Dark Knight

Prologue:

Budapest, Hungary 1986

At six years old, Lana Cadet protested as her father dragged her into the Reyals Center, "Daddy, I do not want to go." Her father, Jacob Cadet scooped her up into her arms as he carried her inside. The door closed behind him as a young woman stood behind her husband, Jacob, *Sweetie, listen to your father. Her locket gleamed beneath the florescant light as her bright honey gold eyes met her daughter's. Reaching out she told her husband to hand their daughter to her, *Here take the little brat. Dr. Jon Kilerman pulled Jacob to the side as they spoke together quietly, their gaze flicking constantly to Lana and her mother as they nodded, *Yes I see what you mean. Very strange indeed. Jacob Cadet shook the doctor's hand as he walked over to his wife and daughter, his gaze gave them a once over, *I am leaving you with the doctor. He will help you both with your um…'conditions'. I will be waiting in the car when he is done with the diagnosis. *Mommy, what condition do we have? Lana's mother's lip trembled as the doctor told him to follow him. Two hallways later, both mother and daughter reached two silver double doors. Walking through, two guards pried Lana away from her mother. Lana cried out as she fought them off, *Mommy! Mommy!

Lana was placed in a little room alone as the door clicked shut. Lana screamed and kicked at the door as she hollered for her mother as tears streamed down her face. Dr. Kilerman pushed a button as he spoke through the intercom, *Be a good little girl and I will give you a lollipop. I will have your mommy back to you in no time. The room started to grow dimmer as Lana clutched her head in pain. She began to scream until the vision became too much to block out as everything went black, *A woman with honey gold eyes taking her final breath. Her lifeless eyes stared into the void as her bloody hand held onto the locket. . . A book laid open as a horned demon merged with the man. . .the man's eyes glowed yellow as he grinned, his talon-like fingernails cracking with power as he stood in an anceint temple* Lana laid on the cold floor as a hand shook her hard on the shoulder, *Wake up girl. Lana stirred slowly, *Huh? Dr. Jon Kilerman clicked his pen light on and flashed it in her tiny face to check her eyes, *Why are you so sweaty? Lana swiped her forehead with the back of her hand, *I do not know. The doctor shook his head as he wrote frantically on his clipboard, *The guards said you were screaming and then you collapsed onto the floor. What happened?

Before Lana could answer, another scream rang out as it echoed off the walls. Everyone turned at the sound as the doctor and guards ran out the door as they left Lana alone once more. Lana stuck her foot out as she caught the door before it shut closed on her and snuck out. Looking around she heard another scream as it echoed, *Momma? The screams were coming from the double doors that read: Research Lab. Lana crept closer down the hallway as she flatten herself against the wall, her tiny hand poised near the door as she inched closer to push the door inward. Before Lana could get close enough to push it in, she saw the most horrifying sight of her life. Her mother was writhing and screaming at the top of her lungs as Dr. Kilerman was writing on his clipboard rapidly, *Give me more power here. I think it is working this time. Lana covered her mouth as she stopped herself from screaming out. Lana's mother gave one final blood curtling scream as smoke radiated from her flesh. The doctor waved his hand as he wrote on his clipboard again, *What a shame. We know nothing more about these vampires. I know these psychic women are protecting them in some way. Let's see if her daughter can be of better use to us. The guard and doctor walked out the room together and down the hall, not noticing the tiny figure huddled in the corner. A second later the alarm sprang to life as the intercom went off, *Find her! Search everywhere!

Lana snuck into the room as stared at the lifeless eyes of her mother, *I am sorry, Momma. Tears formed as they ran unchecked down her cheeks. Lana's eyes looked down at her mother's bloody hand. Her mother's locket swung gently back and forth in her lifeless hand as the blood twirled down the chain. Reaching out slowly, Lana tugged the locket from her mother's hand as she backed away from the putrid smell of rotting flesh. Turning, she ran out into the hallway and into the arms of Dr. Kilerman as he smiled wickedly, *Where do you think you're going?

Lana screamed out loud and in her mind as she pleaded for someone to help her. Dr. Kilerman's smile faded as a scar started to form upon his face. He screamed as Lana broke free from his grasp. Not looking back, Lana ran as hard and as fast as her little feet could carry her. The wailing of sirens could be heard coming from a distance as she ran towards the sound.

