The Eternal Darkness (The Jake Thomas Trilogy - Book 3)

by Steven A. Tolle

  The demon stopped a dozen paces from Jake, a smile crossing its face as it saw their expressions. "Were you expecting something else?" the demon laughed softly. "Something more sinister? I am Narimus, master of my followers and lord of this world."

  Jake, swallowing his fear, stepped forward, holding the sword ready. The demon lord smiled more broadly at that. “Do not be foolish, Jake,” the demon told him. “I know that you faced Creatos, but you cannot hope to stand against me, even with your little cleric friend. Even my enemy was unable to do so and he is far more powerful than you. Release the sword and serve me, and I will let the girl live.”

  “I will never serve the likes of you,” Jake stated.

  “That is what my former apprentice, the other from your world, said as well, until I showed him the true extent of my power,” the demon lord said. Its beautiful face twisted in contempt. “I assume that you did not leave him alive. Bruce was always overconfident in his powers.”

  “I am not Bruce,” Jake said softly. “I only want the people of this world to be free of you.”

  “You have no power to compel me,” the demon stated as its lips twisted with scorn. “In fact, I do not even have to raise my own hand against you.” With that, doors opened on either side of them and demons poured in. Jake saw Imps and the female demons, as well as several pairs of the male red demons.

  Reacting, Jake launched a blast of power against the demon lord, driving him back. Pulling Hailyn close, they attacked the demons as they closed. Imps exploded as their power struck, but the female and male demons were able to withstand their blows. Demon fire struck at them, crashing into their defenses, the sounds reverberating throughout the hall, while the demon lord stood back and observed, a smile on its face.

  When the demons came close enough, Jake launched himself forward, striking out with the sword. The sword flared as he sliced through one of the female demon, and it exploded, forcing Jake back. A male demon came charging in, reaching for the sword. Jake hit it with his power, knocking it back, and then followed with a blow from the sword. The demon fell to ground, clutching at its side and Jake finished it with a blast of power.

  He stepped back, moving closer to Hailyn. The demons had backed away, not wanting to get within reach of the sword, but were still sending black fire at them. The sheer amount was staggering. Jake focused his power on defending against the demons’ attacks when he felt tendrils of the demons’ power slipping past his defenses, burning his skin. The clamor of the battle was deafening as they fought to a relative stalemate.

  Suddenly, the demon lord entered the fray, sending a bolt of power streaking at Hailyn. Under duress from the other demons, the blow took her by surprise. Crashing past her defenses, it blasted her away, sending her tumbling back towards the wall, her robes smoldering. She tried to rise, but fell back.

  “Hailyn!” Jake cried and ran back towards her. With a savage cry, the demons followed. Enraged, he spun back into them, swinging the sword. Several fell to his assault, the sword flaring each time it struck, before the demon lord launched an enormous blast of dark power. Jake brought up the sword, drawing on its power, to meet the attack, but the blow still staggered him, pain shooting through his body as the demon fire burned into him.

  He tried to regain his balance when another blow rocked him. As he reeled back, one of the male demons leapt forward and grasped his hand that held the sword. With a sudden yank, it tore the sword from his hands, sending it sliding back towards the other demons. Jake blasted the demon off of him as the other demons scattered out of the way of the sword. Jake drew in his power as he started forward to try to recover the sword.

  “Enough,” the demon lord ordered, stepping forward. It lifted an arm, a tight ball of black fire surrounding its hand, pointing at Hailyn. “Release your power or I will kill the cleric.”

  Jake felt his frustration and fear rise. He glanced back at Hailyn. She was still trying to rise, but her power was gone. A strike from any of the demons would kill her. Seeing no other option, he released his power.

  “Good,” the demon lord said as it smiled. “I will teach you the true meaning of power, but I must have your oath. Kneel and say, ‘I live to serve you,’ and I will spare the girl.”

  As the demon lord stared at him with those cold eyes and the other demons laughed, an image flashed in his mind. It was Bruce, absorbing the demons’ life energy in the northern fortress. It destroyed those demons, he recalled.

