked. "I was just watching your exploits against my good friends Golden Claw and Gaph - most impressive," he commented. "You are awful calm for someone about to be sent back into the ether," Julia remarked. The daemon laughed. And sat up. If he was anything he stood at least eight feet tall. He was about to move when something came to Julia. "Of whispered truths - that seem like lies - of broken heart - the spirit dies," she stated. Both the daemon and Drake tensed up. The daemon chuckled and smiled at her. "A shattered dream - a scythe - scarred - soul - my endless travels - doth take their toll. Ha-ha-ha! By the ether! The one destined to try to send me back is a lovesick girl! I will slay your man and ravage you in a manner befitting!" the daemon growled as it charged at Drake. He leaped away from Julia - leading his foe away. "You will not lay your filthy claws on her while I draw breath!" Drake hissed as he leaped at the larger foe. Julia watched as the two fought. In spite of the daemon's greater size and strength - Drake seemed to be holding his own. But she knew in her heart that if left alone - something would go wrong and the daemon would triumph. "I will not let you win," she said softly as she closed her eyes and began to chant. As she did - her body began to glow. It was minor at first - but the more she spoke - the brighter it got. The two looked over and had to shield their eyes. "It burns!" Dranih hissed. Drake closed his eyes spun around and drove his sword into the daemon's chest. the light faded. The daemon looked at the warrior that had plunged the killing blow. "Away from me!" he hissed knocking him back. He turned his attention to Julia. "You are better than I gave you credit for - but you are such a fool," Dranih strained as he staggered over to his thrown. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "You man - you lover - you hero - your savior - do you know what he truly is?" he asked. "Don't listen to him!" Drake shouted. "He is knight of the Order of the Black Bird," she replied calmly. The daemon laughed. "Those of the Order - are many things - knights are not one of them. They are an Order - a coterie - of assassins. In the employ - of the demon host so many years ago," the daemon stated as he turned his gaze to the fallen foe. "Go on - ask him - if what I speak is lies," he challenged. "Is - is what he says true?" she hesitantly asked. "The Order - is a cult of assassins," he admitted - not taking his eyes from the daemon. "Do not stop there - hero - daemon slayer - tell her the whole truth," the daemon hissed - coughing up dark noxious blood. A visibly shaken Julia looked over at Drake. "What is he talking about?" she asked. "He knew your quest when he first met you! He was contracted to kill you - and still is bound by that contract," the daemon answered. Her hands began to shake. "Go on hero - deny all of it - I am daemon - I lie - mayhap - she will believe you," the daemon taunted. "Is - any of - of what he said true?" she stuttered. Drake lowered his eyes. "It was all a lie then? Your stories - your promises - all of it. It was just another job," she stuttered as tears fell from her watery eyes. "Julia," he began. "You just wanted to kill me. was it necessary to make me love you?" she sobbed. He stepped towards her - she backed away terrified. "Stay away from me!" she shouted. He stopped and looked over at the smiling daemon. "I - can even prove - that his destiny - is linked - with ours - your sonnet - your poem - he knows - the last verse," the daemon added sweetly. Julia looked over at him - hoping beyond hope that it was a lie. "Go on boy - tell her how it ends," the daemon hissed. "Of - empty eyes - and vacant stare - where will you go - and will I care?" he said dryly. Julia fell to her knees sobbing. He took a step forward but she screamed at him. "Go away! I never want to see you again!" she screamed. Drake closed his eyes and forced back his emotions. In a blur of rage he raced at the daemon. He drew his other sword and cleaved the beast's head clean off. He looked up at the wall behind the thrown. The broken circle that was there - began to heal. He looked over at Julia and lowered his eyes. He knew that there was nothing he could say that could make right what had gone so wrong. He shook his head - and walked away. To be continued... |