Memories of the Forgotten

Normally I'd insert something here that's witty, or cunning, or informative...

Nah, I don't feel like it today. Next chapter!


Chapter 32


John rushed quickly, his blade rising and surrounded by flames. He struck down, but Mammon easily dodged and struck his palm out, knocking him back. "Damn you, give me my daughter back!"

"I told you already, she's not going anywhere. And in less then a half hour she will be the sacrifice I need to begin the purging of this world. But perhaps even you don't know just what kind of a world you're saving."

"And what do you know about it that we don't you heartless being!" Aivon shouted suddenly, surprising both Jessica and John. "All you ever cared about was destroying it!"

Mammon bowed his head. "That... isn't entirely true. You see, I was born an abomination to both heaven and hell. I was the result of love that was never allowed. My father was an angel who has long been banished away, while my mother was a full blood demon. Sired from a being of pure darkness and pure light... I was born without a soul of my own.

"Even as I gazed into humanity, I never felt anything more then envy. All my existance I have been lacking in the one thing that every other person in the world had. But yet I couldn't hate them for that. It was not my wish to be born into this existance the way I was. I could never fault humanity for that." Mammon moved some hair from his eyes, though as he told the story he showed no outward signs of emotions.

The three stood in still shock over the revelation about Mammon's origin. How... could this be? Jessica thought fearfully. I've never even heard of this happening! Was that... really how Mammon came into being? From such a forbidden relationship?

"As time passed, I watched humanity grow and became disgusted with the way they acted. Treating life and it's blessings like nothing. Even without a soul, a complete sense of being I knew that human beings were to their core, dark. I hated the way humanity had treated itself and so I wished to purge them from this world. That is truth, because they seemed to mock something that I would have given anything to possess.

"And as you know, those three emerged, bonded together and willing to throw away everything to stop me and save this world. And for a moment, I really did believe that maybe humans and other beings could be something more then what I thought of them... but it seems mankind still has not learned, even after being brought to the brink of dispair."

"So... a half-angel and half-demon then? And twisted by dark power no less..." Aivon said, readying his claws.

"I was never twisted by the darkness. I control it perfectly. Allow me to show you." Mammon raised his hand, before a black ball of fire emerged. "Fire." They all moved to dodge the spell, as the black flames struck the wall behind them, leaving scorch marks. John's eyes were wide in amazement. Even though it was a simple fire spell, it had far more power then any other spell. But he also noted it had some similar features as Midas' dark wind magic.

"We have to prevent him from using the power of the Forbidden Seal somehow," Jessica said, wondering how to get close enough to hopefully penetrate the barrair surrounding her daughter. "John, Aivon, can you attract his attention?"

"Consider it done," Aivon spoke, punching the earth sending shards up it upwards. "Rock Shower!" The shards of earth flew towards Mammon, who merely raised his hand. Instantly a wall of red hot earth appeared, in which the earth shards disappeared into. "What's that?"

"Magma Wall." With that, he punched at the wall he made, sending hot near molten rocks towards Aivon. Aivon tried to defend with an 'Earth Wall' but the heated rocks melted through the defense, knocking Aivon back in searing pain. He then turned his attention in time to see John, sword in hand swing down. He sidestepped the attack, dodging each successive strike thereafter as through it were nothing. He pushed John back and took a stance, firing a 'Wind Arrow' spell. It knocked the sword away from John, but when he turned to see it, he found that the blade had frozen over. "Ice Arrow."

He... he can combine the different elements of spells? John wondered amazing and slightly stunned. Unbelievable... even I can't do that. Just how advanced is the magic he's using? John gripped the handle of the sword, sending fire magic through it. He pulled it away effortlessly, fire now surrounding the blade as he faced Mammon, but instantly rushed foward.

Mammon's attention was now on Jessica, as he pulled out his own blade, a shortsword and charged Jessica, who was busy striking the barriar, hoping to make a crack in it's defenses. She failed to notice the strike coming, but John had managed to get there in time, blocking the blow. Almost immediately, Aivon emerged from the side, his clawed fist striking Mammon away, sending him flying off into the distance. "Thanks... but I don't think this will fall too easily."

