The Demon's Return

by Selva, SK

  “You’re outnumbered now!” shouted Drok.

  “No, they’re not!”

  One by one, Balaraj’s army turned their heads to the sky, their triumph suddenly in question. Dozens of unicorns and fairies had flown down to the battlegrounds, gracefully supporting Thalia at their head.

  Roars erupted from the army as they raised their clubs and axes, preparing to swing. Drok stepped forward, his massive ogre legs shaking the ground with each step, club at the ready. It was the ogre’s sign of battle.

  A sudden arrow knocked the club out of his hands. Drok’s enormous scream filled the ears of the entire stadium.

  The centaurs had appeared to support their clan leader, bows aimed as they surrounded Balaraj’s army.

  “Think it’s a bit more even now,” Thalia shouted.

  Roshna could never remember a time where the land was as divided as it was now, and she knew it was her decision that had started it. If she had known it would come to this, would she have done it?

  And in her heart she knew she would have. Every creature had a right to the land.

  “Balaraj,” she shouted. “I do not wish to fight. We need to wait for the king.”

  “And I will ensure he banishes him!” he shouted.

  The numbers were not in Balaraj’s favor anymore. A fight had to be avoided.

  No, you fool! Get the boy now. I’ve waited too long for this.

  We need to do this right, Balaraj argued. The king will decide to banish the boy, and we will get what we want.

  I need to feed now!

  “Stop!”

  Balaraj’s body twisted in agony. His chest moved forward as his head pulled back. His screams became laughs, pain and pleasure mixed in one.

  “The king will side with us!” he shouted. “The boy will be banished after trial.”

  Rules are not meant for the likes of us. I knew you would be too weak.

  “Roshna is right,” declared Hemadri. “We do not need to fight. As a peaceful community, we can give the demon to the king. Raja will want him, and we do not go against his word.”

  I should have done this a long time ago.

  “Sonia would never have wanted this,” said Roshna.

  “You don’t know!” shouted Balaraj.

  “She wanted to save the demons too before she died,” said Roshna, “but I’m going to tell you something I should have done a long time ago.”

  Roshna’s eyes were brimming with tears as she stepped forward bravely.

  Do not listen to her!

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” she said, choking on the very words she had held on to for so long. “We should have grieved together. It wasn’t your fault what happened.”

  Balaraj sank to his knees, his hands clutching at his face.

  “It was always for the land,” he said.

  That’s it! You’re mine!

  “Karnan,” said Yachana suddenly, urgency etched in her voice. “My magic. I can’t call it. It’s close. Whatever is not balancing the land.”

  She had closed her eyes and began chanting in Agastya, hoping for any help, but the look of dejection on her face told Karnan all he had to know.

  It’s here, he thought.

  “We need to get to Veeran and Aaryav, quick!” he instructed.

  Balaraj still struggled, grasping at the dirt as he writhed in pain. His army was torn, unaware of what to do with their orders.

  Karnan took his chance and rushed at the ogres holding down their helpless prisoners, driving a powerful shoulder into their chests. Yachana stood at their guard as Roshna and Karnan helped up the two young creatures.

  “Aaryav, Veeran,” Roshna begged. “Speak to us.”

  Veeran grabbed at Karnan’s hands, desperate for the energy to tell him what he needed to know.

  “Crawlers are coming,” he whispered.

  For the first time ever, Roshna saw fear in Karnan’s eyes.

  Balaraj roared into the night sky again, but it was different this time. There was no pain, only jubilant laughter. Yachana had never heard anything so terrifying in her life as Balaraj turned to the torch, the only source of light left. She clutched at her chest as she saw darkness slithering out of the very fire.

  And then the shadows grew into creatures, dancing in the torch’s light, taking the forms of the different army members they surrounded.

  Panic settled into the crowd as the spectators tried to flee the stadium, but the shadows were too quick, blocking all exits. A terrible darkness enveloped the arena as the creatures looked to the skies, seeing nothing. The shadows had covered the opening.

