Reapers Arcanum: part one

THE REAPERS ARCANUM



I stood alone in the dark alley. I was unsure of what brought me there but I knew it had to be important. Then as I leaned against the wall in the shadows I heard voices coming closer. I pulled myself further into the shadows and listened closely.

Joey:”-Mess this up I’ll shove my boot so far up your ass you’ll be pissin out shoe strings, got it?”

Dale:”Hey, come on Joey don’t talk to your brother that way. Don’t worry Phill with all those pies he’s bee packin away he probably can’t reach his own ass”

They broke into laughter

Joey: “Hey, I can too reach my ass ill prove it……”
There was a moment of silence…….
“Well look at that I guess I really can’t reach my ass”
They all laughed and turned into the alleyway.

Dale: “Where is this guy?”

Phill: “He said this is where the drop was supposed to be”

At that moment a man in a dark black cloak walked from the shadows, his face buried in the darkness of his hood.

Dale: “Heh, what is this a batman movie”

The cloaked man said nothing.

Joey: “Hey get outta here before I haf’ta put a bullet through you ya.”
The man still did not reply

Joey: “Alright but you asked for it”
Almost no sound came from the silenced pistol as it sliced through the mans cloak and flew back out into the ground before him as the man stood unflinching.

Phill: “He must have a bulletproof vest on, shoot him in the face.”

Joey pointed the gun this time aiming for the shadowed eyes beneath the hood.
Again he pulled the trigger but this time the bullet froze in mid-flight.
A huge gust of wind exploded through the alley and the cloak was blown open. There was nothing but darkness under the cloak. Horrifying creatures began to claw their way from the shadow form of this monster.
A deep booming voice erupted from beneath its hood. “YOUR TIME HAS COME”
A massive skeletal hand reached from the body of pure black and wrapped the three men in its dead, icy grip. Their faces turned a ghostly white and their screams of terror shattered glass as they were dragged into the dark abyss that can only be described as hell. I ducked around the corner in hopes that whatever it was didn’t notice me. After a few moments of silence I slowly looked around the corner and saw nothing. I let out a sigh of relief and closed my eyes as I leaned against the wall.

When I opened my eyes again the sun was out and it looked to be early noon. I stood an noticed there was something on my wrist. It looked like some kind of tribal tattoo and it wouldn’t rub off.

I walked into my apartment wondering if what happened last night was real. It seemed real but couldn’t have been. I tried to wash the mark off again and realized it had grown. There were marks further up my arm and suddenly I watched in terror as eight black spikes grew out from my wrist.

“They call it the mark of eight scythes. It appears only the people who have seen death itself and lived to tell about it.” Came a voice from behind me.
I couldn’t move at all.
“Don’t worry the paralysis should wear off soon. Unfortunately for you there are few who have survived that mark. If you live long enough I want you to call me.”

Suddenly I was overcome by screeching pain, and darkness surrounded me. Out of the black the cloaked creature appeared before me. Its body floated above the ground like black fire. A skull appeared under the hood and the booming voice returned.
“This is not your time. I have something special planned for you” It disappeared with a bone chilling laugh.


I reappeared in my kitchen and I could move. On the floor was what looked like a business card, it read. “For any assistance with the supernatural, flip this card over….”
I flipped it over and saw only a tiny little dot. “Well how is this supposed t-“
Suddenly I was sucked into the card. I felt like a was falling then………hit a brick wall. I heard elevator music and stood up to see I was in one. I looked at the buttons to see that their were only five, they read

B1
B1 ½
B1 ¾
Misc.
And a huge button that read, Press this button for supernatural help.
‘Well know he’s just screwing with me’ I thought. But I pressed it anyway and it started to go down and then shot upward. Then it suddenly stopped and the door opened to a big room with nothing in it but a secretary sitting at her desk.

“Excuse me I am here for-” I was cut off.
“Let me guess, supernatural help” she said in a sarcastic, nasally voice, “Right over there”
She said as she pointed to a door to my left.

