The Darkness Within

by E. M. Aguilar

  Narah forced herself to stop. The little girl screamed and barred her teeth. The girl changed before her eyes to a sickening beast.

  The beast said, "Come to me. I haven’t had anybody to talk to."

  She said, "What are you?"

  "It doesn’t matter, my dear. Come far away from the light."

  Suddenly, Brutan and Charles stood next to her. Each held their weapon in their hands. The creature hissed and disappeared.

  "Hah!" Brutan said. "What was that?"

  Charles said, "I think it was a demon. I remember an old wife’s tale about a demon who disguises themselves as children to lure people to their deaths. My mom always said these creatures are now imprisoned in the Darken Vale."

  Brutan said, "Could Cyrus opened this Darken Vale?"

  The Shade said, "I cannot see how Cyrus could to this."

  Charles said, "I don’t mean he created this creature. However, if Cyrus’s magic indirectly caused this Vale to be weakened, we are in big trouble."

  •••

  Night had fallen and Captain Mercer had not entered the castle to show his respect to him. The emperor glared at Barthrow. His advisor waited patiently.

  "Blasted, I am the emperor. I shall not wait any longer."

  Barthrow said, "Wait, he is coming."

  "Look around you. Nobody is here except us."

  As Hawkney said this, a large mist appeared at a corner of the room. A dark figure stepped out. The emperor grabbed his royal scepter for protection.

  Barthrow said, "Captain Mercer, it is good for you to pay your respects to the emperor."

  Hawkney stared at Captain Mercer. He was wearing a dark cloak and armor.

  The emperor said, "Captain Mercer you look ill."

  "I have never felt better," Captain Mercer said.

  When he spoke, the emperor felt the chill of the grave. Captain Mercer came closer to his throne. Hawkney didn’t want him to touch him.

  "What happened to your face?" the emperor asked.

  Captain walked up the steps to his chair.

  A realization hit the emperor. Hawkney said, "You look ..."

  "Dead," Captain Mercer said. "No, sire, I am the undead."

  "What?"

  Barthrow said, "Hawkney, Captain Mercer is here to serve you."

  "What happened to you?"

  His advisor said, "Captain Mercer sold his life to kill the Drakus Vinnikai and to serve you."

  The emperor nodded and stared at the many tattoos imprinted on Captain Mercer's face.

  Barthrow said. "Look out your throne room window."

  The emperor was glad to move away from Captain Mercer. He was relieved to be away from such a hideous man. Hawkney looked out through his windows and saw his city. He wondered where all his people had gone to. The streets were dark. Then he saw something in the dark. It was men standing very still. Their eyes glowed scarlet red.

  Captain Mercer said, "This is your army."

  The emperor shuddered.

  CHAPTER 52

  It was early morning and his Familiar appeared in front of his face. Cyrus didn’t want to move. He wondered if his dreams had become reality. He opened his eyes and saw Grrl staring at him.

  The wolf said, "Master, you require some food. Do you want to hunt with us like the ancients? You are our pack leader after you killed my mate."

  "I don’t know how I shall hunt with you. I am human."

  Grrl said, "So be it. We shall get you some food."

  The wolf pack left with her. Cyrus stood and looked at an empty forest. He felt light-headed and elated.

  "Reza," Cyrus said.

  His Familiar came to him and said, "What do you require, Master?"

  "I don’t understand why Grrl said I killed her mate. I don’t remember doing that."

  Reza said, "You changed and killed their pack leader. Do you not remember?"

  Cyrus pondered and said, "No. Reza do I have this ability?"

  "Yes, Master," Reza said. "And I also have this ability."

  "Reza, change into a wolf," Cyrus said.

  The Familiar didn’t change. Reza said, "Master, you have to use your magic."

  Cyrus relaxed and felt the wellspring of his magic converge into his body. Cyrus willed his Familiar to change into a wolf. At first, the Familiar’s shape didn’t change but then Reza started to change into a resemblance of a wolf. The face was oddly shaped, and the paws looked like hands. Cyrus started to picture in his mind the image of a wolf. Reza started to look more like a wolf.

