'Sometimes, there is a very good reason to be afraid of the dark.'
Peter V. Brett
(The Painted Man)
_Disclaimer:_
The "spoken words" in this chapter has been adapted from Peter V. Brett's series: 'The Demon Cycle'.
A.D.R. Industries
Partoun, Utah, North America
2012
"Let me regale you with a tale, Adam..."
A balding male cautiously crossed the threshold of a dimly-lit room, his dark eyebrows furrowing with confused desires as his eyes fell upon the lone, solitary figure within his 'Cage'.
"One wherein you might actually...learn something."
His most prized possession, one that he knew he'd spent far more than he should have, remained motionless as always as he entered the darkened cell; its outer shell gleaming with an unsettling shade of obsidian within the dimly-lit room - a stark contrast to the many, many silver chains that did restrain it. Its very presence exuded an aura of ominous, unknown power, one that seemed out of place in the sterile, metallic surroundings that had become its prison.
"You see, the world hasn't always been as you see it..."
Though Henry Van Statten took no notice of these things, his gaze instead continuing to rove over his captive; the man himself captivated by the intricate details etched into the creatures' armoured frame; dark eyes drinking in the jagged, metallic appendages that protruded from its sides, weapons that evoked a sense of unknown but utterly lethal purpose. And ancient symbols, once-vibrant shapes and runes now fading, covered its casing, their meaning lost to Van Statten's limited understanding. Its domed head housed a single, menacing eye that glowed with an eerie cerise light, hitting at a cold intelligence lurking within the metal - hand-crafted? - shell.
"Oh sure, the sun still rose and set; the moon taking its place each evening. Stars glittered in the night sky, and seasons came and went. Snow, rain, droughts, all playing their part in shaping the earth."
The alien remained motionless within its restraints; its weapons already rendered useless by the very man standing before it. Yet, and despite its apparent vulnerable disposition, there was a palpable sense of danger emanating from within the Cage as Van Statten stepped further into the room; trepidation colliding with an insatiable thirst for control within him. His voice was laced with a mix of curiosity and unease, each word being spoken echoing through the otherwise-empty cell as he suddenly demanded, "Where is he? What have you done?"
"But there was a time, oh so very long ago, when you pitiful humans - both the so-called Magical and Muggle societies upon this pathetic planet - lived in harmony with the Demons of the Stygian Abyss."
True to its infuriating nature - and not really surprising the man in the slightest - the alien offered no response; Van Statten not really having expected one. Though for some unknown reason, this time his captive's silence felt different, feeling more like a chilling void that hung heavy within the air and completely unsettled him. And an undercurrent of foreboding crept its way through his veins as he took another hesitant towards his most valuable possession.
"It was a time we Demon's called the 'Age of Ignorance', for humanity hadn't learned the secret language of the Wards yet. You contemptable creatures built during the day, scavenging and hunting what you could, only for we creatures of darkness to come out and destroy all that you slaved over each and every night."
As Van Statten moved deeper into the Cage however, a sudden commotion shattered the stillness.
"A truly pathetic existence, wouldn't you agree?"
"SSSSKKKKRRRREEEEEEEEE!"
"But you managed to survive, didn't you? Scavenging and hiding, living in holes in the ground like the rodents you were - fleeing away from those you knew to be your betters."
The ceiling above erupted with life as a cacophonous shriek filled the air and sent shivers chasing their way down Van Statten's spine; fear clawing its way at his heart as the outcry was then followed by the beating of wings, a creature born of myths and legendary dread descending from above - a beast whose sinewy form was cast in shadows against the dim lighting of the Cage as it landed before the now-trembling, balding man.
"Like bunnies, trembling in fear, barely clinging to life, just waiting for the next sunrise."
Van Statten's breath caught in his throat as magisterial leather wings unfurled with a resounding whoosh!, revealing scales that shimmered with an iridescent darkness and blended seamlessly with an even darker, coarse blue-black fur. Eyes that were the colour of emeralds glinted with an ancient wisdom, speaking of a primal intelligence that had been honed through the ages as they locked onto Henry Van Statten's own dark orbs.
"But then you pathetic humans discovered writing - oh, what a wondrous advancement! You found that some writings could be used to hold back us Demons; you stumbled upon the magical language of the Wards, thinking it would protect you from us."
