Narah said, "What?"
Cyrus said, "Narah, you have to leave. Darrin please take her."
Darrin and Charles took Narah away from him. She grabbed his arm.
She said, "You can leave with us."
"No, I have to finish this."
She said, "Cyrus, what will you do?"
"You will see."
Cyrus concentrated and transported them to the outskirts of the city. Cyrus held up his hand again and time flowed back to normal. He smiled and placed his hands up high. Magic flowed around him. The emperor looked at him, confused. Cyrus closed his eyes and felt for his power. He didn’t try to control his magic. He let it manifest and push outward.
•••
Narah, Charles and Darrin stood were at the very edge of the city. Her hand was still reaching out toward Cyrus. She looked up to the city walls and saw bright fires exploding from within. She wanted to run toward the city but Darrin held her back.
Darrin said, "He knows what he was doing."
She didn’t believe him. She felt something wicked was going to happen.
She said, "Do you feel it?"
Darrin said, "Yes, it was like when your parents were murdered."
She heard a loud noise and saw the Demon Emperor fly into the sky. Fire exploded and engulfed him. A loud piercing scream hurt their ears. The emperor still tried to fly away but the magic held him in a vise. Bright light exploded and she had to shield her eyes. The noise hit a crescendo and thundered. The emperor’s screams ceased. She looked up and everything was still. The dark mist was gone. Darrin was about to say something when a wind blasted them to the ground. She held onto a boulder while the wind whipped through them. Three large tendrils of fire encircled the city.
She knew Cyrus was in trouble. She couldn’t do anything. A storm came and thrashed the city. Large droplets of rain pelted the walls causing them to fall. Darrin grabbed her and they ran as far away as they could. Fire and rain flayed the capital. Narah fell and Charles grabbed her. The wind pushed them again. The noise stopped. The capital was in ruins.
Charles said, "Is it over?"
"Yes," Darrin said. "The emperor is dead."
She saw something a few yards away. It was Cyrus. He lay on his side not moving.
She said, "Cyrus, Cyrus!"
He looked up at her. She hugged him.
CHAPTER 57
The celebration had just begun in the Freedom Fighters camp. Cyrus sat with Narah and Darrin on a large table overlooking the whole encampment. Everybody was drinking and eating before them. Cyrus fingered his food. He was not hungry. He thought he would feel different after he defeated the emperor but he just felt dead inside. Darrin stood up and everyone hushed.
He said, "Congratulations, we have rid ourselves of the emperor! Without your help, this wouldn’t have happened." He paused and pointed. "Cyrus was instrumental in killing the emperor. We should give thanks to his aid and treat him with honor and respect. I also have an announcement. I will institute the Great Council of old. Princess Narah will be the head of this council."
Everybody hooted and hollered a round of congratulations. Darrin clapped his hands.
Darrin said, "Tonight we will celebrate. More food and drink!"
Cyrus heard some music. It was the sounds of dragons singing. He wanted leave. He thought his magic was just the beginning. He would find the towers and his destiny. He held on to Narah's hand and smiled at her. The dragon music faded.
About the Writer
Eric Aguilar (1970 to present) was born in Los Angeles, California. He started writing when he was in high school. He received a Fine Arts Degree in painting and drawing from CSULB and attended Otis Art Institute. Eric is a Filipino American writer of Fantasy, Horror and Sci-fi. He lives in southern California.
If you like this book, please visit his website: http://cyrusman183.wix.com/eric-aguilar-1
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The Darkness Within Page 30