Chapter One
Whisper'd Voice, O' Aren't Thou Mad?
Before...
"What the hell..." He whispered. The path was closing. Damian ran as hard as he could. When he was close enough he dove for the path.
*******
"Cecil!"
"It's too late." He whispered.
Adia looked back at the path. It was fading.
"No! This can't happen!"
She ran towards the path. A bolt of lightning crashed into the ground at the front of the path. The force of it knocked Adia backwards.
She jumped up quickly.
It was too late.
The Path of the Wicked had closed.
"DAMIAN!" She screamed and ran to the edge of the forest, "DAMIAN!!"
"I'm sorry." Cecil whispered and lowered his head.
*******
"I cried for the death of a loved one, but when he calls me mother, I still wonder if he is even speaking to me."
"True mother or not, Tiko cares for you all the same. True son or not, your love for him is still true Adia. And that is why you want Damian back, no?"
Adia lips curled into a small grin. "Love is not in his vocabulary. I do not want him back to be one happy family."
"But, I thought..."
"I still have this curse, Cecil! A curse that still tells me that he's alive. As long as he's alive, I live this poisoned existence. Once Damian comes through that portal alive, I'm going to kill him."
*******
The ground shook around them as Tiko leaned against the far wall, clutching his gut, merely becoming a shadow in the scene. Blue lighting struck through the ceiling and crashed upon the claws through Adia's shoulders causing them to burst as she fell on her feet. She ignored the pain and any attempt at healing as she raised her hand to catch her sword that came flying at her. Blood soaked her shirt and dripped from her lips as she spit. The demon raised his clawed arm as a taunt.
"Let's go..."
"Why don't we...play a game?" Adia spoke firm and low, almost hauntingly.
The demon looked in interest. "What type of a game?"
"A game of pretend. Let's pretend you're a big, ugly, meaningless demon from Hell." Adia took a few steps forward.
"It might be a stretch, but I might be able to manage." He grinned, "And what will you be?"
Adia licked off the remaining blood from her lips and grinned. "I'm going to be the fucking hero."
With that, Adia charged.

*******
The street was quiet at this late hour. The streetlights casting dim circles every few feet. Abandoned cars littered the street. Newspapers rolled across the cracked street like tumbleweeds.
This is a ruined world. A dark haunted place. A place where the present and the past meet in an amalgam of contradictions. There are guns, but there is magic. There is something not quite right in the world anymore. Earth appears on its last legs and it is in desperate need of a hero.
In a crash of glass, a black form bursts through a tavern window crashing to the ground.
A young woman steps through the new exit, the wind ruffles her cloak, a blue crystal shines brightly on her chest. She drops down to the sidewalk. The glass crunching beneath her boots. She is from another time, trapped in this world, fighting for a cause she'd rather ignore than fight for.
She reaches down and pulls her sword from the chest of the demon. Thick black blood drips from the tip of the blade.
"Game over." She says.
The demon seemed to growl at her. Then, it began to burn. Thick black smoke swirled into the sky.
"Adia..." A voice whispered.
"Stop this." Another.
"Run." Another.
"They're coming."
Whispers. Coming from all around her. Adia slid her sword into its sheath and looked around. The street was empty. The voices were in her head. A thousand different phrases at once. It was maddening. Adia put her hands against her ears. The voices intensified a moment and then abruptly stopped.
"Adia..."
Adia spun around, her hand gripping her sword. Tiko stumbled out the bar entrance. He was gripping his stomach, blood pouring over his hands.
Adia rushed over to him.
"Shhh." She said, almost sounding like a mother. She placed one hand beneath Tiko's, and the other against her crystal. Her hands began to glow a deep blue. Tiko gasped as he felt the wound begin to heal.
A moment later the blue light faded. Adia, weakened, sat down and leaned against the wall.
"What's happening Adia?"
"I don't know." She whispered.
"Can you feel it?"
She said nothing. But she felt it also. Something heavy in the air. Something...wrong.
"We should go to the old guy." Tiko said.
"Cecil...yes." Adia stood up slowly. She rubbed her forehead for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Adia flipped her hood up over her head, hiding her braided brown hair and dark mysterious eyes. She let the cloak envelope her. "Let's go."
*******
The front of Cecil's building looked like any other brownstone apartment building. Once you stepped inside, however, you were in a whole different world. The lobby was filled with paper. Large stacks reached high like towers everywhere you looked. Papers from every country on the planet. Papers from places that many people don't even know exist. Alternate places where humans have tails and dogs can speak.
Adia and Tiko made their way through the dark room towards a large wooden stair case. They walked quickly up the stairs. The boots they wore echoing loudly around them. They climbed flight after flight of stairs, each landing stacked head high with books.
Finally, at the top they found a long hallway. Small candles glowed from the walls. The lone door at the end of the hall stood shut ahead of them.
Adia stepped forward. The wood beneath her feet creaking loudly.
The door swung open. Cecil's shape filled the doorway.
"What the bloody hell took you so long?" He said and vanished from the door.
Adia glanced at Tiko. She shrugged and walked into the apartment.
Cecil was sitting in his chair. A pipe hanging from his mouth. Small puffs of green smoke surrounding him.
"Sit. Sit. We have much to discuss."
"What's happening Cecil?" Adia asked as she sat down on the soft familiar couch.
"Bad things, my dear. Very bad things."
Adia smirked, "That's nothing new."
"You are privy to information that most of this world knows nothing about. You know, Adia, that there is another layer. Several in fact. You know there are other worlds then this one."
Adia sighed.
"Bare with me, child. We live in a time where people have machines that do everything for them. Where obliviousness is bliss. Those days are ending. This world is moving on. The barriers are collapsing. You can sense it Tiko."
"I don't understand what you mean." He said.
"You can sense the danger. You have a power hidden inside you, what it is, we don't yet know. But regardless of that, you can sense it. You can sense them."
Cecil puffed on his pipe.
"There are a thousand pin pricks in the fabric separating the worlds. Imagine an army millions strong waiting at each of those holes. Waiting for the moment when that fabric tears and they can take this reality for their own. Demons. Devils. Horrible unimaginable creatures."
"So we get to save the world again?" Adia asked.
"As usual yes. But there is a bit more to it than that, I'm afraid."
"Isn't there always?"
"The voices calling you. Warning you?"
Adia paled.
"They began tonight after you slayed that demon. The warnings are true. Something is coming. Something that wants to make things happen faster. This...entity...I know not what else to call it...it wants to bring these events to pass. It wants to unleash chaos upon the worlds and rule upon it."
"This is ridiculous Cecil!" Adia jumped to her feet, "Why now? Why us? Over and over again we have to deal with these....things. I don't want this. I don't want the worlds fate on my shoulders! This is Damian's job not mine!"
"Damian is lost to us now Adia. The burden falls to you."
"He is not lost! Perhaps if you stopped smoking on that pipe and tried! Try to find away to get to him."
"You think I haven't tried, Girl? I have searched all that I can search. The portal is shut and shows no signs of opening! He is lost. The sooner you can accept that, the sooner you can embrace your destiny!"
"My destiny was stolen from me. This isn't it."
"How do you know that? You know not what destiny holds for you. You are on the path it has chosen for you. Fate or not, you are on its path. Come love, come death. You. Are. On. Its. Path."
"Fuck destiny and it's path." Adia walked to the window.
"You won't be saying that much longer. The path will reveal itself to you."
"The only path I'm interested in is The Path of the Wicked."
"Adia."
"I'm tired Cecil. Tired of this life. This...all of this." She looked down at her hands.
"What if I told you, Adia, that this may be the end of it all?"
She glanced at him.
"If you succeed, the wrongs will be made right. If I am correct, if you succeed, you'll be sent back from whence you came. Back to your time. Back to your world."
"Home..." Adia whispered. She glanced out the window. Far below, a dark shape stood in the dim street light. From this height, Adia could tell it was a man. A man in a black trench coat, "Damian?!" Adia darted out of the apartment.
Tiko jumped up to follow her.
"Wait, boy."
Tiko turned back to Cecil.
"Let me tell you something. This I could not tell Adia. Her desire would blind her and that is what cannot occur right now."
Tiko walked across the apartment and stood before him.
"I had a visitor today," Cecil began, "and she gave me a gift. A key...a key to the path..."
*******
Adia burst through the doors of the building. Her boots clacked against the cement as she ran across the street. She stopped at the edge of the street light. No one was around.
"Damn you, Damian. Damn you." She lowered her head and closed her eyes.
The world around her dimmed slightly.
Adia did not notice.
Behind her a human shape formed out of nothing. Black mist pooled around Adia's feet. A silver grin appeared behind her head.
Adia opened her eyes and saw the mist. She tried to move.
The blade was against her throat before she took her next breath.

