Summoners: The Forbidden Ritual

Chapter 25: Steps to Victory

Emily Blair, a legend or myth among the folk lores. Said to be the leader of the infamous Blair Witches, a cult of women who practice dark arts, mastering Summoner magic even if the mana is not running through their veins.

It caused them to be corrupt and insufferable in the existence of men. All of them were hunted out but only their Coven Mother, Emily was cast into Belial's lair to guard one of the gates along the flight of stairs.

Emily giggled as she stood up and walked near the group, "Mortal souls, in a realm where I am immortal. I see you have defeated the great Leonidas, sadly, I wield magic. Like so many of you. So.. shall we?"

Her eyes glowed red as she blinked fast and fangs appeared in her teeth. She screeched like a banshee and chanted in Verbis Diablo, the language of Tyrahel, the tongue of Demons and Devil. She flew through the air and fought against the group without breaking a sweat.

Michael and Veronica on the ground, hurt from her push and scratches. Lyle charged by piercing through the air with the pulses he pushed from his feet. All to no avail as Emily grabbed Lyle by the throat and caused him to drop his sword.

Aryna shouted a spell hoping to save Lyle, "lux inferni!" A ball of fire and light pushed Emily off the air and both she and Lyle fell on the ground.

Azazel jumped to stab Emily but she evaded it and once again flew through the air. She looked to Aryna.

"How can you control the fires of Tyrahel when you are a mere mortal?" she then sniffed a scent upon Aryna, "Ah.. the Eternal Phial. The only substance capable of giving immortality to both good and bad.. I smell it in your blood.. you don't know your capabilities young child."

Aryna scoffed and placed her palms together, "You don't too." Her eyes glowed and without an incantation she used the same spell and threw it at Emily, causing her to
burn and fall down the steps like Leonidas did.

Azazel looks at Aryna, "An Allbourne and vessel of the Eternial Tonic? Interesting."

Lyle stood up and placed the blade at Azazel's neck, "Don't get too interested." Azazel chuckles and pushes the blade off his neck, "She's all yours, Dawnspell. I have no intentions for that type of matter." he opened the gate and obliged them to step in first.

Lyle woke Michael and Veronica up, urging them to stand and walk "We're almost there. 2 gates left." They walk up a few steps until Michael suddenly sat of exhaustion, "You guys go ahead, we basically walked up what five hundred steps already? I gotta rest."

Azazel urged him to continue on, "You have to stand up and climb." Veronica then shouted in anger, "Well that's because you demons don't ever feel tired don't you?! Go on.. i'll stay with Michael we can catch up later."

Aryna tried to convince Michael and Veronica that it isn't safe to be left behind. But they still refused to go on as Michael sustained multiple minor injuries and over- fatigue.

Lyle held Aryna's hand and said, "They'll be fine, I know them. Hard bastards as I hate to admit it." Michael smirked, "He's right."

Azazel pushed on and as well as Lyle and Aryna. Walking up another two- hundred and fifty steps. They didn't utter a word, but Aryna never tried to let go of Lyle's hand.

He looked at her but didn't urge her to take away her hold. He knew she was afraid and if holding his hand comforted her, then he would always let her do it.

Looking back on the height they've climbed, it was a tall jump from the surface. One misstep could make you a fly hit at high speed on a car's wind shield. After a while, they reached the third of four gates up to Belial's palace.