by Han, George
“It is a trap.” She whispered. “The girl is bait.” Her voice thickened “Magnus is walking into a trap!”
She paused and then said. “We need to summon our old allies.”
Marz ears stood and his eyes brightened as his tail wagged.
Marz edged closer as Gwyneth explained. “To the east of the woods, on the highlands, there are ancient tribes who are allied to the Angels. They are tribes of battle dwarves. God-fearing, they are our friends. Invisible to the eye of the average human being, they can only be seen by one of us. Go to them and summon them with the mention of my name.”
Gwyneth then removed a wrist brace, a brace made from the snow crystals that originated from the depths of the Antarctic seas. Every Guardian Angel possessed an ornament to symbolize a persona, and the snow crystals were hers.
“They will know I sent you,” Gwyneth said as she strapped it around the Marz’s
left front leg. “After you have located the dwarves, go down the river, into the beds of meadows where
centuries-old mushrooms grew to the height of adults. When you are there, seek the audience of wise old Queen Catherina of the Forest Fairies. Gracious and wise, she has been the guardian of these woods. Bring them. We shall rendezvous at the valley to the west.”
Gwyneth gently stroked Marz’s head. “Take care, Marz.”
The snow wolf nodded and, with whirlwind speed, melted into the depths of the woods.
#
Marz galloped through the woods like blazing lightning. His speed was extraordinary and only specie from heaven could achieve that. He maneuvered first through the thick woods, then crossed the flat plains and up a hill. After that he found himself looking down at acres of thick forest. It was the heart of the reserve, away from the outer zones, and a virgin region, seldom if ever visited by man.
The towering heights of the trees bore testimony to the age of the forests. The thickness showed it was largely unmolested by the human race. Marz slowed his pace as he studied his environment for any life forms. It was almost dawn and paths of light from oozing through the crowns of trees, formed patches of light on the ground.
Suddenly, he sensed something. It was not pleasant but it was not dark and certainly it did not come from the demonic armies. It was just something alien to Marz. Before he could size up the presence, he heard a whistling sound.
An arrow!
Marz leapt into the air and got out of harm’s way. The arrow sunk onto the trunk of a tree, two yards from Marz. The white wolf flashed its teeth as it confronted the archer.
However, unseen by him was net thrown over him. When it came, he could not react in time. Fear, chill and total darkness soon enveloped him.
#
Chapter 35
Arrival
Mathew fell asleep, overcame by fatigue. In his dreams he saw his father, his sister and the dead grandparents who died tragically from the hands of the familiars. When he woke, Mathew felt awashed with emotions. He was a wreck.
On one hand, images of an abducted Sarah fanned the fires of angst in him, and on the other hand, the thought of unseen Demons lying in ambush put ants into his pants.
With Sarah kidnapped barely a day after the death of his grandparents, Mathew lingered on the edge of irrationality and sensed himself sliding into sublimal rage. Rationality and prayers were no longer sufficient to rein in the beast of anger that thirsted for revenge.
He was ready for combat, wars, and murder and his vibes had alerted Maganus. The Angel walked over but Mathew preempted him. “Save it, Maganus. Sympathy is not what I want. It is Sarah that matters.”
“That’s blunt.”
“I’m sorry,” Mathew regretted. “My rudeness was uncalled for. Without you, we would be dead at the old parish.” Mathew then lowered his voice. “Though I wish Granny had survived.”
Jin rode forward. “Anxiety and despair take root, and eventually anger will grow in you, Mathew,” he said. “Therefore, I urge faith.”
“Guard against fear, Mathew. That is the fountain of your negativity, all negativity,” Maganus reminded him.
“If Sarah is dead, I don’t want to continue. Sarah was my anchor after my mother died. I thought of those summers when we spent in the fields behind Grandaunt’s home. The tree-house we built together and…once when we were lost, after wandering in the woods behind our estate, I was worried she would cry. She was only six but she held my hand like an adult would to a child and told me to take it easy.” Mathew’s face contorted. “I cannot imagine anything terrible to happen to her. If anyone hurt her, I will take his life!”
