I enjoyed writing this chapter although it took my quite a few days to finish, please R&R. I want to know what my readers think of this story, and if you have any questions please ask for your questions will help me improve this book

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Chapter

Once I calmed myself down from the attack, I unhurriedly lifted the corpse of the demon off of my injured self and tossed it to the side. Everything I did was a slow process for everything I did caused a sufficient amount of pain, even shifting a finger created some discomfort. I then attempted to climb to my feet but I could barely move my leg, therefore I dropped to my knees and searched my body for wounds from the recent struggle, although the pain was quite evident, there were more wounds than I could count.

"Great," I said to myself in the darkness, "first I get kneed in the crotch, then I crash the bike, and now I'm fucking who knows where, on the ground with this piece of shit beside me, stinking up the place." I took a breath, my hand now searching for the corpse.

"This is a great time to have that bitch here to heal me or whatever she did," I joked as I finally located the carcass. "There you are you bastard," I said with hatred.

"What the fuck did I do to deserve this shit?" I asked shaking the corpse as if it could tell me the answer. Although I knew it could feel no more pain, I pummelled it until my arm gave way from exhaustion "Fuck it," I said as I let go and let it drop to the ground. Something caught my eye in the darkness.

I reached for where I saw it, the object that had produced that short burst of light. It started to glow as my hand came closer and closer towards it, until it illuminated the trees around me. "Whoa," I said in surprise. As I grabbed it the light off of it decreased to a dull glow once more. What is this? I thought as I continued to stare at this oddly glowing stone.

After I decided to search the corpse for anything else that might tell me why it attacked me. I put the stone down near me so it produced the large amount of light, so I would be able to see better. I looked at the corpse with discuss as I searched around. I found a strangely marked bag full of black powder, I didn't touch the powder not knowing what its effects might be. I then spit on the corpse and rip out the dagger and wipe it off with my already bloody shirt.

Then something strange happened, the corpse caught aflame and began to burn with great speed. I watched until there was nothing left but ash. The wind picks up and the remains leave in the wind, "What the fuck is going on here?" I asked myself, confused by what I have just seen. An idea suddenly popped into my head.

I took out the medallion and pocket the bag and slid the dagger into one of my right side belt rings. I grab the stone and went over the surface of the medallion with the light. I then compare the holes in the medallion to the stone, they surprisingly looked similar, "What are the odds?" I mumble to myself.

I put the medallion around my neck seeing if anything would happen. Nothing. I think for a moment, I was not sure if it was a trap for this stone had come from such a vile creature but I decide to risk putting the stone into the medallion. There is a slight clicking noise as I put the stone closer to it, I take a short gasp at this, but again nothing happens. I take a sigh of relief.

Then suddenly, they both begin to glow simultaneously. The medallion rips off my neck as it and the stone both begin to float in the air a few feet away, "Shit!" I exclaimed as I backed off a bit. The medallion disassembles itself before my eyes and the pieces remain hovering in the air as they start to spin around the stone rapidly. As a result of this wind picks up and I had to hold onto the grass on the ground just so I wasn't blown off balance.

The pieces begin to merge together with the stone and a burst of light is produced soon after. "Fuck I don't like this," I said to myself, scared because of this strange occurrence.

When the light fades I see the Medallion is now back intact with the stone inserted into one of the three sockets. If this wasn't messed up enough what happened next made it even more bizarre. The ground under the Medallion catches on fire and it changes into pure energy and rushes quickly towards me. All I can do is gasp as it is buried into my chest, not causing any damage to my clothes or skin. I rip off my shirt and start scratching violently at where it implanted itself, where my heart is.

"Get the hell out!" I yelled, freaked out. But it did not respond to my plea. I can't calm down and I continue to scratch until my chest was raw and bloody. I sprawled out onto the ground, panting and groaning at the pain I was now in. I gave up and accepted it for now, to tired from exhaustion to care. I stayed like this for what seems like hours, until I noticed the sun was beginning to rise.

