The Darkest Hour

Chapter One
Bar Fight
He sat at the end of the bar. Alone, like always. A cigarette smoldering in the ashtray in front of him, along with a half empty glass of beer, and an empty shot glass.
The man wore a dark coat that hung down to his ankles. His coal black hair pulled behind his head in a loose ponytail. He knocked a fist on the bar.
The bartender wandered over and refilled the shot glass.
"This better be the good stuff." The man whispered.
"Top shelf." The bartender said and turned to leave. He stopped when the man slammed his hand against the bar.
"Leave the bottle." He said and moved his hand. Beneath it lay a hundred dollar bill. The bartender swiped up the cash and left the bottle.
"You gotta name son?" The bartender asked.
"I ain't your son. I'm older than your great, great grandfather."
The bartender looked oddly at the man. He was no more than thirty. Clearly he was a nut.
"Whatever you say buck." The bartender walked away.
"Get away from me, Tommy." A young woman across the room pushed away her big burly boyfriend.
The man at the bar turned his head slightly towards the commotion.
"Look bitch." The big man said, "You my girl. I'll do what I want, when I want, and goddamn how I want."
"Screw you, Tommy."
The big man backhanded her. The young woman fell to the ground.
"Hey, ape. You do that again you better be ready to get slapped back." The man at the bar stood and turned to face Tommy.
"Fuck you little man!" Tommy yelled. His friends chuckled. Tommy bent down and grabbed the girl by the hair, "You like her? You want her ass?"
The man stepped forward slowly.
Tommy pushed the girl in front of her.
"Please stop this Tommy. You're hurting me."
Tommy pulled back his arm and slugged her. She fell back and crashed into a table. She was unconscious before she hit the ground.
The man looked down at her bloodied face and back up at Tommy.
"Now. We gotta tussle." He said and walked towards Tommy.
"Bring it on little man."
The man ran his fingers along the green felt of the pool table as he approached.
Tommy reared back and hit the man hard in the stomach.
"Not so cool now are you?" He pushed the man back. His coat fell open revealing two large daggers hanging at his sides.
"Oh. Little man likes to play with knives."
"Call me Damian." The man said. He pulled the knives from the sheaths and spun them between his fingers. He tossed them into the air.
Tommy watched as the blades rose into the air. He turned as they arched over this head. They landed point first on the edge of the pool table. Sticking straight up, shaking slightly.
Tommy turned back to Damian and was met with a punch to the face. He stumbled back against the pool table. He had never been hit so hard in his life. It was like a train had hit him. His nose was shattered; blood was streaming down his face.
"You got somethin’ to say now?" Damian asked. Tommy tried to punch him back but Damian dropped below the swing. He moved up fast and delivered a devastating upper cut directly to Tommy's chin.
Tommy flew back onto the pool table. Damian leaped onto the table and yanked his knives from the edge. He stood over Tommy. His boots stepping on Tommy's wrists. Damian moved quickly, dropping into a crouch and plunging the daggers through Tommy's hands and into the pool table. Tommy arms were spread out like a crucifixion. Blood was seeping out of the wounds.
Tommy howled in agony.
Damian stepped off the pool table and walked back over to the bar. He gulped down the last of his beer and tossed back one last shot. He turned and walked towards the exit.
"Wait." The young woman stumbled over to him. She wiped blood from her mouth, "Who are you?"
Damian glanced at her over his shoulder.
"I'm the Hero." He said.
And he left.

Chapter Two
Things are About to Get Odd
"Let me get this straight." Damian stamped out his cigarette in the ashtray at the center of the table. He was sitting in a booth across from a young couple in a crowded restaurant. They were looking anxiously at him, "You want me to find your daughter who vanished yesterday. The police won't help you. You have no idea who took her or how she was taken or why. She just...disappeared."
The young mother nodded. Her eyes were filling with tears.
"Why me?" Damian asked.
The father cleared his throat. "I saw you, the other night. What you did for that young girl. What you did to that man. After I got home, I don't really know why I did it, I went online and did some research. I found some stories about you."
"There are stories about me on the internet?"
"More like urban legends."
"Like Batman?" Damian said, lighting another cigarette.
"Only real." The mother said.
"You aren't answering my question. Why me? What made you track me down? I'm just some guy you saw in a bar fight."
"I haven't told you everything." The father said, lowering his head, "Anna, would you wait in the car please?"
Anna, the mother, simply nodded and slid out of the booth.
"Please help us." She said to Damian, "Please." She turned and left the restaurant.
Damian watched her disappear through the doors and returned his gaze to the father.
"There are rumors about you. That you are a demon. That you are a warlock or some kind of Satanist. I even read that you were a vampire."
"Once upon a time." Damian mumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, Ed."
"Edward."
"Ed, get to the point. Cut the flattery and just say what you are trying to say."
"I'm trying to say that there are...things...in motion in this city. My daughter is not the first child to disappear. There have been ten unsolved...no, uninvestigated kidnappings in the last six months. Eight of which were orphans from a now closed orphanage by the river. One child who's body turned up three days later and my daughter."
Ed reached into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He set it on the table and pushed it over to Damian.
"This is a copy of a photograph taken of the child they found dead."
Damian picked up the paper and unfolded it slowly. It was a color copy of a picture of a boy lying on dark grey dirt. He looked as if he had just left home to play. With one exception. His eyes. They had no color. They were completely white.
"If the rumors are true, you have dealt with unusual things like this before. You are the only one who can help these children."
Damian folded the copy and pushed it across the table. He has seen this before and he wanted nothing to do with it.
"I can't help you."
"Then my daughter is as good as dead."
"Go to the police."
"I said before. They will not help us. In this city, the only thing that matters is money. I have none. So I don't matter. My daughter doesn't matter."
Damian crushed his cigarette. He didn't even take a puff on it.
"I'm sorry. I've wasted your time." Edward slid out of the booth.
"Wait." Damian sighed, "You are asking a lot of me without even realizing it. The man who has your daughter is very dangerous. He is powerful. He is evil. He is relentless. If I help you, there is a chance I won't make it to her in time. You have to understand that."
Edward nodded. "Who is he? How do you know this man?"
"His name is Valentine. We have a history." Damian glanced out the window and saw Anna sobbing in the car, "He killed my son."
*****
In the rapidly darkening sky, stars were flickering to life as the sun vanished along the horizon.
Damian was walking down the sidewalk towards a dark run down apartment building. The street was empty. Pieces of paper were blowing across the road in a gentle wind. Damian’s dark boots clacked as he walked across the broken sidewalk.