  "Return," Cyrus said. Reza changed back into the spherical shape. Cyrus spied his surroundings. He focused his magic on a rock. The rock exploded into dust.

  His magic flowed. It spilled and moved throughout his body. Cyrus looked at his hands. Lightning sparkled along his skin. He finally knew what real power felt like. He was a force of nature. He could do anything. Scales grew from his skin. A long snout started to protruded from his face. Large wings beat to the rhythm of the wind. His mind started to change. His mind was not human anymore. His last consciousness of humanity was erased away. He flew to the heavens to hunt. He felt right. This was his true form. He heard the wolves howling.

  •••

  Darrin’s army was moving steadily north to the capital. They met more refugees travelling away from the capital carrying whatever they could. A girl in a back of the cart looked at him, and her eyes looked like Brandon. Her face was scared and confused.

  Darrin said to his commander, "When shall we be in the position to see the capital."

  "By the end of tomorrow’s march."

  Darrin said, "Tonight, we will gather all the commanders and prepare for battle."

  Darrin felt a trickle of fear not for the coming battle but for the surprises the emperor had in store for him. He was alarmed because his scouts had not returned. He wanted some type of information. He didn’t like going into battle without knowing the enemy’s defenses. The whole day came without incident. He made up his mind.

  Darrin said, "Commander Narthlo, something is brewing at the capital. I have to know what is happening."

  Narthlo said, "Your scouts will return. They must have been detained, for some reason."

  "I already assembled a team of scouts. I will lead the next scouting party. When I am away, I want you to be in command."

  Narthlo said, "Sir, you are too valuable for this mission. Let me go instead."

  Darrin said, "No, I have to go."

  •••

  Darrin and his group of five guards set out through the night. They journeyed first on horseback. And when they were half a league away from the capital, they traveled on foot. The two moons gave them light to travel by. As they got closer to the capital, a thick fog blanketed the forest.

  He led the way. Something was wrong. Darrin could feel it his bones. He was repulsed by the mist. He stopped and motioned for the others to wait. He crouched on the ground and slithered toward a ridge. He knew this area would show the walls of the capital from this far distance.

  He peered through the bushes. He couldn’t discern the ramparts of the capital because the fog obscured the walls. Yet, he did perceived some royal troops standing quietly. He couldn’t see them clearly in the dark. He wondered why the Royal soldiers waited without light. The mist rolled around the soldiers creating fissures of small waves around their movements. Darrin saw flashes of light. The eyes of the troops glowed scarlet.

  He hastily moved away. He looked for his men but they had disappeared. Dark clad soldiers surrounded him. Darrin took out his sword.

  "Surrender," a royal soldier said.

  Darrin shivered. The voice sounded like it came from a crypt.

  He said, "Where are my men?"

  "Dead," the royal soldier said.

  More soldiers came closer to him. Darrin attacked the closest figure and cut off the hand holding the wicked saber. But the soldier kept on coming. Darrin didn’t hesitate. He somersaulted over them and landed far away from them. He ran
toward his horse. Other Royal soldiers came out of the trees. They moved with an unearthly grace and moved directly in front of him. Darrin saw their glaring eyes. He parried a blade thrust and sliced through his enemies.

  Darrin ran past them. He tried not to panic. He knew he could get away. He remembered a few things he had learned back at his homeland. He needed time to get to the horse.

  The group of dark soldiers surrounded him again. Darrin was getting closer to the horses. He was trapped. He summoned his Diten and concentrated. He recited the warrior’s chant of the flaming blade. Nothing happened then his sword sprouted flames. The dark enemies flew away from him. Darrin didn’t hesitate and struck the first interloper, and watched as the blade struck home. The soldier blew into dust.

