A World Apart (43 page)

"I apologize for the late hour."  He said quietly.  "But I would like you to come with me. Please bring your armor, but you can leave your sword."

Jake did not hesitate, but went over and grabbed his breastplate.  "Should I get Dominic?"  He asked when he returned.

"No, Jake.  This matter is for you alone."  Tomaris said quietly.  He turned and began to walk back down the hallway.

Jake shrugged on his breastplate as he closed his door and followed Tomaris.  He worked on the buckles as they made their way back down to Tomaris' study.  Once inside, Tomaris went over to a shelf and did something Jake could not see.  He was startled when the bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a rough-cut passageway.

Tomaris gestured and a small ball of light, similar to the ones in the main hall, appeared in the air above him.  Tomaris looked back at Jake with an unreadable expression on his face and motioned him to follow.  Tomaris headed into the tunnel, Jake right behind.  After they were inside, the shelf slid back into place with a wooden thump, the tunnel turning dark, the only light the glowing ball.

"Where are we going?"  Jake asked, starting to feel a little nervous.

"I will explain when we get there, child."  Tomaris said as he set a surprisingly quick pace.  They went down the tunnel, the soft sound of their feet magnifying and echoing as they moved.  The tunnel sloped downward, so Jake knew they were heading deeper into the mountain.

After around ten minutes of following that small ball of light, Jake could see another light source glowing ahead.  After walking down that dark rough tunnel, it was a shock when they turned a corner and stepped into a long and wide hallway with a smooth floor.  There were three large iron-bound doors on each side of the hallway and another at the end.  The one at the end was glowing with a golden-white light that lit the hall.

Tomaris walked down that that door, then turned to face Jake, lined face serious.  "Jake, I have brought you here for a final test."  He said solemnly.  "I have a task that will require me to leave for a period of time.  I depart tomorrow and you and Dominic will return to Sanduas."  He reached over to grasp Jake's arm.  "You have made good progress in learning your power, but I have to know that you are ready before I go."

He turned back and gestured towards the glowing door.  "Through that door lies a test that only you can face.  You will have to master your fears while controlling your power."  He paused, then spoke again, voice serious and sad.  "There is also danger, child.  This test will put you at risk, both physically and mentally.  You must hold your courage and be prepared to defend yourself.  Do you understand?"

Jake, still unsure of what was happening, was silent for a moment.  "I understand what you said."  He finally replied.  "But why do I need this test?"

"It is a critical test."  Tomaris stated.  "You will leave here and head back out into the world, with only your power to defend your life.  Always remember that our enemies are after you.  If you cannot pass this test, then it is likely that they will have you."  He paused, then spoke.  "I ask you to trust me in this, Jake.  The test is dangerous, but I believe that you have it within you to succeed."

Jake shrugged his shoulders, adjusting his breastplate.  He fought down his nervousness and worry and spoke, trying to sound resolute.  "If you say I have to pass this test, then let's do it."

Tomaris nodded and gestured at the door.  The light vanished, but his floating ball of light glowed brighter to make up for it.  Tomaris reached over and opened the door to reveal another tunnel, its path dark.  He reached over to place a hand on Jake's shoulder, his eyes kind.  "Be courageous, child, and remember our lessons.  May the Creator grant you success."

Jake called up his power, feeling it fill him, his form glowing brightly in the low light.  He took a deep breath, then headed into the tunnel.  He was only a few feet in when he heard the door close behind him, its light suddenly shining again.  He tried to put that out of his mind and continued down the tunnel, fighting down his unease.

After another twenty feet or so, the tunnel opened up into a small cave, only about fifty feet wide.  It seemed natural, its roof and walls rough and uneven.  Only the floor looked like it had been worked, level and smoother than the rest of the cave.  What was not natural was the faint ball of light that hung at the top of the cave and the wall of light, the same color as the door, which filled the back wall of the cave.

As Jake stood there, the wall suddenly vanished, leaving the ball of light and Jake's own form as the only sources of light.  Where the wall had been, Jake could make out the outline of a shadowy alcove in the cave wall, the alcove itself black as the cave light did not reach it.  Jake felt the cold grip of fear as he looked at that dark opening.

