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  “Quickly Thea! Take your shoes off!” I instructed. The Hoard reacted on sound and although they were the essence of darkness, my theory was that Seltzer was the one who’d acted on the executions; I hoped his presence would draw them towards him to give us some time.

  As we got nearer to the group of lost apparitions, our pace slowed to a walk. We entered the Hoard and carefully walked through the hooded beings.

  Seltzer came bustling over the ridge, wheezing like an old man and slurping his threatening words: “We will have you boy! - Namir! Where are you?!”

  “He does not pursue!” shouted Zahar from above.

  “Then the glory of Domhill’s capture shall be in my name!” shouted Seltzer. “The Master will be best pleased.” The giant oath stumbled his way towards the Hoard who began to stir. Their heads slowly rose, and their eyes beamed with a white light. They gave off a beastly snarl and I’ve never seen anything move so quickly. Before I could blink, they were upon Seltzer who commanded them to stop: “What are you doing!? Filthy things! Stop! – I command you to stop!”

  We watched the creature being engulfed by the hooded group. Although I couldn’t see what precisely happened, I presumed the Hoard had a nice meal. They left a suit of bulky armour behind, not even a single bone was left where Seltzer once stood. I guess they got their revenge on their executioner; a poetic end for the evil minion, but we still had the problem of Zahar. She flew close above stalking us like a hawk stalks its prey.

  There was no sign of the black mage’s pursuit, although, the hairs on the back of my neck told me otherwise; he was close-by, but where? I felt Namir was more subtle than the direct approach adopted by his fellow minions.

  Zahar kept to the dull sky. Her large frame created a shadow that engulfed our efforts to escape her presence. Every turn, nut, and cranny we’d pursued through the Darkland mountains her cold shadow eclipse my own. She was taunting us and enjoying the hunt. The vulture was calculating, intelligent, and a patient creature; certainly not as wild as Seltzer. Namir wanted me alive, so precaution was the bird’s strategy.

  We made haste along the path that we had previously ventured on, but my memory was hazy, and nothing was recognisable; even Thea wasn’t sure. The path randomly led us down the mountain, with the shadow still following. This was a direction we wanted to avoid. I could hear strange whispers from above. Zahar was talking to herself or she was telepathically reporting her progress to Namir.

  As we disappeared down the mountainside the rocky cliffs suddenly surrounded us in a large open space that I felt was the centre of this world. A humongous figure stood before us...

  We needed cover, somewhere away from prying eyes and we’d found it in the shape of a demonic statue; a cave was at its core. The horned serpent was clothed in a Roman cuirass, replicating the Emperor Augustus marble statue found in the Vatican museum, Rome. The demon’s posture was bent; its head smiled with a serpent’s tongue, and its glare gleamed with malice.

  “I am not going in there!” protested Thea.

  The wind changed, as Zahar quickly adjusted in the sky.

  “I don’t think we have a choice. We’re stuck in a valley and she’ll make her move soon.”

  “But Umber said to keep to the path...”

  I was a bit taken back from what Thea had said. She still held onto the façade of Umber’s lies; his only goal was to reinstate himself amongst the minions of the Dark. I looked to her and saw the denial in her face, Thea was too nice for her own good sometimes; her heart was pure, one reason why she’d managed to resist Dante’s advance all those years ago.

  “This is Maylok; I don’t think we’re safe anywhere.” I drew my sword and the star within Orion’s core beamed. “We are the only light within this world, and we’re stronger together than any minion who’ll stand in our way. Including that fat buzzard above!”

  Thea smiled and nodded in agreement. We left the pursuit of Zahar and entered the demon’s cave. I couldn’t help to think that our path had been manipulated, but we went forward with a vigilant mindset.

  Chapter Thirteen - The Pinnacle

  DECISION

  I remember walking into a grand hall that resembled the temples of Greek gods. There were at least fifty different statues that depicted all kinds of creatures. Humans amongst animals, mixed with monsters of the dark. There was one feature that they shared, a sinister glint in their eyes.

