Chapter eleven; The Hero's Journey, The Longest Night.
When they finally reappeared Willow and Michael were standing high at the top of Hero's Tower looking over the lake. Willow's eyes were wide with wonderment as she took in the scene and she walked to the edge of the tower, still holding Michael's hand. In all her adventures as a Hero, never had Willow seen a scene quite as breath taking as the one layer out before her that night.
"It's so beautiful, but how did we get up here," she asked.
"You already know Willow," Michael replied cryptically, snickering. Willow turned and looked at Michael, trying to confirm her theory.
"You mean…a cullis gate," she asked.
"That's right, somewhere underneath the lake is a cullis gate that leads up here. I found it when I was swimming here about a month ago. When I passed over the spot above the gate I felt that weird surge of energy I get whenever I'm standing on one, and the next thing I knew I was up here," Michael explained.
"Why didn't you tell anybody about it," she questioned further.
"Because, I wanted to share it with you first," he spoke back simply. Willow couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ever since she met Michael she had been nothing but rude to him, she had hurt him so many times so why was he being so…romantic? He was so devoted, she'd never felt this way before, never thought that she could. Willow stepped closer to him, looking deep into his eyes as an overwhelming feeling of warmth flowed through her. She leaned in and closed her eyes, laying a sweet kiss on his lips. Willow felt something deep inside of her, something she thought she lost long ago open again, and the feeling was amazing. When she broke the kiss there was a long silence, neither one knew exactly what to say.
"Willow I…" Michael started.
"Michael no," Willow stopped him. A lump in her throat formed and she tried to clear it. It was finally time for Willow to be honest because she finally felt the power to do so, "Michael, there is something you need to know about me." Michael looked at her curiously while she searched for the words she wanted to say.
"What's wrong," he asked her.
"It's just that…there is a reason I was so mean to you and everyone else. I was afraid that I'd care about you or someone else and if that happened I'd never be able to live with myself," Willow said franticly, "so I alienated myself on purpose so that maybe I'd end up not feeling so terrible when it happened, but now I do care about you and it's all a big mistake and I'm sorry!" Michael laid his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her down.
"Willow, what are you talking about? What's going to happen," he asked.
"Yes Willow, what is going to happen?" A deep and powerful voice reverberated through the air from seemingly nowhere, and a thick black fog filled the air. Michael felt strange, like he'd been here before, like he knew what the black fog was and yet at the same time it was totally foreign to him. The black fog began to take shape on the tower, and a tall dark hooded figure appeared, looming over the two Heroes. Michael stepped in front of Willow to keep the mysterious dark figure away from her.
"Who are you, how do you know Willow," Michael tried interrogating the cloaked man.
"My boy, I've known Willow since she was a baby, and you as well Michael," he responded, "I am the dark lord that your home the Hero's Guild has been training you to kill since day one. I am Skorm, and dear Willow here is my daughter."
Michael stumbled backwards as if the very words hit him in the stomach. He turned his head around to look at Willow hoping that it wasn't true, but the ashamed look on her face said it all.
"Why didn't you say anything," he asked her.
"You don't understand, he wouldn't let me! Since I was a baby he's been in my mind, controlling me. I've tried to break free, I thought I had but he's so powerful," Willow tried to explain.
"That's correct Willow, and you've been a very bad girl, but you're about to redeem yourself in my eyes. Come," Skorm beckoned her to stand by his side, but Michael held her back when she tried to walk.
"I'm not letting you take her Skorm, she isn't yours to control," Mike said defiantly.
"Oh? And what exactly can you do to stop me demon," the evil one asked.
"First of all, I'm no demon. And second, this," he said.
-Vrump-
Michael utilized his time control spell in order to get behind Skorm. He drew his sword and swung it at Skorm's head with all his might, but he was met by the butt of Skorm's sword as it dug into his gut. Michael was stopped in his tracks and Skorm gripped him by his collar, raising him into the air with one hand.
"That sword, your father used that very blade. Not to any affect mind you, but the nostalgia is touching," and with that Skorm threw Michael into one of the stone pillars and he fell to the ground in a heap. "You are a demon, Michael. Your father knew it, and that's why he abandoned you at that Guild, so that he could make sure that you couldn't grow into the horrible monster that lay dormant within you." Michael tried to ignore the words Skorm spoke as he fought back up to his feet, but every word seeped into his mind like a parasite and would not let him focus on anything else.
