The Fallen Ones
15:05 Feb 05 2008
Times Read: 940
Chapter 3: The Underground Labyrinth
Deep under Qerat, there lies a dangerous and treacherous labyrinth, all those who have set foot in it have perished, none have ever made it out alive. It is here in this labyrinth full of pit-falls and dangerous traps that there lies a portal to the underground hideaway of the last surviving member of the Vampire Prince’s.
A few hours later as the 2 suns were beaming high in the sky Crystal and Kai were walking through the city chatting to everyone and buying lots of food and clothes to make sure they were well stocked up for when they left, not knowing that soon their lives would take a sharp twist.
On one of the stalls there were two chattering women who were talking about a man that had gone missing in the labyrinth under the city, Kai’s curiosity was peaked by this, clearing his throat he said “Excuse me….I heard you mention a labyrinth” one of the women looked at him and said “Aye love, there’s a underground labyrinth. Its a treacherous and dangerous place unless you are prepared for it” Kai nodded his head and thanked the two women as he went over to Crystal to tell her what he had heard.
Crystal nodded her head slowly as she looked at her brother and said slowly “I think…..I think we should go into the labyrinth and see what’s in there” Kai closed his eyes for a second as he replied softly “OK then…but if it gets to dangerous we should pull out” Crystal murmured her agreement as they walked back to the Inn.
Crystal went to her room and began to pack her bag as she heard the voice of her ally in her head which said to her softly “Inside the labyrinth…if you make it all the way there is a portal. It will lead you to an underground hideaway where the last surviving Vampire Prince resides, he will be able to help you” Crystal shook her head wondering if she was actually hearing his voice or going completely mad.
As soon as she had packed her bag she left her room and sighed as she ran a hand through her hair wondering if this quest was such a good idea, but she couldn’t ignore the voice in the back of her mind that told her to go forward and meet her destiny so she headed down the steps and sat down at a table by a window waiting for Kai.
As Kai packed his bag he looked out of the window and saw the mountains that overlooked his home in the distance and thought to himself “Boy we’ve come a long way in such a short period of time” he then slung his bag over his shoulder and headed down to find Crystal. As Crystal saw her brother she got up and smiled at him and said “So do you know exactly where this Labyrinth is Kai?” Kai shook his head and replied “Nope not a clue sis but I’m sure we’ll be able to find it if we ask around” Crystal nodded as Kai led the way out of the inn and they walked through the bustling city of Qerat.
Kai asked several of the residents of Qerat for the directions to the labyrinth and they all gave him directions, Kai thanked them as he took Crystals hand and they walked to meet their fate and destiny. As they descended the steps that led deep into the beginning of the labyrinth, Crystal shook with fear and gripped her brothers hand even tighter, Kai looked at his sister saying “Shush sis it’s alright, I wont let anything happen to you I promise” Crystal nodded her head as they reached the door which led into the labyrinth, on it was inscribed “Abandon hope all ye who enter here, for those that are foolish enough to enter are surely doomed to perish, to enter ye must give a token of blood to prove ye are willing to take on the dangers that lie in the labyrinth” Kai looked at Crystal before cutting his right thumb and letting his blood drop onto the tray, as it sank into the stone the door began to rumble open and with that Kai looked at his sister and headed into the labyrinth with Crystal following after him.
Deep in the depths of the labyrinth was a human sized tiger, she has been down in the labyrinth for many moons, she was trapped down here when her cubs were taken from her and she had turned feral from being trapped down in the labyrinth for so long, she is the reason that no-one has ever escaped from the labyrinth and now she senses the chance for fresh meat as she scents the air and smells the girl cub and the boy cub not yet near adulthood as she raised her tail and raced to her secret ambush point.
Kai and Crystal wandered through the many twists and turns of the labyrinth, several traps almost making them fall to their deaths as floors crumbled away to show spikes or pressure pads being activated to send hails of arrows in their paths. Crystal looked at her brother saying “Well no wonder people die down here, it’s a bloody death trap” Kai laughed his voice echoing through the labyrinth as he replied “Awwww come on Crystal where’s your sense of fun and adventure?” Crystal growled and said “It left me when our house was blown to smithereens” Kai nodded his head softly as he carried on taking the lead in front of Crystal. The strange cat like creature hunted through the labyrinth following the boy and girl as she stopped making sure not to set off any of the traps she lifted her head and growled softly as she sensed someone else stalking her prey even though she was unsure of what she could actually scent.
Kai and Crystal carried on walking wearily through the labyrinth as Crystal stumbled and fell against a wall leaving a gash in her right arm letting out a cry of pain as Kai whirled around to see if his sister was alright. Crystal slid to the floor and put her knees up to her chest as tears fell down her face saying softly “I can’t do this anymore Kai, I will just have to put up with the burden of being this way” Kai walked over to his sister and knelt down beside her and said “Crys, you are not gonna let this defeat you. Think of everything we have been through together in our lives. We can get through this so long as we work together” Crystal looked up at her brother her eyes glistening with tears as she nodded her head before Kai chanted some Elven healing words and healed the wound on Crystals arm.
