The mist cleared and a figure of a huge man appeared. He carried a huge sword. “Who is that, my lord?” “I do not know, John, but be ready. The stench of demons draws closer.” The man stopped. His sword dug into the ground; it was oddly shaped, unlike the swords we have. It was single-edge with seven holes down the blade. It is the biggest sword I have ever seen; no man could carry this weapon. The man was huge; much bigger than my lord–who was a very large man–he wore no armor, only a cloak with a hood that covered his face. “John, ride out with me to meet this man.” “Yes my lord,” as we rode closer I realized there were demons lurking in the tree line several yards away. “Who are you?,” my lord says to the man, but the mans says nothing. “I said who are you!” my lord says with anger in his voice.
The man lifted his head and opened his eyes. They glowed green. “My lord, its a demon.” We both quickly drew our swords. In a dark demonic voice the demon says, “you should leave this land you are unwelcome here.” “We will not leave this land. This is human land now.” “No, it is not, Prince Justice–son of Addessa– do you dare break the treaty between human and demons?”
“My lord, how does he know your and why are we on their land?” “Be quiet, John.” “Yes, my lord.” “Who are you demon?” “My name is Elathon–son of Damion.” “I know of you demon. My mother banished you into darkness..” The demon looked at me and an eery feeling came over my body. Then he looked back at Prince Justice and said, “Leave now or you will all die.” “Hahaha,” my lord laughed. The other demons walked forward toward Elathon who then turned to them and said, “Go to Queen Ember and tell her the humans have broken the treaty.” “Yes master, but should some stay and help?” “No, all of you, go at once.” “Yes, master.” One demon take on my entire army? Are you mad? But Elathon said nothing. “John, go and advance the army.” “Yes, my lord.”
I rode fast. “Men!” I yelled, “ready for battle and advance!” I stared at my lord who was now off his horse. “Demon, are you ready to die?” “I warned you, Prince Justice.” My lord swung his mighty sword at Elathon’s head but it shattered before touching him. What dark magic is this? “Prince Justice!” I yell. He turns and looks back as Elathon raises his giant sword and cuts him in half. “My lord, noooo!”
“The prince is dead!” the men yell, “kill him, kill him now!” I was frozen in fear. Prince Justice is dead; I couldn’t speak. I didn’t notice the men running past me with swords drawn. My eyes locked on Elathon as he grasped his sword tight and held up his hand. “Stupid humans. Now it’s time to show you my true power.” His sword begins to glow red. “Men fall back, now, hurry.” But they just kept running toward him. He swings and a blinding light from his sword hits all the men– ripping them to pieces. I blinked and when my eyes reopen Elathon was in front of me. “Please, spare me,” I begged. “I have no intention of killing you, John– son of Michel.” “How do you know me? And how do you know my father?” “I know all human, for I was like you in my past life. I let you live, so you could deliver a message.” “What message is that?” “Tell Addessa I’m coming for her.”
“Queen Ember the humans have broken the treaty.” “Where is Elathon?” she asks. “My queen, Elathon stayed behind to fight the humans.” ” Alone?” “Yes, my queen, we fear he may be dead.” “You fool, Elathon cannot be killed by mere humans. Tell me, what happened?” “Prince Justice crossed the boundary with a small army. Elathon warned them they were unwelcome here, but Prince Justice did not heed his warning. Elathon ordered us to come here and tell you, my queen. We do not know what happened to Elathon, my queen.”
“This does not sound like the work of Queen Addessa. She would not send her only son to invade our land. The queen of light is no fool. Our treaty has been for hundreds of years. Something is not as it should be.” “My queen, what should we do?” “Go get Aerial.”
“I sense human blood in the air. Something terrible has happened.” “Princess Aerial, the queen would like to see you in the chamber of souls.” “Well this is odd the queen normally comes herself.” “There has been a problem, princess. Please, hurry.” “Hmm interesting.”