Chapter Two
The Diamond Key
Tiko held the small diamond pendant in his hand and looked at it in wonder. It gleamed in his hand. A slight green light emanated from its core.
A key...
Cecil had placed it in his hand and closed his fingers over it. The key to finding Damian. He had entrusted it to Tiko.
Find him...and tell no one of your task. Not even your mother.
Tiko put the necklace over his head and rested the pendant on his chest. He placed his hand over it a moment before hiding it beneath his shirt.
He sighed and began the long walk down the many, many flights of stairs in Cecil's building.
*****
The thick putrid breath wafted inside Adia's ear. She could feel the cool blade scraping against her neck.
"So much to grasp isn't it Adia? The fate of everything in your hands. You aren't used to the burden. He should be doing this. He is the one who took this job. Not you. Isn't that right?"
Adia closed her eyes against the vile feeling of this things breath on her face.
"You're beautiful when you're scared." Adia felt something heavy, hot, and moist run against her cheek. It left a trail of searing wetness.
It was licking her face.
Adia drilled her elbow into it's stomach and dropped down. She felt the dagger graze her cheek.
She rolled over and flipped to her feet. Her hand instantly on the hilt of the sword but the thing was gone.
"Show yourself!" Adia hissed. She wiped the spittle from her cheek, "Show yourself you cowardly bastard!"
A laugh filled the air around her.
"More disembodied laughter? Can't you come up with anything better than that!?"
The thing appeared directly in front of her. A heavy black cloak covering a body made from black mist. Two silvery eyes appeared in the center of the hood. Adia's locked eyes with the creature and found herself mesmerized.
"You aren't as strong as you like to pretend Adia Silverblade. Deep down inside you're just a scared little girl hiding from the boogey man. Well guess what. The boogey man is here Adia. I've found you. No amount of swordplay is going to keep me from taking you home. Where you belong."
"Who-who are you..." Adia mumbled.
The thing laughed. Sending burst after burst of foul air into Adia’s face.
"I go by a trillion names. You can use my most common."
A thick forked tongue emerged from the mist filled hood and grazed Adia's nose.
"Call me Death."
The door to Cecil's building opened and Tiko stepped outside.
Death vanished and Adia fell forward. She hit the cool cement hard.
"Adia?" Tiko ran over to her and helped her to her feet.
"Tiko." Adia swayed slightly, "Death."
Adia's eyes fluttered and she collapsed into Tiko's arms.
*******
Adia was in darkness. She could tell she was in the center of a large room. She could feel the empty space surrounding here.
But...there was something else.
Something at the edge of her reach. Just beyond her perception. Something standing there watching her.
She feared if she took a step forward she would plunge into an abyss and be fall forever in darkness.
She reached her hand forward, half hoping, half afraid, to touch something.
"It's falling apart." The voice was so unexpected, it nearly sent Adia running. Her fear of what might be inches behind her, kept her from turning and running.
"What is this? Who are you?"
"It's falling apart. Everything. Collapsing. This world will be ruined unless you stop it from happening."
"Adia?"
"You can do this without me."
"Adia?"
Adia glanced around. There were two voices coming from everywhere. One calling her name, the other passing this cryptic message.
The area began to brighten. She saw a vague shape before her. Dark hair, dark clothing.
"Dam..."
*******
Adia opened her eyes.
"...ian?" She sat up. She was inside Cecil's apartment, lying on his ratty old couch. A cup of tea rested on the table before her.
"You must go now. There is no time to waste. Go, now boy!"
"What is it, Cecil?" Adia asked, groggily.
"Nothing, child. Drink that tea. It will make you feel better."
Adia sighed and picked up the cup. It was warm against her palm. She took a sip and felt the liquid warm her as it traveled down her throat.
Tiko disappeared out the door. Cecil closed it behind him and walked over to his chair.
"Want to tell me what happened?" Cecil asked as he sat down. His chair groaned loudly as it settled around him, "I don't ever recall you fainting."
"First time for everything." Adia muttered.
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Where is Tiko going?"
"An errand. A simple task. Nothing to concern yourself with."
"He seemed to run off pretty quick."
"It's nothing." He waved his hand at her, "Drink."
Adia nodded and took another sip from the tea.
"What happened, Adia?"
She set the glass on the table in front of her, between stacks of books.
"A man...maybe not so much a man, he called himself Death. His face...I couldn't see it. All I saw were two silvery eyes. When I looked into them, I lost myself." Adia shook the memory from her mind, "He was just saying things. Nothing important. Just tormenting things. When he left...when I fainted, I had a dream. A person surrounded by endless darkness. He told me everything would end if I didn't stop it."
Cecil nodded.
"This isn't a choice anymore, is it?"
"You're asking as if it was a choice in the beginning."
"So then, if it is truly out of my hands, what do I do?"
"You fight, dear child, you fight until you are no longer needed. Destiny has it's path for you. It has it's course set. You just have to find it."
"I have been fighting."
"This is different."
"How so? I wield my sword, I kill things. How is it different?"
"Because this time you are not doing it for him."
Adia blinked.
"This is your fight, Adia. The fates have put it in your hands. You are not following Damian into his wars any more. You are about to face your own."
"I wasn't..." But she couldn't finish, at hat moment she knew it was true. As much anger and resentment she held for Damian, she would follow him through the darkest pit of hell. Because deep down she knew, beyond the anger, beyond the resentment and desire for vengeance, deep down there was something more, "This just seems too big for me." Adia mumbled.
"Aye. But someone out there seems to think this is the perfect fit for you. Someone seems to think you are the hero in this tale."
"Hero." Adia muttered, "I'm no hero."
"The Fates, it seems, disagree with you."
*******
Tiko stood at the top of a subway entrance. The stairs descended into darkness. He glanced at the sky. It was brightening rapidly.
At the first light of dawn say the words.
Tiko pulled the pendant from around his neck. He held it in front of him. The green light within the diamond pulsed. With each pulse it increased it's brightness.
Tiko watched the sky. He saw the sun peak over the horizon.
He raised the pendant into the air.
"Diana Niso Ratallia Phinto!"
A burst of light shone from the diamond. It pierced the darkness below. A line straight line of soft green light.
The green light expanded and engulfed Tiko. He raised into the air. Searing pain filled his body.
"DIABA NISO RATALLIA PHINTO!" Tiko screamed.
The sun broke over the horizon sending golden light over the street.
The green light exploded. Tiko fell to the ground. His eyes glowing green for a moment. He felt different. Something inside him had changed.
Tiko stood up slowly. He looked towards the stairs.
"You fool." The voice said.
Tiko looked up and saw him.
Damian stood at the top of the stairs. He wore a tattered white shirt, barely a shirt at that. It hung in tatters over him. He was covered in dirt and blood. He held a large ax in his hand. Gone were the swords, the guns, the jacket. His black hair hung wild around his face.
"Send me back. Send me back Tiko!"
Tiko wasn't listening to him.
From the darkness of the subway entrance a huge creature rose. It towered over Damian. It had huge horns, teeth stained red with blood. It had a club gripped tightly in its claws. From the look on its fur covered face, it was ready for a kill.
Tiko stumbled back. His eyes wide in fear.
The creature roared.
Damian spun around. The ax held defensively in front of him.
The creature took a step forward and swung it's club.

Chapter Three
The Hero of Other-World Part One
"What the hell..." He whispered. The path was closing. Damian ran as hard as he could. When he was close enough he dove for the path.
And hit the ground hard. Dust rose around him as he climbed to his feet.
The portal was closed.
"Adia's gonna be pissed." Damian muttered. He looked around him. This small village was a ghost town now. No sign of life anywhere now that the stolen kids were sent back to where they belong.
Damian slid his hands into the pockets of his coat. He turned and looked at Valentine’s castle in this distance. It was collapsing. Huge stones fell every few seconds.
Damian turned his back on the castle and began to walk away from the empty village.
Night fell quickly and Damian found himself wandering through the desolate landscape in near pitch dark. On more than one occasion he heard something scuttling along beside him. He wasn't eager to discover what it was.
He had walked for hours before seeing a small orange glow in the distance. Fire.
Damian walked towards the orange light. He reached beneath his coat and behind his back and felt the familiar wait of his Katana. Only one of them however. He had left his guns among the smoldering ashes of Valentine’s Demon Army and the other sword back in Valentine’s Castle.
He saw a single form sitting at the edge of the fire pit. The face looked up at him as he approached.
"Ho' stranger." The man said. He was old. Older than Damian had ever seen anyone look, with the possible exception of Cecil. The man poked a large stick into the fire. A burst of sparks soared into the air.
"Ho' stranger." Damian responded.
"Pull up a stone kind man. Join me by the firelight."
Damian sat down on the ground. He leaned against a large boulder.
"You don't come from here do ya."
"No. I'm from...away."
"Dangerous place for a folk to walk around alone."
Damian glanced around.
"Ayuk I am by m'self here boy. That don't mean I can't handle what these lands have to spit at me." The man leaned over and pulled a large ax into his hands, "I kin pertect m'self out here."
Damian reached under his coat and pulled out his Katana. He jabbed the blade into the dirt and let it stand next to him.
The old man smiled and than cackled. He held out a gnarled hand. Damian accepted it and shook it.
"Name's Keno." The old man said.
"Damian."
"Damian. The man in black from the western castle."
"Excuse me?"
"Just a tale round these places."
Damian observed the old man curiously. He had witty grey eyes and a thick head of stark white hair stuffed into a black bowl hat. His clothes were old. Dark cloth and reddish vest.
"Ask ya somethin'?" The old man turned on his stone and looked at Damian.
Damian nodded.
"You knock that castle down?"
Damian nodded again.
The old man sighed.
"Ya kill the things that lived there?"
Damian nodded, "Best I can tell anyway."
The old man tossed his stick in the fire.
"Rest then." He told Damian, "We'll talk more in the daylight."
With that the man slid off his stone. He leaned against the rock and lowered his hat over his eyes.
Damian watched him a moment more then closed his own eyes. Sleep took over a moment later.
*****
The next morning, Damian opened his eyes and saw Keno leaning over him.
"Thought you was dead." He said and chuckled, "You sleep deep."
"Rough day yesterday." Damian sat up.
Keno rocked back on his heals and belted out a dusty laugh.
"You truly was the one that took down that castle, then I say rough don't cut it son."
Damian smirked.
"Grab your sword, son. We got a long walk ahead of us."
Damian pulled his katana from the dirt and slid it into the sheath beneath his coat. He had nowhere else to go, so he decided to tag along with Keno.
"Tell me about this place." Damian said as they walked across the cracked grey landscape.
"Not much to tell. It's a dark evil place. Not many folk left. Demons mostly. Used to be people like you and me everywhere. Now, not so much. They either died, kilt, or...changed."
"Changed? Into what?"
Keno shrugged.
"Diffn't things mainly. Ugly things."
"Demons?"
"Naw. Naw. Not demons. Something less than that. Demons have minds. They can think. These things folk changed into...they ur somethin’ else. Feral. Mindless."
"Vampires?"
"Naw. Naw." Keno shook his head. He looked sad for a moment, "Worse than that."
Damian looked around him. Keno's words had chilled him. He suddenly found himself wishing he hadn't lost his guns.
"We'll be there soon."
"Where is there exactly?"
"Folken Town. The last human city in Other-World."
In the distance, Damian could see tall spires reaching into the air.
"There are about a thousand of us. We rushed this place and fought hard to take it over. We won. It has been our home for a while. I think the days of Folken Town are coming to a close."
"Why do you say that?"
"Their are rumors about. They want to finish us off once and for all. They'll be coming from their fortress across the Sea of Souls. The demon city."
Damian squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.
"Demonica. The City of the Damned." Keno muttered.
"Why are you bringing me here?" Damian asked, realization dawning on him.
Keno stopped. He turned to Damian and placed his hands squarely on his shoulders.
"You, man in black, stranger from the other land, the one who killed the Vampire King, you are our salvation."
Damian looked down at Keno.
"Salvation? You think I can stop a demon army?"
"There is a prophecy, Damian. It speaks of the one who would kill the lord of vampires and bring his castle to ruin. The man from another land. The man in black. You are this man. You are the Hero of Other-World."
Damian shook his head.
"You're mistaken."
"Grandpa Keno!"
Damian turned his head. A boy and girl were running across a field towards them. They were twins, no more than nine years old. They had golden blonde hair. They were running hand and hand towards Keno. His face broke into a bright grin. He took off his hat and waived it at the kids.
"Why were you out there old man? Alone in the wilds?"
Keno's face turned serious for a moment.
"I was looking for you."
He turned back towards the kids and smiled again. They rushed into his arms.
Damian cocked his head.
"How are my little ones? How are you. Andy and Revel." Keno knelt down and hugged them tightly.
Damian turned around. He tuned out the sound of the children and Keno laughing.
Something was wrong.
"Keno." Damian said.
The creature came from above. A huge winged fiend. It went right for Keno and the children. The thick leathery wings sent down a strong wind. The creatures eyes were solid black. It had a partially humanoid face. The rest was lizard like. Except the wings. And the claws.
"KENO!" Damian screamed.
Keno shoved the children to the ground seconds before the creature flew past them. The creature hissed loudly. It stopped in the air and spun around for another go.
Damian pulled his Katana.
"Stay down." He said to Keno.
The creature swooped down.
Damian ran forward. He leaped into the air. He flipped himself forward and gripped the katana tightly. As he flipped in the air the sword flew between his legs and sliced into the creature. The force of Damian's flip forced the katana through the creatures body.
Damian landed on the ground in a crouch. The two halves of the creature landed on either side of him.
Damian stood up slowly. The katana dragged along the ground as he rose up.
Keno rushed over to him and embraced him tightly.
"Thanky. Thanky. You saved my grandchildren."
Keno scooped his grandchildren into his arms and hugged them tightly.
"You must come to Folken Town with me. Please. I beg you."
Damian lowered his head. He saw dirt moving quickly. Almost like wind was blowing it. But no wind was blowing.
He spun around and saw it.
The large dark portal open before him.
Keno took a step back.
"The Path of Darkness." He mumbled.
"The Path of the Wicked." Damian took a step forward.
"Please Damian!"
Damian looked over his shoulder at Keno and then back at the portal.
"Adia..." he whispered. He slipped his Katana back into it's sheath.
He could hear the little girl, Revel, crying softly.
"We need you, Hero." Keno said softly, "We need you."
Damian stared into the dark portal entrance.
His chance to go home. He could step into that portal and be safe at home or he could turn around and face certain death for the sake of a few innocent people.
Damian turned his back on the portal. He walked away from it. A look of determination on his face.
"Let's go." He said as he walked past Keno.
As they walked along the pathway towards Folken Town, the Path of the Wicked sealed shut.

