“Something bothering you Master Auron?” said Kanto with a smirk.
“Shut up!” Auron snapped back, the grip on his sword tightened.
Kanto began to laugh. “Such a temper! What’s the matter? Feel like avenging a few of your dead friends?” Kanto looked smug.
Auron began to shake, struggling to contain his hatred.
“Do you have any idea how many of them I killed with my own hands?” mocked the king of the Underworld.
Auron interrupted him. “Shut up, I’m warning you!”
“Auron stop!” said Zeris, stepping between them. Zeris hated Kanto’s words as much as Auron did, but the king had to look at the bigger picture. A battle here would begin a war once again, a war that would end both worlds. Although he hated the Underworld king, the consequences were far too great. Auron calmed a little after his king’s words.
Harriet now began to laugh. “Do not worry my king,” she said to Kanto. “He is exactly what you said he was, a coward.”
“COWARD?”
Auron drew his sword; Harriet quickly pointed her staff to meet Auron. Fire began to appear from the end of the staff, almost as if a magical spell was forming.
Suddenly a huge bolt of lightning struck the gate and the two stone statues began to move. The stone creatures seemed to come to life and they both looked down at the group whose attention was quickly taken from each other, towards the stone figures who were now most definitely gazing upon them. As the smoke cleared from the lighting bolt, a cloaked figure could be seen standing in the middle of the gateway. It was the same cloaked figure that had humbled both kings only a day earlier. It was Trenkenth, the Creator of all things. All present began to look concerned, especially the two small boys who hid behind the adults. All were fearful except for Auron, who looked more intrigued than afraid.
“The time has come,” Trenkenth said from the top of the steps. “Bring them to me.” The god referred to the two boys, the pair he intended to exile from this world.
The boys began to tremble. Zeris held his son tight, rubbing the hair on top of his head. “It’s ok son,” he said to the boy softly. “Remember, you’re a hero. You have saved your people. Be strong!”
Kanto showed no such concern for his son. He remained stood still, arms folded behind his back as was his way, not evening looking at his son. He turned to Harriet. “Take the boy to him.”
Kanto had no desire to get any closer to Trenkenth than he already was. He felt the Creator had more distaste in his heart for him than the other king, and he honestly felt uncomfortable at the thought of being so close to someone that could strike him down at any moment.
Harriet looked less than thrilled at the prospect of coming face to face with Trenkenth and was hesitant.
“Take Him!” Kanto said with a more dominant tone in his voice.
Harriet feared the Creator, but she had also learned over the years, much to her misfortune, that to defy her king only led to pain and suffering. She reluctantly took the boy named Shadow by the hand and led him to the foot of the first step which led upwards toward the large gateway.
Auron walked up to Zeris’ son Valentine and knelt down before him. Auron realised this was the last time he would likely ever see the child of whom he had grown fond of over the years. The boy had tears in his eyes and Auron wiped one of them away with his hand. Auron gave an Alexandria salute by putting his fist to his chest. The salute was rarely used, only given to the bravest of warriors. He then looked into the eyes of the boy. “Be strong little one, may all of Alexandria be with you.” Auron rose to his feet and looked up at the Creator, and then to the two stone guardians who, not even for a second, had taken their eyes off him. I cannot defeat them. Auron knew he was powerless to save the boy and, therefore, stood back.
Zeris walked his son to the foot of the step, alongside Harriet and Shadow.
Auron and Kanto stood side-by-side, a little further back.
“You coward,” Auron muttered under his breath to Kanto without looking at him.
Kanto, who in turn didn’t look at Auron either, smirked, clearly gaining a little satisfaction from Auron’s disgust of him.
Zeris and Harriet began to slowly ascend the large stone steps, holding their respective child by the hand. They passed several fire torches upon the stairway as they slowly advanced. With each step they took, it was as if the giant stone guardians grew. The size difference between them and the creatures became even more apparent. However, in the middle of them, lay the most formidable figure of them all, the Creator, who had now revealed his large wooden staff from beneath his dark cloak. The group eventually reached the top of the stairway when the god began to speak.
