Book One Chapter Nineteen: Tigiti's Tomb

Nick and his friends venture to Memberg where they discover Tigiti's tomb. Nick also finds Tigiti's sword there. Saja appears and a fight breaks out, Nick has a plan to defeat Saja.

Chapter Nineteen Tigiti’s Tomb:

Unknown Location, Ectoclis. Saja’s point of view.

“I finally have knowledge on the ritual of Turlock!” Exclaimed Saja.

“I will create Kerulen and crush the rebels!” Saja yelled in triumph.

Saja walked over to a table and laid two vampires on top. She then walked over to a small cage where she pulled out a small figure with wings. An angel. She laid it down on one of the vampires and an intense white light filled the room.

When the white light receded, Saja told the vampire: “You are now pure.”

The pure vampire sat up.

“What are you doing?” It asked in a weak voice.

Saja then pulled a torch off the wall and set them on fire. Both victims screamed and thrashed. Saja then walked five times around them. At last she drove wooden stakes through each of their hearts.

“Rise, Kerulen.” Saja ordered. The Kerulen rose from the table. It looked just like a regular vampire except for the extra pale skin. Lexan, who had stood silently in the corner emerged.

“Well done, Saja.” He said.

Saja smiled.

“Now we have the power to crush the rebels.” She said.

“Nick and the rebels will be going to Tigiti’s tomb. It seems that they made their way there intentionally. Do they know of the power that the tomb holds?” Lexan said.

“I doubt that they know of the power that Tigiti holds, even in death. We should probably head them off there, though.” Offered Saja with another smile.

 

***

 

Outskirts of Memberg, Ectoclis. Nick’s point of view.

It was hours before Memberg came into sight. It was a larger village. And being in the north there was frost on the ground, but the ground was still flat and relatively featureless. We approached Memberg with caution, for we did not know what to expect. We soon came upon the front gate. Memberg was a little smaller than Arknan, with a few churches, shops, inns, a lot more vendors in booths selling their wares than in the other villages. We saw two of those white hospital buildings that we had taken the king to back in Arknan. We walked through the square and saw nothing odd, just people working and hustling about their regular routines. I pulled out the map and marked off Memberg. Then something strange happened. The ground shook like an earthquake. Confusion filled me. Was this an earthquake? Why did it happen as soon as we walked into the village? The people were panicking. Then out on the horizon I saw a vast white light exploding up and outwards, like a dome of light. It reminded me of an atomic bomb detonating. I shielded my eyes.

“What’s happening?” I asked, my confusion deepening.

Then the shaking stopped after a few seconds and the light dimed into nothing. The people of Memberg were in awe.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I do not know.” Replied Carlos.

“We should probably go see though.” He added. We walked, almost floated to where the light hit. A staircase had opened up out of the earth!

“This looks like something straight out of Indiana Jones.” I said.

“Indiana Jones?” asked Serena.

“Never mind.” I said, brushing her off. We walked down the staircase. We saw an underground room with statues along the sides. I looked to the very back of the chamber and saw a sword stuck in a clear orb. The orb had a yellowish taint to it. Why was there a sword stuck in a strange orb of light?

“A sword.” I said.

The sword had a straight blade, the entire sword was silver, the cross guard had two dark blue stones on either end, they didn't look like they were out of place there, they looked to be part of the sword itself. The sword wasn't very long, maybe just over a meter. Along the blade, the letters spelling 'Sangiria' were written across the blade. I reached out to grab it the handle, when a voice stopped me.

“Nick, it seems you have discovered Tigiti’s tomb.” I whirled around.

I saw an angering sight.

“Saja!” I snarled.

She was with Luna, a Kerulen and Lexan. I gasped. They were all wearing the black armor with the red outline. But there was something different. The armor looked different, a little discolored.

“Nick, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Saja said.

She sounded genuinely shocked. It was a coincidence. There is no way Saja could have known we’d be here.

“Luna, you target Nick, I will take on the archer. Lexan, you take on your parents. Kerulen, target the gunman!” Saja ordered.

They ran at us. Luna took me, Saja took Serena and Lexan took his parents. Fenton attacked with his dagger whenever he saw an opening in the Kerulen's guard. When he could, Carlos was also attacking the Kerulen. Luna had her barbed blade with her. It also looked different, like her armor; slightly discolored. Luna swung it at me and I dodged.

Luna swung low and cut my leg. The burning agony returned. I kneeled down, unable to support weight on that leg. Saja jumped in with Luna, great. Two on one. Saja lifted her sword to stab me, eyes full of bloodlust and desire to end my life.

“This is where it ends!” Saja shouted out.

