THE

BATTLEGROUND II

THE GATES OF HELL

CHAPTER III

Seven bone-carved pillars with jagged wild flaming torches shone across a deserted ground, revealing a pathway to the center of a Courtyard lined with Mummified Warriors. Each warrior was evenly spaced apart from one another and held perfectly still by giant stone base tablets. The center of each base tablet revealed the long-dead warriors names carved as an impression in the ancient Demon Language.

The hot, gusting wind from Hell's lower levels blew long strands of silvery-white hair across a pair of fiery eyes. The warrior who stood in the center of the Courtyard, practically as still as one of the mummified warriors, closed his blazing eyes and clenched his fists.

He exhaled a long breath and lowered his head. "If that damn Sorcerer takes any longer..."

Just as soon as the thought escaped his mind, he heard hard, fast footsteps behind him. He opened his eyes and unclenched his fists as soon as he heard the footsteps behind him stop.

The Demon Sorcerer's morbid snail-like neck twisted slightly to gaze up at the warriors encompassing the large courtyard.

The orange fire from the torches placed atop the pillars made the golden lining on his charcoal robe shine brightly.

He gritted his sharp teeth and spoke. "Master..."

Before the Sorcerer could explain his absence, he was silenced by a hand held up in the air. His Master's sharp blue overcoat bent at the elbow crease as he slowly lowered his hand.

"You have been blessed by the Elders of this Realm, Guildenstern," he began as he slid a few long fingers over the handle of his Katana Sword. "Because fore some unforseen reason, this blade has yet to pierce your scaly throat..."

The Demon Sorcerer Guildenstern swallowed harshly and took a step back. He sighed as soon as he saw his master take his hand off of his sword.

"Make a point of never making me wait again, Sorcerer."

Guildenstern smiled. "Yes, my Lord."

The white-haired warrior did not turn around to face Guildenstern, he simply raised his voice instead.

"What is the status of your General?" he asked, as if he was not mere seconds away from slashing Guildenstern's throat.

"Marcellus still waits in his temple to the south." Guildenstern once again smiled. "He will remain dormant there until I tell him otherwise," he said, taking a little pride in the fact that the hulking beast Marcellus must obey his every command.

The white-haired man nodded, still with his back turned to Guildenstern.

"And what of Mundus?" he asked, with a slight rise of tone in his voice. Guildenstern answered, but hesitated a little.

"Lord Mundus is-"

"And what of Mundus, Sorcerer?" the man asked as he turned to face his loyal Sorcerer. "Mundus is no longer your Lord, Demon. I am now."

Guildenstern nodded and bowed forward. "Of course my Lord. Forgive me."

"Mundus is currently in the Realm of Shadows." The white-haired warrior tilted his head slightly and frowned.

"The Realm of Shadows? You mean to tell me a Shadow Realm does in fact exist?" he inquired.

"Yes my Lord," said Guildenstern. "It it a Realm between Realms. It houses dead and lost souls that haven't quite yet made their way to Hell."

"Interesting," said the white-haired warrior. "Tell me more," he demanded.

"Both General Bolverk and The Legendary Dark Knight Sparda are there as well. Mundus must have taken them there with him when he vanished from the Earthrealm."

"Interesting. What of the necklaces?" he inquired further.

Guildenstern did not make the mistake of hesitating to answer his Lord this time. He quickly spoke.

"Mundus is in possession of one my Lord, and...Arkham...has the other..."

The Courtyard went dead silent. "You mean to tell me that you did not intervene and make certain that both amulets stayed beside one another?!" he spat at Guildenstern, who looked as if he would start to quiver at any moment.

"No, my Lord. I could not enter the Earth Realm at that time. If I did, it would have appeared to Lord Mundus that I was betraying him." The man frowned. "And what is the flaw in that, my dear Sorcerer?" he asked.

"Because, sir, if we can control Mundus, we can control Arkham. Arkham is currently under Mundus' possession. He will not be hard to track down and kill in order to obtain the second necklace amulet."

The white-haired warriors smiled. "This pleases me. Where is Arkham currently located?"

"My spies have been able to gather certain information that leads me to believe that the portal from the Temple in Earth Realm sent him back to the outskirts of Hell."

"And what were Mundus's last orders to yourself and Marcellus?" he asked.

Guildenstern answered his master. "We were to hunt down and locate a tribe of resistance Demons around that very location. One of them holds very close ties with Kade, my Lord."

The white-haired man smiled. "Excellent. Go on as planned. Hunt down the second necklace. Element will take care of the first. Also, take out the resistance tribe."

An evil grin crossed the warrior's face. "Perhaps we can draw Kade to us after all."

The white-haired warrior turned his back and placed one hand within the other behind his back.

"That is all, Sorcerer."

Guildenstern stepped forward and bowed.

"Yes, Lord Vergil."

Author's Note: Like I said before, I really hope I have done enough to catch people's interest and hold it in place with these stories. I really hope you all are still reading this one and if you aren't that's obviously okay too. I just ask that if you do read this story, please leave a comment because that's what a writer needs sometimes to motivate he or she to keep writing. So please, like always, R&R.

-Chris-