by Jason Wilcox
Another voice, it was Domblin’s, coming from behind him, “…there is absolutely no evidence he is tapping into who he really is. I mean he is weak.” Spinning somehow, he found Domblin behind him, talking to the white-grayish dragon. The pounding grew louder, echoing.
“What kind of pathetic weakling have you turned into?” It was Azgiel’s voice. Once again spinning, he could see Azgiel fighting with him in the dome. “Draw the sword or you’re going to die. This is your world, Mauldrin. Dig within and find who you truly are. There’s power within you that can destroy all the dark souls around us. You just have to remember and tap into it. It’s time for you to take your realm once again. Now draw the sword!”
Images of everyone he had ever been close to or knew began spinning around him, until it stopped on the image of Bridget dead in his arms. The beating of his heart seemed so loud that his eardrums were going to explode. He could hear the creaking of a door and a bright light shone on him. Strangely, he moved towards it, but not by walking. A golden sphere appeared in the doorway. It was familiar, but he didn’t know why. Mauldrin. The sphere seemed to call out to him.
Strange numbers and signs flooded his mind. None of it made sense, but a power began to run through him, like a river released from a dam. He could feel his lungs take in air. His arms were the first to respond. He lifted them high and hit the ground. The moment they connected with the dirt, he got his vision back.
A power let loose from his hands and a shock wave blasted everything including Snyp. With a loud crack, a tree crashed to the ground. Amazing. There was something in him, an intense power, and he didn’t know from where it had come. His whole body felt remarkable, as if he had all the energy in the world.
To his right, a strange voice called out to him, but not a voice heard with his ears. He felt it. Looking in that direction, he saw the sword. It communicated with him in a strange fashion, wanting him to call for it, to summon it. Out of strange instinct, Caden lifted a hand and the sword flew to him, landing in the palm of his hand. A sense of security warmed Caden, feeling interconnected with the weapon.
Everything around him was whispering or communicating in some fashion. He struggled to make sense of it; the communications were confusing and overwhelming, except for one part. Snyp was ready to attack; he could sense it.
With ease, Caden shifted and brought the sword down, slicing it through Snyp’s body while he was in midair trying to attack. Time sped back up and Snyp blew to pieces. Caden smiled as he held the sword out, feeling its intense power and feeling at one with it. He looked around, peering through the darkness, seeing if there was anyone else he could fight. Confidence and an unfamiliar rage filled Caden. It was time to finish the fight, time to be strong, not weak.
Clenching his teeth, Caden peered into the darkness of the forest’s night. He gripped the sword handle. Not wasting time, Caden ran back the way he had come, heading to the cave.
CHAPTER 31
A slight breeze blew past Azgiel and Kaz as they sat at the lakeside, causing small ripples on the water’s surface. The setting full moon shimmered on the moving lake top. Trolls moved around behind them, tying to look busy, but it was obvious they were trying to eavesdrop.
“I don’t like it,” Azgiel spoke up. “If they took Mauldrin to planet Terris, to Triaad, we’ll be crushed. We don’t have a large enough army to go after him.”
Kaz kicked a small twig into the water. “Whatever you choose to do, we’ll be behind you, Sir.”
“I appreciate that…” Azgiel stopped midsentence as the breeze picked up. His sword had been awakened. He could sense its power was unleashed. The unseen surge of power was carried in the wind like dandelion seeds. “The sword!” He looked up at Kaz. “It’s been drawn, I can sense the curse has been broken, Mauldrin’s drawn the sword. He’s still on this planet.”
“Should I gather everyone?” Kaz quickly asked, tucking his wings in slightly, readying himself to take action.
“No,” Azgiel took a couple of steps towards the village. “Send one of the trolls to gather everyone. We need to decide which direction to go. There’s no telling where he might be, unless he’s still with the dark souls.”
Kaz pointed a finger, and one of the eavesdropping trolls took off, running up the hill to gather everyone. Maselda and Bridget hurriedly came from the opposite direction, passing the troll on their way down. Both of them glowed magnificently, they could easily pass as sisters.