“Ah, so you survived the mark. May I ask how?” the man said as I walked through the door.
“Not until you tell me how to get rid of it”
“Heh, you can’t get rid of it”
“Then why did you tell me you could help”
“Well for the record I never said I could help you, but I can show you how to use the mark of eight scythes.”
“What do you mean ‘use’ it?”
“The mark holds the very power of the, well……I guess you could call him the Grim Reaper and if you learn to control that power the possibilities are endless.”

I raised my arm and looked at the mark that had grown yet again.
“Why don’t you think it over because if you agree there is no turning back.”

I looked up and realized I was suddenly in a pub. I sat at the end of the bar and a big burly man with a tattoo of the grim reaper on his arm walked up to me and said, “Why don’t you get me and my friends a drink”
I looked up at him and said, “Why don’t you go sit back down and mind your own business.
“Well, well, looks like we’ve got a tough guy here. I’m gonna make you wish you were dead.” He said as he raised his fist.

A sudden burst of power flowed through my veins, and with lightning speed I slid off my stool and grabbed the mans arm as it flew past me in slow motion. The man screamed in horror and agony as shadows leaked from the mark of eight scythes and into his flesh. I let go and he dropped to the floor writhing in pain. Everyone in the pub stared and a few got up and started toward me with knives. As if by reflex I extended my hand in front of me and in a burst of black flames a blood red scythe appeared in my hand.

The men that were coming closer fell back with a look of pure fear on their faces. A cold wind lashed around the room like a whip. I was unable to control the power that now surged through my veins. I could only watch, trapped within my own body, as I swung the scythe, summoning demons made of shadows. They oozed fear and hatred, as they began to kill everyone in the room.

The scythe suddenly began to glow a faint red as it absorbed the blood that covered the room, as if it were feeding from it.

Suddenly I awoke in my bed. I took a deep breath, glad it was just a bad dream. I walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth, flipping the TV on as I did. I was only half listening but the woman on the news said something about several murders at a local bar. I froze and listened as she explained.

“27 people were killed at a local bar late last night. Every victim was drained of their blood, but no blood was found at the crime scene. None of the victims had any marks or wounds that would cause such blood loss.”

The newswoman turned to a police officer.

“What do you think could have possibly caused this?”

“To be honest I have no idea, but as for the real cause of death it wasn’t the blood loss it was fear. However the killer managed to do something like this without leaving a trace is beyond me but they were dead before their blood was drained.”

I faded out remembering every detail about last night. I quickly got dressed and grabbed the card, but when I flipped it over I saw that the dot on the back was gone.

“The card only works once.”
I turned to see the supernatural man.
“By the way I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Kain, Robert Kain.”
He extended out his hand. After a moment of silence I said,
“My name is Nightfire, Golioth Nightfire.” And we shook hands.

“Have you decided?” He asked
“Yes, I agree” I replied
“Very well, I guess I should show you where you will be living from now on”
And in an instant we were in the elevator again. Kaine reached over and pressed a secret button hidden behind the big button I had pressed before.

“So, how are you able to teleport?” I asked.
With a big grin he replied, “Magic”
“Magic?” I repeated.

“Yes, Magic is real, you just have to know how to use it, and that’s exactly what you are going to do.”

The elevator opened to a massive room you could probably fit a castle into. It seemed to go on forever. As I followed Kain through the never ending grand hall I saw the strangest things.
“ah, that’s what we call a morph, it is basically a shape shifter.” He explained as we passed a small floating creature that looked like it was made of diamonds. We turned down a corridor and walked into a room with nothing in it but a large, thick tome.

“This is the Grand Arcanum. This tome holds all the information of the universe. Every name, every word ever spoken, every thought of every living being is all within this. Now of course we still have not found a way to unlock many of these things yet. And just the same as the book cannot lie, anything written in it will become truth. But, tread carefully as words have many different meanings.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked

“Because the secret to controlling your powers is within it, and you are going to help us figure out how to access it”

I wore a determined face as I said, “What do I have to do?”

“We have a lead on an item called a trinity shard. It is part of an ancient medallion that was owned by a man who saved the entire universe. We believe it to be hidden on a planet called Mytara.”

“Another planet?”

“Yes there is a reason why magic was hidden from the majority of earths population. You see, there is a book older than even the universe itself. It is said to reside somewhere on this very planet. That is why we need you to help us unlock the secret within the Grand Arcanum. If this book falls into the wrong hands it could destroy us all. There are hundreds of worlds out there, and you might have to travel o quite a few of them before we can access the information we need from the Arcanum.”