I walk towards the Great Chamber of Souls. Princess Aerial, a familiar voice, calls from behind me, “Captain Joshua, what’s going on around here?” “You have not heard?” “Heard what, Joshua?” “The humans broke the treaty and Elathon may be dead!” “Elathon dead? That is impossible.” “I do not know, princess, but war is upon us.” “The humans have not bothered us for hundreds of years why break the treaty now?”
The doors open and we find ourselves in a full delegate meeting. “Princess Aerial, have you seen humans crossing our lands?” “No, I have not, my queen.” “There is unrest at the boarder of our land and human land. Go there with a small army and see what has taken place.” “My queen, what has happened to Elathon? Has he perished?” “I do not know, Aerial, but I fear the worst. Captain Joshua, General Idicium has been sent to find Elathon. Go and join him.” “Yes, my queen.”
“Everyone but Aerial leave these chambers now.” As the chambers empty and the doors close, the queen stands up from her throne, her long black hair sways with each step she takes towards me. Her wings –dark as night– cling close to her back. “Mother, what is going on?” “I do not know, my daughter, but we will not stand for this.” “Mother, Elathon dead by humans? I did not think this is possible.” “No, Elathon cannot die by mere humans. When I brought him back from darkness he was changed. He was no longer a human, but not a demon either. He is more powerful than us all, Aerial. You must go and see what has happened. I fear that there may be greater forces working here. Do not lose focus and, if you find Elathon, bring him to me. Do not let him go to the human palace.” “Mother, why not?” “My daughter, there is a lot you do not know about Elathon. Addessa will kill him. She is the only one who can stop him. Go, my daughter, make haste for time is not with us now.” “Yes, mother.”
As I leave the Chambers of Souls, I hear my mother sob as if she has lost a child. Never before have I heard this. Elathon missing, possibly dead? What has happened? Where is he? Addessa kill him? None of this makes sense. “My army, we go at once! Make haste, for we do not have much time. General Idicium, what will we do if we find Elathon?” “We will kill him! This war is going to happen and I will be king of this land.” “And a glorious king you will be, my lord.” “We just have to kill Elathon and the queen will fall. Her pet will not be there to save her. The humans will keep their word. Addessa will think Elathon killed her son for revenge and she will send her army away to fight. And there she will also fall. A new human ruler will be made.” “You are smart, my lord, but Elathon will not fall easily. And what of Aerial?” “Aerial will be made my wife and Elathon is not as powerful as some think. He is only a half-demon. Do you not have faith in your lord?” “What, a half- demon?” “Haha, yes, that is all. Just a mere half-demon.”
“Queen Addessa!” “John, what is wrong with you? You are as white as a ghost!” “My queen, I bring terrible news.” “What is it, John?” “My queen, Prince Justice has broken the treaty with the demons and paid for it with his life.” “WHAT!” “My queen, he killed them all! I’ve never seen such power before.” She fell in her throne, tears began to fall from her eyes. “Who killed him?” “A demon, my queen, he said we broke the treaty when we crossed into their land. My queen, I believe Prince Justice did this intentionally.” “What!” she shouted. “Why were you in demon land?” “My queen, Prince Justice took us there to attack the demons. He said we were taken over there land.” “Why would he do this, John? Without my consent? Why would he provoke a war with the demons? What demon killed him!?” she shouted. “A demon named Elathon, my queen.” “He knew Prince Justice, and you, my queen. He told me he left me alive to give you a message.” Her face was as if she had just seen a ghost; frozen in fear. “What message, John?” “My queen, he said he is coming.” She stared into nothing as if she she had gone mad. “John, please leave my chambers now. “Yes, my queen.”
My eyes followed John out of the room. How could this be? I killed him. He cannot be back. Why did Justice do this? I must protect my people. He is coming for her! “Guards!” “Yes, my queen.” “Gather our army at the main gates and prepare for war. Send all that are unable to fight to the city of Perie. They will be safe there. Find General Alex and bring him back to me.” “Yes, my queen.” “Wait. Bring Princess Vesta to me now.” “Yes, my queen.”
