All Hallow's Eve 2: Memories

Chapter 15

Copyright ©️ 2024 all rights reserved. This book is only available on Wattpad.

My only thoughts were of finding Niamh, no matter what the cost. I felt a vibration on my hip and looked at the ground.
"What the?" I said aloud when I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. But I could still feel the sensation, now travelling down my leg. Grabbing my sword, I held it aloft as it glowed and pulsated.

"Freagarach is ready for battle. It breathes the power of the earth. It is connected to the earth through the Ley Lines. They-"
"The Ley what?" I interrupted King Lugh's informative speech.
"Ley Lines are vanes of raw energy that flow through the earth. This is where all magical creatures get their power."

"I've never heard tell of them!"
"Not many mortals have. The lines are even down here in the bowels of the earth."
"But how will I use them?"
"Just heed what I tell you and believe in Freagarach!"
I had my doubts and was sceptical about this whole thing.
"Now go young warrior, before it's too late."

I looked around and a high-pitched scream began and instantly ended as a shower of blood covered my body. Wiping my eyes I looked up and saw blood dripping from the oscillating chain above me.

A flash of light high up over the chain caught my eye and a body plummeted towards the maze of links. The spiritual essence of another poor soul remained and made its final journey towards the inverted pyramid just as another splatter of blood stained the ground in front of me.

"If only I had my shield!" I thought, to protect me from the blood and because there was so much fire down here. I began running and hopefully would be able to avoid any more showers. Suddenly a chain. smaller than the ones above, shot up from the ground only just missing my face. It pierced a rock formation, not unlike a stalactite, high up behind me.

"That was a close one!" I said aloud just as a dusty skeleton pounced up before me. As quick as a flash I punched out. It disintegrated as my closed fist went through it and hit something metallic. Cursing with pain I shuck my hand as I just wanted to throw something, or hit something. I realised another upward projectile chain that had made it seem like the pile of bones attacked me.

"Poor fella," I thought, "Probably didn't even see it coming!"
I would have to be more meticulous with my footing. So I just ran. As I did so chains came from all angles. Some with decayed bodies, most without. I ducked and I rolled. I weaved and I jumped. And I was making good progress, getting closer to the pyramid. Until.

Too many were coming all at once. I quickly back-fliped and then twisted into a somersault. But the sharp spike at the end of the chain sliced into my calf mussel. I roared with pain as I fell to the ground. Not having time to dwell on the injury I drew out my sword and started swinging.

Making contact with each chain I deflected them from harm's way. Of course, I didn't stop everyone and some got through landing a few hits in this battle of mussel and iron. But my rage took over when my jaw was on the receiving end of a punch of links and rust.

Freagarach glowed in my hand and sliced straight through the chain as I let loose my fury. They were no match for my trusty weapon. Some were cut others were just forced in a different direction. I even managed to steer one into the lower tier of the pyramid.

All the while the chains above sliced and diced and the inverted structure gained new souls to torture. In the surrounding lava pits shapes began emerging. Unrecognisable at first but I soon realised they were some sort of human. How they didn't melt I still don't know. But I wasn't waiting for a handshake and a cup of tea.

Limping I moved as quickly as I could and was relieved that the fighting chains had gone to their corner. Black figures slithered slowly from the ground and one winked at me.
"That bastard!" I said through gritted teeth and swung my sword at him. It went straight through him having no effect.

"Forget about this!" I said turning and moving as fast as my injured leg would allow. I came to the edge of a chasm filled with lava far below. The continuous flow of lava from here was like waterfalls filling a gigantic Amazon basin. With no time to think, I grabbed onto the chain attached to the pyramid and started to climb.

Biting back the pain in my injured shoulder I hung underneath the chain and wrapped my good leg around for support. I was making good progress and then felt the links shake. Looking forward I saw nothing out of the ordinary. But when I lifted my head to look back I saw the shadow demons dancing around like some sort of cult sacrificial worship. And I was number one on their list.

A molten hand caught my eye peering out amidst the demon's legs, then a head.
One of the lava creatures bent down and grabbed my chain. It began melting through the links. I scrambled as fast as I could but it suddenly gave way. I swang over and back but because of the linkage, I had sufficient hold to keep climbing.

Incendiary projectiles of some sort wooshed past me and nearly knocked me off. Looking back over at my antagonists I could have sworn they had firey pitchforks. I wasn't sure if they were shooting from their forks or throwing pieces of themselves.
"Danu save me!" I said and climbed faster.

The chain took a beating below me and soon fell away. I was too high now and out of harm's reach. Continuing climbing I soon reached the pyramid. The wall felt strange, it wasn't stone or rock, it...., it almost felt alive. I searched around for an opening, a way in and just like that I was sucked in through the wall.

It was dark inside, not what I was expecting at all.
"Well, what now?"