“okay, well then, when do I go to Mytara and how do I get there?”

“Before we do anything I want you to meet a very old friend of mine”

We walked through the endless winding corridors for what seemed like an eternity. The entire place looked like and old castle with bricks of stone, candles lining the walls, and endless doors with gold handles. We passed a few more strange looking creatures, one of which engaged Kaine in a short lived discussion about why he had to be the one to clean the hundreds of rooms that lined this wing. When we finally stopped we stood in front of a massive set of doors. He whispered something under his breath and the wooden giants parted to let him enter.

The rooms was rather small compare to the doors that had protected it. It held only a few bookshelves, some pictures, and a desk in which an elderly man was working intently. For a moment the man stopped scribbling and without looking up said “Yes?”

Before Kain could reply a man not much older than myself bursted into the room completely out of breath. No doubt he had lost his way more than once running through the infinite halls.
“Sir,” He started as he began to catch his breath, “It’s Krid”

As soon as that name left his lips the old man and Kains face turned to stone. The room became deathly silent and the tension in the air was so thick I felt as if I was drowning with every breath. I couldn’t stand the silence an longer, I had to say something.

“Who is Krid?”
For a few seconds the room remained silent. Kain took in a breath and sighed. He looked at the old man and said, “I guess we have to tell him now Locke.”

“Very well,” said Locke, “Long, long ago there was a boy, he didn’t look much older than you do now Golioth, but he was older than you would believe. The magical power within him seemed infinite….His name…was Kayl. I’m sure you’ve heard of the ancient legends about the massive crater; The old fairy tales about beings of black fire raining from the cosmos and the one man who created the monstrous crater by using his unbelievable power. When he is defeated and falls into the earth, then rises from the depths of this planet and destroys the trillions of fiery beings raining like comets with one swing of his mighty blade as his voice rings through even time itself….It’s all true, every word. Krid was the man who sent those beings of black fire, he created them from the nothing. He holds the power of the nothing. In other words he can make anything from nothing. When Kayl defeated Krid, Krid didn’t die. Kayl tore him apart molecule by molecule. You see there are ways for someone as powerful as him to return from the Netherworld. In fact I myself died not long after that great battle. But it seems Krid is somehow rematerializing.” Sigren let out a deep sigh as he finished.

“we would ask Kayl himself but we are not sure how to contact him for he has ascended into one of the most powerful beings we know of. The creators of the Nothing and the universe, we call them the Ras.” Said Kaine

I suddenly doubled over in pain. The shadows at the corners of my eyes attempted to eat at my vision. The pain was too much and everything fell dark.

I awoke in a bed and could hear Kain and Locke arguing.

“Why didn’t you tell me the mark had gotten so far.” Said Locke

“There is no time for this, we must send him off as soon as possible” said Kain

Locke gave a long sigh and told me to get up. By now my eyes were wide open and I was staring at the mark which was now pulsing as it’s blackened tentacles slithered around my arm. It had reached up to my elbow now.

“Listen you need to help us find that book before Krid can return. Our universe, every universe is depending on you.” Said Locke

I took a deep breath, “Fine, I’m ready to go.”

They lead me to a room with a big crystal floating in its center.

“Just touch the crystal and say Mytara. There will be a shapeshifter Named Tybad waiting for you. He will show you where we think the shard is hidden.” Explained Locke

“Before you go there is something I want to ask you. When I showed all this to you, you didn’t seem very surprised. Why?” asked Kain

“I have had many dreams about this magical world. It just seems so familiar that it’s easy to absorb it all,” answered Golioth.

I did as he said. At first I thought it didn’t work because the rooms looked so similar to the one on earth. I turned to see another man in a black robe. But this man didn’t look much older than 18.

“My name is Tybad” he said with a bow.
“I’m Golioth”
“Follow me to the temple”
“So are you really a morph?” I asked
“NO, I am a shapeshifter, I hate it when people call me a morph.” Came his angry reply.
“Can you transform into anything?”
“Just about, but there are limits.” Then almost as if he knew what I was about to say, “I’m not going to transform into anything right now just to prove to you that I’m really what I say I am, however I will if the need to do so arises.”
“Alright, so what do I have to do when we reach the temple?” I asked

“There is a secret passage leading down to the portal. The text on the walls say that the shard is hidden within the portal, but I’m not sure exactly where.”