"So, he expects you to be my executioner, does he?"  An inhuman voice spoke from the darkness.  Jake watched disbelieving as an Imp came out into the light.  It was dressed in a cowled robe, the cowl thrown back, revealing its scaly face.  Its clawed hands flexed as it moved closer towards Jake.  "You will find that I am not easy meat, boy.  I have existed since before the creation of your puny world."

"Stay back."  Jake said, involuntary stepping back, as he drew more of his power in, sweat suddenly running down his spine.  He tried to recall his lessons, but his mind seemed frozen.  The Imp took a few more steps, as if to signal that Jake's warning had no effect on it, then stopped.

"You don't need to die like this, boy."  The demon called Rigil said, voice taking on a compelling tone, as it grinned, sharp teeth reflecting the light.  "You do not realize the power you could wield if you came to us.  You will have position and wealth.  You can have any female you desire.  All you have to do is agree to serve us."

"I don't believe you."  Jake said nervously, trying to reach the calm that Dominic had been teaching him.  He could not shake off the fear.  "I have seen what you and your followers do."

"You mean the city?"  The demon asked, its eyes pits of darkness.  "That was just because we had no other way to reach you."  It paused, then spoke again, its cold voice soft.  "Listen, boy, you should not believe the stories that you are told.  We are not what you have been led to believe."

Rigil's voice became smooth, though still inhuman.  "We did not defy the Creator.  We were exiled because we opposed some of our brothers when they sought to convince the Creator to reverse His original plan for us to rule over the worlds created, with man to serve us.  They are the ones who poisoned Him against us, claiming a non-existent rebellion.  It was their jealousy that caused us to be sent out from His Light.  We only seek to claim what was our birthright."

Jake, keeping his eyes on the demon, watching for any movement, shook his head.  "I think you are making that up.  I'm not that stupid."  He said softly, but defiantly.

The Imp's lips curled into a snarl and its form was suddenly surrounded by its dark power.  "You are stupid, boy, if you think you can defy me.  Whatever you think you have been taught about power, I will show you that it was not enough."  A bolt of fiery darkness leapt from its hands towards Jake, crashing into his hastily raised shield of power.  The clash of conflicting magics echoed off of the cave walls, reverberating and magnifying.

Jake, staggering back from the impact, found himself suddenly calm, as if a blanket was placed over his fear.  He launched a counter-attack, a brilliant beam of blue fire striking the demon, forcing it back a step.  The demon's power blocked most of the attack, shielding it, though its form steamed.

Jake, remembering Dominic's instruction on the advantage of movement, started to slide to his side, trying to be a moving target, defending as the demon attacked.  He was able to block the attacks while continuing to launch his own.  The cave seemed to shudder as the air was suddenly full of conflicting dark and blue fire, the noise from the colliding powers drowning out all other sounds, the light blinding.

As Jake was closing with it, pressing an attack, the demon changed its tactics.  It suddenly moved, leaping to its side, then launching itself back at Jake, claws extended.  Jake, taken by surprise, threw himself back.

He was too late as the demon's claws raked across his breastplate, peeling back the metal in a squeal of protesting steel.  Jake felt the claws reach his flesh, streaks of fire as they ripped into his chest and shoulder as it passed.  With a scream of pain, Jake unleashed a blast of power that sent the demon tumbling away, its form landing next to a wall, steaming.

Jake staggered back to his feet, in agony and feeling the blood running down his body, his left arm not seeming to work properly.  He felt light-headed and knew he needed to finish this or he may pass out.  He launched his magic at the demon as it was climbing off the floor, pressing and surrounding it with blue fire.  The demon resisted Jake's magic, pushing out with its dark power, screaming in an unfamiliar language.  Jake could feel his strength fading and tried to force more of his power at the demon, knowing he was dead if he could not.  For several terrifying moments, the battle was balanced, then, with a final bright pulse, Jake's power broke though the demon's defenses.  It screamed briefly, a chilling cry of pain and fear, then cut off as Jake's power raced through it, its form exploding into ash, the sound deafening in the confines of the cave.

