Prologue

It was a hot morning in early April, and the life was quiet in the "Forest of the hundred petals". The spring had reached its peak, the dense vegetation of the forest had never been so lush meadows, plants and trees were a riot of colours and scents. The clear sky was streaked with vivid swallow and inexperience sparrows, while the fresh clean air filled the lungs of the animals of the forest. Everything was quiet, everything was harmony, everything was calm, but the whole thing, you know, does not last forever.

«Come on guys keep pace. Here we are: yourself all around me» said the park ranger, while the teachers were helping their kids to do his bidding.

The group arranged around a huge round stone covered with strange writing and set in the ground, while the leadership of the student body positioned himself above it so catching everyone's attention.

«Brendon didn't dare to get away! Come here now!» shouted one of the professors to a chubby boy of eleven years haired blacks as pitch.

«I'm sorry Professor, I thought I heard a voice call me» he apologized.

«Do not make excuses! Move and sit next to me, so I keep an eye on» ordered the woman.

The ranger spoke up: «So guys, who can tell me the origin of the name of this wood?».

A hand of a girl with long brown hair, embellished by the presence of a clasp shaped like a butterfly, timidly raised from the crowd. The man, then, allowed her to explain:

«It's called "Forest of the hundred petals" because according to the legend long time ago a brave knight, leaving for a battle, gave to his beloved princess a magical rose with one-hundred petals. The rider explained to the girl that once all the petals have fallen, he would return to her. Unfortunately, the years passed away but the rose did not lose any of its petals. So, the princess realized that his love would never come back and let herself die from the pain».

«Well done my dear!» said the ranger pleased - «Excuse me, what did you say to call you?».

«My name is Elizabeth» replied the student blushing.

«Well done Elizabeth!» repeated the guide, then, turning back to the kids he asked them: «But now, who can tell me how it's called the place where we are?".

This time to take the floor was a tall boy with blond hair:

«This is the "Demon Trap". It is said that the stone is nothing more than a seal, which is needed to imprison a powerful demonic creature».

At these words all the boys, including professors, stepped back terrified. The ranger laughed and, trying to reassure the presents, said:

«Oh guys, you are really prepared! Only few people know the history of this place. I bet, though, that none of you know the name of the demon, is not it?».

No-one answered, so he continued:

«By deciphering the writing on the stone archaeologists have discovered the name of this mysterious being: Belial. According to the legends he was one of the most powerful demons never existed, some identify him as the Lord of the Legions of Darkness».

There was a moment of amazement then, a kid next to the ranger asked:

«It is possible that it could get rid? There is no danger, right?»

They all burst into a big laugh, after which the park guide explained to the student body:

«Guys the stone is of course a mere artistic sculpture, no evidence suggests that it is a true story. However if you really want to know how to free a demon, the stories narrate that you should do a blood pact with him. In practice, you should offer your body to the creature, which he or she will take possession of it. Now follow me: there are a lot of things to see in this forest».

So, the ranger stood in front of the children and led them along the path that winds through the woods. Brendon halt the procession along with Elizabeth and the little blond boy.

«Guys, how did you know all these things? I don't even know the existence of this forest» asked amazed the haired black boy.

«Just read any book of myths and ancient legends» replied Elizabeth in a dry way.

«I understand…» hissed the other embarrassed - «Anyway I'm Brendon. What's your name?».

«I'm Max, nice to meet you» replied the blonde - «Her name is Elizabeth. She said it after telling the story».

«Sorry guys, but I'm a landslide with name» justified Brendon.

The girl, however, didn't care, she was eager to re-join her friends and let loose the two strangers. Bored by the situation, she began to walk faster, but after she had angrily passed a hand through her hair, she suddenly stopped.

«Where? Where's my clip?» said the girl worried, then she turned furious to Brendon and Max: «Have you taken it? Confess!».

The two boys swore they hadn't taken anything.

«Then it must have fallen to the stone» thought Elizabeth aloud and exceeded the two she ran away from the group coming back.

«Where is she going? We must follow her and bring her back» said Brendon resolutely.

Max nodded and together ran behind forgetting to warn others. Meanwhile, Elizabeth had already found the clip at the foot of the stone and, after taken it from the ground, she put it back in the hair. Soon after the boys arrived and, as they were extremely concerned about their new friend, they asked in unison:

«May you ask why you came back? Are you crazy?».

«I have lost it» said Elizabeth indicating the clip - «It's a very important object for me, I could not leave it here. Anyway thank you for your concern, I hope you have alerted the professor or the ranger. "

The two looked dazed. Elizabeth, then, realizing that both had forgotten about, quacked:

«I can't believe it, you are two faint-hearted! Now can you explain me how we find our way back?».

«Don't worry kid, we'll take care of you now!».

They were frightened to death when they realized who had spoken those words. By thick vegetation made their way three boys of about sixteen or seventeen, who approached menacingly to the small group of friends.

«What do you want?» asked Brendon shaking like a leaf.

«We want to have some fun with your friend, so stand aside or you'll watch the show in a pool of blood» said one of the three.

Elizabeth was petrified with terror, seemed not breathing either.

«We stay here! It is best that you don't approach otherwise we begin to shout» shouted Max trying to be brave.

«As you wish: guys give a lesson to these two brave knights» ordered the leader of the trio.