"No! Stay back! Keep away!" the man screamed with terror, his limbs flailing uselessly as he attempted to ward off the approaching menace. But his attempts were futile, his movements only seeming to excite the predator that was looming ever-closer. And the beast, one that could only have been born within an abyss of darkness and nightmares, could do nothing but pounce upon its frightened prey with a predatory precision, its dagger-like hind talons poised to strike.
"You practiced and practiced, getting better and better at your futile attempts to resist us. You even found ways to hurt us - what amusing arrogance!"
Flesh tore as another piercing screech was let loose by the creature, crimson rivers of pain and suffering causing a scream to reverberate through the Cage, a desperate cry of agony and horror that escaped Van Statten's lips as he struggled to escape. And the sound of faint, though quickly approaching footsteps filled the not-so-peaceful silence that followed - if but momentarily.
"We Demons of Stygian Abyss did not take kindly to your defiance. Used to you running and hiding, I must admit that you caught us by surprise when you dared to strike back. And your retaliations brought about the start of the 'First Demon Wars' - a rather pitiful display of your desperation."
Henry Van Statten's terrified pleas otherwise fell upon deaf ears however, the metallic alien that he had once naively thought to have owned remaining resolute in its silence. Its single red eye was locked upon the gruesome spectacle, watching - waiting; all but an enigmatic observer of the horrors and chaos unfolding before it.
"Yet you had a Deliverer, a man who believed to be chosen by some 'Creator' to lead your armies. And with him, you assumed you were winning. Your magic and tactics improved, and your puny numbers swelled into the thousands. Oh... how amusing it was to see you all so full of false hope."
Desperate cries of mercy and shrieks of pain resounded through the room as Van Statten's struggles were slowly becoming consumed by the merciless grip of the beast that had captured him. Its dark silhouette, framed by the dim lighting, continued to hold him within its clutches, its rear talons sinking deeper and deeper into his trembling and bleeding form as its leathery wings embraced in their monstrous darkness. And with one final, blood-curdling, victorious shriek, the beast claimed its gruesome conquest as the man's eyes bulged, a talon finding its mark and piercing Van Statten's heart.
"But then - nowthis part is hilarious - on one fateful full moon night, we Demons decided not to show. Your pitiful little minds couldn't comprehend the absence of your nightly tormentors, never having known a night to pass without our terrifying presence. You thought you had won, that we had given up. But oh how wrong you were."
The heady scent of copper, along with a lingering tension, was thick within the air as a deafening silence descended upon the Cage, the lifeless body of Henry Van Statten being tossed aside like yesterday's trash. And it was only when the man was dead did the alien he had once valued move, its single, glowing cerise eye shifting from the discarded body of its former tormentor and to the creature that had delivered the fatal blow.
"The Deliverer's armies started to fragment, and you humans revelled in your so-called victory. You celebrated and created holidays to remember your pathetic conquests over the night and the creatures who had once terrified you. But you were naïve and your 'Brotherhood of Man' crumbled, you turned on each other; like the miserable wretches you are, you could not be content with peace."
An eerie stillness enshrouded the cell as monstrous beast and metallic alien appeared to consider each other for a moment. Though, and with its wings once more unfurling from its side, the Dragonbat dipped its head, bowing in deference to the Dalek - right before it released the alien from its enforced captivity.
"You fought among yourselves; brothers against sisters, fathers against daughters, and chaos engulfed your pathetic kind. The Deliverer was called to arms again - but this time by all sides of man."
Broken links and chains fell to the floor. Though the Dalek, freed from its restraints, remained where it was, still silently watching as - after releasing it from its confinement - the Dragonbat disappeared through the opened door of the Cage; gasps, cries, and gunshots following its departure as the people who had been coming to their boss' aide suddenly found themselves facing a creature that couldn't be born from anywhere but the depths of their darkest nightmares.
"So amusing, it was, to see you tear yourselves apart."
