Ullpli spoke, “My task is not over yet, I will aid you to the end.”
The spirit floated towards me and vaporised, transforming into transparent particles, which I absorbed into my body. The power rushed through me and my senses were heightened to an extreme level.
A beating of a heart was pulsating loudly from Thea and through Ullpli's eyes; I could see her life force resonate around her. She looked at me and I saw my reflection through her eyes. Emerald armour had moulded around my physique and my pupils were as dark as the skies.
Dante moved quickly again, but I sensed his attack and anticipated with ease. We clashed and the force knocked Thea to the ground.
Our swords sparked on contact and the realm shook from the heavy blows, we had exchanged. The walls of the monument had fallen from the constant clashes of shadow and silver. Dante’s blade came close to piercing my chest, but his shadow sword recoiled off my armour. Drool frothed in the corners of his mouth and the red beast's frustration was visible.
“How can a mere boy withstand my power?! This is impossible!” he questioned. “The prophecy will not be fulfilled!”
He came at me again and we slashed, stabbed and brawled until we were both on one knee. I was tired and Ullpli's magic was waning as time passed.
The rubble of the stone walls had turned to darkness and my surroundings were pitch-black. Dante had been sneakily consuming the last realm to gain more power in our fight; we were left in a ring of earth.
“Once everything has faded, I will be free…”
The shadow was slowly eating away the last patch of grass and my grandfather was nowhere to be seen. Before I knew it, the beast vanished into the blackness and we all were consumed by shadow. Thea stood by me and held onto my arm until she disappeared from my sight.
I opened my eyes to nothing; the green spirit was still with me. My blade had gone; the one weapon to destroy the Evil had left my hand.
I felt lost and alone, floating around the nothingness, but I heard a familiar voice. He had not gone yet and was still close by.
“Lucius… how do you feel? Abandoned? Everyone you loved has left you; your parents tragic fall, was unfortunate for someone so young… you are alone.”
His taunts were cruel, but I did not believe in what he said. “That’s not true…”
“Isn't it? Your parents failed you and the one person who you looked up to is now gone. We are alike, unaccompanied by the ones we hold dear. But it could change…”
“How?” I questioned.
“We can join forces; my power is limitless. You have seen what I can do, bring the dead back to life… you could have your family again…”
The temptation was strong, and the hold Dante had on me was increasing. My sword had prevented me from being possessed and the Entity had planned to separate us from the beginning. To get me apart from the 'Lights' sword and have Ullpli's spirit fade from the realms, which were being consumed. In that moment, I realised who the last vessel truly was - me. I would have become evil and consumed by darkness for all eternity.
I heard a faint voice call out from the back of my mind and it said, “You have a choice
Lucius… it is up to you to make the right one…”
A light peered through the blackness and I made my choice. I reached in and pulled out my sword. The blue blaze burned brightly around my blade and the beast came forth and snarled out of the hole. I ran my weapon through Dante’s chest, and he roared in pain.
The silver blade dissolved in my hands and absorbed into his body. The demon’s skin hardened like stone and crumbled to ash; it was finally over.
I felt relieved and exhausted.
I was left floating in the empty realm and my eyes were heavy. Ullpli's spirit had vanished and the emerald armour was no more, and I fell unconscious.
*
The sun's warmth shone on my skin and the song of birds chirped outside my bedroom window. A familiar smell wafted under my nose and my head rested on a soft, feathery pillow. Some movement occurred at the bottom of my bed and my dogs snoozed happily in the daylight; Hamish, Mollie and Sammy were fast asleep.
I was confused, tired and my legs were weak like I hadn't used them in months…
Footsteps echoed up the stairs and directed towards my door. It creaked open and my grandfather stepped into my room.
“Thank goodness, you're awake!” he said.
He sat on my bed and gave me a hug.
I thought I was still trapped in a dream and my mind couldn’t quite grasp the reality of things. He looked well and to my relief, unharmed.
“Grandpa, you’re okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” replied Egbert.
I instantly thought of my friends who I’d left behind. “Where is Thea? Bjorn and Flit?”
My grandfather looked at me strangely: “I'm sorry Lucius, but I don’t know who you mean…”
My head was still spinning, and I slowly sat up in bed. I believed that this reality could’ve been another trick and my body was still floating in the blackness.
“What happened to me?” I asked.
Grandpa looked sheepish and guilty, whilst he removed his spectacles. “It was my fault, Lucius, buying the plant was my mistake. We had inhaled the spores that are poisonous, and the chemical entered our blood stream. Mr and Mrs Turnside had found us passed out in my garden, along with Sammy. Apparently, he had been affected too. Sam and I woke up some time ago and we have been on the mend, but the poison has taken its toll on you, my boy. You could’ve died, but the doctor has done his best and the rest was down to your immune system. You have been fighting a fever and have been unconscious for hours.”
