Hello my readers thank you for the reviews! I love hearing from you and seeing how you are liking the story. You guys keep me writing and updating as fast as I do. Without further ado, here is the chapter, enjoy ;)
(Unknown)
Flickering torches cast dancing shadows over the chipped stone floor that made up a long hallway. Cold moist air settled within the corridor, the dampness it caused most likely the main contributor to the dark green moss that filled every crevice of the stone blocks that made up the passage's walls.
It was a dark and dismal place, one devoid of natural light and warmth. So for the large creature stomping down the hall he wanted to get out of it as soon as possible. The creature's body was made of wood, gnarled and scared. Its form was like a misshapen human, one that had been grotesquely disfigured by some accident. Bright red orbs were sparking with annoyance as the spirit he was dragging continued the cursing insults he had been hurling since regaining consciousness.
"I hope you get termites you damn empty headed Spriggan!" Darkness growled in his throat as he was dragged like a sack of potatoes down the hall, the coarse stone cutting his skin as the creature pulled him across it. Darkness twisted against the tight ropes that bound his arms to his chest, "What the hell did you do with Frost and Sam!"
"Stupid shade spirit still don't understand."
Darkness narrowed his eyes as he lifted his head, "How about you explain then twig brain!"
The creature snorted, "Brate does not have to explain."
"Like hell you don't!" Darkness kicked his legs trying to get them free from the creatures gnarled branch like fingers (he knew it was useless considering his legs were bound just as tight as his arms but hell he wasn't about to let this guy off easy)
"You fucking knocked me in the head, tied me up, and are now dragging me down some hall which I can only guess leads to some dank cell you're going to leave me in. So yeah I think you owe me at least some kind of explanation!"
A rumbling growl echoed within the creature's hollow body, "Brate no have listen to shade spirit…Brate only have listen to Queen." Red orbs pulsed as the Spriggan tightened his hold on the man's ankles, "Now quiet, Brate tired of voice."
Darkness inhaled at the pain as the creature's gnarled fingers pierced his skin, "Asshole." The shade could feel blood now running down his legs. Silver eyes closed as Darkness suddenly let himself go limp, the shade not really caring about the sharp rocks that were scraping against his skin as he was dragged further into what he could only assume was a dungeon.
As he was pulled over the stone, Darkness let his mind wander back to the events that had led him to the situation he now found himself in…
(Flashback Pov)
"Frost wait!" Darkness yelled at the winter spirit running ahead of him. The shade growled as he shoved past three spirits that were scanning the crowd as if looking for someone.
"Hey watch it buddy!"
Darkness didn't bother responding the shade trying to keep the fleeing teen in his sight.
"Let it go Jeakar we have other things to worry about."
"Fine."
A chuckle left Darkness at the spirit's drifting grumble, "Thank your friend, cause if you had tried to start something with me at this moment…" the shade let his thought drift as his silver eyes followed the trajectory of the winter spirit he was following.
Jack was weaving around spirit's, the teen unconcerned by the dirty glowers the ones he shoved against gave him. It obvious that the teen had one thing on his mind…finding his friend.
Darkness growled when the boy pulled away from him, "Damn it Frost hold up!" he had to shout above the crowd in order to be heard.
The winter spirit in question paused, "But Darkness we have to find Sam before something happens to him!"
Darkness frowned, the fear flowing from the winter spirit was odd…it wasn't exactly speaking of the boy's worry for Sam. There was something off…but for the life of him Darkness couldn't put a finger on it.
"Lost in the darkness
Hoping for a sign
Instead there's only silence
Can't you hear my screams?"
Darkness could hear Star's voice above the screaming spirits around him, its tone low and haunting.
"Darkness I found him!"
The shade was brought from the song to the winter spirit who was now making a bee line for an exit tunnel, "Frost wait for me!" Darkness quickened his pace when the teen ignored him and barreled into the dark opening.
