Spirit Warriors The Tunnel Of Light

by M'tain Dubois

  Chapter 20

  Aden knew it was going to be hard getting to the barrier after leaving the city, he figured that his uncle might send someone to follow him but he hadn’t anticipated being joined by Tart and his idiotic lackey Jude for the trip.

  Tart and he had a long running hatred of one another, when Aden and his mother had arrived at the city for the first time they fought over the affections of a girl witch who was also knew to the city and although Aden had defeated Tart in the fight she still chose to be with him instead sighting that Aden just wasn’t evil enough for her taste.

  Allowing his anger to control him for the first time he cursed both of them using his powers as an incubus, he made it so every woman including her would find him repulsive and every male would feel the same for her making them outcasts among the entire city.

  It would make sense that Dorn would send him to eliminate Aden, he had told the three leaders the story of his beating Tart so they might give him some respect for thinking creatively in the use of his powers but now it was about to bite him back, quite literally. As they walked Tart kept a few paces ahead explaining that he could protect him better if he could see a threat coming, at the same time Jude walking behind them so he could “protect” them from enemies that might spring from behind.

  Aden knew better he knew they were just setting themselves in perfect positions so they could attack him simultaneously, they were just about out of the city now entering the thick black forest with it’s gloomy trees and fog that rolled along the ground leading up the path to the surface world, Aden was sure somewhere in between here and the exit to the surface they would attack and kill him or at least they would try.

  He scrambled his brain looking for a way out of the mess he was now in but he kept drawing a blank one of them he could maybe take care of but two? One would get to him before he could finish the other then the idea hit him.

  “I’m gonna climb the tree and see how much further we have to go and get some ceiling moss supposedly it can hide our scent from the giants.” Aden said climbing the nearest tree without waiting for them to answer.

  “Fine we’ll wait here and make sure no one sneaks up on you.” Tart growled with a low rumble.

  The moment Aden was out of ear shot Jude stepped in close to Tart. “We should just do it now this is as good a place as any besides I’m starving and his flesh smells good.” He whispered.

  “I agree but his heart is mine to eat understood you simpleton?” Questioned Tart meeting his eyes.

  “Why do you always talk down to me like that?” Frowned Jude with a slight dog whimper.

  “Because you’re stupid.” He answered shoving him backwards.

  “You’re not stupid Jude and he has no right to treat you the way he does, I’ve always liked you much more then him.” Offered Aden sitting in a lower branch of the tree just out of their jumping range.

  “No one asked you.” Tart snapped.

  “I didn’t say anyone did nor do I care.” Aden said staring deeply into Jude’s eyes as he reached out with his powers. “You see how he is Jude? He doesn’t want anyone defending you because he’s afraid you will realize how much better you are than him, in fact that is the whole reason everyone loves you.”

  Unable to look away from Aden’s gaze Jude talked like he was in a dream. “Everyone loves me?”

  “Yes, the same way you love me right?” Aden answered quickly.

  “Don’t listen to him Jude you fool! Get up there and kill him or I’ll…” Started Tart but before he could finish Jude backhands him sending him into a different tree.

  “You’ll what?!” Demanded Jude. “You’ll do nothing to Aden! I love him and he is right you are nothing! I am better than you!” He yelled jumping on him as the two of them rolled around clawing and biting one another in a bloody fight.

  Smiling Aden watched as slowly Jude got the upper hand with a final clamp around Tart’s throat, after a minute of struggling and gurgles Tart finally lies still as Jude rips out his heart and gulps it down before his howl echoes through the forest back to the city making Dorn think that the deed is done.

  “You will be safe now my love have no fear.” Jude said turning back into a human and hugging Aden as he dropped from the tree.

  “Thank you Jude, I told you that you were better than him.” Aden smiled.

  “Something troubles me and I feel ashamed to even ask but I know you are an incubus how do I know that you are not forcing me to fall in love with you.” Jude questions turning away.

  “Jude do you remember when Tart and I were fighting over that girl? Even though I wanted her I didn’t make her fall in love with me, I don’t use my powers to force anyone like that. Besides I didn’t know Tart was going to try and kill me you guys were sent to protect me, in fact we better hurry we are running behind and my uncle needs the reinforcements.” Aden said running off in the direction they were heading before the fight hoping to fool Jude completely.

  Quickly Jude catches up and grabs him by the arm and turning him around. “You don’t understand my love, the new king, your uncle did not want us to protect you he sent us to kill you, my howl was the signal that he wanted to hear so that he would know that you were dead. You are no longer safe in the kingdom without your father Dorn has betrayed you the only choice is to flee.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening.” Aden said flopping to the ground and shedding fake tears.

