From Memories Forgotten: The Pathera Account 2

seventeen: the dark inside of me

-Orion-

As I hike further into the volcano I start to wonder what is real and what isn't. These trials suck, and I still have two to go. This had better be worth it in the end.
"Orion" I hear a voice call. "Orion" the voice is sweet and feminine unlike all the others so far.
Suddenly I see a figure in the fog, "Hello?!" I call out.
"Orion, I've been waiting" She says revealing herself to be a beautiful human-like creature.
"Who are you?" I ask my feet planted firm.
"The fourth spirit of course," she says walking through the lave to where I stood.
"What trial is this?" I ask starting to sweat nervously.
"Would defeat the purpose if I told you, silly" She say her voice almost siren like.
She walks in circles around me, and I tense when she stops in front of me. She looks into my eyes and for a moment I am paralyzed.
"Follow me," she says sweetly walking through the fog.
I follow her my vision starting to cloud over.
"Just a little further" She calls to me.
"This isn't right..." I mumble, trying to break from the trance.
"Come with me Orion Archer... come with me." She calls me.
"No, no I can't." I say.
"Yes you can, it's easy." She says slightly irritated.
"What are you?" I ask.
"What kind of question is that?" She asks, "look at me what do you see?"
Her beautiful exterior melts away reveling a hideous monster.
"So the easy way doesn't suit you, Does it?" The creature roars.
With no warning the monster charges at me. I jump out of the way, realizing how close to the cliff I was. I draw my knife and prepare for another charge.
The creature bears its teeth and roars, glowing green.
"Prepare to die like the others before you, Orion Archer!" It roars, charging again.
This time I'm ready for the attack and lunge out of the way.
The creature has too much momentum to stop and slides right over the cliff and into the lava.
I peer over the edge and don't see any sign of the monster.
I walk away from the edge just in time to be attacked again by the monster, which appears to be flying.
" Lovely. " I mutter.
I stand again ready to fight, but this monster is massive, and can overpower me easily. I try and run for cover, but the monster shoots it's fire and we are trapped in a burning arena.
"Why Exactly are you trying to kill me!?" I yell at the creature.
"I am the sprit of death! It is my trial to stop you from reaching the top!" It snarls.
"You can try!" I yell stabbing the monster, who was distracted by my question.
The monster fades back down into the woman again.
"Well played Orion Archer, well played." She says looking me in the eye.
"What you lack in skill, you make up for with your mind." She says, "you are not the strongest man ever to face me. Far stronger a man would fall off a cliff chasing a pretty face."
"I take it I beat the trial thing?" I ask.
"Yes" She says smiling. "You are the first to ever face my sister. Good luck brave one."