"Never stop hoping
Need to know where you are
But one thing's for sure
You're always in my heart"
The song was a distant roar as Darkness entered the hall, the shade frowned slightly at the empty corridor, "Frost?" when no answer came the shade instantly went on guard.
Slowly Darkness formed his scythe, the shadows that made it writhing and flickering response to the shade's apprehension. Silver eyes darted around the vacant hall, "Frost this isn't funny…where are you?"
"I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep….to know…has happened…will free my soul"
The song from outside drifted in broken and muffled as Darkness stepped further into the corridor the shade startled slightly when the tempo of the music changed. No longer soft and slow but now pulsing with pounding drums and a grieving violin. The rhythm sent slight tremors through the stone that made up the corridor.
Darkness however wasn't concerned with the beat; no his focus was on trying to locate the winter spirit that had rushed ahead of him.
It was due to this focus that Darkness never saw the creature that was waiting for him as he turned the corner of the corridor. Well at least not until he was right on the monster.
"What the hell!" Darkness cursed when he turned the corner and ran smack into a large figure. He stared in shock at the enormous creature that now towered over him.
It was nearly eight feet tall, body gnarled and twisted like an old tree that was ready to fall to the forest floor. Pulsing orbs made up the creature's eyes, which were trained on the shade with cruel delight.
Darkness stepped back, his scythe posed to strike, "What the hell is a Spriggan doing here!" the shade shook slightly, he had heard of these creatures.
They were the muscle of the Fairy Realm. Often sent by the small Fae to obtain spirits for them…which the shade feared was the case here. Why else would a damn Spriggan be in the same hall Sam had disappeared into?
"Ok bark breath where's Frost and Sam?" a growl left the shade when the creature simply smiled, its jagged splintered teeth gleaming in the halls light.
"You no ask question. Only Brate ask question." The creature smirked as it reached and pulled several lengths of ropes from among the branches that made up its head, "Brate want know if you want be easy or hard? Cause Brate ok with either way."
Darkness didn't bother to reply, the shade simply rushing forward. His arm muscles strained with the force he put into the swing of his scythe. To Darkness's surprise the Spriggan, despite its size, easily dodged the swing of his blade. The creature seemed to drift to the side of the hall, allowing the writhing shadow blade to pass harmlessly by.
"Little shade spirit must try harder than that to hit Brate." The creature chuckled at the spirit's look of shock, "Here let Brate show you how it is done."
Darkness's eyes widened when the creature's arm reared back, he barely managed to duck in time. "Holy crap that would have hurt!" Darkness thought as the creature's massive hand swept through the air just inches above his head, the force sending a crack in the hall.
"Hold still shade spirit!"
Darkness cursed as he barely managed to move out of the way of the creature's follow up swing. He stared wide eyed when rock splintered into dust as the hand meant for him slammed into the wall, "Ok…so you're not playing around…" the shade grinned as he commanded the large scythe to reform into something a bit more suited for such tight quarters, "So how about I do the same?"
Red orbs pulsed with anger at the now writhing curved hand knife in the shade's hand, "Little blade no hurt Brate!"
Darkness grinned as he flicked his other hand, "How about two?" the shade winced slightly as another identical knife of shadows crackled into being from his palm.
The creature snorted, "One, two, does not matter…Brate better than shade spirit."
"Let's put that statement to the test shall we?" Darkness smirked…then launched himself forward.
Brate stepped back slightly, surprised by the spirit's boldness
Darkness took advantage of the creature's shock, the shade slammed one of the blades into the giant's wooden leg, ignoring the roar that filled the air he yanked the blade free while simultaneously imbedding the second into the creature's other leg. With an upwards motion Darkness tore a gaping hole.
A scream of pain and rage filled the hall, along with a crashing thud as Spriggan went to one knee.
"So what was that you were saying?" Darkness sneered at the creature now glowering at him with hate, "Oh come on…you're not that hurt." He motioned to gaping wound, "You're not even bleeding."
