THIRTY - ONE

Part Four : Return to the Gates

The room was small, only three meters by three meters. Rich mahogany paneling covered all the walls like the other rooms in the manor house. In the parquet flooring in the back left corner of the room was the intricate design of the purple orchid within the welcoming pentagram. Two suits of armor along with the walls adorned with the weapons from the days of chivalry. There were no windows in this room, being dedicated to the single purpose. Only a bench along the wall furthest from the orchid allowed two of the three occupants crowding the room to sit.

There was a moment of white light followed by the appearance of Edgar cradling Cindy’s head and torso in his lap. Edgar tried to stand and pull her body off of the orchid pattern, so Evan could follow quickly. Edgar’s face was red and sweaty from his exertion, in stark contrast to the eyes staring blankly above ashen cheeks above the grizzly look of the white adhesive tape over her lips. Shock had set in, numbing her mind to the terror and horror of the last seventy-two hours, especially the last fifteen minutes. All three had reached Edgar to take over the manhandling to move Cindy.

“She’s in shock. We need to call for help immediately and then get her into a bed and keep her warm,” Edgar said.

“Becca call 211, and then Dr. Mitchells. Let’s move Cindy into the small lounge and cover her with several blankets.” Elizabeth instructed.

“What about Evan?” Valerie asked desperately.

“He and Devlin were fighting when I left. It looked very evenly matched when I left.” For the first time in centuries, Edgar read the expression on Valerie’s face incorrectly. “I did what I said I would do. I got Cindy out.”

“I have to go to him and help him,” Valerie said, panicking. “You can’t! None of us can! He could be heading here right now and we could collide with him in the time space continuum and all be destroyed. We don’t understand what we do well enough to be sure. If he

is still there, your popping in would be more of a distraction, thus giving an edge to Devlin. Evan and I have told you the peril of higher magic that’s being used in that cave right now,” Edgar explained.

“We’ve got to go help him,” Valerie cried.

Just then the room filled with white light. Evan appeared in the center of the pattern of purple orchids while grappling with a horror from the Dark Gate. Valerie screamed and started to run towards Evan to help.

“No!” Edgar screamed and reached to grab her wrist and pull her back. Pulling her back to the doorway, Elizabeth joined the group in watching the beast from hell. The three stood transfixed as they watched the demon with its hands around Evan’s neck. The stench of burning sulfa and decay filled the small room and started to gag the spectators.

‘My own aura is going to crush my windpipe,’ Evan thought. He desperately battled with the grotesque aberration that Devlin had conjured. Air was already tainted by the creature’s breathing. Air of any type was becoming harder and harder to get into his lungs. Searing pain bit into his neck as the talon-like claws of the creature slowly forced its way through the protective aura and started to pierce the skin on both sides of his neck. He could feel the hot flow of blood oozing out and rolling down his neck on both sides. Between the hot flow of blood and his difficulty breathing, Evan was certain that his death was imminent.

‘I can’t die,’ Evan told himself. ‘If I die the world is doomed. If I die then this creature will rampage the house and then the village. There are no pentagrams to contain the beast. He will kill both Cindy and Val. I can’t let that happen this quickly. I’m better than this, think! I was selected by the Ancient One himself. He didn’t select me to die right out of the box. I’m the Chosen One, so that Means I have special powers. I am not going to die now.’

“Don’t panic,” Edgar yelled, rooting Evan on from the sideline. “Panic only numbs the mind and wastes valuable time. You’re the Chosen One and the Ancient One gave dominance over all creatures and things! Remember you’re in control!”

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Valerie and Elizabeth both screamed when they saw Evan’s body go limp in the beast's hands. They were certain that they were witnessing the death of Evan and their hopes for the future. His eyes closed.

As new blood poured from around the four deep punctures in each side of his neck. It abruptly changed from crimson red to luminous streaks of blue light. Slowly his eyes opened, revealing the burning inner blue light of power and life. His body stiffened, pushing him up to his full height of six feet tall and expanding him to his greatest potential. The Power surged into his body. There was no greater force in the universe than the force of life. His body, mind, and soul were responding to the call of sustaining his own life. His skin changed from the bleached witness of death to the god radiance which poured forth from each pore.

In his mind Evan screamed, ‘I AM YUSRIL! I AM THE CHOSEN ONE!’ He felt something inside him click as if a lock had just opened. His eyes flicked open and the small spark of life that existed in everyone, was a roaring inferno in his eyes. He stood up erect and his arms rose perpendicular and outstretched to the floor.

“I AM YUDRIL, and now you will perish,” Evan said in a voice that rattled the windows in their frames throughout the manor. The beast quickly drew its hands to cover his ears. From the hands of one of the suits of armor Evan willed the war ax to come to him. It flew through the air to his left hand. He willed the meter and a half broadsword from the wall to his right hand. It only took two seconds for him to cross his arms. Another second to stretch his hands out again with the razor sharp edges cutting through the neck of the beast. “From the darkest fires of evil you were born, and with the cleansing fire of heaven your body shall be consumed. A moment later the decapitated body of the beast burst into flames, but the flames only consumed the beast and did not harm anything else. Two minutes later all that remained was a pile of black ash.

Rebecca ran into the room expecting everyone to follow her. Just before she reached Evan she turned and saw the catatonic expressions on everybody’s face caused her to follow the other’s gaze. She saw Evan standing over the intricate family pattern, his eyes gleaming with the pulsating blue energy. His golden skin showing that the four punctures on each side of his neck already healed. His hands still clutching the hilts of the sword and battle ax. Awe struck her as it did the others.

“Cindy?” The one word washing over them all, surrounding them, speaking volumes in a single word.

“I … I came in to tell you … tell you that she’s dead,” Rebecca stammered.

Her statement broke the monetary stupor of the spectators. “What?” Edgar asked incredulously.

“Oh my god,” Valerie whispered.

“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes,” Rebecca answered solemnly.

“NO!” and Evan’s whispered word of anguish thundered in everyone’s ears.

Four sets of eyes turned towards him standing in the center of the orchid pattern, but he was gone. There had not been the usual flash of white light accompanying the influx or out flux of large amounts of energy. One second he had been standing there, and the next moment it was just the sword and battle ax laying across the pattern on the floor. As one they raced out of the room.

The howling cry reverberated through every room, rattling the windows and doors again. The howl chilled the souls of the occupants of the manor with its mournful tone of loss. Every member of the house froze what they were doing for a moment. Then the howl came again.

The door to the lounge was opened. Golden light poured out into the hallway. Cautiously they entered the fray. Evan kneeled beside the sofa, his body almost indistinguishable through the brilliance of the golden aura. The window in the room laid shattered. Wind swirled around the sofa carrying bites and pieces of the shattered window and little nik knacks from around the room. Again they stood transfixed just inside the doorway out of harm's path. For the third time within a minute, the grief stricken howl of anguish was repeated. Without understanding why, all spectators began to cry.

“I am Yudril,” his voice echoed over the howl of the wind for the world to hear. By the Power of life and death granted to me by the Ancient One. I command life. I command life to return to this frail body and restore what had been.”

Evans Voice boomed with such force throughout the house, people were pressed against the wall. The howling, whirling wind rose and tore the heavy brocade curtains from their rods sending them swirling like feathers upon a breeze. The golden glow spread to the sofa, growing in intercity until they were all unable to watch. The air became stifling, their skin bristling with electricity as greater forces filled the room.

Suddenly there was calm. The wind vanished. The blinding light surrounding the sofa winked out of existence. The only remnant of the chaos in the room was a plaintive cry of ‘No!’ in all of their minds.

Evan was gone.