Chapter 18

He stood there, tall against the background, noble and strong, yet as he looked over her he seemed to lose his strength. He roughly knelt down beside her. Embarrassed and depressed she turned her head away from him, so he couldn't see the tears that streamed from her eyes.

"It's alright. If you need to cry, then do. If you don't it will build up inside you and you will live in misery", he said taking her hand. She was too grieved to protest. She looked at the ground. Her tears hit the dead grass.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Derek asked. He looked over the countryside.

"My family is dead and it's all my fault. That boy is dead because I didn't get there in time. I have hurt everyone I know and love. I wanted to be a warrior to help protect my family, and they are dead. I have failed them". Adrianna cried out pulling her hand from Derek's hand and putting her head in her hands. Derek leaned over and pulled Adrianna to him. She turned and grabbed his white shirt, burying her face in his chest. He wrapped his strong arms around her and hugged her tightly. She felt comforted a little and just cried as Derek held her. Adrianna felt stupid now. She was supposed to be a fearless warrior and here she was crying like a baby. She couldn't help it. She shouldn't have ever left. After awhile Derek spoke,

"It's not your fault Adrianna. You can't blame yourself. We all failed to save that boy. You wouldn't have been able to save your parents either. I failed to save my father. I remember seeing the dark demons come and stab him to death. I was powerless to stop it. I am alone now and I despise the fact that I have no one to love and no one to love me. I don't want to be alone anymore". He squeezed her tighter and she felt a tear fall on her head. She looked up to see slow tears run down Derek's face. What, a full-grown man was crying? This was a new side she had never seen. She moved her hands from his shirt and wrapped her arms around him as if trying to comfort him. She felt closer to Derek now than she ever had in her entire life. He pulled her closer. She had misinterpreted him so long ago and now they seemed to be the best of friends and maybe much more. Derek hugged her and she hugged back.

She had the strangest sensation as if she wanted to show her feelings, but she was afraid to. He might laugh or he might turn away from her. She was afraid to show her feelings, as she had spent many years hiding her emotions away to protect herself. She looked up at Derek then and he looked down at her. He seemed so sad. He had hidden his feelings away from the world too and now he was coming to terms with the fact that they were not hidden. Could it be that he loved her? Was that even possible? She pulled her arms away and he pulled away. He reached his hand up and touched her cheek, wiping the tears upon her face. She reached up reluctantly and touched his rough face. He seemed to shiver at her touch but he did not move nor pull away.

He leaned closer to her and she could see his beautiful blue eyes. She saw a world so beautiful, filled with so much love and compassion. She leaned closer to him knowing full well what was to come next and finding that she was thrilled about it. He leaned closer still, pulling her face with his hand and his eyes closed as his lips touched hers. She closed her eyes as this strange sensation filled her heart. It seemed almost like electricity but so much more passionate. For once in her life she was wanted and loved. He wrapped his arms around her waist again and she slipped her arms around his neck. She could feel his warm lips on hers and such an emotion of love she felt as they tongues danced. They slowly pushed away, the moment passed. Neither spoke a word as they sat there. It was Derek that spoke next

"Adrianna I believe now that you were meant to leave… because now you can save what is left of this town. You have seen many wars and you know the ways of war and death. I feel that because this battle is so close to your home that it has taken a stronger toll on your emotions and mine"

"Maybe but I still hate myself for what I have done…. I feel foolish because I am a warrior and I am crying".

"But you weren't the only one who needed to cry. Everyone needs to cry once in awhile, even the strongest warriors. I am your friend and I love you and will never leave you. I promise you this. You must trust me. Do you trust me"? Derek asked. Adrianna nodded. They got up and walked back to town. She did love him, but how could she let him know? She was too afraid to say it. Adrianna walked on to the tavern as Derek walked into his shop. She went to bed and tried to sleep, but found she couldn't. She kept thinking of the horrible beast and the horrible feeling she had about the next day. The dead boy's visage floated into her mind. Her rage began to rise and then angry tears of hatred fell and she wanted to destroy the evil that plagued this town. She remembered the kiss, her first kiss. It was true she had never had a relationship in that way with a man. She had never been kissed like that. It also meant that Derek loved her and that had been how he showed it. Now how could Adrianna show her love? She did not know and did not know if she ever could. Adrianna drifted off into a restless sleep with her troubled thoughts...

"Adrianna! I need to tell you something!" Derek said rushing over to her the next morning. She looked at his worried look. "I had a dream about that creature you and Lothar dreamed of". He said standing beside her.

"What!" The sick feeling in her gut seemed to get worse. This meant that this was a vision not a dream. At last Adrianna knew who it was.

"It's Diablo. I know it! We will meet him soon". Lothar came over to them. Derek told him of his dream. Lothar agreed that it was a vision. The others came over at that point.

"What? It can't be!" Daniel and Jayalm said together. They were in disbelief at the whole scene. They went to Cain who had just left his home just out of the town square.

"Cain... Lothar, Derek, and I have had the same dream about that horrible monster", Adrianna said to Cain.

"Hmm, this could mean only one thing. The Messiahs are going to appear soon, it is almost time. It is Diablo who is the source of the evil. Please proceed cautiously. Do not fight Diablo if you should find him. Only the Messiahs can defeat him". Cain said eying all the warriors. Adrianna looked at Derek. She could see the worry in his eyes or was it fear? The others nodded to Cain and turning they walked out of town and then went through the portal to Hell.

The symbol of power beside the Red portal was no longer made of bone. It was a red glowing symbol with a darker glowing hole in the middle. It was a portal. A dark swirling wind blew around the portal, its hollow, dead howling sending a chill throughout her body. Their destinies lie down there in the darkness. Who knew what they would find down there. The warriors walked onto the portal and suddenly they were teleported.

When the world was visible, the surprised warriors gazed around them. The howling wind had faded and now a hollow silence surrounded them. The floor was much like the rest of Hell, except now the floor was crimson red, with bloody-looking walls. From the ceiling hung sharp jagged bones. The warriors stepped down the bony steps. The air around was so cold. Only a sinister dark evil could make a place so cold.