“Sounds easy enough”

“we have sent three others in already and they never came back. We have no idea what lies on the other side of it, but with your powers we might have a chance at getting the shard.” He replied in a grim tone.

“I never liked surprises” I said, “so what happens if I die?”

“Then the universe will probably be destroyed” said Tybad nonchalantly.

I rolled my eyes, “well no pressure then”

We had finally reached the temple. It was made almost completely out of marble. Tybad led me to the secret passage. I stood before the spiraling stone staircase that led down to the portal.

“good luck” said Tybad

I nodded and stepped bravely into the shadows. When I reached the room I saw the portal. It looked like a pool of water as black as obsidian. I stole a deep breath, closed my eyes, and stepped through. I felt nothing as I passed into the new world. I opened my eyes only to find this world was just as dark as the portal connecting it to Mytara. I looked around wondering what to do next when I saw a faint glow to my left. Carefully I walked toward it. When I was only another step or two away from it I leaned close to examine it.

Suddenly two little, solid blue circles appeared and terrible screech pierced through the air. I jumped back as the screeching multiplied. Hundreds more glowing creatures began to appear around me, they were everywhere. No matter where I turned all I could see where these ugly beasts. With the cavern now lighted by their glowing eyes I could see their hideous forms.

They were eight feet tall, with long bloodstained claws. Their form resembled a humans but their flesh was grey and rotting. Each one had a white crystal in its chest that glowed faintly. Their bodies were mangled as if every bone in their bodies was broken and never healed correctly. Great bloodstained wings spread from their backs like tattered sails on an old ship. I looked everywhere for a way out and my eyes fell upon a tunnel that looked as if it only went deeper into the earth, but it was my only hope.

I ran into the pick black, jagged corridor. I dared not stop for even a second to look back. No matter how fast I ran I could still smell their decaying breath just behind me. I felt their claws raking at the edge of my jacket trying to pull me back into the shadowed maw of the cave. Just as I began to think I would never be able to sop running, a light appeared in the distance. At first I though it was another horde of monsters but then I realized it was sunlight! With renewed strength I gained speed hoping that these creatures couldn’t bear the sunlight.

With one last push I jumped out into the sunlight, bracing myself to hit the hard ground. But all I felt was wind. I opened my eyes realizing the creatures had wings for a reason. Their home wasn’t underground it was within a massive cliff. I was filled with a feeling of dread as I fell through the air watching the forest grow slowly far below. I glanced up and immediately regretted it. The army of creatures looked even uglier in the light. It was still a very long way down but the creatures were catching up fast.

I heard another screech but this one was deeper, almost like a hawk. I looked around wondering where it had come from. Suddenly I was yanked from my fall by a massive gryphon! It had caught me on its back and someone was riding it.

“Are you okay?” came a woman’s voice.

Completely winded from hitting something solid so hard I replied, “Yeah, who are you?”

“My name is Heather and this is Simba” she gestured to the beast we were riding. As I started to get my breath back I turned to Heather. She looked about my age, with long, wavy brown hair deep brown eyes and a few barely visible freckles on her cheeks.

“Damnit, those grottes are too close, we’ll never be able to get away.”

“Grottes?”

“Yes, it means undead”

“Really,” I grinned, “ha-ha that should help actually. Well I’m sorry but I have some really important business to take care of.” I stood up on the gryphon’s back and faced the horde of winged zombies. I held out my arm and pulled back the sleeve of my jacket, revealing the mark that I had nicknamed the shadowfire band. Heather gasped as she saw the tentacles that looked like dark fiery shadows etched into my skin moving on my skin. ‘Alright this is the moment of truth’ I thought to myself, ‘I’m gonna try to summon this power.’

