Vilmo's Wrath: Deglon Blood (23 page)

Zen weakly places his hand on Robbie’s shoulder.

“Robbie, look around. This is no Szion’s doing. This room has a ruby with a demon soul in every corner. This is demon blood that runs like rivers within the cracks of the stones,” he says.

Robbie forcefully releases Chris.

“Whose blood curses this room?” Robbie asks. “Dumont is not this strong.”

Their eyes are drawn toward the door when loud laughter pierces their ears. Dumont and miller smile broadly.

“How do you like this amazing room? The cursed blood is amazing. These witches really know their magic,” Dumont brags.

“Whose blood?” Robbie growls.

“Mine of course, and my son here,” Dumont says proudly. “But the main ingredient was given by your pal, Chris. He is a generous Szion, or should I say Deglon?”

Robbie glares at Miller.

“I didn’t feel you,” he says softly.

“I told you I could blind any being. The eyes are not the only way to see. Especially for you,” Miller says.

Dumont casually walks down the stairs.

“I have a proposition for you, Robbie. I will release your wife in exchange for you. All I need you to do is say yes. Before you answer, look at Nora,” Dumont says.

Nora screams as the rubies burrow deeper into her flesh. She is slung like a rag doll, slamming hard into every wall repeatedly. Her bones crack with every hit and blood showers the glass until she can no longer be seen from outside the box.

Frozen with pain, Robbie tightens his fists and tears pour from his eyes. Nora goes limp and all he can do is stare in horror. Dumont laughs and with a quickness Robbie grabs him by the throat.

“Let her go!”

“Say yes,” Dumont says in a muffled voice.

Robbie looks at the bloody glass box again.

“No, Robbie don’t. Kill him!” Zen says.

“If I die so will she and so will—”

Dumont smiles.

“Who?” Robbie asks.

“Look at the wall,” Miller laughs.

Stone walls surround Robbie’s terrified children. 

“No!”

“If you kill me now, your kids will die. Make your choice,” Dumont says.

Zen notices the strain on Miller’s face. Pain lingers in the boy's eyes, blood drips from his nose, and his eyes never leaves Robbie’s face.

“Robbie, it may not be real. Miller is hiding something from you,” Zen says.

“Chris, stand up,” Robbie orders. “How do I release Nora?”

Chris looks at the glass box and then at Dumont.

“All of us have to die or at least most of us,” he answers.

Dumont strains to grin as Robbie’s fingers grip his neck tighter.

“How can you be sure I am who you think I am?” Dumont asks.

Robbie gives Zen a nod and he quickly snaps Miller’s neck. Dumont gasps. A moment of anger ripples through him, then he again smiles.

“No matter. His death will not be enough to release her. If you can’t get to her within the next few minutes she will die,” Dumont says.

“Zen, I am sending you home. Check on my kids, allow yourself to heal and then find me. I can’t take chance of being wrong, so Nora and I will be going there,” Robbie says, looking at the distorted image on the wall.

Robbie strains and pushes until Zen disappears.

“They will be dead before he gets back to you,” Dumont laughs, disappearing.

“No!” Robbie yells, looking horrified at his empty hand.

He drops to his knees and crawls over to the glass box. He places his hands on it and sobs.

“Nora, fight! Please. I need you,” he says.

His eyes glow fiercely and a strong energy moves through his veins. Light shoots from his hands and covers Nora. The room shakes and Robbie yells out in agony as his weakened body strains to summon what is left of his strength to save his wife. One at a time the rubies pop out of her skin. When the final ruby is out, Robbie rests his head on the glass.

“I am truly sorry Robbie,” Chris says.

“Don’t speak!” Robbie yells.

Chris nods and pulls out his blade.

“Please see that Clair is freed, my lord.”

He plunges His knife into Chris’ heart. The flowing blood within the cracks of the walls dry and the glass walls surrounding Nora vanishes.

Without giving Chris, another thought Robbie crawls over to Nora and lifts her into his arms. With another hard push, he teleports himself and Nora as far from the village as his weak body will carry them.

Deep in the forest more than a hundred miles away, Robbie and Nora rest. Swallowed by darkness and complete solitude, Robbie holds tightly to Nora until the feeling of her self-healing energy wraps him with contentment.

R
obbie sits next to a fire that illuminates the night. Gazing blankly at the popping wood that burns in the pit. Nora wraps her arms around him from behind and rests her head on his back.

“I could have ended this. I had him and didn’t kill him,” Robbie says.

“I’m sure you had your reasons,” Nora says.