Rumbling echoed within the creature, several curses mixed in with the sound "Brate know Queen told bring back alive but tiny spirit has wounded Brate…"
Darkness grinned as he twirled the blades in his hands, "Oh I'm about to do more than wound you bud. I happen to be one of the few in this Realm that knows how to kill a Spriggan." The shade smirked, "Just the advantage of being one of Death's 'dogs' she teaches you how to harvest just about anything's soul."
"You no kill Brate!" the creature roared as it struggled to its feet, "Brate kill you!"
A smirk came to Darkness's face, the shade ducked under the Spriggan's swing. Instantly the spirit danced around the now fuming creature, his silver eyes gleaming when he caught sight of the tiny notch in the middle of the bark covered back. "There we go!" Darkness raised his blade, ready to pierce the weak point that would allow him to end the creature.
"Darkness help!"
At Jack's voice the shade stopped his attack and instead whirled around, ready to defend the winter spirit, however no distraught winter spirit met his gaze only empty hall.
"Shade spirit fall for trick!"
Stars suddenly erupted behind Darkness's eyes when what felt like a ton of bricks slammed into the back of his head. Instantly the knives dissipated as the shade crumpled to the floor.
"Brate! Why'd you hit him! I thought we were clear you wouldn't hurt anyone!"
Darkness groaned at the young male voice, it had shifted mid word from sounding like Jack to sounding…like an entirely different person. It wasn't Jack…and it wasn't Sam... he tried to get back to his feet hoping to see who this new person was. However, the Spriggan had other ideas.
"Stay down."
Darkness cried out when the creature's heavy foot came crashing down onto his back, he struggled in vain against the weight now pinning him to the hall floor "Damn too…th pi..k! Let me…up!" the poor shade's words were broken and forced Darkness having to speak through his chest being crushed.
"No insult Brate!"
Darkness screamed when the creature pressed down harder, the shade could feel his ribs popping in response to the immense pressure being asserted on him.
"Brate!" the young male voice screamed again, "You're going to kill him!"
"Not kill, Queen told not to."
Darkness gasped when the creature lifted its foot, however the shade had no time to breath before once again what felt like a battering ram slammed against the side of his head.
"Stop! Don't hit him anymore!" the young voice almost sounded pleading "He's already down!"
"At least one of these bastards has a sense of decency." Darkness thought as he resisted feebly when the Spriggan grabbed his arms and pull them behind his back, however the poor shade was in no position to fight back Darkness's mind still reeling from the blow as well as the fact the creature still had him pinned.
"I have shade spirit."
Darkness fought against the coarse rope now being wrapped around his limbs, even more so at the creature's next words.
"Go finish job and get winter spirit."
"Don't you dare touch Frost or else I…" Darkness didn't finish his threat, the spirit once again feeling the hammering sensation that came from the Spriggan slamming a fist upside his temple.
This time however Darkness wasn't able to fight against the claws of unconsciousness and the shade slipped into blackness…
(End of flashback)
Darkness was brought back to the present when the Spriggan stopped walking, the spirit twisted his head upwards, "Oh goodie I was right." Darkness's voice held every ounce of sarcastic ire he felt as he caught sight of what they had stopped in front of, "A cell." Silver eyes raised slightly, "What are those made of?" he studied the gleaming black surface of the bars that made up the door, he could tell the material wasn't iron as was the norm for the prisons he had been kept in.
"Queen make bars from Palisade." A cruel sneer crept onto Brate's face, "It not only keep spirits in but take away energy too."
"Oh that's 'fantastic'." Darkness's voice was full of sarcasm, "Not only are you leaving me in a dank cell but it'll be draining me the whole time? That's just perfect."
"Brate glad shade spirit like it…"
Darkness yelped when he was suddenly snatched into the air by his ankles. He shot the Spriggan a death glare though it's affect was lost due to him being upside down.
"Queen says it will be your new home for long time."
Darkness rolled his eyes when the creature grinned, "Not if I can help it mulch breath."
"Told shade spirit not make fun of Brate!"
Darkness startled when he was flung into the cell, the shade hit the wall with a resounding thud his body falling hard to the bloodstained floor.