As he approached the building, a man stepped out of the entryway. He had scraggly green hair and wild dark eyes.
That was fast, Damian thought to himself.
"I hope Valentine sent you with some friends." Damian opened his coat and revealed the guns hanging on his hips, "'Cuz I brought mine."
"You can't hurt me with bullets you fucking twat." The man smiled revealing two long fangs, "I'm special."
Great, Damian thought, goddamn vampire. And he thinks he's special. Just another tricked out blood freak.
"Lord Valentine doesn't want you poking around in his affairs."
"You can tell Valentine to come tell me himself."
"Lord Valentine doesn't talk to trash."
Damian shrugged. "Seems he made an exception for you. I'm sure he can do it for me."
"You shouldn't talk to me that way."
"Or what?"
The vampire leaped at Damian. He caught the vampire by the throat and slammed him against the apartment building. The vampire’s feet dangled about three feet off the ground.
"You really don't know who you are dealing with do you?" Damian asked.
"Just some pussy in a leather coat."
Damian pulled a lock .9mm from his holster and placed it under the vampire's chin.
"I'm a bit more than that."
He pulled the trigger. The vampires head vanished in spray of blood and brains. The remaining body burst into flames. Damian let it drop to the ground. He slid the gun back into its holster.
He turned around.
A group of twenty-five vampires were standing in front of him.
"Great." Damian sighed.
The vampires attacked. Damian fought off as many as he could. He kicked and slugged and jerked heads off at least five of them. But they kept coming. One hit him hard in the gut and another kicked him in the face. He stumbled back against the wall just before a dark figure dropped to the ground in front of him. It was dark, and the figure was clad in black. Barely visible in the darkness. It moved like lightning. A flash of silver. Vampires were bursting into flames all around. Heads rolling onto the sidewalk before flaring up and burning away. Damian took a step forward to help. The figure delivered a solid back kick into Damian's face sending him to the ground.
A moment later, Damian opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground. The gleaming point of a sword pointed square at his face. Damian's eyes followed the long silver blade up to its holder. It was clad in a black cloak and its face hidden by a hood.
"I've been waiting to do this for a long time." It said and pulled back the hood, revealing a woman with deep brown hair. A blue crystal hung around her neck.
Damian's eyes widened slightly, "Adia?"
"I hope you're ready to die you son of a bitch." She said and attacked.

Chapter Three
The Coming of Valentine
The sword hit the concrete centimeters from Damian's ear. Adia moved the sword back in front of Damian's face.
"Layin' on cold concrete with a sword pointed at my face isn't how I like to spend my evenings, sweetheart."
Adia placed the tip of the blade against Damian's nose.
"Don't call me sweetheart."
Damian pushed the sword away from his face. He sat up slowly and leaned against the building.
Adia flipped back her cloak, and slid the sword into its sheath.
"I don't know why I can't just kill you and get it over with." She said.
"Cuz, you can't live without me." Damian climbed to his feet and brushed the dirt from his clothes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. It was hopelessly crushed. "Great." He tossed it into the last burning remains of a vampire.
"Been a while since the vampires have been after your head. What'd you do now?"
"Nothin’."
"Right." Adia stepped over the flame.
Damian walked towards the entrance of the building.
"Come inside." He said.
"For what?"
"We need to talk."
"I'm not interested."
"I think you might be. Come up."
"Go to hell." Adia turned to leave.
"It's about Tiko."
Adia stopped.
"I'll meet you upstairs." Damian said and stepped inside.
*****
Damian was standing in front of his table. Several guns were laid out before him. His jacket was tossed over a nearby chair.
Adia stepped into the door and leaned against the doorjamb. She watched as Damian loaded silver bullets into a large gun.
"Expecting werewolves?"
"There's no such thing as werewolves. I just like the look of the bullets."
Damian grabbed another gun from the table and slid them both in holsters behind his back.
"You look like you're going to war." Adia said.
"It's always war."
"Why am I here?"
Damian pumped a spent shell from his shotgun and began to reload it.
"I was asked by a young couple to find their missing daughter."
Adia sighed. Clearly she was not impressed.
Damian slid the shot gun into a holster strapped to his thigh.
"She is the tenth unsolved kidnapping. One of the kids was found dead. His eyes. There was no color in his eyes."
Adia looked up quickly. Her face blank. Her eyes sparkling with rage.
"He's up to his tricks again." Damian said as he slid two katanas into sheathes crossed in an 'X' on his back.
"Valentine." Adia whispered.
Damian nodded and grabbed his two 9mm guns. He slid them into the holsters at his waist and reached for his jacket.
"You told me he was dead."
"I was wrong."
"I don't accept that." Adia stepped forward.
"I don't have time for this. I brought you up..."
Adia slugged Damian.
"You shut your goddamn mouth." Adia grabbed him and threw him over the table. Damian landed with a crash to the floor. "All of this is your fault. All of it. This gift I was cursed with. This immortality. I never wanted this! I never wanted to lose Tiko!"
"He was my son too." Damian said as he stood up.
"You didn't care enough to keep him from fighting. And that fucking bastard took him! You didn't see what he did to him. I saw. I had to watch it with my own eyes. I've had to live with that. I have to live with that image for eternity. He peeled the flesh off my son right in front of me."
Damian lowered his head.
"I don't want this anymore. I want to die or go back to my own time. I don't belong here. I never wanted to help that monster fight his war. You forced me to do it! And now we are doomed to live forever. Nothing can kill us! And that bastard called it a gift. It is no gift, Damian, it is a nightmare."
"It was destiny."
Adia leaped onto the table. Her cloak billowed around her.
"Fuck destiny." She kicked Damian and sent him flying through the window.
Damian landed hard on the cement in a shower of glass.
Adia glanced out of the window. She gripped the handle of her sword and leapt from the window.
She landed in a crouch and stood, drawing her sword.
"Adia, listen to me."
"Time for listening is over." She swung the sword at Damian. He rolled backwards, the sword sparking along the cement.
Damian stood up quickly.
"Listen to me! I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was only doing my part. I didn't know it would turn out that way."
"You didn't care. All you were worried about was being the hero. That's all that ever mattered and all that ever will."
Adia attacked. Damian yanked a katana from its sheath and barely blocked her sword.
"Adia! Stop this!"
They fought. Swords sparking as they collide. Fury in Adia's eyes as her emotions broke free. Years of pain and anger finally breaking through. All she wanted at that moment was to kill Damian and be granted freedom from the curse of immortality she had been given.