“Azgiel,” Maselda called out. He respectfully shook a hand to tell her now wasn’t the time to bother him. “It’s about Mauldrin. Bridget has seen him.”
“What? How? Where?” Azgiel fumbled over his words in disbelief of the news. Both of the girls stopped in front of him. Bridget staying behind the Witch, showing her habitual shyness since Azgiel had saved her life.
“She says he summoned her.” The Witch looked back to Bridget and pulled her forward. “Tell him the story. Tell him what you saw and what happened.”
“Umm, I’ll try…” Bridget rubbed her hands together and looked off towards the lake, making little eye contact. “I don’t quite know what happened. One moment I was sitting on a chair when I heard my name. It was Caden.”
“Mauldrin,” Kaz clarified.
“And?” Azgiel snapped, pushing her to explain.
Bridget looked to the ground, obviously still uncomfortable with the demons. “When I heard my name, there was a sense of something pulling me. At first, I fought the feeling. It startled me. But there was something peaceful about it, like Caden putting his arms around me and trying to pull me to him. Somehow, I just let go, and the next moment I was standing in a cave. Black liquid was everywhere, which seemed to scream and move away. I looked down at my body, which floated off the ground, and realized I had no flesh; I was just a glowing figure, a ghost. In front of me, there stood a large rock door. I reached out and touched it, and something happened. The boulder blasted forward, revealing Caden.”
She looked back to the Witch and even moved in closer to her, as if she were looking for comfort. “He looked terrible. I don’t know what they’ve done to him. The whole place felt evil, and I knew I had to get him out of there. I told him to follow me, and I started heading out of the cave. A dark creature attacked me from behind, but when it touched me, it was blasted away.”
Azgiel furrowed his brow. Her story was interesting on multiple levels. He was excited to learn about Mauldrin, but grew worried with the power that Bridget’s words were revealing. He was going to talk with Maselda at another time about this. They were going to have to make sure Bridget didn’t learn any magic from them, in case she ever found out why they really saved her life. She might use her powers against them.
“When I got outside,” Bridget continued, “there was a strange tunnel that seemed to call for me. I moved towards it and it pulled me in. There was white light everywhere. I still don’t quite know where I was exactly or even how to describe it fully. It felt like I was returning to my body, but I could still feel Caden. There was something worse, I could feel something terribly evil coming, and I just knew it was coming for Caden.” She took a ragged breath, passionate about her story. “Even though I couldn’t see him, I knew the danger he was about to face. With all the energy I could muster, I screamed out for him to run. And then that was it.”
“That was it?” Azgiel wanted more. There had to be more to the story.
“Yes,” Bridget answered. “Then I came back in my body, opening my eyes to everyone standing around me asking if I was okay.”
“Can you go back?” Azgiel asked, knowing that Mauldrin may already be running off through the woods to who knows where. “Can you find out where he is so we can get to him and save him?” Even though he convinced himself it was for the greater good, he still struggled to lie so blatantly.
“No.” Bridget shook her head. “I think he summoned me. I wouldn’t have a clue how to get back to him.”
“There’s something very powerful that co
nnects them,” Maselda said with a smile.
“Kaz,” Azgiel said. He couldn’t waste time with his wife’s romantic theories, and he had heard enough from Bridget. The demon stepped a little closer as Azgiel continued. “Help the troll get everyone gathered quickly. We need to get to the dark creatures cave immediately.” The war with Triaad was coming, and Azgiel needed his sword back to give him the power to annihilate the traitor.
CHAPTER 32
Outside the cave, Caden’s surroundings were lit from the full moon, but it was a sharp contrast inside the pitch-blackness of the dark soul’s home. Should I risk going in? Bad idea, I wouldn’t be able to see anything. He wanted to kill all of them, every single living creature in that cave. As he thought of what they were, he could feel his nose wrinkle in anger and disgust.