  Darrin ran through the opening and struck as many of the dark figures surrounding him. He ran with breakneck speed. After a few minutes, the flaming sword ceased. He heard the snickering of the horses. They were a little further than he anticipated. The horses were waiting in a set of bushes. He hoped this was a sign that his other scouts were alive. The mist made it difficult to discern any other shapes. He jumped on top of his steed and rode off. He was relieved but his warrior’s sense felt something odd. He ducked. A sword sliced and missed him by inches.

  Glowing eyes stared back at him. Darrin had a sinking feeling. He forged ahead. He thought for a brief second he was going to die. He smoothly cut off a royal soldier head. The horse fell back. The other royal soldiers attacked him. Darrin counter attacked, stabbing and swinging his sword. He held them at bay. Darrin let the horse navigate the night. He saw the wisps of the fog end just a few feet away from his camp. He sped faster. The dark soldiers stopped at the edge of where the mist stopped. He passed into the open forest. Darrin looked back and saw the glowing eyes of the dark soldiers.

  CHAPTER 53

  Charles awoke to a crystalline morning. Narah and Brutan were already awake eating their breakfast. Last night was eerie. He thought evil was stirring along the forest.

  "You are finally awake," the Shade said.

  Charles nodded and ate a small breakfast of beef jerky and water.

  He said, "Shade, do you need more rest? You hardly slept last night."

  The Shade said, "Brutan took the last watch. I got sleep."

  The Shade moved away. Charles still felt he could have handled this mission alone. He could even manage with the spirits roaming the night. As a tracker, he knew what and where to go in the forest. Charles looked at the clear blue sky. In the distance, he saw a large bird. It swept and soared higher. He looked away from the bird. The Shade stood next to him.

  "Charles, something is odd about that bird," the Shade said.

  Charles was about to say something when he heard it screeching in the air.

  Charles said, "That thing flying is not a bird."

  Brutan said, "What is that thing?"

  Charles raised his hand over his face to shield the sun from his eyes and watched as the light reflected off the creature’s back. Maybe this creature was a griffon. The beast started flying toward their direction. Charles thought his mind was playing tricks on him. The beast was getting larger.

  The Shade said, "It can’t be."

  Charles said, "Take cover."

  They all ran and hid in the foliage. As the creature came closer, Charles saw the long sinewy body and large reptilian head. It was a dragon. The beast wings flew upon the currents of air. It was the scarlet red and then changed into a snowy white. The creature was terrifying and beautiful. It sped past them. A flurry of wind split through the forest. Charles couldn't believe what he saw. Dragons were not real. The beast flew higher and turned in lazy circles. The beast issued a blood-curling scream. Charles flattened to the ground closer to the underbrush. Brutan was about to bolt into the open field. The Shade held a steady hand over him. His own body started to tremble. Dragon fear gripped them.

  Charles dug his hands into the dirt. His heart was racing. Terror took hold of him. He wanted to run away, but he knew if he did, the dragon would capture him. He looked toward Brutan and saw the fear etched in his face. The Shade was still trying to calm him. Brutan was shaking like a tree in a windstorm. It took all of Charles’s strength not to run. He wanted to yell and scream. Involuntarily, his legs were moving. He ran out into the open. The Shade saw this but she couldn’t do anything. She was too far away.

  Animals ran in all different directions. Charles couldn’t focus on his thoughts. He plunged into a group of bushes. Leaves and branches scratch across his face and arms. Charles stumbled, crawled, and kept on running. A large shadow came over him. He turned and saw the beast flying toward him. He tried to scream but nothing came out. The dragon swooped at him with claws extended. Air spun around him. He heard the sound of the wings whipping. As terrified as Charles was, he marveled at the creature before him. The Shade suddenly stood in front of him.

  The Shade said, "Stop!"

  Amazingly, the dragon halted. Charles almost passed out. The Shade muttered words in some type of language. The dragon roared and flew away.

  Charles uttered, "What, what did you say?"

  "Something, I learned," the Shade said.

  Charles didn’t question her. The Shade had more skills than he thought.