  Can I do it? He knew how to find those points of life energy, but what would it do to him? As he hesitated, he heard Hailyn moan in pain behind him. That sound stiffened his resolve. I will not let her die. Forgetting about the cost, he shook off his doubts, reached out with his mind and seized those burning points of energy, pulling in the life force of the demons.

  …

  His hand tight on his staff, Jonas sent a golden blast of power into the demons coming around the cluster of rocks where he and Dominic were fighting for their lives. Dominic, blood flowing from several wounds, was fighting the last soldier while Jonas engaged the demons. With a sudden change of movement, Dominic closed with the soldier, driving his knife home. The man fell as Dominic moved back towards Jonas.

  Before Jonas could react, a red male demon leapt from around the rocks, closing with him. Dominic did not hesitate. He leapt forward and intercepted the demon, driving his sword into its side. The demon howled and spun, striking Dominic with its fist. His armor absorbed the blow, but the force sent him flying back into a boulder. Jonas heard his head slam against the stone and Dominic fell to his knees, leaving a bloody streak on the stone. He tried to get up, but he staggered and fell forward.

  The demon began to close with Dominic. Jonas, his fear for his lifelong friend surging, unleashed a blast of power the drove all of the demons back. He ran over towards Dominic, ignoring the demons for moment, feeling their power burn into his back. He reached Dominic, who was still trying to rise, and stood before him. He saw the demons approaching, their dark power ready.

  He felt a serenity descend over him. He smiled, which caused the demons to hesitate for a moment. “Come and try me, demons. I do not fear you or death,” he said in a loud voice. Grounding his staff, he prepared to stand over Dominic and fight their enemies as long as he had breath in his body, just as Dominic had done all of those years ago.

  …

  The demons’ life force burned and savaged Jake’s senses as he continued to draw it in. Despite the pain, there was an ecstasy as well. The force was wild, but it was also power, making him feel stronger than ever. His whole body was quivering with the effort to control it; it was like a beast trapped in a tiny cage.

  He felt the emotions of the demons flow in as well, a towering rage, a need for control, and a contempt for all life. His lips pulled back in a snarl as these feelings ripped through his mind. As he struggled to control these emotions, he felt something else as well. Underneath it all, driving the other emotions, was a deep, unquenchable sense of loss.

  Riding these emotions, he looked contemptuously at the demons before him, which were desperately trying to cut off Jake’s connection. Only the demon lord was not moving about; it was just standing there staring at Jake as he drew more power in.

  Lost in the swirling sensations of power and emotions, Jake was unaware that his blue eyes were turning black.

  …

  Pain surged through Jonas, as more of the demons’ power broke through his magic, his flesh smoking where it burned. He fought with all of his might, but he could not gain the advantage over the demons. He could also feel the beginnings of the exhaustion that came when he wielded power for a long time. Dominic was still unable to gain his feet, the severe blow to his head incapacitating him.

  Rocked back by a combined attack, Jonas was pushed into Dominic. Jonas felt his feet slip out from under him as he tumbled back. He heard a triumphant shout from the demons as they surged forward. He caught himself and tried to focus his power, but one of the female de
mons had already leapt for him, claws extended. He tried to bring his staff around, but he was already too late.

  Just before the demon reached him, a beam of the purest white light struck it, blasting it away and reducing it to ash. Jonas saw the runes of his staff flare brilliantly and his power spike.

  “The Guardian!” he heard a demon cry. He looked over and saw a tall figure standing on the top of a nearby boulder, glowing in an aura of silvery light, striking at the demons. Jonas surged to his feet and joined the figure in attacking the demons. Between them, they quickly destroyed the demons before they could flee.

  Panting from the effort, Jonas looked over at the figure. He saw the figure gesture towards him. Warmth spread through his body, healing his wounds and restoring his strength. He heard Dominic curse and turned to look at him, ready to heal him. He saw Dominic push himself up, his wounds gone and eyes clear and focused. Jonas turned back towards the glowing figure, but it was gone.

  “What just happened?” Dominic asked as he picked up his sword.