  “Lucius! Look at this!” called Thea.

  I worked my way around some marble statues and Thea stood before a man of history; King John. His evil acts were well-known upon English historians. He was a selfish, black-hearted King who neglected his country and deprived the people of a simple life.

  The marble statue was incredibly detailed, almost life-like; his beard and crown were the features I’d recognised in contrast to his portraits, which are kept at the British Museum.

  As I turned, I stumped my toe on possibly the smallest of statues in the hall. My eye’s focused on a familiar being who moment’s ago I’d impaled with my sword.

  “Umber!?” Gasped Thea.

  It suddenly hit me that we were stood amongst the fallen. Every creature who’d been in Dante’s grasp, a shrine dedicated to his vessels.

  “My finest work,” said a voice not far off.

  An old man dressed in Roman robes waltzed out of the shadows, grinning. He seemed to direct his attention towards Thea. “I think I’ve managed to capture your true essence, young girl. The master will be best pleased with my art.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Thea.

  The old man pointed at her doppelganger. The statue was a replica of when I fought Thea beneath the serpent Mesilla’s tree. I broke the black blade that held her to Dante’s will, but as we discovered along our journey through Maylok, his mark had never truly left and this was a conformation towards her time as a vessel; which meant, my Grandfather, Thea’s father, and Sammy were amongst the marble statues.

  “Soon I will be carving your statue Lucius Domhill and it will be glorious! I have reserved a special place for the one who will bring my master so much joy.”

  The old man gestured us to follow and I was too intrigued to walk away, despite Thea trying to grasp my hand. We came to a platform that was home to a throne of bones. A featureless piece of marble sat on the chair. “Not too long now and I can finally finish.”

  “Finish what?” I asked, knowing it was a stupid question because I knew his answer.

  “You, of course,” smiled the man.

  It was a strange moment and I was determined to not let the experience falter my determination in ending Dante and find Lira; that statue could not be built, otherwise, we’d lost.

  I backed up and left the grinning artist to his work. He sniggered like a wild-man, whilst he scratched his ginger-white beard.

  We came across more former vessels of the Dark, even a giant who was five times bigger than me. He had one eye, so I’d presumed he was a mythical monster named a Cyclops; it made me realise how vast the universe was and how many worlds Dante had visited before settling on Earth.

  We’d spent what felt like an hour manoeuvring through the strange collection of creatures before a young boy caught my eye. He made me stop dead in my tracks and my heart sunk. A wave of guilt washed over me and I fell to my knees. The marble statue was bland of colour, but I could visualise his golden hair and brown eyes. I looked up at the dome roof and imagined the stars above: “We were wrong, Sedge... he wasn’t safe after all. I’m sorry Aly.”

  “Who is he?” asked Thea.

  “A boy from the past. He helped me and Sedgwick in France during the Spanish invasion of Saint-Quentin. We couldn’t take him with us despite his protest. To take him was a risk to the time-line.”

  “He would’ve become an anomaly on a dangerous path,’ said Thea.

  “Knowing what I know now, I don’t think it would’ve mattered. We were protected by Sedgwick’s key and it would’ve protected Aly too,” I replied.


  “That was a risk and you chose right. No one can predict the future, so you cannot punish yourself. I would have made the same decision and I’m sure Sedgwick will agree.

  With the Timekeeper's involvement in mind, I had to believe I made the right decision; it hurt to look at the boy; but our attention drifted towards the entrance.

  A flap of wings fluttered through the classical architecture; Zahar had joined the hunt again. There was no sign of the Vulture in the air, which meant she was skulking on the ground.

  “Thea. Blade,” I whispered, and we were on high alert, but there was a problem. An influx of flapping wings followed after Zahar; she was not alone...