  •••

  Darrin doubled the guards at the camp. He was with his senior commanders. Weariness showed all over his face. However, as tired as he was, he still had enough energy to devote to this meeting. They had been discussing at length what to do. This was the first time he wished he had the vast resources like the emperor and had the mages guild to consult. They could only speculate what these dead warriors came from. Darrin thought if he had a troop of paladins like in the old days, he could have battled against these supernatural foes.

  Some senior members wanted to attack the dead army, but other commanders wanted to leave and find some wizards to help them. Darrin didn’t know any mages that would be sympathetic to their cause. Darrin called an end to this meeting, feeling he didn’t accomplish anything. He went to his tent exhausted and drifted into a fitful sleep.

  He awoke after a few hours. A commander was roughly shaking him.

  "Darrin wake up. We need you," the commander said.

  "What?" Darrin said while sitting up.

  The commander said, "Sir, Captain Mercer wants to talk to you."

  Darrin walked out of his tent still wearing the same clothes he wore from last night. The sun should have crested on the horizon but the sky was dim with fog. He was confused. It was morning. He followed his senior commander to the edge of camp. The smell of rotten flesh hit him. His guards were holding their weapons looking outwards. Lanterns were posted, still flickering at the perimeter. A dark rolling fog was a few feet away from his guards. He saw dim silhouettes of warriors scattered among the mist. A dark-clad soldier emerged. He was wearing black armor. His eyes shone through his helm. A large broadsword hung from the black knight’s back.

  "Captain Mercer?" Darrin said.

  "Yes, we meet again," Captain Mercer hissed.

  "What do you want?"

  "Give me Cyrus," Captain Mercer said.

  "I do not know where he is."

  A line of undead soldiers appeared holding their weapons, their eyes blazing red.

  "Do not lie to me!" Captain Mercer said.

  He motioned with his arm and more dead soldiers appeared.

  He said, "Then you will come with us, Darrin."

  Darrin’s men yelled. He knew they couldn’t win this battle. He noticed the Royal soldiers surrounded his camp. They were trapped.

  Darrin said, "I will go. Men stand down. Tell commander Narthlo he has command."

  •••

  Darrin was stripped of his weapons. A tall undead soldier grabbed him and tossed him on a horse. He felt sharp pain where the soldier touched him. Darrin didn’t scream though he wanted to. He kept his head held high for his men to see. The stench of the undead made him gasped. He smiled
throughout this hell ride.

  Traveling through the mists, he saw several hundred undead soldiers surrounding his army. He was disheartened. There was no way they would survive a battle. The emperor would never get Cyrus, he vowed to himself. If he got Cyrus’s power, the emperor could rule the world.

  After a league, the walls of the capital came into view. He saw creatures patrolling the battlements. Their party travelled through the front gate. No fires or lanterns lit the streets. Nor did he see people walking along the buildings. The city was deserted and seemed dead.

  Darrin didn’t want to look at the empty buildings and streets, for the fog whispered to him. Shapes moved in and out of the mist-odd flowing things he couldn’t describe. He tightened his fingers on the reins. A buzzing noise started to emit from up ahead. The fog lifted and Darrin saw the strange spires of a castle jutting into the air.

  He remembered reports of the new castle the emperor was building but seeing this thing was horrifying and ugly. He looked at it at first in awe and then later in terror. It was an edifice of fear. The castle seemed to spiral upwards with points as sharp as a long spear. He held his breathe while they transverse through the castle’s strange walls. They stopped at the front steps and saw creatures dressed in armor.

  The creature said, "A prisoner?"

  "The leader of the rebellion, Darrin Masters," Captain Mercer said.

  The creature laughed a hideous cry. Darrin was roughly taken off his horse and led into the castle. He didn’t want to stare at the demon but the smell of the creature made him cough uncontrollably. It lingered as he moved into the large entranceway. They traveled into a long corridor. A dark-robed mage stood in front of a high doorway.

  "We’ve been waiting for you," the black mage said.

  The door opened. A blast of pungent air hit him. The room was circular in shape and torches in sconces lit the room. However, the darkness overwhelmed the light. A marble altar stood in the middle. Blood stained the top.