Chapter Four
The Hero of Other-World Part Two
The gate to Folken Town was a grey steel. It towered above them as they approached. Two huge demon faces were sculpted into the steel.
Damian stood before the gate and waited for Keno and his grandchildren to catch up. He looked up at the hideous faces staring down at him.
"You weren't lyin' when you said this was a demon city."
"Aye." Keno walked forward and grabbed a large mallet from the side of the pathway. He slammed the mallet against the gate sending loud booms through the air. He took a step back from the gate and tossed the mallet aside.
The gate began to open slowly and Damian got his first glance at Folken Town.
The main part of the town was just inside the gate. Several wooden shacks had been constructed in the center of the town. The large spires Damian saw on the way here were in each corner of the city. The black spires reached high into the sky. As far as Damian could tell, no one went near them. The Folken stayed near the front of the city that they had claimed as their own.
"We only go deeper if they get inside. No other reason to go beyond the barriers. Dark things in there. Dark things in the towers." Keno explained.
Keno also said the barriers were used to keep any leftover demons from entering the Folken area. They were made using an ancient form of magic that only the town elders knew of. So far, it had served them well.
Damian followed Keno to a large home in the center of the Folken area. The home of the Elders.
Keno stopped at the foot of a walkway leading to the house.
"You go on in. 'e 'specting you."
Damian nodded and walked up the walkway.
He stepped onto the wooden porch. The door immediately swung open. Damian stepped into the dark house. It was just one large room. A large pit was dug in the center with a small pile of charred wood at its middle. The rest of the room was bare.
"We sleep upstairs, if you are curious, hero."
Damian turned to see a man of about 40 standing in the shadows. He had a large green cloak covering him. His hands hidden within its sleeves.
"I thought it was a bit sparse."
"Even in the face of death you make jokes."
Damian looked at the elder.
"I ain't facing death yet boyo."
"Intriguing." The elder walked past Damian and stood at the edge of the fire pit, "You turned your back on the Path of the Wicked earlier. You turned your back on those you love."
"I made a choice to help people in need."
"Even at the cost of your own life?"
"I don't see it that way."
"Perhaps she might."
The elder waived his hand. The wood burst into bright blue flames. The fire nearly reached the ceiling.
"Look closer hero..."
Damian leaned forward and peered into the flames. He saw a young woman standing at the edge of a forest. She was gripping something at her chest.
"She spoke the words that brought the path to you. You turned your back on her call."
"Adia..." Damian whispered.
"And now you are here. To fight our war. Why?"
Damian was staring at the image in the flames. Adia standing at the forest edge.
"I don't know."
"Than you are no good to us."
"You aren't a very good judge of character."
"Your character is not under question here, Hero. I am in question of your honor."
Damian tore himself away from the image in the flames, "My honor? Is it not honorable to turn my back on my home to help people I have never seen?"
"Perhaps. But Honor under the guise of fear is not honor at all. It is cowardice."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"On the contrary. You decide to quite possibly face death instead of facing the consequences of your actions. Of your betrayal."
Damian stiffened.
"Is that Honor?"
Damian lowered his head.
"Perhaps it is retribution." He whispered.
"An attempt to make amends for past sins? She is not prepared to never see you again. Even now she fights to bring you back. Are you prepared to never see her again?"
Damian turned back to the flame.
"Can you die with the knowledge that the only thing she wants in that world at this moment is for you to come back? Nothing else matters to her. Can you die with that knowledge?"
"Yes."
"You're lying."
Damian sighed.
"Why are you asking me these questions?"
"I need to be sure you are the one we have awaited all this time."
"Keno seems pretty convinced."
"It isn't Keno's choice to send you to Demonica. It is mine alone."
Damian nodded.
"You love her?"
Damian was silent. He stared into the flame and watched as Adia walked away from the forest edge.
The elder nodded, knowingly.
"Then I have made my decision." The elder waved his hand. The flame vanished, "You will go to the southwest tower and bring the jewel from the top. If you emerge alive, then the prophecy will be confirmed and you will go to Demonica."
Damian wondered if this man knew he couldn't be killed.
"Keno will escort you." The elder waved his arm again and the door swung open, "Luck to you Hero. You will need it."
*****
Keno stood back from the entrance to the tower.
"How do you know there's anything in there?" Damian asked.
Keno shrugged, "It's not our place to question the elder. He told me to bring you here. So...here ya are. We ain't had a demon attack in quite some time. At least not from inside. So da towers might be empty. Gods hopes so for yur sake."
Keno started to walk away.
Damian looked up. The grey tower reached at least fifty stories. The sky was bright and that gave Damian hope that some light would be reaching inside through the many windows of the tower.
Damian sighed and reached for the door.
*****
It wasn't as bright inside as Damian had hoped. It was a murky darkness inside. The light barely penetrated the dark enough for Damian to see the step in front of him. As far as he could tell, the single stair way spiraled all the way to the top of the tower. Damian quickly began to ascend the stairs, not noticing the stairs also went down from the entrance.
The climb was relatively easy. He encountered nothing on his way to the top of the tower. He reached the last stair and came face to face with a wooden door. Damian delivered one swift kick to the door and it flew open in a shower of splinters. A small pedestal stood in the center of the room. A ray of sunlight shining onto a small white crystal. Damian walked to the pedestal and swiped the jewel from it. He slid it into his pocket.
"Cake." He whispered and walked out of the room.
He quickly made his way down the stairs. About halfway down he stopped. There was a noise in the tower. Something that wasn't there before. A chittering noise. Something clicking on the stone stairs.
Damian squinted. He tried to see into the dim darkness. Whatever it was hadn't gotten high enough to see. Damian moved slowly down the stairs.
Then he saw them.
Their eyes were first. Glowing red eyes in the darkness. One of them skittered into the light.
A spider. Not the small rock spiders he had encountered in the abandoned village., these were big mean spiders with large red eyes and....teeth. From where he stood, it appeared the spider was at least as tall as his knees.
"Great." He mumbled. Her felt something drop on his shoulder and a hissing sound came from his jacket.
Damian looked up and saw one of the spiders was rapidly dropping from the ceiling. It had drooled on his jacket and the saliva was burning a hole in it.
The horde of demon spiders burst forward.
Damian turned and ran back up the stairs. He noticed the windows were appearing one after the other as he ran upwards. There were arranged in a row straight up and down. He quickly pulled himself through a window. He stood on a ledge and leaped up. He grabbed the other ledge and pulled himself up.
The spiders flooded out of the window below him. Damian jumped up two more windows and slid inside again.
Most of the spiders were following him on the outer walls. Damian darted down the stairs. He yanked his katana from it's sheath and slashed at as many of them as he could. He nearly made it to the bottom when he saw more of them rushing up the stairs from below. Damian was still nearly 10 stories above the ground.
Damian turned and leaped out of the window. He dropped several stories and grabbed onto the ledge. His sword fell to the ground below him. A spider appeared in the window and snapped at Damian's fingers.
Damian dropped to the next window and quickly pulled himself in. The spiders were above him. Damian ran down the stairs and burst out of the door.
"Why is it always spiders?" He huffed and walked towards the town.
The spiders began pouring out of the tower door.
"Damian!" Keno shouted and waved his arms.
Damian turned around just as a gigantic spider burst through the door sending chunks of stone flying.
Keno turned and darted for the barriers. Damian didn't waste a second following.
The huge spider had long fangs. Venom dripped from them in rivers. It reared up on its back legs and slammed its fangs down at Damian.
Damian felt the fangs rip through his coat before they slammed into the ground. He heard the jacket tearing as he ran forward. The spider squealed and struck again.
Damian leaped forward and rolled away from the attack.
"Run you damn fool!" Keno was screaming.
"Keno!" Damian screamed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small jewel. "CATCH!"
Damian threw the crystal as hard as he could. He saw the Elders eyes widen as he watched it arch through the air. Keno caught it in his hands.
Damian knew he wasn't going to make it if he ran. He suddenly leaped into the air and landed on the back of the Spider.
The smaller horde leaped on as well. They were scrambling towards Damian over their mothers thick hairy legs.
"Come on!" Damian yelled.
And then it happened. Just what he was waiting for.
The giant spider reared up on its back legs in an attempt to throw Damian off. He took his chance. As the spider rose, he ran up its back. He planted his feet firmly on the creatures eyes and leapt.
Damian flipped in the air and landed hard just inches past the barrier. He scrambled backwards as the horde rushed towards him. The spiders jumped to attack. They collided with the barrier and burst into flames. Every one popped and sizzled in a bright green burst.
Damian laid his head on the ground and sighed heavily.
"Fucking spiders." He mumbled.
*****
Damian sat on the edge of the fire pit in the home of the elder. His coat lay in a heap next to him.
"You did well hero."
"I'm glad you're impressed."
"You'll need to rest." The Elder stood behind Damian, his hands hidden within his cloak, "You'll leave for Demonica tomorrow first light."
Damian nodded.
"Is there anything you require?"
Damian looked at the pile of wood.
The elder nodded and waved his hand. The wood burst into flame. A moment later, Damian was watching Adia sitting at a tavern sipping from her glass.
"You won your battle today hero. But tomorrow is a whole different show."
Damian stared into the flames. He watched Adia drink slowly.
"Tomorrow..." The elder placed his hand on Damian's shoulder, "is war."

