Believing in Myself

Read, review, read review... it's a pattern. Go figure. Thanks to Falcon for her dedicated reviews!


Chapter 10


John wasted no time in striking. "Fire!"

At first Beras seemed to do nothing as the blast of fire magic headed to him. Just as the attack was about to hit, with a quick swipe of his hand, Beras knocked the spell away with no visible damage done to him.

"Was that all? Tell me that wasn't your best. I couldn't light a fireplace with such weak magic."

John's eyes widened in surprise. He certainly hadn't expected something like that to happen.

"Ok… wrong move. Try this out for size! Water!"

John threw a ball of water at Beras, and yet again, Beras knocked it away as if it were nothing. He looked to John with obvious boredom in his eyes.

"You know it's hard to believe that you actually learned magic. Or was that just a starter? Tell me you're going to get serious sometime soon."

Beras was just toying with him, and John knew it. Jessica knew it too. John knew that if magic alone couldn't win, he'd need something more. But his anger was starting to build and his judgment was falling fast.

"John! Please, stop!"

John turned to Jessica. "What do you mean stop? I can't let him do anything to you!"

"Please John, forget about me and just go!"

"Well, the angel finally says something worthwhile."

John faced Beras again, who was smiling. John's rage continued to boil inside, although he knew he had to keep it under control.

"No way, I'm going beat you down and then me and Jessica are out of here!"

"You still don't get it do you? There is nothing you can do! So why not just bow before me then? I'll even forgive you for your little outburst earlier."

"You're insane! I'll never bow to you! Never!"

"Fine, if you're going to be stubborn then at least I can show you what a real fire spell is like! Fire Cannon!"

Beras raised his hand and it glowed red. Suddenly a larger, more powerful form of John's standard fire spell blasted forward. John's first thought was getting out of the way. He dove to the right, as the blast struck the wall behind him.

"Fool. You're no match for me. Give up!"

"No… I won't give up. My father would never want me to give up."

"In case you haven't noticed, your father is dead! And you're going to die just like him!"

"Like hell! Wind Cutter!"

John made a slashing motion with his hand and a blast of wind energy shot out. Again with his hand, Beras dispelled the magic.

"Why do you struggle so? Why do you not simply admit defeat? What-!?"

He was surprised to see John closing the gap between them rather quickly.

One shot…

"Flare Storm!"

John raised his hand again, and several fireballs shot out at close range. Beras raised his arms to shield himself, but the close range blast knocked him back and toppled over the chair.

"Got you."

John smiled and walked to Jessica. He examined the chains for a moment.

"John, you really did it!"

"Of course. I did have a great teacher after all! Now I'll get you out of those chains and-."

"John look out!"

John turned in time to receive a kick to the face, effectively knocking him away from Jessica. He fell on his shoulder and winced in pain. He saw Beras walking to him, fury in his eyes.

"I'll admit… I didn't see that one coming. However, you just got lucky. And luck should not be pressed."

He picked up John and threw him towards the door. Hitting his back hard, John let out a yell as pain ripped through his back.

"I offer you comfort… hope… and you throw it all away. You have only yourself to blame for this pain you feel."

John struggled to stand and walked a few steps. His breathing became heavy as he tried to focus on the task at hand.

"And to think… I once thought you might actually be a threat. No matter, I will kill you now. Then I'll get rid of the angel."

Beras raised his hand and it glowed red again. John bent his head down, not wanting to see the attack coming. Suddenly a loud noise behind him attracted them both as a demon rushed in.

"Lord Beras I have it!"

Everyone turned to see the demon holding a glass ball, with dancing red embers inside.

"You idiot! What are you thinking!?"

John rushed up and rammed his body into the demon. The demon was knocked back by the sudden movement and John grabbed the glass ball.

"Insolent human!"

"Don't touch him!"

Beras cast a fire spell which stopped the demon from moving. He never took his eyes off the glass ball.

"What is this? Looks important…"

"Give that thing to me at once!"

"Why the heck should I!?"

"Because fool, your father messed with something like that before, and it didn't fare too well. That happened almost 30 years ago."

John looked to the glass ball. Did his father really have something to do with this? He stared deep into the flames as though they held the answers to questions never asked. Before he could wonder any further, Beras moved and with a quick punch knocked John off his feet and retrieved the orb.

"Come, we have to leave."

"But sir, the human!"

"Forget him! We have what we came for!"

The demon ran out, Beras at his heels. "You got lucky today John… I'd finish you now but…"

They ran off, leaving the two behind in the room. John looked through the door and fell back in complete exhaustion.