She hoisted her blade above her head when suddenly it was knocked out of her hands! The king had gotten close to her and slashed at her hands with his mace. Saja dropped her sword with a cry of pain and it clattered to the ground. Luna was on me in an instant. The pain receded from my leg and I stood up. I jumped back when I saw Luna lash out at me. Lexan was against the wall, dazed and out of commission for the time being. His parents must have knocked him silly! Luna and I fought on. She went for a stab, which I countered with a lash to her chest. It was futile considering it just bounced off. Carlos shot at her but it deflected to the side.

“Worth a shot.” He shouted.

“Do you know what the fact that you’re shielded tells me?” I asked.

“What?” Asked Luna as she thrust her sword at me.

“It tell me that you’re scared!” I said while dodging her attack.

“We are not scared, just cautious. We can’t die before our master plan falls in to place. They have such useful contraptions here on Ectoclis, no?” Saja asked.

I turned my attention back to Luna, she stabbed for my chest again but I dove to the side. She met me there and blocked me. She shoved me backward and I lost balance again. I put my right foot back to prevent me from falling. Since my left leg was exposed she slashed at that. I pulled it away and the metal brushed against my pants. Luna backed up and prepared for another attack.

I faked a blow to her leg and she flinched, motivating me not to fake. I struck her leg but my sword repelled from her leg, like two magnets held together.

“It’s only a matter of time before I wear your shield down.” I warned.

“I know, but the question is, will you be alive long enough to do so?” She asked.

I went for a stab but she danced away. I dove at her. She sidestepped me and sliced my back. The burning returned. I yelled something unintelligible. This time in frustration mostly. The cut wasn't deep, so it wasn't fatal. I heard Luna walking a little closer to me so she could hit me. I waited until she was close enough and I swept my leg around and knocked her off her feet. She landed beside me with a thud. She rolled over without skipping a beat. She got on to her back and slashed at my leg with her sword. I cried out in pain as the burning pain became present and I fell over. Luna jumped on top of me, pinning me to the ground. She pulled up her blade and held it to my throat.

“Goodbye Nick.” She said with mock sadness.

Just then a bullet flew through the air and knocked the blade out of her hand. I looked to where it came from. Carlos nodded and smiled. I had to thank him for saving my neck later. Luna rolled to scoop up her blade but I kicked her in the side. My foot repelled from her body like two magnets repelled each other. I really hated her shields.

I dropped my blade and scooped up hers. But I got electrocuted. Every fiber of my being was humming with the electricity going through my system. Probably an added safety measure so I couldn't use the poisoned sword against her. Luna grabbed the other side of the handle and we were face to face. I felt the electric buildup within my body increase and I began to feel little pin pricks of pain all over my body. There had to be a thousand of them all moving around and stinging me in different places. I had no doubt that it was the electricity. Then, a streak of lightning shot out of the sword and hit both of us. Luna and I hit the walls on opposite sides of the room. Lightning. Talk about dramatic. More of these shot off of the sword and hit the walls and ceiling. How did that lightning shot not kill us? I didn't think Earth's physics applied here on Ectoclis...

Luna's sword clattered to the ground in the middle of us. We both ran toward it, hoping to gain an advantage of some kind over each other. We both reached the sword and grabbed it at the same time. She punched and kicked me but I held my ground. I fought back at her, but the shield forced my blows to deflect harmlessly. We were both sore and aching from being blown against the wall by the lightning, but neither of us showed it. I kept looking for an opening in her guard so I could grab the sword and finish her. She punched me in the chest I exaggerated and fell. I picked up the sword from behind her legs, got up and smacked her with the sword with all my strength. The sword didn’t electrocute me this time. Maybe because Luna’s shield was gone? She screamed and flew back to the wall she had previously hit. A small orb of electricity appeared in front of her seconds away from impact. When she hit the wall small arms of electricity shot out of it. She slumped over. I think that the electricity coming off of her was an indicator that her shield had just run out of juice. I saw my chance and I ran at her. When I was close enough hit her with her blade as hard as I could again. This time she screamed in pain. I hit her chest plate, but she still screamed which meant that I definitely beat her shield. She looked up to me with an expression of defeat.

“You beat my shield.” She said weakly.

“You die today, traitor.” I said.

Rage filled me upon remembering Luna's betrayal. I hoisted the blade over my head and prepared myself for the victory that was coming. Cold hands clasped around my throat.

“Not so fast.” Came Saja’s voice.

She threw me out of the way.

“That bothersome human... Beat my shield.” Luna gasped

Saja then sprouted the black wings and grabbed Luna.

“Don’t be so careless next time. Let Nick and his friends have this victory. We must escape while we still can.” Saja said to Luna.

"Stay and fight, you cowards!" Shouted the king.

