Warriors Of The Vampire

Chapter Six: Forest Of Eternal Darkness

No matter what they did, they couldn't seem to lose the Creatures. It took all of their strength to run. Luckily for them, daylight was fast approaching. It had caused the Creatures to scatter and flea, unfortunately they were unable to follow any of them to the castle. Too weak from running and fighting. They had gone off the path just a little ways to rest behind some tall bushes. It was then, they heard footsteps. Another Creature perhaps, they wondered? They would soon find out.

Ready as they could be, with what swords they did have, the sounds grew closer and closer. Then finally they heard a voice. Calling out to them, it was James! Excitedly they rushed out to the path to meet them.

Sure enough, there was Marie, James, Rose and Bobby. To see Bobby greatly displeased Kevin, but he didn't say anything. Melina however, was shocked and somewhat stunned to see him still alive. Although, he looked very grave leaning on Marie. She gently set him down underneath a tall tree, as then sky began to lighten, ready for sunrise.

But they could not rest long, they had a mission, and couldn't stop for anything. Or so they thought. All of them were beat. They rested for a while, talking and telling of what happened to each of them. Working up a plan of attack, but no ideas really stuck. All the while, Bobby slept across the ground under the tree.

"I can't believe he is still alive." Said Kevin.
Marie explained, "Some of us wouldn't be, if he hadn't come back for us."
James protested, "As if to say we couldn’t do it ourselves. He's just a mortal man."
"Just because we are chosen at birth to be given strength and courage to fight, doesn't mean we can get out of everything on our own." Melina told him.
Marie added, "I for one, was very thankful to get out of that mess alive. It would have been even harder to do it on our own."

All was still for a moment, as Melina noticed Angel sitting all by himself a little ways away from everyone.
She asked, "What is his deal?"
Amy replied rather harshly, "He got Lindsey killed."
Eliza quickly reprimanded her, "No, that was my job. I should have gone in to get her."
"I'm sure there was nothing you could do." Said Brintey, placing her hand on Eliza'a shoulder.
Amy said, "If it hand't been for him.." She said passing him a dirty look, "Lindsey would still be alive."
"I agree." Stated James. "Sounds to me like he went off and did his own bloody thing."
Kevin interrupted, "Well, that's all in the past now. And while it's daylight we need to find that castle. It's time to move."

Misty took several slow steps towards Bobby. Watching him sleep for a moment, as the others prepared themselves to get up and move out again. The sun was just begining to rise, as the soft sounds of the others chattering could be heard from a distance. Misty was quite unsure of Bobby. They hadn't really spoken, and she hadn't seen him fight.

She inched closer to him, kneeling down, she noticed his wounds, and clothes with fresh stains of blood in them. She placed her hand over a large tear in the knee of his black pants, when she looked back up, his eyes were staring up at her! She jumped back a little. He sat up saying, "Don't worry. I wont hurt you."
"Some say you can take us to the castle?" She said softly.
Bobby replied with a grunt as he sat up, "Yes. I'm sure I can. The path has taken us pretty close already."
With a curious expression she asked, "Why did you steal all those things from the Queen?"
After a slight pause he glanced down and replied, "I sold them. We needed things like, food and water...." He trailed off.
She said carefully, "You and your family?"
He smiled weakly and said under his breath, "Nina."
"What?" Misty asked, still staring up at him.
Bobby looked up into her lovely blue eyes, "You have family?"
"I was sent away at an early age, to become a fighter." She said reaching into her pocket to get something, "I have this picture of them." She said pulling it out and showing it to him. "I have three Sisters. This is the only picture I have." She sighed with a smile.
He breathed deeply then said, "I guess none of the fighters are really supposed to have connections with civilians."
"That's right. It's for their safety. An enemy will kill who's closet to you, in order to get to you. That's why it's best....not to have anyone at all." She replied.

Just then Rose walked over to Bobby and Misty, "It's time to take us to that castle." She said coldly.
He looked up at her, then watched her walk away.
"Misty, right?" He asked.
She smiled up at him, "That's right."
Bobby returned the smile, and then tried to stand. But his legs were so weak, they buckled. Misty, slipped the photo back in her pocket and moved closer, putting her arms around Bobby, in order to help him rise. Once he stood on his own two feet, she let go.
"Thank you." He said, and she just smiled, walking over to the others.

