Robbie sits next to a fire that illuminates the night. Gazing blankly at the popping wood that burns in the pit. Nora wraps her arms around him from behind and rests her head on his back.
“I could have ended this. I had him and didn’t kill him,” Robbie says.
“I’m sure you had your reasons,” Nora says.
Robbie nods.
“He may or may not have our kids,” Robbie says.
“What?”
“We don’t stop until this is over, okay?”
Nora nods.
“You think we are walking into a trap?” She asks.
Robbie nods.
“But it doesn’t matter. We destroy all the rubies and be sure Dumont has no way back to this world. We do not stop until this is over,” Robbie says.
“Let him have me, Robbie. As soon as he claims me, you kill me,” Nora says.
Robbie pulls her around and cradles her in his arms.
“We keep forgetting that we have to use our powers as one. We can do this, Nora. Neither of us will give in to him. Rest. In a few more hours and you will be completely healed.
A door made of solid gold deep beneath the castles countryside catches Robbie’s and Nora’s attention. They wait in the darkness a few moments before entering. The door opens to stairs that lead to endless gloom. Feeling no danger, they teleport their way close to the end of more than a hundred feet of stairs. Dirt, gravel, and large stones pave the way for more than two miles. Eventually, they see a dim light peek from an opening in the distance. Robbie takes Nora’s hand, and quickly they race to the light. They stop only inches away. Fear and curiosity hold them still. A glowing blur stands before them, like a large drip of water held in an invisible glass over twenty feet tall.
“Robbie,” Nora whispers.
Amazement dances in her stare.
“It may be the portal,” Robbie says, raising his hand to touch it.
Nora snatches his hand away from the terrifying glow.
It’s fine, Nora, he thinks. He again lifts his hand and pushes it through it, then slowly pulls it back out.
It is a portal, it has to be, he thinks. Nora takes a deep breath.
“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” she says, grabbing Robbie’s hand and leaping in.
They gasp. Wandering within the darkest part of the remarkable palace, they are forcefully pulled into a hidden horror of decaying corpses and staggering lost souls of the damned. Each one lingering in the entry way of the Dark World hoping to be the next to be claimed as Dumont’s warriors. Each of them determined to claim a body of their own. None of them were expecting a Szion to enter the Dark World. They scatter like scared children as Nora and Robbie prepare for a fight. Although the demons want no fight with them, their nauseated stomachs tell them, trouble is near. They roam cautiously.
“Robbie, is this …”
“Yes, the hidden Dark World. The gods were right. The Dark World has been opened.
Fog fills the air. The presence of Light is everywhere even though the entire world seemed to be abandoned. All life seems nonexistent. Almost every building is made of concrete resembling large tombstones.
Even though, it is the most devastating place they have ever been, they feel something magical about the place, a phenomenal sense of comfort and power. Weaker beings can get lost within the false magic the Dark World holds.
As they go deeper both Nora and Robbie allow themselves to create a new form of power. Power bonded by each other and bonded with the mysteriousness of the Dark World.
There is no turning back and nothing more to lose. Both are determined to keep their lives but know that upon succeeding in their mission, they may meet their deaths.
They roam cautiously until a strong wind races toward them. Preparing for battle, Robbie and Nora patiently wait. Controlled and strong they tighten their bond, creating a powerful shield around them. The wind pounds at their shield and flames fill the sky.
“Here we go!” Robbie says as they rise from the ground.
Without warning, their shield is broken and thousands of Light, Shadow, and Vampire attack them. They swing their spikes, slicing and stabbing their enemies. Robbie’s power runs through Nora. Not only could he feel his own blood rushing through his veins, but he could feel Nora’s blood as well.
Silver goo and blood covers them, and bodies begin to drop from the sky like rain. Each kill makes them stronger as they inhale the life and souls of the dead.
An echoing voice rings with laughter.
“Illusion is amazing isn’t it?” Dumont calls.
They search, but he is nowhere to be seen.
