Believing in Myself

I wanted to get this chapter in sooner... but... complications... Oh well, better late then never right! Right?....

Falcon, once again thanks for reviews! Time to see what these people really have in store...

Chapter 24


"Take this! Bubble Storm!" Jessica let loose the three water bubbles out. Atrois did nothing, but take the hit, which knocked him away into a wall. He got up and winced a little.

"Ow!! Hey, that really hurt! Why do you have to play rough?" The way he sounded, he was like a little kid that had been picked on by someone older.

"What are you!? First your so eager to fight, and now your complaining about being hurt?" John seemed to lose his patience quickly with this guy. He wasn't taking anything serious. John was ready to rush in and strike, when Jessica stopped him.

"No! That's exactly what he wants!"

Atrois started to laugh. "Ah, you saw through the child-like acting huh?"

"You bet I did. You did it so we would act rash, and then take us by surprise. Am I right?"

Atrois started his laughing again. "Wow, your really good! Of course, I should expect such from a former angel. Now, let's really fight!"

Atrois ran foward, and John rushed to meet him. John raised his blade and attempted to slice at Atrois, but he moved quickly to the side, and gave a kick to John's exposed side. Moving away, he grabbed his side as the pain ripped through. Atrois started smiling again.

"Is that all? Man, your no fun! Wind Cutter!" He made a slashing motion and a few blasts of wind energy rushed out toward John.

"Bubble Storm!" Jessica's water bubbles managed to block out the attacks, which made Atrois turn to face her.

"Oh so you want to play now too?" Atrois ran up while Jessica backed away. She was able to dodge a few kicks, but as she backed to the door, there was less room to avoid. Jessica dived out of the way as Atrois gave another kick. She hoped the force of it would loosen the door some, but it had no effect whatsoever. "Aww, looks like your gonna be grounded!" Atrois raised his foot to stomp on her, when a blast of fire struck him, knocking him into the door again.

John was breathing heavy as his hand was raised, ready to strike again. "Don't you dare lay a hand on her!"

Atrois got up again and smiled to John. "Wow, your really going all out for this, huh? As you wish! Wind Cutter!"

"Flare Storm!" John let loose several fireballs as Atrois let out his wind energy. Both energies struck each other, and let loose a rush of wind, which John covered himself to avoid being blown away. He didn't manage to see Atrois running up to him, and effectively kicking him in the face. John fell back and Atrois stepped hard on his chest, threatening to break his ribs.

"Heheh... well, it looks like your no match for me! Pity... I was hoping for more fun- Ahh!" Atrois was knocked away, this time by Jessica. She ran up to John and held him, checking for anything broken. John managed to get up again, with some difficulty. Atrois looked to them and started to breath heavily.

"Man... your alot tougher then I thought... I guess, I better end this..." He started to focus, but John beat him to the punch. He ran up to Atrois, and placed his hands on the ground right beside him.

"Fire Pillar!" An eruption of flame burst forth from the ground and Atrois had to lose focus to avoid the spell. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to move in time, and his left arm became engulfed in flame. He tried his best to put it out, but for all it was worth, he was better off to let it burn. His arm was covered in burn marks, the skin raw. Atrois looked to John, who was now starting to tire, with eyes of hatred.

"Why... you... that's it! No more games! Time for me to get serious!" Atrois started to focus and his arm glowed blue. The skin around the arm seemed to pull away, leaving only muscle. It was as if an outer covering was being peeled away to reveal what lay underneath, as his hand suddenly became a claw, with a strange blue gem embedded in the backside. His arm peeled away to reveal the muscle underneath, with the blue lines running through it, as through it traced the blood in his viens. It continued past his arm onto the left half of his face, his eye dissolving and the hole where it once was a part of, glowing a deep blue. The lines seemed to begin from where the eyes once was and disappeared under the skin that remained on the rest of his body.

"What... what ARE you!?" Jessica said, slightly backing away from him. She was trying hard not to faint.

"You see... No one really has seen this besides Beras and my brother. But... I think showing this to you would mean that's it all over. For besides the two demons I just mentioned, no one has seen this side of me... and lived to tell of it. So get a good look at it... for it will be last thing you see when you die!" Atrois ran up to Jessica and struck out with his new claw. Jessica managed to jump back, but his arm seemed to detach parts of itself, forming whip-like tentacles of muscle. They rushed out and restrained her from movement, draging her foward toward his claw. It spined in a full 360 degree rotation, thanks to a lack of bones. He was ready to impale her.

John managed to get up at this point, staring at the new Atrois. He remembered the dream, of seeing him behind Beras, staring at him through what looked like something of an eye...

"Fire!" John launched a fire spell at Atrois. It struck, which at least caused him to let Jessica go, and cause the tentacles to retract. But otherwise, Atrois showed no signs of damage.

"Oh, so now you want to play? Fine, let's play!" The tentacles reappeared and stood ready to strike when...

BOOM!

Everyone turned to the door. Someone was outside, and by the sound of things, trying to force thier way in. The bang at the door was heard again. It was as if someone was throwing large boulders at the door, in an attempt to break through. Finally, the door broke open a bit, just enough for someone to enter. The person entered the room, his footsteps echoing in the hall, which seemed to go silent.

"Figures... I should have known something was up." He cracked his knuckles through his rust colored gloves, his tattered brown cloak moving slightly, his face hard with determination and a sense of anger. "To think... that there really was a demon here... No matter." He walked over to John and stood tall, facing down Atrois.

"You! Your... why are you-?"

"I saw you heading this way... I didn't think too much of it... at least at first. But when I felt strong magic energy here... I knew something big must be happening." With that, Aivon raised his fist and took a fighting stance. "I'm here to help you... so be grateful."

Atrois took a good look at him, and started to laugh. "So... your really going to defy... even me?"

"As far as I'm concerned... no matter the connection... I am nothing like you. But don't think... that because of it... I will go easy on you." Once again, John and Jessica did not understand exactly what he was saying. But as long as he was here to help, they did not care. For to beat Atrois, they would need all the help they could get. Atrois smiled even more, his features like an insane madman.

"Well then... if that's the case, you can die like these two!" Atrois readied himself, the tentacle-like muscles ready to lash out and strike whatever came near them. The four stood on the verge of the second half of the fight, all ready for a fight to the death. And from the way the clash of elements would be, it would seem that no matter the outcome, someone would not return from the castle that claimed the lives of those who entered.