Kai then looked around trying to decide where to head now as the Labyrinth has started to look all the same as the two of them heard a low growl echo throughout the labyrinth. Crystal looked at Kai as she stood up and said softly “What in the hell was that Kai?”, Kai shook his head not answering her as he took her hand and dragged her down a corridor deeper towards the portal in the very heart of the labyrinth.
Making their way through the labyrinth was a cocky young warrior who thought that he could kill the two young twins and rob them of their possessions as he had done with many of the other unwary travellers who had passed through the labyrinth. He dodged all the traps making his way nearer to them as he heard a low growl coming from the pathway to his right so he quickened his footsteps as he ran down the left passageway.
Kai and Crystal were breathing heavily as their footsteps pounded against the hard rock floor trying to find their way out of the suffocating labyrinth, Kai took Crystals hand and dragged her down a passageway following his instincts as they both heard a blood curdling scream of agony from behind them. Kai and Crystal looked at each other as they saw a blinding light from 500 metres away.
Crystal and Kai hurried through the twists and turns of the Labyrinth heading towards the brilliant white light, as they neared it a shadow flashed past them. Ti-Gera leaped at Kai and slashed his face making him roar in pain as Crystal shouted in fear, Kai struck Ti-Gera across the face knocking her into the labyrinth wall shouting at her “What the HELL are you doing?” Ti-Gera looked at Kai with her round eyes and spoke in a feline growl “I was trapped here, my cubs were taken away from me…I only wish to find them again and be free from this damned labyrinth” Kai looked at her and sighed “I am Kai, this is my sister Crystal, we are travelling towards the portal which will guide my sister to a person that will help her with the vampiric powers she has been given” Ti-Gera looked at the two cubs and stood up shakily and beckoned them to follow her as she guided them both towards the portal.
All 3 of them stood before the portal as Crystal looked at it and shook with fear, Ti-Gera went over to her and comforted her as Kai looked through the portal to see if he could see anything. A voice came through from the portal echoing in all their minds “Congratulations to you all especially to you, Kai and Crystal for finding this portal, and Ti-Gera..if you bind yourself to these two children then they will guide you towards finding your cubs. So follow the portal and trust that you will all find knowledge with me” Crystal pulled away from Ti-Gera as she looked at her brother with more confidence then she felt and said “Well, I think we should go through. Ti-Gera I promise we will try and help you find your cubs” Crystal smiled at Ti-Gera then stepped up towards the portal and went through it, a flash of light covering her, then Kai and Ti-Gera followed her through it.
As Crystal came through the portal she saw herself in a dimly lit cavern with torches flickering further along the passageway as Kai and Ti-Gera arrived shortly behind her. Kai walked up beside his sister whispering “Where are we Crystal?” Crystal turned her head looking at her brother before replying “Well lets follow this passageway and see where it goes then maybe we’ll find some answers?” Kai and Ti-Gera nodded their heads as they followed Crystal through the weaving tunnels of the underground cavern.
Meanwhile further along in the cavern the dark shadow was awaiting the arrival of the 3 travellers as he was staring into a goblet of water a flame flickering by his side. He looked into the flame as if mesmerised by it as he heard the footsteps of the travellers, he sat down in his red leather chair as they appeared through a heavy oak door.
As Crystal entered the door she saw the figure and gasped “Your, you’re the one that I have seen in my dreams” the figure smiled and nodded at her as he spoke into all their minds “Yes my child..I am the one that has helped you along your journey to find me. Allow me to introduce myself I am the last surviving Vampire Prince Darius Rothschild, I have been here for many centuries waiting for one that holds a special power. One that holds the power to aid me in my quest to defeat a twisted and cruel Vampire called Xander De Ardas” Crystal looked at Darius and said “Sire..with all due respect all I want is to be normal again and go back to a normal life. Please tell me you can give me that?” Crystal had tears in her eyes for she feared she already knew the answer.
Darius shook his head sadly before saying into their minds “Nay, the curse that was put upon you cannot be removed. I am sorry for that, but you can learn to control the powers that you have been given and I will do my best to offer you guidance. But for now that is all I can do” Crystal nodded her head as she looked around the cavern.
Ti-Gera went over to Kai and rubbed up against him before saying “What ails you Kai?” Kai turned to study Ti-Gera before saying “I thought by coming to this place, Darius would be able to help my sister, but it feels like we have travelled all this way for nothing” Ti-Gera rested a hand on his shoulder before replying “Sometimes the well travelled path is the one that is less safe, Darius seems to know what he is talking about. If you trust him I am sure that everything will become clear as he leads us all each down our separate path’s” Kai sighed softly as he nodded his head.