Bobby walked over to them, as they stared at him.
"Well, lead the way genious." James said.
After exchanging dirty looks, he walked out ahead of them, to lead the way.

Again, on the other side of the eighteenth floor, Robert walked along. Just inches away from Chantal's room. Unlike the last hallway, this one was very dark and lined with deep purple carpet. Lit up with torches, giving it an eerie glow, this hallway was much darker and dimmer then the other that Katlin's room was located.

He'd finally regained his senses, fighting off any feelings he'd had before. Pushing them further within himself. He reached once again into his pocket for the set of keys. Then, unlocking the door, he turned the knob, opening it and entering into the room. Chantal was on the bed, sitting up straight, watching the door. When it opened, she jumped back.

This room was much smaller then the other, with no windows. The carpet was done in lavender, as was the bed, sheets and the canopy above it. On each side, was a dresser, white in color, and on them sat silver candle sticks, with lit candles in them. On the walls were some fancier torches, done in white and gold, mounted on various places of the white walls.

Shutting the door behind him, he walked closer to her. She didn't move, just stood still with a look of fear and irritance in her eyes, although she was trying to hide it, he could tell. Before he could speak, she asked in a firm smooth voice, "Why I am here?" He stopped, placing his hands in his pockets. She then asked, "Who are you, and what do you want with me?"
He smiled and replied, "My my, where are your manners? And why so edgy?"
She walked towards him with heavy steps, stopping before him saying, "I demand to know right this minute!"
He just chuckled a bit and then answered, "My name is Robert. And, you're here, because I want you to be."
As soon as he spoke his name, she knew who he was. Though she'd never seen him, she had heard all kinds of stories, and now believed them all to be true.
"Robert Cassotto. I didn't think....I can't believe...." She was flabbergasted, so much so she could hardly speak. But it was then, she knew what unspeakable evil she was up against, backing away, he stepped towards her slowly, "So you've heard of me."
Backed up against the wall, her eyes now showing the terror she couldn't hide, he was within inches of her as she gazed up at him like a frightened animal, "What, do you want with me?" She asked now more naively.
"You'll find out my dear." He said, reaching out, brushing his cool finger tips across her face.
She grabbed his hand and pushed it away from her. Pulling her hand back, ready to slap him, in mid swing he grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her and causing a convulsion.
He shook his head as a sly smile spread across his face, "Feisty now are we? Perhaps I'll come back later when you're, more cooled off...hmmm?" With that, he let go of her wrist, and slipped out the door, she watched him all the while, until he was gone. She rushed over to the bed, collapsing onto it in tears, shaking in fear of what was to come.

Alone once more, Robert roamed the castle. Walking to no end or so it seemed, he'd reached several floors higher without realizing it, all the while his mind running. Racked with this feeling he couldn't describe. He'd worked so hard to get this far, and at the moment, he couldn't feel it. He was sure he should be ecstatic, but instead he felt some force deep within him and out of his control was at work. He grew angry at himself as reached the first of many capped off towers of the castle. So he knew he was on the twenty sixth floor. And so high above the earth he felt as though he'd stepped outside himself. Maybe it's just Carmen, he thought to himself. She always got to him like this, but he couldn't help but feel it was more. Like everything was spinning, as though it'd started and never stopped. He'd been around so long, and seen everything, now he wanted to bottle time, go back and just stop, if only for the briefest of moments.

Walking down a small hallway, the carpet plained away were it was worn, and as he walked it echoed through out the castle it seemed. Eventually the carpet ran out, and now he was walking on old cobble stones, this area, like most higher areas of the castle was neglected. He could see only the moonlight, shining in from several windows he'd passed from his left, to his right. That beautiful moonlight, and for a moment, he smiled, remembering how much he enjoyed the stillness, peacefulness and darkness of the night through his Vampire eyes.

Finally, he stopped at a door . A large square door, obviously very old, but still sturdy. Stepping through it, he found himself on one of the many balcony's, in just one of the towers. It was a small space, and he closed the door behind him, walking out, placing his hands on the concrete lip, which stood as tall as half of him, and he looked out. So high he could barely see everything down below, only the mist that was pouring in over the ground, and the clouds in the sky. They were so close he could almost touch them.