I ran after Saja, but she then flew out of Tigiti’s tomb. The Kerulen did not, it was knocked out, and I was impressed by the fact that Carlos could knock a Kerulen unconscious. I looked back to the sword that was on the pedestal.

“The sword. It looks... familiar.” I said while I leaned towards the blade in the orb.

I didn't know why it was all of a sudden familiar, but it seemed like it was. I grabbed the hilt. Pictures flashed before my eyes. I saw a man slaying a Kerulen with the exact same sword that was in the orb of light on the pedestal in Tigiti’s Tomb. Something told me this man’s name was Tigiti, it was like when you have a dream, some things you just automatically know. I then saw a few people in this very same room along with a baby.

One had the baby in his arms. That baby was me. I didn't know how I knew that, I just did, like it was a dream, like I said. The people brought me up to where the sword is now. There was a man. Tigiti. He was tall, he had a well groomed brown beard, and brown hair. The people held me before him and Tigiti touched me on the chest. He looked at me with wise, tired eyes. When he spoke, he spoke with a voice so full of experience and memories that I thought my head would explode.

“Chosen One.” He said.

The vision ended. I zapped back to reality.

 “Whoa.” I said.

“I am the chosen one.” I said, more to myself.

I then remembered being questioned by Saja about Tigiti and the Chosen One. I wondered what importance it was to her. I looked towards the Kerulen. I grabbed the sword and pulled it out of the orb. A white flash of white light appeared as I did so. I went over to the Kerulen and stabbed it with the blade. It went through! I killed a Kerulen. Upon thinking of killing powerful creatures, a thought came to mind.

“Why has Luna never shifted to her wolf form the last times we’ve fought?” I asked the king.

“That is because wolves are an element of kindness, friendship and courage.” He said.

“To misuse the gift of this holy form is a disgrace. This is the legend passed down within the royal family.” He said.

I nodded, understanding.

“Oh.” I said.

“Now, you said something about being the chosen one?” The king asked in disbelief.

I nodded again.

“Yes. I had a vision when I grabbed the sword.” I told the king.

“That is fascinating! All this time, the chosen one has been among us!” He said in awe.

We heard a rumbling. The stairway was sealing up.

“Great. More Indiana Jones.” I commented.

I wasn't worried about being locked in here, the stairway was sealing up fairly slowly. I made sure that I had the sword, Sangiria, before leaving. I dropped the sword that Luna had given me and it clattered to the floor. We all bolted out of the tomb. As we got out the stairway sealed up, but for how much longer?

We stood out there for a while, I started thinking of a plan. Eventually, a rough plan formed in my head. This was it. I was going to say it. I was going to say something that would change our fate forever, or end it right there.

“Guys.” I said.

“We have the necessary supplies and numbers to advance upon Saja.” I said.

They all looked worried.

“We can do this.” I reassured them.

“If this blade can kill Kerulen, it can kill anything. I saw Tigiti slaying a Kerulen with this word in my vision.” I said.

This perked them up a little.

“But there is a problem. We have not the whereabouts of Saja’s castle.” Carlos said.

“Don’t worry about that. I have a plan.” I assured Carlos.

Carlos looked surprised.

“What might that be?” He asked.

“We have to get captured by Saja.” I said.

Everyone flinched.

“But she will surly kill us all.” Reasoned the queen.

“It may very well be our only choice.” The king told his wife.

“There has to be another way.” Said Carlos.

“No. I agree with the king, this might be our only choice.” Said Fenton.

We continued debating and arguing.

“Very well then, I think my husband is right; we have no other choice.” The queen said.

Serena shrugged.

“Now, how do we get captured again?” She asked.

“Well, Nick here should be a master at being captured.” The king joked.

“He’s been captured by Saja plenty of times to know how.” He added.

I looked at the king.

“Good one.” I said sarcastically.

“So it’s settled then. We get captured by Saja.” I concluded.

This sounded like suicide, but I knew but it was the only way. I had thought over the plan that night. By the time we had thought out a plan, it was sunset.

“Hey, we should go to the inn here in Memberg, we should rest and talk again in the morning.” I suggested.

With that, we walked to the inn. The inn here in Memberg was huge, it was our stories high! I looked up in awe, it was the biggest building I had seen in Ectoclis yet! We arrived at the doorstep of the inn and stepped through. Inside the inn was a fancy interior. I heard sweet music playing from a live band somewhere in the building, I saw a few tables to my left, directly in front of me was the counter for the inn, and behind it was the innkeeper. The innkeeper was a short, burly man with stubble on his face and the remains of a mustache across the top of his lip. He had long brown hair and dull brown eyes. He was also wearing a small gray tuxedo.

