Here is Chapter Thirteen. Please R&R

Chapter 13

Takeshi sat at the far end of a black marble table. He had been sitting alone at the table for near three hours now not much wanting breakfast. He was so nervous that nothing seemed to taste right. He sat alone as the time slowly ticked closer to what he was soon coming to regard as his execution. After about ten minutes more of silence the door on his right opened. He turned his head to look with a sickened look on his face that immediately melted away at the welcome sight of Masami. Yet another surprise came through the door, Cynder. The only wrong thing with this scene was the fact that she was bound in chains. She didn't seem to mind because while unknown to Takeshi she had grown used to wearing them before she had even met Spyro.

Masami walked over to the other end of the table and sat down trying not to be sick with concern for both herself and Takeshi. Takeshi wanted to go to her and comfort her for all he was worth, but he had no idea if it were at all possible for Lethek to be watching them. Plus he didn't want to offend her or Cynder. He looked back down at the food he had been made not feeling up to anything when the main dinning hall door opened and the Evil Cynder came in. She looked at the three smirking briefly at Cynder and looked squarely at Takeshi. She sneered slightly and said, "Lethek wants you in his Private training room on the top floor now." Takeshi nearly threw up with nerves but managed to keep himself in check as he responded, "Yes Snyder I understand I…" She cut him off and said, "I've decided to change my name to Shyleene to prevent confusion and I want no reminders to her (she glared at Cynder) life and I prefer this name."

Takeshi looked at her and thought it best to be on good side (whatever that was) and answered as politely as possible, "Yes Shyleene, will you take me to my father?" She glared at him and said, "Spare me your pleasantries and follow me." She turned and left. Takeshi stood and followed her but as he reached the door Masami stopped him and said, "Good luck!" Takeshi was grateful for her words and concern as he left the room after Shyleene. Masami turned to look at her mother and asked, "Do you think he'll be okay?" Cynder wanted to answer 'yes' but was also unsure if he would and didn't want to get her hopes up. But upon thinking it over she felt that the last thing any of them needed was no hope. She smiled weakly and said, "I am sure he'll be fine, you just worry about what's going to happen to you when he's done."

Masami looked slightly more sickened but nodded all the same.
Shyleene led Takeshi up the black crystal staircase all the while in complete silence. Takeshi still felt greatly uneasy about what his father might have in store for training. After about five minutes they came out on a landing in front of an immense black colored steel door. Shyleene hit the door hard hit her tail and it was pulled open slowly. As soon as the door was open enough for them to get through it she grabbed his arm and pulled him in. Takeshi couldn't help but be awed at the sight of the room. It was an immensely large room made entirely of black crystal that gave of a slightly pulsating glow. In the middle of the hall there was a large symbol of dark power that glowed with an even darker evil. Lethek stood on a dais at the end of the room looking powerful and intimidating but wearing a look that Takeshi never believed likely ever to be there.

His face clearly beheld love, it was such a dramatic change to his features that Takeshi stopped walking but it wasn't until Shyleene shoved him forward did he notice that the expression was like himself dark and corrupted. Lethek gave Shyleene a dark smile and she bowed as she left the room. Lethek walked slowly down of the dais and over to Takeshi. Takeshi's nerves had now reached there highest, he was scared and his father walking at such a slow pace while looking so intimidating wasn't helping him calm down. Lethek came within a foot of him and said, "I hope you are prepared for your training, it won't be easy." Takeshi felt as though all abilities to speak had left him but some how managed to say, "I am ready." Lethek smiled and motioned for Takeshi to enter the middle of the dark symbol. He did so and as soon as he entered it he left a curious sensation come over him.

He felt a sudden feeling of strength that was not his own touch his mind, feeling it, searching his consciousness for information about this individual. Takeshi tried to resist but the feeling was immeasurably seductive, it seemed know exactly what calmed him and it seemed to whisper to him that all was possible. He stood there and felt all of the borders of his mind melting away at the feeling but then as suddenly as it began it stopped. Takeshi noticed that he was shaking badly but no matter how hard he tried to still himself the trembling continued. Lethek looked at him with a certain amount of satisfaction and said, "That was the dark powers of the land and unlike what most people think it isn't a disgusting thing nor is it truly evil. The powers of darkness are a comforting thing and also a powerful one." He turned and made a few forceful paw movements while speaking some words of power. At once the sky outside the window became dark and the stars were clearly visible. He went back over to Takeshi and asked, "Tell me, what to you see outside of the window in the sky beyond?"

Takeshi looked out the window and told Lethek that what he saw were the stars and the night sky beyond. Lethek nodded and said, "Exactly your eyes show you the dark night sky but my eyes trained with dark magic can see the slight ripples of the night, its dark eddies and currents it is a most wondrous and beautiful sight to me." Takeshi didn't know whether his father was being honest or was merely trying to make him feel better about it all. Lethek walked over to a desk and pulled from a desk a black, leather bound book. He brought it over to Takeshi and gave it to him saying, "This book holds basic Dark magic and should be read carefully, if you read it to quickly the power of darkness will seize your mind and drive you insane. You are to read it once every night." Takeshi took the book and felt a tingling sensation move up his arm.

Lethek walked back over to the other end of the room a pulled a long black blade from a rack on the wall. Takeshi's temporary calm was immediately eclipsed with panic. This was the end he knew it, soon he'd be moving out of his mortal body into the unknown afterlife. It was then that Takeshi noticed that he had two and had left Chaos Bringer over on the rack. Lethek tossed one of the swords to Takeshi who caught and realized that the blade was dull. They were sparing swords, not meant for killing but for training. Takeshi knew what was to be done and stood.
Lethek moved quickly and tripped him before he had become upright. Takeshi felt the blade against his neck and hear his father say, "Dead, get up and stop me. First lesson in combat, 'Trust only yourself' I may be your father but for the time being I am also your enemy."

Takeshi was not a novice in melee combat but his father was obviously more skilled with the blade. Again and again Takeshi was thrown to the floor and never was it gentle; Lethek was striking at every single weak spot in Takeshi's guard and was always disarming him. Takeshi soon came to realize that Lethek was not even using all of his skill and strength. Slowly but surely Takeshi began marking Lethek's movements and in over thirty minutes of combat Takeshi was starting to be thrown less and less. Finally after a full hour of nonstop sword clashing many grunts of discomfort and pain from both combatants Takeshi finally saw his chance. He swung the blade at Lethek's side and stuck hard. Lethek gave a small shocked gasp thought it didn't hurt and Takeshi grabbed Lethek's arms and using the same move that Lethek had used so many times he threw him to the floor and then collapsed from exhaustion.

Lethek pushed Takeshi of him and sat up laughing, Takeshi was obviously a good student and an unrelenting swordsman. He had battled with many others before now and only Takeshi had managed to best him in one training session. He called in his slaves and ordered them to take Takeshi and the spell book to his room. They did so and after they had gone Lethek heard a side door the room open. He turned and saw another dragon standing in a shadowed corner and asked, "How goes your mission Saelyn?" She looked at Lethek and her eyes were quite odd in appearance. Her left eye was bright blue but her right eyes was crimson red. She smiled and said, "All goes well, Flame is now under my power." Lethek gave a dark warm smile and said, "You know what is to be done."
She nodded and left the room.

Tell Me how I did. Please R&R