OK guys, this story has officially reached its end! The second story in the Demon Trilogy will be up hopefully today, if not soon. Thank you very much for reading and commenting. Special thanks to chugirl2526 and SparkieStpeh for commenting on most of the chapters. Remember to look out for Realm of the Demons!
Fourteen – The Open Gates
Julian and Bollo followed Michael further into the cave. They came to a spacious area. On the right side was a bed, which Noel was sitting on. On the left, opposite them, was a board showing the faint outline of a human with seven horizontal lines on the torso, each line neatly parallel with each other.
"Take a seat," said Michael. Bollo and Julian sat on the bed. "I've done an examination on Noel and I've discovered something interesting. While you were in the prison, it seems a magician had casted several spells on you. One of them was a spell which – as it happens – was trying to reveal your powers. Several more have opened what we call Gates.
"Gates are, in a sense, barriers which keeps your body balanced. In a normal human, these gates are closed. However if the Gates open, they carry advantages. The first Gate controls the fragility of the body. If it is open the body becomes more fragile." He paused to make sure his small audience was taking all this in. They nodded, and Michael continued. "The second Gate enables the body to heal thrice as quickly, so if a small paper cut was made, it would disappear the next morning. The next four Gates are the Resistance Gates. They create a much stronger attack resistance. The more that are opened, the stronger the body becomes." He paused once more to redraw his breath. Judging by his face, saying all this seemed tiring work.
"The final Gate is the Demon Gate. This Gate only opens to demons. It can open two ways; if it goes northwards, it determines a Black Demon; if it goes southwards, it determines a White Demon, hence the positions of the two Demon Clans." Now that Michael said this, it became clear to Julian and Noel why the Black Demons occupied the North, and why the White Demons occupied the South.
"Noel, you have four Gates open. Your first, second, fourth and fifth Gates are open. While you have a strong resistance and a faster healing time, your body is slightly fragile. Your arm should have lost all its blood, but it didn't; and you shouldn't have survived all those blows the Yaka Daema sent you. You have to be careful Noel – I'm not sure if your fragile status is greater or weaker than your resistance status. Also, Julian will need you."
"Will I?" asked Julian surprised.
"Indeed, you will. You must travel to the Demon Clans to find a cure. It is likely the North will know something, but I feel the White Demons may be our answer," explained Michael. "Bollo, if we make an arrangement to teleport Noel and Julian to the base of Blood Mount, how long will it take to make sure the route is clear?"
"I estimate two weeks," said Bollo thoughfully. Both Julian and Noel gaped at this.
"WHAT?" they cried at the same time.
"Two weeks?" added Julian. "I don't know if I'll manage that long!"
"Your cut looks like an ordinary one. Black Demons of old times could make a cut from the back of your neck down to your arse, and that would have been awful. Your cut will take about 5 months to transform you into a full demon. Two weeks won't hurt you. The most you'll do is develop some demon characteristics and probably a pair of fangs," assured Michael.
"OK, if you say so," muttered Julian, not knowing if he should take Michael's word.
"Are we done?" asked Bollo.
"I think we are," said Michael quickly. "I'll draw a teleportation circle. Promise me you will stay out of trouble during those two weeks, and that you'll get the Chokes filmed." Both boys couldn't help grinning at the last few words.
"Don't worry, we will," said Noel.
As Julian waited for Michael to draw the circle, his mind was racing. He had to turn back to human, and fast before he would do something he would regret. He knew his only hope now lay with the demons.