“Hello travelers, what can I do for you?” Asked the innkeeper.

“We would like some rooms.” Carlos said.

“Of course! First floor rooms are three Yentos each, second floor rooms are six Yentos each, third floor rooms are twelve Yentos each, and fourth floor rooms are twenty four Yentos each. Which one would you like?” Asked the innkeeper.

“We will just take the first floor rooms, thank you.” Carlos said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the silvery black rectangular coins. He placed them on the counter.

“Thank you very much, enjoy your stay!” The innkeeper said with a smile.

We went to our rooms, and after a few hours of sleep, I brought everyone together in the lobby of the inn. We all sat at a table in the lobby.

“I have a way to get captured.” I told them.

They looked worried again. I thought they trusted me.

“We could go to town again and cause a problem like a bar fight, or a riot or something.” I said.

Serena shrugged, then yawned.

“Yes, that could work.” She said.

“Alright then.” I said.

I led the way to town.

“I will go start a bar fight, anyone want to come?” I asked them.

"I think we should wait outside the bar, to back you up in case the people in there try to kill you before Saja does." Serena said.

“Yes, that would probably be a good idea, thanks.” I said.

"Be careful, there are some pretty rough guys in these taverns." Fenton advised.

I nodded and went to the tavern and opened the door. Nervousness began to form inside my mind. Was this really a good idea?

I ordered some of that turquoise drink and sat at the bar. I tasted the familiar taste of the drink, I enjoyed this particular drink. I wonder what it was called. I finished it in a few minutes. I then thought of how I’d start the fight. The nervousness I felt before doubled, and threw the glass at the head of a nearby vampire. It turned toward me. Bull’s eye. It was a female vampire. She grabbed me and threw me to the wall.

I heard everyone in the tavern collectively gasp.

“Do you have a death wish?” The vampire I hit with the glass asked.

I now had all of the vampires' attention on me. The plan was going according to plan, maybe it was working a little too well? One big male vampire walked up to me.

“Don’t worry Sarah, I’ll handle this.” He said.

The male then heaved back and punched me in the gut. Pain flared and it knocked the wind out of me. I stood up and drew my sword. I sliced the big vampire who punched me in the chest. He groaned in pain and fell over. More vampires stood up and started throwing glass bottles at each other, and me. They were all shattering glass cups, windows, tables, you name it. I heard someone enter the tavern. I turned around. It was Saja herself.

“Causing trouble in one of my villages? That won’t do.” Saja scolded.

Her villages? What was that supposed to mean? I looked around Saja and saw Luna. Rage filled me upon seeing her. Saja grabbed me and then slung me over her shoulder too quickly for me to do anything about it. Saja leaned over to Luna.

“Grab the others.” Saja ordered.

Luna obeyed. There was a slight struggle, but Luna was strong. I wondered why her parents did not become wolves and kill Luna. It was probably because of some werewolf tradition. No killing family members, maybe?

Saja knocked me out of course. I woke up chained to a wall. As did the others.

"Alright. We are now captured by Saja. Mission accomplished. What's your plan now?” Asked Serena.

I thought about it, I hadn't thought of the plan thus far, we'd have to wing it. Saja walked into the room. She had Luna’s blade.

“I am tired of your blood Nick.” She said.

She pressed the sword to my throat.

“I should just kill you now.” Saja seethed.

I was tired of having Saja think that she could kill me at any time. I got angry. I got right up in her face.

“You don’t have the strength.” I spat back.

"Hm, you will see." Saja said.

What was that supposed to mean?

"What did I come here for, anyway? Oh yes, I will have you executed for all of my followers to watch. Then they will learn they can trust me.” Saja said.

Woah! That was sudden. Fear gathered in my stomach. Uh oh.

“Your execution is tomorrow.” Said Saja with a smile. She exited the room.

Dismay overtook me. I was going to be executed in a world that was across time and space from Earth by a crazy sadistic vampire who wanted to rebel against a royal family of vampires. How insane was this? Would I ever get to go back home? If I was going to die tomorrow, I would never get to go back home. I had to save my friends and myself.

“Well this is brilliant.” Said Serena.

“What? That we are stuck here with no way out or that we die tomorrow?” I asked sarcastically.

Serena shot me a hard glance but I can tell I eased some of the tension. She started crying. Well, I didn’t blame her, what else was there to do? I left her to her hysterics. We needed a plan. I had to come up with one. I wracked my brain until sunset. Through a small window I saw what was going to be my last glimpse of the soft orange glow. Sadness filled me at the thought.

 

I had fallen asleep yet again, dreamless. I had woken up by the sound of our cell door opening. Dread filled me, along with anger. It was Saja. This was it. Today was going to be the day that I die. I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

“Today you will meet your demise, Chosen One.” Saja said.