Silence once again descended upon the Cage as the door closed, leaving the Dalek alone in the darkness of its once-prison. Though despite the small quarters it had grown somewhat accustomed to over the last fifty or so years - despite the constant torture and agony not only it had endured, but the Dragonbat that had freed it - a suddenly burst of energy erupted from the Dalek as it let out a screeched declaration. And it disappeared from the room in a flash of blinding white light, the fading imprint of a human hand was the last thing to be seen before obscurity once more enveloped the Cage.
"Emergency Temporal Shift!"
It was utter pandemonium within the corridors of the facility, the Dragonbat cutting a path of death and destruction through the terrified staff. Panic and chaos reigned supreme as the leather-winged monstrosity swooped and struck, leaving behind a trail of broken bodies and shattered hopes. The air was thick with the acrid scent that was fear, and it mingled with the metallic tang of spilled blood.
With each beat of its powerful wings, the beast sent papers, equipment, and furniture flying in all directions, and the facility's once-pristine corridors were now stained a crimson red. The staff, once confident in their sterile and orderly environment, confident with their guns and security, now cowered in fear, their illusion of safety having been completely obliterated with the Dragonbat's appearance.
"The Deliverer, disappointed by humanity, turned his back on you all; empty threats spewing from his lips; 'I'll not fight 'gainst men while a single Demon remains in the Core!' ...how weak and pathetic."
Despite the narrowed quarters and its monstrous size, despite the screams and pleas for mercy that caused the beast's ears to ring with a painful resonance, the Dragonbat hunted with an otherworldly grace. Its emerald eyes glinted like malevolent flames as it relished in the unholy terror it instilled in the humans around it, and each movement it took was an intricate dance of death; talons, wing-spurs, and fangs all finding their marks with lethal precision and causing the once-sterile facility to become a nightmarish realm of untold horrors orchestrated by its vindictive retribution.
"Your lands fell into chaos as you fought amongst yourselves. But like any war, victors were named, and your so-called great nations were formed. Humanity spread like a disease, a wildfire that threated to engulf the entire world."
As the Dragonbat's rampage continue, the facility's security team mobilized to confront the monstrous threat. Armed with high-tech weapons and protective gear, they attempted to stand their ground against the relentless onslaught. Though their efforts were futile against the sheer power and fury of the Dragonbat, the creature moving with an astonishing speed and agility, easily evading the security team's attacks. With a swipe of its massive wings, it sent them crashing into the walls, their weapons useless against the supernatural force they were confronted by. And one by one the guards fell, their bodies falling to the ground broken and lifeless.
"And in your arrogance, you turned away from magic, from the Wards."
The beast's wings beat with a thunderous force, causing a tempest of destruction as it moved through the corridors. Walls crumbled, ceilings collapsed, and the very foundations trembled under the weight of the Dragonbat's wrath. It took delight in the chaos it was creating, savouring the fear that radiated from every corner of the facility; alarms blaring and emergency lights flickering, adding to the already nightmarish scene. And its menacing silhouette continued to cast long shadows as it continued with its relentless pursuit; eyes glowing with an unholy emerald light while its monstrous roars reverberated through the passageways like thunder.
"You humans ignored the warnings of your precious Deliverer... and forgot all about us Demons of the Stygian Abyss."
The terrified staff scattered, trying to find any semblance of safety. Some hid in offices and storage rooms, hoping to remain unseen by the relentless predator, while others attempted to flee through emergency exits - only to find themselves confronted by locked doors and dead ends. They scattered like ants before the relentless pursuit of the Dragonbat, finding no safety or haven from the nightmare that had been unleashed upon them as the beast's dark form darted through the hallways and corridors and left nothing but death and devastation in its wake; their once-orderly workspaces now resembling more that of a warzone.
"You forgot us, the ones who should be your true rulers, the ones who should instil fear in your pitiful hearts. It's rather amusing, don't you think, that we Demons became but a mere afterthought in your history."
With each passing moment, the destruction and body count escalated; the Dragonbat's path of wrathful devastation extending to the laboratories, research rooms, and even a main control centre. Computer screens shattered, and equipment exploded as the Dragonbat unleashed its fury; a rage that knew no bounds.
"And then, your pathetic 'Age of Science' arose, your so-called 'greatest time.' You played with your toys, your medicines, and technology, all the while forgetting your roots, your true purpose."