I jumped off the back of the gryphon. It was still a long way down. I closed eyes, “Come on, I thought you had some plan for me, grrrr, you gave me this power, Reaper, now let me use it!” I called out.
The black fire erupted around me like a swirling inferno of darkness. Great feathered wings, as red as the fires of hell, launched from my back. Pain exploded from the mark as its demonic arms came to life and jumped from my flesh. They wrapped further around my arm as back spikes tore through the flesh on my shoulder like it was wet paper.
Again the blood red scythe appeared in my hands.

“Time to send you back where you belong!” my voice echoed through the air. With all my strength I swung the scythe tore open a gateway to the netherworld. The grottes rotting corpses fell to the ground as I yanked their trapped souls from the crystals on their chests. I drew in a ragged breath and just before I blacked out I saw Heathers face as she had yet again caught me on the back of her gryphon.

“Where am I?”

[“You are near and far.”] Came a hissing voice.

“What do you mean?”

[“The crescent moon and the fiery feathers follow the path unhindered. Shadow is the fires true light.” The voice grew quiet, “three souls, one power, a single voice and the blackened trinity.”]

Slowly I opened my eyes and groaned in pain. A soft, beautiful and caring voice reached my ears.

“Good to see you’re awake. I can make the pain go away if you tell me where it hurts” said Heather.

“My arm” was all I could get out between the pulses of pain.
She placed he hands over my right arm and whispered, “zek.” (heal) and the pain died away. I sat up and leaned against a tree.

“Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” she said shyly, “but I couldn’t completely heal your wounds.”
“That’s okay. I have to go now.”
“Why?”
“I have to find the trinity shard here at all costs.”
“I know where it is hidden, but why do you need it?”

So I told her as much of the story of the ancient battle as I knew from what Locke had told me.

“Fine,” she said, “I will give you the shard on one condition… you have to let me come with you. I want to see other worlds and go on great adventures, maybe even learn a little more magic.”

I sighed, “well, if you truly wish to come with me then I guess it’s alright.”

She smiled broadly and she called Simba. The magnificent gold feathered gryphon dived through the canopy above to land beside her. We climbed onto its back and, with little effort, it launched into the sky.

The landscape was awe-inspiring. Trees as tall as mountains created a sea of emerald green blending into the almost cloudless blue sky. Huge lakes poked wonderful crystal blue holes into the endless forest. Massive prehistoric looking animals herded around the great beds of water. Mist covered peaks stood in the distance like towering giants of time. Rivers below ran like veins bringing life to the thick jungle. Great feathered birds as big as a house glided through the warm breeze as effortlessly as the clouds.

We began to descend through the thick barrier of leaves and branches. Simba landed near a river that seemed to have a magical glow to it. Heather walked to the edge and whispered something under her breath, then she soundlessly walked over the water as if it were solid. Halfway across the river she stopped and in an almost angelic voice she said, “Dok eakres obo agar, oren zon igara bekares.” (Rise gateway of water, unlock thy immortal secret)

To my amazement a portal began to rise from the shining water.

“Where did you learn that,” I asked without taking my eyes off the portal.

“Nowhere really, I just like to read and soon I found out the gift to use the magic I read. Don’t you know any magic? The way you took out that army of grottes, you must know some very powerful magic,” said Heather looking hopeful.

“Actually I don’t know a word of magic,” I laughed.

She looked at me questioningly, “but how is that possible?”

“Well,” I sighed, “to tell you the truth the mark on my arm is the source of my power. It’s called the mark of eight scythes but I like to call it the shadowfire band. It’s not a gift but a curse and unless I find a way to get rid of it… it will consume me.”

“We should hurry then, come with me through the portal.” She said still standing in the middle of the river.

“But…”

“Don’t worry,” she smiled, “you won’t fall in.”

“Alright,” I said still unsure.

As I was taking a step forward there was a blinding light. Men in dark cloaks appeared from nowhere.

“There! Get him, and take the girl too!” Commanded a heavily armored one.

Before I could do anything or even realize what was happening, I felt a splitting pain in my head.

EARTH
In HQ


“Locke! Golioth has disappeared from the scanners and so has Tybad!” said Kain Hurriedly.

“Damnit! How is that possible? We should be able to track them in this or any other universe.”

“Not all of them…” said Kain slowly.

“No,” Locke said in horror, “not...the Dreamverse.”