"Liar," he shouted, throwing a fire ball madly at him.
-fwush-
A simple stroke of his hand was all Skorm needed to deflect the blast.
-fwush- -fwush-
Two more fire balls flew Skorm's way, but they were repelled as simply as the first. Michael's runes were a vibrant red, brighter than ever before as anger fueled his magic.
"You need no more clear evidence than the marks on your body, the luminescent red indicated a spiritual body inside of you, and that spirit is that of a demon," Skorm explained, "and that is exactly why little Willow here was so drawn to you."
Willow shook her head franticly in denial, "No, it's not true," she pleaded.
"Of course it is. Everything that you've done was according to my plan, even when your mother stole you away from me and left you at the Guild you followed my plan perfectly. I told you to find the strongest young Hero that you could, and you found Michael just as I thought you would. I told you to destroy him, and you surpassed any expectation I could have set. I presumed you would merely shoot him while on one of your quests, but what you did was much more maniacal wasn't it? You lead him on, you gave him hope, and when you finally gave him that first sweet kiss and made him think that all was well in the world, you lead him to me. Well done my girl, I am very proud of you," once again Skorm motioned for Willow to approach him, and this time she obeyed as tears seemed to stream out of her now black eyes. She was once again under Skorm's control, unable to restrain herself.
Michael's rage began to build, he couldn't bear the weight of the betrayal in his heart. His body grew hotter and hotter, and soon flames began to emerge from his hands and feet. He melted the very ground he stood on as the fire inside of him became external, and he was ready for one final attack.
"Michael no, you can't beat him, run away and warn the Guild, there is still a chance you could live," Willow begged him.
"Silence girl," Skorm ordered, and Willow found herself speechless once again.
Michael wasn't listening, he was focusing all his hurt and anger into his Will, creating a fire ball more massive than any he'd ever created before. When it was complete he hurled it with every ounce of strength in his body at the dark lord. Willow jumped out of the way of the blast, but Skorm stood absolutely still, as if it didn't even exist. The fireball was dead on and created a furious blaze where he stood, lighting up the night sky like a torch. Michael fell to his knees, huffing and puffing as his energy was sapped, thinking he'd killed Skorm at last, "I did it," he said weakly.
However just when Michael thought it was over, the flames came back at him like a might flamethrower, forcing Michael against a pillar while the flames rushed at him. When they finally dissipated Michael fell to the floor face down and barely breathing, while Skorm loomed over him with barely a burn to be seen. Skorm lifted him by his neck as his body hung like a rag doll, opening his eyes to see his plan had obviously failed.
"And now, you die. Willow, please do the honors," Skorm spoke dreadfully. Willow's eyes were blue again as she was trying to fight off Skorm's control, but a snap of his fingers changed them back to black and she raised her crossbow with a trembling arm.
"Michael, I'm so sorry, I can't stop him," she spoke gently, fighting back the tears. Michael was too weak to answer, he could only look at Willow and see the hurt in her eyes and notice it matched the pain he felt.
-shink-
A single arrow flew into Michael's chest and it appeared as if it was over. Skorm dropped him to his feet, and Michael's frail body stumbled backwards over the edge of the cliff, and plunged into the water below. Skorm watched him fall into the dark waters, a deeply satisfying smile on his face.
"Magnificent Willow, I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to utterly destroy the one thing that could possibly put a wrench into my plans," Skorm bragged.
-shink-
Another arrow flew through his body, causing Skorm to grimace in pain.
"You took him away from me, you monster! You took him away from me," Willow screamed at him. Skorm turned around and his confidence turned into shock and fear, "my entire life I was forced not to care, not to feel anything because if I did I knew I would just end up losing it."
-shink-
"But Michael didn't care. After all I did to him he never stopped caring about me and he tried so hard to bring the good in me out. For once I'm happy, for just a moment all that goodness I hid away came out and that feeling made up for all the years of pain I felt!"
-shink-
"And then you come along, and you take away the only good thing in my life, the only thing I ever loved! I will never forgive you for that! I will see you broken at my feet you monster!"
-shink-
Five arrows filled Skorm's chest and a great weakness fell over him.
"Your betrayal will not be forgotten you foolish girl. Know that my attack on the Guild is coming, and when it comes you will not be sparred," Skorm cursed at her. His body changed back into the black fog, and it drifted away. Willow dropped her crossbow and fell to her knees, crying uncontrollably over the loss of her only friend.