As the Dragonbat's rampage reached its climax, it came across an elevator, its doors slightly ajar. With a burst of malevolent power, the beast lunged forwards and crashed through the doors, sending debris flying in all directions. The beast's mighty wingspan barely allowed it to fit inside the confined space, and the terrified employees within could only scream with terror as they huddled together, their faces pale and backs pressed firmly up against the wall of the lift.
"You are nothing without magic, nothing without the fear of the Demons."
Emerald eyes burned with a sadistic glee as the Dragonbat unleashed a blood-curdling screech, one that sent the occupants of the elevator into a state of utter terror. The creature could taste their fear, thick as it was in the air, and it fuelled its insatiable hunger for chaos. But before the Dragonbat could do what it so desired to unleash, something suddenly had it's head snapping up and towards the elevator's roof.
"Your feeble existence is laughable."
Without warning, the Dragonbat extended his wing-claws and tore through the roof of the elevator, creating a gaping, jagged hole. As the metal groaned and protested under the force of the beast's assault, the Dragonbat climbed onto the roof, its glowing green eyes peering up into the darkness above.
"And we should have wiped you out when we had the chance."
Instincts compelled the beast to go up, up, up... seeking new heights from which to spread its reign of terror. Though something else was calling to the Dragonbat, and with one defiant screech, it launched itself into the elevator shaft, wing-claws and taloned hind legs propelling it upwards with an incredible speed and agility.
The terrified staff members within the elevator could only watch in relieved horror as the creature born from the depths of their nightmares disappeared into the darkness above. And the higher the Dragonbat climbed, the more distant its terrifying roars became, until all that was left was an eerie silence broken by panted breaths and trembling - though alive - forms falling to the ground.
A.D.R. Industries
Partoun, Utah, North America
Henry Van Statten's Executive Office
Gold and blue coin turning between the fingers of one hand, a young man could only smirk as he glanced at the cowering form before him. Van Statten's office, as he'd come to find the room to be; once a hub of scientific innovation now lay in utter ruins, the aftermath of the Dragonbat's merciless rampage. And wide-eyed and trembling Adam had nowhere to run as he faced the monster that was Thade.
"But don't worry, Adam. We haven't forgotten about you," the dark-haired male stated, his tone laced with obvious threat. And he snapped the bronzed watch in his hand closed, a thumb brushing over the sparrow that was engraved on its outer casing. "The Demons of Stygian Abyss have been waiting for the day your Age of Science would crumble away like the illusion it is, to teach humanity once more what it means to be afraid of the dark."
Adam's heart pounded within the confines of his chest, and he swallowed hard, trying to find his voice amidst the terror that chased its way through his system. "Wh-what do you want with me? Why d-did you come here?"
The sinister smirk on Thade's lips only widened at the teen's stuttered questions, his green eyes glinting with a dark and wicked delight. "Oh, my dear Adam... you? You hold the key to something far greater than your puny human mind could possibly comprehend," he said as he approached the younger man. "This watch, one you so happily took, it contains the power to summon a creature beyond your wildest imaginations; a creature that the Demons of Stygian Abyss have longed to hold dominion over. With this," Thade tossed the watch up into the air before catching it, "I now have the power to bring back my kin to the Mortal Planes, and this pathetic world will once again fall under our shadow."
Adam's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the enormity of what Thade was saying. If the teenager had ever known the watch he'd taken from his coworker, a mere trinket he'd believed to be alien of origin and something of which Aion had stolen, was truly a weapon of unimaginable power - power that was now in the hands of a man who'd just been a monstrous Dragonbat... Well, Adam wasn't certain as to what he'd done, though probably having taken the timepiece from Aion may be somewhere atop his list of 'Have Nots'.
"And... what do you want from me?" the teenager repeated, his voice trembling as he shrunk back from the menacing male.
"All power comes with a price, Adam," Thade sneered, the words spewing from his lips being spoken as though he were talking with a mere child. "I would have thought you'd have known that," he added. But his expression changed, instantly becoming obstruse and more sinister in nature as he loomed over Adam's trembling form, the dark smile returning to his lips. "You're my payment, Adam. So, I must say thank you."