Crystal sat down on a red carpet as she looked through a book studying it as Darius spoke into her mind “Ahhh I see you have seen the book which tells of the seven ages of the Vampire Lords. In all the years there has never been a female vampire to rule over the vampire’s that are scattered throughout the land” Crystal looked at Darius before saying “So the vampires think that females are not as capable of leading them as a man would be?” Darius laughed softly before replying “No of course not Crystal. But there has never been a Vampiress that has been willing to put herself forward for a vote. There aren’t that many females vampires in this world.” Crystal curled up with the book and carried on reading it taking in every word.
After a few hours Darius spoke to all 3 of the friends saying “I will show you all to some chambers where you may rest, I am afraid that Crystal and Ti-Gera will have to share, as some of the lower corridors have been taken by the sea” Crystal and Ti-Gera hugged each other as Darius led all 3 of them to their rooms.
Darius bid them all goodnight as he went to his own chambers and rested on his bed closing his eyes as he thought about what had happened and what was still to happen. Meanwhile in Crystal and Ti-Gera’s room they were talking in hushed voices talking about their lives before they had met each other. In Kai’s room he was listening to the waves as he thought about the future and what was to happen, he then closed his eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.
Crystal woke up a few hours later and crept out of the room and headed into the main area of the cavern and curled up in a chair by the warm fire as she looked into the flames mesmerised by the flickering of the flames. She jumped in shock as she heard movements behind her and turned her head and saw Darius smiling softly at him. Darius smiled back at her before saying “I hope that you slept alright Crystal” Crystal nodded her head replying softly “Yes thank you Darius I did, I am just scared of what is to come in my future” Darius looked at her and kneeled in front of her and looked into her eyes saying “Whatever happens I will try my best to get you through this Crystal” Darius rose and looked at her and stroked her hair as he left her alone.
Crystal snuggled up into the chair as she grabbed a book and began to read through it getting lost in the story for a little while trying to forget her own problems. Ti-Gera woke up and licked her lips as she left the room and went into a kitchen looking for something to eat and she found some meat and she tore into it hungrily chewing it noisily.
Kai woke up after 7 hours and yawned as he got out of bed and stretched and left his room going to find the rest of the gang. Crystal was still curled up in the chair by the fire reading and Ti-Gera was sitting on a rug by the fire enjoying the warmth, meanwhile Darius was sitting in his private study looking through some ancient texts.
Crystal looked up from her book and smiled at her brother saying “Hey Kai, how did you sleep?” Kai smiled back at his sister replying “Yeah Crys, I didn’t sleep to bad at all thanks” Ti-Gera unfurled herself from her position and stretched as she padded over to Kai and rubbed up against him and swatted her tail against him before purring “Good morning Kai, I’m glad you slept well” Kai tickled Ti-Gera behind her ears as she padded back over to the fire and settled back down.
Darius leafed through the ancient pages trying to find a spell which will lead them through the portal into another world to try and find the evil and vile renegade Vampire Prince Xander De Ardas. He slammed the book shut in frustration as he let out a growl in his mind frustrated not being able to find what he is looking for.
Crystal walked into Darius’ study and looked at him saying softly “What are you looking for Sire?” Darius looked at Crystal saying “I am looking for a spell which will allow us to control a portal to allow us to find Xander and rid the world of his evil” Crystal picked up another book and looked through it as Darius went back to looking as well.
Kai walked through the corridor’s of the underground cavern and found an old wooden door which opened up into an armoury so he went inside and looked at all the weapons and saw a bow made of Yew so he picked it up and decided to take it for himself as he grabbed a quiver of arrows to go with it.
Darius cried in pleasure into Crystals mind as he looked at her and said “I have found the spell. Now we can travel to find my old nemesis and end his reign of terror” Crystal looked at Darius and said “But Darius, how do you know he is causing trouble if you have not heard anything about him” Darius shook his head sadly as he replied “All the Vampire Prince’s are linked, we know what the other does. I have seen and felt all the evil that he has committed, all the atrocities, all the destruction he has rained down on innocent people and I will stop him, with you, your brothers and Ti-Gera’s help” Crystal nodded her head and replied with more confidence then she felt “I will do all that I can and so will my brother and Ti-Gera to aid you in your quest” Darius smiled at Crystal as he picked the book up and left the study with her following close behind.
All four of them gathered in the main chamber as Darius looked at the 3 of them saying “My friends, we have many trials still ahead of us. I ask you all now if you will follow me into this most treacherous of tasks” Crystal looked at Darius and said “Sire I will follow you and will give my soul to aiding you in your journey” Kai looked Darius and said “Sire I will go wherever my sister does” Ti-Gera let out a soft growl as she said “I will look after the two cubs and follow you Darius, if only to find my own cubs and free them from whatever danger they are in” Darius nodded his head as he led the way to the portal through which the 3 adventurers first arrived.
The 4 companions arrived at the portal as Darius muttered an incantation which opened up a portal to a strange new world as they all stepped through it into lands unknown.
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