My heart is broken. My only son, dead by the hands of Elathon. He is coming for her. I must stop him. Tears start falling again. “Why did you betray me, Elathon!?” I shout. I loved you so much. My heart fills with anger. I will kill him this time.
“Mother, whats wrong? Why are you crying?” “My daughter, come closer.” She grabs and holds me like a child. “Mother, what is going on?” “Your brother has fallen.” “WHAT! No, mother, it is not true.” Tears fall from my eyes. “He broke the treaty with the demons, Vesta, we are at war. I’m sorry Vesta, this is my fault. I have done this.” “Mother, why do you say such things? How did Justice break the treaty?” “He crossed the demon border and provoked war.” “Mother, Justice would not do this. He knew how valuable the treaty was. He would not go against your word.” “I don’t know why he did this Vesta but we are at war now.” “Mother, who killed him?” “Vesta, please sit.” “Mother, you are shaking.” “Vesta, there is much you do not know. You must promise me you will stay in the palace until this is resolved.” “Mother, please tell me who killed my brother.” “A demon, named Elathon.” “I do not know of this demon.” “He is a demon unlike any other. I thought I killed him once before when he was human, but i failed.” “Mother, he was human? How could he be demon now?” “I have a feeling Queen Ember brought him back from darkness.” “Mother, I feel you are not telling me everything.” “I will tell you more later, but promise me you will not leave the palace.” “No mother, I will avenge my brother’s death and this demon Elathon will die by my hand.” “No, Vesta, please listen to me. Do not face this demon.” “But why mother?” “Trust me Vesta. Please, just stay here.” I stand and run out of the room. “I will kill him mother!” “Nooo,” I hear her yell. “Guards stop her now and lock her in her chambers!”
I must kill Elathon. “Get out of my way!” The guards try to stop me, but with one wave of my hand they fall to the floor. Nothing will stop me. I will get my revenge. “Princess Vesta,” a voice calls from behind me. I stop and turn to see John running towards me. “Don’t try to stop me, John.” “Vesta, please, don’t. I’ve seen this demon. He will kill you.”
She stood there with tears falling from her eyes– her golden hair flowing with the wind, her armor like mirrors wrapped around her body. “No, John, I have to do this.” “He will kill you, Vesta. He is not like other demons of this world.” “Then I will die fighting him!” I shout. “I will go with you, Princess Vesta. I won’t let you do this alone; even if it means my life.” “I cannot ask this of you, John.” “I am going of my own free will.” “Then let’s go, we don’t have much time.”
“My queen you called for me?” “Yes, I did. Why was my son on demon land? And why were you not with him?” She sat on her throne. She is so beautiful. Such a shame she will die soon. Her anger will get the best of her. “My queen, we received word that the demons were crossing into our land. I only sent Prince Justice to investigate.” Haha! Her war-happy son was too eager to fight the demons. For too long, he has sat in her shadow obeying her ever word. “Why wasn’t I told of this?!” she yells. “My queen, we did not think to bother you with this minor issue.” “My son is dead. Now my daughter has left the palace in search of the demon that killed him and war is upon our door and you did not think to tell me anything?! We could have prevented this with just a talk with Queen Ember.” “Do not worry, my queen, we will see to it that our palace remains. I will personally go and talk with Queen Ember and see to it that this war does not happen.” “I hope you’re right, general. Alex, take your army to the lake of light and from there you alone go to Queen Ember and set things right. But tell her I know she brought Elathon back and he will die.” “Yes, my queen.”
I can’t help but laugh after leaving the queen’s chambers. Haha! What a fool she is. Soon I will be king and rule this land as i see fit. “Men, let’s ride. We will meet General Idicium at the lake of light and nothing will stand in our way.”