  An eerie silence befell the atmosphere. Our breathing became loud and the scrape of a stone under my shoe gave up our position. A death mask stared between two statues and it came forth with three others. The Serpents Eye had arrived from Haggington to do their leaders bidding. The necromancers slowly circled us with their wings that were covered in tiny sharp blades; enough to cut through flesh.

  They whispered, “Nowhere to escape.”

  The danger alerted Orion. My sword flickered in my hand and I got the sense of a growing connection between us. My arm lifted without my consent and my sword beamed like a true star. Orion blinded the Vultures; their masks proved useless and we had our diversion. Unfortunately, Thea was affected by the blast of light too and she staggered to find me.

  I grabbed her hand and tried to find an opening, whilst the creatures frantically felt their surroundings. I slashed a necromancer across its chest and the creature's blood spilt everywhere. It screamed and screeched like an injured crow beneath its gothic mask. We rushed between the enclosed marble sculptures and brushed past a few. Our slight touch rocked the statues and the old artist gasped from afar. The sound of wing blades scraping against stone faded behind us.

  My sword still shone, like an excitable heartbeat or beacon. As we ran a certain direction Orion pulsated, like she was trying to tell me something.

  At the far end of the dome, we came to a circular inscription on the wall. I looked closer and felt the hieroglyphs with my fingertips; Orion’s colour turned from bright white to red. The symbols of an old language lit up like a Christmas tree and a ley-line opened before us. The energy from the anomaly caused me to shiver and the redness was intimidating. A possible escape? Or more bad luck?

  Servants of the Serpent’s Eye closed in and Zahar appeared above. She was larger than her fellow vulturous comrades and certainly more menacing. She came at us and the others seemed to watch. Zahar knocked us both into the shimmering red portal and Thea’s sword fell from her grip.

  We instantly transported and landed on the hard-stone floor. The unknown realm was dark, but the glow from the cracked moon filled the dreary, foggy, and dense forest that engulfed a small abandoned settlement. The red ley-line had closed behind us...

  I asked Thea, “You okay?”

  She grimaced, whilst rubbing her elbow.

  We scurried over to a thick tree and propped ourselves up for a breather. My head was heavy, and my legs felt like jelly from fatigue. Thea looked equally knackered; I could tell by the black rings that formed around her eyes.

  She turned to me and said: “When is this going to end?”

  I stayed quiet and held her close to my chest, wishing I’d knew the answer, but Lira was still held captive and her life force was somehow being drained to rejuvenate the Darkness. Dante’s return was imminent, and once again, I was his final piece of the puzzle. I’ve always been.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” called out a voice from the shadows. The mage Namir wondered into the moonlight, his pasty skin was whiter than ever, and he truly looked ancient. “Like many, this was a world that fell to my master's touch. As you can see Lucius, it is inevitable to resist the darkness much longer. Every story has an ending. So, you have a choice to make. Come with me and finally bring an end to this or keep running until I catch you anyway and force you to end it. We will not stop, till our master is fully restored and my power will finally be greater than William Frankfurt!”

  I stuttered before deciding. His logic made sense, especially since we were fighting on their turf. I reluctantly replied, “I’ll go.”

  “Lucius! No!” protested Thea.

  “He’s right. This is the only way. If we keep running or if I go now, I feel we will end up at the same place anyway; an inevitable path. I’ve known this deep down but been reluctant to accept my fate. You know it too, Thea.”

  I could see the reluctant acceptance on her face, and she said, “Okay.”

  “I have a condition Namir.”

  “State your terms,” replied the mage.

  “We want to talk to Lira.”

  This was the only opportunity to see the Celestial. The enemy needed me unharmed for a reason and so, I found a bargaining chip. The mage scowled and had taken a moment to reflect: “She is weak and powerless. If you’re planning to cross me, boy, you’ve already failed...” Namir looked to the ground and continued, “Fine, you can see her. Do we have an accord?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. First things first,” said Namir.

  A sudden flash of light caught me off guard and the ground where Thea stood was discoloured; she was gone...

