- LIL Smurf DOGG
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- Veteran Heroic Member
Honor Light Your Way, Our Blood Shall Forge A Thousand Generations!.
Chapter Three - Zyzyx
Running. Panting. Wheezing. How long can I keep this up? My legs are growing numb. The creatures behind me are relentless. Suddenly, a voice calls out to me. It's familiar. Then I recall. Mom. She's calling out to me.
"Derik! It's okay! We're safe! Run to me!" she says, as she fades into sight. Tears of relief flood my eyes. Mom! She's alive! I run toward her, wrapping my arms tight around her waist, unwilling to let go.
I look up as she strokes my hair, except her face isn't her own. It's replaced by a mans, skin white as snow, eyes that I look infinitely into. They are strange. Dark iris', and white pupils. I can't tear my eyes away from his gaze. Shadows ascend from where his hair should be, like a black flame.
Then I realize I'm not unwilling to let go.
I'm unable.
"Come Derik. Give me your fear. Let me feed upon it!"
The man's - monster's? - jaws spread impossibly apart, as a mouth full of sharp, jagged teeth are revieled. They lunge at me. I'm doomed, there's no hope of survival, I can't esca-
I awake, screaming, sweating. Haylee is above me, shushing me, telling me everything is okay. I cry, burry my head into her chest, and whimper. The bad dreams don't stop.
They never stop.
**********
Morning. The hot rays of the sun wake me, as they peek at me through closed curtains. I yawn, stretch, and recall my horrible nightmare. On the floor is a makeshift bed, containing a blanket and a pillow, but no one is laying in it.
I smile. It was Haylee's. She had slept in the room all night, just to make sure I was okay.
I throw on fresh clothes, walk out into the large hallway (it's even bigger than my old neighborhood street!), and descend the stairs.
As I come to the bottom of the steps, I see a man sitting on the couch. He has white hair, red eyes, and very pale skin. And I mean very pale. His appearence doesn't match his clothes - a bright-green T-shirt, and simple jeans. He smiles as he looks up from his newspaper and sees me.
"Uh . . ." I begin awkwardly, not sure who this man is. "Where's Haylee?"
"Oh, her? She had to go run some errands. She'll be back in about ten minutes." he says, turning to the next page. I stare at him uncertainly. He catches my furrowed brow, then speaks up. "Oh, how rude, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Gabriel Dufanee. Pleasure to meet you, Derik."
"How do you know me, and, not to be rude, why are you here?" I retort.
"Haylee's told me about you. And as for why I'm here, I came to help Haylee in training you with your magic. She's an old friend."
"Oh . . ." I trail off, studying his hair and eyes. "Not to be rude, but are you, like, an albino?"
He lets out a very lengthly laugh, doubling over. I don't get the joke. "No, no . . . not an albino, I'm . . . a vampire."
My eyes shoot wide at the mention of the word. A VAMPIRE? "You're joking, right?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow. Before I know it, within the blink of an eye, he's staning right in front of me. He had just been on the couch a moment ago!
Letting out a smile, he answers my question. "No, I'm not joking. But don't fret, Vampire's are not evil as they are portrayed in the movies and books." Now I can see a pair of sharp fangs. Vampires? Ridiculous. But, then again . . . stranger things have happened . . .
A sound near the front door as Haylee steps in, carrying something in a long, wooden case. Kind of like a casing for an instrument.
"What's that?" I ask intentivley.
"Hi to you, too." she says, pretending to be mad. "And this? It's somethign I went out and got just for you." She holds up the case, and I take it, and boy, is it heavier than I had expected. I open it, surprsied to what I find inside.
"A sword?" I ask, confused.
"Of course. Can't train without one."
"Do you expect me to fight with it?" I laugh.
"Well, duh." she retorts, folding her arms.
"But this isn't the twenty-frst century. He have guns, and stuff. Wouldn't those be more effective?"
"Guns? Guns don't work on bloody Demons! You have to use magic and steel. That is how you slay the beasts." Gabriel says with a chuckle.
"But aren't the demons only allowed to show up, like, every other decade?" I ask, shaking my head in bewilderment.
"That is when all of them are allowed to roam the Earth. Some of them, particularly the stronger ones, have escaped Hell and roam at all times."
"Oh . . ." I say, gripping the sword. It's long, and sharp, enscribed with anceint writing on its surface. But, man, is it heavy.
"Time for training!" Haylee bursts out randomly with a smile.
**********
Gabriel teaches me a few spells for starters. Says that I have to memorize the words, and say them aloud at first, but once I master them I can do them automatically. The first spell is a kind of lame one. He teaches me how to make a castle out of sand, which would be perfect, if I was part of the cast from Baywatch!
The second one is better, but nothing like I was hoping. It allows me to pick up small object, or turn pages to a book telekinetically, but I'd much rather blow things into pieces with fireballs, or lighting bolts.
Then it's time for my sword training, which doesn't work out so well. I've never been the best at P.E., and when I had to practice against Gabriel, he kicked my ass more times then I can remember.
Haylee was no different. She is highly trained in martial arts, and can do a roundhouse almost as good as Chuck Norris. Almost. Who says girls can't fight!
Hours and hours of training, until my legs are numb.
Haylee says we're just getting started, but I'm not sure my body will hold out that long!
Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!
**********
Night time. Training is finally over. I rest my sore legs on my bed, then sigh in relief. Haylee comes in a moment later.
"You okay, budd?" she asks, observing my worn out features.
"Yeah, fine." I say between deep breaths.
"About last night . . ." Haylee begins, taking a seat at the foot of the bed.
"What about it?" I ask sitting up.
"What did you see? In your nightmare, I mean."
I explain to her the details of the nightmare. How I had seen the white-skinned monster, how the demons had chased me, my mom . . .
"This isn't good," she mumbles after my story.
"What?" I ask, rubbing my sore arms.
"Derik, that monster you saw in your dream . . . What did he say?"
I think back, trying to remember. "He said he was going to . . . 'eat my fear'? Whatever that means. It was just a dumb dream."
"No, it was much more. The monster you saw is a powerful Demon Lord known as Zyzyx." she says, biting her lip. "He could be trying to harm you through your dreams. I'll have Gabriel sleep with you for the night. You'll be safer."
"Can he . . . can he hurt me?" I ask. "In my dreams?"
"No. But he can drive you insane, and the more fear you feel, the stronger he becomes." And with that, she gives me a quick hug, tells me everythign will be okay, and leaves me to ponder this situation.
The demon known as Zyzyx.