Maganus patted him on the shoulder. “Mathew. Calm your fear like you would a wild monkey. Do not let it possess you. Demons thrive on your fear and ...” Maganus raised his eyebrows. “It will destroy you.”
Jin added, “Fear is like a serpent that slides its way into your heart and it will strangle your soul and crush your senses. Do pardon my forthright words.”
Mathew asked, “What is it?”
“Even if Sarah dies …” Jin said, letting the words sink in. “You must live on. This war is about all of humanity, and our mission is to keep you alive. You are not allowed to die.”
“Jin, I am only human.”
“After the demons found you, your choice for a normal existence is no longer possible.” Jin explained.
Maganus added, “Summon the goodness as you will with friends. You are capable of a miracle.”
“Miracle?” Mathew whispered. “If I could create a miracle, nobody needs to die and Sarah is still with us.”
Maganus smiled. “You have not appreciated the meaning of a miracle eventually.”
Mathew was puzzled as Maganus continued. “Miracles are special. They happen for a special reason. They occur to special people. Only those possessed the power of faith and clarity of thought can create a miracle. It is a phenomenon that happens when that one audacious wish in your heart happens because your will is so strong that obstacles get mowed down. Kings of Men have that quality in them. Mathew, you might just be capable of that. All you need to do is cultivate that thought and will. ”
“Wither not, my friend,” Jin added.
Mathew bit his lips. “Then let’s just move on. We must reach our destination before darkness falls,”
The group trudged on and as they moved deeper into the woods, a heavy mist began to envelope them. Visibility dropped significantly until they could not see beyond an extended hand. Darkness descended but looked artificial, as if the light had been stolen.
Knowing such moments were ripe opportunities for a Demons’ ambush, Father Bellator had prepared three fire torches and handed one to Mathew. However, it was Jin who provided adequate illumination. He raised his hand and rubbed the brooch ring on his right index finger. A light shined through the ring, illuminating the distance ahead. But at that moment, countless ravens dropped in a boisterous frenzy and accentuated the strangling ambience of darkness.
Gradually, the woods thinned away to uneven ground covered with balding trees and ugly branches. A thin mist drifted above the ground, obscuring vision.
Mathew then spotted the castle, built at the foot of high ground. He stopped and pointed. “Valmar?” he asked.
Maganus nodded. “Valmar.”
“It looks so out-of-place, so … it does not belong here and …” Mathew struggled for words and Father Bellator completed his sentence. “So ugly?”
They nodded in unison.
“This is where they are keeping Sarah?” Mathew asked.
“Yes, this is their playground,” Maganus said.
The group continued on and as they neared, Mathew inspected the ancient edifice. “It is actually magnificent,” he said. “Just look at the sculptures and the beasts carved on the walls.”
He pointed to the elaborate figures—gargoyles, ogres, serpents, and evil familiars of various forms.
“It is,” Maganus said. “They were built by the best artisans of the age of
Renaissance. A bad thing the Demons commandeered it for their cause.” He sighed, which drew a quip from Father Bellator.
“Mathew, you wouldn’t say that after you see what is inside,” the priest said. “The sculptures that you see now represent animals that belonged to the seven classes of beasts that make up Lord Barbatos’s demonic armies—two classes of familiar spirits, one class of troll, two classes of goblins, and two classes of demons. They are very nice as just architecture, but when you actually encounter them, you wish they had stayed just as they are now, decorative mantelpieces. ”
“I can imagine,” Mathew replied.
Maganus crossed his chest, then said, “They were once beautiful creatures of God but they lost themselves in hubris and hatred. The Demons hijacked their souls and immersed them in hatred and darkness.”
Jin dismounted and gave Mathew the final word of caution. “Fear is your worst enemy and their best ally. Keep a pure mind and unshakeable faith, these are the best swords to slain them. That is the real blade of light against these elements of darkness and fear.”