Chapter Five
The Hero of Other-World and the City of Demons
Damian stood before the blue-tinted flames. His jacket lay in shreds next to him. He was wearing a white cloth shirt that clung tight to his chest and arms, along with his dark jeans and boots. A large broad sword was strapped to his back.
He lowered his head and sighed heavily.
“Are you ready hero?” The elder asked from the door.
Damian knelt down and picked up his ruined coat. He tossed it into the flames.
“Yes.”
“Demonica is a days journey. I will not deceive you Hero, the odds are against you.”
“I’m not concerned.”
“Don’t let your supposed immortality affect your judgment.”
Damian stopped in the doorway.
“You know?”
The elder nodded.
“I should tell you, where you are going, nothing is the same. This is a place of demons. A place of damned. You’re...gift...may not extend to their realm.”
“Are you saying I can die there?”
“I am not only saying you can die there Damian. I am saying you more than likely will.”
“Glad you tell me this now.”
“Would it have made a difference in your decision had you known when you had the chance to go home?”
Damian thought a moment. He glanced back at the blue flames.
“No.” He said.
The elder nodded.
“It is time then.” The elder stepped outside. Damian followed.
“The Folken are all in there homes. They are all saying good will for you. It is as I have ordered.” The elder clasped his hands together, letting his sleeves fall over them, “It would be wise to seek out the High Demon. His name is Bahl Reaver. A hideous beast. Favors a large club. If he falls, the other demons will scatter. They haven’t the ability to fight without a High Demon to guide them. If you are lucky, there will not be many demons left in Demonica. Perhaps only a thousand.”
“Only.” Damian muttered.
“The rest may be gathered for the crossing.”
“The crossing?”
“Aye. When the world barriers collapse the demon army is prepared to invade. It is here as it is in every other world. The barrier has become thin and when it falls, gods help the world that they invade.”
Damian stopped and turned to the elder.
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying when the barriers collapse it will spell the end to whatever world is beyond.”
“Wait. Slow down a second. You’re saying that barriers in all these different dimensions are breaking down and will open into another realm. Are all of these barriers going to open to the same place?”
“If prophecy speaks truth, then yes.”
“What world?”
“I do not know.”
“Can it be stopped?”
The elder looked at Damian.
“Do you feel it may be your world the crossing will affect?”
“I don’t know.”
“If it is your world, then they are doomed. There is nothing that can prevent the crossing from happening. The world as it exists, the world as you know it to be, will cease.”
"You're talking about an apocalypse. The end of humanity?"
"No, hero. I'm talking about a hundred different armies from a hundred different hells and worlds flooding into yours. I'm talking, hero, about the end of everything."
*****
A day's journey.
Damian walked slowly. His mind was flooded with thoughts of apocalypse and destruction.
He had to get back. If his world was the target of the crossing he had to be there to prevent it.
"There is nothing that can prevent the crossing from happening."
Damian would not accept that.
He would take care of this situation and go back to his world. With luck, nothing was wrong there. Everything would be fine. The crossing would never reach his world and all would be safe.
Damian held on to that hope as he ran towards Demonica.
*****
It was quite as long a trip as Damian expected. He found himself on the outskirts of the city nearly seven hours after he left Folken Town. Large stone statues loomed on the hillside as he approached. Huge, towering, and grotesque figures.
Damian stopped. He could see the wall surrounding the city ahead. It was different from Folken Town. There were no large towers in the air. From Damian's position he could see no spires at all. Several large statues and, from this distance, what appeared to be a palace at the center. There was no one around to be seen.
Above him the sky was rapidly darkening. Damian walked up the slope towards the front gate. A large black steel entranceway standing at least 50 feet tall. One side of the gate stood ajar slightly.
Damian slipped inside.
It looked similar to Folken Town, except instead of the small homes the Folken had built, large cavernous stone structures were used as shelters.
Damian walked towards the palace at the center of the city. He could see a small orange glow emanating from inside.
His boots crunched over the loose stone paths. The entire area was nearly silent. There was no sign of anything. Demon or otherwise.
It was for that reason that Damian wasn't expecting it when an arrow shot into his shoulder.
A group of fat hairy demons poured out of a shelter. They had big mouths full of razor sharp teeth. Damian reached his good arm over his head and pulled the sword from its sheath.
One of the demons swung a sword at Damian. He took a step back. The sword missed his head by inches. The blade sliced through the arrow. Damian spun and plunged the broad sword into the demon. He kicked back and knocked another demon away as he pulled out the sword.
Damian swiftly killed the other three demons. He plunged his sword into the ground.
"This all you got?" He yelled. Damian gripped the remaining part of the arrow and ripped it from his arm.
Damian glanced at the shelters. Hundreds of demons were pouring from them. More than could possibly fit inside them. Worse still, they were armored. Helmets covering their hideous demon faces. They all carried swords, clubs, axes.
"Where are you when I need you Adia..."
At the mouth of the palace above him, Damian saw a large shape appear.
"Bahl Reaver." Damian ripped the sword up and ran towards the palace.
The demon army charged forward.
Damian took a club in the gut. He felt the air burst from his chest.
The sword was knocked from his hand.
He fell to his knees.
With a roar the demons threw themselves on Damian. He felt them tearing and clawing at him. His shirt was in tatters within seconds. Damian slammed his elbow into the face of a demon. He scooped up it's axe and swung it as hard and as fast as he could. Demons fell all around him.
"ENOUGH!"
The demons fell back in a tight circle around him.
Bahl Reaver stood tall. Huge horns, blood stained teeth. Chains hung from his leather clothing. His muscles alone appeared to be mountains. His hand was tightly gripping his monstrous club.
"You trespass against our city human. You come alone to the city of demons? Are you accepting of deaths invitation?"
Damian rested the ax against his shoulder.
Bahl swung his club and struck the ground. Damian felt the ground shake beneath him, but he did not falter.
"You come into my sanctum. Disrespect my city. You know not who you anger!"
"Bahl Reaver. I know who you are. You look like an overgrown cow with bad teeth."
Bahl leaned forward and hissed. Damian could see the fury in his eyes.
"Watch minions, as I destroy this puny human. A precursor to our victory ahead!"
Bahl rushed forward. Damian raised his axe and ready his attack.
Suddenly, the world around him flashed green and he found himself in a dark concrete stairwell.
Damian spun around. He looked up at the top of the stairs. Stars shone in the sky.
"Oh no..." he whispered. He quickly climbed the stairs. He saw Tiko climbing to his feet. A soft green glow surrounding him, "You fool." Damian said.
Tiko looked up at him.
"Send me back. Send me back Tiko!"
Damian watched as Tiko's gaze shifted past him.
Behind him, Bahl roared loudly.
Damian's eyes widened slightly.
The club connected hard with Damian's hurt shoulder. His vision went white as the pain seared through him. The force of the blow sent him flying.
Damian crashed onto the ground. The axe crashed next to him.
"Damian!"
Tiko ran over to him.
"Get back Tiko. He'll kill you." Damian stood up slowly. He reached down and grabbed the axe.
Bahl stood breathing heavily watching them.
"This is how you win a fight kid." Damian ran forward and launched the axe at Bahl. The axe flew end over end towards him.
Bahl raised his club. The axe embedded into the thick wood of the club.
"My turn." Bahl growled. He ran towards them. The ground shuttered with each step.
"Run Tiko!"
Tiko pushed Damian back and stood in front of him.
Bahl raised his club.
Tiko held his hands out before him. The green glow was returning and brightening around his hands.
Bahl moved to strike. Tiko closed his eyes and unleashed a burst of green energy. A huge hole appeared in Bahl's chest.
The club fell to the ground. Bahl followed a moment later.
"What did you just do?" Damian asked.
"I don't know."

Chapter Six
Death's Mistress
"What did you do?" Damian asked, stepping towards the smoldering corpse.
Tiko looked down at his hands. The green glow growing dull and fading.
"I don't know. I...I just felt it inside me..."
"How long has this been happening?
"Just now. Just when I opened the portal to bring you back."
Damian stepped away from the corpse. He looked around him.
"How long have I been gone?"
"A few weeks."
Damian sighed.
"What were you doing over there?"
Damian glanced back at the subway entrance.
"Same as always. Playing hero."
*****
Adia poured herself a drink and returned the bottle to Cecil's cabinet. She turned and leaned against wall. Her eyes on Cecil as he puffed on his pipe.
"I shouldn't be just sitting here. I should be out finding my path."
"I expect that path will reveal itself to you."
Adia drank from the glass.
Cecil lowered his pipe and glanced at the door.
"What is it?" Adia asked.
"We seem to have company."
No sooner then he finished his sentence, did the footsteps begin to echo in the hall. A shoe on wood. Closing in on the door to Cecil's apartment.
"It's her." Cecil muttered.
"Who?" Adia's hand rested on the hilt of her blade.
"The key bringer."
"Key? What are you talking about."
Before Cecil could answer, the foot steps stopped. The handle of the door turned and the door slowly opened.
*****
Damian pushed open the door and stepped inside. He flipped the light switch and stepped into the bare room.
"You live here?" Tiko asked.
The apartment was empty. No furniture, nothing. Damian pulled the tattered shirt off and dropped it to the floor. He walked down a short hall and stepped into his bedroom.
"This is where I keep my things." Damian muttered, "I wouldn't say I lived here."
Tiko looked around the room. A small bed rested in the corner. The wall was held a large cabinet. He could guess what was inside of it.
"What have I missed?" Damian asked as he pulled a white shirt from the closet.
"Just some weird things going on. A guy calling himself Death attacked Adia. The barriers between dimensions are going to shatter and basically destroy the world as we know it."
"You know about that?
"Cecil told us about it."
"Ok. Go to Cecil. Tell him you brought me back. I will meet you there."
Tiko nodded and ran out of the apartment.
Damian walked into a small bathroom and turned on the shower.
*****
Cecil stood up at the site of the empty doorway.
Adia pulled her sword free of the sheath.
"Where is she?" Adia asked.
Suddenly, with a loud crack a whip wrapped around Adia's sword. The whip was jerked back ripping the sword from her hand.
The sword flew out the door and fell into a small hand.
The woman stepped into the doorway. Adia saw the boots first. Heavy black leather boots with high spike heals tied tightly to thin legs. Tight black leather pants and a black corset. The woman's breasts nearly heaving out of the binding top. A small white crystal hung above her cleavage. Her white hair was short but spiked out. She had several daggers attached to her steel belt.
The woman stabbed Adia’s sword into the floor and curled her whip. She reached behind her back and returned the whip to it's place.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here." She said. Her voice soft and wispy.
Adia's face was a mask of fury.
"You know her?" Cecil asked.
Adia nodded slightly.
"Starr." She said.
"I guess it's two for one night." The woman smirked. "I just came to ice the old guy. But you. You're bonus."
The woman moved quickly. Her arm a blur as she yanked a dagger free and threw it.
Cecil's reaction was minimal as the dagger pierced his chest. Cecil touched the hilt gingerly. He looked over at Adia.
"Cecil!" She screamed. She moved towards him.
Starr had her whip out again. She cracked it and the whip wrapped around Adia's neck.
"Oh Yes." Starr said. A look of pleasure across her face. She yanked back and Adia flew off her feet.
Starr stomped hard on Adia's gut.
"Always the disappointment Adia. You were never a match for me."
Adia grabbed the whip and yanked it hard. Starr fell forward at the exact time Adia flipped her legs back. She kicked Starr hard in the face.
Starr fell back and crashed into a stack of books. A candle fell and ignited the ancient papers.
The fire spread instantly.
Starr leapt to her feet.
Adia pulled the whip from her neck and tossed it to the ground.
"This ends now." She said.
"Oh no. Not quite." Starr grinned, "Big boss says this is just getting started." A dark mist appeared around her, "I'm not the girl you remember Adia."
The flames crawled up the walls and hungrily devoured Cecil's books and papers. The heat was rising quickly.
Starr leaped forward. She slugged Adia hard in the mouth. Adia dripped her elbow into Starr's gut.
Starr stepped back and kicked Adia in the face.
Adia fell backwards. Starr knelt down and grabbed her head. She pressed her lips against Adia's ear.
"Just so you know Adia. You can't stop what's coming. My sweet death has it all in motion. This world will fall."
Starr slammed Adia's head into the floor.
"Too bad you won't be here for the grand finale." Starr said with a smirk.
*****
Tiko ran up to the building. He saw the faint glow of the flames inside.
"No..." He whispered and ran inside.
*****
Starr pulled Adia to her feet and shoved her towards the window.
"I have to say. Killing you has been worth the wait."
Starr slugged Adia. Once. Twice. Again.
She smiled brightly and delivered a round house kick that sent Adia flying through the window.
"Enjoy your flight." Starr said with a giggle.
Starr turned away from the window. The mist surrounded her. She walked towards the door and faded away.
Tiko burst into the room just as the flames reached the other side of the room. The fire exploded when it hit the fresh kindling.
"Cecil!" Tiko leaped over the fire. He yanked the dagger from the old mans chest and lifted him into his arms. Tiko turned and ran for the door.
*****
The world was a blur. Everything became silent. Adia never heard the glass shatter as her body was thrown through it. She felt herself hover within the dark void as she peered within the inferno inside. Adia believed that she was already dead and that her spirit was watching the fire from outside of her body. However, the pain was real. The scorching fire against her skin was real. The blood, bitter in her mouth, was real. Her aching cold heart was still beating.

"Enjoy your flight." Starr said with a giggle.

Adia's dark eyes focused on the illuminated flames but her mind traveled to years past. Traveled to a place of sunny skies and large green fields that reached beyond the breathtaking horizon. Where nothing in the world could stop a little girl from smiling.

"Will you stop giggling? This is serious. You have to learn to carry a sword sooner or later. Now, you have to use both hands, like this, understand?"

"It's too heavy!" Another childish giggle.

"Iphicles, she's too young to hold a sword, much less learn how to use one. Besides, she doesn't want to be like you. She wants to be like her big brother Marcus, don't you Adia?"

Adia giggled once again.

One...Two...Three stories, Adia fell.

A young woman smiled, holding the child in her arms. "My beautiful little Aya, would you like to hear a story? How about the story of the lovely Angel who fell in love with a powerful yet outcast God? I know that's your favorite....."

Four...Five...Six stories, Adia fell.

Somewhere, in the darkness, Adia could hear her mother crying. "Adia! My sweet, little Aya! Take this! Take it now, please, and keep it safe! It is your path, Adia! It is your destiny! Now go!" Adia could see the rain fall with blood over those pale blank faces that once smiled and laughed with her.

Seven...Eight...Nine stories, Adia fell.

The smiles faded, laughter was no longer heard. The warm heart grew cold, and the sparkle in her eyes disappeared only leaving dark mysterious orbs filled with pain and sadness.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Sorry about that, I needed an escape. It just so happens you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, sweetheart."

"Don't call me sweetheart."

"Hey there, I only put a knife to your throat. No harm, no foul sweetie. You're lucky I didn't shoot off both your kneecaps."

"Who in Hades do you think you are?!"

"I'm a hero of a different kind, you see. Names Damian. And do you have a name, or can I just call you Sweetheart?"

"Adia, call me Adia. Call me any other name, and I'll shoot off your kneecaps."

"Where is it that you come, Adia? I've never really heard the word 'Hades' before."

"Greece. This place seems different than my home. I have seen wonders here that our village could only dream about."