Neither of them heard the clicking of approaching footsteps.
Adia struck Damian's katana. She delivered a kick to his gut that sent him flying back.
They were two titans fighting an ageless battle. Both with more strength than either ever realized.
"Adia..." Damian lowered his sword, "I won't do this. Not now." He dropped his sword to the ground.
"Come now, Miss Silverblade. At least the man is not without a sense of virtue." A think British accent spoke from the shadows, "Grant him a temporary reprieve."
Adia lowered her sword and glanced towards the shadows. She recognized that voice.
"You..."
Valentine stepped from the shadows. He was wearing an immaculate black tuxedo, black hair falling to his shoulders. He could be Damian's twin, the only difference being the eyes. While, Damian's were blue, Valentine’s were fiery red. A top hat sat squarely on his head, a long cape draped down his back. He was holding a gold cane.
"How about a kiss hello?"
Adia reared back and launched her sword at him. Valentine waived his hand. The sword clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Valentine smirked.
"Forgive my manners. I have brought you a gift." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object wrapped in white linen, "I've kept it safe all these years." He unfolded the linen and held the object before him.
It was a human heart.
Adia gasped.
Valentine chuckled.
"Tiko fought with heart. Right to the last second. I felt it was only right to keep it as a souvenir. But I've grown tired of nostalgia." He tossed the heart towards Adia. It landed with a thump at her feet, "You keep it."
"You evil..." Adia rushed forward. Damian grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"Ah yes. The tortured hero. As clichéd as ever. Guns and all." Valentine walked forward, his shoes crunching on glass, "Tell me. How is my dear brother?"

Chapter Four
The Path of the Wicked – Damian
Damian released Adia's arm and walked towards Valentine.
"Ah. Not quite yet, hero." Valentine held up his hand, "I'm not prepared to fight you. This tuxedo cost a ridiculous amount of money and I don't plan on ruining it."
"I don't recall giving you an option." Damian stood on front of Valentine. It seemed as if the world behind Valentine was bending.
"It won't be this easy, Damian. Not by a long shot." Valentine said. Behind him, it was like the world itself split. A large tear was forming. "My power is immeasurable. It's the souls you see."
Damian took a step back.
Valentine spread his arms. Behind him the portal stretched and expanded.
"The path of the wicked remains untraveled. You know the consequences of coming after me. You know she will learn everything." Valentine chuckled. Bright grey light surrounded him, "Isn't it exciting?" He stepped back into the portal. It vanished immediately.
Damian stood there in the center of the street. The wind blew a single piece of paper past his feet.
You know she will learn everything.
Everything.
Damian turned to face Adia. She was picking her sword up from the ground.
"The Path of the Wicked." Damian whispered.
*****
The small apartment was dark. Lit only by candle light from candles strewn across the room. It was bright enough to see that every wall was covered with books. Every available surface was stacked with old ancient volumes with names like "Incarnate: A History of Evil", "A Legacy of Magic", and "Alternate History".
This place was called The Library. It served one purpose. Knowledge.
In the corner, a man sat reading in a rocking chair. His face was covered in a beard that hung low to his chest. His grey hair fell to his shoulders. To see him, you would think he was just an old feeble man. There could be no worse assumption. In his mind, all the secrets of the worlds lay nestled like eggs waiting to be hatched and set free. Very few people even know he exists, but those lucky enough to know him, have access to anything they ever wanted to know.
Something pounded on the door. The old man raised his eyes from his book
"Go away." He called; his voice carried just a hit of gravel.
A muffled voice responded. He could not make it out.
"I said go away you damn fool!"
The door burst open and the old man moved like a snake. He reached into his cloaks and launched a knife across the room.
The dagger imbedded in the door frame, inches from Damian's face.
The old man's face flashed recognition.
"Had I known it was you, I would have aimed better." He said. He placed his book on a table and climbed to his feet. His robes hung heavy around him. It seemed he was wearing at least five.
"Cecil." Damian walked over to the man. They clasped hands and after a moment, embraced.
Cecil took a step back. He placed his hands on Damian's arms and smiled. He nodded.
"Great troubles haunt you, my friend." He said and walked back to his chair. He sat down and placed his hands on his knees. His eyes moved over Damian's shoulder, "Ahhh. Forgive me, had I noticed you, I would not have sat down so fast."
Adia stepped inside and smiled slightly, pushing the door closed behind her.
"Forgive an old man and his rudeness. My dear Adia. How are you?"
"I've been better."
"As all we have. At one point or another."
Adia and Damian sat down on a couch across from him.
"Valentine has come back, Cecil." Damian said.
"As I knew he would."
"He's different. More powerful."
"He is succeeding. The children you are looking for. They're gone. He's taken their souls."
"How did you...?" Damian began but stopped. He already knew.
Cecil tapped his head.
"Just tell me how to kill him." Adia spoke.
Cecil looked to her, concern in his eyes.
"I fear for you both. You have journeyed together for so long. Experienced so much. And now. To face the man who took your son again. All you crave is vengeance. You cannot live by vengeance. Only die by it."
Adia looked away.
"Valentine mentioned the 'Path of the Wicked.'" Damian leaned forward, "I need to find it."
Cecil nodded.
"Valentine has taken up residence in a dark and evil land. Far from this place. Far from this realm. I must warn you. The path is not a safe one. It will show you things. You will each experience each other's single worst memory as if it were your own."
Damian leaned back on the couch.
"Unfortunately, this is unavoidable." Cecil was watching Damian closely, "It may be wise to...disclose with each other what you feel may be important information prior to traversing the path."
"How do we find it?" Adia asked.
"I will have to do a bit of research on that. I haven't had reason to locate it in this realm. I had hoped I would never have to. Alas..." He shrugged.
"What is it exactly?" Damian asked.
"It's a path. Mystical in nature yes, but still just a path. You'll feel as if you are walking through the woods. It is devoid of life. You will not hear sounds beyond your own. Not until the memory begins at least. You will experience it at different times. You will be traveling and one of you will simply drop. You must keep this instruction in mind. The other must continue walking. The path poses no physical danger. Do not be afraid to leave one another behind."
"What happens if we wait?" Adia asked.
"If the path determines no forward movement, it will simply seal itself off. You will be trapped. That is why no one travels the path alone."
Cecil raised his hand. A book floated through the air and rested in his palm. He placed the large book on his lap and began flipping through the pages.
"Where you are going, it is nothing like this place. It is nothing like where you were before. This is a place comprised solely of Evil. It can make your greatest fear take on flesh and bone and hunt you down. It is not to be taken lightly."