Two days pass before we get to the lake of light. It is dark and eery. The smell of demons fills the air. “General Idicium, have you killed Elathon?” “No, we have not been able to find him.” “He must be killed!” “Don’t worry about that half-demon, he will not spoil our plans.” “I hope you are right, general.” “Tomorrow I will go to Queen Ember, and there, I will kill her and you will attack the palace and kill Addessa. Then we will control both the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness and we will be crowned the new kings of this world.”
What is this? Why is General Idicium talking with the human general? Something is not right here. “Aerial, what is going on?” “I do not know. Circle around, do not be seen and wait for me by the falls of dark water.” “Yes, princess.” As they leave a feeling of betrayal falls upon me. What is going on? Crack! A limb snaps from behind me. I turn and draw my sword immediately, only to see a sword before me. “Aerial, what is going on here, why did demons kill my brother?” “Princess Vesta, I do not know why your brother provoked Elathon. But somthing is wrong here. Look, out there. Why is your general here with General Idicium?” “What? What the Hell is going on? John, do you know about this?” “No, I do not, Vesta, but I fear that your brother may have.” “What!” “Shhh, you’re going to have us caught. Wait, there is another horse approaching.” “That’s Captain Joshua. What the Hell is he doing here? We must get closer.” “Princess Vesta, I beg you not to. If caught–you will surely be killed.” “No, she is right we must get closer, follow me. Kill those three demons and take their armor.”
After changing quickly, we sneak into the camp. “Joshua, what was said at the queen’s chambers?” “She sent Aerial to investigate what happened and to find Elathon.” “Good, she will lead us right to him.” “Wait,” Joshua says, “she also said Queen Addessa is the only one who can kill him.” “What, how do you know this?” “She was telling Aerial, and I was outside the door.”
“Elathon will fall by my sword alone,” Vesta whispers. “Elathon did not provoke this war; your brother did.” “I do not care. I will have my revenge.” “Your death is all you will have. He is not a demon, nor a human, but something much more than both.”
“Let’s go quickly.” “Princess Aerial, why are humans with you?” “Shut up and listen, you must make haste back to the palace and tell Queen Ember we have been betrayed by Captain Joshua and General Idicium.” “What!” “Yes, now go and I will find Elathon.” “You mean we will find Elathon. Princess Vesta, I beg you not to fight him. He will kill you.” “We will see about that. Now go, make haste.” “Yes, princess.” “Come, I think I know where Elathon is, and there you may talk with him Vesta, but I warn you, if you attack him your soul will belong to him.” “John, I need you to go back to the palace and tell Queen Addessa about this and make sure you tell her I am alright.” “Yes, princess. Please, be safe, Queen Addessa will never forgive me if anything happens to you.” “You have my word, John, and please, stay with my mother and guard her with your life.”
“Queen Ember!” “Where is Aerial?” “Queen, we have terrible news.” “What is it?” “General Idicium has betrayed us and is plotting to kill you with the human general–Alex.” “What? Are you sure this is true?” “Yes, my queen we saw it with our own eyes. Aerial sent us here to tell you.” “Where is my daughter?” “She is with the human, Princess Vesta, and they are looking for Elathon.” “Oh, no!” “What is it, my queen?” “Gather all the army and strike down Idicium and General Alex.” “My queen, Captain Joshua is also with them.” “Strike them all down now!” she yells in her dark demonic voice. She stands and her wings raise up and expand to there full length. “I’m coming, Elathon,” she says and flys off into the night.
“Queen Addessa!!” “Yes, John, what is it?” “My queen, we are betrayed.” “What do you speak of John?” “We were searching for Elathon when we came across Princess Aerial in the woods by the lake of light. General Alex is working with General Idicium and Captain Joshua to kill you and Queen Ember.” “What! So they had my son killed to provoke a war between us?” “Yes, it would appear so, my queen.” “Guards!!” “Yes, my queen.” “Gather the rest of our army and go to the lake of light and kill General Idicium and bring General Alex to me. Leave no one alive!!” “Yes, my queen.” “Where is Vesta?” “She is with Aerial searching for Elathon.” “Nooo!” “My queen, I begged her not to go.” She sits in her throne, tears fall from her face. The wind picks up, a strange sound follows with it.