Breathing in that cool night air, he closed his eyes and saw her face, Carmen. For so long it'd been empty, a place inside himself. And he longed for just one chance to feel her presence with him, even once more. But in return all he felt was a cool rush of wind blow across his face. Beating his fists against the hard stone, he thought to himself, "No peace will come to the wicked." And he was sure, the angel she'd become, would never leave her heavens for a day, to come and warm his cold dead heart, not even for a second. "Angels don't belong with demons." He told himself, and that's what he thought.

"I am, evil." He told himself over and over inside his head. "I am evil." Repeating it so much so, he lost all track of his thoughts before. Angered now, he anxiously awaited the chance to take the lives of every living human being and watch them suffer. Make them suffer like he did. "I am evil, and they will pay." He said under his breath. Turning and walking out, off the balcony.

Back in their cell, the nine prisoners waited. They knew something was going to happen very soon, because they could hear Creatures coming in and out, taking people out of their cells, screaming and fighting. And one by one, they heard them die. Unable to do a thing about it. At first they thought that they were just feeding, but some of the people they heard were dragged away before they were sure they could hear them die. So it made each of them uneasy.

"This is crazy! I can't sit in here like this, I mean we're just gonna die, like those people in there, all those people! We'll be pulled out and ripped apart!" Adam shouted nervously, causing fear among some of the others.
Annelisa paced back and forth, she had been for a couple hours, only now, she finally spoke up, "I can't do this! We have to get out of here." She shook in fear.
Keira tried to pull the situation together, "Don't let these walls fool you, we wont be behind them forever."
"No, cause we'll be dead." Said Hillary.
Edward watched them all in panic, "Now everyone just calm down, remember what we talked about. Earlier, remember, like before, we're gonna get out of here."
Adam asked, "Not all of us? Right? I mean we can't all slip passed them, some of us will die if any get out!"
"Calm down!" Shouted Alison, but it did nothing to help.

Everyone was coming unglued, and at the wrong time. Brad came over to Edward as everyone yelled, asking questions, pacing in fear and crying. He walked over to Edward and asked, "Honestly, not all of us will make it?"
He said nothing, but Brad persisted with his question, "Come on! Tell me, I wanna know what you think."
Edward looked at Brad, staring him deep in the eyes, he replied, "No. We'd be lucky if half of us even get out once we rush passed those beasts. But we've got to try."
Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen very soon. And Edward felt at that moment, that the lives of those people in that cell rested on him. It was his force that pushed them into the plan, and it would be their blood on his hands, if they did not make it. He could feel those thoughts, creep into his mind, as though they were his own form of panic.

Meanwhile, Bobby lead the warriors as best as he could through the maze of tree's in the forest. It was a comfort that the sun was now shining brightly upon them. Set warmly on Bobby's shoulders, he continued to take them further out.
Eliza leaned over and asked Kevin, "Is it true what they say, about the castle grounds?"
"No one has ever come back to find out." He replied.
Misty got wind of their discussion and added, "But you can't, not unless the orb is broken."
Britney asked, "What orb?"
"The orb of magic." Kevin answered.
She then asked, "What does it do?"
Misty replied to Britney, "Supposedly, when a Vampire posses it, he can use it's power to cause darkness around himself."
"You've never heard of, the forest of darkness?" Eliza asked, staring at Britney while they walked.
She shook her head, as Misty explained, "They call it the forest of darkness, because once you reach the grounds that the castle sits upon, it is eternally night. And once you've crossed that line, that barrier, no one gets out, until the orb is destroyed, allowing the curse of night to be broken. The spell will be lifted and all will be able to leave, or so it goes."
They looked at each other, and just continued on in silence.

Inside the castle, on the third story, in the library, sat Nadia and Jerry. The library was gigantic, and filled with several old books. Way in the back, they even had seperate shelves for scrolls, that's how far the library dated back. The ceilings were very tall, as were the shelves, almost reaching them. Lit with crystal chandeliers, lined and hung on the ceiling, the whole place glowed with a dim and peaceful light. The hard wood floors, though old, were kept in marvelous shape. Still beautiful, with spade shaped patterns spread out over the design. Other then rows and rows of books, there were few places in the midst of them to sit. Beautiful marble tables in the center of the maze of books, sat still with heavy old copper chairs, polished to shine placed around them. The tables were lined in a row, straight across from one another, and there were seven.

