The Prince of Light

Chapter 20

I jumped back, if you could jump back when you are dead. The wings had freaked me out. I recovered quickly though. I had seen weirder things. Ash folded his wings again. He stared at me with this look that made me think he was analyzing me. After a few more moments he spoke again.

'Well, your soul seems to be intact and I guess you would go to a special place now. But, I can also tell you that you are needed on Earth. So, I have a proposition. You need me. To come to life again and also up there. So, if you complete my challenge, then I will help you.' He said.

'What's the challenge?' I asked. He smiled.

'You got to agree first. Or else it won't work.' He said. I thought for a moment.

'Ok. I'm in. Now, what is my challenge?' I asked him, anxious. He pulled out a small silver key from his pocket and inserted it into nothingness. The silver seemed to glow, and then a door appeared. It was oak with a dead tree carved onto it. He pulled the key out of the keyhole and put it back in his back pocket. He turned to me as the door swung open. He gestured.

'Newly dead first.' He said with a smile. His teeth were like pearls. I sighed. If I won this, he was going to be a heartthrob to all the girls. I shook my head and went in the door. I was in a circular room with a sand bottom. In the middle was a silver sword and shield on a small stone platform. I looked around. On the walls, there were two stone panels. Each of them had three monsters on them. On the one to my left was a Minotaur with a giant club, a wraith with chains, and a half-man-half spider hybrid. He had a net and a spear. On the right panel was a hooded dwarf. He had no weapons. There was a tall woman who had six arms. In each one was a different weapon. Last was a goblin. Only this goblin was twice as tall as me and held two wicked daggers. I looked back to the door. And it was gone. Figures. I thought over my six choices. I obviously had to fight one of them. Maybe all of them. The dwarf had to be the best choice. I mean, he didn't even have a weapon. I walked over to him.

'Don't.' The Voice says quickly. I roll my eyes in annoyance.

'What.' I ask.

'Think. He doesn't have a weapon. Look at the others. They all have weapons. Do you really think that the dwarf doesn't have any weapons? He probably is strong in magic.' The Voice said. I thought this over for a moment. I looked at the others on the right panel. The woman was very dangerous, I could tell. And the huge goblin would probably be just as fast as other goblins. I looked at the other panel. The wraith probably wouldn't be the best choice. And the hybrid looked really strong and fast. Plus, he had that net......I looked at the Minotaur. He had that big club that probably slowed him down. I started to walk across the sand to him when I got this chill. I was in mid step. I dug around in my pockets. The only thing in there was a few pebbles. I dropped one on the sand right in front of me. It sat there for a moment, and then it began to sink.

'Of course. Quicksand.' I thought. I looked up at the ceiling. It was just high enough that I could hover right above the sand without fear of hitting my head on accident. I floated over to the picture of the Minotaur. I touched the picture. Within a millisecond, the Minotaur was standing in front of me. The club rushed out of nowhere. I tried to dodge it, but even so, it clipped my side. I flew backwards and hit the stone platform. All the air rushed out of me. The Minotaur snorted and bellowed. The walls shook. It walked towards me, taking seemingly random turns. 'Great. It can tell where the quicksand is.' I thought as I stood slowly. I turned around and grabbed the sword and shield. I crouched, and then jumped into the air. I hovered. I spun myself around, holding the sword and shield out. The Minotaur jerked his head back, but this time I clipped him with my shield. I heard a crack then the Minotaur bellowed. I stopped spinning and looked over. The world spun momentarily, and then it righted itself. Its jaw was at a funny angle. It turned towards me, and I could swear its eyes lit on fire. It swung its club but I had anticipated that. I ducked and stabbed at it. The sword caught its shoulder. It dropped the club and then yanked out the sword. The gash was deep and it squirted blood. It took the sword and threw it at me. Time slowed down and the sword whirled towards me. I moved as it sliced right where my head used to be. It hit the wall behind me. I took my shield off and chunked it like a Frisbee. The shield hit the Minotaur's neck. I heard a snap and it fell over into the sand. I hovered over and picked up my shield. I turned as I heard a sound. The goblin was standing at the edge of the room. It had its two daggers ready. The sword was stuck where the picture was. I grumbled. The goblin ran towards me, leaping over the quicksand. I spread my wings and flew off to the side. It quickly adjusted. A brilliant idea formed in my mind. I went over to a section of just wall and pressed my back against in. I tried my best to try and look like I was cornered. 'Wait for it, wait for it....' I thought. The megagoblin raced towards me. One more leap. It jumped and raised its daggers for the kill stroke. I pushed off the wall and flew over to my sword. I yanked it out of the wall and turned to the megagoblin. It was lying on the floor, unconscious. I flew over to it. I raised my sword. Its hand flashed up and grabbed me. Due to reflexes, I stabbed. The sword hit its heart and the hand released me. I turned to see the door appear and open. Ash was waiting.

'You win. Let's go back to Earth.' He said.