Jake fell to his knees, grasping his wounds, ears ringing in the sudden silence, power gone.  His vision fading, he started to fall forward when he felt hands on his shoulders, pulling and laying him down on his back.

He looked up to see Tomaris kneeling next to him, the ball of light near the ceiling flaring, driving away the shadows.  Tomaris reached over and laid a hand on Jake's forehead.  Jake saw nothing, but suddenly felt his wounds closing, the pain gone, his strength returning.  Tomaris stood up and reached down to help Jake to his feet.

"Are you alright, child?"  Tomaris asked gently, lined face concerned.

"Why didn't you tell me?"  Jake demanded, stepping away, feeling suddenly angry.  "You could have at least warned me."

"I told you that this test held danger, Jake."  Tomaris said calmly, watching Jake closely.  "I had to know that you can deal with the unexpected.  How would you have responded if I had told you that a demon was behind the door?  Do you think you would have reacted the same way?  Would you even have gone in?"

"Maybe, maybe not."  Jake replied, feeling stubborn.  "I deserved a warning."

"Do you believe that our enemies will always give you warning before they attack?"  Tomaris asked, voice gentle.  "While you may not like my method, you have proven that you can stand against their power.  Knowing this, you are ready if you are confronted by them again."

"That's true, but it seems like there had to be a better way to prove that than nearly getting me killed."  Jake said.

"I am sorry for the pain this has caused, Jake."  Tomaris said sincerely.  "However, many tests that we face are often not ones we would choose."  He reached out and grasped Jake's arm.  "I have grown fond of you and would not have allowed the demon to kill you.  I was prepared to come to your aid, if needed."

Jake nodded, brooding, still feeling wound up and angry.  Tomaris sighed and released his arm.  "Let us go back up and you can get some rest."  He said, moving towards the door.  Jake followed in silence.

They made their way back up through Tomaris' study and returned to Jake's room.  As Jake made to go in, Tomaris stopped him.  "I know that you are angry with me, Jake.  I hope that after you have some time to think on it, you will be able to forgive me."  With that, he turned and slowly walked away.

Jake went into his room, unbuckling and throwing his torn breastplate on the floor, the impact making a racket as the metal struck the stone floor.  He was stripping off his torn and bloody vest and shirt when the connecting door flew open and Dominic leapt into the room, dressed only in his pants, sword in hand.

With a glance, Dominic took in the breastplate and bloody clothes.  He reached over and pulled the desk chair next to him and sat down, sword across his knees.  "What happened?"  He asked calmly.

Jake sat down on the bed and told Dominic what had just occurred, from the time Tomaris first arrived until he returned to his room.  Dominic took in all in without comment, waiting until Jake finished.

"So, what are you upset about?"  Dominic asked.

"Are you serious?"  Jake said, voice rising, incredulous.  "He almost got me killed!"

"Actually, it was the Imp that almost killed you, boy."  Dominic said, shaking his head.  "I would have liked to know about this test, so I could have helped prepare you, but I have to agree with Tomaris.  Having too much time to think on it may have changed your actions, possibly for the worse."

He stood up, looking at Jake, eyes hard.  "Your training, with me and Tomaris, has been to prepare you to face the demons and their followers, not to keep you entertained.  The fact is that you would have had to face one eventually.  It was better to do it in a controlled environment."

Jake sat there in stunned silence; he was not expecting that answer from Dominic.

"Are you really that upset?"  Dominic asked, shaking his head, disbelieving.  "I don't understand why.  You were able to wield your power, face your enemy, one that sounded as if it was part of the attack on Sanduas, and emerge victorious.  You were able to avenge some of those victims and now know that you don't need to fear facing a demon.  That seems to be worth the scratches you got."  He headed back into his room.  "When you think about it, there was no lasting harm from this, only just retribution and lessons learned.  Get some sleep."  He closed the door behind him.

Jake got up, stripped off his clothes and took a bath, soaking in the hot water, washing away the dried blood.  He ran his fingers over the unbroken skin on his chest, remembering the pain the demon inflicted.  He stayed in the bath until the water turned cold.  His emotions still roiling, he finally got out, dried off and crawled into the bed.  He tossed for a while, the cool air from outside helping to calm him down, then he fell into a dreamless sleep.