  “I think that we are needed inside,” Jonas said. “Things are coming to a head.”

  They began to make their way back towards the entrance when Dominic halted him and pointed behind them. Jonas craned his head and saw a large group of soldiers moving through the rocks.

  “We can outrun them,” Jonas said.

  “Maybe, but it will do no good,” Dominic said, looking ahead.

  Jonas turned and spotted armed men in the rocks, heading straight for them.

  …

  One by one, the demons collapsed into heaps as Jake drew out all of their life force. His whole body felt like it was on fire, burning with power, as he watched them fall. Soon, the only one left was the demon lord. Jake tried to pull harder at that connection, but he reached the limit of what he could hold.

  “Now you see, fool,” the demon lord spat. “I am eternal and your mortal flesh can never take that from me.” It crossed its arms. “Release me now or I will make you suffer more than you have already earned.”

  “Let us go,” Jake ordered as he pulled harder on his link with the demon.

  The demon lord laughed. “Do think I can be controlled? You are more the fool than I thought.” Its eyes bored into Jake’s. “Release me,” it repeated.

  “Maybe I’ll destroy you instead,” Jake snarled and unleashed a burst of black fire at the demon. The demon lord blocked the attack and countered with its own dark power. Jake was forced back by the demon’s might, but continued to draw on its life energy. With the dark power surging through his body, he felt invincible. Laughing, he stuck back.

  He and the demon lord circled each other, exchanging streaks of midnight fire, shaking the throne room with their battle’s intensity.

  …

  Sprinting to the boulders closest to the entrance, Dominic knelt near Jonas, keeping his eyes on the approaching men. “When I tell you, we will run for the entrance,” he said quietly. “When the enemy comes after us, I will turn and fight while you continue on.” He saw the look in Jonas’ eyes. “No arguments, Jonas. You can do nothing against these soldiers. Your fight is inside.”

  Jonas reluctantly nodded. Dominic motioned him to get ready. As they prepared to move, there was a faint sound of rocks sliding against each other behind them. Dominic quickly pulled Jonas behind him and faced the threat.

  “Dominic?” a familiar voice softly called.

  Dominic and Jonas exchanged a look, and then Dominic replied, “Celric, over here.”

  Celric came around one of the other boulders, spear in hand. He motioned with his hand and more men with spears ran past towards the soldiers. Celric came over and knelt next to them.

  “What are you doing here?” Dominic asked.

  “As I held Decan in my arms, I thought about what you were doing,” the man replied. “How could I let you fight for our freedom from the Dark Ones while I sat in my home? After Redric made an impassioned plea to me, I choose to help. I sent runners to the other friendly clans, requesting men. Nearly two hundred showed up and we marched night and day. I was concerned that we would not reach you in time. When we approached and I heard the thunder of Jonas’ power, we ran to help.” He motioned towards the approaching soldiers. “We will take care of these while you deal with the Dark Ones inside.”

  “How did you know we would be here?” Dominic asked.

  “We found a friend along the way,” Celric said, pointing behind him. They looked and saw Elis, glowing with power, alongside Celric’s men.

  “Now, go and kill the Dark Ones,” Celric said with a smile. “We will guard your back.”

  …

  “Do you see the futility of resistance?” the demon demanded of Jake, dropping its attack. They had battled to a stalemate, as neither of them could gain an advantage over the other. “Do you now understand that you can never defeat me? You are mortal and will tire eventually, then I will have you.”

  Jake gained some space from the demon lord, while he continued to pull in its energy. He felt an overwhelming frustration that despite the power he controlled, he had not been able to destroy it. The emotions he had pulled in were slowly overpowering him. He was lost in the desire for power and control.

  There is another way, the warm voice from his long-ago dream unexpectedly said in his mind.

  He stiffened at the voice, suddenly confused. Then the emotions returned like a wave, washing away his uncertainty.