I sat up to the best of my ability, while grunting in pain, "Something isn't right." I looked around for a moment trying to pinpoint what was making me feel uneasy, then I knew. "Why hasn't anyone come yet?" I ask no one but myself. Then dread came as I thought of an answer, "Sara, Alec, Shawn..." Where they really dead? I thought sadly. "No! They can't be dead," I said trying to be optimistic.

Then I see something that shouldn't be, great surprise considering what has already happened. There is a palm tree, thousands of miles of where it should be. I crawled over to it to make sure it was real, touching it feeling the roughness of the bark, "What the fuck," I said confused but also curious.

"Ahem," I spin around, dagger in hand, ready to attack.

At the sight of this short, bearded old man, I slightly lower my guard. "Who are you?"

He snorts at this, "I should ask you that question, boy," He takes his cane and lifts my neck up with it, "you are the one who has just set foot on this land, land that is sacred to us."

"What are you talking about?" I ask as if he was talking nonsense.

He is surprised by my insolence, "Have you been hit on the head, boy?"

"I sure hope so," I joked.

He is shocked at my behaviour, "What is the matter with you, boy?"

Is this guy for real? I thought. "Is it that hard to see" I yelled at him, "or are you blind!"

That last remark must have hit home for he gave me a sharp hit on the head. "Fuck!" I yell.

The old man is none to happy with me. "Be careful what you wish for," he said.

"Look," I said annoyed, "right now I don't know where I am, ok?"

He eyes me suspiciously and when he saw I was telling the truth he sighed. "You must be lost, perhaps you ran from your home lands or you maybe be a traveler, or perhaps a spy of Morden, no you are nothing but a child, they would never recruit you..." he rambled.

"Uh, excuse me," I interrupted, "but I'm sixteen."

"It does not matter your age," he said, "wait, are you royalty?"

This guy's crazy, I though. "What century are you from?" I asked sarcastically.

"The fortieth century, boy."

Oh my god he actually... "Fortieth!" I asked shocked.

Now he is the one who thinks I am crazy, "Yes."

"What year is it?"

He gives me one of those 'Are you serious?' looks, "The year is 4013 A.D. or as most others call it now 2000 A.A., after the apocalypse."

I began to laugh, "This is some kind of joke isn't it?"

"I do not see anything remotely entertaining about what I have just said."

"You are serous," I said disheartedly.

He is taken a back for a moment, then he thoughtfully strokes his beard. "Hmmm, really," he said. Then his faces lit up and he gave me a crooked grin.

"What?" I asked.

He starts to walk away ignoring my question. "Come then, boy, follow me."

I attempted to stand up but my injured leg still kept me from doing this. "Wait," I called to him.

He turned around and walked back towards me, "What is it now, boy?"

"I can't really walk let alone follow in the condition I'm in at the moment."

He gave a heavy sigh as he searches through the sack he had been carrying, then he pulls out a clear vial filled with some kind of red liquid and hands it to me. "What is this?" I asked.

"Just drink it," he insisted, "it will make you feel better."

I wasn't to sure if I should drink it or not but after all I've been through I assumed it couldn't get worse so I chugged it all down until there was not a single drop left. Nothing happened at first but then my wounds quickly healed. "I hope you are the one of legend for that was my last healing potion."

I had no idea about what he meant by 'the one of legend' but at the moment I was just enjoying how much better I felt.

Even though this was the second time I've been healed like this, I still checked my past wounds just to see if they were there amazed when I saw nothing.

The old man shakes his head and started running through the trees, I got up and ran after him. He was surprisingly agile for a midget and I had to run my fastest just to keep up with him. The trees we past were oddly shaped and colored, not one we past looked exactly like the other. "Where are we going?" I yelled up to him, dodging low hanging branches.

"To Stareed Village," he huffed back.

"Why are we going there?"

"I cannot answer at the moment, boy," he said, "you will find out when we arrive." I frowned at his back, I hated to be kept waiting.

A few ,tiring, minutes later I spotted smoke up ahead. "Is that the place?"