Mathew repeated the line.
As the group neared the castle, Mathew’s attention turned to the main doors, which were built to the height of the roof. I could see an intriguing creature engraved on the wooden surface and he peered at it intently. “What is it?” he asked,
“It is a Manticore,” Father Bellator said. “Ever heard of that name?”
“I didn’t know they really exist. I had read about them in fantasy books.”
“It is a hybrid composed of demons, part-man, part-lion, and part-time scorpion with a fatal stinger as its tail. This demon is sustained upon the soul of a dead but cruel human being.”
“A fearsome opponent, I guess.”
“It is Barbatos’s favourite. If you ever get to see it … well, I hope that moment will not come,”
Jin said. “These creatures originated from the era of the ancient human civilizations. They used to reside in the Ural Mountains, far beyond the reach of the boldest man. Lucifer discovered these winged lions and stole a specimen. In the depths of Hell, he raised them to be loyal servants of the demonic cause. He took the evolution a step further by infusing the creatures with the most ferocious souls, condemned to Hell, and produced the Manticores. These are prized creatures given to Lucifer’s trusted generals.”
“Barbatos,” Maganus murmured to Bellator, but within earshot of Mathew.
“Who is this Barbatos that you speak of in whispers?” he asked.
“Wicked ears you have got,” Father Bellator said. “A much-feared name that is seldom whispered of in the arena of Heaven and Earth.”
“Pray, tell me more.” Mathew looked intently at Maganus.
The Guardian of the Woods hesitated before narrating, “He is a powerful leader of the Demons who carried the title of Duke of Demons. He is most likely to be the man responsible for the misery of your family.
The words brought out rage in Mathew who clenched a hand into a fist and punched the palm of the other.
“Barbatos commands legions of the demonic army, a great manipulator of the emotions and thoughts of man. He has been our greatest foe for centuries, an opponent that many Angels fear. His audacity, cunning, and steadfast faith in the dark side has caused the demise of many Angels.”
“I sense not just fear but a grudging sense of admiration for him, Maganus,” Mathew said.
Maganus shrugged as he refilled the pipe. “He was once so golden, pure and faithful. The soldier, the comrade you will feel proud to call your own. He was so handsome and young, and…”
“And what?” Mathew asked.
“And we lost him. Lost him” Maganus whispered as his eyebrows drooped. “We all have unpleasant memories of him. I cannot explain further and it is plain pointless to reminiscence.”
“We should really worry about what he is now, a highly regarded by Lucifer and the preferred executioner for schemes.” Jin interrupted “Don’t underestimate Barbatos. Mathew, he has the capability to destroy human civilization.” Jin enunciated. “Entire civilizations.”
His pipe relit, Maganus added, with eyes shut in intense concentration. “He had inflicted such damage in the past that it had changed the course of history. There were many civilizations that were extinguished in their infancy and were never recorded in history. Victims of betrayal, stupidity, and selfishness of man, the scheme of annihilation were all orchestrated by Lord Barbatos.”
“I wish I can meet him.” Mathew whispered.
“You will get your chance.” Maganus winked “We should have sensed his involvement in the events of the last three days. We thought the last defeat, two hundred years ago, had him confined to the depths of Hell. We were so wrong.” Maganus paused. “So naïve of us.”
“The only thing I need is the truth behind his recent campaign of attacks,” Jin said.
“You think he is going to invite us for afternoon tea and then let us know about it?” Maganus puffed on his pipe.
Jin smiled. “We are already at his mansion.”
“Good idea, maybe he would offer wine?” Maganus teased.
“We are likely to first taste the blade of his sword than sample his cup of wine,” Jin warned.
Maganus said with a shake of his head. “The Acerbas needs fresh victims.”
“You mentioned that before.” Mathew looked to Jin.
“His sword, the Dark Soul—Acerbas. The weapon was forged from a unique iron ore dug from Mount Arafat. It was a sword owned by a famous general of the Byzantium empire, Belisarius and eventually landed in the hands of Lucifer, who gave it Barbatos.”