Caden whistled loudly. “Hey, I’m right here. Come and get me.” Caden smiled, knowing what he said was lame, but he was improvising. He picked up a large rock and threw it into the darkness. It cracked off the wall and echoed down the tunnel.
A dark shape dove out of the darkness; claws stretched out and black sharp teeth ready to bite. He swung, but missed. The dark soul knocked him to the ground, and the sword flew out of his hands. Teeth ripped into Caden’s shoulder. He yelped in pain. Caden gripped a rock and hit the creature in the head, knocking the dark soul off him. Moving quickly, he rolled over and took hold of the sword. The dark soul grabbed his leg and screamed. Multiple screams came from the cave in response.
Twisting his body, Caden slashed the sword through the dark soul and the creature exploded into pieces. He chuckled as the screams grew closer. There was no turning back now, he had their attention. They were going to pay for what they had done to Bridget. He positioned his body, readying for the fight.
Three more jumped out of the cave at him, but Caden was ready. It was like batting practice, almost too easy. More dark souls jumped out, and more dark souls exploded. There were a number of them that stepped into the moonlight, but these ones didn’t jump at him. They growled and began to spread out, circling Caden. He knew his position was bad, so he quickly jumped towards one of them, slashing his sword through his enemy.
All of them dove at once. Spinning, he was able to get all but the one behind him. He felt the sharp claws slash his back, knocking him to his knees. With a quick movement, Caden spun and slashed the creature’s legs. In his moment of weakness, more dark souls came screaming out of the cave to get him. Their attacks were short lived as Caden swung his sword, slicing them left and right.
He could feel the warm blood run down his back from the cuts. If they circled him again, he knew they would win. There had to be a way to cover his backside. The cave wall. Caden quickly ran at the next surge of dark souls, swinging his sword as he went. He was going to use the cave wall to guard his back. One of the creatures dove off the ceiling of the cave and knocked him over.
The dark soul bit into Caden’s leg. Another one grabbed his left arm, staying clear of the sword and tried to drag him into the darkness of the cave. He went to swing his sword at the one dragging him, but another jumped on his back and pinned his right arm down. The dark soul on his leg bit him, even harder, causing Caden to yelp. He wasn’t going to die like this, failing his attempt to avenge Bridget.
Using all of his strength, Caden ripped his arm from the dark soul’s grasp and jumped up, throwing the dark souls off him. He slashed at the air and hit two of them with the sword. The other one ducked and dove at his feet. Caden slammed down with the sword pointing toward the ground, running the blade through him.
Spinning back and forth, Caden was looking for the next fight, but no more came. That couldn’t have been all of them. He remembered there were more when they attacked him in the dome. Are they hiding in the darkness? Caden needed to draw them out. He backed out of the opening and stood at the entrance of the cave. Finally, he noticed a dark shape that wasn’t moving. It had been there the whole time and Caden hadn’t thought anything of it. But sure enough, a dark soul stood just a foot into the darkness of the cave, watching.
“I see you,” Caden said. For all he knew, there were hundreds more just watching him from the safety of the cave. “Don’t think I won’t come in there and get you.”
A dark soul that Caden knew well, took a step out into the moonlight. “You,” Caden said. It was the same dark soul that had attacked him so many times in the past. Tagen. The creature didn’t respond. It just sat there as if trying to figure Caden out.
“Where’s the others? Are they hiding in there?” Caden’s tone was gruff.
“No,” Tagen responded, his voice sounding deflated. “I’m the last.”
“What are you talking about? There were hundreds when you attacked me last. And where’s that dragon rider, Triaad, with his dragon? Is he in there? I have a fight to pick with him.” Caden had set his mind to finishing what he had started.
“Triaad left back to his planet…” Tagen paused and looked away for a moment. “Just as he was leaving, he changed his mind about me and took the army of dark souls with him, leaving me with only a handful here and scattered around the planet.” Tagen looked up at Caden. A puzzled look came over him as he took another step closer to Caden. He stared at the black veins in his face and arms.
“They just left? On a spaceship or something?”
“No. There’s a gate in there, a portal.”