The Dreamverse, as its name suggests, is a universe that holds everything from every dream in the multiverse. Sadly this also means it is filled with many nightmares as well. There are many worlds in the Dreamverse, just like in any other universe. Each world has many different creatures and settings from many dreams.

“All we can do now is hope that they can find their way back before…” Locke didn’t want to finish the sentence.

DREAMVERSE

When I came to, I was being dragged by two men through a dark and gloomy stone gray hallway lined with barred prison cells. From somewhere far in the depths of this place screams echoed. The two men opened one of the cells and pushed me in with careless force. I hit the stone floor with a ‘crack’ as more pain leeched through my head. I tried to ask where Heather was and where this place was but all I could get out was a grunt of pain as they walked away.

When I tried to get up I realized my arms where tied tightly behind my back.

“There’s no use in trying to break out of those, they are strengthened with magic,” said a tall man sitting in the shadows of the cell.

“Who are you?” I asked

“It’s been so long since I have spoken my birth given name. In here they call me Stonefist. I entertain Commander Durock and his men in exchange for more food.”

“So where exactly is here? And who is Commander Durock?”

The man chuckled and said, “Your obviously not from around here, are you,” he stood, “Commander Durock is the one who happens to won this fine establishment that is most famously known as the Hellmouth. You, my friend, are in the worst prison on this planet.”

The man that walked from the shadows was massive. He was at least nine feet tall and looked as if he could punch a hole through the grey stone walls with a single punch.

“Why don’t you just bend the bars?”

Without a word he pointed to the walls and bars. Only then did I realize that the walls and bars were covered with spells written in strange glyphs.

“In here my strength doesn’t matter. Those symbols also prevent magic from being summoned here in case you were getting any ideas. Only the servants of Durock can summon magic here because they carry medallions that counter the spells on the walls of this prison.”

“I don’t understand, those men just came out of nowhere and,” my eyes went wide, “do you know what happened to the girl that was with me?”

Stonefist looked into my worried eyes then looked down, “I didn’t see her but all the women are taken to see Durock and usually made into his personal servants. But don’t worry, she should be safe,” he added quickly.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway and three men stood in front of the cell.

“Commander Durock wishes to see you.”

They pulled me to my feet and dragged me down a maze of hallways. Then they threw me into a silver room where a man sat on a silver throne. He had dark black hair and black armor to match.

“What do,” I began.
“Silence!” he yelled, “Where is the trinity shard? I know you know where it is.”

The trinity shard, I thought to myself, he must not know how close he was to it.

“Answer me!” he yelled again.

“Not until you tell me where Heather is.”

“Heather? You must mean the woman who was with you and her pathetic gryphon. She tried to use her magic to save you but it didn’t work of course. She was too defiant for my taste so I sent her to the deeper chambers. Perhaps after a few lashings and a couple of days without food will break her,” he said with a cynical smile.

“You bastard!” I yelled as I lunged at him but his guards threw me to the ground.

“Well, well,” he laughed, “it seems he has a bit of a temper. You must have taken quite a fancy to that girl. So what do you plan to do demon? Within these walls you are nothing.”

“Demon?” whispered under my breath. Then I realized I still had the mark with the black spikes protruding from my flesh. “Yes I am a demon,” I lied, “and if you do not want to die you will release me and the girl.”

Fear sprang into the yes of everyone in the room except Durock.

He laughed, “Then by all means show us your mighty power.”

I concentrated trying to draw out the black fire but I could feel nothing. Again I heard Durock laugh.

“These walls will keep your power sealed away. Now take him to the torturer chamber and see if he’ll talk then.”

I tried to escape the grip of the guards but their metal gloves felt like vices on my arms.

“I’m going to kill you!” I yelled in a hoarse voice.

I was dragged through another maze of halls. They took me to a room with hundreds of sharp tools covered in the blood of others. I was strapped to a wooden table and a man whose eyes looked as lifeless as if he were dead walked from a dark room.

“Make him talk but don’t kill him”

“As you wish Sir Roan,” said the torturer with a bow.

TYBAD

“Damnit, I knew I shouldn’t have followed him. I can’t make heads or tails of this place. Where the hell did they go…” thought Tybad to himself.

Tybad had taken the form of a mouse and now scurried through the halls of the massive prison. Eventually he found a few guards and listened in on their conversation.