"Sounds familiar." Damian joked.
"It is not to be taken lightly." Cecil repeated, "You are apt to see things that will haunt you forever. One can only hope your journey isn't a long one. Once you step off the Path of the Wicked, you will be, for all intents and purposes, in Hell."
"Hell." Adia said flatly.
Cecil nodded.
"Not in the sense of God and Satan. No fire and brimstone. No little devils dancing on fountains of fire. You will be entering a land devoid of good. A land so consumed by evil it has become a living representation of Hell. Hell incarnate, so to speak." Cecil sighed, “It will try and tempt you. Do not fall under its spell. Get in. Eliminate Valentine and get out. The path will remain open for two days once you cross. If you do not make it back in time, the path will seal and you will be trapped."
"Sounds like a nice place to visit."
"You'll do well to take my words seriously, Damian. All of my words." Cecil gently closed his book and looked at them, "I know this is something you must do. For the sake of those children. For the sake of Tiko."
Adia closed her eyes.
"Once you cross the path. You will have no one but each other." Cecil looked at Adia, "There will be no one else to help you."
She nodded.
"Let us go."
*****
The moon was full and high when Adia, Cecil, and Damian arrived. They stood before a lush forest. High green trees waived in the breeze.
"The path is here." Cecil said. He walked to the forest edge and raised his hands before him.
Damian glanced at Adia.
"I want you to stay here."
"I'm going."
"Adia..."
"I'm going."
Damian fell silent.
"Razal Nul. Kala Nun. Psiclon puriny." Cecil closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky and struck the ground before them.
The trees appeared to part. A large path appeared before them.
Cecil turned to face Damian and Adia.
"The Path of the Wicked is open."
He stepped aside. Damian and Adia walked forward. They stood at the edge of the opening. It was just a black void.
"Be careful my friends."
Damian glanced over his shoulder and nodded.
"You too, old man."
They entered the path. It sealed behind them.
"Gods be with you." Cecil muttered.
*****
The path was just as Cecil described. It appeared like a normal trail in the woods. Except, both sides of the path were thick with dead trees. The sky was grey. The ground was grey. The trees were grey. No color existed here.
Behind them, the path stretched on. It looked identical in both directions.
"Which way?" Adia asked, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.
"I don't think it matters." Damian said and began walking.
It wasn't long before he began to feel dizzy.
"Adia. I think it's happening."
Damian stopped. He was stumbling slightly.
"Keep walking," he said, "Don't stop walking."
And he collapsed.
Adia paused a moment, looking at him.
"Enjoy." She said. She knew what he was about to experience. She walked on.
*****
Damian felt himself falling into a void. Like a tunnel. A small light was rushing towards him. The drop ceased and he was in Adia's mind.
There was a fire burning in the room. Adia lay on a bed transfixed by the flames. She was dressed more or less the same. Her cloak was pulled around her. Only her sword was missing.
The room appeared to be part of a castle. Grey stones made up the walls. It was a beautifully decorated room with lush tapestries hanging from the walls. Dragons and swords decorated them. This was a room fit for a queen.
Adia sat up slowly and glanced at the window. There were thick black bars sealing her off from the outside.
Damian was inside her mind and he was watching through her eyes. He was experiencing this as if it was himself.
The door to the room opened and two hideous looking guards entered. They looked burnt. One appeared to have had half of his head burned off.
Valentine entered and saw Adia's look of disgust. He glanced at his guards.
"Don't be rude my dear. My guards here just had an unfortunate run in with the sun is all."
He was dressed immaculately in a dark red suit. He was King here and it showed.
"How is it a human can rule over vampires as you do?"
Valentine smirked.
"Come. I have a gift for you." Valentine turned and walked out. Adia followed.
The world flashed.
It was a large dome like room. More stone floors and walls with a large alter like area at the top of a short stone staircase in the center.
Adia was on her knees staring up at the ceiling. The two burned vampire guards were at her side.
A young man was suspended from chains tied to his wrists and legs. His shirt was torn from his body. Blood was dripping from fresh whip wounds along his chest and back. His face was contorted in pain.
Valentine was standing below him, arms crossed, a smirk on his face.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"Tiko!" Adia screamed.
Valentine held up his hand. Several drops of Tiko's blood fell into his palm. He walked down to Adia. He grabbed her face, spreading Tiko's blood over her cheek and chin.
"Feel your son's blood on your face. This is the price you pay for standing against me."
"Leave him out of this."
Adia's eyes were welling with tears; her face was a mask of fury.
"Lower the boy!" Valentine called. A loud cranking sound filled the room. Tiko's body lowered slowly.
"Look at me Valentine. I will not rest until I see you burn. Let my son go."
"Oh I will let him go." Valentine turned on his heal and walked back to the alter. He climbed the stone steps and picked up a small dagger.
The cranking stopped. Tiko was hanging next to Valentine. His eyes half open. Blood dripping from his mouth.
Valentine ran his finger over one of the whip wounds on Tiko's chest.
"So young to be fighting. Does he think he is a warrior?"
Valentine slipped the dagger into the wound.
Tiko screamed.
"NO!" Adia shouted and tried to run forward. The guards grabbed her and held her back.
Adia closed her eyes against the site before her.
"Open them Adia. Or it will be much worse than this."
She complied and watched as Valentine carved the flesh from Tiko's chest.
She was crying now. Tears pouring down her face. Inside her mind, Damian was feeling much the same pain. He felt her anger, her terror, and her sadness.
Valentine was chuckling like a mad man with each piece of flesh he removed.
"Stop this. Please." She whispered.
"What? I didn't hear you."
"Please let him go. Please."
"As you wish."
Valentine dropped the dagger. He turned to the alter and picked up a sword.
"Does this look familiar?"
Adia's eyes widened. It was her sword. Her Silverblade.
"I shall release him as you have requested."
Valentine stepped behind Tiko.
"You bastard don't do this! TIKO!"
Tiko raised his head slightly.
"Mom?" He muttered.
Valentine plunged the sword through his back. It burst through his chest. Tiko's eyes widened for a moment before his head fell forward.
"NOOOO!!!!" Adia screamed.
Damian felt something pulling at him. He felt himself rising up, back into the void. Farther and farther into darkness. The view before him shrinking and shrinking.
*****
On the Path of the Wicked, when Damian's eyes opened, they were wet with tears.
Farther ahead, Adia collapsed.