“Your plan to trap me here was brilliant. So incredible that I decided that was the best option for the two of you as well,” Dumont says.
“Mommy! Daddy!” the twins cry.
Nora and Robbie’s eyes search frantically for them.
“Where are they?” Robbie yells.
Dumont laughs again.
“In a few moments, you will start to feel dizzy, but don’t worry, you will be safe in there,” he says.
“What is he talking about Robbie?” Nora panics.
Slowly the entire Dark World seems to get smaller. Their vision seems to play tricks on them, as one by one buildings start to fade. Soon, Nora and Robbie once again find themselves in a small room covered in possessed rubies. They hear their children call out to them.
“No!” They yell.
“What did you do?” Robbie growls.
“You are in no ordinary room. I know those particular rubies cannot hold you, but within the walls lies the partial souls of each of the gods. The longer you stay in there the more they are taking from you. Sucking up your powers,” Dumont says.
“What? Why?” Nora asks.
“Poor naive Hingis. It was you the entire time. It is you they fear. Not me. I am nothing compared to the two of you. True, they made me stronger, and I got greedy, but I alone don’t even have half of your power,” Dumont says.
“No! You lie!” Nora roars.
“Do I? Think about it. You know as well as I do that, no being could accept one gods blessed soul without dying, it’s too powerful. They told you that I was blessed by all. That should have been your first clue. Second, what would make you think they themselves could not handle one of their own creations? Twice your family accepted a home from the gods and each time someone in your family died. Out of all the beings ever created, you two are the only ones not in their plans. You are the only ones that could challenge them. So they want you dead.” Dumont says.
Nora and Robbie stand in shock for a long moment. In a hysterical rage, Robbie growls and roars, pounding his fist on the rock walls. Chunks of stone shatter and his hands begin to bleed.
“Robbie, calm down,” Nora says, sitting on the floor against the wall.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! Where are my kids, you bastard?” he yells.
Nora curls her knees to her chest. She closes her eyes and feels JR and Lizzy playing happily. Not at all terrified as the calls made them sound. She smiles.
Robbie looks at her, then kneels down beside her.
“We failed. I’m sorry I let you down,” he says.
Nora looks at him, grabs his face with both hands, and grins.
“An amazing man once told me there is nothing we can’t do as long as we do it together,” she says.
Robbie pulls away and stands.
“He was wrong,” he says.
“Robbie come sit with me. I want you to feel something.”
“I can’t hear your thoughts, Nora. There are too many stones. I can feel our energy fading,” he says again hitting the wall.
“No, not that. Please come sit with me.”
He sighs and flops down next to her. She climbs into his lap.
“Close your eyes and feel me,” she says.
“Nora, don’t.”
“Robbie, please. Close your eyes and feel me.”
He looks at her and
nods. Closing his eyes was like being introduced to his Szion life all over again. He smiles.
“Do you feel them?”
Robbie nods.
“Our kids are fine, the gods have not turned on us or failed us in any way. He wants us weak. Doubting everything we believe in. Illusions and witchcraft. He can’t break us unless we let him. We don’t stop, remember. Not until this is over. We fight, right?” she says.
Robbie nods.
“There is no way out. The hold is too powerful,” Robbie says.
Nora smiles and gently kisses his lips.
“You can take me anywhere,” she says undoing his belt. “Make love to me, Mr. Hingi. Get me out of here,” she says stripping down to her underwear.
Robbie smiles and helps her pull her pants off. Nora tosses them across the room.
“Won’t you need those later?” Robbie asked.
“Shh.”
Robbie grips her bottom, sliding his fingers through the sides of her silk panties. Gripping them and her, he lifts her and sets her down gently.
Twenty minutes later they stand hand in hand in the center of the palace within the Dark World. Fearlessly they destroy all beings Dumont sends.