“It seems Durock has caught someone who knows where the trinity shard is.”

“Durock…where have I heard that name before…” He gave a shrill squeak as he realized he was in the Dreamverse. “I have to find Golioth as soon as possible. Maybe my old friend is still here.” He shape shifted into a small ferret so he had a better nose to work with and quickly ran down a hallway trying to catch the scent of his old friend.

“Did you see that Ben? That rat just turned into a ferret…” said one of the guards.

“My friend, I think you been drinkin t’much,” replied another guard holding a glass of beer.

Golioth sat in his cell drenched in his own blood, his eyes lost in pain. Stonefist had given him a blanket to warm him in the cold dungeon but Golioth hadn’t moved since he was thrown back in the cell. The only indication he was still alive was his slow breathing. After many long hours of silence a small clicking noise met their ears. Golioth still didn’t move but Stonefist stood and walked to the bars. He kneeled down and picked up a ferret.

“Well look what we have here, hmm, you look so familiar…”

The ferret jumped toward Golioth and transformed into human form.

“What the hell happened to him?!” said Tybad ignoring the surprise on their faces.

“Tybad, Is it really you… I haven’t seen you in ages,” Said Stonefist.

Footsteps came down the hall once again and Tybad quickly transformed into a mouse and ran off.

“What’s with all the excitement?” asked the guard.

“Nothing,” Stonefist paused as he saw Tybad transforming behind the guard, “We…uh…just wanted to…”

The guard looked suspiciously at Stonefist and whipped around only to be knocked out by Tybad. He grabbed the keys form the guard and unlocked the cell. That was the first time Golioth had moved since being tossed in the cell, he ran out with surprising speed.

“Where are you going, the way out is in the opposite direction,” said Tybad

“I have to find Heather,” said Golioth without stopping.

Tybad looked at Stonefist.

“Don’t look at me, I’m getting out of here as soon as I can. Good luck old friend,” called Stonefist as he ran down the other hallway.

Tybad turned and ran after Golioth, “Where is Heather?” he asked

“Durock said she was in the deeper chambers,” panted Golioth.

“Well you’ll never make it there at this pace, Hop on,” Said Tybad as he transformed into a huge white tiger. Golioth obeyed and jumped onto his back. Golioth couldn’t help but smile at the guards’ faces when they saw the massive tiger charging at them.

“Ben, I think I just saw a man riding a tiger run past us…”

“Now my friendsh…I shink I hash drinkin tsoo mush…”

The corridor they were running down opened to a dark chasm. Tybad gave a roar and looked at Golioth as if to tell him he wasn’t going to slow down. Golioth nodded his head and tightened his grip.

Tybad leapt into the abyss and in the blink of an eye he morphed into a huge eagle and dove into the darkness. Golioth stared as they passed hundreds of floors with barred cells. When they neared the ground Tybad spread his wings and landed gently.

“Something is wrong here, there should be guards down here too,” said Tybad now in human form.

“Golioth!” called Heather

“Don’t worry we’ll get you out. Tybad open the gate.”

Tybad quickly ran to the bars and used the key to open them. Golioth noticed the long cuts on her back.

“That bastard,” whispered Golioth.

“Are you alright? You’re covered in blood,” said Heather, the worry clear in her voice.

“Hurry lets get the Gryphon and get out of here,” said Tybad in a hushed voice, “there is something terribly wrong about this.”

“I really think you should stay for the show Tybad!” echoed the voice of Durock. He waved his hand in the air as if to tell Tybad to get out of the way and Tybad suddenly flew through the air and hit the wall.

“You coward, Release me at once!” yelled Tybad nailed to the wall by magic.

“How dare you hurt Heather,” said Golioth pushing her protectively behind him.

“Tell me where to find the Trinity Shard and I will not kill her,” said Durock.

“You will not lay a finger on her,” replied Golioth.

“Very well, have it your way,” Durock waved his hand again but this time Heather screamed in pain.

Golioth caught her before she fell to the ground. An arrow was sticking out of her back. He pulled the arrow from her back and gently laid her down. Slowly he stood.

