| Sect twenty: the final hour By Richard LeBlanc Within the realm of Hell - an odd moment of silence had befallen the place. Julia looked over to those that she had come to know and love - and then at the daemon lord who had told her so much. "If you take his hand - it will cost you your soul - and much more," Kaine pointed out. "See? He doesn't care. He is just like the others," Gaurre retorted. "Don't listen to him Julia! All he speaks are lies. He is just biding his time. The witch - she said that he couldn't kill you yet. As soon as that time comes," Drake began but couldn't say the rest. "Can't? Boy - I am power - I am timeless - ageless. My will - my thoughts are the shadows that are in your world! Had I wanted her dead," Gaurre began. Kaine pointed his staff at him. "Lies - from one who hides in shadows! Your power is nothing more than an illusion of what the elder gods have fooled you into believing you had! You are bound by laws far more powerful than you," Kaine interrupted. "I - am no one's fool pathetic cleric," Gaurre hissed. Drake closed his eyes and concentrated. In the blink of an eye - he seemed to vanish. He reappeared beside the cringing Julia - lifted her up and vanished. Gaurre looked over and saw Drake reappear by Kaine. "Funny - seems that way to me," the cleric muttered. The two hurried away with Julia. Gaurre screamed out enraged. "Stop them! At all costs! They must not escape!" the daemon lord's voice echoed. In another part of hell - the two continued to run. "She looks out of it - is she going to be okay?" Drake asked nervously. Kaine looked over and could see how distant she looked. "She allowed that demon into her head. His lies are causing her to question everything she holds dear. If we can get her out of this place - I can help her. Here - his hold on her is too strong," he answered. As they ran - the demon masses under the thrall of Gaurre began to close in on them. "They sure don't want us to leave," Kaine pointed out. "I feel so loved - can you keep these things off us - I don't want to let go of her - not in this place," Drake asked. Kaine looked over at Drake and could tell that what he was feeling was sincere. "So long as there is life in me - none shall get to either of you," Kaine replied. He arched his staff at the slavering demons. A wall of light appeared before them. "Hurry - that won't hold them for long," he added. The screams of the demons sent chills down their spines. Seconds later the wall shattered like glass. "They are a persistent bunch," Drake muttered. "Look at their boss," Kaine retorted. "Point taken - will we get out of this place in time?" Drake asked. "Unlikely at this rate," Kaine replied. He looked over at the charging horde. "I know a spell - it will require all my power," he began. "Don't do anything foolish," Drake retorted. "There is no other way. At all costs - she must be away from this place to reset the seal. If not - Gaurre will escape and herald the second coming," Kaine replied. Before Drake could reply - a bubble of light appeared around him and Julia. "What is this?" he asked hesitantly. "The dome of Chrinose - it will ward off all unnatural things. Touch it not. I have power to sustain it until you are out of here. Go - I will follow!" he retorted. Drake shook his head and began to run. Demons raced out from around the corner - cutting them off. Drake didn't slow down. The seemingly thin bubble knocked the demons aside as if they were nothing more than bugs. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kaine following as closely as he could - the charging demons not far behind. "Hold on Kaine - I see the exit!" Drake stated. More demons attempted to stop and were knocked aside. Drake concentrated - Kaine watched as the dome sped out through the gate. He then stopped and glared at the monstrous demons that were charging. "Thou hath been cast from the light by the will of Chrinose - by his will - shall you be sent back!" he shouted out. He raised his staff up and stabbed it into the ground. The ground between him and the demons caved in on itself. Some of the monsters were able to stop - others leaped in hope of getting the wretched cleric. Kaine left the staff and hurried towards the gate. On the outside - Drake sat Julia down by the Pegasus. Her eyes were still distant. Her hands were shaking. He had tried many things to get her attention - but nothing seemed to reach her. "Nothing has changed?" Kaine asked. Drake looked over at the cleric and shook his head. "May I?" he asked. Drake stepped aside. Kaine knelt before Julia and placed his hand on her cheek. Drake closed his eyes and whispered a quiet prayer he had heard others say when he was a child. "Julia - please - return to us," Kaine whispered. Nothing changed. "All a daemon knows are lies - it is their world - their universe," Kaine whispered. "But - all - true," she stuttered. Drake looked over. "You're reaching her," he muttered. "They weave their lies to resemble what is," he began as he looked over at Drake. "I know a way to help - but it will not be pleasant. Do you trust me?" Kaine asked. Drake looked at Julia and closed his eyes. "Do what must be done to get her back," he replied. Kaine sighed. He traced an ancient rune on her forehead. Drake watched as he whispered something in a language Drake could not understand. Julia screamed out! She tensed up and began flailing about. He looked over at Kaine who was still whispering. It was then that a mist began to seep out of Julia. "What - are you doing?" he asked. The mist took on the form - of a more sinister looking Julia. "Gaurre impregnated her with her with seeds of doubt so potent - that a demon itself began to take root. I exorcised it. Julia is asleep now - what we see - is what was tearing her apart," Kaine replied. "Wretched - vile - cleric! How dare you rip me from my home," the demon hissed. "How dare you take up root where you are not welcome," Kaine began as he rose to face the demon. Drake reached over and placed his hand on the cleric's shoulder. "Drake?" he asked. "This - one - is mine," he stated. "As you say - I will make sure she remains safe," Kaine replied. Drake drew his weapon and slowly stalked his way towards the fake Julia. "Lover - savior - you would do me harm?" she asked passively. "I am sending you straight back to hell," he retorted. She looked at him sadly and knelt down - lowering her head. "Then do as you must my master. I was born of her heart as well as her fear," she began. He stopped and looked at the woman that was before him. "I am your servant my master. Your bidding - is my duty," she added - slowly looking up at him. "If that is so - release your hold on Julia," he stated. "That cleric - severed all ties I had to her. Much like her - I stand alone," she said as she slowly crawled over to where he was. "Am - am I alone master," she asked - tracing her hand up and down his leg. "I do not know what game you are playing," he began as he hopped away from her. "But," he began. Instantly she was behind him! He felt her hands caressing his chest. His hands began to shake. "I play no game my master - save those you tell me to play. Whatever you desire of me - however sick - depraved - perverse - will be my willing duty. I can be everything - that - child Julia could never be," she whispered in his ear. His eyes flashed of anger. In one fluid motion his sword was out - extended - and then stabbed beside him - into the demon's chest. She gasped and spasmed. He twisted the handle. Her movement stopped. "I am impressed Drake - not many could have withstood the charms of such a succubus," Kaine pointed out. Drake closed his eyes and forced out all thoughts of what the demon had said and promised. "I almost didn't - my love for her," he began as he looked at Julia who was still unconscious. "She spoke her name - I remembered Julia - and how much she means to me and how I would rather die than hurt her like that," he added. "That's so sweet," Julia quietly muttered with a yawn. "You - are you okay?" Drake asked. She nodded. "I'm glad - but that still leaves one little problem," Kaine pointed out. Just then - the unholy citadel exploded as a giant black dragon rose up. Its deafening roar all but shook the ground. "Check that - we have a big - problem," Kaine concluded. To be concluded... |