"Yes," he said as he slowed down to a walk. I nearly ran into him because I could not stop as quickly as he could. He merely just sidesteps and I tripped and fell on the ground, luckily it was grass I landed on so I did not get injured. I quickly got back up and acted like nothing happened. He just shook his head and walked through an undergrowth, I followed clumsily behind him.

I nearly bump into him again as I made it to the other side. "Here we are, boy," he said to me as he putting his arm out in the direction of the village.

"Looks kewl," I said still tired from the run. He gave me a large grin, "What?" I ask.

"Oh nothing of great importance," he said continuing to smile.

"Tell me," I pleaded.

He shook his head. "Now is not the time," he began to walk again, "come, boy, we must go on." I sighed and followed.

As we walked through the village, many people began to stare at us, shocked about something, I could see lips move as they stared. I got nervous at this for I never did like this much attention, I began to walk faster than I needed to but I could not avoid their gazes. Out of the blue some kind of fruit splattered all over my jeans, by the remainder on my jeans I suspected it was a tomato.

The 'Sniper' was soon floored by a man wearing a large suit of chain armour standing beside him. "Have some respect!" I heard him say. I saw his mouth open again but I was now to far away to hear. Why should he show respect to me? I thought.

The buildings began to get older as we came closer to our destination, shingles and bricks alike were missing from many of these homes. We stopped abruptly once more as we arrived, my jaw dropped at the size of this massive structure, you could undoubtedly fit a million people in it. "Here we are," he whispered.

My mouth was still open as I turned to him to speak, I wanted to ask what was happening but all that came out was a long, "Wow!"

He chuckled at my amusement. "It is wonderful isn't it," he said, confirming my exact thought.

"Yeah," I said almost totally speechless.

"Well, boy," he said, snapping me out of it, "we should go inside now, don't you think?"

He walks into the temple and I follow silently behind him. Neither of us speak until we find ourselves in a large dome. There is a large crowd of people surrounding us in circular, stone pews and separated from the crowd was three people in the centre of this place. All eyes on were me and I started to get a panic attack by the sight of this. I would have been on the ground gasping for air if not for the old man.

"Now calm down, boy," he said as he comforted me, "this is not the time nor place to be nervous." My breathing started to slow back to normal. "Now remember to do what the council tell you," which meant the three in the centre, " and speak truthfully for they will know what is fact and what is not." I look up and get a better view of the council. There was two men and one girl about my age, I raise an eyebrow at this.

"Come stand on the pedestal," said the girl in a strangely serious voice.

I was about to say 'no' but the old man gave me a gentle shove and whispered to me, "Listen." I sighed once again and walk towards them until I stood where I was asked to. I lifted my head high and looked straight into their eyes, I felt like that was the right thing to do.

The two men looked uneasy while the girl gave me a warm smile, I smiled shyly back. She's cute, I thought.

She gave a 'Tee hee' kind of laugh, "Why thank you." I could feel my cheeks warm when she said this, some laughing came from the crowd.

One of the men, the one with one eye, faced the girl and whispered to her in a harsh sort of way. "Why have you brought him here," he prodded, " he is not yet of age!" Because everyone in the room was silent now, I could easily hear them converse.

"He must be trained here," she said speaking loudly, not hiding her view form anyone, "his generation gives him no opportunities to learn the ways of combat, of death, without endangering his own life. He must learn the ways of the Slayer."

There was protest of some in the crowd and cheering and agreeing from others. "What have you not told us Christina," the older man asks, "why did you ask Aurelia to bring him here."

"I am surprised you have not sensed it father," she teased.

"What in Garathna's Flame are you talking about?" the one eyed man demanded, annoyed.

She faced the half-blind man. "Ramiro," then she turned to her father, "Jamel." She then faced the audience, "I have sensed the presence of demons in his world when I went to the Actias Gates."

There was great concern from the crowd by this for there was an immediate uproar from them. "Silence," Jamel yelled, once the crowd settled he turned to his daughter, "now Christina continue."

Christina did as she was told. "After I sense the demons I went to ask Aurelia to give the Slayer the Demona, she agreed with me that if demons began to walk on his world he would not be safe there," she took a breath, "even though we too have demons here, we are more adept to fighting them."