"Now stay Brate be back with Queen."
A loud resounding clang shook the air as the creature slammed the cell door shut
Darkness twisted his body until he was on his side, silver eyes staring at the pulsing hue of light now around the bars. A sudden weight settling over let Darkness know that the Spriggan had not been bluffing about the Palisade "Well this is just great... Pitch is going to have a flipping field day with the fact I got my ass tricked by some damn imitator spirit…and now I can't do more than lift a flipping finger…"
The silent cell echoed with the sound of Darkness to get free of the ropes that bound him. However, do to the Palisade that was steadily taking what energy he had it wasn't long before the poor spirit ran out of steam. With a yell of frustration Darkness let himself go limp, resting his cheek against the cold stone.
"Where's Pitch when I damn need him?" Darkness closed his eyes, the shade having to resign himself to the fact there was no way he was getting free on his own.
(Palace Kismet)
It would seem that Darkness was not the only one wondering where the Nightmare King was, across the world Patrick was wondering the same thing as he climbed a ladder propped up against one of the many shelves that housed Iris's book collection.
Patrick grumbled slightly as he steadied himself, "Stupid Pitch…leave me here…go off on an adventure without me…" the spirit reached for a leather bound book, "When I…aieeeeee!"
A very undignified scream left him when a paw shot out from among the books
"Why…why…just why!" Patrick glowered at the feline now staring at him from among the books, "Why do you insist on tormenting me!"
The feline simply cocked its head, hollow eyes staring in what Patrick could have sworn was humor.
"Why don't you make yourself useful and find the book I need?" Patrick huffed and preceded to climb higher, his mismatched eyes scanning for anything that would assist him. He startled when a slither of obsidian grains raced up the shelf beside him, "Will you just leave me alone!" Patrick sighed when the grains reformed again into a feline, its body rippling "I can't use Freyal at the moment, I can't outrun you, so just go find someone else to torment for a while."
Hollow eyes gleamed with golden light, the sand creature cocking its head at the spirit's words.
Patrick pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ok how about this?" the Leprechaun grinned an idea coming to him, "I'll stay here and search for the book I need…and you go do a perimeter check?"
The sand feline stretched itself, its body arching with the motion, then it settled onto its stomach as if to say it was going nowhere.
Mismatched eyes rolled Patrick clearly understanding what the silent sand was saying "Look Pitch would be really upset with you if some…malevolent shadows were to get in here." The spirit smirked when that caused the feline to sit up quickly, "I mean…I am pretty much a sitting duck for them should I lose this." Patrick thumbed the Shankar stone, causing the necklace to swing slightly, "So how about a deal? You leave me alone for just five minutes and check around…and I'll stay here and enjoy some peace while I search for what Pitch asked me to find."
Patrick watched the creature, he could almost see it thinking over what he had just said. Time to drive it home, "Plus I'm sure Pitch would be pretty angry with you if they were to get in…"
Golden flames sparked at that
Patrick startled when the sand suddenly deformed and poured from the shelf. Obsidian grains fell to the floor, then reformed into a long tendril racing from the room.
"Perfect! Now I can get some actual work done." Patrick smirked, the Leprechaun ecstatic that his plan had worked and now he could search without having to worry about the damn sand scaring him every chance it got.
A silence settled over the large library, only the sound of Patrick pulling and replacing books echoing.
So enthused with his search Patrick didn't realize the passing of time, that is until the grandfather clock that was perched above the fireplace chimed the hour.
"Oh wow…" Patrick glanced down at the clock (the spirit still atop one of the many ladders that was propped up against the shelves) "Surprised the sand left me alone for this long." The spirit scanned the room, still not seeing any sign of the obsidian grains.
"Maybe it finally gave up." Patrick puffed out his chest at how well he had done in getting rid of his 'warden'. The spirit started down the ladder, Patrick deciding to try his luck at getting out of the palace while he had the chance.
Unfortunately for him, his luck wasn't exactly what it used to be.