Robbie nods.

“He may or may not have our kids,” Robbie says.

“What?”

“We don’t stop until this is over, okay?”

Nora nods.

“You think we are walking into a trap?” She asks.

Robbie nods.

“But it doesn’t matter. We destroy all the rubies and be sure Dumont has no way back to this world. We do not stop until this is over,” Robbie says.

“Let him have me, Robbie. As soon as he claims me, you kill me,” Nora says.

Robbie pulls her around and cradles her in his arms.

“We keep forgetting that we have to use our powers as one. We can do this, Nora. Neither of us will give in to him. Rest. In a few more hours and you will be completely healed.

A door made of solid gold deep beneath the castles countryside catches Robbie’s and Nora’s attention. They wait in the darkness a few moments before entering. The door opens to stairs that lead to endless gloom. Feeling no danger, they teleport their way close to the end of more than a hundred feet of stairs. Dirt, gravel, and large stones pave the way for more than two miles. Eventually, they see a dim light peek from an opening in the distance. Robbie takes Nora’s hand, and quickly they race to the light. They stop only inches away. Fear and curiosity hold them still. A glowing blur stands before them, like a large drip of water held in an invisible glass over twenty feet tall.

“Robbie,” Nora whispers.

Amazement dances in her stare.

“It may be the portal,” Robbie says, raising his hand to touch it.

Nora snatches his hand away from the terrifying glow.

It’s fine, Nora
, he thinks. He again lifts his hand and pushes it through it, then slowly pulls it back out.

It is a portal, it has to be
, he thinks. Nora takes a deep breath.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” she says, grabbing Robbie’s hand and leaping in.

They gasp. Wandering within the darkest part of the remarkable palace, they are forcefully pulled into a hidden horror of decaying corpses and staggering lost souls of the damned. Each one lingering in the entry way of the Dark World hoping to be the next to be claimed as Dumont’s warriors. Each of them determined to claim a body of their own. None of them were expecting a Szion to enter the Dark World. They scatter like scared children as Nora and Robbie prepare for a fight. Although the demons want no fight with them, their nauseated stomachs tell them, trouble is near. They roam cautiously.

“Robbie, is this …”

“Yes, the hidden Dark World. The gods were right. The Dark World has been opened.

Fog fills the air. The presence of Light is everywhere even though the entire world seemed to be abandoned. All life seems nonexistent. Almost every building is made of concrete resembling large tombstones.

Even though, it is the most devastating place they have ever been, they feel something magical about the place, a phenomenal sense of comfort and power. Weaker beings can get lost within the false magic the Dark World holds.

As they go deeper both Nora and Robbie allow themselves to create a new form of power. Power bonded by each other and bonded with the mysteriousness of the Dark World.

There is no turning back and nothing more to lose. Both are determined to keep their lives but know that upon succeeding in their mission, they may meet their deaths.

They roam cautiously until a strong wind races toward them. Preparing for battle, Robbie and Nora patiently wait. Controlled and strong they tighten their bond, creating a powerful shield around them. The wind pounds at their shield and flames fill the sky.

“Here we go!” Robbie says as they rise from the ground.

Without warning, their shield is broken and thousands of Light, Shadow, and Vampire attack them. They swing their spikes, slicing and stabbing their enemies. Robbie’s power runs through Nora. Not only could he feel his own blood rushing through his veins, but he could feel Nora’s blood as well.

Silver goo and blood covers them, and bodies begin to drop from the sky like rain. Each kill makes them stronger as they inhale the life and souls of the dead.

An echoing voice rings with laughter.

“Illusion is amazing isn’t it?” Dumont calls.

They search, but he is nowhere to be seen.

“Your plan to trap me here was brilliant. So incredible that I decided that was the best option for the two of you as well,” Dumont says.

“Mommy! Daddy!” the twins cry.

Nora and Robbie’s eyes search frantically for them.

“Where are they?” Robbie yells.

Dumont laughs again.

“In a few moments, you will start to feel dizzy, but don’t worry, you will be safe in there,” he says.

“What is he talking about Robbie?” Nora panics.

Slowly the entire Dark World seems to get smaller. Their vision seems to play tricks on them, as one by one buildings start to fade. Soon, Nora and Robbie once again find themselves in a small room covered in possessed rubies. They hear their children call out to them.

“No!” They yell.

“What did you do?” Robbie growls.

“You are in no ordinary room. I know those particular rubies cannot hold you, but within the walls lies the partial souls of each of the gods. The longer you stay in there the more they are taking from you. Sucking up your powers,” Dumont says.