Max and Brendon had no time to do anything: the first was thrown to the ground and kicked until he fainted. Brendon, instead, was thrown with such violence on the stone that he cracked two ribs. The boy screamed in pain but his assailants, not caring in the least of it, trod him to a pulp. Finally, one of the two with a kick broke his nose and left him dying on the stone, which in the meantime was colouring red. Elizabeth was left alone and helpless, she could not even cry, while the three were approaching her. Brendon watched the scene in tears. He couldn't help the girl and he was very troubled by the thought of what the three could have done to her friend. Suddenly, he remembered of the stone, the legend of Belial. So, the boy whispered without strength:

«Please help me, stop them: help me to save her. I offer you my blood, my body, my soul».

Soon after, gathering his last strength, he shouted: «Please help me Belial».

Nothing happened. The boys turned to Brendon and one of them exclaimed: «He's completely crazy».

The three laughed and resumed slowly circling Elizabeth. They wished that the girl ran away, thinking that this would make it even more fun. Elizabeth, however, didn't move. It was seemed that the girl had accepted her awful fate.

Brendon saw her and, closing his eyes filled with tears, he whispered one last time:

«Please».

Suddenly he heard a thud, the three attackers stopped again annoyed. This time also Elizabeth turned and her astonishment was great. The stone was cracked and from its splits began to emerge a black viscous liquid, which wrapped Brendon. As soon as the substance covered his entire body, the boy caught fire. His screams of pain were chilling. The sky above the clearing became dark, the birds fled from their nests and in the distance the animals snarled fierce. Max also woke up in a panic and, when he realized what was happening, he was startled. Brendon was lifted in the air, and a swirl of black flames wrapped around him. The three attackers were terrified, the same was true for Elizabeth who, conscious of Max, had reached him. Suddenly the flames were extinguished, Brendon stopped screaming and his body touched the ground again. The boy had his head bowed and his arms placed along the sides, he seemed to feel good: there were no burn marks, indeed all the injuries, caused by the beating, were gone. Even his physical appearance had changed: he had become a bit higher and had lost weight.

«What happened?!» asked one of the three boys to his friends

«I don't know. Let us approach with caution» replied another.

The three reached Brendon and then they stopped themselves few meters away. The boy had raised his eyes from the ground, it was a polished look but expressionless. He drew an evil smile on his face, while a black aura enveloped him from head to foot.

«Free, free at last» were the first words of Brendon - «I want blood. I want their blood».

The three teenagers retreated but it was too late: the boy would have his revenge. Brendon sprang forward shouting and pounced on one of the three. Spread it on the ground and, laughing madly, he began to hit him on the chest over and over until there was the noise of the sternum, which was going to pieces followed by gasps of the boy who died from the collapse of the lungs. The other two tried to escape in vain. The first was grabbed by the arm by Brendon, who, after having also taken the other limb, forced him to his knees. After he pulled away both arms using his foot on the victim's back as support. Finally, the third found the demon before him. Brendon smiled as a maniac and he suddenly pierced boy's chest with his hand ripping out his heart. They were unrecognizable, Brendon had crushed them. Elizabeth and Max hugged trembling. They couldn't believe what they had seen. The demon turned toward them threatening but he didn't have time to do anything because he collapsed to the ground.

Shortly after the ranger and the rest of the student body found the boys and the havoc caused by Brendon. Elizabeth and Max explained that, went back to look for the clip of the girl, they had witnessed the aggression of three teenagers by a group of bears and that Brendon had fainted from shock. Max's injuries were justified with a simple fall. Although the story was not credible, the teachers, the rangers and the police were too shocked by the macabre spectacle to believe something different. The bodies of the attackers were taken away, while Brendon, who was still unconscious, was accompanied with the other two in hospital. In the ambulance, Elizabeth and Max were holding hands they and looked at the unconscious body of Brendon.

«What do we do?» she asked.

Max waited for a bit, then he said:

«He saved us! He has committed a folly, but he saved us without knowing who we really are. Now it's our turn: we will support him».

After he had finished to speak, he squeezed Elizabeth in a hug and with his free he took that of Brendon.


FOOTNOTES: Hello everyone! My name is Yugi95 and I'm an Italian guy with the passion for writing. Since I was a child I have always loved to imagine and invent situations that allowed me to live the adventures of my favourite books or stories. Growing up I realized that imagination was not enough for me, I felt the need to give life to these fantasies. Thus, I began to write short stories, completely invented, or very rapid fanfiction on many different themes. Some time ago I became aware of an Italian site of fanfiction called "EFP – Fanfiction" and I became interested in its stories. I really appreciated the skill and courage of those who put into play by writing their own stories. So, I've started the publication of my stories on EFP and then on Wattpad. I've decided to set all my first fanfictions in the universe of Winx for two reasons. First Winx's fanfictions were the first stories I read on EFP, deeply worshiping the sagas and the ways of writing of the different authors. Secondly, as a child I loved to watch with my sister's company this cartoon. In particular, this story is the translation of my first fanfiction "La Rinascita della Fenice" XD. The decision of translating my story wasn't easy to take. Despite the fact I've been studying English since I was 7 years old, I don't consider myself so good to be able to write a story from the beginning to the end. For this reason I apologize if you'll find grammar or language mistakes ;D. However I want to take this experience as an opportunity to improve my language skills and to be aware of what other people think about Winx Club stories XD. Moreover if you had any suggestions to improve the quality of translation, I'd really appreciated your help. I usually update my fanfictions every Monday in order to have a week for writing a new chapter; but today I'll do an exception XD. I really hope that my little story can please you and not to have bothered you too much with these notes ;D. A general greeting and see you next chapter :D :D :D.

Yugi95