Before Adam could question what the man meant, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the office and caused both men to turn their heads towards the source of the sound. And they watched, as merging from the shadows, a hulking figure appeared - a creature of darkness and fury. Its eyes, all four of them, glowed with an eerie obsidian light, and its massive claws scraped against the floor with an unsettling intensity.
"Allow me to introduce Mors," Thade continued, his voice filled with a twisted amusement as he caught sight of the way Adam currently resembled a rabbit in headlights as Mors stepped even further into the room; the monstrous hound's nose sniffing the ground and displacing more of the already wrecked office as he sought what had drawn him to the facility.
"You see, Adam," the blacket continued as he all but dismissed Mors, turning his attention back to the trembling teenager. "Mors is the monster that usually exists within the deepest recesses of Aion's mind-"
Adam's eyes went wide as they snapped away from the monstrous hound and to Thade, the horrifying realisation of what he'd done clear for the man to see written over every inch of his features.
"-something of which you decided to awaken when you took his watch. If only you'd known about this, however," Thade continued, holding up the coin so Adam could see. "The watch is rather useless without this, you see; no good if you've only got a collar and no leash, yes?"
Adam's breath hitched as he stared at the coin in Thade's hand. The implications of what he had inadvertently unleashed were sinking in, and terror gripped his heart like a vice. "Wh-what does that coin do?" he managed to stammer out.
The man before him could only chuckle darkly, his emerald eyes glinting with malice. "This coin, my dear Adam, is the... key to controlling the monster. With this coin in my possession, accompanied by the watch you had so willingly taken, I've complete power of Mors. He's bound to me, and he will do whatever I command. However..."
As Thade trailed off, Mors growled lowly as his four eyes finally fixated on Adam. The monstrous hound seemed to sense the fear emanating from the teenager - and absolutely relished in it, inching closer to Adam with each passing moment.
The man in possession of the items that controlled the monster could only smile a twisted smile, a cruel grin as he observed Adam utterly shaking with fear, the young man searching for a way out of the clear danger he knew he was currently in. Thade had all the power, the teenager knew, and there was nothing he could do to stop the hound he'd inadvertently unleashed - the death and destruction that Thade had already caused and would continue to so now he had both watch and coin in his possession.
Adam's heart sank and his limbs felt like lead as scrambled away from both monster and man, trying to put some distance between himself and the pair. Thade's smile twisted into a cruel grin as he watched on, relishing in the younger man's fear, and he couldn't help but stoke the flames as he continued.
"You see, Adam, you have inadvertently become a part of a far greater plan. The Demons of Stygian Abyss have awaited this moment for eons, and now, with you as my leverage, I can finally fulfill my destiny and claim back my rightful place as their Ruler."
"No, please!" Adam pleaded, his voice filled with terror as Mors continued to slowly approach, the monstrous hound clearly savouring every second of the hunt. "I didn't know what I was doing!" he cried, turning his attention to Thade if but momentarily in an attempt to plead his case. "I didn't know taking it would release Mors, or that-"
Thade's laughter cut through the teen's words, the man's mirth utterly cold and ruthless. "Lack of knowledge is no excuse, Adam," he told the younger man, eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction. "You may not have known the power of the watch, or that it even had an accompanying coin, but that does not absolve you of the consequences wrought by your actions. You were warned, Adam... and now, you shall pay the price for your ignorance."
With a final wicked grin, Thade gave the command, watching with a sadistic pleasure as Adam's eyes filled with terror. "Go on, Mors. Show him what true fear of the dark looks like," he commanded the beast, and with a primal roar, the hound lunged forwards, his massive form charging towards a now-screaming Adam.
The teenager's world became a blur of fangs, claws, and darkness as Aion Sparrow's monstrous alter-ego was set upon him; Thade's chilling laughter nothing more than a faint sound amidst the carnage, all but drowned out by the ferocious growls and snarls of Mors. And as Adam's screams mingled with both as darkness finally enveloped him, Thade knew that the Demons of Stygian Abyss were just one step closer to being released upon the planes of Mortal Men, and all thanks to the unwitting aid of that very same terrified, selfish young man who had unknowingly stolen the key to their return.
In that moment of time, and as darkness finally stole the life from Adam's eyes, Mors doing just as he'd been commanded to do, Thade also knew that his reign of terror had only just begun.