“What? Why?” Nora asks.

“Poor naive Hingis. It was you the entire time. It is you they fear. Not me. I am nothing compared to the two of you. True, they made me stronger, and I got greedy, but I alone don’t even have half of your power,” Dumont says.

“No! You lie!” Nora roars.

“Do I? Think about it. You know as well as I do that, no being could accept one gods blessed soul without dying, it’s too powerful. They told you that I was blessed by all. That should have been your first clue. Second, what would make you think they themselves could not handle one of their own creations? Twice your family accepted a home from the gods and each time someone in your family died. Out of all the beings ever created, you two are the only ones not in their plans. You are the only ones that could challenge them. So they want you dead.” Dumont says.

Nora and Robbie stand in shock for a long moment. In a hysterical rage, Robbie growls and roars, pounding his fist on the rock walls. Chunks of stone shatter and his hands begin to bleed.

“Robbie, calm down,” Nora says, sitting on the floor against the wall.

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Where are my kids, you bastard?” he yells.

Nora curls her knees to her chest. She closes her eyes and feels JR and Lizzy playing happily. Not at all terrified as the calls made them sound. She smiles.

Robbie looks at her, then kneels down beside her.

“We failed. I’m sorry I let you down,” he says.

Nora looks at him, grabs his face with both hands, and grins.

“An amazing man once told me there is nothing we can’t do as long as we do it together,” she says.

Robbie pulls away and stands.

“He was wrong,” he says.

“Robbie come sit with me. I want you to feel something.”

“I can’t hear your thoughts, Nora. There are too many stones. I can feel our energy fading,” he says again hitting the wall.

“No, not that. Please come sit with me.”

He sighs and flops down next to her. She climbs into his lap.

“Close your eyes and feel me,” she says.

“Nora, don’t.”

“Robbie, please. Close your eyes and feel me.”

He looks at her and nods. Closing his eyes was like being introduced to his Szion life all over again. He smiles.

“Do you feel them?”

Robbie nods.

“Our kids are fine, the gods have not turned on us or failed us in any way. He wants us weak. Doubting everything we believe in. Illusions and witchcraft. He can’t break us unless we let him. We don’t stop, remember. Not until this is over. We fight, right?” she says.

Robbie nods.

“There is no way out. The hold is too powerful,” Robbie says.

Nora smiles and gently kisses his lips.

“You can take me anywhere,” she says undoing his belt. “Make love to me, Mr. Hingi. Get me out of here,” she says stripping down to her underwear.

Robbie smiles and helps her pull her pants off. Nora tosses them across the room.

“Won’t you need those later?” Robbie asked.

“Shh.”

Robbie grips her bottom, sliding his fingers through the sides of her silk panties. Gripping them and her, he lifts her and sets her down gently.

Twenty minutes later they stand hand in hand in the center of the palace within the Dark World. Fearlessly they destroy all beings Dumont sends.

In mid-battle Nora can hear the calmness in Robbie’s heartbeat, she can see smiles on the faces of their twins. She can almost feel Robbie’s lips on hers. Robbie feels her thought’s and whispers
I love you
. Empowering her to help them create a shield that quickly forms around them. They turn toward each other and gaze at one another.
If we die …
Nora thinks. Robbie shakes his head.
If we die, so do our twins
.

Robbie replies silently. Flames slam into their shield, neither Robbie nor Nora reacts. It is only each other they see and hear. Their souls connect like never before. The fire vanishes and the earth shakes. Nora looks deep into Robbie’s eyes and smiles. She closes her eyes. A blast of energy shoots from their bodies, killing every creature around.

They drop to their feet. Nora opens her eyes and her hands shakes. Robbie frowns as her love empowered strength is replaced by sudden anger.

“Nora, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I can’t calm down.”

Her heart races and the bodies that lay beneath her feet make her anxious. Robbie’s soft voice irritates her and although she tries, she cannot calm down.

“I don’t understand. Aria is dead,” she says with a shaky voice.

“Nora, look at me. Your temper is your only weakness. Dumont knows it. Only feel me.”

Robbie grabs her trembling hands and compels her to look at him. Nora slowly calms, but terror rips through her.

“You must control your anger, Nora. Use me, Nora,” Robbie coaches.

The sky becomes cloudy and smells of smoke and blood fills the air. They walk cautiously through their mess of death until they reach a tower made of gold.

They lock in on their bond and again rise from the ground. With a sudden shock, they hit the ground from more than 30 feet up, landing on their backs.