"Well, if you were looking for a place that completely contrasts to Greece, you've found it. Welcome to Rhydian, Adia. I hope you like the rain."

Ten...Eleven...Twelve stories, Adia fell.

"You had another nightmare, didn't you?"

"Yes. Damian, something is happening. Something is coming, I can feel it."

"Why don't you just face it and move on?! They died, Adia. Your family is dead."

"Died? That wasn't death. That was murder. That was a massacre. Your so-called 'death' is considered innocent compared to what happened that night. Death can't even describe what happened to those people. To my family."

"A death is a death. One is the same as any other. No matter the way, the end is all the same. Peace in Death."

"I dare you to say that upon my grave with that same cold heart of yours."

"Only if you say it at mine."

Thirteen...Fourteen...Fifteen stories, Adia fell.

"Hey Gramps, you think you can stop following us for a while?"

"You'd be wise not to speak to me like that, boy."

"Yeah? Why not?"

"My name is Cecil Dark and I have come to warn you two. This is of utmost importance that you listen. This event could very well change your lives completely. Something is coming and he goes by the name of Valentine."

Darkness engulfed Adia's vision as the flames seemed to suddenly escape her eyesight. Coldness took over as she realized that her body was no longer falling. Her mind couldn't calculate how long she'd been lying there or if anything had been broken. She had become so numb that she never felt the concrete collide with her flesh. She tried to move any limbs but her weakened and dazed mind kept her still. Adia saw the falling shatters of glass that rained upon her lifeless body. The shards looked like snow. Adia had never seen snow in her life but she wondered if snow was sharp for it seemed to slash at her cheeks as it fell. She felt her hair become moist and thick with blood as the shatters of glass gathered around her. The noises around her became silent, but that never stopped the voices within her own mind. They came as they have come before, no amount of power could stop them from coming. The whispers came and went, some more familiar than others, some more evil than others.

"You have fallen, Adia." One voice spoke

"Was this your plan all along?" Another voice asked.

Adia opened her mouth to speak, but only blood flowed out.

"Why did you fall, Adia?"

Adia's eyes narrowed slightly. "That....bitch slut....kicked....me...."

"Are you sure?" One voice asked.

"That's not what we saw." Another voice followed.

Adia took in short gasps for air as she tried to remember the events.

"You could have moved out of the way, Adia."

"Adia, you could have stopped yourself."

Adia's eyes went wide slightly as her vision became blurred. She coughed up more blood as she spoke. "I-I could have...moved out of the way...but I didn't. I could have...stopped myself...but I didn't."

"Adia..."

"Why did you fall? Why do you fight?"

"I chose...to fight as I...chose...to fall."

"What made you fall, Adia? Why did you fall?"

Adia took her mind back. She tried to remember. She was sent back to recent events. Valentine. Tiko. The Portal. The Path Of The Wicked. Death. Starr. Cecil. Adia knew why. She saw it with her own eyes. Cecil was dead. Tiko was gone. Damian was never coming back. Evil, Death, and suffering are all that is left in this world. She no longer had her sword with her and the crystal she had relied on had failed to work when she needed it the most, All of that came in a single instant, the moment before the window had shattered.

"Adia....?"

"...For that one instant...I had given up...all hope...I had...accepted my defeat..."

"...And?"

"I just...gave up and...for that...I fell.."

"You just gave up?" One voice taunted.

"That doesn't sound like a hero to me." Another voice added.

"That doesn't sound like a SilverBlade."

A faint whisper entered Adia's mind. "...Aya, my dear, sweet Aya."

Adia's eyes widened and started to glisten with tears.

"It's falling apart. Everything. Collapsing. This world will be ruined unless you stop it from happening."

"Adia?"

"You failed them, Adia!" One voice yelled.

"This is your fight, Adia. The fates have put it in your hands. You are not following Damian into his wars any more. You are about to face your own."

"Adia..?...Mother?.."

"Someone out there seems to think this is the perfect fit for you. Someone seems to think you are the hero in this tale."

"You failed ALL of them!"

"I fell...and I have...failed them all." Adia whispered.

"You can do this without me."

"I'm sorry..."

"The boogey man is here Adia. I've found you. No amount of swordplay is going to keep me from taking you home. Where you belong."

Adia started to gather strength. No, anger. She had given up hope. She had failed those who she cared for the most. The world was going to end and she would die with it because it was her fault. She no longer wished to be apart of this world or any other world that came before or after. She took in deep heavy breaths as her frustration and tears helped her sit up. With no help of the disembodied whispers, Adia stumbled to her feet. She let the glass shards fall off her bleeding, weak body as she stumbled into the darkness, never looking at the huge puddle of blood she left behind.
*****
Damian knelt next to the shattered glass. A huge puddle of blood ran its way around the shards. He looked up at the window.
Tiko darted out of the building carrying Cecil in his arms.
"Someone stabbed him!" He shouted at Damian.
Damian ran over to them. He looked down at Cecil. The old mans eyes opened slightly and he smiled.
"Welcome back." He mumbled.
Damian looked at Tiko.
"Adia?"
"She wasn't inside."
Damian glanced back at the glass.
Above them the upper floors of the building collapsed on themselves.
*****
Adia stumbled to the edge of the forest. She was bleeding profusely. She fell to her knees at the tree line.
Her vision slightly blurred.
"Christ." She mumbled and spit out a wad of thick blood.
"Hey you okay?" A voice called.
Adia looked over her shoulder and saw a young man walking towards her. He wore jeans and a brown leather jacket. His short brown hair barely moving in the breeze.
"I'm fine." Adia said.
"You're hurt. Let me help you."
"Go away. I don't talk to strangers."
The man knelt next to her and helped her stand up.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Adia." She whispered.
"I'm Jake." He put her arm over his shoulder, "Now we aren't strangers anymore."
"Heh."
"Let's get you inside."
*****
"Is he dead?"
Starr stood at the entrance and leaned against the door jam.
"He's well done."
"Good."
Starr tugged on the string of her corset.
"Why don't you come over here and celebrate?"
Death turned. The black mist swirling around him. He stepped forward. His shape changing, becoming more human. Red eyes, white skin, black hair.
The mist faded and Valentine pulled Starr into his arms.
"Celebrate we shall." He said with a laugh.

Chapter Seven
A World in Chaos
"You want to tell me what happened?" Jake asked, handing Adia a wet cloth.
"You wouldn't believe me if I did." Adia wiped the blood from her arms and face.
"Try me." Jake said as he sat across from her.
"I was roundhouse kicked out of a 15th story window."
"And you lived to tell about it? Not to mention walking and talking like nothing happened."
"Yep." Adia tossed the rag on the coffee table, "This sort of think isn't supposed to be seen by..."
"Sane people?" Jake walked towards his kitchen.
"That wasn't what I was going to say." Adia pushed her brown hair back behind her ears and rubbed her hands over her face, "It's hard to explain. Things are happening here that well. They don't make a lot of sense."
"You mean like the crumbling of barriers between worlds that potentially threatens this worlds very existence?"
Adia looked up at Jake.
"Not all of us are as sane as we look." He handed Adia a glass of water and sat down again, "Let's talk about Armageddon."
*****
"It's getting worse, Damian. I can't speak for everywhere else but here, now, it's getting worse."
Damian and Tiko were standing inside a run down hospital room. They were inside an abandoned hospital where Damian was stitching up Cecil's stab wound. Cecil was asleep on the table as Damian tied off the last stitch.
"I don't understand how they can't see it. How this isn't all over their news."
"They're oblivious to it. It is something so incredulous to them. Demons do not exist, Tiko. Not in this world. Not to them. They cannot accept what they do not believe it. This is the only reality to them. Right now, I'm glad for that. If they saw the signs and realized what it was. It'd be chaos."
"Why fight for them?"
"It wasn't my choice. Adia and I, were chosen to protect them. I don't remember the history of this place. It is nothing like where I was before. Where Adia was before. Where I met her the first time. But, this is where we are now. We go with it and do what we can."
"I don't understand it."
"Neither do I. I just do what I do." Damian sat down in a rusted chair, "Something that I have discovered, Tiko, is that there are a hundred million different dimensions out there. But there is only one of you and one of me. Someone chose me to fight and I do that. I don't know who it was or why it was, I'm sure I'll never know, but I do it. Sometimes I even enjoy it. I like being the hero. The funny thing is, I can't even remember my life before I met Adia. Nothing in detail. It's hard to remember fighting this battle of good and evil, sorta good and sorta evil, without her by my side."
"We'll find her Damian. I'm sure she's fine."
Damian nodded. He turned back to Cecil.
"We almost lost this old guy. That would have been a major blow. This man has more knowledge than either of us will ever dream of holding."
Tiko walked over to the window. He wiped away the grime and peered outside.
"Damian," He whispered, "look."
Damian crossed the room, looked out the window and saw it.
Across the road, perched atop a broken, burnt out car, was a demon. Huge wings spread out as if it was stretching.
"It's happening." Tiko muttered.
"It's getting there."
"We'll stop it." Tiko said.
Damian said nothing.
*****
"You think that is what is going on here? Armageddon?"
"I think that is what is going to happen if you don't stop it."
Adia glanced around. The apartment was small. Simple. Just a few pieces of furniture and some photographs hanging on the wall. Her eyes rested on Jake.
"Who are you?" She asked him.
"I'm just a guy."
"No. You aren't just a guy. Not when you can see what is happening around here and no one else alive can."
"They have TV and computers. What good is reality?" Jake leaned back on his couch. His arm stretched along its back, "They have no defense for what is coming Adia. Except those chosen few who are here to save the day as usual."
"Me." Adia said.
Jake shrugged.
"They fight their meaningless wars, Adia. They can hardly handle that. Let us handle the war that matters."
"But how? How can I stop it?"
"By stopping the person orchestrating it."
"Death..."
Jake nodded.
"What's your part in all of this Jake?"
"I'm just here to point you in the right direction. There are those around who don't want this world to end."
"Who?"
"It's not important."
Adia sighed and shook her head.
"Too many secrets Jake. I don't like being kept in the dark. I don't like being approached by strangers under the guise of good will only to discover they may have something more sinister pulling their strings."
Jake laughed.
"I'm one of the good guys Adia. I'm not going to get all misty on you. I'm on your side. I'm here to help you and Tiko and Damian finish this."
"Damian?"
"Yes. You too have been described as inseparable. Where is he anyway?"
Adia felt her hope fade.
"No Damian for this round Jake. Sorry to disappoint you. We lost him. I don't know where he is."
"No matter. He seemed a bit cocky anyway."
Adia smirked slightly.
"It would be nice to have him at my side." She said, "I'm not used to saving the world on my own."
*****
The night air was cool against Tiko's skin as he stepped out of the hospital entrance. He was walking towards the demon crouched on the car when the ground lurched.
Tiko stumbled forward. Ahead of him the ground split open.
"This is bad." He said to himself, "Real bad."
Something was crawling out of the split.
Tiko saw the dark shape pull itself from the split in the earth and stand up. Something whizzed past Tiko's shoulder and the creatures hands flew to its head.
"Always act first Tiko," Damian said, "Remember, things crawling out of pits are never good news."
Tiko saw the things hands fall away. A dagger was jutting from its forehead. It fell backwards into the pit.
The demon on the car leaped into the air. It's wings beat heavily against the wind.
Damian was holding Cecil up next to him, "Take care of this, Tiko."
The demon swooped down at Tiko and knocked him flying.
Damian began to lower Cecil to the ground.
"No." Tiko hissed and leapt to his feet. His eyes and arms were glowing a bright green. He raised his hands towards the demon and unleashed a blast. The green energy collided with the demon. It burned away instantly.
"Better?" Tiko asked Damian.
"You're gettin there, Kid." Damian helped Cecil up.
"Where are we headed?" Tiko asked.
"Cecil says he has a stockpile of books that may have some answers about the crossing. They're hidden away in a cave in the hills."
*****
Valentine left Starr sleeping in the dark room. He padded out of the bedroom, a dark red silk robe billowing behind him.
He walked across the well furnished living room and stood in front of a large stone fireplace. A long black oak box rested on the mantle.
Valentine gently opened the box. He removed it's contents.
Damian's gold katana gleamed in the moonlight. Valentine held it in front of him. Its tip pointed at the ceiling.
"Vengeance." He whispered, "Death by your own blade, Damian. How poetic." Valentine chuckled and returned the blade to the box.
*****
Adia stood at the base of the burnt out building. Jake stood nearby watching her.
"Starr did this. She stabbed Cecil and we fought. The whole place went up."
"We're wasting time here, Adia. We must go."
"I have to go inside. I have to see if he is in there."
"He's dead Adia. You said yourself Starr stabbed him. Besides, this place is burnt to a crisp. If he miraculously sur-"
Jake was silenced when Adia darted into the front door.
Jake sighed and followed her in.
The stairs were blackened and creaked loudly as Adia climbed. She heard snapping in the wood as she took each step.
"I'm not going up there. I don't have that pesky immortality to keep me from dying when that collapses."
Adia ignored him.
At the top she walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Cecil's door. She stepped into the room. Not a square appeared uncharred. She let her eyes fall on the last place she saw Cecil. His chair was barely recognizable but she could tell it was empty.
Cecil wasn't here.
Adia knelt down and scooped her sword from the ash. It was undamaged. She slid the sword into it's sheath.
Adia ran out of the room. She stepped onto the stairway and felt it shift beneath her.
The entire top flight of stairs broke free with a loud roar. Adia ran down the stairs as they fell and leaped across the gap and landed heavily on the next flight. She got up quickly and ran down the remaining stairs.
"What happened?" Jake asked when Adia ran outside.
"He's alive. Someone got him out of there."
"Where are you going?"
"To find Cecil!"
Adia ran down the street.
*****
On a large black oak desk, a phone rang.
Valentine reached forward and snatched the receiver from it's cradle. He placed it against his ear.
"Yes?"
He listened.
"I see."
Valentines face contorted to a look of fury.
"Take care of it." He hissed and slammed down the phone.
Valentine stood up and walked across the room. He stepped into the bedroom and watched Starr sleeping.
Like a flash he was across the room. He gripped her tightly by the throat and lifted her into the air.
Starr coughed loudly and grabbed his wrist.
"Listen to me woman." He slammed her naked body against the wall, "You said he was dead. He lives. The old man is not dead."
"I...I stabbed him...the building was on fire...he should have..."
Valentine dropped her.
Starr gasped for breath.
"You know the penalty for failing me Starr. My mistress. My apprentice."
"I swear to you my lord, I thought he was dead!"
"Well. Thinking and knowing would have made all the difference wouldn't it?" Valentine pulled open a drawer on the nightstand. He reach inside and removed something.
"Please, my lord..."
Valentine swung his arm and slashed Starr across the face. A huge wound opened on her cheek and blood began to pour freely from it.
"Let the scar from this wound remind you forever more NEVER TO FAIL ME!"
Starr held her hand over the cut, blood seeped down her neck.
"If you fail me again Starr, I won't be so generous."
Valentine dropped the dagger to the ground.
"Clean this mess up." He said and left the room.
*****
"Are you coming?!" Adia called to Jake.
"Yes." Jake gently closed his cell phone, "Let's go find Cecil."
He slid the phone into his pocket and followed Adia.