Saja then came over and unchained me. I fought and kicked and thrashed at her, but she managed to subdue me. She then took a coil of rope from her belt and tied me up with my hands behind my back. When she unchained the rest of my friends she bound their hands behind their backs as well. She took us out of her castle dungeon and to the town square of what looked like her capital village. Where were we? There were looming buildings as big as a castle, there were big streets, and shops lining them. Inns, hospitals, churches, you name it, and it was all here. There were buildings that were half built in the distance, it looked like Saja was setting up residence here. We had emerged from a castle and were now amongst a horde of what must have been thousands upon thousands of vampires. Fear filled me, but I remembered the fact that Saja was all about the theatrics, she would not have me killed in such a bland way. Saja yelled across the crowd:

“Today, you are all present to witness history being made.”

The vampires all smiled and cheered.

“Today will be the glorious day that you all see our own common enemy: The rebel leader, fall!" She shouted with more intensity than before.

The vampires erupted in applause and cheer. Saja led me first over to the center of the creatures.

“Now, to prove to you that you can trust me, I will give one of you the honor of executing the rebel leader.” She shouted.

The vampires all shouted “me, me!”

Saja chose one.

“You, in the front.” She had selected a male vampire of about five feet six inches.

She handed him a sword. I stood, attempting to flee, but Saja drove her knee into my lower back and I was forced to kneel. I looked back at the vampire who was going to execute me. I had an idea, which was strange because I had almost no time to think, I guess imminent death gets the creative juices flowing. I kept him in the corner of my eye. When I saw the sword twitch showing that he was lifting it, I made my bold move. I brought my left leg around and hooked it around his ankle and with one swift motion, pulled. He lost his footing and threw his sword up in the air. I kicked the pommel of it and it hit a female vampire square in the heart. Triumph blazed inside of me as I realized that I had just done something bold and daring and looked like a total ninja while doing it. Silver weapons. I thought. Not very smart. “

Kill them!” Saja yelled.

“Kill him and his friends at any cost!” she shouted.

I bolted, my adrenaline was pumping harder than ever before. A female vampire came running up behind me and I kicked her in the stomach, causing her to double over which caused her to drop her sword, I turned around, letting the razor sharp blade cut through my bindings as it dropped. More triumph blazed inside of me. I had just gotten lucky; the sword had fallen at a certain angle so it would cut my bonds, my luck would not hold much longer! I ran over to where I had kicked the sword into the vampire girl’s chest and retrieved it. I then ran over to where the others were, behind the vampire horde, and freed them of their bonds. Serena gave me a sly smile.

"Thank you." She said.

We ran through the alleyway between two houses.

“They will find us.” Said Fenton Soberly.

“Saja isn’t taking any more lives from us.” I said, determined.

I looked around, trying to figure out a plan.

“We have to get to the main gates.” Ordered Serena.

“I agree.” Said the king.

“We are going to make it out of here alive.” Said Fenton hopefully.

We ran out to the edge of the alleyway. It was a solid hundred feet with no cover until we reached the alley that was across from us.

“I’ll go first.” Said Serena.

She walked briskly which soon turned into a flailing sprint. I thought she was going to make it. All of a sudden, when she was a little less than ten feet of the way, Saja yelled:

“Archers, archers! Take them out!”

Worry for Serena filled me. I saw about two hundred dark figures on top of a nearby wall turn toward Serena.

“Serena!” I cried.

I saw the sleek forms of hundreds of arrows firing in the direction of Serena. Just then Carlos bolted past me. He put his shoulder in the direction of Serena. I saw what he was doing. Carlos then knocked her into the alley across from us. About a second after he did so the hundreds of arrows impaled him. Blood spattered across the wall beside him and pooled on the ground next to him. From the dozens of arrow wounds that he had. Carlos then collapsed.

“Carlos!” I screamed in sadness and rage. I ran over to him, taking advantage of the archers reloading and pulled him into the alley that Serena was in. I propped him up against a wall.

“Carlos, Carlos speak to me.” I murmured.

Carlos was dead. Not even he could survive dozens of arrows driven into him. Just then he sputtered, struggling for breath. The shock must have allowed him to live a few extra seconds.

“Carlos? Are you alive?” I asked.

He coughed. He then touched my head. His eyes rolled back in his head. Sorrow filled me upon feeling his cryptic gesture. In the window above his head I saw someone moving. The person had a mask on.

My boiling rage returned. I grabbed the sword and charged in. I stood up and stabbed through the window, shattering it and stabbing the person through the back of the head. It was a vampire all right. I felt my sword cleave through the hard skull of the vampire. I ran out to the others, who had crossed the hundred foot span safely.