In mid-battle Nora can hear the calmness in Robbie’s heartbeat, she can see smiles on the faces of their twins. She can almost feel Robbie’s lips on hers. Robbie feels her thought’s and whispers I love you. Empowering her to help them create a shield that quickly forms around them. They turn toward each other and gaze at one another. If we die … Nora thinks. Robbie shakes his head. If we die, so do our twins.
Robbie replies silently. Flames slam into their shield, neither Robbie nor Nora reacts. It is only each other they see and hear. Their souls connect like never before. The fire vanishes and the earth shakes. Nora looks deep into Robbie’s eyes and smiles. She closes her eyes. A blast of energy shoots from their bodies, killing every creature around.
They drop to their feet. Nora opens her eyes and her hands shakes. Robbie frowns as her love empowered strength is replaced by sudden anger.
“Nora, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I can’t calm down.”
Her heart races and the bodies that lay beneath her feet make her anxious. Robbie’s soft voice irritates her and although she tries, she cannot calm down.
“I don’t understand. Aria is dead,” she says with a shaky voice.
“Nora, look at me. Your temper is your only weakness. Dumont knows it. Only feel me.”
Robbie grabs her trembling hands and compels her to look at him. Nora slowly calms, but terror rips through her.
“You must control your anger, Nora. Use me, Nora,” Robbie coaches.
The sky becomes cloudy and smells of smoke and blood fills the air. They walk cautiously through their mess of death until they reach a tower made of gold.
They lock in on their bond and again rise from the ground. With a sudden shock, they hit the ground from more than 30 feet up, landing on their backs.
Nora’s hands go cold, her heart weakens and she can no longer feel her body. She looks over to Robbie and tears fill her eyes when she sees him pinned in the same manner to the ground. Fear and uncontrolled anger fills her.
“No, Nora! You have to control yourself. There is a large ruby here. Bigger than I’ve ever felt before. Dumont has just used it against us. Look around. We have to find it. Feel only us. Hear only me. Nothing else matters, only us.”
Nora nods in understanding, but, by the way her eyes glow with fury, it is evident that she can only focus on killing the one responsible for impairing them. They try desperately to lock energies, but before they can do so, Nora is forcefully lifted into the air and a blinding light takes away her sight.
“Feel only us Nora!” Robbie yells.
“You two are much smarter than I thought you’d be, but did you really think things would be easy for you? The gods would have been better off destroying this world. This is my world!” Dumont says. “You didn’t honestly think, I would allow you to get away with killing my daughter, my only son, and destroy the home I spent many years claiming, did you? Dumont asks.
“You are growing weaker, Dumont. I can sense it,” Robbie says.
“Yes, but still much stronger than you and your temper driven wife right now.”
“Why this? How could you do this? You served as a protector to the Szion people for centuries,” Robbie says.
“Now, I serve no one. I think that is a much better life—don’t you, Szion? I spent my whole life serving, bound by a written rule to protect you selfish fools. As soon as I wanted a life of my own, they offer me death. Some thank you. Ten thousand years of dedication and they offer me a life as a human. They didn’t even have the decency to give me a young body. I was to live a few years and die,” Dumont answers.
“No. They felt the change in you. They knew that greed would overpower you,” Robbie says.
Dumont laughs.
“No matter, I left before they could do anything. Now the only thing standing in my way from complete freedom is you and your family. I need what you have, I deserve that power! I earned it. I slaved for ten thousand years for it. Why fight? Share your power. I’ll stay in my world and you stay in yours. We can be allies. We’ve both suffered great pain given by the gods. You may deny it, but your soul knows it to be true. Look at what they put you and your family through. You were born into a world controlled by fear and greed. A world you don’t fit in. A world that needs to be ruled by one that understands it,” Dumont says.
“As of now both worlds are one and neither will be yours!” Robbie yells, waving his hand and combining the two worlds.
Dumont laughs.
“Young Szion, it’s over for the two of you. By making the worlds one I can rule them both much easier,” he says.
“You won’t be leaving this side,” Robbie says.