Chapter Five
The Path of the Wicked - Adia
Damian stood up slowly. He rubbed his hands over his face and began walking. He was alone on the path. Either side of him was thick with dead dry trees. Above him, the grey sky glowed slightly. A few minutes later, he saw Adia had collapsed in the center of the path. He crouched down next to her and touched her face slightly.
"I'm sorry." He said, "For whatever you see. I'm sorry." He stood up and moved on.
*****
Adia felt herself falling. The black void was pushing her down towards a spot of light. She reached it quickly and found herself looking through Damian's eyes. The place was familiar. It was the same place she had seen Tiko die.
Damian crossed his arms and looked up at Valentine. He was sitting on the alter like it was some kind of throne.
"I see you made your choice." He said.
Damian glanced over his shoulder towards the door and then back at Valentine.
"Yes."
"The ultimate betrayal. Simply poetic." Valentine descended the stairs. He was wearing the same red suit.
"It's for a greater good."
"Yes. Keep telling yourself that."
"You will keep your word." Damian said.
"Of course. I am nothing, if not a man of honor." Valentine chuckled.
"You're an evil son of a bitch."
"Perhaps." Valentine leaned forward slightly, "But what does that make you?"
The doors behind Damian burst open.
"Just in time." Valentine said.
"Father?" Tiko entered slowly.
Damian lowered his head.
"Your father was just leaving." Valentine said.
"What's going on here?" Tiko asked.
"Simple. You have rescued your father. He's free to go."
Damian looked over at Tiko.
"A deal is a deal Damian." Valentine held a small crystal out to him, "I wouldn't try anything foolish if I were you."
Damian accepted the crystal and slid it into his pocket.
"What does he mean?" Tiko looked at Damian, his face and dark spiky hair were glistening from sweat. He had just fought his way through a hundred guards to get up here.
Damian moved to yank his Katana from its sheath.
"Ah ah ah." Valentine waved his hand. Damian went flying back. He hit the ground hard and slid out the door, "He's mine now. You've sold your son for the lives of ridiculous villagers."
The last thing Damian saw before the doors slammed shut were chains shooting down from the ceiling and trapping Tiko.
"Father!" He yelled.
The doors slammed shut.
Damian stood up and ran to the doors. He kicked them open and ran back into the room.
But the room was different. He was standing in a long hall. Torches lit the area. He could hear someone fighting ahead. In the light ahead, he saw Adia step into the hall. She raised her leg and pushed a dead guard from her sword with her foot. She turned and faced Damian. He moved towards her and hit some type of wall. He could see through it to her but he could walk no farther.
To his left a door opened into the cool night air.
Adia felt herself rising. She could feel Damian's sadness and anger and regret. She was feeling none of that. As she rose back into her own self she felt only one emotion.
Rage.
*****
Adia opened her eyes. She had no tears. She stood up and pulled her sword from its sheath. She would not stop this time.
She turned and walked down the path.
She will kill him.
*****
Damian walked slowly. He was replaying the images that he had seen over and over in his mind. It was his fault. All of it. And now Adia would know the truth.
"Damian."
He stopped.
Adia stood behind him. Her sword held at her side. She walked towards him.
"I know what you saw. I know how angry you are right now." Damian walked forward, "But we cannot do this here. Not now."
"You gave Valentine Tiko. You killed our son."
"I didn't think that would happen."
"What did you think would happen?"
"I thought I could get there in time. I thought you could get there in time."
"Well. Just after that door opened and you conveniently exited stage left. I was attacked and overwhelmed by about a hundred vampires. You know the rest."
"I didn't leave. I tried my best to get back to him. I couldn't get there."
Damian stopped walking and turned to face her.
"That isn't good enough." She said and slashed her sword.
Damian leaped back, the sword sliced through his jacket and shirt. He could feel the coolness of the blade as it passed his flesh.
"FUCK!" Damian shouted.
Adia rushed towards him. She jabbed her sword forward.
Damian caught the sword between his arm and his side and spun around. The sword was yanked from her hands.
"Enough! I know you are angry. I know you are hurt. But this is something we can't address right now. I blame myself every single day for what happened. It is worse now that I know what really happened. I know you want to kill me. You'll get your chance. Just not right now."
"Was it worth it? Was the murder of your son worth whatever price he paid?"
Damian said nothing. He simply dropped the sword and kept walking.
"You betrayed us both. The evil in you, Damian, far surpasses that of Valentine. He at least is a madman. But you. You did what you did knowing exactly what could happen. You might as well have put that sword in him yourself."
Damian kept walking.
"You're a murderer Damian. A cold-blooded killer!"
Damian began to fade away. He had reached the end of the path.
Adia ran forward and grabbed her sword.
Damian vanished.
"Damian!"
Adia kept running. The world around her began to contort and change. A moment later she was standing next to Damian in a valley. Huge rock ledges towered above them. The sky was dark, thunder rumbled slightly. Lightning streaked across the sky.
"Don't you walk away from..." She stopped.
Valentine stood on top of a large boulder. He was dressed in the red suit again.
"I thought the attire was appropriate." He laughed.
A low rumbling sound echoed from the valley.
"Glad you could make it." Valentine spread his arms, "I've prepared a welcoming committee."
Ahead of them an army of creatures appeared. Demon looking, hideous things. They all had swords and clubs.
"I hope the trip was worth it. You won't be reaching your destination."
Damian unsheathed a katana and pulled the shotgun from its holster.
The army kept coming. There seemed to be a thousand of them.
Valentine chuckled.
"How exciting!" He said and cackled.
Adia launched her sword at him. It pierced through his chest.
Valentine fell silent. He looked down at the sword. He wrapped his fingers around it and yanked it out. He tossed the sword back into the valley.
"That will not go unpunished. I will have your head on my mantle, bitch."
"Come and get it." Adia said.
Valentine smirked.
"I'm coming for you, Valentine."
Valentine looked at Damian and cocked his head to the side.
"KILL THEM!" He screamed.
The army charged.

Chapter Six
‘Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here’
"How many are there?" Adia asked. She stood ready, holding her sword in front of her.
"A lot." Damian looked ahead at the mass of demons rushing towards them.
"A lot against two." Adia muttered.
"My favorite odds." Damian pumped a shell into the shotgun.
"Can we kill them?"
"Probably."
"All of them?"
Damian was silent.
The roar of the oncoming army was massive. They were seconds away.
"For what it's worth, Adia," Damian glanced at her, "I'm sorry."
Adia nodded slightly.
At that moment, Adia and Damian rushed forward into battle. They were two against a thousand.