“It is going to be very difficult to escape now! Saja has the whole place under lockdown!” Shouted Fenton.

My friends rounded the corner where Carlos’s body was. I heard every gasp.

“He was a good man.” Fenton said.

“That he was. He saved my life just now.” Agreed Serena, her voice was full of respect for Carlos.

“Carlos saved my life numerous times, it is a shame that I will never be able to repay that debt.” I said, sadness filling me.

“He was a brave fighter! He gave his life to save Serena, he was a very good man!” Shouted the king.

“He was a very noble rebel. When the history books are written for this battle between us and Saja, we will make sure that Carlos is not forgotten. We will make sure that everyone who dies for our cause is remembered!” Shouted the queen.

“We have to find our weapons.” I said, tearing myself away from the sadness of the moment.

“Let’s look in this house right here.” Said Fenton, motioning to the house that I killed the masked vampire in. We looked in every nook and cranny but found nothing. Serena suggested that we search the other house, across the span. We all agreed but stuck to the shadows. We finally reached it and saw two vampires guarding a door.

“This must be it.” I said.

“Any volunteers?” Asked Fenton.

The king went out to the room and killed both of the guards easily. He didn't even break a sweat. They fell to the floor with a dull thud. We went into the room. We searched it, and eventually the queen said:

“I have found the weapons!”

We went over to her and I got my sword back. The letters 'Sangiria' marked the blade as my own. The others got their weapons back too. We looked out the window and found the archers on the wall looking for us. Swordsmen were pouring out of nearby houses, the houses were probably makeshift barracks.

“Great.” I said to myself.

“Friends! We have got company!” Fenton shouted.

The others were down a hallway right beside the crate where we found our weapons.

“Come on Nick!” shouted Serena.

I sprinted into the narrow space. The hall was dim. We rounded a corner and I was grabbed.

Luna stood in the dim light. She then spun me around and pressed a dagger to my throat.

“Not another step.” Luna said, gesturing to my friends.

“Or I kill him.” She added.

Luna increased the pressure of the dagger to my throat to emphasize how serious she was. My friends halted in their tracks.

“Luna!” Snarled Serena.

I couldn’t pry her hand off me. I thrashed in Luna's grip, but she held firm. I forced myself to remain calm, when I was angry, I would probably make a mistake. I thrashed again and Luna stabbed my neck. It left a cut. I grabbed the hilt of my sword but used as little motion as possible so as not to alert Luna. Then I jabbed her rib with the pommel. She doubled over and my friends and I ran back the way we came. The swordsmen were already coming through the door of the house we were in. We turned back and Luna stood at the opening of the hall behind us. She smiled, knowing that this was going to be our demise. I drew my sword and Serena readied her bow. The commanding soldier of the swordsmen stepped forth and said: “Lower your weapons and we will take you alive.” I shook my head.

“Never!” I growled.

The swordsmen all unsheathed their swords.

“Very well then.” The commanding soldier challenged.

I grabbed my sword and pointed it at them. I slashed the commander across the chest and he collapsed. Five more men opposed me and Serena took out three other soldiers with her bow.

The king was fighting, as well as Fenton, Serena and the queen. There were thousands upon thousands of soldiers. The archers on top of the wall were shooting through the windows. Shock filled me when an arrow landed near my leg.

"Stay away from the windows!" I ordered my friends while disarming and killing another soldier.

The archers were still on the wall though, a good five hundred feet away.

"This is it. This is where Saja must die. The gates are too heavily guarded. Saja has the whole place under a lockdown, we must kill her and escape!” The king yelled.

The king shifted into his wolf form (which I had only seen once before, when the twenty six vampires attacked us at his castle) he became a big brown werewolf like his son, Lexan. The king reared up on his hind legs and leaned against the door with his front pause, keeping it closed. He was holding off the oncoming Soldiers at the door.

“We have to take Saja down here and fast, we will never make it out alive unless she is dead!” Serena yelled.

I heard a menacing growl and I turned to see that it was coming from the king. The door that he was trying to hold closed was opening little by little.

“He can’t hold that door much longer! Someone help him!” I shouted.

Fenton and Serena went to help the king, but they were too late. The door burst open and the vampires rushed in, but stopped short when they saw the king.

“What the devil is that?!” Shouted a female vampire.

The king slashed madly at the soldiers and they were driven back a few feet, but they recovered and began to attack us. We knew that we did not stand a chance against this many vampires, even with the king in his wolf form. The queen saw the dismal situation and shifted into a huge white wolf, much like Luna. The king and the queen stood between us and the vampires. They began attacking the vampires. We heard screams coming from each one that the king and queen killed. They truly were a force to be reckoned with! They cut down countless vampire with their sharp werewolf claws. My hopes were rising, but I looked out the window and found a large group of vampires flanking us. They would soon be at our doorstep and we would be boxed in!

