Beleiving in Myself- Part 2

Well, as I don\'t want to anger Falcon and have her wait, here is the next chapter as promised! Onward!


Chapter 41


The scene froze before his eyes, as John gazed at the orb, so similiar to the one he had seen at the tower near the beginning of his journey. The dancing green flames seemed to speak to him, conveying a silent message of a promise and a long forgotten hope...

\"Don\'t let him place that key!\" Midas managed to say.

John quickly snapped to his senses and rushed out to Beras. Hieas raised his axe and sent a shockwave toward John, who was stopped in order to dodge. Hieas ran off to Beras, but Aivon was hot on his trail. Beras raised his hand and shouted \"Flare Storm!\" sending bursts of fire beyond Hieas to Aivon. Aivon knocked the spell away with his claws, ignoring the burning feeling in them as the spell made contact.

\"Rock Shower!\" Aivon smashed his fist to the ground, sending shards of sharpened rock into the air, that flew at Hieas. Not wasting any time, Hieas turned and shouted \"Aqua Shield!\" A barrair of water appeared, stopping the earth attack. He turned again in time to see Beras look like he was hit with pain, the orb no longer in sight.

\"Where did it go!?\"

But Jessica had already seen it, shining some distance away from the two demons Beras and Hieas. She was running for her life for it, John rushing after her and not to far from them, Hieas. Hieas reached back and threw his axe at the two. \"Jessica, look out!\" John pulled down Jessica just in time as the axe traveled over their heads. Hieas rushed by them, but John was right on his tail. \"Flare Storm!\" John hoped that his magic would slow him down, but soon other fireballs appaeared and negated the attack. Beras had intervined.

Hieas reached out, but was knocked away by Aivon before he could grasp the sphere. \"No! Insolent little-\"

\"Got it!\" John picked up the orb, the flames giving off a glow as he held it.

\"Well, I\'ve got something better...\" John turned to Beras, who was holding a black chain. At the other end, wrapped tightly, was Jessica. \"Just like old times, huh? Now then... I believe you have something of mine, while I have something of yours...\"

\"Damn! Beras, let her go!\" John said savagely, the hand holding the sphere shaking near uncontrolably. His fist tightened as he threatened to crush it in his bare hand, even though he knew it was impossible. Beras knew it too, for he merely sneered.

\"How about this. You give me that orb, and I\'ll let her go.\"

\"No!\" The shout came not from John, but Midas. \"John, don\'t it\'s not worth it!\"

John would have felt the same way, had he be any other person. But this was Jessica, and he loved her, loved her more then he could ever love another. He knew he could never replace her if he gave her up now, yet was throwing away the whole world worth it? Just for a few moments of existance? His heart said yes, but his mind said no. Jessica would understand that he had to save the world from it\'s fate, would understand that her life was worth the cost of the world\'s safety. But could he, John, forgive himself? Jessica had once been an angel after all. She gave up that power and status to be with him, to journey with him across the land to discover everything he could about his own past. Had she not sacrificed enough?

A cry from Jessica was heard, as the bounds became tighter. \"Hurry up! Or I\'ll make the desicion for you.\" Beras said, gripping the chain harder. Another cry of pain shot out, as Jessica felt helpless, sapped of her powers as the chain had done once before.

\"John... please... you have to... save this place... it\'s your world... not mine...\" Jessica choked out.

The words seemed to echo inside his head, as he stepped foward. \"John no! Don\'t do it!\" Midas shouted.

\"Midas, you once told me that I was free to run from my destiny. You told me that I didn\'t have to save this world, if I chose not to.\"

\"Are you mad!? You can\'t just change your mind halfway! That\'s absurd!\"

\"Watch me.\" John dared, as he walked to Beras, passing Jessica. \"Beras, take your key. I didn\'t start this journey to save the world, I did it to find out why I was cursed with the presence of you hanging over me. I found out why, so my journey is done.\" John and Beras stood face to face with each other. \"I only regret I couldn\'t kill you first.\"

\"Touching. I\'ll try and remember that once we rule the world. Now, hand over the key.\"

\"Very good Beras. It seems you have surprised me. Then again, I should have expected that this human would succumb to his emotions... What a fool.\" Hieas remarked.

John handed the orb to Beras, but didn\'t quite let go. \"Free Jessica. Like you agreed.\"

\"Oh very well... no reason to keep her prisoner now anyway.\" Beras let go of the chain as John felt the warmth of the orb pass his fingers. The chain vanished and left Jessica hunched on the floor. John went to her and held her close.

\"John... why... you shouldn\'t have...\"

\"Jessica, I-\"

\"Beras, look out!\"

Hieas had shot a warning to Beras, who turned in time to see Aivon deliver a powerful kick to his face. Aivon scooped up the orb in his hands. \"Humans aren\'t so weak as you like to think they are Hieas. I would know, I am half of one after all.\"

\"Aqua Burst!\" Hieas unleashed his spell at Aivon, who tried to jump out of the way. However, the flow of water followed his movements. \"You aren\'t getting away!\" The water knocked him skyward, knocking the orb from his hand. Hieas reached out to grab it, and once secured, ran off to the pedstal. \"You all have done well, to make it this far. But, here is where it ends. Beras, go back to the tower for now... You\'ve done well, and you shall be rewarded for your efforts.\"

\"Yes, Lord Hieas.\" With that Beras vanished into the darkness.

\"Coward! Come back here!\" John shouted, as he helpped Jessica to her feet.

\"He is the least of your worries now. Besides, it won\'t matter. Once I\'m done with you here, I will finish off Beras too. He was a useful tool, after all.\" Hieas began to chuckle a bit before laughing. \"All of them, pawns in my little game! But each one of them played perfectly, right down to even my dear brother.\"

\"You used your own brother!?\" Aivon said disgusted.

\"Of course! Demons have no need for family when such power is at stake! I would have killed him myself anyway, although I do have you to thank for relieving me of that burden. Allow me to thank you, by taking your lives!\" Hieas placed the orb into the final engraving on the pedstal, and the third piece slid down to meet with the other two. When the three pieces were together again, a bright light shone from each of the orbs as they began to float upwards. Suddenly, as if time and space had ripped apart, an unnatural darkness began to engulf the ceiling of this place, from which nothing could be seen through it. The room began to shake violently as if the very ground wished to swallow them whole.

\"No... we couldn\'t stop him...\" Midas said, near horror struck.

\"And now, this world and everything in it belongs to me! Lord Hieas! Hahahahaha!!!!!!\"