“She is here,” the queen says quietly. “Who, my queen?” A crash of stone comes plundering down and a dark figure appears from the mist with wings as dark as night. “Queen Ember! Oh my god,” I yell, “my queen, I will protect you!!” “There is no need for protection. Do not fear me, for I did not come here to hurt you, Addessa.” “Why are you here then, Ember? Have you not taken enough from me already?” “Queen Addessa, I have not taken anything from you. It was not I who attacked your son. But only your son who attacked Elathon.” “Why did you bring him back, Ember?”
“Stay away from my queen!” John says. “Human, put down your weapon before you die.” “John, leave us now.” “But, my queen, she will kill you.” “She will not kill me, John, please leave now.” “Yes, my queen.”
I hide behind the door listening to make sure my queen is safe. “Addessa, you betrayed him so long ago, why? He loved you so much and you banished him into darkness.” “I sensed evil in his soul. And his death brought a great sadness in my heart that has never been cured.” “Does that evil not course through your daughter’s veins, Addessa? Is she not like him? The daughter of the ‘Great Addessa’ and daughter of the greatest being of all–Elathon?” “Do not speak of that, Ember! She must never know he is her father.” “I fear that I will not have to. When Aerial finds Elathon, I’m sure he will tell Vesta the truth. And why he was really banished to darkness. For I know why he was, Addessa. Was it not you that felt shame for being with him? Was it not your husband who tried to kill him? He cannot fall by a human. You know this, Addessa, even when he was human he was something much more. That is why I brought him back. For he is not a human nor a demon, but a god of darkness. That is why you banished him, Addessa, you sensed his true self. But you failed. You let the seed of him live–which kept him tied to this world.
“Please stop, Ember. I can bare no more. Vesta is on her way to kill him.” “What! No, this cannot be! Only you or his seed can kill him. If they fall a great darkness will shower this earth and we all will surely die.” “What do you speak of, Ember?” “Yes, it is true, Addessa, he is a god of darkness, but his death brings pain and suffering upon us all. That sadness that lives in your human heart for him is because you killed him before. But not his seed. If they both fall, this world too shall fall. We must stop them.” “Yes, we must, Ember.”
“My queen, a man in a cloak approaches. Should we attack?” “Noo,” we both yell, “let him through.” I walk through the gates of the kingdom of light. It has been years since I have seen this place. My sword drags behind me. The humans fear me. As they move to let me pass I see them shake. I make my way to the the Great Chamber of the Queen Addessa. “You! John–son of Michel.” “Please, don’t kill me,” he says. “I have no intention of killing you. I cannot let you in.” “Oh, but you don’t have to John.”
He raises his hand and the doors open. “Stand aside, boy.”
I can see he is afraid of me. “Elathon!” a voice calls from behind me. I turn to see Aerial and a face I have longed to see for some time. “I will kill you!” She draws her sword and runs toward me. I step inside the chamber and close the doors. I turn only to find myself in the presence of both queens Ember and Addessa. “Now this is a surprise.” “Elathon!” Addessa says to me, “why did you kill my son?” “He provoked me, Addessa, he broke the treaty. He is much like your former husband.”
“Elathon we have been betrayed,” Queen Ember says to me. “I know this already, my queen. For I see all. And I alone know the true intentions of both human and demon.” Addessa grabs her sword, “you must die, Elathon!” The doors open from behind me. I feel surrounded. “Elathon!” Vesta calls to me. “My daughter, oh how I have longed for this day.” “What! I am not your daughter!?” Addessa holds her head down. “Mother! What is he talking about, why is he saying that to me? Is this true?” “Yes, it is very much true, Vesta, I am your father. It is my blood that runs through your veins.” “It is true Vesta. I did not want you to know, but you would not listen. If only you would have stayed here you would have never known.” “So I am half-demon?” “No, you are not. Vesta you are half god.” Queen Ember says. “What! I cannot believe this.” “Aerial, why are you here?” “Mother, we followed Elathon here. I was hoping I could make him see that this war was not intended.” “Leave here now, Aerial.” “Yes, mother.” Aerial runs up and hugs me as if she knows I am leaving this world. “I know you intend on killing me, Addessa.” “You have left me with no choice, Elathon.”