Sitting a few rows back, were Jerry and Nadia. Talking over the ceremony excitedly.
"It's a beautiful night for us." Said Nadia with her feet propped up on the table.
Jerry stood up and walked around to her, "We've waited a long time for this."
She smiled, "I've finished setting up, what's left to do has been left up to the Creatures."
"After tonight, we wont need them anymore." He said, they both laughed.
Sliding her legs under the table she sat up saying, "And we will rule once again."

In the midst of their laughter and chatting, Catharine interrupted them, stepping out from behind one of the many rows of book shelves.
She asked, "Have you spoken to him yet?"
Both of them turned to face her, "Yes." Said Nadia standing up, "I told him the ceremony would be ready soon."
"And? How was he?" She pressed.
Nadia answered, "He seemed alright....oh, but maybe just a little off."
Catharine hurried towards them, "Damn!" She pounded her fist on the table.
"It's no big deal." Exclaimed Jerry, "He's always like this."
She added, "Yes, but tonight is our night. I will not have him disrupting anything."
A strange look spread across Nadia's face as she spoke saying, "You know he wont, why are you like this?"
Catharine took a few steps back, "I'm going to go and change, make sure everything is going smoothly." She then turned and walked away. Leaving Nadia and Jerry alone once more.

Back out deep in the forest, the surviving few followed Bobby to the castle. In a deep silence, waiting and preparing themselves for the battle that was about to begin. Just then, Bobby stopped, staring straight ahead through the tree's. Everyone stopped as well, wondering what was going on.
He kept his eyes forward and said, "I think I've found it."
They all gathered around, walking closer to him staring in awe of what their eyes beheld.

In the middle of this great forest, right there in the center, was the castle. Only, in the midst of all this sunshine, it was black, black as night, and from it, the wind whispered loudly, almost hissing. They'd made it to the castle, and though they'd tried, they were not ready to enter the forest of darkness, still, they had no choice.
"Oh God." Said Britney under her breath staring blankly ahead.
Misty said, "So it really does exist."
Kevin looked around at them all quickly, "Alright. It's do or die time. We have one shot once we enter here, cause there's no turning back. If we try and leave, the force that's in that place will kill us, understand?"
They all looked back at him, nodding in agreement.
Marie standing next to Bobby whispered in his ear, "You did it. You've brought us here."

"What's the plan then mate?" Asked James.
Bobby quickly responded, "Don't die."
They looked at each other again and Kevin said, "We need to locate the orb, destroy it. Then, rescue the two pure sacrifices."
After sitting in silence for a moment, Bobby looked over, "What? That's it!? Oh you are so well equipped."
"There is no time for this." Said Rose.
Amy replied to Bobby, "Once the orb is broken, daylight will come breaking through the darkness. The Vampires will be destroyed."
He added, "Yeah, unless they're inside somewhere!"
Angel shouted, "That's it. He's useless now."
Kevin looked at him, handing him his sword he nodded, as Angel walked towards Bobby to kill him!

But Marie stepped in front of him, "No! We need all the help we can get. There's no time to fight, we have to get inside."
Misty added, "She's right. Lets just go, he can help us."
"Leave him be Angel." Called Melina.
He looked around him and handed the sword back to Kevin, "I don't believe all of you!"
"Come on, lets head in. No time, remember?" Melina insisted.
Kevin responded, "She's right. Come on."
After that was said, each of them walked towards the castle, unsure of weather or not they would ever see daylight again.

As they stepped through the wall of darkness, each of them felt a large gust of wind blowing towards them at an undescribable speed. Along with that came a flash out white, that they could only see for a second. Followed by an unbearably loud crash, that sounded like thunder. Now surrounded by mist, everywhere they looked, it was over. Kevin staked his sword into the ground, so if they came across it once more, they would know not to cross over or passed the sword.

They all just stared out over the lands. The castle standing so tall they could not see the end of it. The grass was cut flat, and there wasn't a sign of anything anywhere. They were several feet before the castle, and surrounding it were many tree's, though they were tall, none of them even reached the height of the castle. The castle was set a top a high cliff, below it on the back side was nothing but ocean. And to their left and right, there was nothing but tree's. They could hear the waves crashing up against the rocks. Now, they were ready to try and get in.

But the Vampires knew now, that they were there. Each of them heard it, and felt it when they crossed the barrier between day into night. And now, they stood still, at any moment ready to move. Little did they know by setting foot in this forest, they were all in grave danger. Unaware, they may not live much longer.