Chapter Eight
A Reunion Before War
"Here." Cecil said. He gestured at a small hole in the hill side. Damian helped him towards the hole. Cecil raised his hand in the air and muttered something. It was as if the hill side shifted, exposing a large entry way, "Inside, quickly." Cecil whispered.
Tiko ran inside. Damian helped Cecil cross the stony entry way. The hill shifted again, sealing the entrance behind them.
"What is this place?" Tiko asked. He glanced around at the tall piles of thick books and the ancient weapons hanging on the cave walls.
"This is where I keep my more...exotic materials. The good stuff, as it were."
Damian led Cecil to a dusty old chair. Cecil sat down slowly. He gave a huge sigh.
"Thank you Damian. It seems I owe you my life yet again."
"I'll put it on your tab."
"Damian, we should be out looking for Adia."
"Yes, yes, bring her here." Cecil said.
"I'll go. Tiko, you stay here with Cecil."
Damian walked towards the entry way. The entrance opened as he approached.
"Damian." Cecil called.
Damian turned.
"Time is of the essence."
Damian nodded and walked out. The entryway slid closed.
*****
"Where are we going?"
"Quiet." Adia said. She was standing in the center of a deserted street. The wind was blowing slow and eerie. The sky had gone black. No stars, no moon, "Something’s wrong."
A bright flash temporarily filled the area with light. Adia and Jake covered the eyes against the sudden onslaught of light. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"What was that?" Jake said, looking around.
"I don't know." Adia took a step forward. The street was different. It wasn't the same cracked pavement she had been walking on before. It was cobblestone. There was something else. Something that wasn't there before.
A creaking. Like a sign moving in the wind.
Adia turned. Her boot steps echoed on the cobblestone as she walked towards the sidewalk.
She looked up at the source of the creaking. It was a small wooden sigh hanging from a simple steel pole. It wasn't so much the sign that caught her attention, it was what was painted on it.
A blue rose.
"My god." She whispered, "It's happening."
Adia spun around and ran.
*****
Tiko dropped the book he had been reading.
"What is it boy?"
"I-I don't know. I just felt...odd." Tiko turned to face Cecil, "Something happened out there. Something...changed."
"We're running out of time, I fear." Cecil began rapidly flipping through the pages of the book he was holding, "Damian better hurry."
"Someone's here." Tiko said. His hands immediately began pulsing with green energy.
Cecil turned towards the entrance as it began to open.
Adia stepped inside. Jake inches behind her.
"Cecil!" She shouted and rushed to him.
"Adia my dear!" They embraced, "I thought you were dead."
"No. I'm fine. Thanks to Tiko. He brought be out of the fire. Damian stitched me up well."
"What?" Adia looked at him, "Damian?"
"Yes. I didn't have time to tell you. Tiko brought him back. He's fine."
"Where is he?"
"Looking for you." Tiko said.
Adia darted towards the entrance.
"Adia wait!" Jake moved to follow her.
"Stay with them Jake!" and she was gone. The entrance closing behind her.
Jake turned back to Cecil and Tiko.
"Hi there." He said and smiled.
*****
Damian pulled open the cabinet in his bedroom and removed a silver sword. He hadn't used it in years and hoped it was still sharp enough to cut if need be. He slid the sword into a sheath and tied it to his back. He left the room and walked to the front door.
He reached for the handle but stopped suddenly.
There was something in the room with him. He spun around. Nothing. The sparse living room was empty. Damian turned back to the door and found himself face to face with Death.
The black mist swirled around his hooded face. Damian saw nothing but the silvery eyes.
Damian stepped back.
"What the hell are you supposed to be?" He asked.
Death did not answer. A large scythe emerged from beneath his flowing robes. Death swung the scythe over his head. It slammed into the floor inches in front of Damian.
"Not a talker then." Damian said.
The door to the apartment burst open. Death vanished.
Adia stood at the door. Her breath caught in her chest seeing Damian for the first time.
"Adia..." He said.
She couldn't speak. Her breath was shallow.
Damian stepped towards her.
"I tried to make it through." He said, "If I had just one more second."
"Save it." She said, finding her voice, "We don't have time for..." She stopped and lowered her head.
Damian stepped forward and grabbed her. He pulled her to him and kissed her.
After a moment he let her go. Adia stepped back. Her hand brushed across her lips.
She looked at him.
"I hope you know this doesn't change anything. When this is over, I'm still going to kill you."
Damian grinned, "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Isn't that just the sweetest little thing." Starr said from the hall way, a huge scabbed over cut on her right cheek.
Adia pushed Damian back and pulled her sword from it's sheath.
"You want a rematch, bitch?" Starr asked, "All you gotta do is ask."
Starr started forward. Death appeared before her.
"Not now." He said. His voice hissing, snake like. Starr stepped away. Her eyes locked on Adia's.
Death floated towards Adia. His hand reached forward and brushed her cheek.
"The voices have stopped haven't they?" He said, "Looks like they grew tired of you."
Adia swung her sword. It sliced through the hood and Death burst into a cloud of black mist.
The disembodied laugh filled the apartment.
Starr grinned and walked away.
"Show yourself!" Adia screamed.
"Not yet." Death said. A streak of black mist appeared and he was gone.
"You want to tell me who that was?" Damian asked her.
"He's the one who is forcing the barriers to collapse."
"The grim reaper? Come on. How?"
Adia shrugged.
"We need to get back to Cecil."
*****
Adia and Damian walked to the cave. Damian explained to her what happened while he was trapped in Other-World and she explained what he had missed. She told him about the cobblestone street and the sign with the blue rose.
"What does it mean?" he asked.
"I don't know."
The cave was just ahead. The entry way was open.
"Something’s wrong." Adia said.
They ran towards the cave Swords drawn as they entered.
"Tiko?" Damian yelled.
The books were strewn everywhere.
"Here!" Adia said. She pushed the books aside. Tiko was unconscious.
Damian sheathed his sword and pulled Tiko to his feet.
"Tiko!" He yelled.
Tiko's eyes opened slightly.
"What happened?" Adia asked.
"They took him." Tiko mumbled, Death and that woman. He let them in and they took Cecil."
"Who did?"
"Your friend. He let them in and they took Cecil. Jake let them in. He's gone."
Tiko fell unconscious again.
Damian laid Tiko down on the books.
"What now?" He said.
"We find him." Adia said, "And we kill them all."

Chapter Nine
The End of Everything
-I-
As The River Runs

"...kill them all." Adia said and stepped out of the cave.
Damian lowered his head. For the first time, he could feel a knot of dread forming in his stomach. He couldn't help thinking this wouldn't turn out the way they hope it will. Something bad was over the horizon and he didn't have a clue what it might be. He let his eyes follow Adia. She was standing in the moonlight. Her head upturned as if she was absorbing the weak star light.
Damian wanted to go to her and he would have had Tiko not stumbled into him. His eyes wide and horror stricken.
"Something is coming." He said. His face was running rivers of sweat. His green eyes blazing.
Damian gripped Tiko's shoulders. Tiko was staring at him, but not seeing him. His eyes were slightly off center.
"It's here." He muttered and fainted.
It was then the ground lurched. Not a small shudder, but a jarring, bone clacking jerk. Damian felt himself lifted off his feet from the force of the quake. He slammed into the cave wall hard and slid to the ground. Dust rained down from the cave ceiling. For a blurry moment, Damian was sure the cave would collapse upon them. His went so far as to move his arms over his face, but the cave held and the dust settled. Damian sat up slowly. A small trickle of blood ran down the side of his head. He wiped it away.
"Tiko?" He called.
Tiko moaned and rolled onto his back.
"Yeah." He said, "What happened?"
"I don't know." Damian climbed to his feet and brushed the dust off his pants. He turned to the cave entrance and walked outside.
"Damian?" Adia called.
Damian waved at her and opened his mouth to speak, but again felt himself stopped. Several feet in front of him, a huge river now flowed.
Adia stood on the other side, a look of amazement on her face.
"We're running out of time." She said, half to herself. Damian could only nod. Again, that feeling of dread was taking root.
*****

The air was different here. Thicker, more heavy then he was used to. But he paid it no mind. Now, all he could concentrate on was his sorrow. His immense welling of grief that pushed tears from his eyes. Rivers of them. He felt as if he would never stop. So he let them come. He knelt in the moist grass at the edge of a river in this new world and sobbed.
A head rested gently on his shoulder. Keno looked up into the gentle, wise eyes of The Elder.
"We shall avenge them. All of them." The Elder's words were spoken barely above a whisper, but Keno could hear the conviction behind them.
Keno covered The Elder's hand with his own. They were gone. All of them. Folken town left in ruins. Keno and The Elder the only survivors, pulled into this alien world.
"My grandchildren...my poor sweet..." he could say no more. He fell into sobs again. The Elder squeezed Keno's shoulder. His eyes resting on something across the river. Shapes walking towards them.
"Fate is on our side it seems." The Elder said and watched as Damian, Adia, and Tiko moved closer.
*****
"Why are you still here? You brought us what we required. You are of no more use to us." Starr shoved Jake backwards.
"I am owed a debt. I risked my life to do what I did. If she would have even suspected I would betray her, she'd have taken my head off."
"You're leaving here alive. That is payment enough." Death hissed from the darkened room. He emerged from the room and floated before Jake. His eyes piercing red beneath the hood, "Take your leave of me Jake before my anger gets the best of me."
Jake looked past Death at the dark room beyond. Where Cecil's unconscious body surely lay.
"What if they find you? You can't fight them alone."
Death laughed. A gravely, ash filled laugh that echoed around them.
"You think you can stand at my side against them?"
"Yes."
Starr giggled. Jake shot her a furious glance.
"Then go and bring me one of their heads." Death held out his hand. A black blade extended towards Jake, "Bring me a head and I will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams."
"How am I to believe you?"
Death said nothing. His silence expected to be answer enough.
With a glance at Starr, Jake turned and left.
Starr turned to Death, watching as the mist faded, the cloak vanished, and Valentine stood in it's place.
"Will he succeed?"
"Doubtful, but he may delay them just long enough."
"And the old man?"
"First we find out what he knows and then we kill him. Skin him alive and let his flesh be the first thing they see when they get here."