Adia scooped her sword from the ground and swung gracefully. Demons fell at her feet. She dodged blades and clubs like a dance.
"HYA!" She screamed as she sliced a demon's head from its body.
Damian placed his shotgun against the chest of a demon and pulled the trigger. It exploded into pieces. Damian sliced his katana into the oncoming hordes, severing limbs and spewing green blood into the air.
Adia's pony tail had come loose. Strands of her brown hair hung around her face as she fought. She was a vision of beauty amidst the ugliness of the fight.
Damian punched and kicked. He took a hard blow to the gut from a club and flew backwards to the ground. His shotgun and katana flying from his hands.
A large hairy demon stomped towards him. It had huge teeth and long strands of drool hung from its jaws. It raised its club and swung it down.
Damian dodged at the last second. The club crushing the ground where his head was a moment before. He kicked the thing as hard as he could. It hardly budged. Damian yanked his 9mm from their holsters and fired into the demon. It fell backwards. Dead.
"There's too many!" Adia screamed as she decapitated another one.
Damian gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet. He scooped up his shotgun and blasted away three more demons. He dropped the empty gun to the ground and picked up his katana.
More demons were coming. They were relentless. Damian and Adia were barely holding them off.
Damian saw a small cave ahead of them.
He slashed through demons on his way to Adia. He saw her take a hard punch and fall back.
"Adia!"
The demon was about to crush her with it's club.
Damian flipped is katana around and held it by its edge. He raised his arm and threw the sword as hard as he could. It impaled itself in the demons neck. It collapsed.
Adia stood up.
Thy demons just kept coming. They fought hard. Adia and Damian must have killed five hundred already and yet they continued.
"Over there!" Damian screamed, pointing towards the cave. Damian leapt on top of a dead demon's carcass and flipped over a group of attacking monsters. He slashed through them from behind.
They were almost to the cave.
Adia ran past Damian and sliced a demon in half.
They were back to back fighting towards the cave.
"Get inside." Damian said to her, "Get behind the largest rock you can find and don't move."
"What about you?"
Damian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crystal.
The crystal Valentine gave him.
"Go now!" Damian shouted.
Adia ran forward and leaped over a small demon. She disappeared into the cave.
Damian stood tall. He was completely surrounded by hundreds of more demons. They snarled and advanced slowly. Damian held his sword out before him.
Damian's foot touched a boulder. He glanced down at it.
"This better work." He whispered.
The demons rushed forward.
Damian raised his hand and shattered the crystal against the boulder.
*****
Adia rushed inside the cave. She moved behind a large stone and pressed her back tightly against it.
"Damian..." She whispered.
The cave suddenly filled with a bright blue light.
*****
The moment the crystal hit the boulder a bight blast of blue light engulfed the valley. Every demon disintegrated and exploded in the blast.
A moment later the blue light faded. Damian stood alone amongst the smoldering bodies and ash of Valentine’s army.
"Thank you Tiko." Damian whispered. He sat down and leaned against the boulder.
Adia emerged from the cave.
"That..."
Damian nodded.
"He was going to use it against the village. All of them would have been killed. Including us."
Adia nodded, understanding. Sacrifice one for the sake of many. She realized now Damian's choice had been the right one, hard as it was to make. She could not blame him.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"You didn't know."
"But I know you. I should have realized..."
"Apology accepted." Damian stood up, "Let's go get Valentine."
*****
Valentine was standing on a balcony of his castle when he saw the blue light fill the valley.
"Damn." He whispered. He turned to his guard. "Bring my sword."
"What about the b-"
"Later." Valentine dismissed him and gripped the ledge in front of him, "Come on, Heroes. We have much to discuss."
He chuckled and turned. He walked slowly into the castle. The doors closed behind him.
*****
Adia and Damian entered the village slowly. Weapons at ready.
The streets were empty. The windows were dark. It looked almost like a town from the old west. Grey dusty streets, with wooden buildings and small houses.
A child like giggle echoed near by.
A small figure darted across the road ahead of them.
"Hello."
Damian and Adia spun around.
A little girl was standing behind them. Her hands clasped in front of her. Her head facing down. She had soft blonde hair and was wearing a pink dress.
"You're the ones the scary man is waiting for." She said, her head still facing down.
Adia sheathed her sword and knelt down.
"Are you by yourself here little girl?"
"No."
"Where are your friends?"
"Adia..."
"They are playing."
"We need to go." Damian said, sheathing his katana.
"But you just got here." The little girl said. She looked up at them.
"Oh god." Adia said and stood up.
The little girl had no eyes.
"Don't you want to play with us?"
Adia stumbled back.
Damian looked up at the building next to them. A little boy had climbed out of the window and was now crawling on the side of the building. He looked down at them and opened his mouth. A long reptilian tongue snaked out.
"These are the kids he took." Damian said.
More of them were emerging. One was bleeding from his eyes and hands. One boy had huge claws growing from his hands. A little girl flew down from the sky. She had huge scaly wings.
"My god. What has he done?" Adia asked.
"He's testing his powers."
The girl with the wings soared into the air and flew towards Damian. He caught her by the shirt and held her back. She was flapping her wings hard, swatting Damian in the face.
Damian threw her into another demon-child.
"Let's get the hell out of here."
Damian took a step forward. He felt something warm and wet slip around his neck. He was yanked back.
It was the boy on the building. His tongue was tightly wrapped around Damian's throat.
Adia moved to help but was attacked by another kid. This one sank its huge teeth into her shoulder.
"AH!" Adia yelped. Blood was seeping out of the thing's mouth.
Damian reached back and grabbed the tongue. He yanked hard and the boy flew off the building.
Damian threw himself forward. The kid sailed over his head and slammed into the boy on Adia's shoulder.
Damian grabbed Adia's arm and pulled her towards a building. He kicked open the door and pushed her inside. He slammed the door shut behind him.
They were inside a tavern. Webs covered the entire place. Damian rushed over to a heavy oak table and shoved it against the door.
Adia sat down on a chair. She was gripping her shoulder.
"You okay?"
"As long as that wasn't a vampire." Adia pulled her cloak off and pushed her shirt away from her shoulder. It was a mean, large, bite wound.
Damian walked over to the bar. He pushed up the divider and stepped behind it. There was a towel beneath the counter. Damian grabbed it and walked over to Adia.
He started to wipe the blood away from the wound.
"It's not so bad." He said. He tossed the bloody towel on the floor.
Adia adjusted her shirt and pulled her cloak over her shoulders.
"Damian." She nodded her head towards the window.