“Stop where you are,” Trenkenth commanded.
The quartet quickly halted in their tracks. The Creator gazed upon each of the four that were stood in front of him, carefully observing each of them for the same amount of time before moving on to the next. All of them felt as if the god-like being was looking deep into the depths of their souls. A cold shiver went down each of their bodies. The two small boys were frozen to their spots, unable to speak, think or even breathe.
The god looked at the two boys and raised his hand that emerged from deep within his cloak, “Come to me.”
Valentine grabbed onto Zeris in fear. The man tried desperately to comfort his son. Harriet pushed Shadow in the Creator’s direction; the force of the push knocked the boy to the floor, right at the feet of the Trenkenth. Shadow, lying on the floor, slowly looked up at cloaked figure, who picked the boy up and placed an arm on his shoulder. The Creator now set his sights on the other child. Zeris held his son, trying hard to keep his own emotions together. I must be strong for my boy.
“Zeris release the child now,” commanded Trenkenth, who was beginning to lose patience with the Alexandrian king.
The two mammoth stone creatures raised their large swords up high and pointed the tips down in the direction of Zeris. The king and his son Valentine looked up at the guardians. I have to let him go. Zeris looked at his son. “It is time Valentine, I will always be with you here,” said Zeris, who pointed to the boys heart. The king gestured over in the direction of the Creator, “Go on.”
Valentine nodded and slowly approached Trenkenth, taking his place at his side.
Kanto, Zeris, Auron and Harriet looked on as the Creator raised his staff. Lightning began to form in the sky above. They all looked up at the gathering storm. A huge lightning bolt appeared and struck the top of Trenkenth’s staff. Then he slammed his staff down hard, sending out a spray of white light that blinded everyone in the area. As the light faded, Trenkenth and the two boys were gone, and the guardians were stood motionless by the edge of the gateway, silently watching on.
Zeris looked up at the empty gateway one last time. My son, please forgive me.
Chapter 2: A New World
Rain poured down hard against the pavement causing a rippling effect on the puddles that scattered here and there. A black leather boot stepped into one of the puddles causing the water to disperse. A man in a large black trench coat and a grey hat walked two small boys down a dimly lit street way. Several of the street lamps on the road were broken meaning the narrow road was scarcely lit. Even those that worked flickered on and off, lighting the street for a few moments before casting it into darkness once more. Either side of the narrow road was a long row of terraced houses. The man walked the boys along the street a little further before coming to a halt outside one of the houses. The front door had a golden plate towards the top of it with the words Bel Grave Orphanage engraved on it. The man reached for the door and gave it three loud knocks. The door remained closed. He knocked again three times. A hatch on the door opened up revealing an old looking woman. She looked carefully at the man before closing the hatch over. The sound of several bolts being unlocked could be heard from the other side of the door. The woman opened up the door and stood at the entrance staring at the man and then down at the two boys.
> “I have a delivery,” said the man.
The woman looked down at the boys, who looked totally bewildered as to what was going on. The old woman looked at the man once more. “Let me see your papers.”
The man reached into the inside pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a set of documents. He handed them over to the old lady who read through them as best she could in the dimly lit doorway. After a few moments, her attention went from the documents to the two boys.
“Come with me,” she said to them.
They all entered the orphanage apart from the man who departed immediately without so much as saying goodbye. The woman took the boys coats off and threw them into a nearby basket before leading them down a long corridor. Darkness filled the corridor apart from the odd glimpses of moonlight that shone through small windows in the distance. They reached a large door at the end of the corridor and came to a stop. The lady reached into her pocket, revealing a rusty old metal key. She put the key into the lock and turned it slowly before opening the door.
Inside the room were several rows of small beds. The old woman pointed into the room. “Inside.”