  “We can’t get out!”

  A mighty roar gave them the smallest ray of hope.

  “The dragons are here!”

  Great balls of flame could be seen from beyond the dark skies, but nothing could penetrate the barricade.

  The dragons could not get in.

  “I’m not alone.”

  The deep, soft voice sent chills up the spines of every creature. It sounded like Balaraj, but was it really? The eerie glow from the bright torch, the only light in the entire arena, flickered as bravely as possible.

  “I have my shadow army,” Balaraj said.

  “So,” said Karnan, facing his old war mate. “Crawlers are real. And they’ve taken you over.”

  “Yes, we are. And now we’ve come for our rightful land. Join us. We can live in Ilemuria forever. We would never have to go back.”

  “You lie!” shouted Roshna, a battered Veeran moving gingerly in her arms.

  “No,” said Balaraj. “I have discovered the secret of the land. The magic flows through me and me alone. I can share it with you all and keep us balanced forever.”

  “You have been stealing it from us,” said Karnan, “and keeping it for yourself.”

  Balaraj still has to be in there somewhere, thought Roshna.

  “I can show you all how to use it better,” said Balaraj. “Join my army.”

  “Balaraj, remember Sonia. Remember what she would have wanted!” shouted Roshna.

  A slight twinge of the neck stood out to Roshna. Balaraj was fighting back.

  “You are the greatest glory of the unicorn clan.”

  “Stop!” shouted Balaraj.

  For that brief second, he had sounded like his old self.

  Do not try this with me, the crawler whispered in Balaraj’s mind. I have lived in you for days. I know your deepest fears. I know your darkest secrets. I was powered by them. Your ego and vanity were your downfall. The greatest war mind, done in by something so simple. So useless. This is my body now.

  “Shadows!” shouted Balaraj. Karnan knew he had lost control. “Get the demon!”

  As the shadows stormed through the darkness and rushed a helpless Roshna, she made sure to hold on to Veeran. They would never get him as long as she was alive. She held out a trembling hard, ready to give the little energy she had left in one protecting blow.

  Suddenly, she heard something land in front of her. A giant shield glinted as the shadow creatures bounced off.

  “We’ll discuss more who was right after,” said Hemadri.

  Karnan stepped to the troll leader’s side, facing both armies.

  “Warriors! You know who the enemy is! We have fought magic before. Defeat the shadows!”

  And with a common enemy, the creatures of Ilemuria united. The shadows had magic, but the creatures fought for the pride of their land.

  A furious-looking shadow centaur reared its legs and charged at the troll leader.

  “I haven’t had a fight like this in years,” chuckled Hemadri, getting ready for impact.

  Karnan could only watch as the unicorns dashed at the shadows and flew through them. The centaurs did not dare shoot their arrows for fear of hitting one of their own. Clubs were swung and axes flew through the air, but the shadows could shift their bodies, easily avoiding a potential deadly blow. Several ogres struggled to rise as the shadows dropped them to the ground, the firs
t casualties of their battle.

  “We need to stop their leader,” he said to Roshna, who was urging Veeran awake.

  Balaraj stood maniacally still near the torch, wielding his shadow army to victory.

  “You’ve always wanted this fight, old friend.”

  The unfamiliar grin on Balaraj’s face glinted as his eyes went black as his army.

  If this is going to be my last battle, thought Karnan. Then so be it.

  As his hooves galloped upon the rich earth, the site of his many fights in the games, Karnan knew he could not hold back his strength. His duty was more necessary for their survival than his friendship.

  “For the land!” he shouted, his front legs rising, ready to deliver a final blow.

  He could not hide his astonishment as Balaraj caught his attack, almost lazily.

  “I am the land.”

  Karnan was flung into the stands, the stone seats bursting apart as he lay in a pile of rubble.