Lana collapsed on the ground on the sidewalk as a patrol car pulled up, its red and blue lights flashing on her face as exhaustion took her over.

South America 700 AD

A young sorcerer by the name of Malick pushed through the thick trees of the lush rainforest as the temple loomed in front of him. The sun was beginning to set behind the temple as he arrived at the steps of the Mayan Civilization. He lit the torch as he made is way up the grand staircase that led to the entrance, his mind focused on one thing as he climbed up higher. The Mayan's called it the "Temple of the Fire God." The villagers of the land warned him to stay away or seek the rath of the fire god. Malick grinned as he walked quietly through the darkness. Centipedes and spiders lined the walls as the ancient hieroglyphics reflected from the torch's glow. Vines hung from the ceiling, the breeze was cool upon his hot skin as he made his way inside. Malick knew he was getting close as the stench grew stronger. He was near his destination.

A stone wall stood before him as Malick drew the torch closer to the symbols etched upon it. He stood there for a moment to decipher the ancient hieroglyphics. After a while Malick placed his hand on the ancient wall and stood back as the secret cavern opened from his touch. He had heard of this place, this place of darkness. The old ones forbade him from coming here. They told him many times throughout the years to summon the darkness of fire and death was going to damn your soul for all eternity. Malick did not care what the old ones said. He wanted to be remembered and feared by all that stood in his way. He believed Xavier, the high mage, was a fool to not come here and seek out greatness. The old mage will see soon enough what the power of darkness gave him.

Holding his torch up high, Malick looked around and wretched slightly as a rotting stench filled his nostrils. Holding back the urge to vomit, he made his way to the back of the cave as the sounds of water dripped from the ceiling. An old book sat on a stone pedestal, ominously waiting. A smile flitted momentarily upon Malick's face as he ran his hand upon the ancient book. Waving his hand, he forced the book open only to have a gust of wind rush into the cold, damp room. He shivered slightly and then gasped as the floor started to glow red before him.

Lava started to melt away the floor as a clawed hand reached up from the floor, as if it was a portal opening into another dimension. A horned demon rose from the floor and stood up in front of Malick. Its eyes glowed yellow as he stared at him; its talon reached for the book as it slammed shut. *Qui audet reviviscente me de meo dormitabis? (Who dare awakens me from my slumber?) Malick stared at the demon that stood before him and took in everything. The black talons quietly tapped the book as the demon waited for an answer, *I came here from a distant land. I wanted….. The demon's eyes blazed of fire as it laughed, *Deorum vis quaeris. (You seek the power of the gods.) The demon didn't make it a statement as it laughed again as Malick nodded quietly, *Si quaeris opes. Ófferam in commercia non admitterentur. Animam tuam ad potestas mea. (If it is power you seek. I will offer in trade. Your soul for my power.) Malick licked his lips greedily, knowing that the power was what he wanted. He nodded in answer, *I want the power. I offer my soul for it. The demon grinned and waved its hand as the book opened to a page of possession, *Fiat, fiat. (So be it.)

The demon and Malick raised their arms in the same position as they recited the ancient spell together. Fero, tibi obscurissimi sunt. Veni, et educ aeternis tenebris. Evigilabo, et resurget ex favilla. Lapsis, et damnatorum vestra sunt soliders. Educ fortitudo vestra. Afferte, si inferno. Demittito, terram in vestra decrementi. Veni ad me obscurissimi sunt. (I summon thee dark ones. Come and bring the eternal darkness. Awaken and rise from the ashes. The fallen and damned are your soldiers. Bring forth your strength. Bring forth your hell. Plunge the earth in your decay. Come on to me dark ones.)

Fire consumed Malick's body as the demon took his soul. The flames licked his skin like a gentle caress as he began to transform before his eyes. Malick screamed in pain as he felt his very life be ripped from his body. The demon shifted into fire as Malick inhaled the flames. Smoke billowed from his ears and nostrils as his eyes closed. His clothing melted away as his body began to transform. Tattoos formed on his shoulders as he took in the demon's essence and power. Long black horns sprouted from his head. Malick roared in glee, his once brown eyes changed to an eerie bright yellow as he stretched. He felt the energy crackle as he twisted his fingers. Sharp black claws sprouted one by one as his fingers grew. He heard the voice in his head as he stood up. *Nos unum sumus. (We are one.) The fire finally died as Malick chuckled, *We indeed are one.

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