“They are flanking us! Get outside quickly!” I shouted.

The king ran and queen both ran out of a door on the other side of the room. The rest of us rushed out after them and the soldiers all chased us. We all knew that since they were vampires, we could never outrun them. We turned around and attacked the soldiers now that we had more room. We were making fair progress. With each of my sword strokes, a vampire fell, and with each of Serena's arrows, one to three vampires fell, dead. Fenton, the king and the queen took out vampires one at a time, like I was doing. The king and queen were still in their wolf forms. They let out menacing barks and growls in an attempt to frighten the vampires, but it didn’t faze them.

The soldiers fell, one by one. A few slipped past us and attacked from behind, but we easily dispatched them with the help of the king and queen. The vampires eventually fell back when their numbers dwindle. They realized that we were too strong. We stood there for a good while, fighting them, a few vampires retreated, but we killed the brave, yet reckless ones who stayed. The ones who retreated were probably going to hold a defensive position by the gate, because that is where they were headed. The archers did not want to fire into our mass, they did not want to kill their comrades that were still close to us. Serena picked off a retreating vampires with her bow.

“Go back to where we were to be executed. The vampires are fortifying the walls so that we cannot escape! We need to find another way out of here!” Serena shouted.

“Come on, let’s go!” I told everyone.

We made our way back to our would-be execution site. The area was empty, except for two people.

Saja was standing there along with Luna. Luna’s white hair swayed in the breeze, as did saja’s blonde hair.

“Give it up, Saja. Your archers are too far away to make a move and your soldiers are with them defending the gate.” I said.

“You say that as if you expect me to surrender.” Saja said.

“If you’re smart, you will surrender.” I told her.

“You have defeated my warriors, but the same will not come of me.” Saja growled.

She was holding the same sword she had when we met at Tigiti’s tomb. I looked it over and I found the difference I couldn’t spot earlier; it had a small silver jewel imbedded in the center of the cross guard, the jewel made the sword discolored. Luna’s sword was not like this. It was different; it was made of a black metal. It was the same design as mine but it was black rather than silvery white. Saja dove at me. She stabbed straight for my heart. Fear sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, and I managed to maneuver around her blade and slice her on the shoulder.

My sword deflected just like the last few times we fought. I was getting tired of that. I heard a slamming noise. I looked and saw that Luna was bashing the king against the wall of a nearby house. I leapt over to help him but I saw I was too late. The king's eyes were slick with fluid and it seemed his neck was ruptured from his spine. So much for my theory on 'werewolves cannot kill other werewolves' or whatever it was. I screamed in sadness and rage and channeled all my anger into a crushing blow directed at Luna, who was right next to me. The impact deflected off Luna again and jarred my arm. We couldn’t touch her or Saja or else we would be fried, just like Lauren was. Luna turned to face me. Saja was on me as well. My friends rushed to my side. They all began attacking Saja. They attacked Saja all at once and made her back up, separating her from Luna and leaving me to deal with her.

I lunged and stabbed for Luna’s throat. I used my rage to fuel my fiery energy and use it against Luna. I delivered two blows to her. Luna got her sword up and blocked my next attack.

“You are foolish to oppose Saja and I. You should have joined us when you had the chance!” Luna said as she forced me backwards.

I attacked Luna, swinging my sword too fast for her to block it and I hit her shield.

“I will never join you and Saja!” I declared and I hit Luna’s shield again.

Luna jumped backwards to avoid my attacks and I chased after her, not giving her time to assume a defensive stance. I caught her off guard and I hit her shield again. Luna got her sword up just before I attacked her again and she slashed at my throat. I ducked and hit her shield again, pulling my sword back to myself so I wouldn’t be defenseless when her next attack came. She got her sword up and faked a shot to my right. I flinched and brought my sword up to block it. By the time I realized it was a fake it was too late. Luna had already brought her sword around to my exposed left side and she hit me on the side. Her sword was not poisoned this time, so I didn’t experience too much pain, but I still winced when her sword made contact with me. It drew blood and my blood spilled across the ground. I resumed fighting. I regained my composure and I faked to Luna’s left. She went for a block much like I had and I brought my sword around to he right side, stabbing her twice. She cried out in pain and jumped back.