  As more and more of his army began to fall, Hemadri fought harder. Weapons were torn from their arms and used to take down their same owners. Flying creatures could not escape as the shadows grew to catch them, ripping their wings from their torsos and watching them fall, unmoving as they lay on the ground.

  “The land is lost,” he said.

  *

  Veeran tried to move his fingers, slowly able to raise them one by one. As he finally made a fist, his breathing came within control. He was getting his energy back, but from where?

  “What’s happening?” he muttered.

  “Shhhh,” said a voice soothingly. “The land may not be giving you energy, but I can give you mine.”

  He had never felt so grateful to be able to sit up on his own. His battered ribs and back eased their throbbing. There was a low groan to his side, and he saw Aaryav slowly rising. Veeran looked up, staring into the eyes of his healer.

  “Roshna!” he gasped.

  “Not now,” she said.

  “You’re in danger. The crawler wants you.”

  “It’s all right, rest.”

  Cries of pain and suffering reached Veeran’s ears as his senses all came into focus, a hideous scene before him. Shadow creatures sparred with the creatures of Ilemuria, toying with their inability to land any sort of attack. The ogres were held to the ground by the enemy, unable to protect themselves from the blows being landed by their own clubs. Trolls bravely tried to shield themselves and their comrades, barely holding up their armor.

  The shadows were not doing to the creatures what they did to Aaryav. No, they wanted to hurt. They wanted to destroy.

  “They’re going to kill everyone,” he said.

  A mighty blast filled the air with dust and rubble as Veeran saw Karnan thrown into the stands. Balaraj stood by the flame, evidently pleased with himself.

  His dark eyes, distorted expression, and deep breathing with hunger told Veeran all he needed to know.

  The crawler had taken over the unicorn warrior.

  “We need to get the crawler out of Balaraj,” he said, springing to his feet.

  Roshna fell to the ground, barely breathing.

  “No!” shouted Veeran.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said. “I think we need you now more than ever.”

  Samara had told her they would need the demons. Time to see what she meant.

  “I won’t let you down!”

  Aaryav’s unicorn mirakum at the ready, Veeran climbed on.

  “Are you crazy?!” shouted Thalia as she ducked a strike from an angry shadow unicorn.

  They did not slow down. They could not stop. Only one thing mattered, and that was the fate of the land.

  Aaryav dodged the shadow creatures who reached for him, Roshna’s energy giving him the pace to soar swiftly. Balaraj did not have time to turn as Aaryav drove two legs into his back, planting him into the dirt.

  Balaraj rubbed the mud off his face as he stood, eyeing the very creatures he had worked so hard to find. “You think you can defeat me?” he mocked.

  Veeran jumped off Aaryav's back as they quickly put Balaraj in between them. With a sudden nod, they both charged their common enemy.

  Aaryav got there first as Balaraj turned and grabbed his horn, lifting the unicorn into the air and slamming him onto Veeran.

  “Defeat me?! I have all the magic in the land!”

  Karnan had fought his way out of the rubble, only to be held back by the shadow army. Thalia struggled against her own captors, flailing as much as she could to try and help.

  “Get rid of this vermin. I’ll deal with him after, ” instructed Balaraj.

  More shadows slithered out of the ground, rising and seizing Aaryav’s limbs. The unicorn struggled against his captors as Balaraj approached his prey.

  “Don’t touch him!” Aaryav shouted.

  But Balaraj cherished the very moment he had craved for so many years.

  “You see,” he whispered, bending low so that the demon could hear him. “Your creatures have already surrendered. It’s just us now.”

  Veeran lifted himself out of the hole he had been stuck in, watching the shadows clasping a thrashing Aaryav. He was not doing much better than the other creatures. The ones still standing had been cornered. He could not bring himself to stare at those that lay on the ground, unmoving.

  This is all my fault, he thought.

  “If I let you have me,” pleaded Veeran, “you have to let them all go.”

  “Stop! Don’t do it! shouted Aaryav.