Damian turned and looked out the dirty, grime covered window.
Three of the children were standing in the center of the street. They each had a black ball in each of their hands."
"What are they doing?" She asked.
Before Damian could answer, the kids threw the objects. The window shattered and the balls hit the floor. One rolled to a stop at Damian's feet. He bent down and picked it up.
"Just stones." He said.
The stone shook slightly.
"Hmm." Damian said. He turned the stone over. It was a solid black stone all the way around.
"What?" Adia asked.
"I thought it moved."
Adia walked over to the window.
"The kids are gone."
The stone in Damian's hand shook again.
"What the hell..."
Cracks began to appear in several places. Long sticks were slowly popping out of the cracks. Joints appeared in the sticks.
"Damian?" Adia was looking at the stone.
The stone crumbled and Damian found himself holding a giant spider.
"FUCK!" He screamed.
This spider squealed. It had large fangs and large eyes. The legs wrapped around Damian's hands. The spider tried to bite him.
Damian threw it off him.
"Hate spiders."
A translucent webbing shot across the room. It struck Adia in the neck.
Damian yanked his katana out and sliced through the webbing. Adia pulled it from her neck.
"Gross." She hissed, pulling her sword.
"Where are they?" Damian asked, just as one darter across the floor. It leaped into the air at Damian's face. He sliced it in half.
"Is this the best Valentine can throw at us? Rock spiders?"
Adia stabbed another spider.
"Are you forgetting the demon army?"
Damian turned his back to her. A spider was gripping his back.
"Damian!" Adia kicked a chair, hitting Damian square in the back. He stumbled forward.
The spider dropped off and disappeared behind the bar.
Damian turned to her, his head tilted.
"Spider on your back."
Damian walked across the tavern and kicked open a door. He stepped inside the dark room and glanced around.
He moved quickly across and kicked open another door. This one opened to the rear of the building.
"Adia!" He called.
Adia pulled her sword out of another spider and followed Damian outside.
The two of them ran down the path before them and disappeared into the trees.
*****
Valentine walked through the grand hall. He had a black cape billowing behind him as he walked. His red suit looked like blood. He entered a small room and closed the door behind him. He stood before a large alter. At its top, was a large blood red crystal. Valentine closed his eyes and placed his hands on the gem. It immediately began to pulse with a deep red light.
Throughout his castle, vampires appeared out of thin air. They simply blinked into existence, created from nothing.
Valentine grinned and removed his hands from the crystal.
In the sky above the castle, thunder exploded, and the sky opened up. Rain fell down like a wall.
Valentine spun on his heal and walked out of the room.
A group of vampire guards were waiting outside.
"When our guests arrive, escort them to the main chamber." Valentine ordered, "They are not to be harmed."
The vampires nodded and walked off.
Valentine rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. He walked to a large window and watched the rain fall.
*****
Adia and Damian stood at the edge of a long stone walkway. Before them a huge castle loomed in the stormy sky.
"Think this is the place?" Damian asked.
"It's a bit bigger than the last one."
"Yep."
"Gonna be hard to find him in there."
Damian watched as a group of vampires walked down the path towards them.
"Might not be too difficult."
The vampires stopped. One stepped forward.
"Lord Valentine has requested your presence. We are to escort you into the castle."
"Great." Damian said.
"Your weapons please."
"What about them?"
"We need to collect them."
"Right." Damian walked forward. The vampire stepped in front of him.
One of the other vampires reached for Adia's sword. She swiftly unsheathed it and sliced its head off. The vampire burst into flame and fell to the ground.
"No one is taking my sword." She said.
"Very well." The head vampire turned and walked towards the castle. Damian and Adia followed.
Damian leaned towards her, "How many heads have you taken off?"
"I've lost count." She said.
The vampires led them through the large entrance of the castle and into a huge bright hallway.
"There." The vampire pointed at a door.
Adia and Damian walked through the doors.
They found themselves in a large throne room. Candles lined the long red carpet, beyond them was shadowed in darkness. The doors slammed shut behind them and large chains flew from the ceiling, wrapping around their arms and legs. They were pulled up into the air.
Valentine stood up from his throne and walked towards them. He looked up Damian and Adia hanging above him.
"I hope you didn't think it would be that easy." He said.
The chains held them at least twenty feet above the stone floor. Adia struggled against the bonds.
Valentine waived his hand. Adia's sword and Damian's katanas flew from their sheaths and clattered to the ground.
"Looks rather hopeless for you now." Valentine chuckled.
"Let me down and I will show you hopeless." Adia snarled.
"Ooo. Feisty."
A door at the side of the throne room opened. A figure entered and walked towards Valentine. It was too dark to make it out.
"Perfect timing. Adia hang around for a bit." Valentine waived his hand again and the chains holding Damian vanished.
Damian fell and slammed into the stone floor.
"There is a word you will learn Damian. Tell me if you have heard it before."
The figure approached.
"Today Damian, is your Judgment Day. You will pay for your sins. Retribution is your word of the day."
The figure stepped out of the shadows. He had black spiky hair, his fists were clenched tightly. His blue eyes sparkled in fury.
"Oh god." Adia gasped.
"The sins of the father." Valentine said.
Damian looked up.
"Tiko?"
"How they make us weep." Valentine laughed.

Chapter Seven
Acts of Vengeance
Adia stood before the lifeless hanging body of her son. Her sword still imbedded in his back. His blood dripping off the glistening tip of the sword.
Valentine was gone. The hall was empty. Adia was alone with the body of Tiko. She placed her hand against his face.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. Tears falling down her face, "I'm so sorry, I couldn't save you."
She stood up on her toes and gently kissed his forehead.
She walked around his body and stood behind him. She gripped the handle of the sword.
"I will avenge you." She whispered. She closed her eyes tightly and yanked her sword from Tiko's back.
"I will avenge you." She said again.
*****
"I will avenge myself." Tiko said. He delivered a swift kick to Damian's head.
Damian fell backwards. He was reeling in pain. First from the drop to the ground and now from Tiko's attacks.
"You let me die. My own father. Left me to die."
Damian struggled to his feet.
Tiko rushed forward and attempted to kick him in the gut. Damian caught his foot and yanked Tiko off his feet.
"Enough!" Damian shouted. He climbed to his feet, "Yes. I let you die. I sacrificed my only son in order to save thousands of innocent lives. You want to kill me for it? Fine! But I had no choice. I had NO choice."
"There is always a choice." Tiko hissed.
Valentine stood by watching. He had a delighted look on his face.