Ramiro got up from his seat. "But how can you know for sure that there were demons in his world," he said, "and not just a figment of your naive imagination."

Christina put her head down. "I didn't," she said sheepishly. This made the crowd even more furious, I could hear cursing from a few.

Jamel had to calm them down again but this time it took more than a few words. Ramiro spoke once more. "This is a great law that you have broken, what do you have to say for yourself?" She merely stayed silent.

I had to do something. "Um," I interrupted, all of the council turned to me, "but she's telling the truth about the demons being there, well I don't know if it's plural I've only fought-"

I was cut off by Jamel. "You have slain your first demon?" he asked with a grin.

"Uh, yeah, I guess so."

"And you are defending her?"

"Yes," I spoke truthfully. Christina gave me a smile when she heard this.

Christina spoke up. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have gone," she said, "you have heard my reason. Now judge as you wish."
Ramiro gave out a sigh. "Even though you did this, we cannot judge you. For you have given us a reasonable explanation as any, you followed your heart. You are still young and what good would come of punishment, there is only one thing I will say to you," he looked straight into her eyes, " with age comes wisdom. Besides you cannot learn this if you are dead."

Christina gulped at this and managed a weak smile. "Th-thank you," she stuttered.

"Now that this ordeal is over," Jamel said not sparing a second, "we must figure out what we do with Tayler."

"How did you know my name?" I interrupted, shocked by this.

"We know many things about you, your name is just a small part of it."

So much for the Formal Introduction, I joked.

Jamel continued. "We cannot let him live on his own, for he is not trained to deal with these hardships at the time." Jamel thought for only a moment, "we must train him, give him a home, he will need a body guard, for he is not ready to protect himself, and he will also need to be schooled."

Oh great, I thought I'd at least get off on that, I thought. Then it dawned upon me, "Wait, I can't go back?"

Jamel looks at me with comforting eyes. "I am sorry for this but destiny came to soon for you, I will make it easier for you and your family," he turns to Ramiro, "I want you to send Sephil to fake his death."

"Fake my death!" I ask somewhat horrified.

"Listen to me, Tayler," Jamel said, "if you were thought missing, sorrow would consume your family but if you were thought dead the would eventually get over it and finally accept it."

"But-"

I was cut short. "Would you rather have them waste much of their lives searching for you?"

I drop my head and sigh. "No." Why was this happening to me? there is so much I have to sacrifice. Sorrow began to devour me, a single tear ran down my face.

Hold your tears for now, said a voice. I look up towards the council but no mouths moved, but I knew who it was coming from. I nod to Christina and smile. I will be strong.

"Now Tayler," said Jamel, "you will be trained by Zuul Uff, our villages general." I looked around the dome and spotted the same man who levelled the 'tomato assassin' earlier standing up giving a strange salute. "And since Christina brought you here you shall be living with her and she will guard you," he turned to his daughter, "Is that clear?"

She makes the same strange salute. "Yes."

A huge grin appeared on Jamel's face, I didn't like it. "You two will have to be wed as well."

My mouth suddenly dropped open and I knew I became beet red once more. I was in shock. The whole temple began to shake with roars of laughter, even Christina was laughing. I then saw some people began to cry. I realized that he was joking. This is to much, I thought. After an unbelievably long laugh they stopped and I saw Jamel finishing wiping tears from his eyes.

"Sorry about that, my boy, but it was too good to pass up," he said, "even the old have a sense of humor."

"Not a very good one," I grumbled.

"Ah well you must be tired," Jamel began to give orders, "Christina take him home now and prepare his room, Ramiro go summon Sephil." They both did the salute once more. "Everyone is dismissed, tomorrow we will discuss the demon appearances in his world," with that everyone began to exit the temple and soon there was only Christina and I.

I felt her hand rest on my shoulder she gives me a comforting smile, came closer to me and whispered into my ear. "You can cry now."

I was most definitely sad but I could not cry. Not a single tear came. I just shook my head and started to walk out of the temple. Christina quickly caught up and put her arm around me, as she walked with me to her home.