As heroes cry.
The eye will blink,
He'll watch them die.
The heart will break,
He'll hear the call.
The star shall rise,
As they all fall.
The soul shall take,
Yon chosen one.
All dreams shall end,
The nightmare - has come!
...The Prophecy!
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| Whisper of a Demon's Shadow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The tear shall burn, As heroes cry. The eye will blink, He'll watch them die. The heart will break, He'll hear the call. The star shall rise, As they all fall. The soul shall take, Yon chosen one. All dreams shall end, The nightmare - has come! ...The Prophecy! |
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| Chapter Twenty-Two: endgames | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A full day had passed since their tragic encounter with Tia at their campsite. Since that mournful time - they had pressed on - without break or rest - fueled by an unrelenting hatred of Rubius. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dark storms grew more potent and severe as they drew closer. It was as if the very lands were trying to deter them - but nothing short of death was going to be able to do that. Thomas stepped before the questing party and glared at the site that awaited them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For before them - was the dark - sinister rusted iron gate - that stood between them - and their enemy. The ancient gate that barred the way to Rubius's ancient keep. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looks like it hasn't been used for centuries," Louie remarked. - tapping the solid wall of rusted metal. "Sounds to be almost a foot thick," he stated as he then looked up at the ancient citadel that seemed to vanish into the sky. "And I do not want to climb," he added seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he thinks this is going to stop me - he is a fool," Thomas stated coldly. Louie looked over his shoulder at his ally and friend and could see that he was quite set in his ways. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then you have an idea or two or three?" Louie asked. Thomas stepped forward and placed his hand on the cold, iron solid gate. He looked up and saw that the gate was as tall as a tree. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "These feels pretty sturdy," Thomas stated coolly. Louie was going to comment when he watched Thomas walk over to a spot that was beside the massive gate. Louie watched as Thomas lightly tapped his fist against a moss covered stone - it moved. "The areas beside the gate however - are surprisingly less resilient," he comment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gnar grunted as he made his way over to the blacked rock and could feel how unsteady the small area was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You three - might want to step back," he suggested. They did as he stated and watched as he took out his massive weapon. He closed his eyes as a fiery aura began to pulse around him. he let out a loud scream as he ran back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is he doing?" Louie asked. It was then that the dwarf raised his massive weapon in the air. He screamed out as he flung the axe as though it were a mere dagger. The others stepped back and watched the axe flew by so fast that it looked like a circle of spinning death!. The axe exploded into the rock - shattering a large section of wall. "Wow," he muttered as the dust began to settle - revealing a passage in the wall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well done," Gailin stated as Gnar made his way over to where they were. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do not trust that wall - let us not admire it longer than necessary," the dwarf suggested as he led the way through the hole in the wall. The others followed. Just as the last of them exited through the opposing side of the temporary tunnel - it began to shake and caved in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was then that they turned their attention - to the castle that was before them - and all around them. The place seemed to expand outwards forever in all directions. They looked at the gate behind them and saw that beside and around that massive gate there was hardly any wall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What madness is this? That wall should go out further," Gnar muttered as he hurried over to where the wall ended. He looked around at the other side - and saw the front of that gate. "Powerful magic is at work here," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - really? We are in Rubius's keep remember?" Louie sarcastically stated. The dwarf looked over at the thief and nodded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You may have found your way into my lair fools - but I assure you," an echoing voice boomed. The entire place shook as a giant version of Rubius towered over them. "But I assure you - you will never leave!" he echoed. With a wave of his hand an unsettling silence. The party looked around. A faint noise could be heard. Only it was getting louder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What - did he just do?" Louie muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Water," Gailin stated - his eyes widened as he saw a wave approaching them in the distance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thirsty?" Louie asked. - Gailin tugged on the thief's arm. Louie and the others looked in the direction that the monk was looking in. "Oh my - that thing must be pretty big," he muttered. Before any of them had any hope to react - the wave smashed down before them and carried them like leaves that had fallen in a river. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They will not succeed - I will not let them - you hear me!" Rubius echoed as he vanished. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Some time later the band began to recover from the wild water ride. They looked around at the insanity that surrounded them. The room had a check-board design - but the squares were anything but even - and the floor itself was warped and twisted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hell of a place the boy has," Louie remarked. The sound of metal - being dragged agonizingly along stone resonated in the air. They all looked over - and saw - Rubius standing atop a hill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I gave you many chances - I offered you many times to turn away from your foolish quest. I even - tried reasoning with you Thomas. But your mind is no longer your own. She owns you. You can not see the truth anymore," Rubius stated - lifting his lance-sized sword. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Spare the stories Rubius - your madness will end with you!" Thomas rebutted. A smile began to form on the withered face of their nemesis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My power - is at its peak here boy. You have no doubt - heard tales of my power - and what I can do. They are merely what I wished people to know. My power - is far greater - more potent - than your puny mind - could ever hope to grasp," Rubius taunted. Gailin snarled as he leaped forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Brag all you wish monster - your power is an illusion - an illusion I will shatter!" Gailin rebutted impassioned. Rubius smirked at the monk and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - of all people - would challenge me?" Rubius asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you babbling about?" Gailin rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Those - of your order - served me! They traveled from your temple in the Old Capital where the Eye of Light was kept - to aid me in my struggle," Rubius stated seriously. All color drained from the monk's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You lie," the monk hissed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What need have I to lie?" the wraith-like man asked. "Look around you - allow me to turn back the years - and see the truth - for yourself," he added. The tiles on the floor began to seemingly spin around them. In the blink of an eye - they all were in the Old Capital. Thomas recognized it by the structures that towered around them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Capital," Gailin muttered. It was then that they appeared in the sacred temple. There they saw Gailin and dozens of his brothers - his fellow monks standing before the high priest. "The elder," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The time has come - the evil in the castle to the east begins to stir. If not stopped - it will awaken fully and devour the light. You must go there and stop this evil - at all costs," the elder priest stated. Gailin and the others bowed. Just then they were back in the castle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - is your proof?" Gailin asked in disgust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have been tainted by its power just as all the others have. She knew the number needed to perform the ritual correctly. I should have known your loss was no accident," Rubius muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thomas - you must unlock the secret of the prophecy if you hope to defeat him. Protect him Gnar and Louie - I will buy you as much time as I can," the monk stated as he approached the withered looking man with the great weapon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas took out the scroll and began to study it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He doesn't know? No - why would he? All he knows is what he is told. But if he does not know the secret to the prophecy there may yet be hope. And if you chose - to stand in the way monk - I will not hesitate - to slay you," Rubius warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Spare the threats. I have waited for this moment," Gailin shouted as he leaped at the withered looking foe. Both fought with a skill that was unseemly for ones that looked as they did. The monk's mastery of his weapon was sufficient enough to match the power that backed the massive sword. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Time is our enemy here," Louie reminded under his breath. It was then that he spaced out. He could see himself on the ground with Rubius towering over him - taking the Eye of Light from his unmoving body. The image changed again - he was in the air - watching Thomas fighting Rubius - Gailin and Gnar were on the floor as well. The tear of Darkness and the Eye of Light proudly in Rubius's possession. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm doing this as fast as I can," Thomas remarked. Louie shook his head and looked around. Gailin was still fighting Rubius and both he and Gnar were still very much alive. Thomas looked over and could see how pale the thief had become. "You saw something," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The future - a grim one. I saw us dead - and the Eye and Tear were in his power," Louie muttered - taking out the dagger that had the Eye of Light in its handle. "Give me your sword Thomas," he stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why?" he asked back. Louie handed the Eye of Light back to Thomas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because - I will need something you use should I have to go up against that thing - and I can't let the Eye fall into his hands," he explained. Thomas didn't like the way that sounded but nodded. The two switched weapons. It was then that they heard Gailin cry out. They looked over and saw Rubius's massive blade stabbing clear through the monk's chest and back. He jerked the blade free and glared at the remnants of the heroic band. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have no quarrel with either of you. Leave now - and there may yet be hope. Stay and we all of us - will be doomed," Rubius warned. Louie smirked as he stepped forward - the enchanted blade resting on his shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Whatever happens dwarf - do not let that bastard get his hands on the Tear," Louie stated as he stood before a creature that he had heard of in legends. That he had visions of in nightmares in his youth. And smirked as he looked at the thing that was responsible for the death of his closest dearest friend. "You know - I always thought - you would be bigger. For what you did to Fala - I will see that you burn in hell," Louis shouted as he leaped and attacked the larger foe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The lad has some temper to him," Gnar commented as he leaned against his potent weapon. He looked over at Thomas who was desperately trying to unlock the secret of the prophecy. "The harder you look for something lad- the more it will evade you. The secret is not on that paper - it lies within you," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then why am I not seeing it?" Thomas rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't know. Maybe you are not ready," he began. A serious look crossed his face. He saw a powerful blow separate the arm from the thief. Another arching blow cut him into two more pieces. "But you had better get ready fast lad. Time is your enemy," the dwarf stated as he took the Tear of Darkness out from his belt and handed it to Thomas. "I may not live to see you die you black hearted bastard - but by the axe I wield - you will not get by me unscathed," he stated as leaped at his enemy. Thomas looked up from the scroll and saw the bloodied bodies of Gailin and Louie. He remembered Tia and how he had lost her twice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do not waver - the power is within you," a soft voice whispered in his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then why can I not see it - feel it?" he asked nervously - watching he dwarf fiercely fighting - forcing Rubius back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do not seek it - let it seek you. Let the power of the prophecy empower you," the voice continued. Thomas was going to speak when he heard the dwarf scream out. He looked over and saw the massive axe - imbedded in Rubius's arm. The large foe swung his weapon down and cleaved the dwarf's head from his shoulders - and then looked over at Thomas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And then - there was one," he hissed. Thomas watched as Rubius slowly pulled the mighty weapon out of his arm. He flung it aside like a broken arrow. The wound began to heal itself - as did the garments he was wearing. "You have failed. Their blood - all of this - is on your head. This was your doing boy," Rubius stated as he began to stalk his way towards Thomas. The scroll fell from Thomas's hands. The shadow of Rubius began to overshadow him. it was then that his eyes opened. There was something in the boy's eyes that stopped Rubius dead in his tracks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The tear shall burn - as heroes cry," Thomas began - a tear fell from his eye. It splashed against the floor - instantly an inferno exploded up around them. "The eye will blink - he'll watch them die," Thomas continued - he raised the dagger up - the pearl churned from white to black. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Stop it boy! You don't know what you are doing!" Rubius screamed. He leaped at Thomas but a wave of solid flame knocked him back. Rubius looked over at the eyes that were vacantly staring back at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The heart will break - he'll hear the call," Thomas continued. Rubius watched as the Frozen heart shattered - the shards fired at him like missiles - imbedding in his arms, hands and chest. "The star will rise - as they all fall," he continued - Rubius watched as he began to levitate. A fiery aura glowed around the chosen one. Rubius tried to remove the shards that were in his skin - but nothing he seemed to do could get them out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will destroy everything you fool!" he shouted. He extended his hand at Thomas - but turned pale as nothing happened. It was then that he saw something more disturbing - the steam that was rising behind Thomas - was taking on human shape and form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The soul shall take yon chosen one - your dream will end - your time has come," Thomas concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outside - an unsettling silence surrounded the ominous citadel. It was then that a powerful explosion rocked the towering place - sending it crashing down upon itself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amidst the ruins - a battered Rubius was digging himself out of the ruins of his castle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is over Rubius! The prophecy will come to pass - when you die," Thomas stated coldly. Rubius turned around and saw Thomas holding his enchanted sword inches away from his neck. Rubius coughed and glared at the man that had cost him everything. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You still have no clue - do you?" Rubius asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you babbling about?" Thomas rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prophecy has been done. You have no clue - no inkling as to what you have done this day!" Rubius muttered as the pain of his injuries began to catch up with him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Spare your lies. I know who you are - your mad quest to kill the other two kings when they wanted peace," Thomas stated - moving the blade closer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That? Is that all you know? You fool. Fine - I will tell you the whole truth. I did - kill them both. But - did you ever - ask yourself - did you ever think for a moment - how I was able - to do such a thing? Their forces were more powerful than mine. Their defenses were more potent than I could have ever hoped to slip by. Yet I was able to get to them nonetheless," Rubius remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This going somewhere?" Thomas rebutted. Rubius shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was a young fool - just like you. I was given power - power enough to give me advantage over my enemies. Many of their troops died in their sleep - my forces moved in and finished the job. My vengeance was complete - or so I thought. It was only then - that I realized - what I had done. In my zealous rage - I had unleashed an evil unlike anything our world had ever seen," he continued. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Such a victim," Thomas muttered - wondering why he wasn't striking the murderer down. Rubius shook his head - a trickle of blood escaping his lips. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never - claimed to be a victim - I was a fool that was blinded by emotions - just - like you. After seeing - what that evil had done - I had attempted to rectify my error. I tried using my power to send her back - but she was too strong. I sent word of what had happened - to the Capital - hoping that the Order of Fya could aid me. Help me send that demon back. But - she learned. She intervened and seduced one away from the pack. Time was of the essence. They could not return for another - they had to press on - and I can see it in your eyes boy - just as she got to him - she got to you too," he stated. It was then that Thomas had an inkling as to who Rubius was talking about. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lia? She is this evil you speak of?" Thomas asked in disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If that is the name she is going by - yes. The ritual - ah - didn't work - she knew it wouldn't. A part of me knew it would not - could not work. But I had another plan. In the time - that those monks were traveling - I placed - items of power the artifacts she had you gather for her - in key places. The ritual didn't banish her - but it made her a shadow - of what she once was - and it did the same to me. It was a price I was willing to pay," Rubius began. Thomas stepped back from the dying old man before him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you saying?" Thomas asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So long - as I lived - she would remain bound to me. Her power limited to dreams - ah - a shadow of what she was. I never realized - that she - had devised a way to turn those same artifacts against me," he gasped. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But that would mean," Thomas began as he remembered everything that had happened on his epic quest. Everything that had led him on his way - the people that had aided him and had died for him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prophecy - was the spell - needed - to free her from me - and return her to her full power," Rubius strained. Dark storm clouds blew through the sky. "All that you have seen - the darkness - was not me Thomas - no," he began but the last bit of life left him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas spun around and saw Lia standing a few feet away from him - wearing a translucent white nightgown. A powerful wind blew against him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He lied - it had to be lies," Thomas muttered. Lia looked over at him and began to smile. A chill ran down his back - the smile was not one of happiness - but a wicked one. She then began to laugh. It grew louder and louder until it dwarfed the thundering skies! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Congratulations mortal - you have done - everything - I could have hoped and dreamed. Allow me this moment to repay your kindness!" her shrill voice hissed. She extended her arms at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darkness... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be concluded! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||