  Adrift in the ecstasy the power swirling through his body, he almost did not feel the hand on his leg. Surprised, he looked down to see that Hailyn had crawled over and was kneeling next to him, her hand resting on his thigh. He saw that she was badly burned. Despite her injuries, Jake could see that she had a terrified look on her face, horrified over his transformation. Jake, elevated by the dark magic, smiled callously at that look of fear. Was he not, a part of him seemed to whisper, now so far above them that Hailyn and all of the rest were right to fear him? Did he not hold the power of life and death in his hands?

  Jake continued to look at Hailyn, secure enough in his power to ignore the demon lord’s efforts to break free. He stared into her eyes. Her golden-brown eyes held fear and…something else. He jerked back with a start. Her fear was not of him, but for him.

  “I love you, Jake,” Hailyn whispered. “Let it go.” Jake halted pulling in the power, suddenly still. “I love you,” she repeated softly.

  You can still choose, child, the warm voice said in his mind. Jake felt those overpowering emotions suddenly vanish, releasing his mind from their control.

  Freed by Hailyn’s love and that voice, Jake spun, arms outstretched, and released the dark magic at the demon lord. He tried to expel every particle of that power, sending it surging out as he broke the connection with the demon lord. He fell to his knees, lightheaded and body trembling, as an immense blast of dark fire cut though the air to hammer into the demon.

  The demon lord, unbalanced by the sudden cutoff of the connection between it and Jake, had no time to prepare for the power that slammed into it. The dark magic stunned it like a physical blow, knocking it back, the blackness covering it. It tried to catch its balance, but fell onto the polished floor, landing of its back as the fire burned into it. It writhed on the floor, screaming, trying to master the energies racking its body.

  As the demon tumbled back, Jake forced himself to move. He lurched back to his feet and, in two steps, reached the sword. Not stopping, he reached down to snatch it up as he staggered towards the fallen demon. As soon as he touched it, brilliant white light erupted from the sword, throwing back the shadows.

  Unprepared, Jake screamed as the sword’s power burned into his hands. With faint residuals of the dark magic still in his body, his flesh smoked as if he had stuck them into a fire. In sudden agony, he wanted to cast the sword away, but he ground his teeth against the pain. He knew that this would be his only chance to succeed. If the demon recovered, he and Hailyn were doomed. The demon would no longer attempt to
convert Jake; it would simply destroy him, leaving Hailyn alone and defenseless. The thought of Hailyn in the demon’s control frightened him enough to force his hands to clutch the swordhilt, despite the searing pain. Trying to move as quickly as possible, he half-ran over to the demon, which had pushed itself back to its knees.

  As he stumbled his way towards the demon lord, Jake reached for his magic. There was a momentary hesitation, and then the magic responded and flowed into his body. Too late, he realized his mistake. His power encountered the remnants of the dark magic in his body. Jake felt as if his body was suddenly cut by a thousand razors, all at once. The pain in his ruined hands was nothing compared to the agony that ripped though his body. His skin split open in numerous fissures, the flesh at the edges smoking and curling. His renewed scream chased the demon’s, reverberating throughout the room. For a moment that seemed to last forever, he was balanced on the point of complete destruction.

  As the waves of anguish rippled through his body, he was barely able to hold on to consciousness. Only his fear of failing Hailyn, like an anchor in a storm, prevented him from letting go. Then, as suddenly as a thought, the burning pain receded as his magic cleared the dark power from his body. However, he was gravely injured, his strength failing. Without warning, warmth surged from the sword into his body, pulling the pain from him and beginning to heal the damage done. It was not instant, but he could feel his wounds begin to close.

  Free of the dark power, Jake’s body began to shine brightly with the blue light of his magic, magnified by the sword, pushing back the room’s shadows. He continued forward, closing the distance between him and the demon. Once he was within striking distance, Jake thrust the sword forward with all of his remaining strength.

  The demon, its beautiful features now marred by the dark fire it had absorbed, sensed the danger at the last second and twisted its body to avoid the blow. The sword missed its vital center, but pierced its side just below the ribcage. As the sword entered, it flared again and the demon screamed a cry of such agony that it seemed to shake the very foundation of the fortress. Hailyn could only cover her ears at the sound, desperately trying to focus on Jake.