Black Magic

Darkened Chamber

The door to the darkened chamber opened as a figure stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The figure was around the edge of the room, lighting up the brazier with a dark, red fire.

Once the room was lit up, you could see the figure more clearly. He couldn't have been more than seventeen-years-old. Short, black hair grew longer as it hung in front of his forehead and above a pair of amber eyes. A long scar ran across the boy's nose, pointing to another scar on the side of his face. Another scar could be seen on his jawline, catching the light of the fire and giving his face a long and pointed shape.

He was wearing a dark jacket over a set of light armour. The were scorch marks and tears but you could still see the runes and markings, both etched into his skin and the clothing.

In the centre of the chamber, was an altar of black stone. As the boy approached, runes that had been carved into the stone started to glow a strange red, like someone had turned blood into a light-source.

Raising his hand above the altar, the boy slit the palm of his hand with a large dagger. As the blood dripped onto the stone, the boy started the ritual.

His eyes started glowing yellow. His voice became deep and demonic sounding as he reciting the spell that the Demon had told him. A cold wind swept through the chamber. The braziers started fluttering weakly. And cracks spread out from where the blood had fallen.

But something didn't feel right.

The boy's voice faltered and the incantation stopped. He looked around, his eyes returning to their normal colour.

Then he saw it.

The markings weren't the same as he was led to believe. They were words written in a demonic language that spoke of things that should not be released.

"YOU LIED TO ME!" the boy screamed to the darkness, forcing it to give up its occupant. The braziers flared to life, bringing light to the entire chamber. The shadows shrieked and rushed back to the edges of the room where it still held power, leaving a humanoid creature behind.

Sickly black veins webbed underneath the creature's pale purple skin. Its feet were tipped with three, large talons. Two, twisted horns curled from the sides of its head, just above the pair of black pool-like eyes. The creature was weraing no clothes and yet nothing was revealed. A weak smile played on its lips, as if not sure to assume an air of innocence in the face of the boy's rage.

"You told me that this was the ritual I was looking for!" the boy snapped, causing a flicker of unertainy to flash across the Demon's face. Then it disapeared just as quickly, replaced by a devious smile.

"I did," it said in a feminine voice. "A lot of forgotten knowledge lies in this region. I just circled the area you want to search. I did not specify this temple. Really Jex, you should know that you can't trust anyone."

The boy, Jex, felt his anger grow. But not at the Demon anymore. Now, it was directed at himself. How could he think he could trust the Embodiment of Lust?! Jex spun around and slammed his fist down on the altar in frustration.

"I'll leave you to vent your anger," Lust said. "But do call me some time." And with that, the Demon faded into a cloud of mist that made Jex's head swim. Great, Jex thought, Now I can't think straight!

He lifted his head and looked around the chamber. It was big enough for an entire town of people to fit in. A good fall back point if things go south, Jex mused.

'If ' thing go south? It's only a matter of time before Stell is found.