It didn’t take long to make his way to the Temple at the center of the city. Allan stared at the scene in disbelief as the words painted on the wall of the underground pump room came back to haunt him.
You will find her at the altar of the Temple in the city of the Ancients…
“And dost thou, Lillian from Earth, take Timur, King of the Holy Lands of Enoch, to be thine lawfully wedded husband?” the priest recited.
“I do.”
This can’t be happening!
“Then by the powers vested in me, I doth pronounce thee…”
“Timur!” Allan bellowed from the bottom of the grand staircase. “I’m here as you requested. Release her at once!”
“You think I’ve taken her prisoner, do you?” Timur chuckled. “On the contrary, she’s about to become my Queen.”
“That’s ludicrous.”
“Is it now? “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
Allan faced her, but no words came out. She looked absolutely stunning in that white dress. It had only been a week ago that he had daydreamed of her in such a dress… but under much different circumstances.
“Lily, my darling.” Timur grinned “Why don’t you tell Allan how you feel about me?”
“Yes, Master.” She turned to face Allan. “Allan. I’m sorry to tell you this, but I love Timur dearly.”
What?!
An intense pain overwhelmed him. He could feel the darkness pushing its way further into his mind as the voice gained volume and intensity.
“Is this why you never accepted my proposal?” Allan asked. “You’re with him?”
“Yes, she is.” Timur pushed her aside and raised both hands in the air. “And I intend to fight to the death for her honor.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Allan beheld a strange sight. His own shadow seemed to be growing and taking tangible form. It rose from the ground and morphed into a massive creature. His mind reeled in confusion as more tentacles rose from hidden shadows. Before he could comprehend this turn of events, screams erupted from the crowd of onlookers behind him.
Hundreds of the shadowy creatures sprang from every direction. The massive creature that had sprung from his own shadow loomed like a cobra ready to strike.
“You dare to think you can defeat me?” Timur bellowed. “You are weak!”
His eyes set in determination, Allan quickly formed another fireball and hurled it in Timur’s direction. Instantly, another dark creature leapt in front of Timur and swallowed it whole.
“My, my!” Timur gave a round of mocking applause. “You are developing new skills, I see!”
Refusing to give up, Allan hastily formed another and released it. This time, the fireball reached its intended target. Instead of incinerating his opponent, however, an aura of sickly green light had enshrouded him and protected him from the attack.
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“You have much to learn.” Timur chided.
Timur unsheathed the massive Sword of Mars and charged. Allan raised Excalibur and parried his blow, but the force of the impact sent him flying off balance. Allan quickly regained control and lunged back. Their swords clashed, but it soon became clear that Timur had far more experience than Allan. Each time Allan parried one of his forceful blows, Allan staggered even further backward until he reached the edge of the stairs.
Allan nearly toppled down the stairway, but ducked and rolled toward Timur and made a forceful thrust with the Excalibur. To Timur’s surprise, the blade penetrated between his shoulder blades, and he dropped his own massive sword in shock. Allan shoved on the hilt, causing the blade to rip through his foe’s chest. Timur screamed out in pain and fell forward onto his knees.
Allan let go of the hilt, and Timur slumped forward and fell in a heap. The crowd of peasants cheered as Lily ran to Allan.
She embraced him, burying her face in his chest. “I’m so sorry, Allan. I didn’t mean to…”
A massive roar erupted from Timur’s crumpled form. Another aura surrounded his body. The crowd went silent in terror. Like a zombie rising from the dead, he slowly raised himself back onto his feet. Timur reached his hand behind his back, and tried to grab the hilt of Excalibur. He shrieked in pain and released his hand immediately. The hilt glowed with a red heat, and Allan remembered John’s words:
Only the pure of heart can wield the sword of Excalibur.
Grabbing the blade protruding from his chest, Timur forced it backward and let it clatter onto the steps below. He retrieved the Sword of Mars, and with a large swing he brought his crashing down against the blade of Excalibur. The concrete of the stairway smashed around the sword, but it remained intact. With another roar, he pressed the tip of his sword against the mystical blade. Thrusting one hand into the sky, he summoned powers from the suns and channeled the incinerating blast through the Sword of Mars. He kept the beam steady until the entire blade of Excalibur glowed red with heat. Releasing the blast, he raised his massive sword once again, and with another guttural cry he brought it smashing down upon the Excalibur. With a loud crash, Excalibur broke in two and sparks shot from the shattered ends.
Lily and Allan clung to each other as Timur turned to face them.
“Step aside!” he commanded Lily as his eyes seethed with the green light.
She obeyed, moving away from Allan. “I’m sorry, master.”
“I forgive you.” Timur grinned. “Now, kiss me.”
A look of horror crossed Allan’s face as the two engaged in a passionate kiss.
“You see,” Timur said, releasing his hold on her,” she belongs to me now.” He took a step forward. “Your precious amulet is broken.” Timur pointed to the shattered remains of the Excalibur. “Now you will die.”
An excruciating pain crippled Allan as he felt Timur’s blade slash across his chest. Allan fell to his knees in a pool of blood. The silver aura surrounded him, healing the wound within seconds, but then Timur attacked again, severing the brachial artery in his right arm. Blood gushed out on the steps as the aura worked harder to heal this larger wound. Then came what should have been a fatal blow as Timur lunged his sword through Allan’s chest.
Allan screeched in pain as Timur held his blade in place, twisting every few seconds.
“You’re like a roach that just won’t die.” Timur seethed, twisting the blade further. “Just give up!”
The dark voice in his mind spoke:
I can make you more powerful than thine opponent. Yield thy soul unto me!
Allan considered the offer, knowing he would have no chance against Timur in his current state.
Blood spilled from Allan’s mouth as he struggled to draw breath. “Take me.”
Timur’s eyes flashed alarm when he saw the white flame retreating from Allan’s chest. A dark cloud formed at their feet, and rose to their immediate left. The cloud grew larger as it inhaled the thick smoke emitting from Allan’s soul.
Unwilling to share power, Timur twisted the hilt once again and extracted his sword. Allan fell backward in a heap as the aura attempted to heal him. His eyes rolled backward with a faint flash of silver light, the aura dissipating as the last few flickers of flame from his soul died out. Timur stared in shock, kicking the limp body several times. Blood oozed onto the concrete, but Allan’s body remained lifeless.
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