Her shield changed; it was much like when I wore it down back at Tigiti’s tomb. It had branches of electricity going around it and she shrieked in pain again. Her shield was only good until a certain point. Saja ran over and knocked me to the ground. Her attack stunned me, I wasn’t ready for it. Luna jumped backwards again and was at Saja’s side in an instant. My friends saw that Saja and Luna had regrouped and they regrouped with me.

Saja raised her sword to hit me while I was on the ground, but I rolled out of the way and her blade struck the hard ground with a loud clang! My friends rushed to my side to give me cover while I got up. They held Saja off with various attacks. Serena kept her distance, using her bow, and the queen attacked Luna, still in her wolf form. Fenton attacked Saja with hos dagger.

Luna did not shift into her own wolf form, because she disgraced it when she joined Saja. Luna still held her ground against the wolf that was her mother. I turned my attention to Saja, Fenton was still holding her off while I starred at the brawl between Luna and her mother. I stabbed at Saja with Sangiria. Saja dodged and attacked Fenton.

“You need to get new tricks, Nick.” Saja said with a laugh.

Fenton blocked her sword with his short dagger. He jumped back and I kept Saja off of him long enough to allow him to recover. Saja slashed at me, I jumped backwards and Fenton attacked her. His dagger hit her armor, it just bounced off.

"Fenton, we need to wear her armor down!" I said to him.

He nodded and unleashed a barrage of quick strikes with his dagger. I preformed a series of heavier blows to Saja's armor. Some of which she blocked, some of which she didn't. After a few more strikes from Fenton and I, Saja began to bend over slightly, as if she were slightly tired and needed to catch her breath. Saja recovered in an instant and rolled backwards, regrouping with Luna, who had thrown her mother off of her for the time being.

Saja looked to Luna.

“It is time.” Said Saja.

 Luna nodded.

“I agree.” Replied Luna.

Confusion crossed my features. I then I got my answer. Saja held her sword so that the silver jewel in the cross guard was inches away from her forehead, in the center. Luna then made a quick circle in the air around the gem in Saja's cross guard with her own sword. A black rim of light formed where Luna's blade touched the air. Saja then tossed her sword up ten feet in the air, it was propelled by an unseen force. Luna then threw her sword at Saja's sword, the tip of Luna's blade hit the silver jewel that was embedded in Saja's cross guard.

“Artemis!” Shouted Saja.

Artemis? What was Artemis?

A black spiraling vortex opened up. Fear shot through me. What was that thing? Everyone looked skyward. Saja and Luna were going to get away and leave us to be sucked up by this vortex.

“What is that!?” Fenton shouted.

"Oh, no you don't!" I shouted after Saja and Luna.

I grabbed Saja, who then grabbed Luna, and I threw them back to the radius of the vortex. Saja grabbed me, and I came with them too! They grabbed me and then my friends and each one of them grabbed each other, forming a line of us. Then we were airborne. I was closest to the ground, so I grabbed a small plant that was growing in the ground. That wouldn’t hold long. In two seconds it broke and flew into the vortex. I scrambled to find another hold but couldn’t. We were going to be sucked into the vortex. We were going to die.

 

I kept searching for a sold substance but found nothing. Fear filled me as I looked back at the vortex. When I looked back, I saw that we were seconds away from doom. I closed my eyes, preparing for the end. Just then, a hand grabbed mine. Shocked, I opened my eyes and found that it was Kai! Surprise and wonder filled me. How was he still alive? Was he in Saja’s custody this whole time? Kai smiled and nodded at me and pulled me and my friends in to solid land. Saja and Luna were still on with us. Kai then grabbed a bow he must have stolen and shot them. The arrow hit Saja and she was knocked back and hit Luna. They flew into the vortex and disappeared. The energy from the spiral must have disabled their shields.

“Yes! Saja and Luna are gone!” I shouted in triumph.

“Ahhh… thanks.” Said Serena.

Serena stared at Kai for a long while.

“Do I know you?” She asked.

Kai shook his head.

“No, I do not think so. I am Kai.” Kai said.

“Serena.” Serena told him.

“We have not met, either. I am Fenton.” Fenton introduced himself.

“Hi.” Kai said.

“Come on. Let’s clear out.” Kai said, he did not sound happy or excited to see that Saja and Luna were dead. Why was that?

Kai led us out the front gate of the big village. It was now open. Saja’s soldiers must have abandoned the fortress when the spiral of death opened up in the sky. We then got on some horses that were waiting for us nearby. Horses that Kai must have also stolen. I looked at him strangely and pointed to the horses and the bow. He smiled and nodded. Yep, he stole them. He then led us away from that sinister fortress. This, I could tell was going to be the source of illusion in my life. I looked back at the sinister vortex, swirling like an omen of death in the sky. I wondered if I ever again would get to return home into my own world.

Author's Note

Please tell me what you think :)