“Nooo!” Vesta yells, “you will fall by my sword!” and runs toward me. “My daughter, I do not wish to hurt you.” She swings, our swords clash. A sharp pain runs down my back. I turn to see Addessa’s sword inside me. “Why, Addessa? Why did you betray me? I loved you.” “I had no choice, Elathon. I’m sorry. You are evil.” “But was it not evil that you fell in love with.” Blood runs down my side. Still holding Vesta’s sword at bay. I look into her eyes. They begin to glow green like mine. “I’ve only wanted to see you, my daughter, and teach you.” “You will never teach her, you will never be part of her life!” yells Addessa.
Aerial runs in from behind Vesta and grabs her. “No!! Stop, let me go!” Vesta yells. Addessa pulls her sword from my back. I fall to one knee. I grasp my sword tight, it begins to glow red. I grab Addessa and pull her to me. She is crying. Sadness is in her heart. Her sword falls to the ground, her arms wrap around me. “I am sorry, Elathon. I love you.” “Noooo!!” Vesta yells.
I watch as my mother and father vanish. “Noooo!!” I scream. Aerial still holding on to me. I try to get away, but her grasp is so strong. Elathon’s sword still remains and is still glowing. “Let me go, Aerial!” I scream. She releases, I run over and grab my mother’s sword. “Noo, mother!! Why didn’t you tell me?” Queen Ember leans down, touches my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “you are the queen of all now. We are merely your servants.” “What do you mean?” I ask. “Your father was a god. Your mother–the goddess of light. You are the most powerful being on this world. Take your father’s sword. For you are the only one who can carry it and you alone will rule this land.”
I stand up, tears still falling from my eyes. I grasp Elathon’s sword and lift it up. The power of it flows through my body. Queen Ember bows down to me. “My queen, I sent my army to destroy your general and General Idicium,” Queen Ember says, “we are at your command. We will help you bring peace back to this land.” Aerial walks over to me. “I am your sister and I will always be by your side. “Princess Vesta,” the guards yell, “we have General Alex!” “Bring him to me now!” I yell. “Princess Vesta, please, have mercy on me for I was mislead by the demons.” “You lie! And because of your lie my brother is dead, my mother is dead and my father is dead and so shall you die by his sword!” I swing and his body turns to ash.
“Queen Ember, together we will bring peace to this land. And my sister, Aerial, we will remember this time as part of a new beginning for demons and humans.” Queen Ember stands and places her hand upon me and says, “Do not be sad. They are not dead. They only went to the next life.” “What does that mean? Will they return?” She says nothing and flies away into the night. “Aerial do you know what that means?” “No, I do not my sister.” My tears stop falling the red glow from my father’s sword disappears. I pick my mother’s sword up and notice there is writing on the blade. It reads: There is no light without darkness. And who holds this sword will forever have peace in there heart.
Many years passed and peace was restored with the help of the demons. A new way of life came to be for us. A world where both demons and humans lived together. “Aerial, do you think they will ever return?” “I do not know, sister. All things are possible.” I throw a rock into the lake. The water ripples. I see my reflection in the water. I stare as I see my eyes glow green. A figure of a man and a woman appear from behind me. I turn quickly only to find nothing but Aerial standing there. “Sister, are you alright? You look as if you have seen a ghost.” “MOTHER!!! FATHER!!” I yell and tears fall from my eyes. I look back into the water, my tears fall into it, “they are gone.” “Who is gone, sister, what did you see?”
“They were here, Aerial, they were right behind me.”