  “Thea!” I shouted. I desperately dropped to my knees and rummaged around the dead leaves. My heart sunk believing in the worse. “Where is she!!!”

  “Safe - in a realm where light and darkness still meet. I promise...”

  I repeated, “Where - is – she?”

  “Aww, young love,” smirked the mage, “such aura can fuel a mage’s power for a millennium. If only he had both hearts...”

  I still searched the ground expecting to see a finger poking up from the soil. Namir sighed and conjured a mirror. I saw Thea stood alone on a cobbled road, shouting my name. Her eyes were tearful, and it pulled at my core. A shadow flew over her head.

  “Believe me now?” mocked Namir.

  A heavyweight pushed on my chest and I wanted to wipe the smirk off his pale face. I had to control myself and agree to his conditions because Thea was not alone; Zahar kept a close eye on her.

  “Good. Now it is time to fulfil your end of the bargain.”

  “Not before I see Lira.”

  “Yes – but remember this Lucius, cross me and your Thea will perish...”

  The red ley-line appeared again and Namir noticed my reaction towards the strange glow.

  A staff magically appeared in the mage’s hand. I stared at the detail and noticed a pentagram on the black crystal. Namir owned a ley-line key, which meant one thing; he was a ley-line rider, but not like Sedgwick.

  “How?”

  “Confused?” patronised the pale man. “Not everything is black and white, boy. Even children of the dark can possess a key, but the main difference between ours is that this staff can only open deceased ley-lines. The earth energy that has been touched by Darkness; I can control.”

  “Orion opened a dead ley-line.”

  Namir smiled: “You opened it, not the sword because you have the essence of Light and Darkness. Why else have we pursued you for so long?”

  The Crow of No-man’s land words floated into my mind: There has to be the right balance between light and darkness within the human heart for a Celestial to enter a human body.

  “Are you ready, Lucius Domhill?”

  “Yes, mage.” And we walked through the tampered energy.

  Chapter Fourteen - Fairy Light

  The deceased ley-line caused an effect that I was not used to. My head spun and I felt tired; my arms lethargically drooped and my muscles ached. The mage watched me struggle. “Just a precaution, Lucius. Don’t want you to make a scene now.”

  Somehow, Namir had conjured a fatigue spell, which was wise; I wouldn’t have trusted me too. I did tend to do things on a whim and if there was the slightest chance of rescuing Lira, I would’ve taken it; although, as I looked at my surroundings, escape
seemed impossible.

  We were enclosed in shadow. There were no walls, a roof, or the slightest inkling to whether we were outside. The only object that I could see was a golden sphere; inside was a white cloud.

  Namir grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the mysterious entity. My legs wobbled from my weight and I could feel the mages effortless strength in dragging me. Despite his thin frame, he was stronger than he looked, and he threw me to the floor; I propped myself up against the glass.

  My enemy knelt beside me and mockingly said, “Don’t be too long, Lucius. Lira is tired and needs her rest.”

  Namir stepped backward and disappeared into the shadows.

  My back had a sudden warm touch like someone had placed their hand on my bare skin.

  The realm was quiet until a distinct sigh occurred in the sphere.

  “Lucius.”

  The call of my name caused me to jump slightly.

  The voice was as warm as its touch and for the first time in a while, I felt safe.

  “Lucius. Look at me child,” called the voice, again.

  “Lira?”

  I fell to the floor and managed to turn my body towards the spherical glass; someone was in the cloud. The moment had finally come to meet the Light, the being who chose me, the being that started all this. I should have felt happy to finally meet her, but all I had was an anger that had built up over the years of negativity.

  The cloud shone bright and the particles manifested into a small fairy-like creature. She was no bigger than Sammy but was incredibly pretty. She had elven features from a classic fantasy novel, golden hair, and colourful wings that would’ve made the brightest rainbow appear bland.

  There is a reason why I’ve never described Lira’s appearance before now. It is because no one had truly seen her; how can you describe light? She had only appeared in sound and I was the first to set eyes on her physical form.