The two youngsters looked at each other, a mixture of confusion and fear was edged on their faces.
“Go on,” urged the woman, in a not too pleasant manner.
Reluctantly, the boys began to walk into the room. The woman walked in behind them and closed the door.
“Follow me,” she said and began to walk down the middle of the room.
The two boys hurried after her and the three of them walked, beds either side of them. The boys curiously looked around the room. They began to notice movement from a few of the beds. Inside the beds lay small boys; some of who had been woken up by the old lady and the two boys when they entered. A few of the boys began to whisper to each other from inside their beds.
The old lady picked up on the whispers. “Go back to sleep,” she told all of them.
The boys did exactly what the lady asked of them and put their heads on their pillows. Some even hid beneath the covers, afraid of the consequences should they not obey.
The old lady and the two boys reached the far end of the room. In the corner stood two empty beds. The woman pointed to them.
“Go to sleep,” she said in a tone that offered no argument.
The boys did as they were bid and got into bed. The woman walked back down the room and to the door, which she shut behind her. The sound of a key turning in the door lock could be heard.
One of the boys, who had blond hair, lay on the bed trembling in fear. The other boy, who was in the bed next to him and had darker hair, picked up on the fact the boy was scared.
“Hey are you ok?” the dark haired boy said.
The blond haired boy nodded, although he looked anything but ok.
“I’m Chad, what’s your name?” the dark hair boy asked.
“James,” the blond haired boy replied.
Another boy from across the room whispered over to the pair. “You’d best go to sleep, if they catch you talking we’ll all be in for it.”
There was genuine fear in his voice. Chad and James put their heads on their pillows and closed their eyes, although neither of them slept much that night.
Several weeks passed, then before the boys knew it, several months, and then years. James and Chad were now ten years old and were still in residence at Bel Grave orphanage. They had grown to call the place home, if you can call it a home that is. The boys lived under the strictest of rules in the orphanage. They did their own washing, cleaning and sometimes even cooking. The slightest hint of disobedience was met with severe punishment. Countless numbers of boys had been struck with a wooden cane or whipped with a leather belt as a means of punishment to teach them some manners. The staff kept the boys of the orphanage in line with fear. This brought them closer together, and they thought of each other as brothers because of it. Chad had become a leader of sorts to the boys. He was the oldest after all, if only by a few months. Long after their curfew, the boys would sneak out of bed and cause mischief. They would play games such as hide and seek or knock door run. Knock door run was especially fun when they knocked on Mrs Garner’s bedroom. She was the head of the orphanage and was the old lady who first opened the doors to Chad and James four years ago. Not that the boys could remember that day. It seemed such a long time ago.
One night, after the lights had gone out, the boys slipped out of their beds as they usually would. “Did you get it?” Chad said to Roger, who at six years old was the youngest of the group. Roger nodded and held out a metal paper clip. Chad smiled.
“Yes, Roger!” Chad held his hand up and Roger gave him a high five. Chad took the paper clip and tossed it to James who caught it. “You’re the lock pick, do your thing.”
“Piece of cake,” James replied, who tiptoed his way to the door. James knelt down and stuck the paper clip in the key lock of the bedroom door, which was always locked after hours. James’s tongue came out and pressed over his top lip and concentration filled his young face as he attempted to pick the lock with the clip.
Chad began to get a little agitated by the delay. “Come on, hurry it up!”
James did not appreciate the interruption. “Shut up, I’m going as fast as I can.” Just at that exact moment the lock clicked open. James turned and grinned at Chad.
“Took you long enough,” Chad said with a hint of sarcasm.
The group of boys, ten of them in number, quietly made their way out of the bedroom and headed down the corridor. Chad led the way, being able to see surprisingly well despite the lack of light.
“Come on, this way,” Chad said.
One of the boys bumped into an artificial plant bush that was up against a wall, knocking it to the floor.
Chad turned around unimpressed. “Watch where you’re going, you’ll wake them up.”