-II-
Reunion

Damian looked at Keno.
"What happened?"
Keno only shook his head.
Damian looked to The Elder.
"They came late in the night. A demon army. We had no protection. Never saw them coming."
"But the barriers?"
"They breached them somehow. We'll never know for sure. No one was left beside Keno and myself."
"I'm sorry, Keno..." Damian said.
"The fates brought us to you." The Elder looks at Adia, "My dear." He nodded his head to her.
Adia nodded back.
"There is hope for us yet, Keno. We are in the presence of great warriors. It is our destiny. We will avenge the death of our brothers and sisters by helping the Hero vanquish his foe."
Keno looked at Damian. A cold fire burning in his eyes.
"If it be your will, Hero. I will fight at your side." He said. His voice was humbled by grief. Gone was the cheery old man Damian remembered.
Damian nodded.
"Then together we will go. We will fight your enemies and safe this world from it's fate." The Elder walked to Tiko, "You have The Sight."
"I...I don't know what you mean."
The Elder placed his hands on Tiko's shoulders, "You can see things others cannot. See what is coming."
"I can't control it. It just comes to me."
"In time you will learn. You will be the key to our success I would wager."
"We have to go." Adia said, "We don't have time to sit around and chit chat."
The group stepped onto the cracked and broken street and walked. Jake watched them, the sword in his hand felt like a rod of fire. He yearned to put it to use. He would, soon. When they slept. He would take Adia's head back to Death. Then he'll be richer than he could imagine.
*****
They walked. Where they were going, they weren't quite sure, nevertheless, the continued on. The city seemed devoid of life. Most of the people who lived here have fled. Sensing the danger even before it began. As they walked, more changes became apparent. Several of the large buildings had vanished, leaving lush forest in their place. It seemed familiar to Adia. She just couldn't place it.
She walked in the rear of the group, watching as they walked ahead of her. The Elder fell into step beside her, his arms folded into the sleeves of his tattered green robe.
"You are very angry." He said.
Adia was silent.
"When we get to the end, use that anger don't let it consume you. You will surely die."
"I can't die."
"Do you know that for sure? Now that the world is changing before your eyes? Can you be sure your immortality is intact?"
Adia glanced at him.
"I'm beginning to believe that what we knew of The Crossing, may not be entirely correct."
"What do you mean?"
"The prophecy in my world, spoke of armies spilling out of their own worlds and into another. The end of that world essentially. Leaving it in ruin. It did not mention the changes we are seeing here. The cobblestones, the river you mentioned, the buildings disappearing."
"What is it then? What is happening here?"
"I do not know. I imagine we will find out in time."
Adia looked ahead. She watched Damian as he walked. Tiko just ahead of him. Keno following behind.
"He had a chance to return to this world and he did not take it."
"What?"
"When he was brought to our town, The Path of the Wicked opened behind him. He stood at it's mouth yet he did not jump."
Adia's face darkened.
"He did it for you," The Elder whispered, "and the boy."
"He stayed in that other dimension, risking that he could never return, and you tell me that was for me? For Tiko?"
The Elder nodded.
"I think you may have hit your head on the way here."
"He saw it as an act of retribution. An atonement for his betrayal. He knew going to that city was certain death yet he went to atone to you. In the end, what he fought to save was destroyed. His risk, his fight in vein. The demons came and slaughtered my brethren. But irregardless, he saved us. That first time. Destiny sent him to us and he granted us that extra time. That extra time to be with our families. A hero true and true. All he wanted was Redemption. Fighting impossible battles cannot give him that. Only you can."
Adia wiped a stray tear from her eye.
"He cares for you. Very much. If there is anything that drives him to fight as hard as he does, it is not the need to be a hero. It is not honor, or fate. It is love. His love, Adia, for you."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I am just reaffirming what you already know."
Adia opened her mouth to argue, but as he spoke she knew his words were true. She knew it completely. She reached back and drew her hood over her head.
The Elder nodded and walked ahead.

-III-
Vengeance
Tiko rested his head on the crook of his arm and let his eyes slide closed. He desired not to look on this ruined city any longer that night. He would tell them what he felt in the morning. That he knew where Death was. He felt it in his gut. The Sight as The Elder had called it, was getting stronger. It took a mere moments for Tiko to slip into that soft realm of sleep.
*****
Adia sat at the fires edge. Her memory flooding with images. Sitting here, camped out reminded her of days past. Of the way everything used to be. Before the gift, before the changes. She missed those times.
Adia tensed when she felt the cool blade slide against her neck.
"I wanted to wait until you fell asleep," Jake whispered, "but I think I'd rather see your eyes when your head pops off your shoulders. Get up. Slowly."
Jake kept the sword against Adia's neck as she stood.
"Good. Now walk quietly. With me. If you wake the others I'll just cut and run. Got it?"
Adia nodded slightly. Wincing slightly as the blade bit into her neck.
Jake led her off the road and into a dark alleyway.
"I have to say, I didn't think this would be that easy." Jake said as he shoved Adia to her knees.
Jake didn't waste any time on pleasantries. He reared back and swung the sword as hard as he could. The sword struck Adia just above the shoulders and passed easily through her neck. The severed head dropped off Adia's body and bounced once on the cracked cement. Her body twitched, a single spurt of blood erupted from the neck, and it fell over. Jake bent down a picked up her head by the hair.
*****
Tiko jerked awake. He sat up quickly, the vision of Adia's head falling to the ground fresh in his mind. He looked around. Adia was gone.
"Adia?" He called.
Damian stirred but did not awake.
Tiko jumped to his feet. He ran past the fire, still burning brightly.
"ADIA!" He screamed.
That woke up Damian. He was on his feet in a second.
Tiko ran across the street towards the alleyway from his vision. He stopped dead when he saw the blood.
*****
"I have to say, I didn't think this would be that easy." Jake said as he shoved Adia to her knees.
Jake didn't waste any time on pleasantries. He raised the sword over his head.
"ADIA!" The scream echoed in the air. Jake hesitated just a moment.
That was all Adia needed. Her hands moved faster then Jake could see and before he knew it two daggers were protruding from his hips. Adia spun around and clamped her hand on his mouth before he could scream.
"Shhh..." She said. Her face an inch from his. Her knuckles white from squeezing Jake's mouth shut, "Listen to me you son of a bitch and listen closely." She shoved him back, crouched, scooped up his sword and spun around. She stopped with the sword outstretched at her side. A single drop of blood fell from it's tip. Jake fell to his knees. Blood seeped from a slice in his neck. He fell forward, his head rolling away and a river of blood covered the ally.
The head rolled to Damian's feet.
"So..." Damian tapped Jake's head with his boot, "This is Jake?"
Adia dropped the sword and wiped a drop of blood from her cheek.
"Sorry I didn't introduce you." She said and walked past him.
"I saw it happen." Tiko said.
Adia smiled slightly, "You screamed my name. That saved my life." Adia walked towards the fire. She saw The Elder sitting his head resting against his chin. She walked towards him just as the ground opened beneath him.
"No!" Adia screamed. The world gave another lurch and a huge ravine split open inches from where she stood. She watched as The Elder vanished in that darkness.
Damian grabbed her and yanked her back away from the edge. She collided with him and he wrapped his arms around her. They stood like that at the edge for a moment before Adia stepped away.
"The Elder he..."
"I saw. Keno tried to get to him. He didn't have time."
Tiko walked to the edge of the ravine. He looked down into the deep darkness.
"I know where Death is." He said, "We have to go now. Before it all ends."

-IV-
Something Wicked This Way Comes

"It's The Sight. It is showing me things, telling me things. It showed me where Death is. It's just a few miles from here. We don't have much time left. The Crossing, it's..." Tiko was interrupted by another shift. The ground seemed to almost jump up beneath them. More buildings vanished. More trees appeared and the concrete street they were walking along vanished. In it's place, just a simple dirt track.
"Let's go." Damian said.
*****
Cecil sat bloodied and battered in the wooden chair. Starr stood before him. Her arms crossed over her chest. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail.
"Old man. You sure can take a beatin." Starr raised her hands over her head and stretched her back, "Why don't you just tell me what I want to know?"
"I...don't...know."
Starr leaped up and kicked Cecil across the face. A spurt of blood flew from his mouth.
Valentine stepped into the room. He glanced at Cecil and arched his eyebrow.
"A work of art." He said.
"He keeps saying he doesn't know anything and I keep beating him."
Valentine nodded and leaned forward. He gripped Cecil's chin tightly.
"Cecil, old friend, why don't you just tell us about The Crossing so that we can stop hurting you?"
Cecil said nothing. Valentine sighed heavily.
"Kill him. Kill him now!"
"Perhaps that won't be the wisest course of action." A voice spoke.
Valentine turned.
"This foolish old cod knows nothing about The Crossing. But he is valuable nonetheless."
The Elder appeared out of thin air.
"The Crossing is my doing. I will tell you everything."