  “I am sorry Aden but it is not safe here you must go.” Urged Jude. “Get to safety my love.”

  “”It doesn’t matter where I go Dorn will hunt me down and find me.” Aden said putting power into his words as he looks at Jude. “Until he is dead I’m never truly safe and we can never be truly happy.”

  Shaking his head for a moment as he struggled against the power Jude finally smiles as if he has just had a great idea. “We were supposed to report back the details of your death to Dorn, I will go back and take him by surprise killing him.”

  “You would do that for us?” Aden asked.

  “I would do anything for you Aden, now run and get to the edge of the wood that is north of here and I will meet you at crow’s point when I am done.” He answered turning back into his werewolf form and running off towards the city.

  “Excellent that worked out better than I hoped, now dear uncle enjoy the rest of your day.” Aden said doubling back around as he headed to the meeting point near the barrier in the hope that his cloaked friend made it already.

  Far on the other side of the city a cloaked man tried desperately to hide in the morning shadows cast by the trees on the surface world, he hasn’t seen anyone following him, no whisper or hint of an enemy but he knows none the less that someone is on his trail.

  “Just a little further, please God let me make it.” He thought.

  “And where might you be going at this time of morning sulking about in the shadows of trees?” A haggard old witch questioned jumping through the branches above him.

  “Simply trying to get around the border and check it for Lord Dorn.” He answered.

  “King Dorn sent you? A cripple to spy on the light clans?” She questioned skeptically.

  “Who better to wonder around and get information than a cripple that the kind hearted light clan warriors would take pity on? That is until they smell your foul stench and blow the whole thing.” He snapped coughing.

  “An excellent strategy but I was sent to spy along with many others and you were not among those sent.” She answered landing on the ground in front of him.

  “And does the king often tell you everything he plans witch?” He questioned hobbling past her like she didn’t matter even though in his heart he worried what would happen if she attacked.

  “No, but you should watch your tone with me creature after all ally or not accidents happen in the wood.” She cackled walking after him as magic formed around her.

  Turning with speed she hadn’t anticipated the cloak man spins around burying sword in her
chest. “And you should be careful because you never know who you are challenging.”

  Back at the castle a bird landed in the throne room on the arm chair of Dorn before turning into a spirit and fading into the ground leaving only the note in its wake.

  Plucking the note off the ground Dorn reads it with a smile creeping across his face. “How terribly wonderful this is, three hours until the death of the warriors and with them the end of any hope the light clans had.”

  “My lord?” One of the giant guards said opening the door.

  “What is it?”

  “Jude has returned with the report you asked for.” He answered.

  “Send him in and then go rally all of our forces the entire army must be ready within the hour for the final attack on the barrier and the city of light, the five powers will be here shortly to witness the victory make sure we are ready before then.” Dorn said sitting back in the main throne.

  “We are here now Lord Dorn.” A voice said from behind the throne as five vampires stepped into the dim light. “It was troubling to hear that the other two leaders we assigned here have perished, are you sure that you can be successful without their help?”

  “My lord Gor I am sure.” He answered in a bow.

  “We will not come to your aid in this conflict Dorn.” The female named Josten said firmly.

  “I would never expect you to help, I only wish you here to witness our triumph so I may be considered for the empty throne at your side.” He answered.

  “Should you prove yourself by taking over the region the throne and all of it’s powers will be yours.” She answered.

  “I will prove to you that nothing escapes my grasp.” He answered turning and fling a dagger that buries itself in Jude’s chest.

  Casually the powers watch as the werewolf howls for a moment and then dies.

  “A masterful throw but what is his crime?” Questioned Gor.

  “I sent Yann’s son to parlay with the giants along with two werewolves to protect him, this was one of them, he and his comrade killed my nephew and then were going to use the news to get close and murder me. I had a raven fly follow and report back to me and now my nephew is dead but so are the traitors, my nephew was able to kill one of them before he died.”

  “You are a great tactician Lord Dorn we will have to remember that, you continue to impress us.” Josten smiled as the other powers around her turn into bats flying out a nearby window. “We will meet you in an hour to march on the barrier until that time we have had a long journey and must feed.”

  After the powers left Dorn rushed to Jude’s side finding him barely alive. “Tell me you were successful in killing Aden and then Tart and I shall heal you and give you a new place in my paradise.”

  “Tart and Aden are dead my lord.” He gasped. “Now please my reward.”

  “Here is your reward.” Dorn grinned stabbing him in the heart with a silver blade. “Now all the loose ends are tied up.”