“It has claimed the souls of many of our warriors.” Jin added as the pair of Angels bowed their heads in silent remembrance.
The Angels were shaken from their poignant mood by sudden tremors.
“They had sense our presence,” Maganus said and summoned his battleaxes.
Jin unsheathed his sword and Father Bellator raised his shotgun. Behind them, the ground gave way, and willowy trees, dark and lifeless, begun to creep towards them. The movement halted when a barricade had been formed across the path they came by.
“There goes our option for withdrawal,” Maganus said.
As the Angels assessed the situation, a movement caught Mathew’s eye. By the entrance of the gates to the castle, he could see a figure. Mathew edged closer and saw it was a small girl, dressed in white. He hadn’t realized the doors were ajar.
He inched towards and whooped for joy. “Sarah!”He sprinted towards her without second thoughts as the girl disappeared behind the huge doors.
“Sarah! Don’t go!” Mathew’s shouted as he sped through the opening between the doors.
Father Bellator tried to catch Mathew, but the boy outran him.
Maganus was alerted and Father Bellator explained. “I think Mathew was bewitched. He was calling for Sarah.”
Jin’s bushy eyebrows rose in disbelief. “Run after him!”
Maganus said to Jin, “You will stay behind,” before headed into the castle.
“I worry for Mathew. His willpower has been distorted,” Jin said.
“I will get him back” Maganus said and palmed the golden cross at his neck.
Chapter 36
Labyrinth
Mathew stared down a hall that seemed to roll as far as his eyes could see. Illuminating the space were countless wall torches, spaced at regular intervals. The space and limitlessness lent an ambience of secrecy. Mathew felt a chill wrapping his torso. A ting of regret lingered in his heart as he realized his rashness.
He was all alone.
Mathew struggled to breathe, the air was thin, and his heart pounded against his ribcage with a heavy rhythm. He paced down the hall and studied the large, over-sized paintings lined the walls at regular intervals. They depicted magnificent scenes of men in battle action, and of images of courage and glory, in livid colours.
He was tempted to take a closer look but remembered Sara
h who was nowhere in sight. Mathew began to retrace his steps, Maganus’s nags were ringing in his ears He heard the footsteps and quickly unsheathed his sword with the other.
“Sarah? Sarah!”
He got no response. Further down the hall, the corridor narrowed and under the dim light of a wall torch he saw a silhouette. It appeared to be a girl standing next to the pillar, and there was a pair of stone statues by each side of the corridor.
His heart pounded in his chest as he neared the figure.
“Sarah! Are you alright?” Mathew cried out, but the figure remained motionless. Fear began to creep up his throat, but he kept up his steps until light fell on the figure’s face and he saw it was Sarah.
She smiled at him. “Mathew.”
Mathew recognized the voice. “Good gracious! Sarah! It’s you!”
Then he froze. The smile began to transform, drawing wider as the teeth grew until they were like daggers. Mathew heard sound of skin stretching and breaking. The Sarah-like figure’s ears also grew through the hair, becoming long and pointed. The cherubic face crumbled into a mask of anger with a greenish complexion.
A demonic Familiar imp!
A trap!
The demonic imp lunged at him and Mathew turned but the imp had already got him by the right leg. It’s claws sank into the fabric of his pants and Mathew could feel the sharp edge of the nails on his flesh. He kicked the imp away. It released a sharp squeak before becoming motionless.
Mathew struggled to his feet and swiftly hobbled down the corridor.
He looked for the main door? His heart pounded as he searched. Mathew heard sounds of things, creaking and breaking. Beyond his wildest imagination, the grotesque statues in various parts of the hall were coming to life.
The figures leapt from their pedestals and flexed their long and sharp claws. Their eyes burnt like gems of fire as horns sprouted on top of their heads and their wings sprung to their full length. The cacophony of heart-wrenching shrills left him weak in the knees.