“Sorry,” stuttered Chris who was the boy at the back of the pack. Chris was always messing up. He seemed to get caught the most when the boys would get up to no good, and Chris had felt the wrath of Mrs Garner more than anyone else. He always spoke with a stutter and the orphanage staff would mock him in a demeaning manner. The small boy had lost a lot of confidence as a result.
“You sure you know where you’re going? I can’t see a thing,” said James, who was directly behind Chad.
“Yeah it’s this way,” Chad assured him. Chad opened up a door in the hallway, which led to a dining room. He noticed the light switch and flicked it on. The sudden light caught the rest of the boys off guard and they quickly lifted their hands to shield their eyes.
“What are you doing, leave the light off!” James said, clearly worried that one of the orphanage staff may notice the light coming from the room.
“Don’t worry about it, I know what I’m doing,” Chad replied who looked totally composed and calm. “Come on, everyone inside and close the door behind you.”
The group entered the dining room and closed the door. In the centre of the room was a large dining table with numerous chairs around it. The table could easily seat around twenty. In the far corner of the room was where the kitchen was located and that was the direction Chad was headed. Chad gestured with his arm, almost like an army sergeant might command his troops across a battlefield. The group of boys followed him in, making their way over to the kitchen. The kitchen was set off from the back of the dining room. The boys walked through it, their small heads barely making it over the height of the cooker and the grill. All except for Chad, who was an inch or two taller than the rest. Chad spotted the refrigerator and smiled. He quickly rushed over to it and opened the refrigerator door. Inside was a vast amount of treats such as biscuits, chocolate and crisps. These, of course, were for the staff. The boys had never been given treats like this when it was time to eat. All they ever seemed to get was soup or very disgusting mash and peas. However, James and Chad had discovered this refrigerator a few months earlier and the boys always sneaked to the kitchen for treats every few da
ys. The boys were very careful too. They would only take small amounts; just enough to not arouse suspicion. However tonight was different because this time Chad spotted something he hadn’t seen in the refrigerator before. It was a huge chocolate sponge cake.
“Look at that,” Chad said bursting with excitement.
James peered into the fridge and looked at the cake. The pair looked at each other and smiled. Chad took it out and put it on the dining table. All the boys looked on in awe.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t just look at it, tuck in boys!”
And the boys did just that. They grabbed pieces of cake and shoved it in their mouths with their bare hands. The boys began to laugh and giggle as they ate, talking with their mouths full with chocolate smeared all around their lips.
Chad sat on the big chair at the end of the table and just for a moment, Chad felt as tall as a king. “You know boys, this is the life isn’t it?” He said in triumph.
Suddenly the boys heard movement from upstairs as if someone was up and about. Then they began to hear footsteps walking down the stairs.
“Quick turn the light off,” James said to Peter, who was the closest boy to the kitchen door.
Peter was the chubbiest of the boys and it still took him several moments to make his way to the light switch and turn it off. With the light off, the boys frantically looked for somewhere to hide. Roger hid behind the cooker, Peter and his brother Paul hid behind the curtains, James hid underneath the table. All the boys found somewhere to hide apart from Chad, who had to go right next to the dining room door from which they had first come in. If the door were to open, the door would cover him from sight, so he thought that a safe enough place.
Footsteps could be heard from the corridor outside. The footsteps began to get louder and most definitely closer. Chad, who was right next to the door, could hear the sound of steps better than anyone else. The footsteps came to a halt outside the dining room door. Chad could almost feel the presence of someone from the other side of the door looking into the dining room. The boys held their breath as the doorknob began to turn. Chad’s heart began pounding so fast he thought it would break through his chest. Then all of sudden the doorknob stopped turning, and the footsteps began to walk away from the door. Chad closed his eyes in relief, but he dare not move from his hiding place. The rest of the boys remained frozen. Several minutes passed and still the footsteps were nowhere to be heard. James came out from underneath the table.
Clash Of Worlds Page 2