“So you’re all that’s left huh?” He had done it. He had killed the dark souls at the cave. There was just one left. Caden held the sword up and prepared to slay the dark soul.
“Wait!”
Caden paused. “What?”
“You don’t have to kill me. I can help you.” Tagen looked around as if nervous that someone might hear him.
Caden figured he was stalling, trying to figure out a way to escape. “If you try to bolt, I’ll kill you.” Caden knew that there was a good chance Tagen could out run him, but he hoped he could bluff enough that Tagen would be too scared to try.
“No, no, I’m not going to try that. I want to serve you. You, you can be my new master.” Tagen stopped looking around for an escape and focused on Caden. “I can do a lot for you. You don’t remember things. I can help you remember.”
“Azgiel already offered that.”
“Azgiel?” Tagen raised his brow. “Azgiel’s locked away for good. How could he help you, and even if he was out, which he isn’t, why would your enemy, help you?”
“Enough. You’re just trying to manipulate me.” Caden held his sword up higher for the kill. Tagen’s words were only confusing and frustrating.
“No. No, I promise. I’m not.” Tagen dropped to the ground. “Please, please. I can be a great servant. I know everything you want to know to hunt down and kill dark souls and Triaad.”
Caden analyzed him for a minute, debating what to do. Just past Tagen, Caden noticed the chain that Triaad had used on Snyp. He approached Tagen, and Tagen crawled backward, stopping at the wall of the cave. With a couple of clanks, Caden picked the chain up. He was surprised how light it was for such a thick chain. It was like picking up a small aluminum chain.
“Hold still while I wrap this around you,” Caden said as he pointed his sword at Tagen. “Until I feel I can fully trust you, I’m going to keep you chained up.”
“Very fair, Master.” Tagen put his hands behind his back. Caden made quick work of tying the chain once around his torso and around his hands.
“You’re going to take me to this portal,” Caden ordered while pushing the point of the sword into his black oily back. He wanted to destroy it; so he could prevent Triaad or his armies from coming back.
“Bad idea. You go through that portal, you’ll run into huge armies. Besides, Triaad alone could wipe you out,” Tagen spoke quickly, turning his head to look at Caden.
Smiling, seeing that Tagen assumed why he wanted to go to the gate, Caden looked him over for a minute, deciphering if Tagen was telling the truth about what was on the other side
of the gate, worried they may come through if he got near it. There was no way to know unless he went down there and found out. He grabbed Tagen’s chain and started pulling him toward the cave.
“Where’re we going?” Tagen cried out while clawing at the dirt.
“To the gate. Now take me to it, or I’ll run this sword right through you.”
“I’m not lying to you.” Tagen squirmed. “If you go that way, we’re both dead.”
Caden held the sword up. “Make your choice and make it quickly.” Tagen’s shoulders slumped forward and his dark-red eyes fell to the ground. The chain clanked as he walked past Caden and into the cave. “No tricks, I have the sword right next to you. If anything happens that I don’t trust, I won’t take any chances; you’ll be dead.”
“No tricks,” Tagen mumbled sounding deflated. His voice echoed down the tunnel as the darkness engulfed them.
With the light gone, Caden was walking blind. The whole situation made him uncomfortable. His stomach tightened as he felt the hard ground change to a soft wet substance. “What is this stuff we’re walking on now?”
“Dark matter,” Tagen explained, “it’s what creates us, and what was turning you into one of us.”
Liquid dripped in the cave, echoing down its empty corridors. It was a terrible noise to return to, a noise that would run through Caden’s nightmares for years. The rest of the way they walked in silence. Caden was hyper-aware of Tagen’s every movement, doing his best to be ready for anything.
About fifteen minutes went by before Caden was able to see a dim light coming from behind a large door. Black, oily liquid covered the walls, moving around, almost responding to Caden’s movements. They entered the dimly lighted room. A huge gate stood at one end of a spacious room, causing the very dim light. Inside of it was a swirling dark liquid. The outside had black crystals lining it that gave off a bluish light.