Nora fights to see through the brightness, getting more frustrated by the second. She promises to rip Dumont’s head off the moment she gets free. How can I break his hold on us, Robbie?
We have to do this together. Nora, I can’t do this alone. Block him out of your head,
Nora takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes and wills herself to block Dumont out of her head.
“I love you, Nora. Not even death will keep us apart. Lizzy and JR love you, so forget about dying, if only for a moment. Dumont can’t completely hold us both. That ruby holds Szion and demons. Dumont holds you. You are not Szion! Break free from this hold. Destroy that stone, Nora! Use me. Take some of my energy,” Robbie says, pushing energy into her.
Nora’s body burns with heat until Robbie’s energy strikes her heart. Her stability returns and she can feel her feet. Warmth and tingling slowly moves through her body until she is in full control of herself. Within the blur, she sees the beauty and comfort that rest in Robbie’s eyes. She stares into them until anger no longer controls her and only then is her vision completely restored. She sees the large ruby stone in the far distance, next to a diamond figure, which shoots her with lightning, sending her flying into the gold tower.
Weak and injured, Nora climbs back onto her feet. There is very little fight left in her, yet she doesn’t give up. She looks over to Robbie, where he lies weak and powerless. Repeatedly she is struck. Each blast of light that hits her leaves a gaping wound as if she is struck by glass that strips her from her energy. She grows weaker, yet each time she climbs back on her feet. Robbie screams in pain each time Nora is hit, for he too is being struck and stripped of his powers and is fading fast. Dumont’s last blast sends Nora to her knees. The ruby is too far away. We both can’t die this way, she thinks. She glances over to Robbie. He no longer makes any sound, he only jerks every few seconds. Blood drips from every part of Nora’s body and she can barely move. Giving into everything she is, she draws her hands to her sides and close her eyes. Static flares from one hand to the other. She clenches her jaws to keep from screaming as pain slices through her. Thoughts of her and
Robbie’s first kiss, the first time she saw him smile, the first time they made love, and the last time she held her twins tumbles around in her mind. She hears Robbie’s heart fading and knows there is not much time before they are both dead.
Still on her knees, she raises herself from the ground. She glares at Dumont. As he gets closer his diamond figure shines brighter. She closes her eyes and releases the blood from her veins, forming a cylinder around her. Her blood spins wildly like a tornado until it is as hot as lava. With one hard push, she covers Dumont with her boiling blood. Even though Nora’s actions are not enough to kill him, it’s enough to release Robbie from his hold. With another weakening push, Nora pushes energy from her mutilated body into Robbie’s. She continually whips Dumont with hot blood until Robbie climbs to his feet. With one last push, Nora releases Robbie completely. She dangles limply in the air. Robbie slides his hand in hers. She gives him a weak smile.
“Hang on, Nora. Don’t stop fighting,” he says, with a heavy sadness in his tone.
Robbie kisses her and wipes blood from her face.
“It’s your turn. Use what I have left and kill him,” Nora says.
As Robbie accepts the last of Nora’s energy and power, his body glows. Dumont drags his skinless body off the ground and reforms his diamond figure.
“Poor, Robbie—all alone. Your Queen is dying,” he says.
Dumont blasts Robbie and Nora with a powerful blow with razor-sharp slivers of stone.
Violently Robbie and Nora drop to the ground. Nora collapses into Robbie’s arms, he gently lays her on the ground and kisses her forehead.
“Robbie now is the time to say goodbye to sweet Nora before the two of you die,” Dumont says.
From nowhere Light and vampires close in fast. Robbie ignites into flames. He lets out a yell that echoes throughout the land and causes a huge explosion. The smoke clears and silence settles.
“Your children will make me more powerful than any god!” Dumont yells.
Dumont taunts Robbie, looking for him in the smoky mess. Within the last wave of smoke Robbie appears, plunging his spike deep into Dumont’s chest.
Vilmo's Wrath: Deglon Blood Page 19