-V-
The Crossing
Damian stood on the cliff edge staring down over a ruined city. Gone were the sky scrapers. The people. The cars. All that remained were shells. Half faded things stuck between this world and the next.
Even the Earth itself had shifted. The spot where Damian stood hadn't existed a moment ago. With a giant shudder the world split and the cliff was formed. With awe, Damian and the others watched as half a city block fell into a dark abyss.
He stood, leaning on the hilt of his sword and watched as a small group of people darted down a shattered concrete roadway. He watched as a large creature leaped out from behind one of the few remaining crumbling buildings and snatched one up, devouring the young man in seconds.
Damian tensed. He looked down at the abyss, judging whether or not he could make it.
"You can't save them, Father." Tiko whispered, "They're not meant for this world any longer."
Damian lowered his head.
It had been three days since The Elder fell into the dark abyss. Tiko had grown steadily more and more withdrawn. Frustrated because he couldn't locate the building from his vision and had been leading them in circles. He was positive it was close and Damian trusted that judgment.
Keno had mourned the loss of The Elder and dedicated himself fully to fighting at Damian's side. His fierce loyalty was evident in his eyes.
Adia hadn't spoken since The Elder fell. Her face held a stone resolve that Damian had seen many times before. She was ready for a battle. All enemies would fall at her sword and she would not rest until she had her fill.
Damian looked up at the rapidly darkening sky.
"Let's camp for the night." He said, "We'll rest. Start over tomorrow."
Tiko stalked off. Adia watched him go.
Keno diligently began to build a fire. He didn't wait to be asked.
Adia walked to the cliffside and stood next to Damian. She pulled back her hood and spoke for the first time in three days.
"Is he dead?"
Damian glanced at her. He knew who she was talking about.
"No. I think we'd know. We'd feel it."
Adia nodded and said no more. She stood next to Damian at the edge of the world and watched as the last remnants of the sun gave up their fight and faded into darkness.
*****
Valentine stood at his window staring down at the camp fire. The Elder stood at his side.
"Are you sure they can't see us?"
"Quite." The Elder hid his hands in the wide sleeves of his robe, "Your fortress is quite well guarded from sight."
"It's an apartment building. I've simply redecorated to suit my needs."
"Regardless. It is protected from sight and the effects of The Crossing."
"And what of the gaping hole beneath us?"
"You are doubting my abilities."
"I'm concerned. That is all. There are people who mean to kill me camping on my doorstep, meanwhile my door step is floating above a seemingly endless pit. Forgive me if I am concerned your parlor tricks may not be up to the challenge."
"I assure you, you are in no danger. My...parlor tricks...as you call them, are more than capable of sustaining this illusion. The magic will hold throughout the completion of The Crossing. When it is finished, you will rule and repay your debt to me for my help."
"As we agreed." Valentine grinned as his ghostly reflection in the window, "You will have her as you desire. Incidentally, Why her?"
"She came to me in a vision. I have scoured the worlds looking for her. What greater reason to crumble whole dimensions than love?"
"Is that it then? Love? For a woman you've hardly spoken to? Hardly seen except through blue fire?"
"Do not patronize me Valentine. That is what I want. That is all I desire."
Valentine arched an eyebrow.
"Your desire, Elder, shall be granted. When all is said and done. Adia will be yours."
*****
Tiko stood by the fire. He green eyes ablaze, reflecting the warm flames.
"We'll find it." Keno said, "Fret not boyo. We'll find it."
"It's here. It should be right here. Even with the changes, enough is the same that I can tell it should be here."
"Nothin’ here now but a great big hole." Keno poked the burning wood with a stick, "Maybe this place we're lookin' for fell down that hole. Or just disappeared like the rest of em."
Tiko stood up and looked around him.
"It's here." He said. Anger spreading over his face. He bent down and picked up a stone. "It's HERE!" He screamed and threw the stone through the air.
The rock passed inches over Damian and Adia as they walked back towards the camp. They stopped in their tracks at the sound of shattering glass.
They turned. There, in the middle of the air. Floating in empty space was a broken window. Beyond lay a darkened room.
"Gods..." Keno whispered.
Tiko tilted his head, "I was right!" He yelled.
"There is dark magic here." Keno whispered.
Tiko ran towards the cliff edge. He leapt into the air and dived through the broken window. A jagged piece of glass sliced into his arm as he passed through.
"Wait! We mustn’t go!"
Damian followed Tiko through the window. He passed without harm.
Keno rushed over and grabbed Adia's arm.
"We cannot go in there. Dark magic hid this place from our view. To enter is to perish at the hands of the wizard who cast this spell."
Adia pulled away.
"We will surely die Keno," Adia said, "But not tonight. Not. Tonight." And she jumped. Her cloak billowing behind her as she rolled through the window.
Keno looked up at the sky. His eyes seemed on the verge of sheer terror.
"Gods help us. I beg of you."
And he followed.
*****
Starr stood at the end of the hall. She watched the rock roll to a stop against the wall. The old fools tricks had failed after all. She was absently running her finger over the scar along her cheek.
"Come on then." She whispered. She took a step back when she heard Tiko leap inside. She smirked and walked away.
*****
Valentine ran the soft white cloth along the edge of the scythe. He sighed heavily when his door swung open.
"What is it?" He hissed.
"Your pet wizard failed." Starr said happily, "They're inside."
Valentine's jaw clenched.
"We're so close, Starr. So very close." Valentine lowered the scythe. His eyes gleaming red, "It's time to finish this."
The black fog seeped from the scythe and swirled around Valentines ankles.
"The time for play is over." He said as the black fog engulfed him, "No more games. This ends. Now."
*****
"This place is like a damn maze." Damian muttered. He pushed open a door and emerged into a huge lobby. The walls all made from dark oak wood. The floor a deep dark red. Matching couches and tables filled the large room.
The room branched off into two other halls. One led towards a bank of elevators, the other faded off into darkness.
"We need to find Cecil." Adia said, "Death will be near him." She turned to Tiko. He simply shook his head.
Damian turned to speak when a flash of silver arched past his face. He felt the coolness of the air from the blade against his cheek as it passed.
The scythe split a couch in half.
Death floated above them. He spoke no words. His attack was relentless.
Damian hardly had the time to pull his sword from its sheath. With a clang and an explosion of sparks he blocked Death's assault.
"GO NOW!" Damian yelled, "Find Cecil!" Damien shoved back, forcing Death backwards.
The others ran towards the elevators. The doors opened as they approached and a stiletto heel solidly connected with Adia's forehead.
Adia fell back to the ground hard.
Starr stepped out twirling dual Sais in her hands.
"Miss me bitch?" She asked.
"Tiko. Run." Adia said and stood up as Tiko and Keno ran back down the hall.
Starr spun around and kicked at Adia.
Adia caught Starr's ankle in her hands and yanked her off her other foot. Starr slammed into the floor. Adia spun around the corner and yanked Starr's ankle against the edge. There was a loud snap and Starr yowled in pain.
Tiko darted past Damian and Death. They were fighting insanely. Sparks flew off the blades as they scraped against each other.
Tiko stopped. Keno nearly crashed into him.
"What is it?" He asked.
"The end." Tiko whispered. He held up his hand. Green light emanated from it. The light surrounded Death's scythe. Tiko closed his fist and the blade flew from Death's hand.
Almost immediately, the fog began to dissipate and the dark red suit began to appear.
The scythe flew across the room and imbedded into the wall above Tiko's head.
Damian lowered his sword.
Dark red pants, white shirt, black tie, red jacket. Black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Gleaming red eyes.
"Valentine." Damian said.
"Surprise." Valentine grinned.
*****
Starr leaned against the elevator doors. Her foot was barely resting on the ground. She uncoiled her whip and stared ominously at Adia.
Adia slowly pulled her sword from its sheath.
Starr snapped the whip. Adia caught the rope in her hand. The blue jewel around her neck glowed slightly. Blue fire burst forth igniting the whip.
Starr's eyes widened. She couldn't let go. The flames ate away at the whip rapidly closing in on Starr's hand.
"Stop this!" Starr screamed, "Let me go!" But the flames did not relent. Starr was engulfed. Her screams pierced the air and echoed off the dark wooden walls. Adia reared back and threw her sword. The blade embedded into Starr's chest. She gripped the sword for a moment. Bits of burning flesh fell from her hands. Adia released the whip and walked over to Starr's burning body. The flames began to recede. Seemingly absorbed by the blade.
"I end your suffering quickly on Earth." Adia said as she yanked her sword free, "So that it will be that much longer in hell." Starr's smoking and charred body fell to the ground.
*****
"It was just a little agreement. I live and allow Death to exist on this plain by occupying my body. Simple really. Worked quite well so far." Valentine held out his hand, "Not quite that easy to stop me though." Valentine reached behind him and pulled out Damian's gold katana.
This is when the world fell into slow motion...
Adia emerged from the hallway in time to see the blood streak from the slice in Damian's chest. Valentine continued in his movement, turning around, blood flying from the tip of his blade. He released the sword and let it fly just as Tiko unleashed a blast of power. The green energy slammed into Valentine sending him crashing through tables, his body burning away as he fell.
The katana hit its mark perfectly.
Adia ran into the room screaming for Damian. She saw him stumble. His hand gripped the slash in his chest. As she ran her eyes fell upon Tiko. His face was awash with triumph.
"Did I get him? Is he dead?" The color drained from his face as he fell to his knees. The katana jutted from his heart.
Keno caught Tiko in his arms as he fell. Blood leaked from the side of his mouth.
Adia skidded to a stop.
Damian stumbled towards Tiko. She knew then Damian would live and allowed herself to submit to the instincts she fought hard to reject for so long.
She ran to her son.
Adia pulled him from Keno's grasp and held him against her chest.
"Tiko? Please..."
"Mother? Look what I did. I got him. I knew it was him. I fried him, didn't I?"
"Yes. Yes you did." She stroked his face and wiped the blood away, "You'll be okay Tiko. We'll get you out of here and fix you up. You're a hero, Tiko. Just like your father."
Keno walked to Damian and moved to check his wound. Damian pushed him away and lowered himself next to Tiko.
"Father...are you proud?"
"More than you know kid."
Tiko reached up and placed his hand against Adia's face. He leaned forward and whispered something in her ear.
"Yes." Adia whispered, "I will."
Tiko's arm fell limp. His eyes glazed over and with one last grin of triumph he faded from this world.
Damian lowered his head. A single tear traced down his face.
Adia rested her forehead against Tiko's. Her body shook with a sob. She gently rested his head against floor and with her fingers she closed his eyes.
She stood up and yanked her sword from its sheath. She ran roaring towards where Valentine lay but Keno stopped her.
"Just bones, m'lady." He whispered, "Nothing left but bones." And he was right. All the remained of Valentine were smoldering bones. Green smoke still sizzled away from them. Adia kicked out and sent them sprawling.
Damian remained crouched by Tiko's body. He hardly noticed the blood flowing from the cut in his chest. It would heal. He stood up slowly and breathed deeply.
"We have to find Cecil." He said. His voice shaking slightly, betraying his resolve.
"Why, he is right here."
Cecil's limp, unconscious form fell to the floor.
The Elder floated in the air above him.
"So sorry about your son. He did die an honorable death."
"Elder?" Keno whispered.
"Yes, Keno." The Elder lowered himself to the floor, "All is well. The Crossing has reached its pinnacle. However its main purpose to me has been served."
"You started this?" Adia stepped forward, "Why would you..."
"I did it for you Adia Silverblade." The Elder smiled, "I did it all for you. I fear, perhaps, I may have misjudged your anger and lost you to him forever. In which case, all for naught."
Adia glanced at Damian, confusion showing on her face.
"Must I explain myself? Let me make it easy. You came to me once in a vision. I saw you fighting an army. I knew at once you were meant for me. I used all the power I had at my disposal to find you after you went back through the path. I had already started the ritual for The Crossing, if only to free myself from that wretched world, now, when I discovered you, Adia, it would serve a different purpose. A real purpose."
"You're mad..." Keno said softly, "My grandchildren...you let them die...the Folken...all of them. You killed them. You're a master of Dark Wizardry! Evil Charlatan!"
The Elder laughed.
"I should have left you to be devoured by the demons." The Elder spat.
Damian remained silent. He looked at Cecil lying in a heap on the floor. Saw his fingers moving slightly.
Damian moved forward.
"Stop, hero. No need to move around. We'll end this now. Conversation bores me." The Elder reached forward and a small stream of jet black energy snaked from his palm.
"I'll dispose of this...insect first." The energy coiled around Keno's neck. His breath instantly ceased.
A huge jolt shook the building. Adia and Damian stumbled and Cecil took his chance. He waived his arm and Death's Scythe flew into his hands. Cecil moved with unmatched speed. The Scythe flashed in the air and effortlessly sliced through The Elders midsection.
The black energy vanished and The Elder's torso split open. He was dead before he hit the ground.
The building dropped. A freefall that lasted about three seconds before the building slammed into the ground.
"The Crossing...," Cecil mumbled, "appears to be over."
*****
Damian stood at the grave site. His head lowered in thought. In his hands he held a faded wooden sign. Around him no sign of the world they were in before remains. The air is clean, the sun bright. At the foot of the hill begins a cobblestone walkway leads into a village and further into a town.
He knew this place. He knew it well.
"He gave me a message...before..." Adia said. She stood at the edge of the graveyard. For the first time without her sword, without her cloak. She had a leather top and black pants. Her brown hair fell around her face.
"He told me...that he forgives you and I should too."
Damian nodded.
"I don't plan on killing you anymore." She said and smirked.
Damian smiled slightly. He turned and walked out of the graveyard. He glanced down at the faded wooden sign one last time and tossed it to the ground.
"Welcome home." He whispered.
The sign clattered to the ground...in faded black lettering read: Rhydian.