I was shocked at the news. “That can’t be… I was away for days…”
“Away where?” he asked with an intrigued expression.
I explained my strange adventure, making sure I didn’t leave out any detail whilst I enthusiastically waved my hands around and my grandfather sat quietly. I told him about my struggle with Dante, Bjorn’s constant help and the adventure through the realms. I talked about Thea and her links between the spirit Ullpli and the Entity and the war between the two Kings.
Once I’d finished my grandfather smiled and said, “You have some imagination my dear boy and sometimes it can be a bit scary. I can tell you now that we’re all fine and the Turnside’s are downstairs preparing dinner -”
He pointed to Sammy.
“- And as you can see, Sam is as normal as any other dog. You can relax, Lucius, the poison has taken you on the false trip and I think you need more rest.”
I protested - I was convinced the events that unfolded were true; they had to be or was it all really a dream? Part of me wished it wasn’t, it felt too real and it meant my friends were lost to me forever.
Chapter Seventeen - Visitor at Christmas
Six years had passed; I turned twenty years old and was finally recognised as an adult.
Not a day went by, I hadn't thought of my friends. I wished I knew what became of them at the time and hoped for their safety.
I was changed from the experience of the other world, although I had to accept that it was all the result of a poisonous hallucination. My heart was half full and something was missing, a puzzle piece, which had left my soul.
To fill the void, I joined her Majesty’s navy at eighteen and was at sea for two years, where I had the sensation of being at home amongst the waves. The taste of adventure was ripe in my veins and to explore was a great opportunity for me.
I returned to the manor at Christmas and was welcomed by my grandfather. Sammy and Mollie were parents to two ginger and white puppies; they were named Flit and Bjorn. It was a nice gesture by Egbert and part of me knew it was a humorous act on his part. I didn't mind and I'm sure my dogs wouldn't have minded either.
My grandfather loved to hear my tales of Eve and was always intrigued to know more. He wasn't the only one. At the Fairfax Christmas party, I had a crowd who listened to my stories of life a
t sea and then the kids would demand to hear about the other world.
Christmas Day had come fast and morning entered my room. I was already up and ready to start the festive day in high spirits. We have a tradition in my family, where we would have a morning walk before we feasted on Mrs Turnside’s crispy goose, potatoes, carrots, sprouts, and gravy.
That morning, Grandfather and I, dressed up warm and headed out into the snow with Hamish and Sammy. The frost had iced up the windows of our carriage as we travelled to the nearest woodland named Ashton Forest.
The dogs ran behind the coach happily, with our shire horse Snufkin battling through the snowfall. We stopped at a clearing and strolled in, leaving our horse to graze on the only uncovered patch of grass.
My Grandpa, Egbert was a bit slow since the years had passed. His arthritis acted up in the winter and reduced him to walk with a stick. I think that year would’ve been a short walk, but my eyes locked onto something highly unusual. Our dogs stopped abruptly, Hamish coward behind me, but Sammy approached the large grizzly bear.
We couldn't believe our eyes, a bear in England!
“Do you think it escaped from the zoo?” whispered my grandpa.
The Bear stared at Sammy for a while and then reverted his gaze towards me. I knew there was something not right with this animal. He got up and shook the snow from off his furry coat and walked down a slope and vanished into the dense wood. I rushed after him with my two dogs behind my heels. My grandfather followed too, and I had to help him down the slope.
We tracked the Bear's footprints in the snow. He led us to a small meadow, surrounded by pine and a huge monkey puzzle tree. It was quiet and the sun was blocked by a dark cloud. Out of the shadows, the Bear came into view. Broken twigs beneath the snow crunched underneath the approaching bear and again he sat down on the ground. He wasn't alone that time; he had a company of wild animals who followed him into the meadow.
I looked to my grandfather who was stunned to the spot and was shocked to see such a variety of species. With my better judgement, I slowly approached and heard the sound of twigs snapping in the distance.
“Hello…” I called out.
A tall young girl, with long golden hair came forth and the memories, which I tried to bury deep, came flooding back.
My grandfather was stood at my side and placed a hand on my shoulder, with a tear in the corner of his eye.
Thea smiled and spoke softly, “We’ve been looking for you.”
To be continued
Lucius’s World Coming Soon
About the author:
Robert Ian Wilson was born in the summer of 1988 at Leeds St James's Hospital, West Yorkshire, England. He currently resides in the Wolds of Lincolnshire, studying at the Open University and working towards a degree in Creative Writing. Growing up in an artistic family and being an avid film enthusiast, greatly influenced the development of his craft. His works include the dark fantasy series, The World Trilogy. The titles Egbert's World and Lucius's World were well received within the science fiction and fantasy community.
www.robertianwilson.wix.com/author
Egbert's World Page 9