"Not for me."
Tiko stood up slowly.
"I will have my vengeance." He said.
"You deserve it. But not of me. He is the one who killed you before Adia's eyes."
"I brought him back from the brink of death." Valentine said.
"YOU TORTURED HIM!" Adia screamed. She struggled against the chains.
Tiko glanced at Valentine.
"Is this true?" He asked.
"You didn't know." Damian said, "You don't know what happened?"
Valentine looked panicked for a moment.
"Your father is a master of lies Tiko. Who would you believe?"
"This man was going to use a crystal to slaughter thousands of innocent villagers." Damian said.
"Shut up!" Valentine yelled.
"I had to give him you to protect those lives. It was my intent to get you out of here afterwards but I failed. Your mother was caught inside the castle and forced to watch Valentine torture you and finally kill you with her sword."
Tiko turned to Valentine.
"You lied to me." He said.
Valentine shrugged.
"I should have plucked your eyes out and fed you to the rock spiders." He hissed.
"But you didn't. You brought me back. Fed me lies. Filled me with hate."
"I made you in my image." Valentine said with a grin.
Damian knelt down and scooped up Adia's sword. He thought he could throw it with enough force to cut through her chains. From this angle, he doubted it.
Valentine held his cane out before him. He twisted both ends and pulled his hands apart. Two large long swords emerged from the cane. The center piece of wood dropped to the ground.
"I gave you life Tiko. I can taketh away."
Valentine attacked. Tiko dodged his sword swings. He brought his knee up hard into Valentine’s stomach.
Damian slashed at Valentine with Adia's sword. Valentine brought his sword up and quickly blocked. He back kicked Damian, and slashed a gaping wound across Tiko's chest.
Tiko stumbled back and fell to the ground. He gripped his chest and winced in pain.
"Look at you. You are nothing but a shell. You think you have a soul? I killed you and devoured it. It's in me." He chuckled and approached Tiko.
Damian ran towards him. Valentine held up his hand. Damian stopped in his tracks. Valentine raised his arm. Damian rose into the air.
"None of you will defeat me." He swung his arm around. Damian went flying.
Valentine stepped above Tiko.
"It seems this experiment has failed." Valentine held his sword before him.
Adia closed her eyes. The blue jewel around her neck began to glow.
"Valentine." She whispered. Her arms began to glow a soft blue. Her muscled strained against the chains. Her arms jerked and the chains snapped. She fell to the ground and landed in a crouch. She looked up. She was surrounded by a soft blue light.
"VALANTINE!" She screamed and stood up.
"How..." Valentine stepped away from Tiko.
Adia walked towards him. She held her arm out to her side. Her sword flew across the room. She caught it effortlessly.
She began to run towards him. Her sword held high over her head. Her face was contorted in rage.
She was hungry for her vengeance and she was ready to feed.
Valentine stood ready for her.
When their swords met, the castle shook.
Adia swung her sword hard. Valentine brought his sword to block it. Adia's blade sliced through it.
Valentine turned to his side, narrowly avoiding the swords arch.
He stepped back and brandished his remaining sword before him.
"You are mine, Valentine."
"You think so?" Valentine lowered his sword, "You think this is all I am?"
"You're nothing."
Tiko stood up.
"You are nothing." He repeated.
Valentine spun around and plunged his sword into Tiko's gut.
Adia stabbed hers down through the back of Valentine’s neck. The sword burst through his chest.
Tiko stumbled back and Valentine fell to his knees.
Damian stood up and ran across to them.
He caught Tiko just as he fell backwards. Damian eased him to the ground.
Adia pulled her sword. Valentine fell backwards as she removed her sword from his neck.
He was gasping for breath.
She raised her sword high and plunged it into his heart.
Damian yanked out Valentine’s sword and tossed it away.
"Tiko? Tiko, stay with me."
Adia stepped over to them and sank to her knees.
"I f-forgive you." Tiko stammered, "I love you both."
Adia took his hand. She placed it against the gem around her neck. The blue glow engulfed him.
Tiko's eyes opened. The wound in his stomach and the slash across his chest closed up. Only small scars remained.
Valentine rose up behind Adia. He had her sword held ready to strike.
Damian quickly reached over and grabbed Valentine’s sword. He swiftly threw it over Adia's head. It pierced Valentine’s forehead. He dropped her sword and fell dead to the ground.
Adia glanced over her shoulder and then back at Damian.
"I couldn't let you have all the glory." He said.
Adia stood up and helped Tiko to his feet. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Damian bent down and grabbed Adia's sword. He slipped it into her sheath and placed his hand on her shoulder.
She took a step back.
"Let's get out of here." She said.
Together, the three of them left the castle.
"Wait." Tiko stopped, "Valentine’s crystal. It should be destroyed."
"Where is it?" Damian asked.
"Inside. Across from the throne room."
Damian nodded.
"Take him to the path. Get out of here. I will be right behind you." He didn't wait for an answer.
Damian turned and ran back into the castle.
*****
Cecil stood waiting at the edge of the path. He hadn't moved since Damian and Adia left. He took a step back when the path opened. He saw Adia step out.
"Dear god..." He whispered.
Tiko stepped out behind her.
Cecil hurried over to him.
"You're alive!" He said and embraced him.
"Cecil. I have missed you greatly." Tiko stepped back.
"I...How I didn't know of this..." He looked back at the path, "Where is Damian?"
"He stayed behind to destroy Valentine’s crystal." Adia said.
"No, this is not good." Cecil stepped towards the path, "If the same number of people exit the path that originally crossed, it will close in a fraction of the time."
"What are you saying?" Adia stepped towards him, "What are you saying, Cecil!"
*****
Damian stood before the large red crystal. It was pulsing slightly.
Damian reached into his pocket and removed a small object.
"No time for magic games." He muttered. He stuck the small explosive on the front of the crystal and set the timer for 10 seconds.
With a beep, the seconds began to tick away.
Damian ran out of the room. He was halfway down the grand hall when the bomb exploded. Huge stones fell from the ceiling crashing inches behind him. The red crystal was shattered.
Damian ran out of the castle and into the woods. He found himself at the edge of the village again. He could see the kids lined up in the center of town.
One by one they began to vanish.
Damian walked closer and saw that they were back to normal. The little girl who had no eyes, looked over towards him. She had bright brown eyes that twinkled when she smiled at him. She waved her hand and vanished.
Damian smiled slightly. They were going back to their homes. He ran across the village. He saw the path just before him. He saw the opening begin to shrink.
"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.