The Dou-Jin Apprentice of Monsters and Men In the Beginning

Chapter 17 Shaders of the Nightmare

Chapter 17

Shaders of the Nightmare

It was pitch dark in the graveyard the breeze lightly stirred and rustled maple leave across the ground like small round bale of hay and then dwindled down to be just scooting across the ground like tiny sailboats, when Stephanous found himself gazing about. He couldn't figure out how he had arrived here. Then it came to him like a door slamming jarringly loud behind smacking him in the rear end! He was dreaming. Was it going to be another nightmare or was it just a strange dream that marked him again for yet another day of disbelief and horror.

He investigated the eerie bone yard with great caution. His skin began to crawl as if fly larva were burrowing beneath his skin. Goose bumps prickled his arms as each hair stood on end. Stephanous had a lump the size of an apple in his throat and he found it hard to breathe the thick acrid air. He felt as though someone was watching him the entire time he was examining the area. He caught himself glancing over his shoulder more than once or twice. The watchers were there he was sure, but when were they going to jump him and skin the flesh from his form.

The watchers eyes seemed to stay upon Stephanous's back as if glued to his form. He couldn't shake the feeling of the eyes. He nervously glanced about searching for the haunting eyes in the graveyard, but he saw nothing except the headstone that marked each of the burial places. He shivered and went on about his way.

Then he noticed the tombstones. Inger Thromasa Dragonsbane, Chester Aquillin Dragonsbane, Cameron Alexander Dragonsbane, Debreila Dorraine Dragonsbane, Isaian Nickleby Brazier, Brayothan Noahsbane Brazier, Lorianna Lisarra Flameblade, Terkesha Wintertracker Icewind, and Deedra Braveheart Eaglefeather.

They were all dead. He was all alone! Laughter rang out in the air it echoes from all around Stephanous like the mournful cries of the dead, ever calling to him ever so loudly. "Join me or this will come true! All your friends and family will die! Your entire life will be nothing but pain and suffering at my hands!"

"I will never join anyone who's willing to kill to get their way!" Stephanous yelled in defiance. "You can burn in the Deep you Pit dweller!"

"I already dwell in the deep you fool." The voice said. "I am Lilith the goddess of beauty and charisma."

"You're the goddess or hideousness and destruction!" Stephanous replied daring to provoke a goddess. "You hide in the shadows and attack people too much of a coward to attack us face on. You bathe in rot and decay so you hide in shame because you don't want anyone seeing your hideousness, your true nature!"

"How dare you call me that!" Lilith growled in response.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Stephanous screamed still in a brave and defiant tone. "You are held in the Pit by the eighteen seals of the Creator and the Creator is the only one who can break those seals!"

"Then how am I able to reach into your dreams?" Lilith asked in a snide tone.

Stephanous had no answer for her. The graveyard seemed to get darker with that question. Then Stephanous heard the rustling of the grass in the graveyard. Something or things were coming nearer to him. The young man instantly, as if by instinct, went to the Spirit in his dream and he was armored and armed with mythril Dou-Jin garb.

From out of the dark came three of the strangest looking creatures. They were half black widow and half shadow elves. Their stomachs, chest, arms, and heads were shadow elves armed with long swords and shields. While their lower bodies had that of abdomens of that of a black widow spider. Stephanous also saw that they had a mouth filled with fangs dripping with venom.