Patrick couldn't help the cry that escaped him when his foot missed the rung of the ladder as he descended. Mismatched eyes widened slightly as Patrick felt himself free fall.
Shelves shook with the impact of the man hitting the hardwood floor of the room, a low groan from the spirit filled the air.
"Damn glad Pitch wasn't here to see that…" Patrick moaned as he rolled onto his back, the spirit staring up at the ceiling as he tried to catch his breath. "Gods…why can't…I breathe…" a slight twinge of panic settled in the spirit's chest, "I've fallen…worse than that…before…"
A slight popping sound caught Patrick's attention, he turned his head eyes widening in terror at what he saw.
Hundreds if not thousands of tiny slithers of shadows were seeping from the walls, all of the writhing tendrils dancing as if in in celebration.
"What…are Death's shadows…doing here!" Patrick managed to roll onto his hands and knees, "The Shankar should have kept…" a feeling not unlike ice over took him when Patrick felt for the stone that had been keeping him from becoming Death's property, only to find nothing there.
Patrick frantically began looking around the floor, "Oh gods why me!" the Leprechaun cursed the air when nothing but empty space met his gaze. He gave up searching and staggered to his feet, mismatched eyes darting to the open door, "Ok…if I…make a…run for…" Patrick fell back to one knee, the spirit not having the strength to stand, "Damn it…I can't even…stand let…alone run."
The tendrils of shadows seemed to pulse with delight, the dark servers of Death beside themselves that this spirit was unable to put up a fight against them. They had been circling the spirit for months now, held at bay only by the gleaming green stone that had been around the man's neck. However, when the spirit had fallen the trinket had slipped and had skittered under one of the shelves…now this soul was left without power, without energy, and without hope. So with deviant glee the shadows twined into each other ready to deal the final blow that would send the poor fool to the Catacombs.
"At least…they're just here…for me." Patrick shuddered slightly when the shadows pulsed with energy "and…Iris and the baby…will be safe…" the spirit shook slightly
The shadows filled with delight when a sense of hopelessness drifted to them from their target. It obvious that the man had no power to escape on his own.
Patrick hated to ever admit weakness…however he had always known since that day at Greed's when he had lost his Luck that he was frail. That without his power he was simply waiting for the claws of the shadows to snare him and drag him down to the Catacombs to become part of Morana's little 'collection'. He had just tried to bullshit himself into believing otherwise…
A creaking of the floor sent a shiver up Patrick's spine, he glanced at the shadows now almost to him, "Just…do what…you're…going to…do."
Patrick stared at the now advancing shadows, hell if he were going to die then by the gods he'd face it head on. However it would seem that fate had other plans for him…
Patrick startled when a wave of black sand suddenly erupted from the floor between him and the shadows, the grains cascading down like a crashing wave. He stared in shock as the sand suddenly poured into itself, then instantly twisting and shaping into a humanoid shape. "What the…hell!"
The sand was now in the shape of young male; it's eyes gleaming with gold fire. Rippling obsidian grains made up the male's body, along with low pulsing white flames.
"Who…who are you…" Patrick barely managed to whisper, the spirit staring at the two large wings that were fanned out from the boy's shoulder blades. He shook when the male turned his head, golden flames focusing on him.
"I…am…the Hellfire demon…who serves the King of Nightmares…" The boy's voice was grating and hollow, as if he were speaking for the first time in a long time.
Patrick had to shield his eyes when a burst of white flame shot from the sand, the intensity of it filling the whole room.
"I am known as Rage!"
A surge of power suddenly pulsed in the air, so intense that Patrick felt as if a weight was crushing down on him. That coupled with his already weakened state, within seconds Patrick passed out, the last image he saw was the being known as 'Rage' standing over him.
Cliff! Please review and let me know what you guys thought. I love hearing from you. In the next chapter we shall find out what happened to our favorite winter spirit and shy teen. Disclaimer the song is Somewhere by Within Temptation. Till next time ;)