"Of course not," Mammon spoke, getting up and brushing himself off of any dust. Aivon's strike didn't even seem to bother him. "You can't break that spell, nothing you do will ever. And now... The hour is upon us." With that he walked foward. "The land will be dark like the sky. Given the power of those who have been chosen."

"Stop him!" Aivon shouted rushing foward, but Mammon knocked him away before he could do anything.

"In the offering of a pure soul, let light fall to darkness," Mammon continued as John unleashed a 'Flare Storm' spell, which Mammon too knocked away. "And Darkness will consume the Light, leaving nothing in it's wake. Destruction will reign, with Chaos by it's side. Fear will enter the world, and Hope will be extinguished." The three spell circles began to glow, each inner circle more feircely then the last.

John and Jessica stood inbetween him and the circles. Suddenly a massive quake shook the room, nearly knocking all of them off their feet. "It has begun... Now, recognize me as your true master! Let true dark power come to me!" Mammon shouted, thrusting his hand in the air. A burst of dark light erupted from where Monica was laying, shattering the spell surrounding the circle. Aivon struggled his feet, as he watched the dark light emerge and just as suddenly disperse.

John watched with horror, as he once again saw his daughter laying there. Please... let it not have worked... he prayed, when the light left and no changes had been made to either her or Mammon.

"Now... let me show you true power!" Mammon shouted, as the dark power surged and erupted from beneath Mammon surrounding his body. Immediately they were all assaulted with the overpowering sense of dark magic, as the power began to fuse into him. Mammon started to laugh, sending chills down everyone's spine. "Yes... this is... perfect. Now I am unstoppable."

"Unstoppable until I find a way to stop you!" John shouted, his anger overtaking him. His hand that held his sword was shaking heavily his face twisted into a mixture of rage and hatred. "Your gonna pay!"

"Not likely... but I am tired of listening to you speak. So, in demonstration of my power... I will test my strength against you." With lightning speed, he appeared behind John gripping his shoulder. "And I know just the place..." Suddenly the two alone were surrounded by a dome of darkness, cutting them from the world. John could see Jessica and Aivon running up to him, but they were too late.

"Damn it! Now what..."

"We have to get in there and help him!" Jessica said, raising her staff and preparing to strike the dome.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you..." Aivon and Jessica turned to see Midas entering the room. "You'll only get killed... he's alone in there and you can't save him."

"If you've come looking for a fight, then you definately found one," Aivon said, readying for an attack.

But Midas merely shook his head. "It's ok Aivon... I'm back. Here." With that, he threw a book to them, landing on the floor and opening. "This book belongs to John, passed down from his great-grandfather. It contains the Forbidden Seal that Mammon used to become all-powerful. And in his current state, he is most vulnerable."

"But how?" Jessica asked.

"You see, his body still must adjust to all this raw power, because he's in a human body. That dark barriar will stop you from entering and give him time to adjust to his new strength." He pointed to the book. "Inside the book however will show you a spell to help John even though you're seperated. It's risky, but if you act quickly then Mammon will truely be gone. As well as I."

"What do you mean?"

Midas looked down, turning his head away. "I really wish that John was right all those years ago. That I really could cheat my way out of Mammon's service. But I was wrong. The reason I remained in this world even after the Gate was sealed, was because Mammon's presence was in the world too. I was still bound to him, I always have been. And so when he is gone from the world, so too will I disappear back into the void."

"But if you know this... then why would you want to stop Mammon?" Jessica asked. "If he's really the reason that you're here..."

"There are some things more important to me," Midas said in a very serious tone and Aivon saw something in his eyes. It was the determination to protect something, a look he knew all too well from having traveled with John. And Aivon knew exactly who he wanted to protect. "I would gladly sacrifice my life for this... Perhaps now I truely understand what you humans call love."

Jessica peered into the book, hoping that something inside would truely help them.