“It’s so very sad, she probably would have fetched a high price on the slave market. Now, Tybad, tell me where the Trinity shard is or I will kill the boy as well.”

Tybad looked thoughtfully at Golioth and with tears in his eyes he said, “I will never tell you. I’m sorry Golioth so, so very sorry.”

Tybads voice seemed distant as anger rose within him, it filled his veins.

“Last chance,” Durock raised his hand telling the bowmen to prepare to fire.

The anger clouded his mind. All he could think about was revenge. Hatred crackled at his fingertips; rage leaked from his soul. He could feel nothing but anger as the air around him became heavy.

Durock waved his hand and a blanket of arrows rained down toward Golioth. The ground suddenly began to shiver in fear. The glyphs on the wall shined brighter and brighter as if to hold back this mighty power. The arrows plunged deep into Golioth flesh and all became deathly silent.

Suddenly the walls began to crack. A cold wind whipped through the cavern. Pitch black fire erupted from every hole the arrows had made. He turned to face Durock. Durock stepped back in horror as he looked into Golioths Lifeless eyes.

“You,” Golioth hissed in a booming voice that was not his own, “Your life belongs to me!”

“N-no! I am immortal, you cannot kill me!”

The ghostly form of the grim reaper flashed around Golioth like a phantom, “Death says otherwise.”
Golioth stabbed his hand into Durocks chest and began pulling out his life force. His face went white and his skin grew old. He fell to the ground looking like a lifeless skeleton. Golioth turned and walked back to Heather. He kneeled over her and pushed the life force into her body.

Heather began to breathe and color returned to her lips. Hundreds of guards stood like stone staring at their former master in disbelief. Golioth picked Heather up and carried her in his arms.

“Tybad, come on, unlock Simbas cage and let’s leave.”

Tybad did as he was told and they flew from the crumbled prison to the unknown world above.

When they were far off one of the guards walked up to Durocks seemingly lifeless corpse and suddenly yelled, “He is still breathing!”

CHAPTER TWO
Creatures Of The Red Moon



“Oh, come on Tybad, you said you’ve been here before.”

“Yes, but when I was here last time I used dream travel. I wasn’t here physically.”

Golioth sighed, “There has to be some way to get back.”

“The only person we have ever known that is able to tear travel through dimensions was Kayl, but I have no idea how to reach him or even where he is.”

“Didn’t Locke say something about Kayl having a brother?”

“Kayl does have a brother but he’s disappeared just like Kayl.”

There was a short silence when only the birds could be heard.

“That was pretty amazing, what you did back there,” said Tybad.

“I feel responsible. I know she’ll be okay, but I let her come with me just so I could get the shard.”

“Are you sure that’s the only reason…she is quite beautiful.”

Golioths’ face went red, “She’s waking up.”

Golioth and Tybad walked over to her as she sat up. She laughed when Simba almost knocked her over. “I’m glad your okay too Simba,” laughed Heather.

“Well good morning sleepy head,” said Tybad with a broad smile.

“I’m glad your both okay as well. What happened? I remember a sharp pain and everything went dark.”

“Well-” Tybad was cut off by an elbow digging into his side.

“You just fainted from all the excitement, that’s all,” Said Golioth.

“But what happened to Durock?” asked Heather.

“I was able to summon my powers and we escaped,” answered Golioth.

“Well, as long as you’re alright. So are you going to introduce me to your morph friend?”

“Do not call me a morph,” said Tybad angrily.

“Well then what are you?” asked Heather.

“I am a shape shifter, I hate being called a morph,” said Tybad as he looked away, obviously annoyed.

Heather raised an eyebrow and looked at Golioth. Golioth just shrugged and said, “so what do we do now?”

“Well if anyone knows a way out of this place it’s Stonefist,” said Tybad.

“Who’s Stonefist and what do you mean ‘get out of this place’?” asked Heather.

“Stonefist is an old friend of mine and unfortunately we are stuck in the Dreamverse,” answered Tybad.

“The Dreamverse! But how are we supposed to get out of here? No one has ever even been able to enter the Dreamverse let alone find a way out,” said Heather.

“I have been here before…well, not physically, but I’m sure Stonefist knows of a way out. For now I think you should wait here while I track down Stonefist,” said Tybad as he flew off.