  Perhaps we do not need the pit. Perhaps I will destroy the demon boy here. We have controlled the creatures with just us. We can rule the land alone without the other crawlers. I will be the sole king.

  “Why don’t you join me?” asked Balaraj. “You have shown great bravery. We could rule together.”

  I would have an endless demon energy. We would control the fire, the perfect way to balance the land. We could have power far beyond what you can imagine.

  “I do not need power,” said Veeran.

  “Do not be a fool. Power is strength. We could rule together.”

  “Never.”

  Veeran could feel Balaraj's body over him as his face pressed against his.

  “Will you join me?”

  Veeran looked Balaraj deep into his black eyes. “I’d rather die.”

  “Then you are of no further use to me.”

  Balaraj’s mighty hands grasped Veeran’s shirt, lifting him in the air and carrying him to the ever-burning torch. The fire did not bother him. He was the only one that could control it. He was the only one that could control any of the elements of the land. He raised his arms as though reaching for the sky so that everyone could see the defeated demon at his mercy.

  With one swift motion, Balaraj threw Veeran into the flames, using his magic to ensure the fire would burn his victim. The screams of his pain silenced the crowd as they all watched in terror.

  “Now,” he said, turning back to the defeated creatures of Ilemuria. “Who’s next?”

  CHAPTER 3 3

  ***

  I t was the worst pain he had ever felt. The fire was burning his very soul. The crawler was in control, and there was nothing Veeran could do to fight it. He eagerly waited for death to come.

  I’m sorry, Ammama, he thought. I have failed you.

  “No, you haven’t.”

  The voice was the most uplifting sound Veeran had ever heard.

  Tiny flame, you’re back! he thought. “Oh, thank god. I thought the crawler took you out.”

  “It will take more than that to get rid of me.”

  Veeran could feel his senses returning as the pain began to slowly ebb away.

  “Is it really you?” he asked.

  “It is.”

  “Please help me.”

  A coolness began to envelope Veeran’s torso as he was able to sit up. Finally opening his eyes, he could only stare in wonderment as the flames spiraled around him. The fire was not engulfing him, but rather embracing th
e demon.

  “Am I dead?” he asked.

  “No,” said the voice. “The fire responds to us. The crawlers do not control it as much as they believe they do. I have asked it to help you for now and evermore.”

  The flames swirled closer and closer to the fallen demon, who was not afraid. Long tendrils fitted underneath his arms and helped him rise. Veeran could not help but marvel at the strands that slithered through his figure.

  “Listen, son,” said the voice. “There is not that much time. We need you to defeat the crawler.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” asked Veeran. “He took me down in one shot. His shadow army defeated ours. I am weak compared to it.”

  “You are everything that we wished to return. You have the demon blood. One of the noblest clans to grace our home. We defended our village, and now we defend our land. We defend our creatures.”

  As the fire frolicked around his figure, Veeran felt the same magic from his home that he thought he would never be given again.

  “What do you need me to do?” he wondered. “I’ll do anything.”

  “Embrace the fire, as Poombuhar embraced you,” said the voice. “It trusts us.”

  “It trusted the crawlers too.”

  “But we mastered it.”

  He could not explain it, but in that moment, Veeran knew exactly what he needed to do. It was always going to come down to this. But now, he was ready.

  “The fire is mine.”

  As the flames began to roar, so too did the land, for she had found what she was looking for. A path to balance. And this time, the demon did not control its power with rage, but rather with passion.

  Veeran’s back stretched, accommodating his enlarging legs. His arms lengthened, now able to reach for the stars, as he welcomed the fire magic. His dark hair fell down his back, flowing in the soft breeze of the flames. His skin burned a ruby red, and suddenly he felt perfect.

  The demon mirakum had returned.

  *

  Roshna’s screams were filled with misery as she watched Veeran disappear into the flames. Balaraj had gone mad.. So many creatures lay before her, unmoving, hurt by these shadow monsters.